The dog days of summer usually mean slower television, but not this year. Between Emmy buzz heating up, streaming services rolling out major premieres, and another packed week of finales and debuts, there's plenty to keep TV fans glued to the couch.
Welcome back to TV Corner Notes, your weekly roundup of everything happening in television. This week, I'm looking ahead to the Emmy nominations and the early favorites that appear poised to dominate the conversation, sharing a pair of spy-thriller recommendations that couldn't be more different, and highlighting the biggest premieres and finales arriving over the next seven days. Whether you're chasing awards contenders or simply searching for your next binge-watch, there's no shortage of great TV to dive into.
Early Emmy Picks Have The Pitt and Hacks in Front
Awards season is almost here, and with the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations dropping on July 8, the prediction game is already in full swing. If the latest forecasts from industry outlets are anything to go by, HBO Max's The Pitt is looking like the big drama frontrunner after its breakout first season, while the comedy race is shaping up to be a lot closer. Last year’s champ Hacks is still the one to beat, but Apple TV+'s new hit Widow's Bay is emerging as its biggest threat.
On the drama side, The Pitt is the clear favorite for Outstanding Drama Series, with Pluribus, Task, The Diplomat, Slow Horses, Paradise, Stranger Things, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms also expected to make the cut. Noah Wyle is the heavy favorite in Lead Actor thanks to his praised performance in The Pitt, while Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus) is topping most predictions for *Lead Actress. Still, Keri Russell (The Diplomat), Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Kathy Bates (Matlock), and Zendaya (Euphoria) are all very much in the mix. The supporting races are expected to be loaded with The Pitt cast members, with Katherine LaNasa, Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy, and Gerran Howell all getting plenty of awards buzz. Behind the scenes, The Pitt and Vince Gilligan's Pluribus are expected to lead the writing and directing categories too.
Comedy looks a lot more wide open. Most predictions have Hacks and Widow's Bay fighting it out for Outstanding Comedy Series, with Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Margo's Got Money Troubles, The Comeback, and Rooster filling out the likely lineup. In the acting races, Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) is the favorite for Lead Actor, while Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback) and Jean Smart (Hacks) are leading a pretty stacked Lead Actress field. But let me throw in Wendi McLendon-Covey (St. Denis Medical) in the mix as well. Steve Carell (Rooster), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Jason Segel (Shrinking), and Matthew Rhys (Widow's Bay) are also expected to be in the mix. Meanwhile, Harrison Ford (Shrinking), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear), and Paul W. Downs (Hacks) are getting strong buzz in Supporting Actor, while Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Margo's Got Money Troubles) seem to be leading the Supporting Actress conversation.
Of course, Emmy morning always throws in a few surprises, and there’s usually at least one big snub that gets everyone talking. We’ll find out who makes the cut when nominations are announced on July 8.
What I Watched This Week
This week took me into the world of espionage with two very different thrillers. I revisited Bodyguard, which still delivers gripping suspense thanks to Richard Madden's outstanding performance despite a conspiracy that occasionally stretches credibility. I also continued my throwback watch of Spooks (MI-5), and it's easy to see why the series remains one of Britain's finest spy dramas. Its unforgettable characters, emotional storytelling, and willingness to take big risks make it every bit as compelling today as when it first aired.
Bodyguard Season 1 Review: A Tense Political Thriller That Sometimes Overreaches
Netflix's Bodyguard is simple to sum up: a war veteran with severe PTSD is assigned to protect a controversial politician, and both are pulled into a conspiracy where no one can be trusted. The result is a gripping thriller that starts strong, stays tense, and lands a memorable ending, even if the middle gets a little too tangled.
The series follows Sergeant David Budd (Richard Madden), whose heroics during a train bombing attempt earn him a promotion to Principal Protection Officer for Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). David strongly disagrees with Julia's politics, especially her push for the surveillance bill RIPA 18, and their relationship becomes even more complicated after a sniper attack leaves them both shaken.
The season takes a sharp turn when Julia is killed in a bombing, sending the government into chaos and David into the center of the investigation. From there, the show leans hard into paranoia and conspiracy, with corruption, intelligence leaks, and betrayal at every turn. The finale is especially exciting, and the reveal about Nadia Ali gives the whole season a clever new context.
The show does lose some momentum in the stretch after Julia's death, as the twists start to pile up a bit too quickly. Still, Richard Madden is excellent as David, Keeley Hawes makes Julia compelling, and the series handles David's PTSD with real emotional weight. Bodyguard occasionally pushes its conspiracy too far, but its performances, tension, and emotional core make it well worth watching. Overall, I give the first season an 8/10.
