What's On Tonight (Friday): To Boldly Yeoh...

Star Trek: Section 31

Star Trek: Discovery is not anyone's favorite Star Trek.  I liked a lot about the show, but it ranks just above Enterprise and Picard for me.  One thing that is indisputable, which I realize is an open call for people to dispute it, is that Michelle Yeoh's performance as the morally ambiguous (former) Emperor Philippa Georgiou was one of the highlights of the series.  So, Paramount wisely decided to bring back Yeoh for a spin off film, Star Trek: Section 31.  

I'm fairly certain this was originally going to be a limited series, but Paramount has gotten a bit gun shy with its Star Trek properties of late (RIP Lower Decks and Prodigy).  Unfortunately, reviews indicate its quality is about on par with the later seasons of Discovery.  I'll watch it anyway as Star Trek is pretty much the only reason I hold on to my Paramount subscription, and Yeoh looks to be having fun chewing the scenery.  Besides, I need something to tide me over until Strange New Worlds, the best ST series since Deep Space Nine, returns.  I'll take what I can get.

TOP PICK

⭐🎥 Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount, 3:01 AM) 'Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.'

Elsewhere...

*For better or worse, if you were alive in the late 90's you probably remember Tom Green.  I never watched any of his stuff and I remember him.  He is back with a new documentary about his life appropriately titled The Tom Green Documentary.  It also appears to be the set up for a new reality series in which Tom now owns and lives on a farm in Canada near his hometown.  The doc, and the eventual series, can be found on Amazon.

*Multiple Oscar nominee The Wild Robot has its streaming premiere on Peacock today.   Between this film and Flow, 2024 was a pretty good year for animated feature films where animals are featured prominently, and humans are pretty much non-existent/extinct.  I'm fine with that.  That's pretty much where things are heading anyway.

*Your Monster makes its streaming premiere on Max today.  I was not familiar with this film, but it looks pretty charming.  It's about a young woman grieving over her dick ex-boyfriend after he pulls a Gingrich on her.  Her life gets turned around when she meets a man-beast.  The beast's make-up is extremely similar to Ron Pearlman's in the old CBS series, but this is a decidedly non-poetic beast.  It looks fun and reviews are good.  A little romantic-comedy-fantasy escapism could be a welcome salve if certain events this week have got you down.

PREMIERES

The Best Heart Attack of My Life

💓 The Best Heart Attack of My Life (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Tells the story of Ariel, a frustrated ghostwriter with a sarcastic sense of humor and a messy life, who falls into a crisis when his wife leaves him, and he suffers a heart attack while staying in a temporary rental house abroad with a girl he has just met.'

🎥 This is the Tom Green Documentary (Amazon, 3:01 AM) 'Traces Green’s early life and the start of his comedy career in Canada, followed by his rise to stardom via MTV in the mid-’90s and early 2000s (and several attendant controversies) and his return to Canada, where he now lives on a farm.'

🔔 Shared Custody (Disney+, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Parents Cris and Diego have just separated by mutual agreement. Their intention is to be mature, responsible and friendly adults for the sake of their five-year-old daughter, but neither of them can afford to live alone and take care of her.  Both are forced to move back to their respective parents' houses.'

🎥 Your Monster (Max, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Tells the story of actor Laura Franco, who is dumped by her boyfriend while recovering from surgery. Insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop. A monster with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.'

🎥 The Sand Castle (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Stranded on a deserted island, a family of four scavenges for survival as their past unravels, sending them into a downward spiral.'

🔔 Shafted (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Four middle-aged male friends fumble their way through love, life and career crises in modern-day Paris — when did being a man become so hard?'

👨‍⚕️ The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'To create a top-tier trauma center, a war-seasoned doctor arrives — bringing his blunt but skilled ways to transform his team into life-saving mavericks.'

🎥 The Wild Robot (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot--ROZZUM unit 7134, "Roz" for short -- that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.'

🎥 Grafted (Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'Wei travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted, and hiding a genetic facial birthmark, Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin and her glamorous friends. Wei immerses herself in her late father's research, working on a revolutionary skin grafting procedure that could cure her deformity.'

🎥 Don't Mess with Grandma (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'A drunk Army ranger must fight off the vicious robbers who plan to loot the cabin belonging to his sweet, oblivious grandmother.'

🎥 My Family's Killer Affairs (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'Single mother Nikki is shocked to meet Jenell, a young woman who claims to be her daughter from a mistaken IVF treatment. On the surface, Jenell seems perfect, but Nikki's other daughter suspects there's something wrong about her surprise sister.'

🐟 Harpoon Hunters (Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Each summer on Cape Cod, multi-generational fishing families race against the clock - and each other - to catch highly valuable Atlantic bluefin tuna using only 10-foot electrified spears.'

The Wild Robot

RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 Pombo (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON FOUR.

🦉 Eva the Owlet (Apple, 12:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) SEASON ELEVEN PREMIERE.

🔔 Masters of Illusion (CW, 9:00 PM) SEASON ELEVEN PREMIERE.

🔔 Toya & Reginae (WE, 9:00 PM) SEASON TWO PREMIERE.

