FOURTH of JULY FIREWORKS AND TV SPECIALS GUIDE
Jenna Ryu USA TODAY
Family barbecues and red, white and blue Popsicles are signature parts of a festive Fourth of July. But what will this celebration look like without the live fireworks displays? h As the country begins reopening (and reclos ings) after months of coronavirus lockdowns, the world is not yet back to normal. Social distancing is still mandated, and gatherings are limited to abide by COVID19 protocols. h If you’re wary about fireworks in person with crowds, try watching them on TV Saturday. Scroll through our list of American favorites to stream from the comfort of your own home.
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ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN GRAY/USA TODAY NETWORK; PARAMOUNT PICTURES; 20TH CENTURY FOX; DREAMWORKS; GETTY IMAGES Guide
Continued from Page 23A Fourth of July specials
“A Capitol Fourth”
When: 8 EDT/PDT Where: PBS, Facebook, YouTube, NPR This perennial special, hosted this year by John Stamos and Vanessa Wil liams, features live fireworks from Washington, D.C. and performances by Patti LaBelle, John Fogerty, Renée Flem ing, The Temptations, Andy Grammer, Trace Adkins and the National Sympho ny Orchestra.
Macy’s “Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular”
When: 8 EDT/PDT Where: NBC To allow New Yorkers to experience the fireworks without creating crowds, the annual Independence Day spectacle will instead showcase fiveminute fire work displays taped earlier this week throughout New York City. The event will be edited into NBC’s annual special, and features a mix of pop and patriotic anthems from some of America’s top musicians. Fireworks go off over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, July 4, 2019. SUSAN WALSH/AP Movies and TV shows ‘Saving Private Ryan’ No cable? No problem! bratory. The streaming doesn’t stop there. Here are some other movies and TV When: 4:15 EDT/PDT Netflix and Hulu offer some July 4th ‘Cupcake Wars’: Saluting the USO shows to get you into Independence Day Where: TNT themed TV episodes to stream with (Season 5, Episode 12) spirit – from your couch. Tom Hanks plays a captain searching your family and friends. for Private James Ryan in this World Where: Hulu ‘Washington’ War II drama. ‘Parks and Recreation’: Four “Cupcake Wars” champions Ms. Knope goes to Washington compete to serve the best cupcake dis When: 6 EDT/PDT ‘Top Gun’ (Season 5, Episode 1) play for the 70th anniversary of the USO Where: History in this patriotic episode. How did America’s first president be When: 5 EDT/PDT Where: Hulu, Netflix come one of the most iconic leaders? Where: Paramount Network If you’re looking for some laughs, fol ‘Portlandia’: 4th of July This docuseries explains. Tom Cruise stars as a fighter pilot low the members of Pawnee’s Parks De (Season 5, Episode 5) sent to the rigorous Top Gun Naval partment in visiting Washington, D.C. ‘Independence Day’ Fighter Weapons School. and exploring its most notable monu Where: Netflix ments. Jane Lynch guest stars in this holiday When: 7 EDT/PDT ‘Flags of our Fathers’ episode, as Kath and Dave attempt to Where: AMC ‘The West Wing’: Jefferson lives host the ultimate Independence Day Independence Day is much more dire When: 5:40 EDT/PDT (Season 5, Episode 3) BBQ with the most spectacular fire than fireworks and hot dogeating con Where: HBO works. tests in this 1996 film starring Will This Clint Eastwood war film follows Where: Netflix Smith. Aliens are coming to destroy the the World War 2 story of U.S. troops on In this episode of this political dra Earth, and a group of people must unite the island of Iwo Jima. ma, the White House celebrates the 4th to stop this total annihilation on the of July, but not everyone is feeling cele Fourth of July weekend.