What's on Tonight (Friday): The Peripheral Takes You to the Edge...

 

The Peripheral

The only William Gibson novel I have read is Neuromancer.  My main takeaway from the book was that it was incredibly prescient in terms of where technology would eventually go.  I also remember not understanding roughly 75% of what was going on.  Oh, and The Matrix owes so much to William Gibson he should have gotten residuals.  Amazon has a new series based on Gibson's 2014 novel, The Peripheral.  I don't know much about the book other than it "involves multiple futures."  I'm ready for some twisty sci-fi bullshit nonsense.  I hope it delivers...

Elsewhere...

*Amazon also has the very well-reviewed (96% fresh as of Oct 20) historical drama, Argentina 1985.  The movie follows the events surrounding the Trial of the Juntas, in which the ringleaders of the last Argentine military dictatorship were prosecuted.  Not to be confused with the Trial of the Punters, which led to the Fair Catch rule.

*Apple has Raymond & Ray, a new film starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke about two half-brothers dealing with the death of their father.  The reviews for this one aren't so great (52% fresh).  The film should have cast Ray Romano and Ray Wise.  That was a joke, but now I really want to see that movie.

*Hulu knows that this is still the season for spooky shit, and if the trailer is to be believed, Matriarch has the juice.  I'm a sucker for small English villages with dark secrets and protagonists with loose grips on reality.  Wicker Man, Village of the Damned, All Creatures Great and Small, etc.

Was anyone expecting Andor to be as good as it is?  It's odd that a prequel series to a Star Wars film based around a character from said Star Wars film is the first Star Wars series since the first season of The Mandalorian not to feel overly reliant on the movies.  Honestly, there are times when this series feels like it has more in common with the Blade Runner films.  In fact, I'm calling it now: Mon Mothma's husband is a skin job.  

TOP PICK

⭐🔔 The Peripheral (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Centers on Flynne Fisher (Moretz), a woman trying to hold together the pieces of her broken family in a forgotten corner of tomorrow's America. Flynne is smart, ambitious, and doomed. She has no future; until the future comes calling for her. Based on the book by William Gibson and starring Chloe Grace Moretz.'

PREMIERES

Argentina, 1985

🎥 Argentina, 1985 (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 'Inspired by the true story of Julio Strassera, Luis Moreno Ocampo and their young legal team of unlikely heroes in their David-vs-Goliath battle in which, under constant threat, they dared to prosecute Argentina’s bloodiest military dictatorship against all odds and in a race against time to bring justice to the victims of the Military Junta.'

💖 Modern Love Tokyo (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Six leading Japanese film directors will bring to life a collection of stories about various forms of love taking place in Tokyo.'

🎥 Raymond & Ray (Apple, 12:01 AM) 'Half-brothers Raymond and Ray reunite when their estranged father dies - and discover that his final wish was for them to dig his grave. Together, they process who they've become as men, both because of their father and in spite of him.'

🎥 Matriarch (Hulu, 12:01 AM) 'After an overdose nearly takes her life, Laura escapes from the high-stakes pressure of the advertising world to return to her roots. Accepting an invitation home from her estranged mother, Laura hopes the time away in the secluded English village will help calm the demons raging inside of her. She soon discovers that the locals of the town are all protecting an unspeakably dark secret—a secret that involves not only her mother but her own terrifying destiny as well.'

🍴 In the Kitchen with Abner and Amanda (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'As parents to three kids and professional musicians, Abner and Amanda Ramirez embrace the madness of cooking in the kitchen while juggling family life and creative endeavors.'

🔔 Vale dos Esquecidos (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'A group of young explorers get lost on a trail and end up in a peculiar village hidden under an eternal mist.'

👻 28 Days Haunted (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Three teams each spend 28 days in some of America's most haunted locations for a paranormal experiment based on the theories of Ed and Lorraine Warren.'

🔔 From Scratch (Netflix, 3:01 AM) LIMITED SERIES. 'In this sweeping romance, an American woman loves and loses a Sicilian man she meets in Italy. Based on Tembi Locke's best-selling memoir.  Starring Zoe Saldana.'

