Around the remote: television picks for this week

7/22/2012

DON'T MISS:

The Summer Olympics -- Elite athletes from around the globe gather in London for what NBC hopes will be a jolly good show. The network and its various cable platforms plan more than 5,500 hours of coverage -- plus unprecedented live-streaming online. It all begins with the opening ceremony and the traditional Parade of Nations. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) is the creative force behind the $126 million extravaganza, which will have touches of British greats, including William Shakespeare, the Beatles, and James Bond. In addition, Queen Elizabeth II will be on hand to officially open the Games. 7:30 p.m. Friday, NBC.

OTHER BETS:

TODAY: On the season finale of The Bachelorette, Emily Maynard must choose between her two final suitors in hopes of securing a happily-ever-after -- or, more likely, a short-lived engagement. 8 p.m., ABC.

TODAY: Break out the surf boards. Teen Choice Awards 2012 sends a big wave of love at the hottest teen icons in entertainment, sports, and fashion. Demi Lovato and Kevin McHale (Glee) are your hosts. 8 p.m., Fox.

TODAY: Bar Rescue returns with "nightlife consultant" Jon Taffer looking to save more failing taverns. 9 p.m., Spike TV.

MONDAY: Bachelor Pad, the spin-off dating series, returns for another season and this time the cast includes five "superfans." Who knew? This freak show actually has superfans. 8 p.m., ABC.

MONDAY: As Warehouse 13 opens its fourth season, the team confronts the horrible reality of the Warehouse's destruction and the tragic loss of Agent Jinks. The Season 2 opener of Alphas follows. 9 p.m., Syfy.

TUESDAY: Here's an offer we can't refuse: The Godfather Legacy is a two-hour special in which historians, scholars, and others discuss the influence the Corleone family has had on American culture. 9 p.m., History Channel.

WEDNESDAY: The CLIOS: World's Best Commercials is a celebration of the most innovative, funny, and offbeat TV ads from the United States and abroad. 8 p.m., NBC.

WEDNESDAY: Top Chef Masters returns for more sizzling drama as 12 renowned chefs convene in Las Vegas for a culinary smack-down. In the opener, they play a card game to score ingredients for a high-end buffet. 10 p.m., Bravo.

SATURDAY: The Philadelphia Experiment is a remake of a cult classic in which a World War II experiment is replicated with disastrous results. Seems that an old warship returns to wreak havoc. 9 p.m., Syfy.