What's On Tonight (Friday): His and Heron...

          

The Boy and the Heron

I came late to Miyazaki, but I have my kids to thank for me finding his films at all.  When my kids were small, I would buy movies regularly to watch with my kids.  I originally stayed away from Miyazaki as I wasn't a fan of anime, but my friends with young kids were always saying how great these films were so I picked up one and showed it to my then three-year old son.  The movie we watched was Spirited Away and though it kept my son enthralled the whole time, he had nightmares for weeks afterwards.  

Despite the aftermath, we went on to watch Ponyo and, my personal favorite, My Neighbor Totoro.  I consider the latter to be both one of the "Best Films Ever Made for Children" and one of the "Best Films Ever Made About Children." There might be other films that qualify for that list, but I can't imagine any of them topping Totoro.  

I've watched most of Miyazaki's other films, but none stuck with me like those first three.  I look forward to watching today's Top Pick, The Boy and the Heron, on Max this weekend.  I don't expect to like it as well as the original three.  Something about watching those films with my kids when they were young puts them on a higher plane that might not be possible for any of the other films to match.  Still, I'll give it a try.  I've become a bigger fan of anime in my middle age, and no one does it better.

TOP PICK

⭐🎥 The Boy and the Heron (Max, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family's estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.'

Elsewhere...

*Are you going through any Jack Reacher withdrawal?  May I direct you to the new Netflix film Rebel Ridge?  Like the first season of Reacher, this film is about an ex-soldier caught up in small town shenanigans because of his brother.  This is directed by the guy that made Blue Ruin and Green Room and is currently sitting at 97% Fresh over at Rotten Tomatoes.  It stars Aaron Pierre and Don MOTHERFUCKING Johnson.  It looks like a lot of fun.  If this wasn't a Miyazaki week, this surely would have been Top Pick.  Them's the breaks.

*Tubi has the premiere of comic heist film Hazard, and it also looks like it could be fun.  Unfortunately, I can't find much information about the film beyond the same synopsis over and over again.  It's not difficult to cut a fun trailer from even the shittiest of films, but I'm still curious about it.  If one of you Tubi-heads want to watch and report back, we'd all appreciate it.  Take one for the team.

*From the same streamer (Hulu) that brought us The Handmaid's Tale comes an even more timely and important series about women in an oppressive patriarchal society seeking to break out of their fascist existence and free themselves from the shackles imposed upon them.  Some may say nay, but I say The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is not a series to be taken lightly.  It's an important series about important things.  Maybe as important as the things covered in the new Amazon series about media influencer Elizabeth Rioux titled, Elizabeth Rioux: Unfiltered. These are both important series about important things that people care about.  What an amazing time to be alive.

PREMIERES

Elizabeth Rioux: Unfiltered

🔔 Elizabeth Rioux: Unfiltered (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A window into the exciting world of social media sensation and entrepreneur, Elisabeth Rioux, as she leads the international expansion of Hoaka Swimwear while juggling romance, family and motherhood.'

🔔 The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'The scandalous world of a group of Mormon mom influencers implodes when they get caught in the midst of a swinging sex scandal that makes international headlines.'

🏈 The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick (ESPN+, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Will release each Friday and focus on the two teams playing on the following Monday Night Football.  Each week the multi-time Super Bowl-winning QB and head coach will breakdown and analyze the upcoming game.'

🎥 Disco, Ibiza, Locomia (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'In the '80s Ibiza scene, a group of friends in the eccentric band Locomía skyrockets to fame, testing their friendships, identities and careers.'

🎥 Rebel Ridge (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Terry Richmond enters the town of Shelby Springs on a simple but urgent mission-- post bail for his cousin and save him from imminent danger. But when Terry’s life’s savings is unjustly seized by law-enforcement, he’s forced to go head to head with local police chief Sandy Burnne and his combat-ready officers. '

🎥 The Demon Disorder (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'Graham is a man haunted by his past since the death of his father and the estrangement from his two brothers. Middle brother, Jake, contacts Graham claiming that something is horribly wrong: their younger brother, Phillip, is possessed by their deceased father. Graham reluctantly agrees to go and see for himself. The three brothers soon realize they are unprepared for the forces against them.'

🎥 Hazard (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'Noah really loves his girlfriend, his daughter, and his car, but when he accepts a dangerous driving job, he risks losing it all.'

RETURNING SHOWS

🏠 Selling Sunset (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON EIGHT.

😂 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (CW, 8:00 PM) SEASON TWENTY-ONE PREMIERE.

🔔 Power Book II: Ghost (Starz, 8:00 PM) SEASON FOUR PREMIERE.

