What's On Tonight (Friday): Better Late Than Never?

      

The Agency

TOP PICK

⭐🔔 The Agency (Paramount+, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Covert CIA agent Martian is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind unexpectedly reappears, their romance reignites, pitting his career, his real identity and his mission against his heart while hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.'

Elsewhere...

*Hulu's new film, Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller, looks absolutely dreadful.  I barely cracked a smile at the entire trailer.  I thought Stiller stopped making garbage like this years ago.  I guess he must have had some downtime while prepping season two of Severance.  I will say this, the trailer doesn't try to trick you into thinking it's something better.  It literally has two shit jokes in the first thirty seconds.

*For a possibly better film about children dealing with the death of a loved one at Christmas, which is definitely its own subgenre, maybe check out Netflix's The Snow Sister.  It's a Norwegian film, and the trailer is charming without a single shit joke in the entire thing (there could be one in the film itself, but that isn't the vibe I got)

*The Lifetime Movie Network is back to counterprogram all the Christmas good cheer with the debut of its latest "women in danger" film, Don't Let Him Find You.  Why LMN can't continue to put out the classic fare it's known for while adding in a Christmas twist is anyone's guess.  This one could easily have been about Mrs. Clauss attempting to escape her abusive marriage.  Give me a call, LMN.  I got all kinds of ideas.

PREMIERES

Hard North

❄Hard North (Amazon, 12:01) SEASON ONE. 'Follows a diverse group of young Canadians as they embark on a challenging four-season mission: to build a life in the vast and unforgiving Canadian wilderness.'

🎥 The World According to Kaleb (Amazon, 3:01 AM) 'A special performance from Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper’s national theatre tour ‘The World According to Kaleb.’'

🎥 Beatles '64 (Disney+, 3:01 AM) 'On February 7, 1964, The Beatles arrived in New York City to unprecedented excitement and hysteria. Beatles '64 presents the spectacle but also tells a more intimate behind the scenes story, capturing the camaraderie of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they experienced unimaginable fame.'

💖 The Later Daters (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Six golden singles learn the new rules of modern romance as they set out to find love and rediscover themselves in this heartfelt reality series.'

💖 Love Never Lies: South Africa (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'In South Africa’s first dating show of its kind, six couples face temptations — and a ruthless lie detector — in the ultimate relationship test.'

🎥 Making the Helicopter Heist (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'This behind-the-scenes documentary shows the making of the one-take robbery episode of The Helicopter Heist directed by Daniél Espinosa (Safe House).'

🏎 Senna (Netflix, 3:01 AM) LIMITED SERIES. 'Fascinated by cars since childhood, Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna became a sports legend — until tragedy struck, changing Formula 1 forever.'

🎥 Sikander Ka Muqaddar (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A dedicated police officer launches an inquiry into an unsolved robbery. However, his investigation soon turns into an obsession, plaguing the lives of the suspects.'

🔔 The Trunk (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'A secret marriage service is uncovered when a trunk washes up on the shore, revealing the strange marriage between a couple in the thick of it all.'

🎥 Out Come the Wolves (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'At a remote cabin deep in the wilderness, a weekend of hunting turns to mayhem and a fight for survival when a pack of wolves attack a man, his female best friend, and her fiancé.'

🎥 Sidelines: The QB and Me (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'A headstrong dancer and a cocky quarterback fight against their feelings for each other as their post-grad future threatens to keep them apart.'

🎥 Don't Let Him Find You (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'When a woman's heroic deed goes viral, a reporter shows up at her door claiming to know her true identity. When the reporter is later found murdered, she becomes the prime suspect and must find the killer to clear her name.'

🎵 Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (HBO, 9:00 PM) 'Chronicling the emergence and popularity of the west coast, soft rock pop culture epitomized by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan and Toto.'

💀 Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Killer (Oxygen, 9:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Examines the decades-long investigation of the murder of an unknown woman found in the dunes of Provincetown, Mass.'

🎄CHRISTMAS PREMIERES🎄

Nutcrackers (God, this looks terrible)

🎥🎄 Nutcrackers (Hulu, 12:01 AM) 'A strait-laced man finds his life suddenly upended when he becomes the caregiver for his rambunctious, orphaned nephews. Starring Ben Stiller and Linda Cardellini.'

🎥🎄 The Snow Sister (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A young boy whose grieving family has forgotten about Christmas forms an unexpected, healing bond with a bubbly girl full of holiday spirit.'

🎥🎄 A '90s Christmas (Hallmark, 6:00 PM) 'A workaholic lawyer destined to spend Christmas alone is transported back to 1999 after an unexpected run in with a particularly wise ride-share driver.'

🎥🎄 A Cinderella Christmas Ball (GAF, 8:00 PM) 'Chelsea Jones is a dance instructor and studio owner in Chicago. Just before Christmas, Chelsea discovers a photo of a young woman she believes is her birth mother who passed away when she was only five years old. With only the internet, a plane ticket, and lifelong determination to go on, Chelsea now has four days to solve the mystery of her birth family. Starring Danica McKellar.'

🎥🎄 Deck the Walls (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 'Interior designer, Rose DeMonte, uses her skills back in her hometown to renovate a Christmas Charity Home for her brother Sal and his contractor Brysen's home flipping company.'

RETURNING SHOWS

👶 Children Ruin Everything (CW, 9:00 PM) SEASON FOUR PREMIERE.

