August 2017 TV premieres, movies, specials

Shows about crime—both true and fictional—fill the August 2017 TV premieres calendar. But a healthy group of comedies will lighten the dog days of summer.

New documentaries look into the cases of convicted killers Drew Peterson, Scott Peterson and Son of Sam, plus an international sports doping conspiracy. A flood of new specials look into the life of British Princess Diana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her tragic death—which many call a crime.

“Manhunt: Unabomber” dramatizes the story of how an FBI profiler (Sam Worthington) tracked down Unabomber Ted Kaczynski (Paul Bettany), who terrorized America between 1978 and 1995. Jane Lynch plays U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. You can watch the first episode below.

Fictional criminals better look out in a variety of other new shows, too. In “The Tick,” “The Defenders” and “Death Note,” super heroes or supernatural beings go after the baddies. “Mr. Mercedes” follows a retired detective as he chases a killer who is taunting him.

Regular detectives—both professional and amateur—investigate grisly crimes in new seasons of the feature-length crime thrillers “Vera,” “Endeavour” and “Garage Sale Mystery.”

If you like your police stories leavened with a bit of comedy, check out “Comrade Detective” and “Swedish Dicks.”

Other comedies to check out: “What Would Diplo Do?,” “Sharknado 5: Global Swarming,” “Marlon” and new seasons of “Broad City” and “Survivor’s Remorse.”

Finally, don’t forget the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. If you don’t watch outside for yourself, you can watch coverage all day long on various networks.

Check below for all air times and dates and happy August.

August 2017 TV premieres calendar

All times Central

Tuesday, Aug. 1

Streaming

• “In the Dark,” BritBox (U.S. premiere; two personal cases test detective just as she learns she’s going to be a mother)
• “Surviving Escobar—Alias JJ,” Netflix (season 1; as Medellín Cartel crumbles, Pablo Escobar’s No. 1 hit man struggles to stay alive, gain respect in prison hierarchy)
• “Maz Jobrani: Immigrant,” Netflix (standup special)

7 p.m.

• “CMA Fest 2017,” ABC (special)

8 p.m.

• “Manhunt: Unabomber,” Discovery (2-hour season 1 premiere; FBI Agent Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald pioneers use of forensic linguistics to identify, capture unabomber Ted Kaczynski; watch full premiere above)
• “Dance Moms,” Lifetime (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Chopped Grill Masters,” Food (series premiere; tournament)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 2

7 p.m.

• “Trailer Park Shark,” Syfy (movie; shark comes upriver when tropical storm floods Soggy Meadows trailer park)
• “Ireland’s Wild Coast,” PBS (special; journey along Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast)
• “Kingdom,” Audience (series finale)

8 p.m.

• “Swedish Dicks,” Pop (season 1;  aging ex-stuntman and optimistic Swedish DJ become private eyes in L.A.)

9 p.m.

• “Baroness Von Sketch Show,” IFC (season 1; all female Canadian sketch comedy series comes to IFC)
• “The Sinner,” USA (season 1; young mom commits act of rage violence and wants to know why)
• “The Lowe Files,” A&E (season 1; Rob Lowe and his sons explore unsolved mysteries, spooky legends around the country)
• “Darkness,” Discovery (season 1; 3 survivalists trapped inside cave systems, abandoned mines and underground labyrinths for up to six days try to find way out)

 

Thursday, Aug. 3

7 p.m.

• “Toxic Shark,” Syfy (movie; shark uses projectile acid to hunt before ripping apart its victims)

9 p.m.

• “The Guest Book,” TBS (season 1; creator Greg Garcia brings to life the far-out stories he wrote in rental cabin guest books over the years)
• “What Would Diplo Do?” Viceland (season 1; James Van Der Beek plays fictional version of international EDM DJ Diplo in network’s first fully scripted comedy)
• “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team,” CMT (season premiere)

9:30 p.m.

• “Nuts & Bolts,” Viceland (season 1; Tyler, the Creator learns how some of his favorite things are made then tries to re-make them his way)

10 p.m.

• “I Love Kellie Pickler,” CMT (season 3)
• “The Chris Gethard Show,” truTV (season 1; Youtube talk show moves to truTV with live, hourlong episodes)

 

Friday, Aug. 4

Streaming

• “Comrade Detective,” Amazon (U.S. premiere; 1980s, Soviet-era Romanian comedy about detective team fighting crime and capitalism remastered and dubbed by current American stars—or is it?)
• “Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later,” Netflix (limited series; welcome to the Camp Firewood 10-Year Reunion)
• “Lost in Oz,” Amazon (season 1; animated series for children ages 6-11 based on Oz books from L. Frank Baum)
• “Icarus,” Netflix (doc; doping investigation leads to global cat-and-mouse game when American cyclist and Russian expert trigger international sports conspiracy)
• “Voltron: Legendary Defender,” Netflix (season 3)

7 p.m.

