What's On Tonight (Friday): Raised in California, Not in Babylonia...

        

Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in Two Pieces

Some interesting selections today, but today's Top Pick honor goes to Apple's Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in Two Pieces. Not many entertainers are able to stay culturally relevant throughout their careers, but Martin isn't like most entertainers.  Covering his entire career from his earliest stand-up to Only Murders in the Building, this documentary covers so much material they had to make it four hours long and divide it into two parts.  My assumption is one part will cover "Wild" and the other will cover "Crazy" (both will cover "Guy").

TOP PICK

⭐🔔 Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in Two Pieces (Apple, 12:01 AM) LIMITED SERIES. 'Features legendary writer, producer, director, actor and comedian Steve Martin, exploring his iconic life and career.'

Elsewhere...

*Just missing Top Pick today is the new Disney+ series Renegade Nell.  Starring Louisa Harland (Derry Girls), the series is about a young woman who is framed for murder and is forced to become a highwayman.  Oh, and she has a fairy friend who gives her superpowers.  This is a Disney series after all.  Between this and the former Top Pick Dick Turbin series, shows about highwayman seem to be in demand these days.

*Disney also has a new documentary called Madu, about a 12-year-old from Nigeria who follows his dream of being a dancer by attending a ballet school in England.  I always have reservations about movies that encourage young people to follow their dreams no matter what, but I guess it's harder to make a crowd-pleasing film about kids who follow their dreams and land flat on their faces.  

*Ewan McGregor stars in the new Paramount original A Gentleman in Paris.  The film tells the true story of a Russian aristocrat who is forced to spend the rest of his life in a Moscow hotel after the Russian Revolution.  The set up has some The Terminal vibes, which was also very loosely inspired by a true story.  Hopefully this one is better.  

*Lisa Frankenstein has its streaming premiere today on Peacock.  With Poor Things on Hulu, I think this weekend may call for a double feature of the Frankenstein-inspired films.  There might be a slight quality difference between the two, but don't hold it against Poor Things for not being up to Lisa's level.

PREMIERES

Gassed Up

🎥 Gassed Up (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 'Trying to earn money to raise his sister and send his mother to rehab, teenaged Ash becomes caught up with an organized crime ring led by a charismatic young Albanian immigrant.'

🎥 Madu (Disney+, 3:01 AM) 'Follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world in England. Having never left his home outside of Lagos, Anthony finds himself thrust into a new world where his wildest dreams are suddenly within reach.'

🔔 Renegade Nell (Disney+, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'England, 1705. Framed for murder and on the run with her sisters, Nell Jackson turns her hand to highway robbery to survive. Aided by her superpowered sidekick, a plucky little sprite called Billy Blind, Nell realizes that fate has put her on the wrong side of the law for a reason: to defeat a magical plot against the Queen of England.'

🎥 The Beautiful Game (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Mal is the manager of England's homeless football team, taking his players to Rome with the hope of being crowned champions of the Homeless World Cup, a global street soccer tournament. At the last minute he decides to bring with them a talented striker Vinny, who could give them a real chance at winning, but only if he's ready to let go of his past and become part of the team. Starring Bill Nighy.' 

🎥 Heart of the Hunter (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A retired assassin is pulled back into action when his friend uncovers a dangerous conspiracy at the heart of the South African government.'

🎥 The Wages of Fear (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'To prevent a deadly explosion, an illicit crack team has 24 hours to drive two truckloads of nitroglycerin across a desert laden with danger.'

🔔 A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Follows Count Alexander Rostov, who, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, finds that his gilded past has placed him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is banished by a Soviet tribunal to an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol and threatened with death if he ever sets foot outside again. Starring Ewan McGregor.'

🎥 Lisa Frankenstein (Peacock, 3:01 AM) 'A coming of RAGE love story from acclaimed writer Diablo Cody about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness... and a few missing body parts along the way.'

🎵 Dennis Quaid's Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners (UPtv, 7:00 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'Dennis Quaid delivers his debut gospel performance video, "Fallen, A Gospel Record for Sinners"; the actor/singer/songwriter sits down with Bill Gaither for an inspiring conversation, sharing his journey of redemption.'

🔔 Spermworld (FX, 9:00 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'Three men enter the new wild west of baby making, online forums where sperm donors connect with hopeful parents, but find themselves exchanging more than just genetic material.'

🔔 Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (HBO, 11:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'A darkly funny documentary series about Jerrod's tumultuous quest for love, sex, and truth.'

Renegade Nell

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

👻 Fright Krewe (Hulu, 12:01 AM; Peacock, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🔔 The 35th GLAAD Media Awards (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

🍰 Is It Cake? (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON THREE.

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

🎥 The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (Shudder, 9:00 PM) SEASON SIX PREMIERE.

