Justina Machado Kills as Dolores Roach, CW’s ‘Moonshine,’ Tanya Tucker on CMT, Madcap ‘Out-Laws’
One Day at a Time’s Justina Machado delves into very dark humor as a Sweeney Todd-like masseuse in The Horror of Dolores Roach. The CW’s latest Canadian import is a soapy dramedy set at a Nova Scotia family-run resort improbably named Moonshine. Country music legend Tanya Tucker launches a new season of CMT Summer Sessions concerts. The Righteous Gemstones’ Adam DeVine squares off against future in-laws Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin in the comedy caper The Out-Laws.
![Justina Machado and Alejandro Hernandez in 'The Horror of Dolores Roach'](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/the-horror-of-dolores-roach-1014x570.jpg)
The Horror of Dolores Roach
The vibrant Justina Machado, so wonderful in the One Day at a Time revival, sinks her teeth into another meaty role as Dolores Roach, who we first see barging into the dressing room of an actress playing the so-called “real-life Sweeney Todd” on Broadway. How Dolores became so infamous is the basis of an eight-part ultra-dark horror comedy (with blissfully compact and addictively bite-size half-hour episodes) that finds the ex-con starting her life over as a masseuse in Washington Heights who conveniently sets up shop under an empanada shop run by stoner man-child Luis (New Amsterdam’s Alejandro Hernandez). A parable of you-are-what-you-eat Darwinism, Dolores Roach adapts Aaron Mark’s Spotify podcast series into a gripping and grisly treat.
![Erin Drake, Tom Stevens, and Alexander Nunez in The CW's 'Moonshine;](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/the-cw-moonshine-1014x570.jpg)
Moonshine
The brew is fairly tepid in a soapy Canadian dramedy set at a family-run beachside resort named Moonshine that attracts visitors to Nova Scotia. Jennifer Finnigan stars as New York architect Lidia, a reluctant prodigal daughter who returns for her eccentric aunt’s memorial — only to discover that she’s been bequeathed a large share of the family business, to at least one of her sibling’s dismay. Rule of thumb: When a character in a pilot episode says, “The sooner that I’m out of here, the better,” you know they’re sticking around. Whether you will follow suit is a personal choice. Finnigan’s real-life husband Jonathan Silverman guests as Lidia’s own hubby, who sets off “creep” vibes the minute he arrives
![Tanya Tucker performs during 'CMT Summer Sessions'](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/tanya-tucker-cmt-summer-sessions-1014x570.jpg)
CMT Summer Sessions
The country-music channel launches a new summertime concert season with a legendary headliner for the inaugural event: Tanya Tucker, performing lakeside in Franklin, Tennessee. She sings some of her more familiar hits (“Strong Enough to Bend,” “Bring My Flowers Now”) along with a new song, “When the Rodeo Is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)”, off her latest album, Sweet Western Sound. Guests in weeks to come include Chris Janson, BRELAND, Jordan Davis, Lee Brice, and Ashley McBryde.
![Adam DeVine and Nina Dobrev in 'The Out-Laws' on Netflix](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/adam-divine-nina-dobrev-the-out-laws-1014x570.jpg)
The Out-Laws
Adam DeVine (Modern Family, The Righteous Gemstones) plays straight man, up to a point, to his outrageous future in-laws (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin) in a comedy caper that takes several explosive twists. The fun begins when mild-mannered bank manager Owen first meets the sketchily off-the-grid parents of his betrothed, Parker (The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev) — shortly followed by his bank being robbed by the notorious Ghost Bandits. Could Owen’s potential new family be the burglars? Richard Kind and Julie Hagerty appear as Owen’s considerably less suspicious parents.
![Betty Gabriel (Elizabeth Wright), John Krasinski (Jack Ryan), Wendell Pierce (James Greer) in 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan' - Season 4](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/jack-ryan-john-krasinski-wendell-pierce-betty-gabriel-1014x570.jpg)
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
In the middle chapters of the final season, the trail to the global convergence conspiracy leads to scenic Dubrovnik, Croatia, where Jack (John Krasinski) sheds his Deputy Director title to get down to business with his favorite mercenary, Mike November (Michael Kelly) and undercover assassin Domingo Chavez (Michael Peña). Their infiltration of an elite “marketplace” is the season’s most memorable set piece to date. And while Jack’s away, Greer (Wendell Pierce) does his own leg work in D.C., stirring up danger — and new political difficulties for CIA’s acting director, Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel), just days away from her confirmation hearing.
INSIDE FRIDAY TV:
- Tough as Nails (8/7c, CBS): The competition series moves into its second weekly slot on Fridays — it also airs on Sundays — when the contestants tackle a weighty challenge: to design and weld a structure that can withstand one ton of pressure.
- Family Law (8/7c, The CW): As the second season of the Canadian legal drama opens with multiple relationships in disarray within the family-run family law firm, boss dad Harry (Victor Garber) invites his kids to a family dinner with the secret intent to broker peace between them and his girlfriend, Crystal (Lynda Boyd).
- Outlander (8/7c, Starz): The best-laid travel plans go awry when Scotland-bound Jamie (Sam Heughan) is pulled back into Revolutionary War intrigue.
- Ready to Love (8/7c, OWN): The dating game is serious in the eighth season of the relationship reality series, introducing 18 Dallas-based men and women in their 30s and 40s who hope to finally find the one.
- On Assignment with Richard Engel (11/10c, MSNBC): In “Revolt from Within — The Rise of Wagner,” the foreign correspondent reports the latest on Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mutinous leader of the mercenary Wagner group who briefly threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin’s leadership.
ON THE STREAM:
- Disney Animated Shorts (streaming on Disney+): The streamer begins releasing a series of newly restored Disney Animation classic shorts, dating from the 1920s to 1961, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Figaro the Cat, and Goofy, including a Silly Symphony short from 1929, The Skeleton Dance, set to Grieg’s macabre melodies. More shorts will follow monthly through October.
- The Ashley Madison Affair (streaming on Hulu): A three-part docuseries from ABC News Studios charts the rise and fall of the scandalous dating platform that catered to extramarital affairs.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (streaming on Paramount+): The remaining superstars help transform lesbian sisters into fabulous drag queens, with Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) as guest judge.
- The Crowded Room (streaming on Apple TV+): It took a while, but the psychological drama finally takes off as Danny (Tom Holland) wakes up to the reality of his crime and to the many voices in his head. But will the personalities within allow the real Danny to come out in time for his court hearing?
- Hack My Home (streaming on Netflix): A feel-good home renovation series sets four innovative designers and makers on clients who’ve outgrown their space and need new storage and décor solutions to make their habitat feel like home again.
- The Next Black Millionaires (streaming on The Roku Channel): A six-part reality series follows three entrepreneurs as they attempt to turn their business dreams into profitable ventures.