Advertisement

Must See HDTV (August 6th - 12th)

Richard Lawler
Senior News Editor
Updated ·4 min read

This week continues to be all about the London 2012 Olympics, with most shows diving out of the way of NBC's ratings juggernaut. We do have a few premiers and several season finales though, so give the schedule a close look to make sure you don't miss a favorite's wrap-up. Also on deck is a healthy slate of preseason football, while we've got most of the national broadcasts listed, you'll want to keep an eye out for your local team. Also worth noting? A slew of flicks hitting Blu-ray this week including personal favorites Clue and Adventures in Babysitting. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Olympics
For a second week in a row, it's all about the Olympics, in one way or another. Either you're watching and keeping up with early starting schedules from London or you're not watching, and your favorite summer shows are on hiatus. No matter which side you're on, things wrap up this weekend with the Closing Ceremony, although not soon enough for NBC to try to slipstream two sitcom premieres off of the Games' popularity with Go On and Animal Practice.
(All Week, NBC & NBCOlympics.com)

Shark Week
Discovery's Shark Week kicks off its 25th year Sunday night with two specials,including Air Jaws Apocalypse and Impossible Shot. This time around the big hook is internet integration since it's hosted by "internet celebrity" Philip DeFranco, has tie-ins with Discovery's iPad app for second screen info, and encourages voting on the Facebook / Twitter page to determine what the robotic Sharkzilla will crush next. Whatever, as long as they bring the sharks, we'll always be there.
(August 12th, Discovery, 9PM)

Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell
Produced by Chris Rock, this comedy series has been pushed as hard by FC as NBC is pushing its new premieres for the week, but with Chris Rock as a producer and the network's track record (Louie, Wilfred -- we'll forget Brand X and the Charlie Sheen show) we actually might check it out. Six episodes long, its run begins this week broadcasting Bell's commentary and sketch comedy -- check out a quick behind the scenes look embedded after the break.

Blu-ray & Games

  • Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (3D)

  • Clue

  • Marley

  • Adventures in Babysitting (25th Anniversary Edition)

  • Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion

  • High Fidelity

  • Grosse Pointe Blank

  • Grimm (S1)

  • Spaceballs (25th Anniversary Edition)

  • Persona 4 Arena (PS3, Xbox 360)

Monday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 11 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • The Secret Life of the American Teenager, ABC Family, 8PM

  • Bachelor Pad, ABC, 8PM

  • WWE Raw, USA, 8PM

  • The Closer, TNT, 9PM

  • Bunheads, ABC Family, 9PM

  • Single Ladies, VH1, 9PM

  • Warehouse 13, Syfy, 9PM

  • Alphas, Syfy, 10PM

  • Perception, TNT, 10PM

  • The Glass House, ABC, 10PM

  • Teen Wolf, MTV, 10PM

  • Web Therapy, Showtime, 11PM

Tuesday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 12 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family, 8PM

  • Rizzoli & Isles, TNT, 9PM

  • The LA Complex, CW, 9PM

  • NY Med, ABC, 10PM

Wednesday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 13 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • Go On (series premiere), NBC, 11PM

  • Melissa & Joey, ABC Family, 8PM

  • Baby Daddy, ABC Family, 8:30PM

  • Dallas (season finale), TNT, 9PM

  • Damages, DirecTV, 9PM

  • Hit and Miss, DirecTV, 10PM

  • The Franchise, Showtime, 10PM

  • Futurama, Comedy Central, 10PM

  • The Real World, MTV, 10PM

Thursday

  • Packers/Chargers MNF preseason football, ESPN, 8PM

  • 2012 Olympics Night 14 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • Impact Wrestling, Spike TV, 8PM

  • Burn Notice, USA, 9PM

  • Wipeout, ABC, 9PM

  • Anger Management, FX, 9:30PM

  • Suits, USA, 10PM

  • Wilfred, FX, 10PM

  • Sullivan & Son, TBS, 10PM

  • Awkward, MTV, 10:30PM

  • Louie, FX, 10:30PM

  • Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell (series premiere), FX, 11PM

  • Children's Hospital (season premiere), Cartoon Network, 11:59PM

Friday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 15 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • Common Law (season finale), USA, 10PM

  • Comedy Bang! Bang! (season finale), IFC, 10PM

  • Bunk (season finale), IFC, 10:30PM

  • Jets/Bengals preseason football, NFL Network, 7:30PM

  • WWE SmackDown, Syfy, 8PM

  • Lost Girl, Syfy, 10PM

  • John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, Comedy Central 11PM

Saturday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 16 of 17, NBC, 8PM

  • Texans/Panthers preseason football, NFL Network, 7PM

  • Titans/Seahawks preseason football, NFL Network, 10PM

  • Boogeyman (special presentation), Syfy, 9PM

  • NYC 22 (season finale), CBS, 8PM

  • Jeff Ross Roasts America, Comedy Central, 11PM

Sunday

  • 2012 Olympics Night 17 of 17, NBC, 7PM

  • Animal Practice (series premiere), NBC, 10:38PM

  • Air Jaws Apocalypse, Discovery, 9PM

  • Shark Week's Impossible Shot, Discovery, 10PM

  • The Glades (season finale), A&E, 9PM

  • Hell On Wheels (season premiere), AMC, 9PM

  • Longmire (season finale), A&E, 10PM

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series @ Watkins Glen, ESPN, 12PM

  • Leverage, TNT, 8PM

  • 3, CBS, 9PM

  • Falling Skies, TNT, 9PM

  • True Blood, HBO, 9PM

  • The Great Escape, TNT, 10PM

  • The Newsroom, HBO, 10PM

  • Breaking Bad, AMC, 10PM

  • Political Animals, USA, 10PM

  • The Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne, Comedy Central, 10PM

  • Weeds, Showtime, 10PM

  • Episodes, Showtime, 10:30PM

  • Small Town Security, AMC, 11PM