• “WE Day,” CBS (special; all-star guests unite to celebrate the WE movement)

9 p.m.

• “Million Dollar Matchmaker,” WE tv (season 2)

 

Saturday, Aug. 5

7 p.m.

• “Empire of the Sharks,” Syfy (movie; with most of the Earth under water, warlord rules with army of hyper-intelligent sharks)
• “Love at the Shore,” Hallmark (movie; woman finds love i unexpected place)

8 p.m.

• “Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer,” I.D. (doc series; tracing parallel stories of serial killer’s victims and detectives who worked to capture him)

9 p.m.

• “George Lopez: The Wall, Live From Washington D.C.” HBO (standup special)

 

Sunday, Aug. 6

7 p.m.

• “Sharknado 5: Global Swarming,” Syfy (movie; problem goes global; more about Sharknado)
• “Twin Peaks,” Showtime (new time)
• “Flying High with Phil Keoghan,” Smithsonian Channel (special; “Amazing Race” host shares tour of New Zealand)
• “The Hunt with John Walsh,” HLN (season 6)

7:30 p.m.

• “Residente,” Fusion (limited series; Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican hip hop artist Residente explores his genetic origins)

8 p.m.

• “Garage Sale Mystery: The Beach Murder,” Hallmark M&M (movie; 60s surfboard purchase leads to surfer client’s murder probe)
• “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days,” TLC (season 1; follows would-be couples as they uncover hidden truths, navigate cultural differences and decide if their love is meant to be)
• “Ray Donovan,” Showtime (season 5)
• “Chesapeake Shores,” Hallmark (season 2)

 

Monday, Aug. 7

Streaming

• “Vera,” Acorn TV (season 7; more Acorn TV premieres)

8 p.m.

• “Man v. Food,” Travel (series reboot; food lover/restaurant veteran Casey Webb hosts)
• “Snap Decision,” GSN (season 1; contestants make snap judgments about strangers; David Alan Grier hosts)

9 p.m.

• “Brillo Box (3¢ Off),” HBO (doc; following the journey of Andy Warhol’s controversial sculpture that ultimately sold for $3 million in 2010) 
• “The Last Shot,” Viceland (doc; basketball players travel south of border to make a living playing the game they love)
• “Carspotting,” Discovery (season 1; trio flips trashed classic cars for profit)
• “Hollywood Game Night,” NBC (season premiere)
• “Escaping Polygamy,” A&E (season 3)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 8

Streaming

• “Difficult People,” Hulu (season 3)

7 p.m.

• “Bachelor in Paradise,” ABC (season 4)

9 p.m.

• “Last Chance High,” Viceland (doc; adapted and updated from Vice News web series focused on students at Moses Montefiore Academy for troubled youth on Chicago’s West Side)

9:30 p.m.

• “The Therapist,” Viceland (all new episodes)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 9

7 p.m.

• “Mr. Mercedes,” Audience (season 1; demented killer taunts retired police detective who undertakes potentially felonious case to catch him)
• “Honey Badger Grit,” Smithsonian (special; 18-month-old honey badger becomes independents, while learning to choose battles wisely)

8 p.m.

• “The Story of Diana: Part One,” ABC (doc premiere; marking 20th anniversary of Britain’s Princess Diana)
• “Wahlburgers,” A&E (season 8)

9 p.m.

• “Growing Up Evancho,” TLC (special; life in the family of young “America’s Got Talent” winner Jackie Evancho)
• “Transparent,” Sundance TV (network TV premiere of acclaimed Amazon series)

 

Thursday, Aug. 10

Streaming

• “Tina & Bobby,” BritBox (U.S. premiere; 1960s love story about footballer Bobby Moore and his wife, Tina)

7:30 a.m.

• “CMT Remembering Glen Campbell,” CMT (special; includes tributes from Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Reba; reairs 6 p.m. Aug. 11)

8 p.m.

• “Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update,” NBC (4 specials; Colin Jost and Michael Che host)
• “First in Human,” Discovery (doc season 1; NIH’S Building 10 has been at the forefront of the world’s medical breakthroughs)
• “The Story of Diana: Part Two,” ABC (doc conclusion)

 

Friday, Aug. 11

Streaming

• “Atypical,” Netflix (season 1; 18-year-old on autistic spectrum searches for love and independence)
• “White Gold,” Netflix (season 1; in 1980s Essex, cocky salesman and his team will do anything to get a sale)
• “Naked,” Netflix (movie; would-be groom gets caught in time loop naked)
• “Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh,” Netflix (season 3)

8 p.m.

• “Bering Sea Gold,” Discovery (season 6)

11 p.m.

