Fourth of July watch guide: What our staff is streaming this weekend, from live sports to movies

New York Times

a day ago

The first long weekend of the summer grants us some space for fresh air, crinkling sunshine and leisurely barbecue. With the proper setup and requisite air conditioning, it's also a good time to melt into the couch. There's an interesting sports slate built around the Fourth of July, and it is absolutely 'The Sandlot' season. I asked my colleagues what they're planning to watch during the holiday, and together, we're covering a lot of ground.
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CBS and Fox are free over the air. ESPN programming is also available on ESPN+. In-market viewers can watch Yankees-Mets on YES and SNY.
First, your correspondent here with three quick hitters.
I'll definitely tune in for the Subway Series, better known as 'New York City is Riled Up About Juan Soto II: Electric Boogaloo.' Why did 'Electric Boogaloo' become the catch-all phrase for sequels? Apparently, it comes from 'Breakin' 2,' a 1984 breakdance musical starring the titular Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers. I guess we unknowingly signed up for summer courses, because there's a whole lot of learning going on right now.
In conclusion, I think Soto and Aaron Judge should bust a breakdance battle to determine the rightful King of New York. In lieu of that, a three-game showdown will still be fun. Cy Young contender Max Fried is scheduled to throw on Sunday, and his Yankees need to move past a dispiriting 13-14 June record.
I also plan to watch Sunday's nationally televised WNBA matchup. CBS' showcase tethers the reigning champion New York Liberty with Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins and the Seattle Storm. At its best, New York's offense is smooth and synchronous, but its recent slide without Jonquel Jones spells trouble for a title defense. It's not a true must-win for Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and the seafoam squad, but it's definitely a meaningful game. Seattle's emerald hoopers play with the second-fastest pace in the league. Expect a full serving of buckets.
Lastly, I'm recommending 'Beautiful,' the Pharrell and Snoop Dogg poolside opus. It deserves to be heard on outdoor speakers, and it crosses the sports threshold with Snoop's fantastic NFL throwbacks. The red Priest Holmes threads pop throughout this music video, and the quadruple-XL powder blue Lance Alworth jersey brings us on home.
I've never cared for fireworks, but there is one Fourth of July tradition that is near and dear to my heart: 'The Twilight Zone' marathon. And this year, there are two of them!
'The Twilight Zone' is timeless in many ways … though maybe not any references to the Pittsburgh Pirates winning a World Series. Such is the case in the Agatha Christie-like classic 'Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?' (airing July 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Syfy). In this 1961 episode, a group of people are stranded in a diner as police are on the trail of an alien who crash-landed nearby. As distrust grows among strangers and doubt seeps in between the couples, everyone tries to prove they're not the invader. One kooky older gentleman correctly answers that the Pirates beat the Yankees in the World Series the year prior as evidence that he's very much human. And because it's 'The Twilight Zone,' there's a twist ending you don't see coming (unless, maybe, you're from Venus).
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For those who would prefer an entire episode dedicated to a sport, I'd suggest 'A Game of Pool' (airing July 6 at 9 p.m ET on Heroes & Icons). Jack Klugman, in one of his four appearances on 'The Twilight Zone,' is Jesse Cardiff, a singularly focused man who wants to be the best pool player who ever lived. His desperation runs so deep that he summons the ghost of the legendary 'Fats' Brown (a dramatic turn for Jonathan Winters) just to get a chance to beat him and claim the throne. But what's the cost of being known as the GOAT? — Sarah Hardy, streaming editor
By the time the Fourth of July rolls around, Wimbledon will be in the third round. By Sunday, we'll be into the Round of 16. Unfortunately, Coco Gauff was eliminated, and I've been living for her and Aryna Sabalenka's makeup tour on TikTok. Watching Jessica Pegula fall to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in two sets was hard, but everyone loves an upset … and a comeback story, which is why I have my eyes on Naomi Osaka. But, at this point, with higher seeds falling, I am most interested in the matchup between Germany's Elise Mertens (No. 24) and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina (No. 14). The winner of Mertens and Svitolina should face Sabalenka in the fourth round (if Sabalenka gets past Emma Raducanu), which would be another must-watch match. And Round 4 is when I'll tune into Iga Świątek's aggressive baseline game, given all goes according to plan.
As for the men, I'll take any chance to watch Carlos Alcaraz. He's 'him' and will be for years to come. He's a special player with extreme athleticism, power and the ability to connect on nearly any type of shot. He takes good angles, plays a smart game (but with some crowd-pleasing risks) and keeps opponents on their feet. It took five sets for Alcaraz to beat Fabio Fognini, but he still had 14 aces. Then, he beat qualifier Oliver Tarvet in three sets (6-1, 6-4, 6-4) with only three aces to make it to Round 3. I'm guessing his best matches are ahead, and I'll watch him play anyone, including Jan-Lennard Struff. But, I'm also looking forward to the possibility of No. 13 Tommy Paul vs. No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov. I'll wait to watch Jannik Sinner in Round 4 (given he makes it there), when he faces the winner of Paul and Dmitrov (hopefully), and the same goes for No. 6 Novak Djokovic if he ends up in a match with No. 11 Alex de Minaur (as anticipated). — Jess Bryant, senior fantasy editor
It's summer, which means there are so many (too many?) soccer tournaments to watch. The Women's Euros are underway, which has the early part of my day covered. The Club World Cup enters the quarterfinals starting Friday, which has the afternoon and evening covered. Those two will actually overlap on Saturday, which is somewhat silly.
If you're looking for more American flavor, the Gold Cup final featuring the U.S. and Mexico is on Sunday night. It's not the USMNT's A-team, but any time the U.S and Mexico meet, it's worth watching, especially when it's a final. The U.S. needs something positive to happen after a tough couple years. — Dan Santaromita, senior betting editor
'A League of Their Own' is the perfect July 4th rewatch. What better way to celebrate Independence Day than a WWII-era film about women stepping up to the actual plate to keep America's Pastime afloat while the men are off to war?? — Hannah Vanbiber, sports betting editor
'The Sandlot,' and I have to specifically mention the part where they run out of their houses and through the barbecue to the field. That imagery is forever etched into my brain as one the greatest movies scenes to capture Americana nostalgia. I think about it often, but especially around this time of year. It makes me want to go play in the park with my friends … and eat a hot dog. — Jen Klockner, senior video producer
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