25 shows to check out on TV and streaming in August
There's a little something for everyone on streaming and TV this month. Here’s a look at what will be landing (or already has) on your screen.
Showtime: 'The Go-Gos'
They've got the beat, and this August, '80s rock band The Go-Gos are getting a documentary on Showtime. "Underpinned by candid testimonies from The Go-Go's past and present, this documentary chronicles the meteoric rise to fame of a band born of the LA punk scene that not only captured but created a zeitgeist," the Showtime website says. The documentary was directed by Alison Ellwood and premiered on Aug. 1.
The CW: 'Fridge Wars'
"Fridge Wars" is a competition show on which top chefs whip up gourmet cuisine using only the leftovers from a family's fridge in the hopes of upgrading their weeknight dinners. According to a press release, "(I)t's the outside of the fridge that holds clues that guide the chefs to create a winning meal strategy. The family calendar, take-out menus, photos and maybe a gluten-free recipe are all potential clues to influence what meal will be a hit with these total strangers." "Fridge Wars" premiered Aug. 2 and will air on Sundays.
History: 'Hiroshima: 75 Years Later'
Co-produced by History, A+E and Hulu Japan, "Hiroshima: 75 Years Later," will look back at the catastrophic atomic bomb attacks that devastated the Japanese towns of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and marked the end of World War II in August 1945. The documentary aired on Aug. 2.
Bravo: 'Real Housewives of Potomac'
Season 2 of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Potomac" features plenty of brawls, tears, marital troubles and a newcomer. Wendy Osefo holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, is currently a professor at Johns Hopkins University and has served as a political commentator on channels such as ABC, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. Osefo joined the Potomac posse this season when "The Real Housewives of Potomac" premiered Aug. 2.
Lifetime: 'Elizabeth Smart: Finding Justice'
As part of Lifetime's "Ripped From the Headlines" series, on Aug. 2, Elizabeth Smart hosted a documentary about her 2002 kidnapping. Other "Ripped from the Headlines" stories in Lifetime's rotation will include "Jodi Arias: Cellmate Secrets" and "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein."
Quibi: 'The Fugitive'
In yet another reimagining of the 1963 series and 1993 film, Boyd Holbrook takes his turn as Mike Ferro, an innocent man on the run. Kiefer Sutherland, of "24" and "Designated Survivor" fame, plays Detective Clay Boyd, Ferro's pursuant. "The Fugitive" premiered on Aug. 3.
MTV: 'Catfish: The TV Show'
The ninth season of everyone's favorite bait-and-switch dating show will be totally virtual, according to an exclusive from Variety. Nev Schulman returns with co-host Kamie Crawford to unpack the stories of people who were hoodwinked by love. The season premieres Aug. 5.
The CW: 'Coroner'
While many procedural crime series have a coroner to give a sense of how the person died, The CW is taking things a step further with a series that is from the perspective of a coroner. Played by Serinda Swan, Jenny Cooper is a coroner who makes it her business to "speak for the dead so that (she) can protect the living." The show, already a popular Canadian series, was slated to premiere in the fall but had its debut on The CW moved up to Aug. 5.
CBS All Access: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'
"Star Trek" is venturing into the animated realm on CBS' extended streaming site, CBS All Access. "Star Trek: Lower Decks," which is focused on the Starfleet support crew, was created by Mike McMahan of "Rick and Morty" fame and premieres Aug. 6.
Netflix: 'The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space'
Netflix's 46-minute special episode of 'The Magic School Bus' takes the kids to the International Space Station. It was released Aug. 7
Netflix: 'Wizards: Tales of Arcadia'
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, "Wizards: Tales of Arcadia" is the final installment of the "Tales of Arcadia" series. The show hit televisions and mobile devices Aug. 7.
HBO Max: 'Selena + Chef'
In keeping with the theme of new programming that complies with social distancing mandates, actress and singer Selena Gomez is putting her honed-at-home cooking skills to work with her new HBO Max series. Though the official release date hasn’t been announced, the show’s second episode is expected to premiere on Aug. 13. Each episode will feature Gomez cheffing it up with a different guest master chef. “Together, they'll tackle cuisines of every variety, share invaluable tips and tricks, and deal with everything from smoking ovens to missing ingredients,” according to HBO Max.
