NBC, PBS offer spectacular July 4 fetes
NBC and PBS will give the nation’s birthday the usual flourishes Wednesday.
“A Capitol Fourth” on PBS and “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” on NBC have become TV traditions.
The NBC special will feature Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton of “The Voice.” To celebrate the 100th anniversary of “God Bless America,” Clarkson will perform the classic with the West Point Band and Glee Club. Irving Berlin wrote the patriotic anthem during World War I.
The Macy’s talent lineup also includes Keith Urban and Ricky Martin.
The hosts, for the second year, will be Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila of “American Ninja Warrior.”
The program will air live from 8-10 p.m. Wednesday with a onehour repeat at 10 p.m.
The Macy’s 4th of July fireworks display over the East River will feature more than 75,000
shells — Macy’s largest fireworks display since the Millennial Celebration in 2000.
“A Capitol Fourth” in Washington will be hosted by John Stamos at 8 p.m. Wednesday with a repeat at 9:30 p.m.
The performers include Jimmy Buffett, the Beach Boys, the Temptations, CeCe Winans, Andy Grammer, Pentatonix, Luke Combs, “American Idol” finalist Lauren Alaina and “Voice” finalist Kyla Jade.
Broadway legend Chita Rivera takes part in a celebration of Leonard Bernstein, who wrote the music for “West Side Story.” Rivera, who played Anita in the original Broadway production in 1957, will introduce a performance of “Tonight” by violinist Joshua Bell and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Opera great Renée Fleming will perform “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel” to honor service men and women. She is starring in the glorious Broadway revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
Jack Everly will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Buffett will perform with the Broadway cast of “Escape to Margaritaville.” The Beach Boys will receive A Capitol Fourth’s National Artistic Achievement Award.
This year will be the 38th annual broadcast of “A Capitol Fourth,” which concludes with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and live cannon fire.
Happy 242nd, America.
HAL BOEDEKER’S WEEKLY PICKS ‘Big Brother’
The CBS reality contest goes into its regular schedule this week. It will air 8 p.m. Sundays, 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 p.m. Thursdays, ejection night. Today, 8 p.m.
Fourth of July
TCM celebrates the country’s birthday on Wednesday with two musicals in prime time: “Yankee Doodle Dandy” with James Cagney and “1776,” Hollywood’s colorful 1972 version of the Broadway hit. Wednesday, starting at 8 p.m.
Bill Maher
The host of “Real Time” offers his 11th solo HBO special. In “Bill Maher: Triggered,” he performs live from Tulsa, Okla. Saturday, 10 p.m.