July 2016 TV premieres
Rami Malek and Christian Slater return for the second season of USA's "Mr. Robot." (Peter Kramer/USA)

July 2016 TV premieres, movies, specials

Last summer’s surprise hit, USA’s Mr. Robot, returns in July to cause more hacker havoc in its sophomore season. Here’s the July 2016 TV premieres calendar.

Other high profile new seasons include Netflix’s “Marco Polo,” Syfy’s “Killjoys” and “Dark Matter,” USA’s “Suits,” Starz’ “Power” and “Survivor’s Remorse,” “FX’s “Tyrant,” BBC America’s “Ripper Street” and CBS’s “Zoo.”

Acorn TV offers the U.S. premieres of the English Western “Jericho” and Season 18 of “Midsomer Murders.” Among the new series debuting are “The Hunt” on BBC America, “Stranger Things” on Netflix and HBO’s “Vice Principals.”

Much more is coming, so take a look at the calendar below. I’ll continue to add to it throughout the month. Check out my previews of new summer shows, returning summer series and summer movies.

July 2016 TV premieres calendar

All times are Central.

Friday, July 1

Streaming

  • “Marcella,” Netflix (U.S. premiere; woman goes back to job as detective after 12 years off the force)
  • “Jim Jefferies: Freedumb,” Netflix (standup special)
  • “All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals,” Amazon (docu-series premiere; following Arizona Cardinals from draft to NFC Championship game in eight episodes)
  • Marco Polo,” Netflix (season 2)

3 p.m.

  • “Kaijuly Roarth,” El Rey Network (marathon of 14 iconic Godzilla films through July 4)

8 p.m.

  • “Shark Bait,” Discovery (Shark Week premiere; great whites have had to learn new ways to hunt seals off Cape Cod)
  • “Killjoys,” Syfy (season 2)
  • “Love Thy Neighbor,” OWN (season 3)
  • “Mysteries at the Museum,” Travel (season premiere)
  • “The Great British Baking Show,” PBS (season 3)

9 p.m.

  • “Blue Serengeti,” Discovery (Shark Week premiere; the rich, hidden world of white sharks off California coast, now more visible thanks to new camera tags deployed on both predator and prey)
  • Dark Matter,” Syfy (season 2)

10 p.m.

  • “Celebrity Adventure Club,” Travel (special; Jon Cryer explores passion for space travel in first of series of specials)

 

Saturday, July 2

11 a.m.

  • “Outlander” marathon, Starz (first 12 episodes of season 2 of series)

8 p.m.

  • “Sharksanity,” Discovery (Shark Week premiere; greatest moments from Shark Week 2016)

 

https://youtu.be/5_1j6uIz23A%20

Sunday, July 3

8 p.m.

  • “The Hunt,” BBC America (series premiere; examines predator vs. prey in the animal world, narrated by Sir David Attenborough)
  • “The Killing Games,” Discovery (Shark Week premiere; great white sharks in area of South Australia come out of water and snatch seals from the shore)
  • “The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima,” Smithsonian (doc; Marine Corps confirms identity of previously unknown flag raiser on Iwo Jima)
  • “Flea Market Flip,” GAC (season 7)

9 p.m.

  • “Motive,” USA (season 4)

10 p.m.

  • “Island Explorers,” Travel (series premiere; coolest off-the-beaten-path spots in Hawaiian Islands)

 

Monday, July 4

Streaming

  • “Midsomer Murders, Series 18,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; 6 new feature-length mysteries set in idyllic villages of Great Britain’s Midsomer County)
  • “Genius of the Ancient World,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; historian Bettany Hughes travels to India, Greece, and China on the trail of Buddha, Socrates, and Confucius)

2:15 a.m.

6 p.m.

  • “Idris Elba No Limits,” Discovery (series premiere; that actor races on land, water and in the air)

7 p.m.

  • “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” NBC (special)
  • “A Capitol Fourth,” PBS (special)

8 p.m.

  • “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular,” CBS (special; Little Big Town, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas to perform)

 

https://vimeo.com/172476531

Tuesday, July 5

5:15 a.m.

8 p.m.

  • “Zoo,” CBS (time-period premiere)
  • “In the Cut,” Bounce TV (season 2)
  • “Counting Cars,” History (season premiere)
  • “Man Fire Food,” Cooking (season premiere)

9 p.m.

  • “Black Market,” Viceland (series premiere; Michael K. Williams journeys into dangerous world of illicit trade)
  • “Unearthed,” Science (series premiere; combines scientific investigations with CGI animation to reveal hidden secrets of iconic structures and monuments)
  • “Big Easy Motors,” History (series premiere; turning junkers into custom cars)
  • “Chopped Grill Masters Napa,” Food (series premiere; 16 grilling experts compete for $50,000)
  • “Greatest Ever,” truTV (series premiere; pop-culture comedy countdown with new topic each week)

9:30 p.m.

