With fireworks displays cancelled in many parts of the country, and most movie theaters shuttered, the top entertainment choices for the long holiday weekend are all at home. Among the highlights: Broadway's smash hit Hamilton comes to Disney+, Amazon drops the second season of action drama Hanna, and Netflix gives young viewers (and their nostalgic parents) a summer treat with the premiere of The Baby-Sitters Club. Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this holiday weekend: (For a look at this weekend's many TV marathons, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.)
FRIDAY JULY 3
PREMIERE MOVIE: Originally planned for theatrical release in the fall of 2021, the 2016 filmed performance of Hamilton is arriving much earlier than expected. As Kelly Kesler writes for Primetimer, the show's Disney+ debut could be revolutionary in more ways than one. Streaming on Disney+
SEASON PREMIERE: The second season of Hanna finds the show's namesake hero (played by Esme Creed-Miles) returning to the school that trained her to be an assassin in the hopes of cutting the organization's legacy short. Watch the trailer. Streaming on Prime Video
SEASON PREMIERE: A beloved book series comes to TV screens with Netflix's adaptation of The Babysitters Club, which Primetime's Joe Reid says remains true to the books, while effortlessly updating the stories for today's age. Watch the trailer. Streaming on Netflix
PREMIERE MOVIE: Netflix's latest comedy romance Desperados takes an unexpected turn when a misunderstanding leads Wesley (Nasim Ledrad) to send her new boyfriend Jared (Robbie Amell) an unhinged email, not realizing he's recovering in a Mexican hospital after a car accident and unable to check the messages on his phone. With the help of friends Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns), Wesley races to Mexico in the hopes of intercepting the damaging message and averting disaster. Watch the trailer. Streaming on Netflix
SERIES PREMIERE: If you're going to survive a disaster, you might as well have some fun doing it. The makers of BattlBox present Southern Survival, in which they test gadgets and gizmos that promise to get people through the most unforeseen times. Watch the trailer. Streaming on Netflix
NEW EPISODE: The time has come for the "Snatch Game of Love" on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, in which the queens do their best celebrity impressions as guest judges Tommy Dorfman and Jeffrey Bowyer weigh in on their performances. 8:00 PM ET on VH1
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: CBS is honoring the late Carl Reiner (who died earlier this week at age 98) with The Dick Van Dyke Show — Now in Living Color! A Special Tribute to Carl Reiner. The one hour special will present two colorized episodes that prominently feature Reiner, who created the show and appeared on camera as Alan Brady. 8:00 PM ET on CBS
CONCERT SPECIAL: The CW is taking the now-familiar COVID-era living room concert and moving it outside for the iHeartCountry 4th of July BBQ. Watch as Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, and Old Dominion, along with a few special guests, perform from the comfort of their backyards to help fans kick off Independence Day weekend. Boby Bones hosts. 8:00 PM ET on The CW
SATURDAY JULY 4
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: While the pandemic has moved this year's Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest to an undisclosed location to avoid crowds, the annual tradition will continue airing on ESPN for the 17th year. Coverage begins at Noon on ESPN
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: This may be the closest many viewers come to watching fireworks this year. The 44th annual annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is beaming around the country from New York City, with special performances by Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, The Black Eyed Peas, The Killers, and John Legend. 8:00 PM ET on NBC
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Vanessa Williams and John Stamos host A Capitol Fourth 2020, whichwill look a little different this year, as special guests file their performances remotely for the show's 40th anniversary presentation. This year's lineup is set to include Patti LaBelle, John Fogerty, Renée Fleming, The Temptations, Trace Adkins, Kelli O'Hara.. 8:00 PM ET on PBS
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Don Lemon and Dana Bash anchor CNN's The Fourth in America, featuring live coverage of celebrations across the country and musical performances from the likes of Jewel, Barry Manilow, Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins. 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CNN
SUNDAY JULY 5
SERIES PREMIERE: The five-part docuseries Outcry investigates the controversial conviction of Greg Kelley, a Texas high school football star who was convicted of child molestation in 2014. Read our review. 10:00 PM ET on Showtime
NEW EPISODE: Michelle McNamara discusses how the murder of her neighbor in 1984 contributed to the obsession that led her to pursue the Golden State Killer in I'll Be Gone in the Dark. The second installment returns to the case as the attacks become more frequent. 10:00 PM ET on HBO
NEW EPISODE: Virgil (Jefferson Mays) helps Strickland (Shea Whigham) and Mason (Matthew Rhys) gain access to new evidence on Perry Mason. Later, Mason puts the squeeze on Drake (Chris Chalk). 9:00 PM ET on HBO
NEW EPISODE: Election night finds Blair (Andrew Rannells) on shaky ground as Black Monday carries on new business. Meanwhile, Mo (Don Cheadle) and Dawn (Regina Hall) go on a date. 8:00 PM ET on Showtime
NEW EPISODE: The weekly comedy series Desus & Mero returns from hiatus to discuss pop culture, politics, and the state of the world with guest Jamaal Bowman. 11:00 PM ET on Showtime
NEW EPISODE: The revolution has begun on Snowpiercer, with Layton (Daveed Diggs) spearheading the attack as Melanie (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself in a dangerous predicament. 9:00 PM ET on TNT
NEW EPISODE: Tiff (Hannaha Hall) and Emmet (Jacob Latimore) move in on The Chi. Meanwhile, Jada (Yolonda Ross) is working on a new business venture. 9:00 PM ET on Showtime
Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.
TOPICS: Hamilton, Disney+, The Baby-Sitters Club, Hanna