What to watch this weekend July 26, 2024: TV awards contenders

I hope you’ve stretched and are well hydrated, because you’re going to need it for the marathon of TV that lies ahead. Friday marks the official beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which means we’ve got more than two weeks of impressive physical feats across 32 sports and 45 disciplines that will inspire you while putting your athletic prowess to shame. 

It all begins with the opening ceremony (live at noon ET, replaying Friday at 7:30/6:30c on NBC and Peacock), which for the first time in history is taking place outside of a stadium. The parade of athletes that is the centerpiece of the event will occur on the Seine, with each nation’s delegates having their own boat. It is unclear whether the size of the watercraft is determined by the size of the delegation, but it would probably be funnier that way. LeBron James and Coco Gauff are the flag bearers for the United States. 

Hosting the Summer Games is a lot of work, but so is producing the event for TV, which is why the 2024 opening ceremony is the awards contender to watch this weekend.

SEE Experts slugfest: Our first 2024 Emmy winner predictions

Of course, if you don’t like sports, other contenders include:

• “Presumed Innocent”: Apple’s adaptation of Scott Turow’s novel about a prosecutor (Jake Gyllenhaal) suspected of violently murdering his colleague and mistress (Renate Reinsve) made several changes to the narrative throughout its eight-episode run in the name of keeping viewers on their toes. The Season 1 finale (the series has already been renewed for another installment) features yet another change as it reveals what actually happened to Carolyn the night she died. We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not you think the twist is shocking or silly. The episode is now streaming on Apple TV+.
• “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose”: Although baseball isn’t being played at the Olympics this year, you can still get your drama fix with this four-part documentary that examines the career of Pete Rose, the sport’s all-time hits leader who was banned for life after it was discovered he had bet on games while the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and his bid for reinstatement and a place in Cooperstown. The doc makes great use of archival footage and brand new interviews with Rose, his son, former teammates and many in and around the sport. All four episodes are now streaming on Max.
• “The Decameron”: Created by Kathleen Jordan (“Teenage Bounty Hunters”, a gem you should watch if you haven’t yet) and executive-produced by Emmy winner Jenji Kohan, Netflix newest comedy is very (and I do mean very) loosely inspired by a collection of 14th century stories. Set in 1348 in Florence, the dark comedy explores class struggles during the Black Death after several nobles and their servants isolate themselves at a grand villa to wait out the plague. Two-time Emmy winner Tony Hale stars alongside Zosia Mamet and Saoirse-Monica Jackson, among others. All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?