From Scratch

🔔 High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Arrested for smuggling cocaine, Michaella McCollum offers a first-hand account of her shocking journey through the illicit world of drug trafficking.'

🎥 Descendant (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Descendants of the enslaved Africans on an illegal ship that arrived in Alabama in 1860 seek justice and healing when the craft's remains are discovered.'

🎥 20th Century Girl (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'In 1999, a teen girl keeps close tabs on a boy in school on behalf of her deeply smitten best friend – then she gets swept up in a love story of her own.'

🔔 Oni: Thunder God's Tale (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'In a mystical world of Japanese gods and spirits, a courageous girl strives to follow in her mysterious father's footsteps and find her true powers.'

🔔 Pokemon Master Journeys: The Series (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'As Ash battles his way through the World Coronation Series, Goh continues his quest to catch every Pokémon. Together, they're on a journey to adventure!'

🎥 Bad Nanny (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'Consumed with envy and resentment, a woman becomes a nanny to her half-sister's daughter and starts to wreak havoc on both of their lives.'

🎥 Noel Next Door (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 'A single mother gets into a war of words with an irritable neighbor who is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood Grinch is the man who has stolen her heart.'

🎵 Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'The life and career of jazz musician Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history, featuring original concert footage and insights from jazz icons.'

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 Four More Shots Please! (Amazon, 12:01) SEASON THREE.

🔔 Acapulco (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

🔔 Ghostwriter (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON THREE

⚔ Barbarians (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🔔 Chrissy's Court (Roku, 3:01 AM) SEASON THREE.

🎥 The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs (Shudder, 9:00 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

Oni: Thunder God's Tale

STREAMING

🏠 Luxe Listings Sydney (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE.

🔔 Acapulco (Apple, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 Central Park (Apple, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 The Problem with Jon Stewart (Apple, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 Shantaram (Apple, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 High School (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

👻 Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

👻 Haunted Scotland (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Who's Talking to Chris Wallace (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🍰 The Great British Baking Show (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Mole (Netflix, 3:01 AM) "Week 3 of 3" 

🔔 My Dream Quinceañera (Paramount, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Martha Gardens (Roku, 3:01 AM) 

👻 Queer for Fear (Shudder, 3:01 AM) SEASON FNALE. 

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

🎥 The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs (Shudder, 9:00 PM) 

SPORTSBALL TONIGHT/TODAY LIVE

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: The CJ Cup in South Carolina, Second Round (Golf, 3:00 PM)

🏎 Formula 1 Racing: United States Grand Prix, Practice 2 (ESPNews, 5:55 PM)

🏎 NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Contender Boats 300, Qualifying (USA, 6:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Princeton at Harvard (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Champions Golf: Dominion Energy Charity Classic, First Round (Golf, 7:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Tulsa at Temple (ESPN2, 7:30 PM)

⛸ Ice Skating: ISU Grand Prix: Skate America (USA, 7:30 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Boston Celtics at Miami Heat (ESPN, 7:45 PM)

🥊 One on Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade (Amazon, 8:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Alabama-Birmingham at Western Kentucky (CBSSN, 8:00 PM)

🥊 Boxing: ShoBox: The New Generation (Showtime, 9:30 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (ESPN, 10:05 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ LPGA Tour Golf: BMW Ladies Championship, Third Round (Golf, 11:00 PM)

Matriarch

MIDNIGHT

🎵 Tallboyz (Fuse, 12:00 AM) "Jesus was a Homeless Baby Too"

EARLY PRIMETIME

🏠 The Loud House (Nickelodeon, 7:00 PM) 'The Louds team up with the Casagrandes for a Halloween storefront decorating competition, but things get out of hand when they use Lucy's spell book to make the mercado extra spooky.'

💲 People Puzzler (GSN, 6:00 PM) 
💲 America Says (GSN, 7:30 PM) 
🔔 Big Nate (Nickelodeon, 7:30 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🦈 Shark Tank (ABC, 8:00 PM) 'mma Grede, the CEO of Good American guest sharks; a napping product designed to reduce stress; a product which allows kids to unleash their creativity without the mess; a line of cozy accessories for the great outdoors.'

