What's On Tonight (Friday): Dream a Little Train Dream...

     

Train Dreams

Today's Top Pick is one of the most acclaimed films of the year, Train Dreams.  Starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones and a very grizzled looking William H Macy, the film follows a man in the early 1900s making his living building a railroad while also dealing with changing times.  It's directed by Clint Bently, who also directed last year's Sing Sing.  

⭐🎥 Train Dreams (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'The moving portrait of Robert Grainier, whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th century America. Starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones.'✔️

Elsewhere...  

*Anyone remember last year's Mark Wahlberg starrer The Family Plan?  It was on Apple, so you probably don't.  Apple remembered, and now we're getting a sequel.  The only draw for me is Michelle Monaghan, who I thought was too young to be playing the mom of a college student.  Turns out she is 49!  Now I think she's a bit too old to play the mother of an elementary school student.

*ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran has an interesting hook: Sheeran is followed as he walks around Manhattan stopping at different spots to perform songs.  What makes it interesting is it is all done in one long continuous shot with no cuts.  Now if only I had any idea if I liked Sheeran's songs.

*The Bad Guys 2 has its streaming premiere on Peacock today.  Just to remind you of the dire state of the box office and animated films: The Bad Guys 2 is currently the number one American animated film of 2025.  This will obviously change when Zootopia 2 premieres next week, but for now this is the best 2025 has to offer.  What a shitty year.

 PREMIERES

The Family Plan 2

🎄🎥🎄 The Family Plan 2 (Apple, 12:01 AM) 'It's the holiday season and Dan (Mark Wahlberg) has planned the perfect vacation for his wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) and their kids to celebrate overseas -- until a mysterious figure from his past (Kit Harington) shows up with unfinished business.'✔️

😂 Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right (Hulu, 12:01 AM) SOECIAL PRESENTATION. 'Filmed live at the legendary United Center arena in Chicago, Sebastian Maniscalco’s goes all in on family chaos, aging, and the little things that drive us all nuts—with his one-of-a-kind comedic bite.'

🎵 Karaoke Club (Amazon, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Hosted by Stéphane Rousseau, the series transforms karaoke into an electrifying experience where the stars deliver their signature style with humor, energy, and, above all, a whole lot of fun.'

😂 Kathleen Madigan: The Family Thread (Amazon, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'Kathleen Madigan explores gambling as math education, Midwest pioneers, her four cats, and aging parents.'

🎥 The Conjuring: Last Rites (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 'Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as Lorraine and Ed Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.'✔️

🎥 Dining with the Kapoors (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'This special offers a rare glimpse into the Kapoors, Hindi cinema's first family, over an afternoon of conversation, nostalgia and homemade delicacies.'

🎥 ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'One singer. One city. One shot. Ed Sheeran rocks the streets of New York with his greatest hits in this groundbreaking, real-time music experience.'✔️

🎥 Sangre del Toro (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Director Guillermo del Toro journeys through a labyrinth of childhood memories, cultural myths and monsters to reveal the origins of his visionary films.'

🎥 The Bad Guys 2 (Peacock, 3:01 AM) 'The now-reformed Bad Guys are trying (very, very hard) to be good but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.'✔️

🎥 Married to a Balla 2 (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'A survivor's fresh start with her sons, a mounting career, and new love unravels when her abusive ex awakens from a coma, bent on vengeance.'

🎥 Whispers of a Secret Life (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'Jessica becomes alarmed when her best friend, Amanda, starts behaving erratically after an accident. When Amanda's reckless behavior threatens Jessica's family, she digs deep into her past and realizes she may not know her best friend at all.'

 RETURNING SHOWS

🔔 The Family Man (Amazon, 3:01 AM) SEASON THREE.

🎄🏠🎄 A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice (Nickelodeon, 5:30 PM)✔️

ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran

STREAMING

🍽️ Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (Apple, 12:01 AM) "A Thousand Little Things Done Perfectly" SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 The Last Frontier (Apple, 12:01 AM) "L'air Perdu" 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Pluribus (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Please, Carol" 

🔔 Maxton Hall: The World Between Us (Amazon, 3:01 AM) 

💀 The Creep Tapes (AMC+/Shudder, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Seventeen: Our Chapter (Disney+, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Graft (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Seduction (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Thaw (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 The Vallecas Files (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 Tougen Anki (Netflix, 11:31 AM) 

👮 Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏑 NCAA Field Hockey Championship: North Carolina Tar Heels at Northwestern Wildcats (ESPNU, 12:00 PM)

🏌️ PGA Tour Golf: 2025 The RSM Classic - Round 2 (Golf, 12:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Utah State Aggies at Tulane Green Wave (ESPN2, 1:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: South Carolina Gamecocks at Butler Bulldogs (CBSSPT, 2:00 PM)

🏑 NCAA Field Hockey Championship: North Carolina Tar Heels at Northwestern Wildcats (ESPNU, 2:30 PM)

🏌️ LPGA Tour Golf: 2025 CME Group Tour Championship - Round 2 (Golf, 3:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Davidson Wildcats at Boston College Eagles (ESPN2, 3:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Wisconsin Badgers at BYU Cougars (Peacock, 4:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Northwestern Wildcats at Virginia Cavaliers (CBSSPT, 5:00 PM)

🏀 Women's College Basketball: USC Trojans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ESPN, 6:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Louisville Cardinals at Cincinnati Bearcats (ESPNU, 6:30 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (Amazon, 7:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas - 3rd Place Game (CBSSPT, 7:00 PM)

🏀 Women's College Basketball: Michigan Wolverines at Connecticut Huskies (Fox, 8:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets (Amazon, 9:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas - Championship Game (CBSSPT, 9:30 PM)

A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice

EARLY PRIMETIME

🎄🏠🎄 A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice (Nickelodeon, 5:30 PM) 'Desperate to get off Santa's naughty list, Lincoln hacks into the North Pole computers and puts himself on the nice list. However, when the hack gets out of control, he ends up reversing the lists around the world.'

