What's On Tonight (Friday): Get This Ghost a Shell...

We Have a Ghost

There are two Eva Green-starring productions debuting this week, and yet I'm giving Top Pick to a goofy looking Netflix movie where David Harbor plays a ghost.  The reason is the goofy looking Netflix movie was directed by Chris Landon, who also directed Happy Death Day and Freaky, two films I have never seen but have read good things about.  And beyond David Harbor, it also has Anthony Mackie and Tig Notaro, the latter of which is my favorite thing in everything she is in.  So, I'm just more likely to check this one out.

⭐🎥 We Have a Ghost (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'After finding a ghost with a murky past haunting their new house, a family becomes internet sensations — and the targets of a shadowy government agency. Starring David Harbour, Anthony Mackie and Tig Notaro.'

Elsewhere...

*Eva Green's film is on Shudder and her series is on Apple.  I have neither.  Sonofabitch.

*Christoph Waltz is in a new Amazon series where he plays another evil sociopath with a German accent.  How do you know he's evil?  He makes all the remote workers come back into the office.  EVIL.

*M3GAN has its streaming premiere on Peacock today.  I haven't seen it yet but I think a M3GAN/AI double feature might be in order.

Okay, let's talk about Picard.  I just got done watching the second episode of the current season and it's hard to believe how much of an improvement this is over the first two seasons.  Picard is finally acting like Picard and not everyone's favorite grandpa.  The show still keeps some connections to the previous seasons (Seven and Raffi are still around, though not together, and there is a reference to Picard's android nature - something I think most people would like to pretend never happened), but even the opening credits have been done up in a more TNG style.  This is as clean of a break as possible with what it used to be.  

That's not to say there isn't still some stupid shit.  We have a Starfleet captain who is basically right about everything, other than his prejudice for Seven's former Borg status, but is made to be so much of a boorish asshole to Picard and Riker for seemingly no reason that it's hard to believe the guy ever got the chair.  There are also conveniently placed nebulas and zero understanding of how vast space is.  BUT there is enough good stuff going on that the stupid stuff doesn't overwhelm.  

So, yeah, I'm gonna watch it, and I'll probably enjoy it because my expectations are so goddamn low.  The first two episodes have me cautiously optimistic.  Hopefully the good will continue to outweigh the bad.

PREMIERES

The Consultant

🔔 The Consultant (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A twisted, comedic-thriller series that explores the sinister relationship between boss and employee.  Starring Christoph Waltz.'

🔔 Liaison (Apple, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'A high-stakes, contemporary thriller exploring how the mistakes of our past have the potential to destroy our future, combining action with an unpredictable, multilayered plot where "espionage and political intrigue play out against a story of passionate and enduring love.  Starring Vincent Cassel and Eva Green.'

🔔 The Reluctant Traveler (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Follows Eugene Levy as he visits some of the world's most beautiful and intriguing destinations in Costa Rica, Finland, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Portugal, South Africa and the United States, exploring remarkable hotels and the places and cultures surrounding them.'

🎥 Bruiser (Hulu, 12:01 AM) 'A 14-year-old boy turns to a charismatic loner for help after being beaten up, in director Miles Warren's searing feature debut about fathers, families, and the effects of fighting.'

🏃‍♂️ Who Were We Running From? (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Hiding a mysterious past, a mother lives like a nameless fugitive with her daughter as they make hotels their home and see everyone else as a threat.'

🎥 M3GAN (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.'

🎥 Nocebo (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'A fashion designer is suffering from a mysterious illness that puzzles her doctors and frustrates her husband, until help arrives in the form of a Filipino carer, who uses traditional folk healing to reveal a horrifying truth.  Starring Eva Green and Mark Strong.'

🎥 Best Friend (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'Trisha and Jamie have been best friends since grade school. Jamie tries to keep Trisha’s new love interest apart, even if it costs someone’s life.'

🎥 Newlywed Nightmare (Lifetime, 8:00 PM) 'A man hires a private investigator when his wife disappears on their honeymoon and his bank account gets drained.'

RETURNING SHOWS

🐶 Pretzel and the Puppies (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🏎 Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON FIVE.

🔔 Oddballs (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🔔 Pokemon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

💖 Love After Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) SEASON FIVE PREMIERE.

🔔 Party Down (Starz, 9:00 PM) SEASON THREE PREMIERE.