STREAMING

🔔 Severance (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig" 

😂 LOL: Last One Laughing Poland (Amazon, 12:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 Übel Blatt (Amazon, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Agency (Paramount+, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. "Overtaken by Events" 

💀 Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount, 3:01 AM) "The Big Bad Body Problem" 

💖 Love Island All Stars (Peacock, 9:01 PM) 

🏈 NFL Icons (MGM+, 10:00 PM) "Demarcus Ware" 

🔔 The Graham Norton Show (AMC+, 11:00 PM) 

Shared Custody

SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

⚽ English Championship Soccer: Sheffield United vs. Hull City (CBSSN, 3:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ PGA Tour Golf: Farmers Insurance Open, Third Round (Golf, 3:00 PM)

🏌️‍♀️ PGA Tour Golf: Farmers Insurance Open, Third Round (CBS, 5:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Toledo at Bowling Green (CBSSN, 6:00 PM)

🏀 Boys High School Basketball: Montverde Academy (Fla.) at Columbus (Fla.) (ESPN2, 6:00 PM)

⛸ Figure Skating: U.S. Championships: Rhythm Dance (USA, 6:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Kent State at Ohio (ESPNU, 7:00 PM)

🏀 Unrivaled Basketball: Phantom Basketball Club vs. Mist Basketball Club (TNT & TruTV, 7:15 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (ESPN, 7:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Saint Joseph's at Dayton (ESPN2, 7:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Michigan at Purdue (Fox, 8:00 PM)

⛸ Figure Skating: U.S. Championships: Women's Free Skate (NBC, 8:00 PM)

🏒 College Hockey: St Cloud State at Omaha (CBSSN, 8:00 PM) 

🏀 Unrivaled Basketball: Laces Basketball Club vs. Vinyl Basketball Club (TNT & TruTV, 8:15 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: St. Bonaventure at VCU (ESPNU, 9:00 PM)

🤸‍♀️ Women's College Gymnastics: Oregon State at Auburn (ESPN2, 9:30 PM)

🏂 X Games Aspen 2025 (ESPN, 10:00 PM)

The Tom Green Documentary

🕗 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🦈 Shark Tank (ABC, 8:00 PM) 'An heirloom keepsake trunk; an easy-to-sew quilt kit; a line of seamless swimsuits and outdoor performance socks created for women; Jamie Kern Lima guest sharks.'

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) 'Magicians include Young & Strange, Piff and Piero Venesia; an amazing two-act trick by Penn and Teller.'

🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV, 8:00 PM) 'The queens receive the task of singing songs based on memorable moments from "Drag Race" history; actress Julia Schlaepfer guest judges.'

👮‍♂️ The First 48: Room Full of Lies (A&E, 8:00 PM) 

💰 Gold Rush (Discovery Channel, 8:00 PM) 
🧙 Wizards Beyond Waverley Place (Disney Channel, 8:00 PM) 

🎥 My Family's Killer Affairs (LMN, 8:00 PM) 
👮 On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (USA, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

👮 Cold Case Files (A&E, 9:00 PM) 'When Chris Green, 19, is found beaten to death in a snowy Bangor, Michigan, ditch in 2002, his family fears their son's murder will never be solved; years pass before shocking revelations from an informant emerge and blow the case wide open.'

🔔 The Way Home (Hallmark, 9:00 PM) 'Romance is top of mind as Alice, Kat and Del reflect on love in their past, present and future; Jacob struggles with his memories.'

🐶 My Best Friend's an Animal (Nat Geo Wild, 9:00 PM) 'Visiting Penny the pigeon and her rescuer; getting a buzz from a refugee who finds comfort in beekeeping; diving with a shark dancer.'

🔔 Masters of Illusion (CW, 9:00 PM) 
🐟 Harpoon Hunters (Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM) 
🍴 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
👽 The Unbelievable with Dan Ackroyd (History, 9:00 PM) 
👮 On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM)
🔔 Toya & Reginae (WE, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:01 PM) 
🔔 The Couple Next Door (Starz, 9:02 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV, 9:30 PM) 
🔔 Evolve and Flex (TruTV, 9:30 PM) 

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🐶 My Best Friend's an Animal (Nat Geo Wild, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'Embracing an invasive nutria who's become a part of the family; paddling around with Gumbo the goose; visiting a blind hedgehog and his human chum; exploring a swimmer's bond with wild gray seals.'

👮‍♂️ Cold Case Files: Murder in the Bayou (A&E, 10:01 PM) 'The town of Alexandria, Louisiana, is rocked when the body of Courtney Coco, 19, is found dumped 200 miles from home in Winnie, Texas; the case cools until a retired homicide detective turned podcaster discovers her killer hiding in plain sight.'

👽 Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo (History, 10:03 PM) 'From a mythical monster that turns out to be real, to a deadly prehistoric animal, and a frozen tundra hiding a pandora's box full of lethal pathogens, these startling discoveries shock and terrify the world.'

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Graham Norton Show (BBC America, 11:00 PM) 'Actor Jamie Foxx; actress Cameron Diaz; actress Michelle Yeoh; actor Jonathan Bailey; Griff performs.'

🔔 After Midnight (CBS, 12:37 AM) 'Actor Joel Kim Booster; writer Pat Regan; drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova.'

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 
🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM) 
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 12:05 PM) 
🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 AM) 
🔔 Nightline (ABC, 1:07 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 - 10:00 AM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM); Living Single (TV One, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM); South Park (Comedy Central, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 11:50 AM - 4:00 PM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM); The Office (Comedy Central, 3:00 PM - 10:00 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); 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); Designing Women (Antenna, 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM); The King of Queens (TVLand, 11:00 PM - 2:00 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 Keenen Ivory Wayans; comedian Jimmy Brogan; film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.'

Your Monster

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

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