Time was, cable channels depended on networks for their programming. That’s why half the dial seems dedicated to reruns of “NCIS,” “Family Guy” and “Law & Order: SVU.” But lately, it’s the networks that look like poor imitations of cable.
Over the past few weeks, ABC has dedicated almost every evening to either basketball playoff coverage or afternoon fare like game shows. Last week, Fox pre-empted its prime-time offerings three nights in a row to broadcast golf. Look for more of that in Fox’s future.
ABC will air “Highwire Live in Times Square With Nik Wallenda” (8 p.m. Sunday, TV-PG). The acclaimed daredevil and his sister, Lijana, will attempt to walk 1,300 feet in the air above New York’s Times Square.
If this all sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because the Wallendas have performed similar stunts on the Discovery Channel, including his “Skywire Live” event in the Grand Canyon, which aired in 2013.
Discovery may have lost the rights to this particular death-defying stunt, but its cable rival continues the tradition. History, the outlet that pretty much competes with Discovery for male viewers (not to mention the sheer number of cable stars wearing backward baseball caps), will air “Evel Live 2” on July 7. The event will try to re-create some of the late stuntman Evel Knievel’s most daring jumps.
— Erika Christensen stars in the 2019 shocker “To Have and to Hold” (8 p.m. Saturday, Lifetime, TV-14), based on a novel by Jane Green. Viewers may recall Christensen from her role in the NBC melodrama “Parenthood” and her breakthrough performance in the 2000 drama “Traffic.”
— The 2007 crime drama “American Gangster” (9 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Sundance, TV-14) makes news once again.
The film, directed by Ridley Scott, charts the improbable career of drug kingpin Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), who imported heroin from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, sometimes using the coffins of servicemen to hide the contraband. The real Frank Lucas died just last month.
Nicky Barnes, another legendary drug dealer of the era, portrayed in “American Gangster” by Cuba Gooding Jr., died in 2012. But his death only came to light in the past few weeks. He had been in the Witness Protection Program.
Russell Crowe, who stars in “Gangster” as a detective who goes against the grain to pursue local drug dealers, can be seen next week in Showtime’s limited series “The Loudest Voice.” He will play Fox News Channel founder Roger Ailes.
— “Adolf Island” (8 p.m. Sunday, Smithsonian) only sounds like something you’d see on History. It recalls the Nazi occupation of three Channel Islands just off the coast of France, the only part of England to fall under Hitler’s control.
The Germans sent thousands of prisoners from Europe to construct military fortifications under slave labor conditions. “Island” reveals the gruesome conditions of these workers and civilians on the Channel Islands, where the grim remains of victims are still being discovered.
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— MLB Baseball (7 p.m., Fox) offers regional action. Check local listings.
— Based on a true story, the 2018 drama “The Old Man and the Gun” (8 p.m., HBO) stars Robert Redford as 70-year-old Forrest Tucker, who escapes from prison and continues to pull heists. Redford received a nomination for a Golden Globe for his performance.
— A single woman realizes that she’s the last of her friends to walk down the aisle in the 2019 romance “The Last Bridesmaid” (9 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— A predator believes that surgery can “cure” him on “The Good Doctor” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).
— Police officers’ eventful first year now includes an earthquake on “The Rookie” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— Updated repeat reports scheduled on two helpings of “60 Minutes” (CBS): The lethality of the AR-15, global warming inspires children to sue the government, a profile of Paul McCartney (7 p.m.); freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; corruption on Malta; a Boston inventor’s plant-based fuel (8 p.m.).
— Dropping in on Mom on “Burden of Truth” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
— Luther tries to limit the damage from Cornelius’ rampage on the finale of the limited fifth season of “Luther” (8 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).
— Regina Hall hosts the 2019 BET Awards (8 p.m., BET, MTV, MTV2, TVLand VH1, TV-14).
— Catherine doubts Harry’s affections on the season finale of “The Spanish Princess” (8 p.m., Starz, TV-MA).
— On two helpings of “The Good Fight” (CBS, TV-MA): a famous client’s downside (9 p.m.), fake news on social media (10 p.m.).
— A case leads to the TV studio of a kids’ puppeteer on “Endeavor” on “Masterpiece” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings).
— Charlie makes a new friend on “Fear the Walking Dead” (9 p.m., AMC TV-MA).
— Renata directs her rage at the principal on “Big Little Lies” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
— Decourcy discovers a new nemesis on “City on a Hill” (9 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
— On two helpings of “Vida” (Starz, TV-MA), Nico’s past (9 p.m.), Lyn triumphs (9:30 p.m.). The second episode is the season finale.
— New remains emerge on “NOS4A2” (10 p.m., AMC, TV-14).
— “The Weekly” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) recalls the unlikely encounter between an idealistic couple on bicycles and a group of young men radicalized by ISIS.
— Rue makes a friend on “Euphoria” (10 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
CULT CHOICE
— A hapless bank-robber (Al Pacino) botches a Brooklyn heist while trying to pay for his lover’s sex-change operation in the 1975 thriller “Dog Day Afternoon” (8 p.m. Saturday, TCM). John Cazale, who plays Pacino’s dim-witted accomplice, appeared in five films in the 1970s. Every film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Cazale and Pacino can also be seen in “The Godfather, Part II” (9:20 p.m., Sunday, BBC America). He died in 1978.
SATURDAY SERIES
The Jonas Brothers interview writers on “Songland” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … A designer pitches new spa ideas on “Shark Tank” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) … “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC, r) … “48 Hours” (10 p.m., CBS).
SUNDAY SERIES
Auditions continue on “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … On two helpings of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (CW, r, TV-14), Lance Bass (9 p.m.), Keegan-Michael Key (9:30 p.m.) … Max perseveres on “New Amsterdam” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) … Putting around on “Holey Moley” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).
