TV Calendar for August

The following list provides the dates of the season premieres and finales for the cable network dramas, marathons for several short-lived cable series, the debut of one new cable series as well as the mini-series and made-for-TV movies that will air during August:

August 3 – Sinbad will air a 12-hour marathon of episodes on Syfy, starting at 11 AM that will include the final five new episodes

August 7 – Law & Order: UK will air its season premiere on BBC America at 9 PM

August 7 – The 8-part mini-series Broadchurch will debut on BBC America at 10 PM

Mini-Series Synopsis: This mini-series explores what happens to a small coastal community when a media frenzy comes to town after a young boy is murdered. The cast includes David Tennant (Doctor Who), Olivia Colman (The Iron Lady), Vicky McClure and Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who).

August 9 – Strike Back will be back on Cinemax for the start of its new season at 10 PM

August 9 – A sneak peek at The White Queen mini-series will air after the season finale of Magic City on Starz, starting at 10 PM

August 10 – Primeval New World will air a 13-hour marathon of episodes on Syfy, staring at 10 AM that will include the final six new episodes

August 10 – The 10-episode Starz series The White Queen will air its official debut at 9 PM

Show Synopsis: This mini-series focuses on the Sons of York and the women in their lives based on the novel series of Philippa Gregory set during the War of the Roses. The cast includes Max Irons (The Host), Aneurin Barnard, Rebecca Ferguson, Amanda Hale, Fay Marsay, Eleanor Tomlinson and James Frain.

August 10 – Hell on Wheels will be back on AMC at 10 PM

August 10 – The Hallmark Channel movie Reading, Writing & Romance will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Struggling actor Wayne Wenders (Eric Mabius from Ugly Betty) is comically famous for starring in a low-budget commercial for Irritable Bowel Syndrome medication, a reputation he is hoping to change when he finally lands a starring role in a national root beer ad. But when the paycheck for his big break is delayed, Wayne looks for other options to pay his increasingly late rent and ends up interviewing for a gig teaching Shakespeare at the local high school. Principal Brenda Post (Stefanie Powers from Hart to Hart) hires Wayne for his natural theatrical talent and enthusiasm, but Wayne is soon surprising himself with his love of the job – and for fellow English teacher Amy (Virginia Williams from Fairly Legal), an attractive woman, who is immediately impressed with Wayne’s passion and his idea to teach the students with an exciting film project. The film also stars Martin Mull, Meredith Baxter and Adam Kulbersh.

August 11 – The remaining final episodes of Breaking Bad will start airing on AMC at 9 PM

August 11 – The new drama Low Winter Sun will air on AMC at 10 PM

Show Synopsis: This 10-episode series is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. The cast includes Mark Strong (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy, Zero Dark Thirty) and Lennie James (The Walking Dead, Jericho, Snatch).

ADDED: August 11 – The summer finale of Drop Dead Diva will air on Lifetime at 9 PM

August 12 – King & Maxwell will air its season finale on TNT at 10 PM

August 17 – The Hallmark Channel movie This Magic Moment will debt at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When Hollywood star Helena Harris (Diane Neal from Law & Order: SVU) films her newest movie, “This Magic Moment,” in the small town of Stone’s Throw, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with local video store owner Clark Gable (Travis Schuldt from Scrubs). Helena, who recently broke up with her current co-star Roberto Molinez (Vincent Spano), asks her new friend Clark to pretend to be her love interest in order to make Roberto jealous. Clark agrees and in exchange, Helena helps him pursue his screenwriting career. While this agreement benefits both Clark and Helena, it also complicates the relationship between Clark and his newly single, former high school sweetheart, Emily McIntyre (Alaina Huffman from Stargate Universe). As Helena and Clark’s fake romance successfully brings out the green monster in Roberto, the jealous Roberto decides to win Helena back and give Clark a taste of his own medicine by using his own fame to pursue Emily. The cast includes Charles Shaughnessy.

August 17 – The Lifetime movie Baby Sellers will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Exposing the dark international crime enterprise of infant trafficking, Baby Sellers stars Kirstie Alley as Carla Huxley, a well-respected, influential owner of a major U.S.-based adoption agency that helps prospective parents fulfill their dream of having a family. While presenting an innocent veneer of kindness and good intentions to her trusting clients, behind-the-scenes Huxley functions as a ruthless international kingpin, controlling an expansive syndicate spanning the world and manned by subordinates authorized to use any means necessary to procure children for her business. Jennifer Finnigan stars as Nicole Morrison, the dedicated, tough-as-nails Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who believes Hughes is fueling a global business that stops at nothing to find the right child for the right owner – at the right price – and goes undercover to bring her sordid operation down.

August 17 – Being Human, the UK original, will air its series finale on BBC America at 10 PM

August 18 – The Masterpiece Mystery movie The Lady Vanishes will debut on PBS at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: A young socialite (Tuppence Middleton) suspects foul play when a woman inexplicably disappears from a train.

August 19 – The summer finale of Switched at Birth will air on ABC Family at 8 PM; and the season finale of Major Crimes will air on TNT at 9 PM

August 19 – The mid-season finale of Teen Wolf will air on MTV at 10 PM

August 21 – Necessary Roughness will air its season finale at 10 PM on the USA Network

August 25 – The Masterpiece Mystery 3-part mini-series Silk will debut on PBS at 9 PM

Mini-Series Synopsis: This modern, fast-paced legal drama follows the rivalries, passions and intrigues of criminal law stars Maxine Peake (Little Dorrit) and Rupert Penry-Jones (MI-5) as rival barristers.

NOTE: This mini-series will run straight through until September 8.

August 30 – The season finale of Continuum will air on Syfy at 10 PM.

August 30 – The new police procedural Cracked will debut on the Reelz Channel at 10 PM

Show Synopsis: The series stars Stefanie von Pfetten (Battlestar Galactica) as psychiatrist Dr. Daniella Ridley, who leaves her prominent position at a downtown hospital to partner with the police Psych Crimes Unit. The cast includes David Sutcliffe (Gilmore Girls), Luisa D’Oliveira (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Karen LeBlanc (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome) and Dayo Ade (The L.A. Complex).

Mark your calendars!