August TV premieres, movies, specials

Bear Grylls is running wild with Nick Jonas, the dead are walking again and the Rio Olympics take over NBC. Those are just three of the August TV premieres.

“Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “You’re the Worst,” “The Strain” and “Inspector Lewis” return with new seasons. The second half of Season 2 of “Fear the Walking Dead” debuts and AMC airs a preview special for the upcoming seventh season of “The Walking Dead.”

Big new series that will premiere in August include Baz Luhrman’s “The Get Down” on Netflix and the comedy-mystery series “Agatha Raisin” on Acorn TV. Sundance TV goes international again with the first season of the Italian crime drama “Gomorrah.”

Beginning August 5, the networks of NBC will broadcast hours and hours of coverage from the Rio Olympics. You can find the full schedule of Olympics coverage here.

Check out the calendar of August TV premieres, movies, specials and finales below. As always, I will add as I learn about more premieres so please let me know what I have missed. Happy viewing.

August TV premieres calendar

All times Central

 

Monday, Aug. 1

Streaming

• “Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; London PR whizz becomes amateur sleuth in movie-length mystery)

10 a.m.

• “Future-Worm!” Disney XD (series premiere; animated adventure about 12-year-old who uses his time-machine lunch box to meet fearless worm in future)

7 p.m.

• “The Bachelorette,” ABC (season finale)

8 p.m.

• “Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?” HBO (doc; a look at presidential campaign fundraisers and the people who give)
• “I Am JFK Jr.” Spike (doc premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” NBC (season 3, 2-night event, part 1)
• “Iris,” PBS (“POV” premiere; Albert Maysles’ penultimate doc focuses on style icon Iris Apfel Sparkles)
• “Fameless,” truTV (season 2; back-to-back episodes)

10 p.m.

• “Comedy Knockout,” truTV (midseason premiere; 2 eps per week, Mon. and Wed.)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 2

7 p.m.

• “Nazi Games, Berlin 1936,” PBS (special; how the Olympics became a major event)
• “Bachelor in Paradise,” ABC (season 3)

8 p.m.

• “The Boys of ’36,” PBS (“American Experience” premiere; American rowing team triumphed at 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany)
• “The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now,” MTV (special; remembering “The Hills”)
• “Shahs of Sunset Reunion,” Bravo (part 1; part 2 airs 9 p.m. Aug. 3)
• “Botched,” E! (season finale)

9 p.m.

• “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” NBC (season 3; 2-night event, part 2)
• “T-Rex Her Fight for Gold,” PBS (“Independent Lens” premiere; life for teen female boxer who won Olympics)

10 p.m.

• “Guy Fieri’s Cuban Adventure,” Travel (special; Guy Fiera heads to Cuba)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 3

Streaming

• “Beat Bugs,” Netflix (animated kids series featuring music of The Beatles)

7 p.m.

• “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” ABC (special)
• “Koko—the Gorilla Who Talks,” PBS (special; gorilla who learned sign language still influential 40 years later)
• “Killer Hornet Swarm,” Smithsonian (special; smaller Golden-Yellow Hornets fight to survive against Japanese Giant Killer Hornets)
• “Young & Hungry,” Freeform (summer finale)

7:30 p.m.

• “Baby Daddy,” Freeform (summer finale)

8 p.m.

• “Botched By Nature,” E! (series premiere; two plastic surgeons cross country to help those botched by genetics or accidents)
• “Dragon’s Den,” BBC America (U.S. premiere; UK version of “Shark Tank”)

9 p.m.

• “Love at First Kiss,” TLC (series premiere; singles kiss total strangers)
• “Spillover: Zika, Ebola & Beyond,” PBS (special; examining Zika, Ebola and Nipah and other viruses in animals that can infect humans)
• “Botched: Post-Op,” E! (after-show season premiere)

 

Thursday, Aug. 4

7 p.m.

• Rio Olympics Preview Special, NBC (special)

8 p.m.

• “Killing the Colorado,” Discovery (special; did drought conditions, overuse or poor planning diminish Colorado River?)
• “Greatest Hits,” ABC (season finale)

9 p.m.

• “Nick Cannon: Wild ’N Out,” MTV (season premiere)

9:30 p.m.

• “MTV’s Joking Off,” MTV (season premiere)

10 p.m.

• “Kingin’ with Tyga,” MTV (season premiere)

 

Friday, Aug. 5

Streaming

• “David Cross’ Making America Great Again,” Netflix (comedy special)
• “The Little Prince,” Netflix (animated movie)

6:30 p.m.

• Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony, NBC (special; kicks off 15 days of Olympics coverage on all networks of NBC; check local listings)

7 p.m.

• “Kitten Summer Games,” Hallmark (series premiere; the Super Bowl-inspired games gets a summer version)

8 p.m.

• “What Would You Do?” ABC (season 10)

10 p.m.

• “The Eric Andre Show,” Adult Swim (season 4)

 

Saturday, Aug. 6

8 p.m.

• “My Summer Prince,” Hallmark (movie; assistant pretends to be publicist hired to repair a prince’s rep, then falls for him)
• “Sorority Nightmare,” Lifetime (movie; pledge learns her new “sisters” aren’t nice)

 

Sunday, Aug. 7

8 p.m.

• “Inspector Lewis, The Final Season,” PBS (“Masterpiece” premiere; Oxford detectives Lewis and Hathaway solve final mysteries; through August 21)
• “Bar Rescue,” Spike (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Guns on Campus: Tamron Hall Investigates,” ID (special; on 50th anniversary of Tower Shooting at University of Texas at Austin, school must implement SB11, which allows students to carry concealed weapons on campus and in classrooms)

 

Monday, Aug. 8

Streaming

• “Agatha Raisin, Series 1,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere, 8 episodes; London PR exec moves to rural village and soon becomes amateur sleuth as murders encroach on idyllic new life)

7 p.m.

• “The Rise and Fall of El Chapo,” History (2-hour doc; drug kingpin’s story)
• “Pompeii: The Dead Speak,” Smithsonian (“Behind the Lost Empires” premiere; scientists use cutting-edge technology to learn more about Pompeii)
• “Bachelor in Paradise,” ABC (Monday time-period premiere)

8 p.m.

• “Hitchcock/Truffaut,” HBO (doc; French New Wave auteur François Truffaut spent a week in 1962 with his idol, Alfred Hitchcock)
• “Angie Tribeca,” TBS (season 2 finale)

8:30 p.m.

• “How Do They Do It?” Science (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Secret Eats with Adam Richman,” Travel (season premiere)
• “UnReal,” Lifetime (season 2 finale)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 9

8 p.m.

• “Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise,” ABC (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Los Angeles Rams,” HBO (doc premiere)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 10

7 p.m.

• “Desert Warriors: Lions of the Namb,” Smithsonian (special; five young male lions hold key to future of their kind)
• “Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry,” E! (season 2)

9 p.m.

• “Catfish: The TV Show,” MTV (midseason premiere)

 

https://youtu.be/D05IZ0iNbNg

Thursday, Aug. 11

Streaming

• “Take My Wife,” Seeso (comedy premiere; comics Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher star as versions of themselves)
• “Triumph’s Summer Election Special 2016,” Hulu (special; Triumph the Insult Comic Dog takes on politics)

8 p.m.

• “AXS TV Concerts Hosted by Mark Cuban,” AXS TV (series premiere; 5 weeks of concerts starting with The Monkees, then Village People, Bret Michaels, KC and The Sunshine Band, Bad Company)

 

https://youtu.be/usv442G6H8A

Friday, Aug. 12

Streaming

• “The Get Down,” Netflix (series premiere; Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama about South Bronx kids in the 1970s when New York gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco)
• “Cinderella and Four Knights,” DramaFever (series premiere; fate of college student living with evil stepmother who refuses to help her pay for school changes when she moves in with four billionaires)
• “Project MC2,” Netflix (season 2)

8 p.m.

• “The Great British Baking Show,” PBS (season finale; check local listings) 

9 p.m.

• “El Negocio,” HBO Latino (season 3) 
• “Outcast,” Cinemax (season 1 finale)

 

Saturday, Aug. 13

Streaming

• “The Wine Show,” Hulu (U.S. premiere; Matthew Rhys and Matthew Goode learn about wine)

7 p.m.

• “Perfect Sisters,” Lifetime (movie; two women plot to kill their older sister)
• “The Night Manager” marathon, AMC (all 6 episodes of Emmy-nominated espionage drama air to 2:30 a.m.)

8 p.m.

• “Summer in the City,” Hallmark (movie; small-town woman moves to Big Apple where she learns to be true to self)

 

Sunday, Aug. 14

3:22 a.m.

• “The Walking Dead” marathon, AMC (season 6 marathon)

7 p.m.

• “50 Years of Star Trek,” History (2-hour special; Cast and creators, including the late Leonard Nimoy, give an inside look into the series and reflect on its legacy)

8 p.m.

• “Chesapeake Shores,” Hallmark (series premiere; based on Sherryl Woods’s novels about a woman who considers moving back to her hometown to be with her daughters)
• “Still the King,” CMT (season 1 finale)

9 p.m.

