‘Walking Dead’ zombies take over the weekend

AMC celebrates its most popular series with a four-day “Walking Dead” marathon. Episodes of the popular zombie series will run Thursday (noon to 12:55 a.m. Friday); Friday (noon to 12:46 a.m. Saturday); and Saturday (noon to 10:26 p.m.). On Sunday, the “Walking” marathon (1 p.m. to 8 p.m., TV-MA) makes way for a new episode of “The Killing.”

Along the way, AMC’s “Comic Book Men” producer Kevin Smith will visit the Atlanta set of “The Walking Dead,” where season four is in production. The series returns in October.

The Syfy Channel repeats its popular Fourth of July “Twilight Zone” marathon (7 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday). The network has scheduled fan favorites for the primetime hours, including “A Stop at Willoughby” (7 p.m.), about a troubled man’s retreat to America’s small town past; “Eye of the Beholder” (7:30 p.m.), a tale of a “disfigured” woman’s surgical search for perfection; “To Serve Man” (8 p.m.), an episode with a shattering twist built right into its title; and “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (8:30 p.m.), starring William Shatner as an airline passenger beset with a troubling apparition. Christine White, who played Shatner’s concerned wife in “Nightmare,” died on April 14.

The H2 Channel, the second History Channel, where actual series about history occasionally show up, spends a full day recalling America’s war for independence with episodes of “The Revolution” (19 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday).

Tom B e r geron (“Dancing With t he Stars”) returns to host the live broadcast “A Capitol Fourth” (7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., WKNO-TV Channel 10). Crooner Barry Manilow returns to perform, live from Washington, D.C. Other performers include “American Idol” winners Candice Glover and Scotty McCreery, “Glee” star Darren Criss, classical singer and 2010 “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho, “Smash” star Megan Hilty and composer John Williams and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Live from New York, “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (7 p.m. and 9 p.m., WMC-TV Channel 5) features Nick Cannon hosting his wife, Mariah Carey, and fellow performers Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.

Philadelphia freedom rings out on “Philly 4th of July Jam” (7 p.m., VH1), a live musical event featuring performances by The Roots, John Mayer, Jill Scott, Demi Lovato, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter and J. Cole.

MTV joins forces with VH1 and CMT to declare their independence from soul-deadening reality fare and air only music videos and music-related programming all day long from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Spend the whole day with “Cops” (1 p.m. to midnight, Spike).

Ramsay grills the final six contestants on “Hell’s Kitchen” (7 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).

Reese comes closer to finding Finch on “Person of Interest” (8 p.m., WREG-TV Channel 3).

A waitress is suspected in a chauffeur’s murder on “Motive” (8 p.m., WATN-TV Channel 24).

Sherlock approaches an important milestone on “Elementary” (9 p.m., WREG-TV Channel 3).

Andy and Swarek tackle a bank robbery case on “Rookie Blue” (9 p.m., WATN-TV Channel 24).