What's On Tonight (Friday): New Doctor Sure is a Ncuti...

 

Doctor Who

I'm pretty sure today's Top Pick is the reason I took over the Friday WOT oh so many years ago.  I've bestowed many a Top Pick upon some worthy and some not so worthy series and movies.  None did I have the relationship with that I have with Doctor Who.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, Doctor Who is today's Top Pick.

I actually came to Who pretty late.  I caught a few episodes every now and then in college.  The local PBS station had sci-fi Friday nights and would play a complete classic Who serial (usually, of course, from the Tom Baker years) along with Blake's Seven and Red Dwarf.  I never had a chance to really get into it, but that changed with the reboot.

I was pretty instantly hooked when the show returned in 2005.  I even got my wife into it when she basically fell in love with David Tennant.  Shortly after the pandemic started, I got a BritBox subscription and binged every classic episode of Who they had.  Of the new Doctors, Capaldi is first for me.  Of the classic Doctors, I'm a Pertwee guy.  Makes sense those would be my guys since Capaldi was directly influenced by Pertwee.

The new season marks the first full season with that sweet, sweet Disney streaming money.  We already got a taste of this with the four specials that came out last year.  My main takeaway was, "looks great, nice special effects, Tennant still has it (wife nods approvingly), and the new guy seems charming as hell."  Also, "God this musical number is horrible and must die with fire."  My love of Who is a sea of contrasts.

TOP PICK

⭐Doctor Who (Disney+, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE/FOURTEEN/FORTY-ONE PREMIERE. 'The Doctor and Ruby travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, to the Regency era in England, to outer space worlds and the sixties.'✔️

Elsewhere...

*Just over a week after The Idea of You premiered on Amazon, Hulu dares to ask how much Anne Hathaway can the world take at once?  But don't fret, for while Amazon bestowed us with a madly likeable rom-com version of Hathaway, Hulu changes gears and gives us a sexed-up barely recognizable femme fatale Hathaway in Eileen.  Hathaway's characters have become some sort of weird "fuck, marry, kill" game lately and I'm here for it.

*Winner of this week's "best reviewed film" premiere is AMC+ with The Taste of Things.  I'm sure this is an excellent film, and I don't want to play the race card here, but this has to be some of the whitest shit ever: a French period piece about two white people, an aristocrat and his cook, who fall into a chaste love over their mutual love of food.  Not since the halcyon days of Howards End...

*Should your tastes lean more towards the toxic masculinity of it all, Max has the streaming premiere of surprise Oscar contender, The Iron Claw.  I shouldn't write "surprise" since everyone whose seen this film says how good it is, but I don't think it was on too many radars before it actually started getting seen.  

Weird thing about the Iron Claw trailer: I've watched it several times now and I'm still not sure which character is being played by Zac Efron.  Whatever Efron looks like in my head, does not bear much resemblance to whatever he looks like in this movie.  It's got to be the wigs.  They're throwing me off something fierce.

PREMIERES

Eileen

🎥 Eileen (Hulu, 12:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Eileen is unfazed by the gloomy nature of her job at the local youth prison. Something changes the day that the new counsellor, Dr. Rebecca St. John arrives. She is captivated by Rebecca's glamorous, enigmatic presence. As the two women grow closer, Eileen is inspired to explore new facets of her own personality and desires. But her metamorphosis takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret. Starring Anne Hathaway.'✔️ (82%)

🔔 Past Lies (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'The story of a group of women whose stable, successful lives are suddenly shaken by the appearance of the mortal remains of one of their high school classmates, who disappeared during their senior trip to Mallorca twenty-five years earlier.'

🎥 The Taste of Things (AMC+ and Acorn TV, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Cook Eugenie and her boss Dodin grow fond of one another over 20 years, and their romance gives rise to dishes that impress even the world's most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie's reluctance to commit, he begins to cook for her.' (97%)

🎥 The Iron Claw (Max, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.' (89%)

🔔 Cooking Up Murder: Uncovering the Story of César Román (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'This docuseries analyzes a murder case implicating a Spanish chef, who built a career in the spotlight through a web of secrets and false identities.'

🎥 Living with Leopards (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A film crew follows two leopard cubs as they make the fascinating journey from infancy into adulthood in this up-close-and-personal nature documentary.'

🔔 The Ultimatum: South Africa (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A six-way partner-swap sparks wild attractions and tearful betrayals. Participants choose whom to love and leave in this heart-pounding experiment.'

🔨 Empty Nest Refresh (Roku, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Liza Koshy & Orlando Soria team up with young adults leaving home in this touching home improvement series. Together, they transform childhood rooms into stunning spaces as gifts to the loving parents.'

🎥 Invasive (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'A young woman secretly residing in a billionaire’s lavish mansion stumbles upon dark secrets, sparking a desperate fight for survival.'

