Mammals
Star: Sir David Attenborough
Premiere Date: July 13th at 8 p.m. on BBC America and available to stream the same day on AMC+. A new episode premieres every Saturday until August 24th.
Sir David Attenborough is back with this six-episode series about how mammals have conquered the earth. “In this series, we will reveal the secrets of their success and the challenges they now face in a world dominated by the most successful mammal of all—us,” Attenborough tells viewers. First up: a look at how mammals learned to navigate the dark during the age of dinosaurs. Future episodes explore the increasing danger of extinction and how mammals are able to thrive in both extreme heat and extreme cold. How does Attenborough get the amazing up close shots of the mammals he features? Find out when the series culminates with a behind-the-scenes/making-of special on August 24th.
Emperor of Ocean Park
Stars: Forest Whitaker, Grantham Coleman, Tiffany Mack, Paulina Lule, Henry Simmons, Bryan Greenberg, Ora Jones, Torrey Hanson, Jasmine Batchelor, Keith Powers, Kelli Simpkins, Keith Kupferer, and Deanna Reed-Foster
Premiere Date: July 14th at 10 p.m. on MGM+. Episodes premiere weekly every Sunday until the finale on September 15th.
Based on Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel of the same name, this 10-episode series kicks off with the death of Judge Oliver Garland (Forest Whitaker). The series then immediately flashes back in time to when the controversial Garland was nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice. His daughter Mariah (Tiffany Mack) suspects his death may not have been a heart attack, while his sons Talcott (Grantham Coleman) and Addison (Henry Simmons) aren’t quite ready to subscribe to their sister’s conspiracy theories.
Simone Biles Rising
Premiere Date: The first two episodes premiere July 17th on Netflix
Just in time for the Summer Olympics in Paris, this four-part series (the first two episodes premiere before the opening ceremony on July 26th) gives viewers an up-close look at one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. The series explores the Tokoyo 2020 Olympics (which occurred in the summer of 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) and Simone Biles’ first-hand account of what transpired when she withdrew from the competition and prioritized her physical safety and mental health. In addition to Biles, the series includes her coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, fellow gymnastic teammate Joscelyn Roberson, her husband Jonathan Owens, her parents Nellie and Ron Biles, and former gymnastic stars including Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes, among others.
Betty La Fea, The Story Continues
Stars: Ana María Orozco, Jorge Enrique Abello, Julián Arango, Natalia Ramírez, Lorna Cepeda, Julio Cesar Herrera, Luces Velásquez, Marcela Posada, Mario Duarte, Sebastián Osorio, Ricardo Vélez, Alberto León Jaramillo, Rodrigo Candamil, Juanita Molina, Zharick León, and Estefania Gómez.
Premiere Date: The first two episodes premiere July 19th on Prime Video. Two episodes premiere every Friday thereafter until the finale on August 19th.
Back in 1999, Yo Soy Betty, La Fea premiered in Columbia. Although it only aired for two years, its global impact is legendary. The show was remade in 20 different countries—including the US, where it was known as Ugly Betty and starred America Ferrera and Vanessa Williams. Now, all the original actors return in the new 10-episode series Betty La Fea: The Story Continues. Don’t worry if you never watched the original, a two-minute recap of the entire show will tell you all you need to know.
Amy Amatangelo, the TV Gal®, is a Boston-based freelance writer and a member of the Television Critics Association. She wasn’t allowed to watch much TV as a child and now her parents have to live with this as her career. You can follow her on Twitter (@AmyTVGal).
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