STREAMING

🍴 Jinny's Kitchen (Amazon, 12:01 AM) 

🔔 Pachinko (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Chapter 11" 

⚖ Judy Justice (Freevee, 12:01 AM) 

🏠 Where We Call Home (Discovery+, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (Hulu, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 The Thaw (Odwilż) (Max, 3:01 AM) 

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

via allwavingflags.com

2024 PARIS PARALYMPICS

NBC: 🔔General Coverage (9:00 PM)

USA: 🏃‍♂️🚴‍♀️Para Track and Field, Para Cycling & More (5:00 AM); 🏀Women's Wheelchair Basketball, First Semifinal: Teams TBA (10:00 AM); 🏊‍♀️🏃‍♂️Para Swimming, Para Track and Field (11:30 AM); 🥇Gold Medals: Day 9 (USA, 4:00 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🎾 2024 US Open Tennis: Women's Doubles Championship (ESPN2, 12:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ DP World Tour Golf: Omega European Masters, Second Round (Golf, 7:30 AM)

🎾 2024 US Open Tennis: Men's Semifinals (ESPN, 3:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ PGA Tour Champions Golf: Ascension Charity Classic, First Round (Golf, 3:00 PM)

🎾 2024 US Open Tennis: Men's Semifinals (ESPN, 7:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: BYU at SMU (ESPN2, 7:00 PM)

🏈 CFL Football: BC Lions at Montreal Alouettes (CBSSN, 7:30 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Minnesota Lynx at Indiana Fever (Ion, 7:30 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals (Apple, 8:00 PM)

🍌 Banana Ball World Tour: Savannah Bananas vs. The Party Animals (TruTV, 8:00 PM)

🏈 NFL Football: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Peacock, 8:15 PM)

⚾ MLB Baseball: San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres (Apple, 9:00 PM)

🏀 WNBA Basketball: Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky (Ion, 9:30 PM)

⚽ NWSL Soccer: Angel City FC vs Seattle Reign FC (Amazon, 10:00 PM)

⚽ USL Championship Soccer: FC Tulsa at Phoenix Rising FC (ESPN2, 11:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ Asian Tour Golf: The 40th Shinhan Donghae Open, Third Round (Golf, 11:00 PM)

Rebel Ridge

🕗 MIDNIGHT 🕗

🥼Rick and Morty: The Anime (Adult Swim and Max, 12:00 AM) 'Summer and Morty search for Rick while he's trapped in a multiverse. Also, Jerry goes missing.'

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

😂 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Guest comics Jordin Sparks and Tiffany Haddish.'

🔔 Power Book II: Ghost (Starz, 8:00 PM) 'With eyes back on their business, Tariq and Brayden must find a way to get back in Noma's good graces. Diana is faced with a dilemma: stepping further into the game than she's ever gone before, or risk her family's safety.'

💲 Let's Make a Deal Primetime (CBS, 8:00 PM) 

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (Fox, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge's Mine Rescue (Discovery Channel, 8:00 PM) 

🐶 Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Family Empire: Houston (OWN, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Collision (TNT, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Love After Lockup (WE, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ Cold Case Files: DNA Speaks (A&E, 9:00 PM) 'When Texas gas store owner Subir Chatterjee, 58, is shot inside his check cashing booth in 2002, detectives suspect his killer is someone Subir knew; with the murderer's DNA in hand, one detective refuses to retire until the case is solved.' 

🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 'Guy Fieri hits the road for serious sammys; a vegan joint in New Jersey plates plant-based perfection, TOC champ Tiffani Faison brings Southern barbecue to Boston and a family spot in California mixes it up with lights-out lamb.'

👽 Ancient Aliens (History, 9:00 PM) 'From biblical patriarchs to modern day alien abductees, throughout history, there have been people who claimed to have contact with otherworldly beings; often bearing important messages for humanity.'

💲 Lingo (CBS, 9:00 PM) 
😂 Totally Funny Animals (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💰 Bering Sea Gold (Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation (Magnolia, 9:00 PM) 
🐶 Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM)
😂 Totally Funny Kids (CW, 9:30 PM) 
🔔 The Braxtons (WE, 9:30 PM) 

Disco, Ibiza, Locomia 

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

💀 Tell Me How I Died (A&E, 10:01 PM) 'When a Georgia college student disappears after his shift at the local pharmacy, police open an investigation into a possible hate crime and abduction; Dr. Jamie Downs uncovers evidence that spins the case into a shocking new direction.' 

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 
🐶 Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog (NGC, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 10:00 PM) 
🔔 Wiggin' Out with Tokyo Stylez (WE, 10:30 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Record producer DJ Khaled; singer-songwriter Rita Ora; comic Hannah Berner.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Actress Mandy Moore; actor Chris Sullivan; actress Milana Vayntrub.'

🤼‍♂️ All Elite Wrestling: Rampage (TNT, 11:00 PM) 
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 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 - 10:12 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); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 3:00 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);  Family Guy (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) 'Actress Christina Pickles; John Mendoza; Ed Gillet.'

Hazard

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

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