Music, fireworks and ‘Stranger Things’
A television tradition for 39 years, “A Capitol Fourth” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) presents music and fireworks from the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building. John Stamos hosts a cast of performers that includes singer/songwriter Carole King.
Look for a 50th anniversary salute to “Sesame Street,” and, of course, a celebration of our country’s 243rd birthday.
› Somewhat north of the Potomac, Derek Hough and Ciara host “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) featuring an enormous pyrotechnic display and musical performances by Luke Bryan, Khalid, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley and others.
› Long a staple on CBS, the live broadcast of the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (8 p.m., TV-G) can be found on Bloomberg.
› For those who celebrate their country’s birthday with country music, the “Let Freedom Sing Concert” (10 p.m., CMT, TV-PG) comes live from downtown Nashville. Brett Eldredge and Cody Alan host.
› Among the many TV marathons airing today, WGN offers viewers two solid days of “JAG” (9 a.m., TV-PG) repeats. The marathon announces the debut of the military legal procedural on the WGN lineup on weekdays at 4 p.m.
As network series go, “JAG” falls into the category of the one that got away. It originally aired on NBC, but that network canceled it after the 19956 season. CBS picked it up, and it ran there for an additional nine years, spinning into syndication and appearing in 90 countries. Its most lasting legacy is its spin-off, “NCIS,” which long ranked as the mostwatched drama on network TV.
› A combination of 1980s nostalgia, adolescent hijinks and scary monsters, “Stranger Things” enters its third mind-bending season on Netflix.
Even if you’ve watched both seasons, there’s a lot to remember. I highly recommend the 15-minute Youtube recap, created by Netflix and starring several members of the cast.
While season three promises much strangeness, the greatest uncertainty is how we will react to cast favorites as they progress deeper into their teenage years. It’s a rare series that remains popular when cute adolescent characters morph before our eyes. It’s a TV tradition that dates back at least to “Leave It to Beaver” and affected “Malcolm in the Middle” in its later seasons. “Modern Family” lingered on well beyond its kids’ adorable phases.
› We hold these truths to be self-evident, that not all reality programming is created equal. “Dr. Pimple Popper: Red, White & Ewww, Part 2” (8 p.m., TLC) asks viewers to declare their independence from the unsightly.