What's On Tonight (Friday): Eddie Murphy's Got a Lot of Problems with You People...

    

You People

There are weeks when I struggle to select the Friday Top Pick because nothing interests me and there are weeks when too much interests me.  This week we have new films starring Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill, a new series starring Jason Segal and Harrison Ford, and we have the streaming premiere of Tár.  Hell, Netflix and Amazon both have new series that look pretty good.  

At the end of the day, I am paid (I am totally not paid) to choose a Top Pick, so I'm going with You People.  Not only does it have Murphy and Hill, but it also has Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Nia Long, Elliott Gould and Rhea Perlman.  That's the definition of a "murderers' row."  

TOP PICK

⭐🎥 You People (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Families and cultures clash when two LA millennials from different backgrounds fall in love and face the ultimate relationship test: meeting the parents.  Starring Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill (and a bunch of other people).'

Elsewhere...

*Netflix has another "young woman battles the supernatural" series in the form of Lockwood & Co.  It's written and directed by Joe Cornish (Attach the Block) and is based on a series of novels.  Perhaps this will help ease the pain suffered by fans of Warrior Nun who saw their show struck down too soon... and I've just been informed Lockwood & Co. has already been cancelled by Netflix.  

*That new movie starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel is called Shotgun Wedding.  Going by the trailer, it is exactly what you would expect it to be.

*Is Harrison Ford broke or does he just need things to distract him from growing older?  The guy went decades without doing any TV, outside of the occasional talk show, but in the last 12 months he's done two.  This week we have Shrinking, which he stars in with Jason Segal.  It looks good, and Ford appears invested, but it's just weird that he's doing TV now.  On top of that he has a new Indiana Jones film, and he took over the role of Thunderbolt Ross in the MCU (should have brought back Sam Elliott).  Harrison, if you're reading this, give me a call.  Help me help you.

I wrapped up my Star Trek: Prodigy watch and I am happy to report that the series got more engaging as it went along.  It's still very much a kids' show, but it did have moments where it managed to transcend that.  I also appreciated that it is actually a stealth Voyager continuation.  I only have one demand for season two: BRING BACK TUVIX.

As for Picard, I'm trudging my way through it.  One of the more bizarre things about this series is how cheap the show looks compared to the other live action Trek shows.  Did all the production money go to Stewart?  I mean, almost the entire season so far has taken place in 2024.  That just screams "BUDGET CRUNCH."  When will I get my Seven of Nine: Galactic Ranger spin off?  Or better yet, when will I get my Allison Pill/Borg Queen mismatched roommates series?   Throw in Worf as a Mr. Furley type and you will have a license to print money.

PREMIERES

Engaa Hostel

🔔 Engga Hostel (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 'The delightful and hysterical Tamil version of the hit college drama - Hostel Daze. Delving into the fun yet chaotic, starting point of hostel life, the series features a perfectly simpatico ragtag bunch of aspiring engineers.'

🎥 Shotgun Wedding (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 'A couple's extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.  Starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.'

🔔 Shrinking (Apple, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Jimmy is struggling to grieve the loss of his wife while being a dad, friend, and therapist.  He decides to try a new approach with everyone in his path: unfiltered, brutal honesty.  Can he help himself by helping others?  Will it bring him back into the light?  Starring Jason Segal, Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford."

🔔 Lockwood & Co. (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A girl with extraordinary psychic abilities joins two gifted teen boys at a small ghost-hunting agency to fight the many deadly spirits haunting London.'

⛄ The Snow Girl (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'When a little girl goes missing during a parade in Málaga, a young newspaper journalist becomes fiercely determined to help Amaya's parents find her.'

🎥 Tár (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'American psychological drama film written and directed by Todd Field and starring Cate Blanchett. The film charts the downfall of fictional composer and conductor Lydia Tár.'

🎥 We Are Not Alone (Roku, 3:01 AM) 'Earth has been invaded by consternated aliens, haplessly trying to enslave the human race as they struggle to figure out our odd quirks and decisions.'

🎥 Immortal City Records (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'After accepting a job at Immortal City Records, aspiring singer Drea thinks all her dreams are coming true. But those dreams soon become nightmares as she gets tangled up in the label’s dark secrets.'

🎥 My Daughter's Deadly Roommates (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'New beginnings have disastrous consequences as a young woman starts college and quickly finds herself trapped inside a secret society that has sinister motives.'

