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July TV Calendar

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The following list provides the dates of the returning cable and major network dramas as well as new cable and major network dramas, made-for-TV movies and mini-series that will air during July:

July 1 – The second season of the CBS series Extant will premiere at 10 PM

July 5 – Penny Dreadful will air its season finale on Showtime at 10 PM

July 6 – Chasing Life will air its second season premiere on ABC Family at 10 PM

July 9 – Rectify will be back for a new season on SundanceTV at 10 PM

July 9 – Dominion will be back for its second season on Syfy at 10 PM

July 10 – The Messengers will return for the start of its final three episodes on The CW at 9 PM

July 11 – The original Hallmark Channel movie Family for Christmas will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: It’s Christmas in July when Lacey Chabert stars in this holiday-themed movie about investigative journalist Hannah Dunbar who, at the height of her career, finds herself wondering what would have been had she stayed with the love of her life Ben (Tyron Leitso (My Boyfriends’ Dogs), 10 years before. When Santa hears her “what ifs?” he transports her to a version of her life where she and Ben started a family; she has to navigate the comical day-to-day challenges of life in the suburbs with Ben and their daughters. Though she once though she had it all, she discovers all the love, family and Christmas spirit she had been missing.

July 12 – The Strain will return for its second season premiere on FX at 10 PM

July 12 – The new seasons of both Masters of Sex and Ray Donovan will air on Showtime at 9 and 10 PM respectively

July 12 – Playin’ for Love is the new UP Channel movie that will debut at 7 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: This romantic comedy made-for-TV movie revolves around the head coach of a high school basketball team and a single mother who turns the team and each other’s lives upside down. The cast includes Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Eureka and Stitchers), Robert Townsend (The Parent ‘Hood), Jennifer Lewis (black-ish and Strong Medicine) and Esai Morales (NYPD Blue and Caprica).

July 18 – The AMC period drama Hell on Wheels will return with the first half of its 14-episode season at 9 PM

NOTE: The second half of Hell on Wheels will air in summer of 2016.

July 18 – Cedar Cove will be back for its two-hour third season premiere on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM

July 19 – The six-hour three-night scripted event series Tut will debut at 9 PM on Spike (airing from 9 to 11 PM on July 19, July 20 and July 21)

EVENT SERIES SYNOPSIS: Sir Ben Kingsley and Avan Jogia (Twisted) will star in this limited series that tells the saga of one of history’s most extraordinary rulers, Tutankhamun (King Tut), his rise to power and his struggle to lead Egypt to glory, while his closest advisors, friends and lovers scheme for their own nefarious interests. The cast includes Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones and Cinderella), Sibylla Deen (Tyrant), Alexander Siddig (Game of Thrones), Kylie Bunbury (Twisted), Iddo Goldberg (Salem) and Peter Gadiot (Once Upon a Time in Wonderland).

July 24 – The series finale of The Messengers should air at 9 PM on The CW

July 25 – The TV One original movie Runaway Island will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), Thomas Q. Jones (Being Mary Jane) and Aisha Hinds (Star Trek Into Darkness) stars in this unique story about a group of troubled strangers looking to escape their woes and end up sharing a transformational experience on an island steeped in African American heritage and culture.

July 26 – The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Candace Cameron Bure and Marilu Henner reprise their roles in the next installment of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries. This time around a mystery hits close to home for Aurora when a member of the Real Murders Club she presides over is found dead. Aurora realizes the crime mirrors a case discussed by the club and fears that one of her members could either be the next target or even the murderer! Much to the chagrin of her protective mother, Aida, Aurora investigates this murder and the killing spree that follows with the help of visiting mystery writer – and love interest – Robin Daniels (Robin Dunne from Sanctuary). Aurora must use her sleuthing skills to solve the mystery before she, herself, is targeted for real murder. Also returning are cast members Lexa Doig (Continuum), Peter Benson (A Bride for Christmas) and Miranda Frigon (A Cookie Cutter Christmas).

July 31 – The fourth and final season of Strike Back will get underway on Cinemax at 10 PM

July 31 – The Disney original movie Descendants will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: The story, set in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, playfully presents the unexpected possibilities of what happens after the “happily ever after.” As it unfolds, Ben, the benevolent teenage son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from “Beauty and the Beast”), is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation is to offer a chance at redemption to Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay, the trouble-making offspring of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil and Jafar, who have all been sequestered on the forbidden Isle of the Lost for 20 years. These villainous descendants are allowed into Auradon for the first time to attend prep school alongside the teenage progeny of the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan. Only time will tell if these evil teens follow in the footsteps of their wicked parents. As these sons and daughters of evil meet the children of goodness, their story incorporates empowering themes about self-confidence, finding the beauty within, freedom of choice, personal responsibility, teamwork, justice and empathy. The cast includes Dove Cameron (Liv and Maddie), Cameron Boyce (Jessie), Booboo Stewart (The Twilight franchise) and relative newcomer Sofia Carson star as the teenage sons and daughters of the infamous villains with relative newcomer Mitchell Hope, Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Game), Maz Jobrani (Better Off Ted), Kathy Najimy (Sister Act), Keegan Connor Tracy (Once Upon a Time) and Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) also starring.

Mark your calendars!

Using her favorite online handle, Rueben is an East Coast-bred gal who is now a permanent Californian and a lifelong tv-oholic. She watches at least 25 TV shows a week, goes to the movies as often as possible, listens to music every waking moment, reads every day and “plays” on the internet every chance she can. Some of her current favorite TV shows are Outlander, Sweet Magnolias, Wednesday, The Mandalorian, The Equalizer, Fire Country, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, The Rookie, Cobra Kai, Virgin River, The Witcher, Leverage: Redemption and School Spirits.  She is looking forward to the season premieres of Hudson & Rex on UPtv and Skymed on Paramount+ as well as the return of fall TV albeit starting in February. Follow her at @ruebenrambling or contact her at rueben@nicegirlstv.com.