Party Down

STREAMING

🧚‍♀️ Carnival Row (Amazon, 12:01 AM) X

🔔 Harlem (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. X

🔔 Dear Edward (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Truth" X

🔔 Hello Tomorrow! (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Forms, Appropriately Filled and Filed" X

🏄‍♂️ Make or Break (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. X

🔔 Servant (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Myth" X

🔔 Shrinking (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Impostor Syndrome" X

🔔 Truth Be Told (Apple, 12:01 AM) "From My Hand the Poisoned Apple" X

⚖ Judy Justice (Freevee, 12:01 AM) X

🔔 Play-Doh Squished (Freevee, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. X

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

💖 Love Island (UK) (Hulu, 3:01 AM) X

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♂️ Liv Golf League Special: Mayakoba's El Camaleon Golf Course (The CW App, 1:00 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: The Honda Classic, Second Round (Golf, 2:00 PM)

🏒 College Hockey: Denver at Western Michigan (CBSSN, 7:00 PM) 

🏀 College Basketball: Richmond at VCU (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

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

🏀 NBA Basketball: Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN, 7:30 PM)

🥊 One Championship Special: Fight Night 7: Linekar vs. Andrade II (Amazon, 8:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: South Alabama at Louisiana (ESPN2, 9:00 PM)

🏒 College Hockey: Ohio State at Minnesota (ESPNU, 9:00 PM) 

🏀 College Basketball: Air Force at UNLV (CBSSN, 9:30 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns (ESPN, 10:05 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ LPGA Tour Golf: Honda LPGA Thailand, Third Round (Golf, 10:30 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ DP World Tour Golf: Hero Indian Open, Third Round (Golf, 3:30 AM)

Liaison

EARLY PRIMETIME

🧽 The Patrick Star Show (Nickelodeon, 7:00 PM) 'Granny Tentacles helps Squidward collect his paper delivery money from Cecil.'

🔔 Bunk'd: Learning the Ropes (Disney, 7:30 PM) 'When Winnie becomes counselor for a day, Destiny decides to show her how her reckless behavior affects others; Noah receives some bad news; Lou plans a livestream.'

💲 Masterminds (GSN, 6:00 PM) 
💲 People Puzzler (GSN, 6:30 PM) 

💲 Switch (GSN, 7:00 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ S.W.A.T. (CBS, 8:00 PM) 'SWAT teams with Major Crimes for a high-stakes mission to extract an undercover officer from a dangerous crime ring.'

💀 The 12th Victim (Showtime, 8:00 PM) 'Caril, who believed her parents were still alive when she was captured, is misled by the criminal justice system and doomed from the start of her trial.'

🔔 BMF (Stars, 8:06 PM) 'In a risky move that could cost them their lives, Meech and Terry travel to St. Martin to steal K-9's Colombian connect.'

🔔 WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 Newlywed Nightmare (Lifetime, 8:00 PM) 
🔨 First Time Fixer (Magnolia, 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) 
🔔 Young Rock (NBC, 8:30 PM) SEASON FINALE. 

The Reluctant Traveler

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🎭 Great Performances (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'The behind-the-scenes story of Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman's concert of spirituals at Carnegie Hall on March 18, 1990.'

🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 'From coast to coast, Guy's wrapping up all kinds of grub; a crepe shop is folding up everything from pork to peaches; in Vegas, there's killer carnitas; in Santa Barbara, CA, and real deal Italian is served straight from the deli in Robbinsville, NJ.'

🔔 Party Down (Starz, 9:00 PM) 'Ten years later, Kyle Bradway has just landed his star-making superhero role; he hires Party Down to cater his celebration party, leading to welcome reunions and some unexpected surprises.'

🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:00 PM) 
😂 Whose Line is it Anyway? (CW, 8:00 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
👽 Ancient Aliens (History, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 The Real Friends of Weho (MTV, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
🐶 Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
💖 All the Single Ladies (OWN, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
👻 Kindred Spirits (Travel, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Love After Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🚗 Graveyard Carz (Motortrend, 10:00 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
💰 Aussie Gold Hunters: Mine SOS (Discovery, 10:09 PM) 

Nocebo

LATE NIGHT

🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 'Actor Tom Cruise; actress Camila Morrone.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 'Actress Hilary Duff; Kim Petras performs; Danny Carey sits in with the 8G Band.'

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 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

📺 Eureka (Syfy, 3:00 AM - 9:00 AM); The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (VH1, 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); South Park (Comedy Central, 9:35 AM - 2:00 PM); Living Single (TVOne, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM); ER (Pop, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM); 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); 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 David Steinberg; violinist Itzhak Perlman; actress Joan Embery.'

M3GAN

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

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

What's On Tonight: A Midwinter Night's Fever Dream...