The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching

Hot Coffee

When Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s because she was scalded by hot coffee, the case was widely derided as evidence of a supposed epidemic of frivolous lawsuits choking America’s courts. But by re-examining her case and others, this eye-opening documentary makes a strong argument that the tort-reform movement is actually a concerted corporate effort to enfeeble the civil justice system and curtail Americans’ constitutional rights. Monday, June 27, at 9 p.m., HBO

Necessary Roughness

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

In this promising new series, Callie Thorne (Rescue Me) plays a spunky therapist juggling a dissolving marriage, rebellious children, and a new patient: a football superstar who has lost his ability to catch the ball. A real-life mental-health clinician who works for the New York Jets inspired Thorne’s character, but the appealing actor makes the role her own. Mehcad Brooks is a major asset as her arrogant patient. Wednesday, June 29, at 10 p.m., USA

Wilfred

This offbeat new series stars Elijah Wood as a high-strung young man who lives next door to a pretty girl with a dog named Wilfred—a dog that Wood alone sees as a garrulous Australian man in a dog suit. Jason Gann co-stars in the quirky comedy, which carries echoes of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. This week, Wood’s character tries to take a reluctant Wilfred to the vet. Thursday, June 30, at 10 p.m., FX

A Capitol Fourth

This year’s holiday celebration on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol is scheduled to include live performances by Josh Groban, Steve Martin, Glee’s Matthew Morrison, and Little Richard, with the cast of Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet. Fireworks and a cannon-punctuated rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture will provide the event’s climax. Jimmy Smits hosts. Monday, July 4, at 8 p.m., PBS; check local listings

Torchwood: Miracle Day

The new incarnation of the British sci-fi series Torchwood begins on a day when nobody on Earth dies—a phenomenon that soon leads to the revival of a clandestine organization that combats extraterrestrial threats. This spin-off of Doctor Who deftly blends action with tongue-in-cheek satire. Mehki Phifer and Bill Pullman join original stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Rhys Williams. Friday, July 8, at 10 p.m., Starz

Other highlights

Frontline: The Child Cases

A re-examination of various child-death cases in which people were found guilty based on questionable medical evidence. Tuesday, June 28, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings

The Glenn Beck Program

The controversial political commentator hosts his final episode, reportedly with an eye toward launching a fee-based Internet network. Thursday, June 30, at 5 p.m., Fox News Channel

Masterpiece Mystery! Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, Series VI

A list of names sent by a friend just before his murder draws Miss Marple into a mystery that may involve the occult. Julia McKenzie stars. Sunday, July 10, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings