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What to Watch in July

Daniel Hautzinger
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston. Photo: PBS
'America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston' follows the bestselling author and podcast host as he explores Americans' surprising relationships to nature. Photo: PBS

There's a huge amount of worthwhile TV out there nowadays, so it can be hard to choose what to watch. But who better to recommend shows than the person who programs them? Lisa Tipton, WTTW’s Head of Programming and Pledge, constructs the WTTW schedule by searching through offerings from many different sources which include the national PBS network, the BBC, and independent filmmakers to put together a varied and engaging broadcast schedule. Each month, she’ll recommend a few shows that she thinks you should watch.

You can also watch all of WTTW's programming via live stream 24/7 at wttw.com/live.

America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston

Tuesdays at 9:00 pm beginning July 5


In this new series hosted by a New York Times bestselling author and podcast host, discover surprising instances of the outdoors and Americans' relationship to them from North Carolina's coast to Death Valley. Thurston meets coal miners who now keep bees, wild horses on the beach, wilderness pilots, and more. It will make you want to go on a hike!

The Green Planet

Wednesdays at 8:00 pm beginning July 6


What's better than a nature documentary from Sir David Attenborough? We can't think of much, especially in such a fascinating series as this, where he explores the wild and wonderful world of plants, from the world's biggest flower to plants that roll away from animals. 

New seasons of Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators, Grantchester, and COBRA

Saturdays and Sundays beginning July 9 and 10


If Baratunde Thurston and David Attenborough don't inspire you to go outside (or if it's too hot!), you can stay in and enjoy the new fourth season of Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators (Saturdays at 8:00 pm beginning July 9), a seventh season of Grantchester (Sundays at 8:00 pm beginning July 10), and a second season of COBRA (Sundays at 9:00 pm beginning July 10). There's plenty to occupy you!

We're airing season 6 of Grantchester in a marathon beginning on July 10 at 10:00 am, before the premiere. Plus, don't forget that you can catch up on Grantchester and COBRA with streaming via the PBS Video App if you're a WTTW Passport member, and our recaps, available to anyone.

Frontline: Facing Eviction

Tuesday, July 26 at 10:00 pm

The pandemic and its upheavals forced many Americans into difficult situations surrounding housing due to lost income and jobs, among other factors. Retro Report joins Frontline to examine the country's affordable housing crisis in their typically thorough way, through the eyes of tenants, landlords, and judges.