Syfy

More than 20 years after he last played pro basketball, former Lakers star Magic Johnson is ready for a whole new game: running his own TV network. The Hall of Famer, who has become a successful business mogul, is preparing to launch Aspire, a 24-hour channel with a focus on what Johnson called positive, uplifting images of African Americans. The basic cable outlet will join other channels targeting black viewers, such as BET and TV One, and will offer opportunities for blacks who have struggled to find work in mainstream Hollywood.

Twenty-five years ago, MTV was best known for music videos starring Michael Jackson and Madonna. These days, its reigning queen is not a recording star at all but rather Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, the rowdy party girl from the reality series "Jersey Shore." So maybe it's not surprising that this week the 29-year-old network bowed to the inevitable and finally scraped the legend "Music Television" off its corporate logo. The change was a belated acknowledgment of what has been obvious for years: MTV has evolved into a reality channel that occasionally runs programs that have to do with music.

SERIES American Idol: The remaining finalists (8 p.m. Fox). Modern Family: When Alex (Ariel Winter) starts obsessing over her studies, Phil and Claire (Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen) urge her to relax in this repeat (9 p.m. ABC). Underwater Universe: This series about the Earth's oceans offers two new episodes: "Fatal Pressure" and "Tides and Currents of Death" (9 p.m. History). Ghost Hunters: The TAPS crew investigates one of New Orleans' most unusual historical sites (9 p.m. Syfy)

Mixed in with all the storm troopers and caped crusaders at this weekend's Comic-Con in San Diego , you are also certain to find a good number of Hollywood celebrities. Yes, sometimes they'll be tucked away behind a very tough velvet rope, but here is a list of some of the weekend's hottest star parties. Camp Playboy: As a salute to fanboys and a vintage take on summer, Playboy will construct a fairground on 6th Street come Friday evening, where chosen ones will enjoy croquet, horseshoes, bonfires and a zipline — all around a lake shaped like the brand's signature bunny.

Things aren't going so well for Matt Lauer lately. The once-beloved "Today" host has taken a beating in the media, sparked by the awkward departure of co-host Ann Curry from the NBC show. Last month, the New York Times ran a front-page story discussing Lauer's dwindling popularity, and to make matters worse, the show's ratings have been in decline. While "Today" was once the champ of the network morning shows, it's now regularly ranked second behind ABC's "Good Morning America. " RATINGS: Cable versus broadcast shows But at least we know that Lauer is reading his own press, both good and bad. According to the New York Post, Lauer recently poked fun at his own troubles while hosting the UJA Federation of New York's Broadcast Cable & Film Division event.

Click here to download TV listings for the week of July 22 - 28 in PDF format This week's TV Movies   SERIES American Ninja Warrior: The competition draws to a close in the two-hour season finale, as the remaining players take on an obstacle course that features a 65-foot rope climb. Matt Iseman and Jonny Moseley host, with Angela Sun reporting from the sidelines (8 p.m. NBC). Bachelor Pad:   The spinoff dating series is back for a third season - this time participants who have never appeared on "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette" will join previous cast favorites.