• “DuckTales,” Disney XD (season 1, hourlong premiere repeat airs for 24 consecutive hours; Donald Duck takes nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie to home of their great uncle Scrooge McDuck, where they uncover family secrets)

Saturday, Aug. 12

8 p.m.

• “Summer in the Vineyard,” Hallmark (movie sequel; wine-making couple disagrees just as their winery starts taking off)

 

Sunday, Aug. 13

8 p.m.

• “Something’s Killing Me,” HLN (season 1; doc series investigates life-or-death medical mysteries)
• “Garage Sale Mystery: Murder By Text,” Hallmark M&M (movie; bass player quits band via text, then is found dead)

9 p.m.

• “Get Shorty,” EPIX (season 1; hitman tries to become Hollywood movie producer partners with washed up producer; watch full premiere above)

 

Monday, Aug. 14

7 p.m.

• “Bachelor in Paradise,” ABC (season 4)
• “Shadowhunters,” Freeform (summer finale)

8 p.m.

• “Stitchers,” Freeform (summer finale)

9 p.m.

• “I Hart Food,” Food (season 1; regional food hot spots across America)
• “Ballers Wives,” VH1 (season 1; Miami-based pro athletes and their wives)
• “The Real Housewives of Dallas,” Bravo (season 2)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 15

Streaming

• “Tumble Leaf,” Amazon (season 3)
• “Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo,” Netflix (variety special)

8 p.m.

• “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” A&E (season 2)

9 p.m.

• “Haunted Towns,” Destination America (season 1; Tennessee Wraith Chasers travel around looking for ghosts)
• “The Murder of Laci Peterson,” A&E (doc series; new look at the infamous case includes new prison interview with Scott Peterson)
• “Growing Up Supermodel,” Lifetime (season 1; celebrities’ kids try to make it as models)
• “Divided,” GSN (season 2)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 16

7 p.m.

• “America’s Got Talent” live results show, NBC
• “Cobra King,” Smithsonian (special; longest-living venomous snake on the planet)

8 p.m.

• “Marlon,” NBC (season premiere; back-to-back episodes)
• “The Real Housewives of New York City,” Bravo (3-part reunion special; also Aug. 23 and 30)

9 p.m.

• “’90s House,” VH1 (season 1; 1990s celebs move into ’90s house)

 

Thursday, Aug. 17

7 p.m.

• “Project Runway,” Lifetime (season 16; with models ranging in size from 0 to 22, designers must create for any size)

8 p.m.

• “Flipping Out,” Bravo (season 10)

9 p.m.

• “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” Bravo (season 4)

 

Friday, Aug. 18

Streaming

• “The Defenders,” Netflix (season 1; New York-based super heroes team up)
• “What Happened to Monday,” Netflix (movie; in future with one-child policy, six septuplets must avoid government detection while searching for missing sister)
• “Dinotrux,” Netflix (season 5)
• “Glitter Force Doki Doki,” Netflix (season 1; four girls summon inner superheroes to defend Earth and the magical kingdom of Splendorius)

8 p.m.

• “Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood!” Showtime (standup special)
• “Guy’s Family Road Trip,” Food (series premiere; Guy Fieri takes his family cross-country in an RV)

 

Saturday, Aug. 19

6 a.m.

• “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” Disney XD (season 1, 2-episode premiere; animated adventures of Spidey)

7 p.m.

• “Cops: Beyond the Bust,” Spike TV (special; commemorating the show’s 1,000th episode)

8 p.m.

• “Wild West,” BBC America (3-part doc; tough deserts, grand mountains and changeable coasts of America’s West)
• “Halt and Catch Fire,” AMC (final season premiere; 2 hours)
• “The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway,” Oxygen (season 1; father follows new lead in case of daughter missing for 12 years)
• “Eat, Play, Love,” Hallmark (movie; veterinarian tries to tell dog shelter owner she digs him before he gets married to someone else)

 

Sunday, Aug. 20

8 p.m.

• “Endeavour,” PBS (season 4 on “Masterpiece”)
• “The Last Ship,” TNT (season 4; 2-hour premiere)
• “Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Most Medieval,” Hallmark M&M (movie; Medieval history professor found dead clutching antique mace used to kill him)
• “The Great Food Truck Race,” Food (season premiere)

8:30 p.m.

• “Reunion Road Trip: Return to the Jersey Shore,” E! (special episode; Snooki, JWoww, Pauly D, Mike The Situation, and Sammi Sweetheart are back again)

9 p.m.

• “Caribbean Pirate Treasure,” Travel (series premiere; Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau explore)
• “At Home in Mitford,” Hallmark (movie; writer falls for quaint small town where she goes to finish latest book)
• “Survivor’s Remorse,” Starz (season 3)
• “Episodes,” Showtime (6th and final season)

9:30 p.m.

