The Year in TV: July 2010

The middle of summer saw some interesting events in the TV world, and an unusual roster of programming.

Netflix acquires the rights to stream episodes of Nip/Tuck, Pushing Daisies, Veronica Mars, and Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles.

 

Attendees of San Diego’s Comic-Con convention are treated to previews of Fall 2010 TV series like Nikita, Hawaii 5-O, The Walking Dead, and No Ordinary Family.

 

ESPN airs a one-hour special, The Decision in which LeBron James announces that he is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Though the program was funded by James and its profits were donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the news enrages Cavaliers fans.

 

TV celebrates Independence Day through specials like CBS’ Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, NBC’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, and ABC’s America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theatre.

 

Starz begins airing the epic miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, starring Donald Sutherland, Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, and Natalia Worner.

 

The 2010 FIFA World Cup concludes with the highest rated soccer match in US TV history. 24.3 million Americans watched Spain beat the Netherlands, 1 to 0.

 

TNT’s series premiere of Rizzoli & Isles brings in over 7.5 million viewers, making it the highest-rated debut episode of a basic cable TV series.

 

Other TV series that debuted this month include FOX’s MasterChef, Syfy’s Haven, CBS’ The Bridge, A&E’s The Glades, Cartoon Network’s Children’s Hospital, and USA Network’s Covert Affairs.

 

The TV series that aired their final episodes this month are MTV’s The Hills, ABC’s The Forgotten and Eastwick, CBS’ Miami Medical and Three Rivers.

 

Nash Bridges actor James Gammon, sports announcer Bob Sheppard, Hee Haw co-creator John Aylesworth, Shields & Yarnell’s Lorene Yarnell, reporter Daniel Schorr, Captain Kangaroo’s Dan Resin, voice actor Peter Fernandez, and All In The Family writer Bernie West were some of the TV personalities who left us in July of 2010.