More than 40 years after the actress starred alongside Michael J. Fox in 1985's Back to the Future, she reflected on working with her costar as director Robert Zemeckis watched on.

"I mostly remember," Thompson exclusively told E! correspondent Will Marfuggi at the Aug. 5 premiere of Anna Pigeon, "how happy Bob Zemeckis would be when I did something right or when something all came together." 

"When Michael and I would do a scene," she continued, "he would be laughing in the corner. It's such hard work making movies and TV shows, that when you can make joy happen in one of the creators, it's like the greatest thing."

And while Thompson starred as the younger version of Marty McFly's mom Lorraine McFly, now she gets to experience the thrills of being behind the camera in the upcoming USA Network series.

"I'm just like so into it," the 65-year-old—who, along with directing four episodes, is an executive producer—said. "I work so hard and I'm so passionate about getting exactly what I want."

In fact, she made sure the show—starring Tracy Spiridakos, Ryan Northcott, Cooper Levy and more—was brought to life on the small screen as imagined.

"This show was a real challenge, as a director and as a producer, to figure out how to make it big on a smaller budget," she explained. "It looks like a really great show. To get all these different elements, all the stunts, the fights, all the outdoors. We had to pick a very specific location."

And sometimes, that meant pushing back on initial plans for the series, which follows an urbanite-turned-park ranger as she solves mysteries within a national park.

"When they were first talking about it, they were like, 'We're gonna have to be on a soundstage for five days and we can go out for two,'" Thompson recalled. "We're like, 'No! This is not a soundstage show.' So we shot all on location. It was very, very exciting."

Thanks to the move, she emphasized, "Everything felt really real and visceral." 

While fans wait for Anna Pigeon to premiere on USA Network Aug. 7, keep reading for more must-watch TV shows.

(E! and USA Network are part of the Versant family.) 

In season four, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.

FX’s The Shards is a seductive drama series from executive producer Ryan Murphy, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.

Sterling Point is a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie's life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather's island in Canada. There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. 

The series follows heartthrob Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match), who is done playing the field and is handing over the reins of his love life to those who know him best. After years of dating in the spotlight, his three closest confidants, Amanda Kloots, Georgia Hassarati and Sonny Henty, step in to make the tough calls, guiding Harry through a carefully selected pool of potential matches as he searches for authentic love and marriage.

A working class family in 1890s Yorkshire move from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate.

How to Catch a Dirtbag (Discovery Channel) - Aug. 5

A new series featuring the “investigations” of internet sensation Michael McWhorter, aka “Tizzy Ent”, who has popularized the art of internet crowd sourcing to help identify those who appear to do horrible things in public and seem to get away with it.

Episodes highlight and investigate viral clips of apparent bad behavior, using digital clues to help identify the alleged offender, get the real story behind the video, and sometimes even a conviction. Included are interviews with victims, witnesses, law enforcement, and occasionally the accused themselves, with each episode striving to explore the full arc from incident to outcome.

The path of true love never runs smooth, especially in Silver Falls. The last time we saw the Walters, Jackie and Cole finally confessed their love for each other, only for Jackie’s boyfriend — and Cole’s brother — Alex to overhear. But their conversation was interrupted when Walter patriarch George was rushed to the hospital. Season 3 sees the Walters realize what’s important in the fallout from this – and discover that it’s okay to go after what you want. With their love lives still hanging in the balance, Alex turns to his new rodeo riding team, and Cole gets back in the driver’s seat of his life, literally, when a race car driver sees potential in him. Meanwhile, Jackie pours her heart into developing the town’s community space. But when a childhood friend arrives from New York, the life she left behind proves harder to forget than she expected.

From the Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker behind Tiger King, Eric Goode tells the story of the reptile trade over decades.

Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live (Paramount+) - Aug. 6

Captured during her sold-out world tour, Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live) brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated, decorated and successful artists of her generation.