• “The Walking Dead Season 7 Preview Special,” AMC (special; Chris Hardwick and TED cast members preview upcoming Season 7)

10 p.m.

• “Geeking Out,” AMC (series premiere; Kevin Smith and Greg Grunberg look at pop culture through a fanboy lens with celebrity interviews and out-of-the-studio segments)

 

Monday, Aug. 15

Streaming

• “The Disappearance,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; 8-episode French drama follows disappearance of a Lyon teen)

7 p.m.

• “Lost City of Gladiators,” Smithsonian (“Behind the Lost Empires” premiere; archaeologists discover Roman gladiator school in Austria)
• “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood,” VH1 (season 3)

 

Tuesday, Aug 16

8 p.m.

• “Elvis Lives!” AXS TV (movie; Elvis Presley never died in the film produced by The Asylum, makes of “Sharknado” franchise)
• “Andrew Zimmern’s Driven By Food,” Travel (series premiere; local cabbies or other drivers set itinerary for culinary explorer’s new trips)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 17

8 p.m.

• “My Last Days,” CW (3-night doc series; people share their stories of living with terminal illness)

10 p.m.

• “Unlocking the Truth,” MTV (serialized doc premiere; alleged wrongfully convicted prisoners fight for their freedom)

 

Thursday, Aug. 18

8 p.m.

• “60 Days In,” A&E (season 2; 2 episodes)

9 p.m.

• “Motel,” Cinemáx (series premiere; crazy happenings in motel called Divine Sin)

 

Friday, Aug. 19

Streaming

• “Fearless,” Netflix (doc series; look at the pro riders from  Professional Bull Riders)
• “Steve Aoki: I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,” Netflix (doc premiere; life of eminent DJ Steve Aoki)

9:30 p.m.

• “Superstore,” NBC (special episode airs after Olympics coverage; check local listings)

 

Saturday, Aug. 20

11:30 a.m.

• “Smollett Eats,” Food (series premiere; Jake, Jazz, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee and Jussie Smollett showcase cooking, entertaining skills)

7 p.m.

• “Boy in the Attic,” Lifetime (movie; when girl discovers boy living in the attic of the home her mother just inherited, she must decide whether to tell)
• “Rush Hour,” CBS (series finale)

8 p.m.

• “Summer Love,” Hallmark (movie; widowed mom takes internship in tech world)

 

Sunday, Aug. 21

7 p.m.

• Rio Olympics Closing Ceremony, NBC (special)
• “Mighty Ship at War: The Queen Mary,” Smithsonian (special; look at the R.M.S. Queen Mary’s service as both a luxury passenger liner and wartime troop ship)

8 p.m.

• “Fear the Walking Dead,” AMC (season 2B)
• “J.L. Family Ranch,” Hallmark M&M (movie; rancher and former sheriff takes on old enemy and the government over ownership of his ranch)

9:30 p.m.

• “The Voice,” NBC (special episode airs after Olympics coverage; check local listings)

 

Monday, Aug. 22

Streaming

• “The Syndicate: All or Nothing,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere, 6 episodes; when 5 remaining servants working for Lord and Lady Hazelwood win lottery, lines between upstairs and downstairs blur at mansion)

7 p.m.

• “Wild Oats,” Lifetime (movie; widow who mistakenly gets $5 million insurance check cashes in with longtime friend)
• “Raiders of the Jade Empire,” Smithsonian (“Behind the Lost Empires” premiere; archaeologists examine royal tombs of three emperors spanning the reign of Han Dynasty)
• “Food Network Star Kids,” Food (series premiere; kids compete)

8 p.m.

• “Too Close to Home,” TLC (series premiere; when political scandal ruins up-and-comer she is forced back to her trailer park roots she had abandoned)
• “Guilt,” Freeform (season 1 finale)

9 p.m.

• “Cheer Squad,” Freeform (series premiere; following cheerleading champs the Great White Sharks)
• “Adventure Capitalists,” CNBC (series premiere; hopeful entrepreneurs pitch their outdoor products to adventure capitalists)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 23

7 p.m.

• “Bunk’d,” Disney (season 2; episodes also air 7 p.m. Aug. 24, 25, 26)

8 p.m.

