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TV picks for Aug. 8: 'CMA Fest,' 'Like Father,' 'Boomtown Builder'

By Neal Justin

August 7, 2018 at 11:00PM

“Like Father” stars Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Are you ready for the country?

In recent years, Nashville's formerly down-home Fan Fair has metastasized into the mega-glitzy "CMA Fest." Four days of performances in June were boiled down into this three-hour special hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini. Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Jason Aldean are among the stars on tap.

7 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5

Cruisin' together

Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer and Seth Rogen star in the Netflix original comedy film "Like Father." Bell plays a woman who is left at the altar and winds up taking her estranged father (Grammer) on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise. There will be karaoke, and lessons learned.

Now streaming on Netflix

Fastest nail gun in the West

Vintage homes in old Arizona mining towns get a fresh polish in the new series "Boomtown Builder." Like some hammer-toting gunslinger, host Tim McClellan is recruited by a local sheriff to restore order to a house that was built in 1912 but has gotten out of control.

9:30 p.m., DIY

TIM CAMPBELL

Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini, above, will return for a second year as hosts of “CMA Fest.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

“Boomtown Builder” is hosted by Tim McClellan. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.