Oxygen: 'License to Kill'
The Oxygen series about doctors and medical professionals who forgot the “do no harm” part of their oath returned for Season 2 on Aug. 8. This season will cover the stories of Dr. Anthony Pignataro and many other doctors who used the health profession to harm and kill patients. Dr. Terry Dubrow returns as host.
Discovery Channel: 'Tyson vs. Jaws: Rumble on the Reef'
On Aug. 9, Discovery Channel’s staple “Shark Week” premiered a new special featuring boxing champion Mike Tyson. Tyson spars underwater with a shark in the special, which kicked off Shark Week 2020. In a statement about filming the show, Tyson said, according to Discovery Channel’s website, “I learned from this experience doing Shark Week that whatever intimidates me, I am still able to step up to the challenge of overcoming anything that would prevent me from accomplishing my life’s mission of reaching my highest potential in life and bringing me closer to God.”
Netflix: 'The Great Heist'
Based on the true story of the 1994 robbery of the Columbian Bank, “The Great Heist” descends on screens Aug. 14.
Netflix: 'Project Power'
“What would you risk for five minutes of pure power,” is the question posed by Netflix’s latest foray into action flicks, “Project Power.” The film stars Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a duo in a race to track down a pill that temporarily gives users superhuman powers and causes an uptick in criminal behavior. The sci-fi-meets-superhero-meets-buddy-action film premieres Aug. 14.
Apple TV: 'Ted Lasso'
Jason Sudeikis stars in this Apple TV series based on a character Sudeikis portrayed in several promos for NBC’s coverage of Premier League soccer. In the show, which premieres Aug. 14, Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso finds himself out of his league and across the pond coaching an English football (soccer) club, despite having no experience with the sport.
Quibi: 'Punk'd'
“Punk’d,” popularized by Ashton Kutcher and now hosted by Chance the Rapper, is back for a second season. Previous victims include Liza Koshy, Lil Nas X and French Montana. Who knows what’s in store for the celebrities getting pranked this season? “Punk’d” premieres Aug. 17 according to Rotten Tomatoes.
VH1: 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue'
A spinoff of the TV staple “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is strutting onto screens Aug. 21. In this series, RuPaul and some veterans of the original “Drag Race,” including Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateo, Yvie Oddly, Naomi Smalls, Derrick Barry and Asia O’Hara, see if they have what it takes to slay the stage at their own Las Vegas revue.
HBO Max: ‘Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness’
Premiering on Aug. 27, “Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness” was created as a CNN original series but was acquired by HBO Max in July. “At each stop throughout this comedically heartfelt journey, Patel is joined by a friend or family member, with whom he shares a big conflict or question about life,” according to a press release from HBO Max.
BET+: 'Tyler Perry's Madea's Farewell Play'
Nearly six months after Tyler Perry retired the tough but loving matriarch that made him a household name, “Madea’s Farewell Play” is hitting BET’s streaming extension BET+ Aug. 27.
Disney+: 'Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe'
Premiering on Aug. 28, “Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe” takes the famed titular characters and their eternally vexed older sister Candace to space, where Phineas and Ferb must save Candace from an alien abduction.
MTV Video Music Awards
Social distancing won’t stop MTV’s Video Music Awards from airing on Aug. 30. The ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall.
Showtime: 'Love Fraud'
Premiering Aug. 30, "Love Fraud" documents the search for Richard Scott Smith, who used online dating sites to scam a large number of women. "The story unravels in real-time as Smith's victims band together to seek sweet revenge by turning to a bounty hunter when they feel the justice system has failed them," according to Showtime.
Freeform: 'Love in the Time of Corona'
Freeform is bringing a unique and timely series this summer with its remotely produced show “Love in the Time of Corona.” Set during the coronavirus outbreak, the show explores “four interwoven stories about the hopeful search for love and connection during this time of quarantine,” according to a press release. The show stars “Hamilton” favorite Leslie Odom Jr. and his real-life wife Nicolette Robinson of “Waitress” fame, alongside other notables including Rainey Qualley, Tommy Dorfman and L. Scott Caldwell. “Love in the Time of Corona” is slated to premiere in August.
One strange result of the coronavirus outbreak? Virtual cast reunions from are now a regular occurrence. Here’s a list of recent reunions, TV reboots and revivals, plus a few still to come.
