What's On Tonight (Friday): Time for Maximum Matt Berry!

        

Toast of Tinseltown

I'm all about Matt Berry.  I've enjoyed his performances since he first showed up on The IT Crowd.  Since then he's popped up in a lot of good stuff and is wonderful in What We Do in the Shadows.  But if you want pure, unfiltered Matt Berry (or, at least, what I like to think is pure, unfiltered Matt Berry) I suggest you check out Toast of London.  I watched it on Netflix a while back (it's not there anymore) and it is very funny, very weird, and wildly original.  It also has perhaps the best bit of casting of all time by giving the role of Matt Berry's dad to Brian Blessed.  

The third season of Toast of London felt pretty final, but I'm guessing someone wanted to capitalize off of Berry's newfound popularity and gave him the money to do another season, this time titled Toast of Tinseltown.  It premiered in the UK last year, but Roku has picked it up a year later.  So, I guess Roku is someone that wanted to capitalize.  I'm fine with that. 

TOP PICK

⭐🎭 Toast of Tinseltown (Roku, 3:01 AM) SEASON FOUR. 'Tortured thespian Steven Toast (Matt Berry) relocates to the ultimate actor’s playground—Hollywood—sure that he’ll finally get the adulation he so richly deserves in the bright L.A. lights.'

Elsewhere...

*Netflix has a new dating reality show for people with Down syndrome called Down for Love.  Heartwarming?  Exploitative?  Two things?

*Asteroid City has its streaming premiere today on Peacock.  The last Wes Anderson film I saw was Isle of Dogs, a film that I enjoyed more than most.  Other than that, I've only seen a handful of his other moves.  I like his style, but his films have never been required viewing for me.  Ultimately, I find them too precious and melancholy.  Having watched the trailer for Asteroid City, I don't think this will be a departure.

*I just got done watching this week's Strange New Worlds.  I didn't realize we were already at the season finale.  It's a good one and does some things I don't normally like in a Star Trek show (horror, grahic violence) but enjoyed this time.  But, oh, don't get me started on that fucking ending.  Boo, I say!   Boo!

PREMIERES

Red, White & Royal Blue

🎥 Red, White & Royal Blue (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 'Based on the New York Times bestseller, this story centers around Alex, the president’s son, and Britain’s Prince Henry whose long-running feud threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. When the rivals are forced into a staged truce, their icy relationship begins to thaw and the friction between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.'

⚽ We Are Newcastle United (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Delves into Newcastle United's storied history at the heart of one of the world's great football cities and will explore the club's unique bond with its passionate supporters as they follow their team in a season that has already defied expectations.'

👮‍♂️ Sound of the Police (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'An in-depth look at the fraught relationship between African Americans and law enforcement from slavery to the present.'

💖 Down for Love (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A heartwarming quest for love, this feel-good reality show follows several people with Down syndrome as they navigate the trials and triumphs of dating.'

🎥 Heart of Stone (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'An intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable - and dangerous weapon.'

🎥 Asteroid City (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.'

🎥 The Communion Girl (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'May, 1987. While returning from a nightclub and after having taken drugs, new girl in town Sara and her friend Rebe find a doll wearing a communion dress. From that moment, their lives will become a living hell.'

🎥 Echo Base (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'U.S. officers must determine the source of an order to fire a missile on American soil.'

🎵 All Up in the Biz (Showtime, 8:00 PM) 'Celebrity interviews and rare archival footage provide insight into the life and legacy of hip-hop icon Biz Markie.'

🎥 Big Sky River: The Bridal Path (HMC, 9:00 PM) 'Tara, now settled in Montana and dating Cowboy Boone, works to bring their family lives together but tensions arise, as blending their families will be more of a challenge than anticipated.'

RETURNING SHOWS

💰 Thanks a Million (Roku, 3:01 AM) SEASON THREE.

🔔 Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham (Starz, 9:35 PM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE. 

🎵 CMT Summer Camp: Tyler Hubbard (CMT, 10:00 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

Asteroid City

STREAMING

🔔 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon, 12:01 AM) "Love Affair" 

🚀 Foundation (Apple, 12:01 AM) "The Sighted and the Seen" 

🔔 Swagger (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 'Journey and Destination" 

⚖ Tribunal Justice (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

🌺 Martha Gardens (Roku, 3:01 AM) 

👮‍♂️ Crime Cam 24/7 (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

💖 Love Island (Peacock, 9:00 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♀️ 2023 AIG Women's Open: Second Round (USA, 6:00 AM)

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Second Round (Golf, 2:00 PM)

⚽ Premier League Soccer: Burnley vs. Manchester City (USA, 3:00 PM)

🐟 SFC Sport Fishing: White Marlin Open - Day 5 (CBSSN, 4:00 PM)

🥎 2023 Little League Softball World Series: Game 17: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 4:00 PM)

⚾ Little League Baseball: Mountain Regional, Championship: Teams TBA (ESPN, 5:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ Women's Golf: U.S. Women's Amateur, Quarterfinals (Golf, 6:00 PM)

⚾ Friday Night Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Toronto Blue Jays (Apple, 7:00 PM)

⚾ Little League Baseball: Metro Regional, Championship: Teams TBA (ESPN, 5:00 PM)

🥎 2023 Little League Softball World Series: Game 18: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

🏈 NFL Special: Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (NFLN, 7:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Chicago Sky at New York Liberty (Ion, 8:00 PM)

⚾ Little League Baseball: West Regional, Championship: Teams TBA (ESPN, 9:00 PM)

⚾ Friday Night Baseball: Texas Rangers at San Francisco Giants (Apple, 10:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Washington Mystics at Las Vegas Aces (Ion, 10:00 PM)

🏈 NFL Special: Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals (NFLN, 10:00 PM)

🥊 Bellator MMA Live: 298: Storley vs. Ward (Showtime, 10:00 PM)

We Are Newcastle United

🕗 MIDNIGHT EASTERN / 🕗 11:00 CENTRAL

🔔 My Adventures with Superman (Adult Swim, 12:00 AM) 'Clark tries to plan a normal date without any Superman problems - but gets interrupted when Mr. Mxyzptlk sweeps him, Jimmy, and Lois into a high-stakes, multiverse-hoping chase!'

