Skip to content
Kevin Spacey will make his debut as host of the Tony Awards Sunday night on CBS.
CBS
Kevin Spacey will make his debut as host of the Tony Awards Sunday night on CBS.
Chuck Barney, TV critic and columnist for Bay Area News Group, for the Wordpress profile in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group)
.
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Chuck Barney’s TV picks for June 11-17

DON’T MISS: “The 71st Annual Tony Awards” — After a “Hamilton” domination last year, the race among Broadway’s best figures to be much more wide open. There’s also an air of unpredictability around this year’s host as Kevin Spacey makes his debut in the role. He’ll be joined by an array of stars from stage and screen, including Orlando Bloom, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Josh Gad, Josh Groban, Taraji P. Henson, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Bette Midler, Ben Platt and Olivia Wilde. “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” leads all shows with 12 nominations. 8 p.m. Sunday, CBS.

Other bets:

SUNDAY: Manis, pedis and … treachery? Welcome to “Claws,” a dark comedy tied to a tough-as-nails Florida salon owner (Niecy Nash) who also happens to be entangled in a money laundering scheme with the mob. 9 p.m., TNT.

SUNDAY: “Steve Harvey’s Funderdome” is a new seed-funding reality show that has two entrepreneurs pitching their product ideas to a studio audience. Said audience then votes on the winner, who earns an infusion of cash to fuel the business. 9 p.m., ABC.

MONDAY: It’s time to bust out some fresh moves as “So You Think You Can Dance” returns for its 14th season. Joining the judges’ panel this summer is Vanessa Hudgens (“High School Musical”; “Grease Live”). 8 p.m., Fox.

MONDAY: Oh, this should be interesting: “The Putin Interviews” is a four-night “TV event” that features supposedly candid conversations between Russian president Vladimir Putin and filmmaker Oliver Stone. Topics include Donald Trump, the U.S. election, Syria, Snowden and more. 9 p.m., Showtime.

TUESDAY: A whole new set of eager special-effects makeup artists are ready to vie for the “Face Off” crown as the reality competition returns for its 12th season. McKenzie Westmore hosts. 9 p.m., Syfy.

WEDNESDAY: The Season 2 finale of “Little Big Shots” features the return of several fan favorites. Included: a 4-year-old worship leader, a singer from Wales, two dancers, a magician and a brick-breaking karate kid. 8 p.m., NBC.

THURSDAY: The survival series “Alone” is back with a new twist: Seven teams of two will be separated and dropped miles apart with two ultimate goals: navigate the brutal terrain of Vancouver Island in an attempt to locate their isolated partner and, once reunited, survive as long as they can. 10 p.m., History Channel.

FRIDAY: It was called “the political crime of the century.” Now, 45 years later, comes a two-hour documentary, “Truth and Lies: Watergate.” It explores the downfall of Richard Nixon’s presidency following the 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters. 9 p.m., ABC.

SATURDAY: Yes, we’re bummed out that T.J. Miller (aka Erlich Bachman) is leaving “Silicon Valley,” but at least we can enjoy his outrageous brand of humor in the new stand-up comedy special “T.J. Miller: Meticulously Ridiculous.” Taped at the Paramount Theater in his hometown of Denver, it has him riffing on “life, death and everything in-between.” 10 p.m., HBO.”

Contact Chuck Barney at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/chuckbarney and Facebook.com/bayareanewsgroup.chuckbarney.