HBO Max imports something called “Singletown,” a dating show that breaks no new ground. It gathers a gaggle of the recently broken-up to live in an apartment building surrounded by others looking for love — including some of their exes.
The participants are prone to cliches spoken in a mush-mouthed British accent that doesn’t exactly connote “posh.” “Singletown” is so familiar that many British critics and fans considered it little more than filler between seasons of “Love Island.”
The real question, to this critic at least, is why HBO Max has decided to import this without remaking it with an American band of dimwits. And why it’s being imported now. Or at all.
HBO Max is a relatively new brand, a subscription service launched in May in a crowded field in the midst of a pandemic and a recession. Asking viewers to shell out for something “new” involves strategic planning and “branding” etc. What exactly does a seriously dumb British dating show lend to a service defined by HBO’s library of impressive series and WarnerMedia’s catalog of movies and shows?
If “Singletown” were just some August time-waster on CBS or Fox, or the five millionth entry on your Netflix home screen, it might make sense. But this is supposed to be HBO Max. And the brand HBO used to imply smart, and innovative television — qualities that have nothing to do with “Singletown.”
— The Democratic Convention continues (8 p.m., PBS, 10 p.m., CBS, NBC, ABC), as well as continuing coverage from CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Tonight’s notable events include presidential nominee Joe Biden’s acceptance speech.
— Shudder, the streaming service dedicated to horror movies, debuts the 2019 shocker “Random Acts of Violence,” adapted from a 2010 graphic novel of the same name by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. The film both explores and depicts themes of violence, and revolves around authors researching a serial killer named “Slasherman” who visit his actual hometown, only to find a few too many people and things that inspired his “calling.”
Released earlier this year in Canada, where it received positive reviews, “Violence,” stars Jesse Williams (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Jordana Brewster (“The Fast and the Furious”) as well as Jay Baruchel, who wrote and directed the movie. Viewers may recall Baruchel from his absurdist FX comedy “Man Seeking Woman” and the Fox comedy “Undeclared,” created by Judd Apatow.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Batman (Christian Bale) returns from exile to face a new villain (Tom Hardy) in the critically acclaimed 2012 comic book adaptation “The Dark Knight Rises” (7 p.m., AMC, TV-14).
— A Maryland restaurant rebounds from two floods on “Gordan Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
A shallow political hack (William Powell) uses his “little black book” to blackmail party big shots into backing his candidacy in the 1947 satire “The Senator Was Indiscreet” (8 p.m., TCM), the only movie ever directed by Broadway playwright George S. Kaufman.
SERIES NOTES
Julie Chen Moonves hosts “Big Brother” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “The Wall” (8 p.m. NBC, r, TV-PG) … The putt is often enough on “Holey Moley” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) … Small talk about Bigfoot on “Mysteries Decoded” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) … An unfortunate librarian on “Young Sheldon” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Rollins’ sister offers insight into a doctor’s secrets on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) … Celebrities play “To Tell the Truth” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG … Wade stakes his place in the singles bar on “The Unicorn” (9:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) covers the convention at a distance … Emily Mortimer appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Hillary Rodham Clinton is booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Rachel Maddow, Fred Armisen and Tiwa Savage on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Anthony Anderson guest-hosts Cori Bush and Deon Forrest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Kenan Thompson and Busy Philipps visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Lili Reinhart and Anitta appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
