TV's Best Bets

Thursday, June 30

“Westworld,” (1973), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies; or “Westworld,” 8 p.m., HBO. To some of us, amusement parks are peaceful places; to Michael Crichton, they brought chaos — dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park,” killer robots in “Westworld.” Crichton’s ‘73 film is entertaining … but no match for the existential depth of the HBO series. Dolores died at the end of the third season, but now Evan Rachel Wood has a new character. This season opener also airs at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; the second episode will be 9 p.m. Sunday.

“Right to Offend” conclusion, 9-11:04 p.m., A&E. The first half of this richly detailed documentary (rerunning at 7 p.m.) traced the early days of Black comedy, peaking with Richard Pryor. Now the '80s begin. “If you weren’t Eddie Murphy, there wasn’t a lot of work,” said writer/historian Nelson George. Murphy was a box-office giant, but others groped for chances; “the Improv (comedy club) wouldn’t even hire Blacks,” Steve Harvey says. The solution was often for Blacks to create their own comedy clubs … and TV shows and movies and more.

“B Positive,” 9:30 p.m., CBS. In a rerun of the show’s second-to-last episode, there’s despair. Mrs. Ludlum has quit to work at a competing retirement home; now everyone gets involved, including Rondi Reed as Irene, the acid-tonged sister of Norma (Linda Lavin). She was a strong addition — but came too late to save the show.

“The Flash,” 9 p.m., CW. This was originally set to be the season opener of “Devils,” a European financial drama with Patrick Dempsey in a supporting role. Now that’s on hold; CW plans a quick rerun of Wednesday’s “Flash” season finale.

ALSO: ABC is filling the night with game show reruns; it has “Press Your Luck” from 8-11 p.m. And BET has a quick rerun of Sunday’s “BET Awards.” Tiffany Haddish hosted a show awash in music; scheduled performers includes Lizzo, Latto, Chloe, Babyface, Giveon, Jack Hrlow, Kirk Franklin, Roddy Ricch and more.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Thursday TV's Best Bets