  • “Cyberwar,” Viceland (series premiere; investigating computer security issues and cyber warfare)

10 p.m.

  • “Guy & Hunter’s European Vacation,” Travel (special; Guy Fieri and son, Hunter, head to Europe)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIHIs2pUFN8

Wednesday, July 6

Streaming

  • Uncontrollably Fond,” DramaFever (U.S. premiere; two lovers meet again years after break up, but now one is an egotistical superstar and the other a materialistic documentarian)

8 p.m.

  • “Duck Dynasty,” A&E (season 10; two episodes)
  • “My Crazy Ex,” LMN (series premiere; true stories of past relationships that went seriously awry)

9 p.m.

  • “American Tarzan,” Discovery (series premiere; 7 challengers try to master nature in Caribbean
  • “Tyrant,” FX (season 3)
  • “Royal Pains,” USA (series finale)
  • “Vice Does America,” Viceland (series premiere; 3 Vice staffers set out to meet different kinds of Americans)
  • “Wahlburgers,” A&E (season 6)
  • “I Love You … But I Lied,” LMN (series premiere; inspired by real-life stories of personal betrayal and family secrets)

 

Thursday, July 7

9 p.m.

  • “Dead Set on Life,” Viceland (series premiere; culinary travel show)

9:30 p.m.

  • “Party Legends,” Viceland (series premiere; party stories from famous personalities get animated)

 

Friday, July  8

8 p.m.

  • “As I Am: The Life and Times of DJ AM,” Showtime (doc; a look at the life of the first million dollar DJ in the U.S.)

9 p.m.

  • “Blue: A Secret of Life,” LMN (network premiere; single mother trying to keep her life as an escort hidden)
  • “Million Dollar Matchmaker,” WE tv (network premiere)
  • “Trauma Doctors,” Discovery Life (U.S. premiere; docs provide on-site medical treatments)

 

Saturday, July 9

7:30 a.m.

  • “Mr. Robot,” USA (season 1 marathon; through 7 p.m.)

11 a.m.

  • “Island Fever,” Travel (special; Stewart Copeland of The Police discovers Bali)

7 p.m.

  • “Hello World!” Discovery (series premiere; wonders of natural world through the eyes of musicians Christina Aguilera, Ellie Goulding, Joan Jett, Dave Matthews, Usher Raymond, Steven Tyler; 2 episodes)

8 p.m.

  • “Outlander,” Starz (90-minute season 2 finale)
  • “Princess Diana: Behind Closed Doors,” Reelz (special; Natalie Morales hosts intimate look at private life of Princess Diana)

 

Sunday, July 10

7 p.m.

  • “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Bravo (season 7 premiere)

8 p.m.

  • “The Night Of,” HBO (limited series premiere; a complex New York City murder case with cultural and political overtones)
  • “DB Cooper,” History (4-part doc series; hijacker who jumped from plane with ransom was never seen again)
  • “Original Sin: Sex,” Nat Geo (series premiere; sexual history and dynamic between technology, education, government, gender, law and media in sexual culture)
  • “Princess Diana’s Death: Mystery Solved,” Reelz (special; look at crash that claimed Diana’s life)
  • “Return to Amish,” TLC (season premiere)

9 p.m.

  • “Escaping Polygamy,” A&E (season 2)
  • “Cooks vs. Cons,” Food (season 2)

 

July 2016 TV premieres
Clarke Peters (from left), Jessica Raine and Hans Matheson star in “Jericho.”
Monday, July 11

Streaming

  • “Jericho,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; British western set in 1870s Yorkshire)
  • “The Secret Life of Books, Series 2,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; new insights into classic literature)
  • Let’s Fight Ghost,” DramaFever (U.S. premiere; mysterious relationship of a wandering ghost and an exorcist)

9:30 a.m.

  • “Star vs. the Forces of Evil,” Disney XD (season 2 premiere)

7 p.m.

  • “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” CW (season premiere)
  • “Cupcake Wars,” Food (season premiere)

8 p.m.

  • “Chris Harris on Cars,” BBC America (series premiere; motoring journalist explores newest, fastest, coolest cars)
  • “Misfit Garage,” Discovery (season 4)

9 p.m.

