The Apollo 11 anniversary gets a lot of love this week from PBS and WUCF TV, Orlando’s PBS station. Orlando comedian Amanda Seales gains a national showcase on NBC’s “Bring the Funny.” Sports will supply highlights from baseball to tennis to the ESPYS.
The biggie from PBS is “Chasing the Moon,” a six-hour documentary on the challenges that the United States faced in putting a man on the moon. The program airs in two-hour installments at 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. It will be a greatly nostalgic experience for anyone who remembers the 1960s and a moving history lesson for younger viewers. The first part recounts the space race with the Soviet Union and President John Kennedy’s influence on NASA. Part two explores the tragedy of Apollo 1 and the inspiration of Apollo 8. The final portion explains how Apollo 11’s success wowed the world. A big takeaway: NASA was adept at public relations.
“Chasing the Moon” explains briefly in part one how the space program transformed Cocoa Beach. WUCF TV goes deeper on that topic in “Space Chase, USA,” a one-hour, locally produced special, at 9 p.m. Thursday. The program draws on resident accounts, archival footage and home movies.
There’s more from PBS this week. “Antiques Roadshow” offers an episode on NASA memorabilia at 8 p.m. Monday. The hour is called “Out of This World.”
“Nova: Back to the Moon,” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, draws on engineers and entrepreneurs who say returning to the moon will pave the way for more daring missions. In his July 4 speech at the Lincoln Memorial, President Donald Trump vowed, “We’re going to be back on the moon very soon, and, someday soon, we will plant the American flag on Mars.”
WUCF TV offers more, too. “Central Florida Roadtrip” will repeat an episode on Kennedy Space Center at 8 p.m. Thursday. In “Moon Memories,” at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, pioneers share their stories of space exploration. In this compilation of a WUCF digital series, the speakers weigh in on the future of space exploration.
Comedian Amanda Seales, a Dr. Phillips High School grad, hosts “Bring the Funny,” which debuts at 10 p.m. Tuesday on NBC. It’s a contest for comedians, and the judges are Jeff Foxworthy, Kenan Thompson and Chrissy Teigen. In an interview earlier this year, Seales told me the show will allow her “to speak to America on a bigger platform.”
“Bring the Funny” will premiere opposite Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game at 8 p.m. Tuesday on Fox. The backdrop for the 90th game will be Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Tracy Morgan’s unpredictable style should keep enliven the ESPYS at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC. Just how outrageous will he be? Will his celebrity friends drop in?
Fifteen-year-old Coco Gauff has electrified this year’s Wimbledon. How far can she advance this week? The women’s singles title will be played at 9 a.m. Saturday on ESPN.
We’ll learn a lot about the public’s appetite for reality series this week. CBS is rolling out “Love Island,” a romantic contest, at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The network has a lot riding on the show. An episode will air at 8 every weeknight through Aug. 7. In this version of a British hit, single “Islanders” are placed in a Fiji villa.
The premise, courtesy of CBS: “Every few days the Islanders must couple-up — those who fail to find a partner to couple up with risk being dumped from the island.” There’s more: “In addition to choosing their partners wisely, Islanders must also win the hearts of viewers who have the opportunity to shape events on screen and ultimately crown one lucky couple the winner, who will then have the chance to walk away with both love and the cash prize.”
There’s one Floridian in the announced cast: Michael Yi, 29, a model from Miami.
If this show isn’t your idea of romance, there’s always the moon.
hboedeker@orlandosentinel.com
