What's On Tonight (Friday): A Nicer, Gentler Post-Apocalyptic Bunker Show...

 

Wondla

It never rains, but it pours.  After a few weeks when it seemed like Fridays were becoming a bit boring, today we have an embarrassment of riches.  Is any of it good?  I don't know!  We'll find out together!

So, after going back and forth between a few prospects, I have decided to go with the Apple animated sci-fi series, Wondla.  I might have settled on Wondla mainly due to my preconceived notion that this was a show for young children.  Having watched the trailer, I'd say it's going for something more.  It's based on a series of young adult books that, like with many Apple series, I am unfamiliar with.  

The series centers around a girl who grows up in a bunker alone except for a robot nanny.  Between this, Silo (also on Apple) and Fallout, I'm ready to declare that we are living in the "post-apocalyptic-bunker-aissance."  I knew this day would come, and I am thankful that I am alive to pay witness.

TOP PICK

⭐🔔 Wondla (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Centers around Eva, a curious, enthusiastic and spirited teenager being raised in a state-of-the-art underground bunker by Muthr, a robot caretaker. On her 16th birthday, an attack on Eva's bunker forces her onto the Earth's surface, which is now inhabited by aliens and covered with otherworldly fauna, and there are no other humans to be found.  Featuring voical performances by Alan Tudyk, Brad Garrett and Teri Hatcher.'✔️

Elsewhere...

*Apple also has recent Oscar nominee, Lily Gladstone, starring in a very depressing looking film called Fancy Dance.  I'm not really into very depressing films, but I do like Gladstone.  Will she be enough to make me watch?  No.

*Netflix has the other big film premiere this week with A Family Affair.  The film stars Joey King, Nicole Kidman and Zac Effron.  I got some genuine laughs from the trailer, and it looks like it could be charming.  The director hasn't done much of note, but it is a good cast, and I got some good laughs from King and Effron in the trailer.  This could end up on when my wife and I are just hanging out this weekend.

*Netflix also has the premiere of Juanpis González: The People's President, a comedy about an inept, corrupt, narcissistic idiot who somehow becomes president of Colombia.  It looks pretty silly, but it's a bit difficult for me to enjoy this sort of thing these days.  

PREMIERES

Fancy Dance

🎥 Fancy Dance (Apple, 12:01 AM) 'Since her sister's disappearance, Jax has cared for her niece Roki by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of Jax losing custody to Roki's grandfather, Frank, the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki's mother in time for the powwow. Starring Lily Gladstone.'✔️

🔔 Down in the Valley (Starz.com, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Dives into the fascinating duality of the Deep South from a kaleidoscopic marginalized lens. This new docu-series will pull back the curtain on the surprising but always intriguing people and places that make the Deep South a place where anything can happen and usually does.'✔️

🧜‍♀️ Disney Jr.'s Ariel (Disney+, 3:01 AM) PART ONE. 'Set in the Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows young mermaid princess Ariel (Mykal-Michelle Harris) as she embarks on underwater adventures with her family and friends, including King Triton, Ursula, Flounder and mer-friends Fernie and Lucia.'✔️

🎥 A Family Affair (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity. Starring Joey King, Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman.'✔️

🎥 Juanpis González: The People's President (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'When a spoiled Colombian snob becomes president through money and connections, he finds staying in power takes more than he expected.'✔️

🔔 Òlòtūré: The Journey (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Working undercover as a sex worker in Nigeria, a young journalist out to expose corruption fights for her life as she forges a path to Europe.'

🏠 Owning Manhattan (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Real estate mogul Ryan Serhant leads one of the biggest firms in New York and pushes his agents to greatness while tackling the most expensive listings.'

🔔 The Whirlwind (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A whirlwind clash ensues when a deputy prime minister of economy stands against the prime minister who aims to uproot the corrupt powers that be.'

🎥 The Devil's Bath (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'In 1750 Austria, a deeply religious woman named Agnes has just married her beloved, but her mind and heart soon grow heavy as her life becomes a long list of chores and expectations. Day after day, she is increasingly trapped in a murky and lonely path leading to evil thoughts, until the possibility of committing a shocking act of violence seems like the only way out of her inner prison.'

🎥 Bloodline Killer (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'Follows Moira Cole who endeavors to rebuild her shattered life after the murder of her family at the hands of her deranged and obsessed cousin.'

🔔 Family Empire: Houston (OWN, 8:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Exploring complex themes of generational wealth and the building of a family legacy, the 8-episode unscripted series follows the Bradens across four generations of Black excellence.'

🧟‍♀️ Zombies: The Re-Animated Series (Disney Channel and Disney XD, 8:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Every day is a surprise at Seabrook High—whether you're a cheerleader, a zombie, a werewolf, or even a vampire! This gang may have figured out each other, but they haven't quite figured out how to survive high school.'