• “Halt and Catch Fire,” AMC (season 3)
• “Forged in Fire,” History (season 3)
• “Cake Boss,” TLC (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Better Late Than Never,” NBC (series premiere; Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman travel across Asia)
• “Milwaukee Blacksmith,” History (series premiere, 2 episodes; Kent Knapp and his children make living in the 5,000-year-old craft of blacksmithing)
• “Playhouse Masters,” TLC (series premiere; Tyson and Audy Leavitt create elaborate playhouses for celeb clients)
• “The View: 20 Years in the Making,” ABC (special; celebrating history of daytime talk show)
• “Adam Ruins Everything,” truTV (midseason premiere)
• “The Profit,” CNBC (season 4)
• “Chopped Teen Tournament,” Food (season 2)
• “Chrisley Knows Best,” USA (midseason 4 premiere)
• “Ink Master,” Spike (season premiere)

9:30 p.m.

• “You Can Do Better,” truTV (series premiere; guide to real-life skills you’re expected to know but no one ever taught you)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 24

8 p.m.

• “Toddlers and Tiaras,” TLC (season premiere)
• “Dual Survivor,” Discovery (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Gomorrah,” Sundance TV (series premiere; Italian drama tells story of Naples crime organization Camorra through the eyes of godfather’s right hand man)
• “Gaycation Presents: Orlando,” Viceland (special; hosts Ellen Page and Ian Daniel focus on aftermath of shootings in Orlando, Fla.)
• “Toucan Nation,” Animal Planet (network premiere; story of Grecia, a toucan whose unconscionable abuse sparked international outrage)
• “Cleveland Hustles,” CNBC (series premiere; four Cleveland business leaders teamed with local entrepreneurs looking for an investment)
• “Garage Squad,” Velocity (season premiere)
• “Camp Cutthroat 2: Alton’s Revenge,” Food (season 2)

 

Thursday, Aug. 25

7 p.m.

• “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars,” Logo (season premiere)

8 p.m.

• “Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team,” CMT (season 11)

9 p.m.

• “Behind Bars: Rookie Year,” A&E (season 2)
• “I Love Kellie Pickler,” CMT (season 2)
• “North Woods Law: Washington State,” Animal Planet (season premiere; series formerly known as “Rugged Justice”)

10 p.m.

• “Dessert Flippers,” HGTV (series premiere; home renovation in Palm Springs, Calif.)

 

 

Friday, Aug. 26

Streaming

• “The Kicks,” Amazon (kids show premiere; Devin Burke leads her new school’s soccer team to become  competitive force)
• “XOXO,” Netflix (movie; 6 strangers meet at electronic music festival)
• “Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy: We’ve Been Thinking,” Netflix (standup special)

6:30 p.m.

• “Human Resources,” Pivot (season 3)

 

Saturday, Aug. 27

7 p.m.

• “Unwanted Guest,” Lifetime (movie; seemingly sweet college student reveals herself to be psycho while on break with her bestie’s family)

8 p.m.

• “Summer of Dreams,” Hallmark (movie; Deborah Gibson plays former 1980s pop star dropped by label, moves in with sister in Ohio where she finds grander purpose and maybe love)

 

Sunday, Aug. 28

7 p.m.

• “America’s National Parks at 100,” Smithsonian (special; how the national parks system came to be)
• “Guy’s Superstar Grocery Games,” Food (season premiere)

8 p.m.

• “MTV Video Music Awards 2016,” MTV (special)
• “The Great Food Truck Race: Family Face-Off,” Food (season premiere)
• “Robin Williams: Behind Closed Doors,” Reelz (doc premiere; Natalie Morales hosts a complete look at the life and legacy of a comedic genius)
• “Caribbean Life,” HGTV (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “The Strain,” FX (season 3)

 

https://youtu.be/HAV7HgdvVAE

Monday, Aug. 29

Streaming

• “Janet King, Series 2,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; 8 episodes debuting weekly)
• “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo,” DramaFever (series premiere; Chinese woman caught in a solar eclipse is transported to Goryeo Dynasty)

7 p.m.

• “China’s Emperor of Evil,” Smithsonian (“Behind the Lost Empires” premiere; China’s only female ruler, Emperor Wu, wore the crown for 50 years in the 600s)
• “Fashion Police: The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards,” E! (special)

8 p.m.

• “Fast N Loud,” Discovery (special; motor icons Richard Rawlings, Aaron Kaufman answer fan questions)
• “Cake Wars,” Food (season finale)

9 p.m.

• “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman,” Science (season premiere)
• “Star Plates,” Cooking (series premiere; celebrity guest experiences life as line cook)
• “House Crashers,” DIY (season premiere)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 31

6 p.m.

• “Paper Tigers,” Pivot (doc premiere; year in the life of an alternative high school that radically changed its approach to disciplining students)

9 p.m.

• “You’re the Worst,” FXX (season 3)