Dances with wolves

Liam Neeson may have given his career some extra bounce with "Taken" and other vigilante flicks, but he's never faced more daunting opponents than he does in 2012's "The Grey." Perhaps that's why his performance as an oil rigger being tracked by wolves in the Alaskan tundra is one of his all-time best.

6:30 p.m. BBC America

Mum's the word

TCM's tribute to Alfred Hitchcock offers a full slate of classic thrillers every Wednesday and Friday this month. But film fanatics may be most intrigued by the opening slate, heavily dominated by his British-made silents from the 1920s. The evening kicks off with 1927's "The Ring."

7 p.m. TCM

Back to the hood

John Singleton hasn't had a big-screen hit since 2003's "2 Fast 2 Furious," which may explain why he has shifted much of his attention to TV. No complaints from me. His latest, "Snowfall," which could be interpreted as a prequel to his "Boyz N the Hood," is instantly one of summer's most riveting dramas as it expertly tracks the rise of cocaine in South Central L.A. in the '80s. British actor Damon Idris shines as the ambitious dealer who slowly loses his moral compass in his search for respect.

9 p.m. FX

Neal Justin