What's On Tonight (Friday): Clooney and Sandler Wonder if Any of it Meant Anything...

       

Jay Kelly

Christmas season is upon us but at Netflix it is Oscar season.  Today's Top Pick is the newest film from Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly.  George Clooney and Adam Sandler star as an actor and his manager as the former goes through an existential crisis and the latter attempts to manage it.  This wasn't going to be Top Pick as I would have preferred something Christmas-related, but I was won over by the trailer.  

That's not to say there aren't any Christmas movies or shows that are worth your attention.  For the wee ones, and those nostalgic for 80s HBO original programs, there is The First Snow of Fraggle Rock.  There are also new movies on Disney+, Netflix, Lifetime and Roku.  Hallmark, never to be outdone during the holidays, has a whole new romantic-comedy series called The Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas.  That's a lot to be merry about!

And if Christmas isn't your thing, there's a new Spartacus spin off series premiering on Starz subtitled House of Ashur.  It appears to be just as much of a combo of soap opera plotting and bloody ultra-violence as the previous series.  Lucy Lawless has a cameo.  Make her a regular and I'll tune in every week.

⭐🎥 Jay Kelly (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they've made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they'll leave behind. Directed by Noah Baumbach.'

Elsewhere...  

 PREMIERES

Jingle Bell Wedding

🎥 Reflection in a Dead Diamond (AMC+/Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'When the mysterious woman in the room next door disappears, a debonair 70-year-old ex-spy living in a luxury hotel on the Côte d'Azur is confronted by the demons and darlings of a lurid past in which moviemaking, memories and madness collide.'

🎥 The Family McMullen (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Tracks the romantic entanglements of a now 50-something Barry McMullen and his 20-something kids, as well as his brother Patrick and widowed sister-in-law, each facing unexpected romantic hurdles of their own.'

🎥 Love and Wine (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A privileged young man working at his wealthy father's business traps himself in a lie when he falls in love with a hard-working medical student and tries to convince her that he comes from more humble beginnings like hers.'

🔔 The Making of Jay Kelly (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION.    

🎥 The New Yorker at 100 (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'For the first time, The New Yorker opens up its offices to Academy Award-winning director Marshall Curry, allowing unprecedented access to its newsroom at a pivotal moment for all media, offering a rare look at what it took to publish a century of intrepid journalism, generation-defining fiction, and unforgettable cartoons.'

🎥 Stephen (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'A psychiatrist investigates a self-confessed serial killer after nine girls disappear, only to question whether he is guilty or a victim in a darker game.'

🔔 The Price of Confession (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON ONE. 'Accused of her husband's murder, a woman finds an unexpected ally in a mysterious stranger. Together, they navigate a web of secrets and hidden truths.'

🎥 A Mother's Confession (Tubi, 3:01 AM) 'When a gang shooting leaves her son in a coma, a single mother grapples with faith and morality as she seeks vengeance against the perpetrator.'

⚔️ Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz, 9:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'In a world where he survived the events of Spartacus (2010), Ashur clawed his way to power, owning the same ludus that once owned him. Allying with a fierce gladiatrix, Ashur ignites a new kind of spectacle that offends the elite.'

🎄CHRISTMAS PREMIERES🎄

The First Snow of Fraggle Rock

🎄🔔🎄The First Snow of Fraggle Rock (Apple, 12:01 AM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'The Fraggles eagerly await the first snow of the season and all the traditions it brings, but when only a single snowflake arrives and Gobo can’t write the yearly holiday song everyone is expecting, the season is thrown off course.'

🎄🎥🎄Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (Disney+, 3:01 AM) 'Greg continually finds himself at odds with his dad's outsized expectations. As pressure builds to turn his act around after a series of hilarious near disasters, Greg's dad presents him with an ultimatum--and a trip to wilderness camp--that just might challenge Greg's wimpy ways for good.'

