ESPN enters Emmy derby with ‘Burning’

You don’t have to be a Yankees fan to love “The Bronx Is Burning” (9 p.m., ESPN), an ambitious, intelligent and consistently rewarding miniseries debuting tonight, then airing weekly on Tuesday nights through Aug. 28.

Based on a nonfiction book of the same name by Jonathan Mahler, “Bronx” uses the 1977 Yankees season as the central story in a look at a tumultuous year in New York history, marked by a contentious election, blackouts, riots and a search for a serial killer that helped spawn a new tabloid culture.

At the heart of “The Bronx” is the tempestuous relationship among Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (Oliver Platt), his manager Billy Martin (John Turturro) and slugger Reggie Jackson (Daniel Sunjata), a recently arrived superstar with a huge contract and matching ego.

The scenes involving these men are consistently wonderful. But Turturro’s performance as the tortured Martin is one for the ages. He appears to have starved himself for the role to better affect Martin’s wiry, almost consumptive physique. With outsized ears, permanently unkempt hair and a dark, weary look about his eyes, Turturro’s Martin is a man being eaten away from within – a doomed character plagued by insecurities, jealousy and a fatal need to live up to pinstripe traditions.

“Bronx” does a credible job of splicing vintage news and sports footage with dramatic scenes. The series affects a deliberately cheap and gritty look that reminds us how much has changed since 1977. The Yankees locker rooms and clubhouse appear rather shabby. Even tycoon Steinbrenner’s affectations seem modest by today’s standards of glitz and conspicuous consumption. But then we’ve had 30 years of tabloid media, steroid-abusing athletes and a win-at-any-cost corporate culture to acclimate us to our brave new world.

¢ Set in the fraternity-sorority world of the fictional Cyprus Rhodes University, the new teen soap “Greek” (8 p.m., Family) concerns Rusty (Jacob Zachar), the sweet-but-dweeby freshman engineering student who wants to transcend his geek status by going greek. His roommate, Dale (Clark Duke), does not approve. Rusty’s gorgeous older sister, Casey (Spencer Grammer), is deeply involved in her life as a sorority officer and campus social climber and has little time for her brother.

While Zachar has a vulnerable charm that should appeal to this show’s intended audience, “Greek” is plagued by two-dimensional characters who barely seem human. “Greek” is also a tad racier than most Family Channel fare.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ The Home Run Derby (7 p.m., ESPN) unfolds on the eve of the All-Star Game.

¢ The acclaimed director of films from “Jaws” to “Saving Private Ryan” looks back at his work and influences on “Spielberg on Spielberg” (7 p.m., TCM).

¢ The documentary “In Pot We Trust” (7:30 p.m., Showtime) looks at medicinal marijuana.

¢ Wayne’s new parochial school poses problems on “Big Love” (8 p.m., HBO).