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Featured magicians include Theron Christensen, Jaana Felicitas, Benjamin Barnes and Brian Curry.'

🔔 The Lincoln Project (Showtime, 8:00 PM) 'A barrage of hate mail targets the team as violent rhetoric in the country reaches a boiling point; the Lincoln Project enters election night divided but determined to keep on fighting.'

👮‍♂️ S.W.A.T. (CBS, 8:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night SmackDown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 College Bowl (NBC, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 The Villains of Valley View (Disney Channel, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 Noel Next Door (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 Bad Nanny (LMN, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 The Smurfs (Nickelodeon, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
💀 An Unexpected Killer (Oxygen, 8:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion (Disney Channel, 8:30 PM) 
🔔 Middlemost Post (Nickelodeon, 8:30 PM) 

Raymond & Ray

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🔥 Fire Country (CBS, 9:00 PM) 'When the crew responds to a call in a remote forest, they come under fire by an outlaw protecting illegal marijuana crops.'

🍴 Guy's Hawaiian Eats (Food, 9:00 PM) 'The Fieri family cooks things up island-style on their Hawaiian vacation; in Maui, Guy creates a special meal for rocker Mick Fleetwood; on the Big Island, the family tackles prawn catching, a different kind of cookout, and giving back to the troops.'

👽 The Unexplained (History, 9:00 PM) 'Scientists are involved in a never-ending quest to understand the vast universe the planet inhabits; it seems that for each answer science provides, even more questions arise.'

🔔 Whose Line is it Anyway? (CW, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
🎵 Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes (PBS, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Raven's Home (Disney Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
🔨 Fixer Upper: The Castle (Magnolia, 9:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Fatal Attraction: Last Words (TVOne, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 
🔨 Make Yourself at Home (Magnolia, 9:30 PM) 

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ Blue Bloods (CBS, 10:00 PM) 'Danny and Baez investigate after a vicious attack leaves their mutual friend, Maggie Gibson, hospitalized; Frank and the team debate the appropriate memorial protocol for a former police commissioner with a questionable professional legacy.'

👻 Eli Roth Presents: My Possessed Pet (Travel, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'A spirit follows a woman home from work and opens the door for a demon to take possession of her dog, Nitro.'

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 'An interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, former prime minister of Israel; panelists include columnist for "The Philadelphia Inquirer," Michael Smerconish and astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, Neil Degrasse Tyson.'

🔨 The Home Team with Britt and Annie (Magnolia, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
👽 The Proof is Out There (History, 10:03 PM) 

Descendant

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Graham Norton Show (BBC America, 11:00 PM) 'Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kate Hudson, Elizabeth Banks,Edward Enninful, and Self Esteem join.'

👻 Los Espookys (HBO, 11:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. "El eclipse"

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 'Actor Brendan Gleeson; actor Colin Farrell; actress Kaitlyn Dever; Elena Bonomo sits in with the 8G Band.'

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM)
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM)
🔔 The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS, 12:37 AM)
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM) 

Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE

📺 The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (VH1, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM); ER (Pop, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM); Living Single (TVOne, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); South Park (Comedy Central, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Law & Order (Sundance, 1:00 PM - 2:00 AM); House (Pop, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM); Family Ties (Antenna, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM); One Day at a Time (Antenna, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Three's Company (Antenna, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 8:00 PM -9:00 PM); Everybody Loves Raymond (TV Land, 8:00 PM - 11:05 PM); Barney Miller (Antennae, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); King of Queens (TV Land, 11:05 PM - 2:00 AM); Designing Women (Antenna, 11:30 PM); Becker (Antenna, 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM); Wings (Antennae, 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM); Alice (Antenna, 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM) 

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Actor Carl Reiner; comedian David Brenner; actress Madlyn Rhue; actor Burt Mustin.'

28 Days Haunted

Key Sources: The Futon Critic; Zap2it; Netflix; Wikipedia; Horrornews.net; Sysfy.com; hollywoodreporter.com

⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback
✔️: Video/gif/photo included