The Music Man
Tuesday, 1:15 a.m., TCM
Everybody loves a parade — even one that’s been marching through town for 55 years. That’s Shirley Jones’ take on her 1962 movie “The Music Man,” a star-and-song-spangled adaptation of Meredith Willson’s Broadway show. Jones, who played Shirley Partridge in the 1970-𓂃74 ABC sitcom “The Partridge Family,” calls the film’s music and sense of patriotism “timeless.”
“The combination of the two made everybody want to be a part of it, and when they did see it they wanted to see it again,” says Jon𒈔es, 83. “I still love watching it [and] singing it. The combination works so perfectly.”
Robert Preston reprised his Broadway role of huckster Harold Hill, who swindles money from gullible small-town Iowans with a promise to form a marching band in time for their July 4, 1912, celebration. Jones plays mousey librarian▨ Marian Paroo, who doubts Hill’s intentions and fights off his flirtations. The movie showcases dance numbers and classic songs such as “76 Trombones,” “Ya Got Trouble” and “Wells Fargo Wagon.”
Jones —ꦺ for playing a prostitute in “Elmer Gantry” — recently spoke by phone with The Post from her home in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Why were the 1960s the right time to make “The Music Man”?
I don’t know, to tell you the truth. It was a musical but it had something to say, and that was the thing that made it so wonderful. The Robert Preston character starts out as a bad guy, trying to steal money — and it turns🔯 out he remakes the town and it becomes a loving place to be. Al🍰l the characters were so unique that everybody loved each one of them. They were real people.
Did you have to do a lot of takes for the dance sequences?
Doing two or three or four or five takes was nothing. I sang with my own voice, so it had to be🦂 perfect.
The Hill character railed against the decline of youth culture; interestingly, The Beatles covered “Till There Was You,” a ballad you sang in the movie. What did you think of it?
Amazing. I couldn’t believe they 💫did it. It was a beautiful scor🍎e; to have The Beatles do it was ironic.
Movie musicals are rare today. Do you think they can come back, or are of a different era?
I thought about that myself because I’m a singer and still singing. When somebody steps up and sings a song in🥃stead of talking, they say, “What the hell is that?” I love musicals. “Oklahoma!” was my first and for me, at age 18, being able to do a movie like “Oklahoma!” was extraordinary. I would hope they continue doing things like that, but I’m not sure they will.
Then-7-year-old Ron Howard . What was it like working with him?
As a child star, he꧙ was brilliant. Now when I see his work I understand why he’s so successful in everything. He was smart — he knew what the business was about.
Netflix rebooted “One Day at a Time.” Would you like to see a new “Partridge Family”?
I just wonder if “The Partridge Family” is a little too happy and ⛄wonderful these days. They’re not doing things like that anymore. They don’t belie🐎ve it’s real.
— Eric Hegedüs
And here’s what else to watch this week:
Prime Suspect: Tennison
Sunday, 10 p.m., PBS
In the interest of discretion, Dete🌠ctive Len Bradfield (Sam Reid) offers probationary officer Jane Tennison (Stefanie Martini) a chance to transfer to a new prec🐻inct.
The Night Shift
Thursday, 10 p.m., NBC
Jor💖dan (Jill Flint) and Cain (Mark Consuelos) work on a patient injured in an explosion. Meanwhile, T.C. (Eoin Macken) clashes with Amira (Rana Roy) over how they should treat a Syrian child on the American base.
Snowfall
Wednesday, 10 p.m., FX
Series premiere. South Central street entrepreneur Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) takes a leap into the cocaine game in the 1980s. Disgruntled CIA officer Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson) allies ꦬwith a Contra soldier. Luchador wrestler Gustavo Zapata (Sergio Peris-Mencheta) makes inroads with 𒐪a Mexican cartel family. It’s “The Wire,” with palm trees.
America in Color
Sunday, 8 p.m., Smithsonian
Series premiere. Cutting-edge technology is used to colorize rare home movies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt du🔯ring the Great Depression, scenes of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Elvis Presley’s television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Narrated by Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”).
Claws
Sunday, 9 p.m., TNT
Haunted by recent events with Roller (Jack Kesy), Desna (Niecy Nash) wants out from under Uncle Daddy’s (Dean Norris, below) thumb. Meanwh𓆏ile, Bryce (Kevin Rankin) drifts into the Dixie Mafia. Polly (Carrie Preston) reunites with her former gold-digging “friend.”
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Tuesday, 8 p.m., NBC
“American Ninja Warrior” co-☂hosts Kristine Leahy, and Matt Iseman will host the 41st annual blowout, the country’s largest. Performers Jennifer Lopez, Brad Paisley and Lady Antebellum, will drum up patriotic fervor.
Tour de Pharmacy
Saturday, 10 p.m., HBO
Andy Samberg is responsible for this sports-doping spoof that focuses on a global cycling race. The 𒊎scandal is recalled by five riders, commentators, celebrities and other assorted laggards. The cast includes Lance Armstrong, Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Freddie Highmore, Jeff Goldblum, James Marsden and Kevin Bacon.