The Iron Claw

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 The Simpsons (Disney+, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. "May The 12th Be With You"

🏛 The Blood of Zeus (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🔔 Pokémon Horizons: The Series (Netflix, 3:01 AM) PART TWO.

🔔 The Chi (Paramount, 3:01 AM) SEASON SIX PREMIERE.

STREAMING

🔔 Clarkson's Farm (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 Franklin (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Begin by Creeping" 

🔔 Sugar (Apple, 12:01 AM) "The Friends You Keep" 

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

-

🔔 A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount, 3:01 AM) 

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

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

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

😂 John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A. (Netflix, 10:01 PM) SEASON FINALE. 

Past Lies

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♂️ 2024 Regions Tradition: Second Round (Golf, 11:30 AM) X

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: Wells Fargo Championship, Second Round (Golf, 2:00 PM)

🥎 College Softball: SEC Tournament, First Semifinal: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 4:00 PM)

⚾ College Baseball: Evansville at Indiana State (ESPNU, 4:30 PM)

🥎 College Softball: SEC Tournament, Second Semifinal: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 6:30 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles (Apple, 7:00 PM) 

🏀 NBA Basketball: New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers (ESPN, 7:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ LPGA Tour Golf: Cognizant Founders Cup, Second Round (Golf, 7:00 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins (TNT and TruTV, 7:00 PM)

🥎 College Softball: Pac-12 Tournament, Second Semifinal: Teams TBA (ESPNU, 7:30 PM)

⚽ NWSL Soccer: Racing Louisville FC at Washington Spirit (Amazon, 8:00 PM)

🐮 PBR Bull Riding: PBR World Finals: UTB (CBSSN, 8:00 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels (Apple, 9:30 PM) 

🏀 NBA Basketball: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN, 9:30 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks (TNT and TruTV, 10:00 PM)

🥎 College Softball: Pac-12 Tournament, Championship: Teams TBA (ESPNU, 10:30 PM)

Living with Leopards

🕗 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕗

💲 Switch (GSN, 7:00 PM) 
💲 Split Second (GSN, 7:30 PM)

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ S.W.A.T. (CBS, 8:00 PM) 'When a crew of violent eco-terrorists abducts the teenage son of an energy company executive, the team must untangle the kidnappers' twisted motives before carrying out a high-stakes rescue mission; Hondo's involvement in a shooting draws outrage.'

🔔 BMF (Starz, 8:01 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'Meech and Terry return to Atlanta; the brothers work together to retrieve everything they have worked hard for and plan to expand to St. Louis and other cities with Miami as a hub; Meech and Terry are in for one of their greatest adventures.'

💲 Jeopardy! Masters (ABC, 8:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush: White Water (Discovery Channel, 8:00 PM) 
💖 The Never Ever Mets (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🔥 Fire Country (CBS, 9:00 PM) 'Station 42 and Three Rock battle a dangerous campaign fire where they struggle with difficult decisions.'

🎭 Great Performances (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.'

👽 The Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe (History, 9:00 PM) 'As we make plans to travel beyond the Moon to new worlds, how are we preparing to become human extraterrestrials? Just how will we survive this trip into the unknown?'

🔔 Mary & George (Starz, 9:01 PM) 'Anti-Spanish riots have taken hold of the city, and with the Crown plunged into debt, George stands to lose everything; Mary faces devastating consequences when she overplays her hand.'

🏎 100 Days to Indy (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
🍴 Best Bite in Town (Food Network, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 We're Here (HBO, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
🐶 Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 

The Blood of Zeus

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ Blue Bloods (CBS, 10:00 PM) 'Danny gets involved when Sean becomes the latest victim in a series of robberies on Sean's college campus; Erin grows suspicious of an overworked attorney who she believes isn't acting in his client's best interest.'

🔔 Mysteries of the Abandoned (Discovery Channel, 10:00 PM) 'A brewery in the Pacific Northwest sustains prospectors during the Gold Rush; a Wyoming mining settlement descends into lawlessness; a brutal murder in a small Mississippi town sparks a revolution.'

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 
🔔 The Barnes Bunch (WE, 10:00 PM) 
🏠 Zillow Gone Wild (HGTV, 10:30 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (HBO, 11:00 PM) 'After opening his relationship with Mike, Jerrod struggles with jealousy and the rules of non-monogamy.'

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Director John Krasinski; actress Brooke Shields; author Tracy Sierra; comic Jimmy Carr.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Comic Maria Bamford; comic Jackie Kashian; comic Laurie Kilmartin.'

🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:36 PM) 
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM)

📺Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE📺

Law & Order (Pop, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM); The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 6:00 AM - 12:00 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); Living Single (TV One, 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)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 10:00 PM) 'Comedian David Steinberg; actress Mary Frann; actor Emmanuel Lewis.'

The Taste of Things

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

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