What's On Tonight (Friday): Woohoo, Witcher Geralt - He Got Monsters that Must Die...

 

via Pinterest

I do enjoy a fantasy (or sci-fi) show that unapologetically dumps you in the deep end and then expects you to figure out what is going on.  Few did it better than the first season of The Witcher.  The issue becomes it can take a while before you understand whether the show is actually good or if it's just disjointed because the writers don't know what else to do.  It did take me a few episodes to really start enjoying The Witcher but by the end of the first season I was fully onboard.  I know some of my friends who also enjoy fantasy shows were not as enamored.  I also enjoyed Carnival Row, so consider that when giving any weight to my opinion. 

Elsewhere, Apple has a new movie with Mahershala Ali.  There's a description below but I already told you the part that should make you want to watch it.  We've also got several new Christmas specials and movies, two of which involve Bigfoot (and my mother says people don't know how to celebrate Christmas properly anymore).

Most importantly there's a new episode of The Expanse.  I had assumed Amazon would drop the final season all at once given it's only six episodes.  I'm happy to be strung along.  So let's give a hearty, "FUCK YEAH, THE EXPANSE" to all good boys and girls throughout the holiday season.

TOP PICK

⭐🐲The Witcher (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON 2 'Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.'

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PREMIERES

🎥🦢 Swan Song (Apple TV+, 12:01 AM) 'Set in the near future, “Swan Song” is a powerful, emotional journey told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father who is expecting his second child with his wife Poppy (Naomie Harris). When Cameron is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. As Cameron grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he learns more about life and love than he ever imagined. Written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Benjamin Cleary, “Swan Song” explores how far we will go, and how much we’re willing to sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people we love.'

💖 With Love (Amazon Prime, 12:01 AM) SEASON 1. 'A one-hour romantic comedy that follows the Diaz siblings - Lily and Jorge - who are on a mission to find love and purpose. Each of the five episodes, set during a different holiday throughout the year, follows Lily, Jorge, and the Diaz family over the course of 12 months as they experience the highs and lows of life during some of the most heightened days of the year.'

🎥🤖 Mother/Android (Hulu, 12:01 AM) 'Set in the near future, "Mother/Android" follows Georgia (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her boyfriend Sam (Algee Smith) through their treacherous journey of escape as their country is caught in an unexpected war with artificial intelligence.  Days away from the arrival of their first child, they must face No Man's Land - a stronghold of the android uprising, in hopes of reaching safety before giving birth.'

🔔 Decoupled (Netflix, 12:01 AM) SEASON 1. 'When an affluent Delhi writer and his wife announce their divorce with a party, the events that follow expose other absurd relationships in their world.'

💀 Twisted Little Lies (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'Upon discovering her boyfriend's infidelity, Brianna turns to the internet, where she meets an intriguing man named William. When she learns his true identity, she rejects him, but he refuses to let her go.'

🔔 Rolling Like Thunder (Showtime, 8:00 PM) 'Stories of myth-like artists, remarkable romances and competitive battles reveal the risk behind freight train and graffiti culture.'

🔔 Chillin Island (HBO, 10:30 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'New York City natives and rap personalities Alec "Despot" Reinstein, Ashok "Dap" Kondabolu and Aleksey "Lakutis" Weintraub invite their friends to join them at the edge of nature. To commune in deserts and swamps in a valiant effort to reveal unknowable truths from the dreamstate of the shared human existence.'

via Tenor

🎄CHRISTMAS PREMIERES: THE BATTLE FOR CHRISTMAS: THE BATTLE CONTINUES🎄

🎅 Arendelle Castle Yule Log: Cut Paper Edition (Disney+, 12:01 AM) 'Features beloved characters Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven around Arendelle Castle’s fireplace (known as the location for many a “Family Game Night”). What makes this year’s yule log fantastically unique is that it’s handmade… and we truly mean handmade. What you’ll see on your TV screen (or streaming device of choice) is a high-resolution image of an incredible paper art sculpture designed and created by Disney Animation visual development artist Brittney Lee.'

🎅 The 89th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (CW, 8:00 PM) 'The event features character balloons, celebrity-filled cars and musical performances; hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain, Montel Williams and Elizabeth Stanton.'

🎅 The Greatest #AtHome Videos (CBS, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM) "'Tis the Season to Share Videos" / "Home Videos for the Holidays"

🎅🎥 Sugar Plum Twist (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 'After failing to get the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker," an aspiring ballerina joins forces with a retiree from the New York City Ballet to create her own dance spectacular -- with a Latin twist.'

🎅🎥 Mistletoe in Montana (Lifetime, 8:00 PM) 'An unlucky-in-love ranch owner feels an undeniable connection to a single father with two children who has booked her ranch for the week of Christmas.'

🎅 Bigfoot is Coming to Town: Better Watch Out, Better Not Cry (Travel, 8:00 PM) 'Silent nights turn into Christmas frights when Bigfoot is near; hunters become the hunted after they encounter the legendary Sheepsquatch, the vicious Momo spreads fear in a small Louisiana town, the Skunk Ape stalks the Florida Swamps and more.'

🎅 The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (Shudder, 9:00 PM) "Joe Bob Ruins Christmas"

🎅 Yuletide Yeti: Sounds of Fear (Travel, 10:00 PM) 'A target practice session in the woods ends with a group of friends running for their lives, hikers stumble across a Bigfoot den and a man's multiple encounters with Sasquatch lead to a possible answer about its origins.'

via Wattpad

RETURNING SHOWS

🏀 Top Class (IMDb TV, 12:01 AM) SEASON 2. 'Offers a behind-the-scenes look at the most dynamic high school basketball team in history. Featuring the sons of NBA legends, several blue-chip prospects, and a formidable head coach, Top Class chronicles the trials and tribulations of one of the most talked about programs in prep sports.'

