What to Watch: Your Guide to 30 Fourth of July Weekend Marathons and Specials!
If you need to escape the sun, your third cheeseburger or embarrassing childhood stories this Fourth of July weekend, TVLine has you covered. We’ve gathered the best of the holiday weekend’s marathons and specials, including old-school classics (Beverly Hills, 90210), catch-ups on current faves and some guilty pleasures (Pregnant & Dating, anyone?) Enjoy!
THURSDAY, JULY 4
6 am – 1:30 pm Cake Boss (TLC) | Buddy Valastro’s masterpieces include cakes inspired by the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and Radio City Music Hall.
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6 am – 12 am Lifetime Movie Network’s “Perfect” Marathon (LMN) | A two-day marathon of “flawless” movie titles (continuing Friday at 8am), including the premiere of “The Perfect Boyfriend” at 8 pm on Friday.
6 am – 4 am Friday NCIS (USA Network) | While you wait for the CBS drama’s Sept. 24 return, relive the best of Seasons 7, 8 and 9.
8 am – 6 am Friday Star Trek: The Next Generation (BBC America) | Get your Kling-on with this two-day marathon, continuing Friday from 8 am to 9 pm.
8 am – 6 am Friday The Twilight Zone (Syfy) | Get creeped out by your favorite episodes.
8:30 am – 4:30 pm I’m Having Their Baby (Oxygen) | Catch up with the young birth mothers struggling to give their children up for adoption.
9 am – 8 pm Castle (TNT) | While we wait on Kate’s answer, immerse yourself in classic Caskett goodness.
9 am – 8 pm The First 48 (A&E) | Includes crime-scene investigations in Miami, Cincinnati and Memphis.
10 am – 7 pm Beverly Hills, 90210 (SOAPnet) | Class is back in session at West Beverly High School during this nostalgia trip.
11 am – 3 am Friday Gidget (Antenna)
| Arguably Sally Field’s most captivating role, no?
11 am The Price Is Right (CBS) | Men and women of the armed forces, accompanied by family members, compete for cash and prizes.
1 – 8 pm The Walking Dead (AMC) | Need a little zombie in your life? Catch up with the first three seasons, starting with Season 1 at 1 pm Thursday. Season 2 arrives 1 pm Friday, while Season 3 runs Saturday (1 pm – 12:30 am Sunday) and Sunday (1 – 9 pm).
4 pm – 4 am Friday Pawn Stars (History) | Because nothing says “independence” like Chumlee practicing his battle moves in the storeroom.
6 pm – 6 am Friday Ridiculousness (MTV) | For those in need of a good laugh… at the expense of others’ embarrassing YouTube moments.
8 pm A Capitol Fourth (PBS) | Dancing With the Stars‘ Tom Bergeron hosts a celebration of the nation’s independence. Barry Manilow, Idol champ Scotty McCreery, Darren Criss (Glee) and Megan Hilty (Smash) are among those scheduled to perform.
8 pm Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (NBC) | Actor/comedian Nick Cannon hosts the annual festivities, with performers including pop queen Mariah Carey and country crooners Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.
FRIDAY, JULY 5
5 am – 5 pm Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman (Science) | Tackles your usual daily musings, such as “How do aliens think?” and “What is nothing?”
6 am – 1 am Saturday Law & Order: SVU (USA Network) | Revel in your independence (and Mariska Hargitay’s Season 15 return) with a two-day marathon, which will continue on Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.
6:30 am – 2:30 pm America’s Next Top Model (Oxygen) | Practice your runway walk along with the Cycle 11 contestants.
7 am – 2 am Saturday Untold Stories of the ER (Discovery Fit & Health)
| Perhaps this should air before the entire country plays with fireworks…? Just a thought.
8 am – 5 pm Warehouse 13 (Syfy) | Revisit the second half of Season 4 before its finale airs on Monday. Plus, did you hear who’s stopping by in the final season?
9 am – 4 am Saturday Storage Wars (A&E) | Original episodes plus installments from Texas and New York.
11 am – 4 pm Pregnant & Dating (WEtv) | For those who want to see some real fireworks.
2 – 8 pm I Found the Gown (TLC) | Because Say Yes to the Dress is so last season.
6:30 – 10 pm Life’s Too Short (HBO Signature) | Season 1 of the Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant mockumentary unspools anew, leading up to a new hour-long finale special on HBO at 10 pm.
9 pm – 12 am Magic City (Starz) | Rewatch the first three episodes of Season 2 before the show’s run resumes July 12.
10 pm King (Reelz) | Series premiere: Detective Jessica King (Amy Price-Francis, Life Unexpected) is the new lead investigator of Toronto’s Major Crimes Task Force, though her crime-solving methods aren’t always appreciated. In the premiere episode, King goes searching for a missing girl while balancing her new job.
SATURDAY, JULY 6
10 am – 4 pm Boy Meets World (MTV2) | Getting antsy for Girl Meets World? Six hours with Cory Matthews & Co. should tide you over.
11 am – 4 pm Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC) | Memorable guest stars include actor/mountain man Zach Galifianakis (Bored to Death), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men).
1 – 8 pm Top of the Lake (Sundance) | Peggy Olson, you sound so different! Watch all seven episodes of Jane Campion’s riveting mini.
2 – 8 pm Married… with Children (VH1 Classic) | A day of Al Bundy’s woes will make your family’s Fourth of July visit pale in comparison.
4 pm – 3 am Sunday Monk (ION) | When Monk’s OCD starts to rub off on you, it’s time to go to bed.
7 – 11 pm The Big Bang Theory (TBS) | Cap off the weekend with Leonard, Sheldon and (we hope) a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock.
9 pm Brooklyn DA (CBS) | Season finale: Prosecutors say a man who has been in prison for 23 years is innocent.
Which of the above is a must-see for you? Also, hit the comments to offer your own tune-in suggestions.
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