STREAMING

🔔 Apartment 404 (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 Hope on the Street (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. "Turpin Time" 

🔔 Manhunt (Apple, 12:01 AM) "The Secret Line" 

🔔 The Reluctant Traveler (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Italy: La Dolce Vita" 

⚖ Judy Justice (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

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

👮‍♂️ Flex X Cop (Hulu, 9:31 AM) 

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

A Gentleman in Moscow

LIVE 2024 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TODAY/TONIGHT

🏀 NC State vs. Marquette (CBS, 7:00 PM)
🏀 Gonzaga vs. Purdue (TBS & TruTV, 7:30 PM)
🏀 Duke vs. Houston (CBS, 9:30 PM)
🏀 Creighton vs. Tennessee (TBS & TruTV, 10:00 PM)

LIVE 2024 NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TODAY/TONIGHT

🏀 Oregon State vs. Notre Dame (ESPN, 2:30 PM)
🏀 Indiana vs. South Carolina (ESPN, 5:00 PM)
🏀 NC State vs. Stanford (ESPN, 7:30 PM)
🏀 Gonzaga vs. Texas (ESPN, 10:00 PM)

LIVE 2024 NCAA MEN'S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT TODAY/TONIGHT

🏒 Michigan Tech vs. Boston College (ESPNU, 2:00 PM)
🏒 Western Michigan vs. Michigan State (ESPNU, 5:00 PM)
🏒 Michigan vs. North Dakota (ESPNU, 8:30 PM)

LIVE EVERYTHING ELSE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: Texas Children's Houston Open, Second Round (Golf, 4:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ LPGA Tour Golf: Ford Championship, Second Round (Golf, 7:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers (NBA TV, 7:00 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: New York Yankees at Houston Astros (Apple, 8:00 PM)

🏀 Women's College Basketball: NCAA Division II Tournament: Minnesota State vs. Texas Woman's (CBSSN, 8:00 PM)

🥎 College Softball: Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 8:00 PM)

⚽ NWSL Soccer: San Diego Wave FC vs. Seattle Reign FC (Amazon, 10:00 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: St Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (Apple, 10:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings (NBA TV, 10:00 PM)

Madu

🕗 MIDNIGHT 🕗

🔔 Royal Crackers (Adult Swim, 12:00 AM) 'When a King from half a world away invites the remaining members of TainT to perform for him, Theo, Stebe and Moey D, end up getting ensnared in a spy mission that tests their allegiances to Nu-Metal and puts all of their lives at risk.' 

🕗 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕗

🎵 Dennis Quaid's Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners (UPtv, 7:00 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Featured magicians include Javi Rufo, Emma Olson, Sean Ridgeway and Jim Vines.'

🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV, 8:00 PM) 'Hunky male dancers from the RuPaul's Drag Race LIVE! show in Las Vegas drop by the werkroom, to be made over into devastating drag queens. Country star Kelsea Ballerini guest judges.'

🔔 BMF (Starz, 8:00 PM) 'Meech and Terry rediscover the Black Mecca of Atlanta; both brothers learn the process of breaking into the scene in Atlanta will not be as easy when they are met with the old guard who wants to retain.'

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush: White Water (Discovery Channel, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🎭 American Masters (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'The life of long-serving Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.), considered to have one of the broadest public careers in U.S. political history.'

🍴 Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food & Max, 9:00 PM) 'Guy Fieri's savoring both spicy and sweet eats. In St. Simons Island, Ga., a bomb bakery is plating righteous rum cake, a pizza restaurant in Boulder, Colo., is firing up artisan pies, and a spot San Antonio, Texas, is delivering dynamite duck.'

👽 The Unexplained Special Presentation (History, 9:00 PM) 'Throughout recorded history, many people have claimed to be able to see the future and can predict, or even influence, events they first witness in their mind's eye. Is it possible that some of us really do possess the gift of foresight?'

😂 Totally Funny Animals (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
💰 America's Backyard Gold (Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Spermworld (FX, 9:00 PM) 
🚗 Wheeler Dealers (Motortrend, 9:00 PM) 
🤮 Mama June: From Not to Hot (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 
😂 Totally Funny Kids (CW, 9:30 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV, 9:30 PM) 

Lisa Frankenstein

🕗 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) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actress Sarah Paulson; actor Dev Patel; comic Jackie Fabulous.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 1:37 AM) 'Actress Lauren Lapkus; comic Ashley Nicole Black; comic Irene Tu.'

🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 12:05 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 12:35 PM) 
🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:35 PM) 
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM)

📺Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE📺

The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM); Law & Order (Pop, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM); Futurama (Comedy Central, 7:00 AM - 10:10 AM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM); South Park (Comedy Central, 10:10 AM - 2:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM); The Andy Griffith Show (TVLand, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Family Ties (Antenna, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM); Archie Bunker's Place (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 - 11:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 8:00 PM -9:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antennae, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); The King of Queens (TVLand, 11:00 PM - 2:00 AM); Designing Women (Antenna, 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM); Becker (Antenna, 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM); The Drew Carey Show (Antennae, 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM); Alice (Antenna, 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM); Mom (TVLand, 2:00 AM - 4:15 AM)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Actor Charles Grodin, actor Kevin Nealon; actress Linda Thorson.'

The Beautiful Game

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

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