Host of Turner Classic Movies’ “The Essentials,” Robert Osborne, has found a new co-host, this July, in actress Rose McGowan. McGowan has accomplished more in her time than date Marilyn Manson and Robert Rodriguez – she has starred in films such as Jawbreaker, Grindhouse, and The Black Dahlia, not to mention her starring role on television’s Charmed. Osborne, a journalist in addition to being a television personality, began work on this series in 2005 and since then has shared hosting duties with film critic Molly Haskell and screenwriter Carrie “Princess Leia” Fisher. Before Osborne came on board, “The Essentials” had been hosted by such industry professionals as Rob Reiner, Peter Bogdanovich, and the late Sydney Pollack.

With an eye toward educating audiences about film, as well as providing fun trivia for star-struck movie buffs, Osborne and McGowan will be discussing what makes each of these films classics, and providing historical context for each work. Every Saturday night, at 8:00 pm (E.T.), “The Essentials” will show:

July 5 3:10 to Yuma, a neo-Western starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale;

July 12 The Postman Always Rings Twice, a film with Lana Turner as a character described by McGowan as “wearing all white… [but with] a black heart”;

July 19 You Can’t Take It With You, a comedy directed by Frank Capra, of It’s A Wonderful Life fame; and

July 26 The Bad and the Beautiful, a noir starring Kirk Douglas as an ambitious Hollywood climber.

TCM is a 24-hour cable network available in over 75 million homes, so check your local listings for “The Essentials.” After all, it’s cheaper, easier, and probably more fun than taking a Film 101 class!

Why Not Make it a Double Feature?

• With 3:10 to Yuma, may I suggest pairing it with a classic western like Howard Hawks’s Red River or John Ford’s My Darling Clementine? While I am not a Western buff myself, Westerns comprise a large part of the American film canon, and my dad has been telling me to watch Shane for years, so I’ll throw in a good word for that one too.

• If femme fatales are your bag, give Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity a try. One of the best film noirs ever made, Barbara Stanwyck makes for a chilling leading lady, but Edward G. Robinson steals the show as our anti-hero’s best friend and boss. And if Lana Turner catches your fancy, check out the 1959 women’s weepie Imitation of Life, a movie which left this woman in hysterics with its emotional dénouement.

• Take this opportunity to discover – or rediscover – the great Frank Capra. If recent American politics have made you jaded, renew your faith in the system with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart as the principled Mr. Smith. Another unbeatable choice is It Happened One Night, the forefather (or foremother, if you prefer) of the modern romantic comedy. If you think that You’ve Got Mail is the epitome of romance, watch this film: you can’t find better banter anywhere, and this film, made in 1934, has zero product placement!

• With The Bad and the Beautiful, another Hollywood morality tale may be in order, be it an older one, such Sunset Boulevard, Valley of the Dolls (also a fabulous book!), The Day of the Locust, or a more recent reincarnation like Wag the Dog. With the latter, you get two for the price of one – lampooning of both Hollywood and Washington! Another option is to check out some David Lynch, in particular Mulholland Drive or Inland Empire; his Hollywood is definitely twisted but somehow disturbingly familiar.