The Media Tourist

What to watch, and more!

Goofball golf, natural disasters, criminal gangs, mud madness & more!

July 25 – July 31

FRIDAY, July 25
Happy Gilmore 2
Start the weekend by teeing up for more Adam Sandler goofball golf antics, this time with a “hole” lot of guest stars, including Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Travis Kelce and Sandler’s own wife and their daughters, Sunny and Sadie (Netflix).

Death of a Unicorn
When a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentaly hit a unicorn with their vehicle, their friends want to exploit its magical powers and, well, bad things start to happen (Max).

SATURDAY, July 26
Before Your Father Finds Us
A woman (Alexa PenaVega) forced to go into witness protection finds out her ex-husband has escaped from prison, causing her to flee with her teenage daughter into remote woodlands cabin (Lifetime).

Dinner and a Movie
Hosts Jason Briggs and Jenny Mollen welcome actor Nick Swardson for a screening of his 2011 comedy Just Got With It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston (8 p.m., TBS).

SUNDAY, July 27
In the Eye of the Storm
More horrendous weather disasters—from monstrous Iowa twisters to raging California wildfires and nearly apocalyptic Appalachian flooding—as recalled by ordinary people who lived it…and captured it on camera (10 p.m., Discovery).

Katrina: Race Against Time
Another wild-weather documentary series, this one covers one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history when it roared into Louisiana in 2005, killing more than 1,300 (National Geographic).

MONDAY, July 28
Slumlord Millionaire
Find out about a group of determined residents and lawmakers fighting corrupt landlords eager to swap long-term tenants for higher rent profits (10 p.m., PBS). 

Disability in Film
Watch a triple feature of movies featuring characters with disabilities, including Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) with Spencer Tracy and Ship of Fools (1965), starring Vivien Leigh, Jose Ferrer and Lee Marvin (TCM).7.29

Mud Madness
Climb aboard for another season following off-road subculture and extreme UTV and ATV mud racing. And maybe bring along some spot remover (8 p.m., Discovery).

TUESDAY, July 29
United Gangs of America
Current and former gang members reveal the innermost workings of some of the most dangerous gangs across the U.S. (9 p.m., Vice).

WEDNESDAY, July 30
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats
Former “veteran” contestants across 40 seasons of hit reality competitions—including Big Brother, Survivor and The Amazing Race—return to see who’s got what it takes to survive a gauntlet of new threats, betrayals and challenges (8 p.m., MTV).

Mr. and Mrs. Murder
Four-part true crime docuseries explores the mysterious disappearance of a Tallahassee man, Mike Williams, who failed to return from a duck hunting trip. But when his widow marries his best friend, new suspicions arise (Hulu).

THURSDAY, July 31
Twisted Metal
Season two of the futuristic drama (above) begins as John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) risk their lives to compete in a highly dangerous demolition derby. But can they beat the killer clown Sweet Tooth? (Peacock).

Project Runway
Reality competition about fashion design returns for season 21 with former superstar model Heidi Klum back as one of the judges (9 p.m., Freeform).

NOW HEAR THIS

The new deluxe edition of the Talking Heads’ classic 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food (Rhino), available in multiple formats, features the remastered album plus rarities, alternate versions, live recordings and performance video, and a 60-page hardcover book. Re-live the retro new age groovery with tunes including “Psycho Killer,” “Take Me to the River” and “Stay Hungry,” and much more.

Do you remember when rock was young? Elton John: Live from the Rainbow Theater with Ray Cooper (Universal Music Entertainment) is a new vinyl and CD re-release culled from EJ’s six-show 1977 residency at London’s iconic venue, stripped down from a full band with accompaniment by his percussionist—and former band member—Ray Cooper. Tracks include “Roy Rogers,” “Border Song,” “Sweet Painted Lady” and more.

The greatest band ever with a flute-playing frontman (Ian Anderson) rises again with Still Living in the Past, a new reissue of Jethro Tull’s cult-fave 1972 album (available on 5 CDs plus a Blu-Ray or an LP set). It’s been newly expanded with singles, album tracks, demos and outtakes, plus a live-in-concert Blu-ray recording from 1979s and four promo films (proto videos). Dig it!

BRING IT HOME

Fans of action flicks will flip over The Jet Li Collection (Shout! Studios), a roundup of five seminal Hong Kong classics from the legendary actor, martial arts expert and producer. (who found movie “crossover” fame in flicks like Lethal Weapon, Romeo Must Die and Kiss of the Dragon). The 10 discs also feature a bounty of bonus content, including commentary, interviews and deleted scenes.

Director Wes Anderson is up to his inspired quirkiness again in The Phoenician Project (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), starring Benico del Toro as an unscrupulous industrialist cooking up a mega project in the Middle East, dodging would-be assassins and meeting all sorts of colorful characters. The all-star ensemble cast includes Michael Ciera, Mia Threapleton, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson and  Bryan Cranston.