STREAMING

🔔 Return to Las Sabinas (Hulu, 12:01 AM) "Shake the Foundations" 

🍰 The Great British Baking Show (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

📞 When the Phone Rings (Netflix, 3:01 AM) "Episode 3" 

💀 The Creep Tapes (AMC+ and Shudder, 3:01 AM) ""Brad" 

Beatles '64

🏈COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY/TONIGHT🏈

Oklahoma State at Colorado (ABC, 12:00 PM); Minnesota at Wisconsin (CBS, 12:00 PM); Ball State at Ohio (CBSSN, 12:00 PM); Navy at East Carolina (ESPN, 12:00 PM); Miami (Ohio) at Bowling Green (ESPNU, 12:00 PM); Oregon State at Boise State (Fox, 12:00 PM); Mississippi State at Ole Miss (ABC, 3:30 PM); Liberty at Sam Houston State (CBSSN, 3:30 PM); Stanford at San Jose State (CBS, 4:00 PM); Georgia Tech at Georgia (ABC, 7:30 PM); Nebraska at Iowa (NBC, 7:30 PM); Utah at UCF (Fox, 800 PM)

🏀MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TODAY/TONIGHT🏀

Battle 4 Atlantis, Seventh-Place Game: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 11:00 AM); ESPN Events Invitational, Consolation Game: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 1:00 PM); Battle 4 Atlantis, Consolation Game: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 3:00 PM); ESPN Events Invitational, Championship Game: Teams TBA (ESPN, 3:30 PM); Rady Children's Invitational, Third-Place Game: Teams TBA (Fox, 3:30 PM); Battle 4 Atlantis, Championship Game: Teams TBA (ESPN, 5:30 PM); Rady Children’s Invitational, Championship: Teams TBA (Fox, 6:00 PM); NIT Season Tip-Off, Consolation Game: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 6:30 PM); Arizona Tip-Off, Consolation Game: Teams TBA (CBSSN, 7:00 PM); Battle 4 Atlantis, Fifth-Place Game: Teams TBA (ESPN2, 8:30 PM); NIT Season Tip-Off, Championship Game: Teams TBA (ESPNU, 9:00 PM); Arizona Tip-Off, Championship Game: Teams TBA (CBSSN, 9:30 PM)

SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏈 NFL Football: Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (Amazon, 1:30 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins (TNT, 6:30 PM)

🏀 Women's College Basketball: Acrisure Holiday Invitational: USC vs. Saint Louis (TruTV, 7:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: LA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN, 7:30 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (TNT, 9:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ DP World Tour Golf: ISPS Handa Australian Open, Third Round (Golf, 10:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN, 10:05 PM)

Out Come the Wolves

🕗 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕗

🎥🎄 A '90s Christmas (Hallmark, 6:00 PM) 

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🔔 Outlander (Starz, 8:02 PM) 'Claire and Ian arrive in Philadelphia to help the ailing Henry Grey; Roger and Buck receive an unexpected clue in their search for Jemmy.'

💀 The First 48: Tracking a Killer (A&E, 8:00 PM) 'When a young mother is discovered naked and strangled in her car, Tulsa Detective John Brown uncovers a dark obsession; it appears the obsession may have turned deadly, leading to the incident.' 

🤠 The Last Cowboy (CMT, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush (Discovery Channel, 8:00 PM) 
🎥🎄 A Cinderella Christmas Ball: Great American Christmas (GAF, 8:00 PM) 

🎥🎄 Deck the Walls (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 Don't Let Him Find You (LMN, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Belle Collective (OWN, 8:00 PM) 
💀 Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Killer (Oxygen, 8:00 PM) 

👮‍♂️ On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (USA, 8:00 PM) 
💘 Love After Lockup: Life After Lockup (WE, 8:00 PM) 

🔔 Rocket's Island (BYUtv, 8:30 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

👮‍♂️ Blue Bloods: Celebrating a Family Legacy (CBS, 9:00 PM) 'Exclusive interviews with the stars and recurring guest stars who share favorite memories and behind-the-scenes moments from the past 14 years; hosted by Nischelle Turner.' 

🎭 Great Performances (PBS, 9:00 PM) 'The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra celebrates the centennial birthday of Henry Mancini with Michael Bublé, Cynthia Erivo, saxophonist Dave Koz and Monica Mancini.' 

👽 The Unbelievable with Dan Ackroyd (History, 9:00 PM) 'Exploring the stories of the planet's fantastic beings.'

👶 Children Ruin Everything (CW, 9:00 PM) 
👮 Cold Case Files (A&E, 9:00 PM) 
🪓 The Last Woodsman (Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
🎵 Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (HBO, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Destruction Decoded (NGC, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Killer (Oxygen, 9:00 PM) 
👮‍♂️ On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 

Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

💀 Killer Cases (A&E, 10:01 PM) 'A case sits cold on investigators' desks until 2015; when a detective starts receiving emails with clues about the victim's identity it leads to an international manhunt and a betrayal by family.'

🔔 Destruction Decoded (NGC, 10:00 PM) 
👻 Scare Tactics (USA, 10:00 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Graham Norton Show (BBCA, 11:00 PM) 'Graham's guests are Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, British actor and singer Cynthia Erivo, Happy Valley star James Norton, and comic and Strictly star Chris McCausland.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Comic Nicole Byer; comic Matteo Lane; actress Sasheer Zamata.'

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 AM) 
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 12:37 AM)

📺Broadcast/Cable/Satellite - RETRO BINGE📺

The Andy Griffith Show (Sundance, 4:30 AM - 1:00 PM); Law & Order (Pop, 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM); Living Single (TV One, 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM); Parks and Recreation (Comedy Central, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM); The Andy Griffith Show (TVLand, 12:00 PM - 6:00 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, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM); The King of Queens (TVLand, 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM); Three's Company (Antenna, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 8:00 PM -9:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antennae, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); 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 James Stewart; actor Garry Shandling.'

The Snow Sister

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

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