Based on the New York Times best-selling novels by Nevada Barr, the new drama series follows Anna Pigeon (Tracy Spiridakos), a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever. While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th (Bravo) - Aug. 9

Seven of the most iconic Real Housewives are whooping it up for a girls’ trip like no other through Orange County, Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Miami and New York City. Each stop welcomes more familiar faces from Housewives history to join the celebration and revisit the franchise's most memorable moments.

The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls (Prime Video) - Aug. 9

For decades, Bear Grylls has survived dangerous expeditions around the globe, anchored by his faith in Jesus. Now he's taking the stars of the global hit series on missions into the unknown. Across challenging environments ranging from Utah's Castle Valley and Canyonlands to the Ausable River, the Colorado River, the Great Basin Desert, and the Adirondack Forest, Bear pushes his guests beyond their comfort zones while exploring what makes them tick and drawing out deeply personal conversations about faith and spirituality.

Season four of the action series debuts this summer.

Women in Blue (Las Azules) season two will follow MarĂ­a (BĂĄrbara Mori), now promoted to lieutenant, as she finds herself torn between the rules she’s sworn to uphold and a relentless pull towards the truth when the body of a student activist is discovered, and the Azules are pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the student massacre of 1968. Before they can make sense of what they've found, the body of a person connected to that brutal chapter of history is unearthed, sending shockwaves through the department. Someone is delivering justice straight to the police's door, and the Azules are the department's last hope of stopping the killer. As MarĂ­a, Valentina (Natalia TĂ©llez), Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), and Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana) fight battles both inside and outside the precinct, buried truths rise to the surface and they’re forced to confront an uncomfortable question: in a system plagued with corruption, what is the cost of fighting for their ideals?

Season two will follow MarĂ­a (BĂĄrbara Mori), now promoted to lieutenant, as she finds herself torn between the rules she’s sworn to uphold and a relentless pull towards the truth when the body of a student activist is discovered, and the Azules are pulled into an investigation that reaches back to the student massacre of 1968. Before they can make sense of what they've found, the body of a person connected to that brutal chapter of history is found, sending shockwaves through the department. Someone is delivering justice straight to the police's door, and the Azules are the department's last hope of stopping the killer. As MarĂ­a, Valentina (Natalia TĂ©llez), Gabina (Amorita Rasgado), and Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana) fight battles both inside and outside the precinct, buried truths rise to the surface and they’re forced to confront an uncomfortable question: in a system plagued with corruption, what is the cost of fighting for their ideals?

When Connect 3 loses their opening act for a major reunion tour, they return to their beloved Camp Rock to discover the next big thing. As campers vie for the chance to open for their favorite band, tensions rise and friendships are tested — leading to unexpected alliances, revelations, and romances.

After the unexpected success of their big marketing idea, Will and Shane rush to grow personally and professionally without fully realizing the cost of doing business.

Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes (HBO) - Aug. 14

In his second HBO stand-up special, comedian, musician, and actor Whitmer Thomas digs into his small-town Alabama upbringing
 and his ongoing quest to be cool. Joined onstage by his bandmates and closest friends – Jeremy Ritchie, Clay Tatum, Budd Diaz, and brother Johnny McCann – Whitmer shares irreverent and heartfelt stories chronicling his chaotic adolescence, from pranks and skateboarding to ruining a Benihana birthday party. Blending original songs, photos, and home videos, Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes is a funny and deeply personal tribute to the people and moments that shape us.

Raising a family is hard—your home shouldn't make it harder. Best friends Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis are on a mission to fix that, transforming houses that have stopped working for the families living inside of them. Together, they dig into each family's biggest struggles, dream up smart, problem-solving design solutions, and turn them into reality. The result: homes that are both beautiful and actually built for real life.

In season 18, It’s Always Sunny continues its return to its roots, with 10 jam-packed setups only the Gang could find themselves in. Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob Mac), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito) are wrapped up in salvaging inheritances from a dead woman, surviving tent encampments and the great inside-outside divide between the haves and have-nots, withstanding job loss at the hands of workplace automation, embracing a newfound appreciation for neurodivergence, questioning the fabric of society against conspiracy theories, and of course — the biggest elephant in the room — outlasting the public’s pendulum swing against drinking. Not to mention battling nerds, LARPers, and a particularly petulant McPoyle clan at the Renaissance Faire or sportswashing their way back into the good graces of their community by sponsoring a Little League team. All the while trying to maintain order in their personal lives and at Paddy’s, which have become increasingly lawless and erratic.

