What's On Tonight (Friday): Like a Plan for Replacing Biden, Today's Pick is Imaginary...

  

The Imaginary

I considered making Joe Biden's interview with George Stephanopoulos today's Top Pick.  It's a big deal and a lot of people will probably be watching.  Hopefully Biden gives a good interview and puts to rest any chitter chatter about replacing him (it won't - they'll still be talking about replacing him after he's sworn in again), but here's the thing: I'm not going to be watching.  Why?  He already has my vote.  Why?  Because I'm not a fucking idiot and one sub-par debate performance doesn't change anything.

So, instead I'm going with Netflix's The Imaginary.  I don't know much about the people behind it but the trailer is charming, the animation looks great and it's at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.  Maybe check it out when you're done having Biden reassure you that he isn't going anywhere.

TOP PICK

⭐🎥 The Imaginary (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Rudger is a boy no one can see, imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives at The Town of Imaginaries, where forgotten Imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat.'

Elsewhere...

*Not much premiering today.  I'm guessing most of the streamers chose to release their stuff on Wed or Thurs this week to take advantage of the holiday.  Probably the highest profile debut is Back to Black, which is streaming on Peacock.  The lowest profile one would be King of Zanzibar on Max, which doesn't even have a trailer.  Goyo looks like a good time, Desperate Lies looks like the opposite.  

*I'm heading to Ireland with my wife and kids on Saturday.  I'll be there for two weeks.  First real vacation since 2019.  I'll still be posting the Friday WOT.  Where we'll be is rural, but the mobile signal is strong.  SCIENCE!

PREMIERES

🔔 King of Zanzibar (Max, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'Hailed the "King of Zanzibar" for his luxury travel destination, Wojtek Żabiński's high society life crashes to a halt when he's accused of fraud.'

🔔 Desperate Lies (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'After a traumatic night, a woman finds herself pregnant with twins by two men. Over time, she strives to keep her family united — and her secrets hidden.'

🎥 Goyo (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A young autistic museum guide lives by a strict routine until he falls in love with his coworker and must confront a whirlwind of new, intense emotions.'

🎥 Back to Black (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Told from Amy Winehouse's perspective and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film follows the remarkable woman behind the phenomenon and the tumultuous relationship at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time.'

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 Mirzapur (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON THREE PREMIERE.

🐻 Care Bears: Unlock the Magic (Max, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

🔔 Real Bros of Simi Valley: The High School Reunion (Roku, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

STREAMING

🍴 Jinny's Kitchen (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 

💖 Love Island (UK) (Hulu, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (Hulu, 12:01 AM) 

🏠 Beach Cottage Chronicles (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

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

🔔 The Mole (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 

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

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

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

💖 Love Island (Peacock, 9:01 PM) 

Back to Black

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🎾 2024 Wimbledon Championships: Third Round (ESPN, 6:00 AM)

⚽ 2024 UEFA European Championship: Spain vs. Germany (Fox, 12:00 PM)

⚽ 2024 UEFA European Championship: Portugal vs. France (Fox, 3:00 PM)

🏌️‍♂️ PGA Tour Golf: John Deere Classic, Second Round (Golf, 4:00 PM)

⚽ USL Championship Soccer: Birmingham Legion FC at Charleston Battery (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings (Ion, 7:30 PM)

🥊 One Fight Night 23: Ok vs. Rasulov (Amazon, 8:00 PM)

⚽ NWSL Soccer: Portland Thorns FC at San Diego Wave FC (Amazon, 10:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Sparks (Ion, 10:00 PM)

🕗 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕖

🔔 Bunk'd: Learning the Ropes (Disney Channel, 7:00 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Power Book II: Ghost (Starz, 8:01 PM) SUMMER FINALE. 'Tariq is sent on a journey of self-discovery that gives him clarity on what his path moving forward must be. As Monet fights to keep her family together, Detective Carter and his task force move in on the Tejadas.'

🔔 ABC News Special: One on One with Joe Biden (ABC, 8:00 PM) 'George Stephanopoulos interviews President Joe Biden.'

💲 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) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

👽 Ancient Aliens (History, 9:00 PM) 'For thousands of years, cultures around the world have held a belief in stargates through which beings have traveled to Earth from distant points in the universe and even other dimensions.'

😂 Totally Funny Animals (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:00 PM) 
🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
🦈 When Sharks Attack 360 (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Down in the Valley (Starz, 9:00 PM) 
🤮 Mama June: From Not to Hot (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 
💰 Hoffman Family Gold (Discovery, 9:03 PM) 
😂 Totally Funny Kids (CW, 9:30 PM) 
⛸ Born Racers (TruTV, 9:30 PM) 

Desperate Lies

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

😂 Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo (PBS, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'Samoan comic Adam Pasi performs for his parents for the first time. / Actor and comic Sierra Katow, a fourth generation Chinese and Japanese American, weaves culture, history and humor against the vibrant tapestry of LA.'

👽 The Proof is Out There: Alien Edition (History, 10:03 PM) 'Journalist Tony Harris and his team of experts present and analyze evidence of unidentified submerged objects and render a verdict on whether evidence of UFOs can be found underwater.'

🦈 When Sharks Attack 360 (NGC, 10:00 PM) 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
🎵 Deb's House (WE, 10:00 PM) 
⛸ Born Racers (TruTV, 10:45 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 Fantasmas (HBO, 11:00 PM) 'As Julio searches for a loophole to avoid getting a proof of existence, Vanesja contemplates her purpose after run ins with a successful but depressed client and former professor; while pursuing a new passion, Bibo gets some unexpected advice.'

🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 'Actor Zac Efron; Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas); Gracie Abrams performs.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Actor Utkarsh Ambudkar; comic Patty Guggenheim; actress Betsy Sodaro.'

🔔 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 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); Parks and Recreation (Comedy Central, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM); Living Single (TV One, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); Hawaii Five-0 (Ion, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM); The Andy Griffith Show (TVLand, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Family Ties (Antenna, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM); Archie Bunker's Place (Antenna, 6:00 PM - 7:00 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) 'Muppet Miss Piggy; comedian Howie Mandel; biologist Dr. John McCosker.'

Goyo

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

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