What's On Tonight (Friday): 'Great Performances' Spotlights Holland Taylor

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PBS is my unlikely Friday night Top Pick tonight as tonight Great Performances airs "Ann" which was a one woman show that ran briefly on Broadway starring veteran tv show actress Holland Taylor (probably best known for her supercilious Two and A Half Men character, where she played Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer's status obsessed mom for over a decade) "Ann" was a passion project on Taylor's behalf as it was a one woman show written and staged by the actress herself, and it stars her as Ann Richards reflecting on her term in the 90s as Governor of Texas. While I primarily know her because of that one time she appeared on King of the Hill, this one woman show was very well received by the NYC press at the time it played-and i remember seeing her interviewed on NY1 about it when it opened which was like three years ago now, so this is most definitely unexpected to see it here! This is What's On for June 19th 2020.

Streaming

7500 (Amazon Prime): Joseph Gordon Levitt stars in this premiere movie about a pilot fighting to maintain control of his airplane after terrorists storm the cockpit

The Politician (Netflix): The second season premiere of this Ben Platt starring Ryan Murphy drama (Its a drama with comedic overtones right?) I remember seeing ads for it when it premiered last year, yet i've seen very little touting its return this week. Of course its Netflix so that probably doesn't matter as much, but still I was kinda surprised when I saw it was scheduled to return tonight.

Feel the Beat (Netflix): Movie premiere about "After failing to find success on Broadway, April returns to her hometown and reluctantly agrees to train a misfit group of young dancers" Starring Sophia Carson, Enrico Colantoni, Marissa Janet Winokur, Rex Lee, and Donna Lynne Champlin

Lost Bullet (Netflix): Movie premiere about "A mechanic with a criminal past faces a murder charge unless he can track down a missing car containing the proof of his innocence, a single bullet" (Why didn't they call it "A Single Bullet" instead of "Lost Bullet?") (The movie is in french btw)

One Way To Tomorrow (Netflix): Movie premiere--this time its a Turkish language film--about "A budding romance develops between two strangers while traveling thru Turkey"

The Wasp Network (Netflix): Movie premiere---this time its a Spanish language film--tho its from noted director Oliver Assassyas who is French--Starring Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez, This drama based on a true story is about "A group of Cuban spies who infiltrate exile groups in the 90s to stop terrorism against the island but at a high personal cost" (whatever that means) (I look forward to its sequel "Slam Dunk Wasp Network")

The Floor Is Lava (Netflix): Teenage aimed gameshow about teams competing to navigate escape rooms flooded with lava. (This sounds right up my nephews' alley actually)

Father Soldier Son (Netflix): Documentary film (presented in part by The NY Times) is about a sergeant critically wounded in Afghanistan and the journey his sons go on to find him. (nods)

Babies (Netflix): Second Season Premiere of this doc show about um Babies from all walks of life

Broadcast

8:00

MacGyver (CBS): Rerun from last April about Mac having to go undercover as a backpacking tourist in order to try and find 2 tourists who went missing during a scavenger hunt thru dangerous territory in a foreign country. (CBS? CBS? CBS?)

World of Dance (NBC): Rerun of Tuesday night's show

Shark Tank (ABC): Rerun

Friday Night Smackdown (FOX): Hockeymike This Is Your Weekly Reminder That Today Is Friday!

Masters of Illusion (The CW): "Video Magic and the Magical Murder Mystery Tour" (???)

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (VH1): The All Stars design their own boutique hotel suite and Nicole Byer guest judges.

Sydney To the Max (Disney): A slumber party ends in a fight sparked by a selfie. (This sounds like it could be a plotline to an episode of NCIS quite honestly)

Bully, Coward, Victim--The Story of Roy Cohn (HBO): Premiere of the 2019 documentary about the famous, or infamous, Roy Cohn.

9:00

Magnum PI (CBS): Rerun from October has Mags current girlfriend--a defense attorney--seeking his help when she realizes that she defended a guy who turned out to have actually been guilty of the crime accused of, and Magnum is asked to tail him and make sure he doesn't do something bad. (A job's a job!); TC confronts Kamekona about using his helicopter for a new business venture. (one that doesn't involve shrimp somehow!)

The Wall (NBC): Rerun!

20/20 (ABC):

Whose Line (The CW): MORE RERUNS!

Great Performances (PBS): Top Pick of the night goes to this broadcast of "Ann" which is new to PBS but was taped from a stage production in fall of 2017, starring Holland Taylor as the Texas governor in a one woman show about the governor. 

 Dino Hunters (Discovery): New Series Premiere about Dinosaur Cowboys whom go around the country searching for fossils. (The episode synopsis states that "Fossil Season Has Begun") (Fossil Season???)

Gomer Pyle (MeTV): Gomer marches a government investigator to the brig for some reason. (Whoops!)

9:30

Green Acres (MeTV): Lisa wants to appoint herself the secretary of the new law firm opening up in town. (Will she get to be called "Madam Secretary???")


10:00

Blue Bloods (CBS): Rerun of the season finale (Brewfan--Now's Your Chance To Do Your Thing For The Season Finale That You Missed The First Time Around!) "When Sean gets a DNA match from an unknown male as a family member, Frank decides to investigate which unearths an unlikely surprise for him from the past; Frank must hear out the request of the mother of an officer who would like her son transferred to a safer precinct" (The Two Plotlines Are Very Much Related BTW!)

Dateline (NBC):

Trackers (CINEMAX): As Lucas chases down his carjackers, he dogs Inkunzi for answers; Milla's research puts her on Lucas' trail; Lemmer is a few steps behind Inkunzi in a quest to track down Flea; while the FBI attempts to nab Flea for themselves. (Ohh those wacky Trackers and their program from South Africa that Cinemax picked up to air here on Friday nights over the summer for some reason!)

Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO):

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!