🎄🎥🎄The Night My Dad Saved Christmas 2 (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'Nothing is going as it should this Christmas: Santa Claus has fallen into the clutches of a ruthless toy company, and Christmas itself is in jeopardy. Salva, a former thief now trying to be a good father, and his teenage son, joined by a few mischievous helpers, have only one night to come up with a plan, face unexpected villains, and bring the magic of Christmas back to life.'

``

🎄🎥🎄Jingle Bell Wedding (Roku, 3:01 AM) 'Jack and Jessica are planning their New Year's Eve wedding celebration, but a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity threatens to upend the festivities and merriment.'

🎄🎄🎄 2025 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (GAF, 8:00 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 'The official tree lighting on the Ellipse in President's Park in Washington, D.C.'

🎄🎥🎄Jingle All the Way to Love (Lifetime, 8:00 PM) 'Andi Kelton receives a lucky sleigh bell from a handsome stranger at a New Year's party, only to pass it on. Years later, a radio host turns the story of the sleigh bell and stranger into a segment as listeners help track down her mystery man.'

🎄💖🎄The Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Kate, a Saville Row textile pattern designer, lives in the quaint village of Blexford, England. When best friend Laura signs her up for The 12 Dates of Christmas - a festively themed matchmaking program in the days leading up to the holiday featuring carefully curated, yuletide dating experiences, Kate is forced to get out of her rut.'

🎄🎥🎄A Christmas Cookbook (Lifetime, 10:03 PM) 'Sparks fly between a newly single woman and the warm-hearted founder of the X-Mas Club, a festive group of food lovers who cook, give back, and celebrate the season.'

 RETURNING SHOWS

🏢 Owning Manhattan (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO.

🤖 Transformers: Earthspark (Paramount, 3:01 AM) SEASON FOUR PREMIERE.

The Night My Dad Saved Christmas 2

STREAMING

🔔 The Last Frontier (Apple, 12:01 AM) "Everything Trying" SEASON FINALE. 

🔔 Pluribus (Apple, 12:01 AM) "HDP" 

👰‍♀️ Bridezillas (All Reality, 3:01 AM) 

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

🏒 Heated Rivalry (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 The Seduction (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Tougen Anki (Netflix, 11:31 AM) 

👮 Cops (Fox Nation, 6:00 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️ Golf: 2025 World Champions Cup, Day Two (ESPN, 12:00 PM)

🏌️ PGA Tour Golf: 2025 Crown Australian Open - Round 2 (Golf, 1:30 PM)

⚽ World Sevens Football: Flamengo vs Kansas City Current (TNT, 5:00 PM)

⚽ Women's College Soccer: TCU Horned Frogs at Florida State Seminoles (ESPNU, 6:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics (Amazon, 7:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Kennesaw State Owls at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (CBSSPT, 7:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: Troy Trojans at James Madison Dukes (ESPN, 7:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Kentucky Wildcats at Gonzaga Bulldogs (ESPN2, 7:00 PM) 

🏀 College Basketball: East Texas A&M Lions at UConn Huskies (Peacock, 7:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Cincinnati Bearcats at Xavier Musketeers (TNT, 7:30 PM)

🏈 College Football: UNLV Rebels at Boise State Broncos (Fox, 8:00 PM)

🏈 College Football: North Texas Mean Green at Tulane Green Wave (ABC, 8:07 PM)

⚽ Women's College Soccer: Stanford Cardinal at Duke Blue Devils (ESPNU, 8:45 PM)

🥊 One Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu (Amazon, 9:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder (Amazon, 9:30 PM)

🏌️ DP World Tour Golf: 2025 Crown Australian Open - Round 3 (Golf, 9:30 PM)

The Family McMullen

EARLY PRIMETIME

🏠 The Loud House (Nickelodeon, 5:30 PM) 'Lynn is excited for her Swiss friend Henrik to visit, but she grows nervous when people think they're more than friends; Lincoln and friends start a shoveling business to raise money for David Steele on Ice tickets.'

🪨📃✂️ Rock Paper Scissors (Nickelodeon, 6:00 PM) 'Paper believes he's been accepted into a prestigious college only to learn that he's been placed into the third grade, which is harder than he expected. When scissors convinces Lou the Landlord to quit, The Astonishing Catalina.'