The reality competition series pits America’s buzziest mixologists against each other in a lively, high-stakes showdown for $10,000 per episode. Hosted by Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, who are joined by a series of celebrities and an expert judge, each episode features a fast, fiery battle of skill, creativity, humor and flair. From playful flavor combinations to eye-catching technique, the focus is on having a good time, taking risks, and serving up drinks with personality. Each shake, stir and splash could be the winning touch or the one that sends them home. It’s a cocktail competition where the vibes are high, the drinks are strong, and the bragging rights are everything.

From the haunting legend of New Mexico's elusive Skinwalkers to ghost-filled battlefields and England’s mysterious medieval folklore, adventurer Josh Gates teams up with scientist Phil Torres and paranormal investigator Heather Amaro to investigate shocking stories where history, myth and the supernatural collide.

The emotional, real-life drama chronicles the remarkable four-year journey of a tiny lion cub named Kio as he becomes a king.

Season five finds the Pogues at their absolute breaking point following the tragic loss of JJ in Morocco. Stranded far from home and mourning the heart of their crew, they’ve lost the Blue Crown and continue to face a gauntlet of familiar threats. With Chandler Groff still at large, Dalia and the Corsairs closing in, and the Kooks ensuring the Pogues have no home to return to, John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, and Cleo must rely on their scrappy instincts—and an uneasy alliance with Rafe—to keep from falling apart for good. Their mission is now a desperate race to reclaim their future and finally win the freedom they’ve been chasing since the beginning. It’s the Pogues against the world as they seek to avenge their best friend and bring it on home
one final time.

Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter (Prime Video) - Aug. 20

The documentary explores the extraordinary journey of tennis GOAT Novak Djokovic, who began playing on the hardscrabble courts of Serbia and rose to become the most accomplished champion in the history of men’s tennis.

The Girls: A Khloe Kardashian Project (Hulu) - Aug. 21

Step inside Khloé Kardashian's inner circle as her closest friends navigate the highs and lows of motherhood, marriage, dating, business, and life in the spotlight. From career milestones and family challenges to girls' trips, launch parties, and life-changing decisions, these ambitious women come together through their shared connection to Khloé. But as they spend more time together and get to know one another on a deeper level, unexpected tensions, old wounds, and clashing perspectives begin to surface - testing whether these friendships can grow as their lives continue to evolve.

The three-part documentary chronicles the rise of the most dominant program in college basketball history. Featuring exclusive interviews with the 2025 National Championship team and legendary voices spanning generations of UConn basketball, the series explores the pursuit of excellence, the expectations that accompany sustained success, and the people who upheld that standard across generations. Through never-before-seen archival footage and intimate access, the series digs into the obsession, pressure, sacrifices and ruthless culture that transformed a basketball program into an unrivaled phenomenon.

Big Break x Good Good presented by Golf Galaxy (Golf Channel) - Aug. 25

The popular reality competition series features 12 highly skilled golfers competing in a series of unique golf challenges to claim the Big Break title and a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Good Good Championship in November.

In the new season, best friends and roommates Jaz and Nesha return as they navigate life's highs and lows while continuing their health journeys. As Jaz focuses on regaining her independence and taking important steps forward in her recovery, an exciting new romantic connection has her wondering whether love may finally be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Nesha pursues new opportunities, including launching her event planning business, hosting a speed-dating event, and confronting the lasting impact of growing up in a religious cult. Together, the pair face evolving relationships, personal breakthroughs, and pivotal moments in their wellness journeys. Through every challenge, disagreement, milestone, and triumph, Jaz and Nesha's friendship is tested, strengthened, and transformed in unexpected ways.

Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Jennifer Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, and their son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) starves for a sense of stability as their family is threatened.Elsewhere, Amanda (Alice Braga) and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson) join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair (Amanda Brugel) determined to stop him, Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world.