👽 The Proof is Out There: Alien Edition (History, 10:03 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Journalist Tony Harris leads a team of experts as they scrutinize and evaluate a range of evidence, seeking to determine the authenticity of reported UFO sightings and incidents. With recent UAP incidents presented to the US Congress, the team explores if these unidentified aerial phenomena pose a potential threat to national security.'

A Family Affair

RETURNING SHOWS

🍴 Jinny's Kitchen (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

🏠 Beach Cottage Chronicles (Max, 3:01 AM) SEASON FOUR PREMIERE.

🔔 The Mole (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

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

STREAMING

💖 Love Island (UK) (Hulu, 3:01 AM) 

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

🔔 The Chi (Paramount+, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (Paramount+, 3:01 AM) 

👮‍♂️ Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

💖 Love Island (Peacock, 9:01 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️‍♂️ 2024 US Senior Open Championship: Second Round (Golf, 12:00 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: Rocket Mortgage Classic, Second Round (Golf, 3:00 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: Houston Astros at New York Mets (Apple, 7:00 PM) 

⚾ MLB Baseball: San Diego Padres at Boston Red Sox (Apple, 7:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Atlanta Dream at Connecticut Sun (Ion, 7:30 PM)

🤸‍♂️ US Olympic Trials: Women's Gymnastics (NBC and USA, 8:00 PM)

⚽ NWSL Soccer: Kansas City Current at Houston Dash (Amazon, 8:00 PM)

🥊 Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin (CBSSN, 9:00 PM)

🏂 X Games Ventura 2024 (ESPN2, 9:00 PM)

🏃‍♂️ US Olympic Trials: Track and Field (NBC, 10:00 PM)

🥊 Professional Fighters League: Welterweights & Featherweights (Main Card) (ESPN, 10:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury (Ion, 10:00 PM)

Down in the Valley

🕗 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕖

💲 Beat the Bridge (GSN, 6:00 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🧟‍♀️ Zombies: The Re-Animated Series (Disney Channel and Disney XD, 8:00 PM) 'Zed, Addison and the Seabrook crew get to redo their senior year together; Zed creates a new drink called zoda that transforms the entire school into zoda obsessed zombies. / Eliza and Bucky compete to see whose vending machine is better; Zed and Addison use their free period to help the stressed-out A-spen learn to let loose.'

🔔 Power Book II: Ghost (Starz, 8:01 PM) 'With the truth of their treachery uncovered, Dru and Diana are on the run. Tariq and Monet are on the hunt but find themselves interrupted when Detective Carter and Kamaal Tate show up with questions.'

💲 Lingo (CBS, 8:00 PM) 
🍰 The Big Bakeover (CW, 8:00 PM) 

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush: Parker's Trail (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Family Empire: Houston (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🍴 Guy's All-American Road Trip (Food Network, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'A camp breakfast becomes a cooking battle to see who makes the best sweet and savory dishes; a campground carnival features Lebanese and Mediterranean food.'

👽 Ancient Aliens (History, 9:00 PM) 'Considered by many to be the greatest civilization in the history of the Americas, the Maya thrived for more than 2,000 years; today new evidence is being discovered that completely upends our understanding of this ancient culture.'

😂 Totally Funny Animals (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💰 Hoffman Family Gold (Discovery, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
🐶 Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 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) 

Disney Jr.'s Ariel

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

😂 Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo (PBS, 10:00 PM) 'Environmental biologist and comic Eeland Stribling strives to find true life balance in the outdoors of Colorado. / Native American comic and actor Tatanka Means delves into his upbringing on the reservation, using humor to illustrate the challenges faced by Indigenous communities nationwide.'

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
🎵 Deb's House (WE, 10:00 PM) 
👽 The Proof is Out There: Alien Edition (History, 10:03 PM) 
🏠 Zillow Gone Wild (HGTV, 10:30 PM) SEASON FINALE. 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 Fantasmas (HBO, 11:00 PM) 'When Julio repeatedly refuses to participate in a credit card commercial, Vanesja finds him a new opportunity in a superhero movie; in preparation, he goes to a jump rope class and employs a peculiar new social media manager named Pirulinpinpina.'

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actor Chris Pratt; sports commentator Erin Andrews; TV host Charissa Thompson; Red Clay Strays perform.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Comic Felipe Esparza; comic Morgan Murphy; comic Marcella Arguello.'

🔔 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 - 1:00 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 - 2:30 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 2:30 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) 'Actor Tim Reid; comic Ronnie Shakes; celebrity Dian Fossey.'

Juanpis González: The People's President 

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

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