🚗 Fast & Furious Spy Racers (Netflix, 12:01 AM) SEASON 6.

STREAMING

🚀 The Expanse (Amazon Prime, 12:01 AM) TBA

🚗 The Grand Tour (Amazon Prime, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. "Carnage a Trois"

😂 LOL: Last One Laughing (Amazon Prime, 12:01 AM) TBA

⏰ The Wheel of Time (Amazon, 12:01 AM) TBA

🔔 Dickinson (Apple TV+, 12:01 AM) "Grief is a Mouse"

🔔 The Shrink Next Door (Apple TV+, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. "The Verdict"

🔔 Swagger (Apple TV+, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. "Florida"

🔔 Dafne and the Rest (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) TBA

🔔 Twentysomethings: Austin (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON 1 FINALE.

🔔 Home Sweet Home (Peacock, 3:01 AM) TBA

🔔 Pinkfong Wonderstar (YouTube, 12:00 PM) TBA

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 9:00 PM) TBA

via Fangirlish

SPORTS TONIGHT*

 

🏈 College Football: Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. Toledo (ESPN, 12:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: St. Bonaventure at Virginia Tech (ESPN2, 4:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina - Northern Illinois (ESPN2, 6:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: NJCAA Division I Championship: Teams TBA (CBSSN, 8:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics (ESPN, 7:30 PM)

⛸ U.S. Olympic Trials: Short Track Speed Skating (NBCSN, 8:30 PM)

🏈 College Football: FCS Division 1: Semifinal: James Madison at North Dakota State (ESPN2, 9:15 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN, 10:05 PM)

*Sporting Events Are Subject To COVID-Related Postponements.

EARLY PRIMETIME

💲 Tug of Words (GSN, 4:30 PM) "Catching Butterflies"

💲 Chain Reaction (GSN, 5:00 PM) "Lolley Family vs. Good Siblings"

🦆 The Fowl Life With Chad Belding (Outdoor, 5:00 PM) "Harvester of Gold"

💲 People Puzzler (GSN, 6:00 PM) "A Natural Ability"

🚀 Star Trek: Prodigy (Nickelodeon, 7:00 PM) "Starstruck"

via Quora

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🦈Shark Tank (ABC, 8:00 PM) 'An innovative fitness system with on-the-go simplicity; a kitchen gadget; an online self-care program for a different type of workout; a sea creature-inspired all-in-one product for hands-free device holding; an update on Legendary Burgers.'

🤼‍♂️ WWE Friday Night Smack Down (Fox, 8:00 PM) TBA

🐟 Treehouse Masters: Ultimate Builds (Animal Planet, 8:00 PM) "Party in the Trees"

🤠 The Last Cowboy (CMT, 8:00 PM) "The Run for A Million"

💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) TBA

💀 Fit for Murder (ID, 8:00 PM) 'Bodybuilder and personal trainer Abeku Wilson is threatened when a new general manager is hired at his gym; ego and rage culminate in a deadly turn of events.'

🐶 Man Woman Dog (Nat Geo Wild, 8:00 PM) "Running from Wolves"

🔔 JoJo & Gran Gran (Nick Jr., 8:00 PM) "Autumn: It's Time to Make a Rocket"

💖 Ready for Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) "True Colors"

💀 Killer Siblings (Oxygen, 8:00 PM) "Engels"

🐻 The Adventures of Paddington (Nick Jr, 8:30 PM) "Paddington Sells Bessie"

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) TBA

💰 Gold Rush: White Water (Discovery, 9:00 PM) TBA

🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network, 9:00 PM) TBA

👽 The Unexplained (History, 9:00 PM) "Mysteries of Mars"

🐶 Man Woman Dog (Nat Geo Wild, 8:00 PM) "A Leap of Faith"

💀 Family Massacre (Oxygen, 9:00 PM) "The Duke/Hunt Family"

💖 Love After Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) "Life After Lockup: Prison Promises"

🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) TBA

via Tenor

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Tha God's Honest Truth with Charlamagne tha God (Comedy Central, 10:00 PM) TBA

🧟‍♂️ Day of the Dead (Syfy, 10:00 PM) "Choke on 'Em!"

🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) TBD

👽 The Proof is Out There (History, 10:03 PM) "Lough Foyle Monster; NYC Glowing Orbs"

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Graham Norton Show (BBC, 11:00 PM) 'Keanu Reeves, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali, Jack Whitehall.'

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actress Reese Witherspoon; comic Mike Birbiglia; Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform.'

🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM) 'Actress Jennifer Lawrence; Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats perform.'

🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 12:05 PM) TBA

🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM) TBA

🔔 The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS, 12:37 PM) 'Actress Hailee Steinfeld; actor Lee Pace; Coldplay performs.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 'Actor Andy Samberg; actor Jesse Plemons; Jon Epcar sits in with the 8G Band.'

Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO Binge

📺 The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (VH1, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM); ER (Pop, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM; M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Living Single (TVONE, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM); Family Matters (TVOne, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM); Friends (TBS 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Law and Order (Sundance, 1:00 PM - 1:00 AM); House (Pop, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antenna, 8:00 & 8:30 PM); Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Land, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 9:00 & 9:30 PM); King of Queens (TV Land, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM); Coach (Antenna, 11:30 PM) 

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Actor Ann-Margret; comedian Joan Rivers; actor Lou Holtz.'

via Giphy

More TV Listings: The Futon Critic; Zap2it

Key Sources: The Futon Critic; Zap2it; Netflix; Wikipedia; Horrornews.net; Sysfy.com; hollywoodreporter.com
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback
✔️: Video/gif/photo included