EARLY PRIMETIME

💲 Master Minds (GSN, 6:00 PM) "Trivia, Smarts & Rainbows" 

🧽 SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon, 6:30 PM) 'SpongeBob builds a pool in his backyard and Squidward tries to resist taking a dip; Mr. Krabs must reckon with the Goobfather after he adds patty whips to the menu.' 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🔨 Secret Celebrity Renovation (CBS, 8:00 PM) 'Actor JB Smoove returns to Plymouth, N.C., to help restore his childhood home; when Rob and Sabrina determine that the house has deteriorated beyond repair, the team opts for a plan B that marks a first in the series' three seasons.'

⚖ Family Law (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Separated from her kids, Abby throws herself into helping Jessie, a woman who claims that her ex-husband is criminally harassing her, but she and Daniel begin to suspect their client is doing it all to herself.'

🔔 Outlander (Starz, 8:00 PM) SUMMER FINALE. 'Jamie fights in the pivotal Second Battle of Saratoga; Roger and Brianna search for Jemmy.'

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge's Mine Rescue (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Villains of Valley View (Disney Channel, 8:00 PM) 
🔨 Making Modern with Brooke and Brice (Magnolia, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Ridiculousness (MTV, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 
🎵 All Up in the Biz (Showtime, 8:00 PM) 
👻 Pretty Freekin Scary (Disney Channel, 8:30 PM) 

All Up in the Biz

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Moonshine (CW, 9:00 PM) 'The Moonshine is forced to shut its doors for the first time in 40 years; Lidia is resolved to fix the campground once and for all.'

🍴 Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 'Guy Fieri's checking out seafood sensations and fryin' up a lot of fowl. In Los Angeles, he's tasting Thai soup and garlic prawns from a GGG alum. Then, Guy's off to Colorado for Italian-inspired crispy cutlets and a mile-high tower of fried chicken.

🔔 Minx (Starz, 9:02 PM) 'Joyce takes her eyes off the ball(s) and ditches work for her new rock star beau.'

💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Witness to Murder: Digital Evidence (A&E, 9:00 PM) 
🎵 BET Her Live: Da Brat (BET Her, 9:00 PM) 
🎵 CMT Summer Sessions (CMT, 9:00 PM) 
👻 Pretty Freekin Scary (Disney Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
👽 Ancient Aliens (History, 9:00 PM) 
🎥 Big Sky River: The Bridal Path (HMC, 9:00 PM) 
🚗 Super Street Garage (Motortrend, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Ridiculousness (MTV, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Belle Collective (OWN, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
💀 The Real Murders of Atlanta (Oxygen, 9:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 AM) 
💰 Hoffman Family Gold (Discovery, 9:07 PM) 
💀 Witness to Murder: Digital Evidence (A&E, 9:00 PM) 
🎵 BET Her Live: Lil' Mo (BET Her, 9:30 PM) 
🔔 Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham (Starz, 9:35 PM) 

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Praise Petey (Freeform, 10:00 PM) 'Petey embarks on a spiritual quest and runs into Bandit and his Little Einstein mentee; Eliza's crush on Grease Trap Connie gets out of hand thanks to Mae Mae's supportive scheming. / Petey inadvertently gives approval to release pent-up swamp gas, which sends the residents of New Utopia into a craze; unfortunately, Petey has an important business deal to negotiate; Bandit runs for mayor against Pancakes the Dog.'

🤼‍♂️ Heels (Starz, 10:05 PM) 'Jack goes on the road to find Ace; the DWL has been left in the hands of Willie, who uses the opportunity to start developing a women's division with Crystal; Gully comes to town with an offer the DWL can't refuse.'

🎵 BET Her Live: 702 (BET Her, 10:00 PM) 
🎵 CMT Summer Camp: Tyler Hubbard (CMT, 10:00 PM) 
🚗 Runs Good (Motortrend, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
💀 Women on Death Row (A&E, 10:01 PM) 
👽 The Proof is Out There (History, 10:03 PM) 
💰 Outback Opal Hunters (Discovery, 10:08 PM) 
🎵 BET Her Live: MC Lyte (BET Her, 10:30 PM) 

Heart of Stone

LATE NIGHT

🔔 How to with John Wilson (HBO, 11:00 PM) "How to Work Out"

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actress Ariana DeBose; magician Dan White; special guest announcer Dorinda Medley.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 PM) 'Comic Billy Eichner; singer-songwriter Beth Ditto; Craig Reynolds sits in with the 8G Band.'

🔔 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) 

📺Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE📺

The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM); Law & Order (Pop, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); Parks and Recreation (Comedy Central, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM); Living Single (TVOne, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 2:00 - 6:00 PM); The Andy Griffith Show (TVLand, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Family Ties (Antenna, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM); One Day at a Time (Antenna, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM); Three's Company (Antenna, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM); Everybody Loves Raymond (TVLand, 7:00 PM - 11:05 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 8:00 PM -9:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antennae, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); King of Queens (TVLand, 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 (TVLand,3:10 AM - 4:50 AM)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Actor Gregory Peck; actor Edgar Bergen; actor George Gobel; actor Jim Bouton.'

The Communion Girl

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

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