The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching
The best programs on TV this week
El Espiritu de la Salsa
A macho building contractor, a heartbroken Wall Street trader, an emergency-room doctor, and seven other New Yorkers have one thing in common: a passion for salsa dancing. This tuneful documentary follows the ethnically and economically diverse group through two emotional months of intense training at a Spanish Harlem dance studio before their first public performance. Monday, Aug. 9, at 9 p.m., HBO
Explorer: Inside the DEA
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Explorer chronicles an elaborate and dangerous sting operation targeting international drug and arms dealer Monzer al-Kassar. Covert footage supplied by the Drug Enforcement Agency shows how a team of undercover agents posed as operatives of the Colombian guerrilla organization FARC, infiltrated al-Kassar’s home in Spain, and filmed him selling weapons illegally, resulting in his conviction and a 30-year prison sentence. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 10 p.m., National Geographic Channel
The IT Crowd
This Britcom about an eccentric crew of corporate tech-support staffers returns with new episodes. In the Season 4 opener, the IT department’s female manager takes on the role of office entertainment director, which traditionally entails indulging the louche tastes of randy clients. Instead she introduces them to The Vagina Monologues and fantasy role-playing games. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 10:30 p.m., IFC
Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the New York Jets
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A 24-person film crew has been granted complete access to all parts of the Jets’ training facilities in Cortland, N.Y., and will shoot more than 1,000 hours of video as it chronicles the team’s preparation for the upcoming NFL season. In the first of five episodes, players arrive and settle into their new quarters, facing a rigorous schedule of two-a-day drills. Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 10 p.m., HBO
Black Wave: Legacy of the Exxon Valdez
In 1989, the Exxon Valdez spilled millions of gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound after the supertanker ran aground. It was North America’s worst man-made environmental disaster prior to the recent Deepwater Horizon explosion. This film documents the ensuing, decades-long legal battles between Alaskan fishermen and Exxon, providing a cautionary tale for today. Saturday, Aug. 14, at 10 p.m., Planet Green
Other highlights
Wild Nights With Mireya Mayor
This nature show with a twist follows primatologist Mayor on the trail of wildlife in large cities. The debut takes her to New Orleans in search of a feral pig. Monday, Aug. 9, at 9 p.m., Nat Geo Wild
Benjamin Latrobe: America’s First Architect
Critic Paul Goldberger examines the tumultuous career of the man who designed the U.S. Capitol. Monday, Aug. 9, at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Electrified: The Guitar Revolution
Archival performance footage and interviews help to illustrate the 80-year history of the electric guitar. Sunday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m., Smithsonian Channel
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Italy's prisons crisis
Under the Radar Severe overcrowding, dire conditions and appalling violence have brought the Italian carceral system to boiling point
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
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The potential effects of Israel's ceasefire with Hezbollah
THE EXPLAINER With the possibility of a region-wide war fading, the Palestinian militant group Hamas faces increased isolation and limited options
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
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Crossword: December 9, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published