Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, August 21. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
2016 Summer Olympics (NBC, 7 p.m.): The sun sets on the Rio Olympics tonight with the closing ceremonies, as the Olympic cauldron is extinguished and the flag is passed to the mayor of Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics. It’s been a largely inspiring few weeks: the commentary of Leslie Jones, the dancing horses, Usain Bolt cementing his position as the fastest man alive (yep, even faster than this guy), and the United States winning many times the medals of any other country thanks to tremendous athletes like Simone Biles, Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky, Aly Raisman, and Michael Phelps. (USA! USA! USA!) It’s almost enough to let you ignore the fact that these games have been riddled with controversy, from pool water turning into Ecto Cooler to athletes getting robbed at gunpoint (except not really) to—holy shit, there’s Matthew McConaughey! And free McDonalds! What were we talking about? Anyway, regardless of NBC failing to present it well, it’s been an Olympics to remember, and hopefully the closing ceremony will give us one last look at the glory of the Rio Olympic venue before it joins the ranks of the derelict.
Fear The Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.): With the end of a giant sporting event, the viewing population is once again free to turn its eyes to the zombie hordes it can never get enough of. Fear The Walking Dead (or as we like to call it, The Walking Dead’s non-union Mexican equivalent) returns for the back half of season two with a fractured central cast all off on their own adventures. We’re skeptical about this move given none of these people—except, arguably, Mr. Strand—are particularly interesting when they’re in a group, let alone separated, but this fragmented approach did wonders for The Walking Dead in the post-prison back half of season four. Danette Chavez has already tagged each of the main cast with GPS trackers to locate them when the creative team remember they exist.
The Tunnel (PBS, 10:30 p.m.): Tonight we see the light at the end of The Tunnel, as the first series draws to a close. Will Karl and Elise apprehend James Frain’s Truth Terrorist before he kills again? And should they apprehend him, will he also be put on trial for his crimes as Chess and Azrael?
Premieres and finales
Inspector Lewis (PBS, 9 p.m.): Kevin Whatley has played the role of Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis in some form or another since 1987, and tonight he hangs up the badge with the series finale of the Inspector Morse spinoff. We honor your service and hope for a comfortable retirement, at least until the powers that be decide that Lewis needs his own Endeavor-style prequel series.
Talking Dead (AMC, 10 p.m.): As the zombies go, so goes Talking Dead, the remora to the ratings-devouring shark that is the Walking Dead franchise. Chris Hardwick and his company of actors, producers, writers, comedians, and big fans gather to discuss the night’s episode and almost certainly be kinder to the show than your What’s On Tonight correspondent is.