Tár 

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 Kings of Jo'burg (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

STREAMING

🗡 The Legend of Vox Machina (Amazon, 12:01 AM) Episodes 204-206 

🔔 Servant (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Séance" 

🔔 Truth Be Told (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Her, Armed with Sorrow Sore" 

🍴 America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

⚖ Judy Justice (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 Play-Doh Squished (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

🔨 The Art of Vintage (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Bespoke Inns (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

🏠 Classic Homes (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

🏠 The Established Home (Discovery+ & HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Handcrafted Hotels (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

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

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

Lockwood & Co.

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: Farmers Insurance Open: Third Round (CBS, 5:00 PM)

⛸ Figure Skating: U.S. Championships, Men's Short Program (USA, 5:00 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders (ESPN, 7:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Saint Louis at Davidson (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Iona at Siena (ESPNU, 7:00 PM)

🏒 College Hockey: North Dakota vs. Miami (Ohio) (CBSSN, 7:30 PM)

⛸ Figure Skating: U.S. Championships, Women's Free Skate (NBC, 8:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Oakland at Youngstown State (ESPN2, 9:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Buffalo at Kent State (ESPNU, 9:00 PM)

🏂 X Games (ESPN, 9:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Air Force at New Mexico (CBSSN, 10:00 PM)

🏀 Boy's High School Basketball: Sierra Canyon (CA) vs. Notre Dame (CA) (ESPNU, 11:00 PM)

🎾 2023 Australian Open Tennis: Women's Final (ESPN, 3:30 AM)

EARLY PRIMETIME

🧽 SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon, 7:00 PM) 'SpongeBob works the grill at the toughest joint in town; SpongeBob discovers a crazed castaway living in his walls.'

🔔 Rugrats (Nickelodeon, 7:30 PM) 'After Chuckie defeats a vacuum monster, he wonders if he's conquered all his fears; when Tommy's teddy bear mysteriously disappears, Angelica steps in as detective to find the culprit.'

💲 Master Minds (GSN, 6:00 PM) 

🔔 Bunk'd: Learning the Ropes (Disney, 7:30 PM) 

Shrinking

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🦈 Shark Tank (ABC, 8:00 PM) 'A nontoxic product that helps dispose of cooking oils safely; a tool that transforms eating utensils into a common kitchen accessory; a viral device designed to help save time and lessen fatigue; a product designed to keep critters out.'

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Featured magicians include Dustin Dean, Alan Hudson, Dr. Kruti Parekh and Kyle Purnell.'

🏈 Boys in Blue (Showtime, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'It's win or go home for the Polars in the state tournament; as the team looks toward a seemingly bright future, horrific tragedy strikes the North Minneapolis community; the neighborhood is searching for answers.'

🔔 WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 My Daughter's Deadly Roommates (LMN, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 BMF (Starz, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🎭 Next at the Kennedy Center (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'Hip-hop group The Roots perform; the band reaches beyond the stage to mentor and learn.' 

🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 'Guy Fieri is digging into all kinds of Italian; in Santa Barbara, Calif., Dennis Miller's riding shotgun for prime pizza; in Las Vegas, a vegan joint puts its spin on an Italian sandwich; a funky pizzeria stuffs chicken parm into strombolis.'

🔔 Criss Angel's Magic with the Stars (CW, 9:00 PM) 'Randy Couture and Frank Mir use their physical prowess to make a video game come to life.'

🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 The Real Friends of Weho (MTV, 9:00 PM) 
🐶 Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
💖 All the Single Ladies (OWN, 9:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
👻 Kindred Spirits (Travel, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Love After Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 
💰 Gold, Lies & Videotape (Discovery, 9:07 PM) 

Shotgun Wedding

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 
🚗 Graveyard Carz (Motortrend, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV, 10:02 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actress Claire Danes; comic Cathy Ladman.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 'Comic Leslie Jones; actress Rosie Perez; Daniel Fang sits in with the 8G Band.'

🔔 Game Theory with Bomani Jones (HBO, 11:00 PM) X
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM)
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM) 
🔔 The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS, 12:37 AM) 
🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 

Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE

📺 The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM); Eureka (Syfy, 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (VH1, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM); South Park (Comedy Central, 9:35 AM - 2:00 PM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); ER (Pop, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM); Living Single (TVOne, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Law & Order (Sundance, 1:00 PM - 1:00 AM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 2:00 - 5:00 PM); House (Pop, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 5:00 PM - 11:00 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); Benson (Antenna, 3:00 AM - 4:00 AM); Mom (TV Land, 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Actor Jack Benny; actor Rich Little; Dylana Jenson; Dick Barlow and Roger Pida.'

We Are Not Alone

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

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