Fourth of July 2013 TV marathons and specials

Alive Day Memories — Photo: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Happy 237th birthday, America — let’s celebrate with TV marathons and specials!

Although we encourage enjoying the sunshine with a hot dog and a cold beverage in hand, you never know when some channel-flipping assistance may come in handy. With this list of choices, there is something for everyone — kid-friendly binge-watching, cable favorites such as The Walking Dead, and Independence Day classics like … Independence Day.

In the event of gloomy weekend weather, a nasty sunburn that sends you indoors, or simply the need for new drinking-game inspiration, check out all the TV marathons and specials happening this Fourth of July weekend:

Program times are listed ET.

Thursday, July 4

MARATHONS

A&E: The First 48 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

AMC: The Walking Dead (1 p.m. to 3 a.m.) — If you’ve been hesitant to dive into the zombie craze, now is your chance to catch season one in its entirety

Animal Planet: North America (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

BBC America: Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 (8 a.m. to 6 a.m.)

Cartoon Network: The Amazing World of Gumball (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Destination America: BBQ Pitmasters (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.)

Discovery: Fast N’ Loud (2 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

Discovery Fit & Health: Untold Stories of the E.R. (7 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

HBO: John Adams (noon to 8 p.m.)

History: Pawn Stars (4 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

H2: The Revolution (11 a.m. to 4 a.m.)

IFC: Comedy Bang! Bang! (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Ion: Without a Trace (2 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

MSNBC: Lockup: San Antonio (noon to 8 p.m.), Lock up: Cleveland (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.)

National Geographic: Wicked Tuna (9 a.m. to 3 a.m.)

Oxygen: I’m Having Their Baby (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) — Like we mentioned, options for everyone

Science: Survivorman (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Survivorman: Ten Days (7 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America (midnight to 6 a.m.)

SOAPnet: Beverly Hills, 90210 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Spike: Cops (2 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

Style: Tia & Tamera (6 a.m. to 3 a.m.)

Syfy: The Twilight Zone (8 a.m. to 6 a.m.) — The classic!

TLC: Cake Boss (6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (1:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

TNT: Castle (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Travel: Food Paradise (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

TruTV: Impractical Jokers (6 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

TV Land: The Andy Griffith Show (8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)

USA: NCIS (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.)

SPECIAL TV AND MOVIE EVENTS:

Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq: Produced by the late James Gandolfini, this 2007 Emmy-nominated documentary features the actor interviewing soldiers about their American loyalty and emotional positions post-Iraq war. (7 p.m. on HBO)

1776: This musical drama about the signing of the Declaration of Independence airs on Sony Movie Channel at 7 p.m.

In the Line of Fire: In this thriller, Clint Eastwood plays a guilt-ridden Secret Service agent as he hunts for a possible presidential assassin. Catch it on Ion at 11 a.m.

Yankee Doodle Dandy: 5:30 p.m. on TCM

Music Independence Day: MTV, CMT, and VH1 are devoting an entire day to music! The channels will feature both established stars and up-and-coming artists. (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Wimbledon Tennis: Women’s Semifinals: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on ESPN

Jefferson: H2 will air a two-hour glimpse at Thomas Jefferson’s life and legacy. (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.)

National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets: National Treasure: Book of Secrets airs at noon and 5:30 p.m, and the first film airs at 2:30 and 8 p.m. on ABC Family

Independence Day: 8 p.m. on A&E

Friday July 5

MARATHONS

A&E: Storage Wars (9 a.m. to 4 a.m.)

AMC: The Walking Dead (1 p.m. to 3 a.m.) — The marathon continues with season two all day Friday.

BBC America: Star Trek: The Next Generation (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

CLOO: Jump the Shark (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.)

CMT: Hell’s Kitchen (noon to 11 p.m.)

Destination America: A Haunting (4 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

Discovery Fit & Health: Untold Stories of the E.R. (7 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

HGTV: House Hunters and House Hunters International (7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

History: Modern Marvels (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.), American Pickers (7 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

Ion: Cold Case (1 p.m. to 2 am.)

MSNBC: Lockup: Louisville (7 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

MTV: Buckwild (2:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

Oxygen: America’s Next Top Model (6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) — It wouldn’t be the weekend if Oxygen didn’t have an ANTM marathon

Science: Through the Wormhole (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) — It’s hosted by Morgan Freeman, which is all you need to know

Starz: Magic City (6 a.m. to midnight)

Style: Giuliana & Bill (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (6 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

Syfy: Warehouse 13 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

TLC: I Found the Gown (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

TV Land: Friends (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.)

USA: Law & Order: SVU (6 a.m. to 1 a.m.)

SPECIAL TV AND MOVIE EVENTS

Wimbledon Tennis: Men’s Semifinals: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday July 6

MARATHONS

AMC: The Walking Dead (1 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) — You’re almost caught up! AMC finishes the weekend zombie-fest with season 3 all day Saturday

Cartoon Network: Lego Ninjago: The Series (11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Discovery Fit & Health: Bizarre E.R. (4 p.m. to 2 a.m.)

G4: Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

History: Pawn Stars (7 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

Ion: Monk (4 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

OWN: Iyanla: Fix My Life (10 a.m. to 9 .m.) — Maybe, you had a rough weekend.

Science: How It’s Made (3:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.)

TBS: The Big Bang Theory (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.)

TLC: Say Yes to the Dress (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

TV Land: Roseanne (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

USA: Law & Order: SVU (9 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

SPECIAL TV AND MOVIE EVENTS

Independence Day: Catch it a second time this weekend at 5 p.m. on A&E

Pirates of the Caribbean: ABC Family will air the first three films in a row, beginning at noon, followed by an encore showing of National Treasure, followed by its sequel, starting at 6:30 p.m! Because who could ever get enough Nicolas Cage?

Sunday July 7

MARATHONS

AMC: The Walking Dead (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.) — … if you haven’t had enough.

Cartoon Network: Lego Ninjago: The Series (11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Ion: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (6 p.m. to 3 a.m.)

National Geographic: Boarder Wars (noon to 9 p.m.)

Oxygen: Snapped (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Science: Terra Nova (10 a.m. to 1 a.m.)

Spike: Bar Rescue (11 a.m. to 4 a.m.)

Style: Sex and the City (noon to 8 p.m.)

TLC: Breaking Amish: Brave New World (noon to 7 p.m.)

TruTV: All Worked Up (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.)