Spooks (MI-5) Is Still One of Television's Best Spy Thrillers
Long before Slow Horses and The Night Manager, Spooks (released in the U.S. as MI-5) redefined the television spy drama with its relentless tension, morally complex characters, and willingness to prove that no one was safe. The first two seasons introduce MI5's Section D, led by the unflappable Harry Pearce (Peter Firth), alongside Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen), Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes), and Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo). Rather than relying solely on explosive action, the series thrives on the emotional cost of espionage, forcing its agents to juggle terrorist threats, political conspiracies, and relationships that often crumble under the weight of secrecy. The shocking death of Helen Flynn early in the series immediately established that this wasn't a typical procedural, while Season 2 expands the stakes with cyberterrorism, biological threats, and the arrival of fan-favorite analyst Ruth Evershed (Nicola Walker).
What continues to make Spooks so compelling is how character-driven it remains despite its high-stakes plots. Every mission leaves lasting consequences, whether it's Tom's increasingly fractured personal life or Harry's difficult decisions as head of Section D. Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Peter Firth, and David Oyelowo anchor an outstanding ensemble that makes every victory feel earned and every loss devastating. Season 2 closes with one of the series' most unforgettable cliffhangers, leaving Tom's future hanging in the balance and setting the stage for an even bolder third season. If you're looking for a throwback spy thriller packed with suspense, memorable characters, and twists that still hold up today, Spooks deserves a spot at the top of your watchlist. Overall, I give both seasons 1-2 a 9/10.
What to Watch This Week
It's another busy week for television. Trying returns for its fifth season, while The Five-Star Weekend and Netflix's new Little House on the Prairie adaptation make their long-awaited debuts. Reality TV fans have the return of Big Brother and Project Runway, Apple TV+ wraps up Star City, and there are plenty of documentaries, movies, and season finales sprinkled throughout the week. Whether you're in the mood for prestige drama, reality competition, or a cozy comfort watch, this week's lineup has something for everyone.
Monday, July 6
Inspector Ellis Season 2 (Acorn TV)
9/8c BBQ Brawl Season 7 finale (Food Network)
Tuesday, July 7
Zatima Season 4 finale (Paramount+)
Jeff Arcuri: Nice to Meet You (Netflix comedy special)
Summer Sparks (Roku movie): A single father (Jesse Metcalfe) arrives at camp with his competitive son and soon meets a single mother (Kathryn Davis) returning to her childhood summer haven with her own kids.
Wednesday, July 8
Trying Season 5 (Apple TV)
Wardriver (Paramount+)
Thursday, July 9
The Five Star Weekend (Peacock, eight-episode binge): After a devastating loss, a celebrity chef (played by Jennifer Garner) invites three friends from different stages in her life to spend a weekend in Nantucket; D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, Chloe Sevigny, Harlow Jane, and Timothy Olyphant co-star.
Little House on the Prairie (Netflix, eight-episode binge): The close-knit Ingalls family builds a new life on the Western frontier, where the joys of nature and the struggle for survival are deeply intertwined.
8/7c Big Brother Season 28 (CBS)
8/7c Celebrity Family Feud Season 12 (ABC)
8/7c The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 (Bravo)
9/8c The Man Will Burn (HBO): The four-part docuseries goes behind the scenes to chronicle the evolution and ethos of Burning Man, the 40-year-old cultural event and temporary city built in the Nevada desert.
9/8c Press Your Luck Season 7
9:30/8:30c Project Runway Season 22 (Freeform)
Friday, July 10
Star City Season 1 finale (Apple TV)
9/8c The Listeners limited series finale (Starz)
The Long Walk (HBO Max)
Reminders of Him (Peacock)
Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea (Netflix documentary): Never-before-seen footage and survivor accounts trace the 2012 shipwreck of a luxury cruise ship and the disaster that ensued.
8/7c The Night Everything Changed (Lifetime Movie Network movie): When her teenage daughter fails to return home from a sleepover, a frantic mother uncovers dark secrets involving a forbidden romance; Lara Amersey and Monica Rodriguez Knox star.
Saturday, July 11
8/7c He Couldn't Let Go (Lifetime movie): A Woman (Christina Millian) with a gift for reading body language realizes something is terribly wrong during a quiet night at home, turning an ordinary evening into a terrifying fight for survival.
8/7c O Little Christmas Market (Hallmark Channel Movie): When a corporate developer threatens the Christmas market founded by her late father, a miniature artist (Katherine Barrell) falls for an architect (Stephen Huszar) whose firm is behind the buyout.
8/7c The Trouble with Christmas Mistletoe (Great American Family movie): An acquisitions executive (Jillian Murray) returns home for Christmas and reconnects with the former fiancé (Brett Varvel) she left behind.
That's a wrap on this week's edition of TV Corner Notes. With Emmy nominations arriving this week and another wave of summer premieres on the horizon, the television landscape isn't slowing down anytime soon. As always, I'd love to hear what you've been watching, what you're excited to start, and who you're hoping to see recognized on Emmy morning.
Until next time, happy watching,
Adam.
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