🕖 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

👮 Sheriff County (CBS, 8:00 PM) 'When a body is discovered along the Eel River, Sheriff Mickey Fox and her team launch a homicide investigation that rattles the heart of Edgewater; Wes risks everything to uncover the truth about the murder.'

🍺 Happy's Place (NBC, 8:00 PM) 'When Gabby asks Bobbie to help vet men to be her potential donor, Bobbie is happy to participate until she discovers Gabby is considering Emmett for the donation; Isabella is asked to be the guest speaker for Takoda's daughter's class.'

🔔 The American Revolution (PBS, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states; supported by the French, a victory at Yorktown secures independence for the Americans.'

🎄💀🎄 Mistletoe Murders (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 'When an upscale restauranteur is murdered, Emily finds herself harboring an unlikely fugitive as she sleuths to clear their name; Sam is thrown when his ex-wife arrives in town.'

🔔 Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW, 8:00 PM) 

🤠 The Last Cowboy (CMT, 8:00 PM) 
💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 
🎥 Whispers of a Secret Life (LMN, 8:00 PM) 
🦁 National Geographic Special: Super Animals (Nat Geo Wild, 8:00 PM) 

🔔 Belle Collective (OWN, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
👮 On Patrol: First Shift (Reelz, 8:00 PM) 

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (USA, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 The Braxtons (WE, 8:00 PM) 
🔔 Power Book IV: Force (Starz, 8:01 PM) 
🔔 Stumble (NBC, 8:30 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🔥 Fire Country (CBS, 9:00 PM) 'Station 42 responds to a dangerous fire at a beloved local smokehouse where Jake is forced to confront memories of his late father and the place they once shared.'

🎄💀🎄 Mistletoe Murders (Hallmark, 9:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'Emily and Sam race to solve the murder before the new restaurant's Christmas feast; confronted with danger, Emily opens up to Sam and stops running from her past; Violet connects with her mom.'

👽 The Unbelievable with Dan Ackroyd (History, 9:00 PM) 'History is full of legendary missions, but some are so bizarre, they sound like fiction; from a covert op involving toilet paper, to a war sparked by a single tree, to a pilot who turned the skies into a candy drop zone.'

🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 Masters of Illusion (CW, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Murder on Trial (A&E, 9:00 PM) 
🦁 Vantara: Sanctuary Stories (Animal Planet, 9:00 PM) 
🍽️ Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lotter Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 9:00 PM) 
👮 On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
🔔 The Braxtons (WE, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:01 PM) 
🪓 The Last Woodsman (Discovery Channel, 9:08 PM) 

The Conjuring: Last Rites

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

👮 Boston Blue (CBS, 10:00 PM) 'With an assist from NYPD's Maria Baez, Danny and Lena hunt down a serial home invader; Sean's budding romance faces unexpected complications; Mae and Sarah uncover a troubling leak that could upend the justice system.'

👽 The Proof is Out There (History, 10:03 PM) 'Are UFOs behind bizarre scorch marks found in a farmer's field?; could a massive creature be lurking in a Turkish lake?; s there a superhuman that can withstand heat of nearly six thousand degrees?'

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
🍽️ Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman (USA, 10:00 PM) 
💀 Murder at the Motel (A&E, 10:01 PM) 
🔔 East Harbor Heroes (Discovery Channel, 10:07 PM) 

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Ben Stiller, Brad Paisley and comedian Peter Revello.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 AM) 'Matthew Broderick on "Tartuffe"; Dave Franco on "Now You See Me: Now You Don't."'

🔔 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📺

The Andy Griffiths Show (Sundance, 5:00 AM - 1:00 PM); Law & Order (Pop, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM); South Park (Comedy Central, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM); Roseanne (CMT, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM); Living Single (TV One, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); The Gunsmoke (TVLand, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM); Parks and Recreation (Comedy Central, 2:00 PM - 5:00 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); 227 (Antenna, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 7:00 PM -9:00 PM); Everybody Loves Raymond (TVLand, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antennae, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); Becker (Antenna, 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM); The Golden Girls (Hallmark, 10:00 PM - 1:00 AM); The King of Queens (TVLand, 11:00 PM - 2:00 AM); Wings (Antenna, 12:00 - 1:00 AM); The Drew Carey Show (Antenna, 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 11:00 PM) 'Host Jack Paar; actor Stephen Lang.'

The Bad Guys 2

Key Sources: The Futon Critic; Rotten Tomatoes; YouTube; TV Guide; TV Passport

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