🕖 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

👮 Sherriff Country (CBS, 8:00 PM) 'While investigating a brutal assault at Edgewater High, Sheriff Mickey Fox uncovers a disturbing web of secrets, lies and abuse of power at the school.'

💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 'Parker tasks Tyson with finding the weakest link in the crew; Tony approaches Parker to make a deal and raids his son Mike's operation; Rick fires up on Lightning Creek for the first time.'

🎄💖🎄The Twelve Dates of Christmas (Hallmark, 8:00 PM) 'When Kate's best friends sign her up for a holiday-themed dating service, she reluctantly joins, but has no idea just how much her life is about to change.'

🔔 Power Book IV: Force (Starz, 8:01 PM) 'Diamond and Jenard strengthen their relationship over a common enemy, while Tommy ties up a loose end.'

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

🤠 The Last Cowboy (CMT, 8:00 PM) 
🎄🎄🎄 2025 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (GAF, 8:00 PM) 
🎄🎥🎄Jingle All the Way to Love (Lifetime, 8:00 PM) 
💖 Ready to Love (OWN, 8:00 PM) 

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

🤼‍♂️ WWE's Friday Night Smackdown (USA, 8:00 PM) 

🕗 9:00 EASTERN / 🕖 8:00 CENTRAL

🔥 Fire Country (CBS 9:00 PM) 'Sharon is blindsided by a visit from her estranged mother, Ruby, whose sudden reappearance stirs up painful family history; Bode and Jake respond to a call from a troubled teen in a condemned building.'

🎄💖🎄The Twelve Dates of Christmas (Hallmark, 9:00 PM) 'Kate's would-be date number one, Richard, tries to reconnect; Mac attempts to prove his independence, but learns he might need to ask for help.'

👽 The Unbelievable with Dan Ackroyd (History, 9:00 PM) 'Mother Nature doesn't always play nice, whether it's a mile-long sinkhole, a biblical swarm of crop-killing grasshoppers or an invasion of rum-fueled monkeys running wild on the island of St. Kitts; stories where humans go head-to-head with nature.'

⚔️ Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz, 9:00 PM) 'Having no memory of his downfall in Spartacus: Vengeance, Ashur wakes to find himself the owner of the former House of Batiatus; eager to earn the respect and power he's always desired, Ashur must save face by presenting something new to the arena.'

🔔 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 7 & Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
👮 On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
🪓 The Last Woodsman (Discovery Channel, 9:08 PM) 
🔔 Happy's Place (NBC, 9:15 PM) 
🤸 Stumble (NBC, 9:45 PM) 

Spartacus: House of Ashur

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

👮 Boston Blue (CBS, 10:00 PM) 'Lena's pursuit of justice forces Danny into an unexpected role reversal; Sarah faces a personal dilemma that tests her resolve; Mae contends with political pressure; Sean and Jonah uncover more than they anticipated during a routine case.'

⚔️ Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz, 10:00 PM) 'Ashur navigates the treacherous waters of the Roman elites while Achillia struggles to acclimate to the brutal life of a gladiator in training.' 

👽 The Proof is Out There (History, 10:03 PM) 'Did a UFO in Texas streak across the sky during a solar eclipse? Is a giant creature making waves in a Canadian river? Could a mysterious metal sphere found in the woods actually be alien technology? Tony Harris and his team look at the evidence.'

🔔 It's Florida, Man (HBO, 10:00 PM) 
🍽️ Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman (USA, 10:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 
💀 Murder at the Motel (A&E, 10:01 PM) 
🎄🎥🎄A Christmas Cookbook (Lifetime, 10:03 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 10:16 PM)

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 PM) 'Julia Roberts takes The Colbert Questionert; John Fogerty talks and performs.

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 AM) 'Actress Cynthia Erivo; actor Brooks Wheelan.'

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 
🔔 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 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) 'Jim Fowler; Gore Vidal.'

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

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

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