  • “The Making of the Mob: Chicago,” AMC (docu-series premiere; rise and fall of Al Capone and his successors, collectively known as the Chicago Outfit)
  • “Capital,” Pivot (U.S. premiere; residents of Pepys Street receive unsettling postcards stating, “We want what you have”)
  • “Nazi Secret Files,” AHC (series premiere; newly discovered info about Hitler and Nazis)
  • “Pervert Park,” PBS (“POV” premiere; Florida Justice Transitions trailer park is home to 120 sex offenders)
  • “Food’s Greatest Hits,” Cooking (series premiere; history and fun facts about iconic dishes)

 

Tuesday, July 12

Streaming

  • “Difficult People,” Hulu (season 2 premiere; 2 episodes, then 1 per week after)

7 p.m.

  • “The White House: Inside Story,” PBS (special; 200-year story of White House)

8 p.m.

  • “Lost World of Pompeii,” Science (special; inside lives of Pompeii residents before volcano destroyed city)

Wednesday, July 13

7 p.m.

  • “Hunting the Hammerhead,” Smithsonian (special; sharks hunt venomous stingrays in the Bahamas)
  • “The 2016 ESPYs,” ABC (awards show)
  • “America’s Most Desperate Kitchens,” HGTV (season 2)

8 p.m.

  • “Suits,” USA (season 6 premiere)
  • “Little Women: LA,” Lifetime (season 5)

9 p.m.

  • “Mr. Robot,” USA (2-hour season 2 premiere)
  • “The A Word,” Sundance TV (series premiere; portrait of family after young son is diagnosed with autism)
  • “Flipping Out,” Bravo (season 9)
  • “Little Women: Atlanta,” Lifetime (season 2)

11 p.m.

  • “Hacking Robot,” USA (series premiere; “Mr. Robot” after show)

 

Thursday, July 14

8 p.m.

  • “30 for 30: Doc & Darryl,” ESPN (season premiere)

9 p.m.

  • “Cutting It: In the ATL,” WEtv (season 2)
  • “Impractical Jokers,” truTV (midseason premiere)

10 p.m.

  • “Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes,” truTV (series premiere; behind-the-scenes stories and factoids about classic episodes)

 

https://youtu.be/XWxyRG_tckY

Friday, July 15

Streaming

  • “Stranger Things,” Netflix (series premiere; top secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and a strange little girl are at center of mystery series)
  • “East Los High,” Hulu (season 4 premiere; all episodes)
  • “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street,” Amazon (season 2B)
  • “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru,” Netflix (doc special)

8 p.m.

  • “Cesar 911: The Trouble with Truffles,” Nat Geo Wild (season premiere)

Saturday, July 16

8 p.m.

  • “Perfect Christmas,” Hallmark (movie; newlyweds celebrate first Christmas together)

 

Sunday, July 17

3 p.m.

  • “Nickel and Dining,” Food (special; Greg Grunberg & friends explore LA food scene)

3:30 p.m.

  • “Mealin’ & Dealin’,” Food (special; Ty Barnett finds best meal deals in town)

8 p.m.

  • “Hell Below,” Smithsonian (series premiere; submarine campaigns of WW II)
  • “Power,” Starz (season 3 premiere)
  • “Larrymania,” NBC Universo (season 5)

9 p.m.

  • “Ballers,” HBO (season 2 premiere)
  • “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding,” TLC (season 5)

9:30 p.m.

  • “Vice Principals,” HBO (series premiere; Danny McBride and Walton Goggins are VPs competing for principal job)

10 p.m.

  • “Life’s a Beach,” Travel (series premiere;  incredible beach paradises)

 

Monday, July 18

Streaming

  • “Cradle to Grave, Series 1,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; real life events of British broadcaster Danny Baker and his family based on his autobiography “Going to Sea in a Sieve”)

6:30 p.m.

  • “Open Your Eyes,” HBO (doc premiere; aging Nepali couple travel to get procedure that will restore sight)

7 p.m.

  • “Republican National Convention,” PBS (PBS NewsHour-NPR cover events from Cleveland; through July 21)

9 p.m.

  • “Republican National Convention,” CBS (special)

9:30 p.m.

  • “Made By Destruction,” Science (season finale)

 

Tuesday, July 19

7 p.m.

  • “Silvana Sin Lana,” Telemundo (series premiere; upper-class woman who loses her fortune moves to a poor neighborhood next door to hot fish seller)
  • “Smackdown,” USA (new day and airing live)

8 p.m.

  • “Rome’s Buried Secrets,” Science (special; experts explore subterranean treasures of ancient Rome)
  • “Sin Senos Sí Hay Paraíso,” Telemundo (series premiere; woman refuses to get plastic surgery or sell drugs to succeed)

9 p.m.