• “Dice,” Showtime (season 2)

 

Monday, Aug. 21

Streaming

• “The Good Karma Hospital,” Acorn TV (season 1; young doctor shocked by conditions at cottage hospital in tropical South India)

5 a.m.

• “The Total Solar Eclipse,” Weather Channel (all-day event; live from various spots to watch the solar eclipse)

8 p.m.

• “Solar Eclipse,” PBS (“Nova” premiere; first total solar eclipse to traverse U.S. mainland in more than a generation)
• “Great American Eclipse,” Science (special; footage from around the country of the eclipse as it happens earlier in the day; watch live on Science Channel Facebook through day)

 

Tuesday, Aug. 22

Streaming

• “Party Boat,” Crackle (movie; Max wants to throw his wildest party to date to celebrate the birthday of his best friend, Kiley)
• “Lynne Koplitz: Hormonal Beast,” Netflix (stand-up special)

7 p.m.

• “Diana—Her Story,” PBS (special; features rare video of Diana, Princess of Wales, and new, revealing interviews with some of her closest confidants)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 23

8 p.m.

• “The Farthest: Voyager in Space,” PBS (special; look at NASA’s epic Voyager missions, launched in 1977)
• “Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky,” Bravo (season 1; Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright visit her family’s Kentucky farm)
• “Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition,” Food (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Shattered,” Discovery (season 1; examines effects of murder on those left behind)
• “South Park,”  Comedy Central (season 21)

9:30 p.m.

• “Broad City,” Comedy Central (season 3)

 

Thursday, Aug. 24

Streaming

• “Magic Funhouse,” Fullscreen (season 2)

8 p.m.

• “Kiss of Death,” ID (season 1; true stories of love gone wrong)

 

Friday, Aug. 25

Streaming

• “The Tick,” Amazon (season 1; an accountant joins forces with a strange blue superhero to fight a super villain)
• “Disjointed,” Netflix (season 1; she’s living her dream as owner of a cannabis dispensary)
• “Death Note,” Netflix (movie; high school student discovers supernatural notebook that allows him to kill people by writing their names on its pages)
• “Dreamworks Dragons: Race to the Edge,” Netflix (season 5)

7 p.m.

• “Heston’s Fantastical Food,” Cooking (series premiere; supersized versions of meals and treats)

8 p.m.

• “Whitney: Can I Be Me,” Showtime (doc; intimate portrait of Whitney Houston)

9 p.m.

• “Love Blows,” WEtv (season 1; family runs successful Chicago-based matchmaking service)
• “Man-Eating Python,” Discovery (special; experts try to understand extraordinary stealth, speed and power of pythons and trace final hours of man swallowed whole by one)

 

 

Saturday, Aug. 26

8 p.m.

• “Sun, Sand and Romance,” Hallmark (movie; couple’s Cancun vacation is interrupted by work opportunity for one while the other is left to remember her past non-workaholic goals)

Sunday, Aug. 27

7 p.m.

• “Diana and the Paparazzi,” Smithsonian (special; public’s and media’s obsession with Princess Di served as catalyst for fatal car crash that took her life)
• “2017 MTV Video Music Awards,” MTV (special)
• “Guy’s Grocery Games: Superstars,” Food (season premiere)

8 p.m.

• “Garage Sale Mystery: A Cast of Murder,” Hallmark M&M (movie; audio from old reel-to-reel recorder holds key to two murders)
• “Drew Peterson: An American Murder Mystery,” ID (2-hour special; a look at Drew Peterson, imprisoned for the death of his first wife, Kathleen Savio, and suspected of having his second, Stacy, murdered)
• “Diana: The Day We Said Goodbye,” Smithsonian (special; narrated by Kate Winslet, special recounts day of Princess Di’s funeral)

11 p.m.

• “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Awesome 10 Year Anniversary Version, Great Job?” Adult Swim (special)

 

Monday, Aug. 28

10 p.m.

• “Raising Bertie,” PBS (“POV” premiere; portrait of three African-American young men coming of age in rural North Carolina)

 

 Tuesday, Aug. 29

Streaming

• “Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face,” Netflix (stand-up special)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 30

8 p.m.

• “Misfit Garage,” Discovery (season premiere)

9 p.m.

• “Garage Rehab,” Discovery (season 1; experts transform struggling garages)

 

Thursday, Aug. 31

8 p.m.

• “Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman,” Discovery (doc; families who work land and sea are crossing political divides to protect the natural resources vital to their livelihoods and the nation)
• “Mysteries of the Abandoned: Chernobyl’s Deadly Secrets,” Science (special; engineer travels into Chernobyl exclusion zone to investigate cause of world’s worst nuclear disaster)

9 p.m.

• “Guilty Rich,” ID (season 1; world of ultra-wealth, scandal and entitlement)