  • “Señora Acero 3, La Coyote,” Telemundo (series premiere; Mexican immigrants cross border, trying to evade both Border Patrol and drug traffickers)

 

Wednesday, July 20

7 p.m.

  • “Dragon Island,” Smithsonian (special; tracking Komodo Dragons)

9 p.m.

  • “The Bravos,” Bravo (special; Andy Cohen hosts new pop-culture infused awards show designed to honor, no doubt, Bravo shows and personalities)

 

Thursday, July 21

7 p.m.

  • “Syfy Presents Live from Comic-Con,” Syfy (3-night special; host live from Will Arnett from San Diego Comic-Con)

10 p.m.

  • “Traveling the Stars: Ancient Aliens with Action Bronson and Friends,” Viceland (series premiere; Bronson and friends watch and comment upon fave eps of “Ancient Aliens”)

 

Friday, July 22

6 p.m.

  • “Elena of Avalor,” Disney (series premiere; teenager who has saved her kingdom from evil sorceress must rule as crown princess)

7 p.m.

  • “Stuck in the Middle,” Disney (season finale)

8 p.m.

  • “Bring It!” Lifetime (season 3B)
  • “The Real Housewives of Melbourne,” Bravo (season 3)

9 p.m.

  • “The Rap Game,” Lifetime (season 2)

 

https://youtu.be/eKKXaX–ifI

Saturday, July 23

7 p.m.

  • “Indiscretion,” Lifetime (movie; psychiatrist has a weekend fling but fears for her marriage when her fling won’t leave her alone)

8 p.m.

  • “Summer Villa,” Hallmark (movie; romance novelist learns she’s sharing French villa with a horrible date from the past)

9 p.m.

  • “Looking: The Movie,” HBO (movie; wraps up the story of three close gay friends living in San Francisco)

 

https://youtu.be/PIAwTP2-w_Q

Sunday, July 24

Streaming

  • Ice Fantasy,” DramaFever (U.S. premiere; the kingdoms of fire and ice vie to rule as the next generation of leaders take control)

8 p.m.

  • “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million,” Hallmark M&M (movie; the POstables are asked to find letter with lottery ticket inside)
  • “Sr. Ávila,” HBO Latino (season 3; moves to 9 p.m. Mondays beginning Aug. 1)

9 p.m.

  • “Survivor’s Remorse,” Starz (season 3)
  • “Braindead,” CBS (new night premiere)

 

Monday, July 25

Streaming

  • “Murdoch Mysteries: A Merry Murdoch Christmas,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; when murdered philanthropist’s presents to Toronto’’s orphans go missing, Murdoch and Co. must solve mystery and save Christmas)
  • “Winter: The Killing Field,” Acorn TV (U.S. premiere; Detective Eve Winter solves complicated cases in Australian murder mystery series)

7 p.m.

  • “Democratic National Convention,” PBS (PBS NewsHour-NPR cover events from Philadelphia; through July 28)
  • “Best Friends Whenever,” Disney (season 2)

9 p.m.

  • “Democratic National Convention,” CBS (special)
  • “Fameless,” truTV (special; David Spade’s top 10 S1 moments)

 

Tuesday, July 26

7 p.m.

  • “Chopped Junior,” Food (season 3)

8 p.m.

  • “Married at First Sight,” FYI (season 4)

9 p.m.

  • “Born This Way,” A&E (season 2)
  • “Cry Wolfe,” Investigation Discovery (season 3)

 

Wednesday, July 27

7 p.m.

  • “Viper Queens,” Smithsonian (special; intimate look at three different forms of vipers)

8 p.m.

  • “Sing It On,” Pop (season 2)

9 p.m.

  • “Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour,” History (series premiere; history buffs Ozzy Osbourne and his son, Jack, hit the road to visit historical sites)

9:30 p.m.

  • “Black and White,” A&E (series premiere; comics Christian Finnegan and Sherrod Small debate current events)

Thursday, July 28

9 p.m.

  • “Ripper Street,” BBC America (season 4)

 

Friday, July 29

8 a.m.

  • “Doc McStuffins,” Disney Junior (season 4)
Saturday, July 30

8 p.m.

  • “For Love and Honor,” Hallmark (movie; military academy’s director clashes with academics dean, then falls for her)
  • “Toucan Nation,” Discovery (special; story of Grecia, a toucan whose unconscionable abuse sparked international outrage)

 

https://youtu.be/aZ6pWMtdCoQ

Sunday, July 31

7 p.m.

  • “Sharknado: The 4th Awakens,” Syfy (movie;  five years after the East Coast was ravaged, new sharknados show up in unexpected places and ways)
  • “Teen Choice 2016,” Fox (awards special)