What's On Tonight (Friday): Why Does a Man Climb a Mountain?

Skyscraper Live

I don't like heights.  I mean, I REALLY don't like heights, so I probably won't catch today's Top Pick: Skyscraper Live.  The new special features Alex Honnold of Free Solo fame as he attempts to climb one of the tallest buildings in the world.  Why is this Top Pick when I have no intention of watching?  Because I have less intention of watching any of the other premieres.  

⭐🏢 Skyscraper Live (Netflix, 8:01 PM) SPECIAL PRESENTATION. "No ropes. No fear. Free solo legend Alex Honnold risks it all in a high-stakes, live ascent of one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in Taipei, Taiwan.'✔️

Elsewhere...  

 PREMIERES

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

🎥 Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (Hulu, 12:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 "Nebraska" album. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen's New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works--a raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe.'✔️

🎥 Mother of Flies (AMC+/Shudder, 3:01 AM) 'A young woman suffering from a life-threatening illness ventures deep into the woods to seek the help of a mystical healer offering an unconventional cure.'✔️

🎥 The Smashing Machine (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend -- and nearly cost him everything.'✔️

🎥 The Big Fake (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 'In Rome in the 1970s, Toni arrives in the city with the dream of becoming a great artist. But his hunger for life, destiny and perhaps even history will lead him to become the greatest of all forgers.'✔️

🎥 Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (Peacock, 3:01 AM) STREAMING PREMIERE. 'Gabby heads out on a road trip with her Grandma Gigi to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco. But when Gabby's dollhouse, her most prized possession, ends up in the hands of an eccentric cat lady named Vera, Gabby sets off on an adventure through the real world to get the Gabby Cats back together and save the dollhouse before it's too late.'✔️

🎥 Don't Breathe a Word (LMN, 8:00 PM) 'Meredith tries to help her best friend, Eve, when a mysterious stalker starts harassing her. However, she soon learns that Eve has a dark secret and may not be who she says she is.'

RETURNING SHOWS

🍽️ Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) SEASON 43 PREMIERE.

🔔 Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10:00 PM) SEASON 24 PREMIERE.

Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie

STREAMING

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

🔔 Tehran (Apple, 12:01 AM) "The Lion's Den" 

⚖️ Judy Justice (Amazon, 3:01 AM) 

🔔 Heaven (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) 

🦊 No Tail to Tell (Netflix, 3:01 AM) 

💧 Coldwater (Paramount, 3:01 AM) 

💖 Love Island All Stars (Peacock, 8:01 PM) 

LIVE SPORTSBALL TODAY/TONIGHT

🏌️ PGA Tour Golf: 2026 The American Express - Round 2 (Golf, 4:00 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Saint Louis Billikens at St. Bonaventure Bonnies (ESPN2, 5:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: UMass Boston Beacons at Buffalo Bulls (CBSSPT, 7:00 PM)

🏒 NHL Hockey: Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks (ESPN, 7:00 PM)

🏌️ PGA Tour Golf: 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai - Round 2 (Golf, 7:00 PM)

🥊 Legacy Fighting Alliance: Degli vs. Aguiar (Vice, 7:00 PM)

🤸 Women's College Gymnastics: Kentucky Wildcats at LSU Tigers (ESPN2, 7:30 PM)

🏀 Unrivaled Basketball: Mist vs. Rose (TNT/TruTV, 7:30 PM)

🏀 College Basketball: Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines (Fox, 8:00 PM)

🏀 Unrivaled Basketball: Phantom vs. Vinyl (TNT/TruTV, 8:45 PM)

🎾 2026 Australian Open: Third Round (ESPN2, 9:00 PM)

🏀 NBA Basketball: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (Amazon, 9:30 PM)

🏂 X Games Aspen 2026 (ESPN, 9:30 PM)

The Big Fake

🕖 EARLY PRIMETIME 🕖

🏠 The Loud House (Nickelodeon, 5:30 PM) 'When Leni is put in charge of the school's prom, she is determined to make it the most memorable night ever; Lincoln and Clyde cast Luan as the villain, Bee Trayal, in their David Steele film.'

🔔 Wylde Pak (Nickelodeon, 6:00 PM) 'When Lily and Jack must sacrifice their own summer plans, it kicks off a new, chaotic normal, starting with a runaway trailer that each insists on saving their own way.'

🕖 8:00 EASTERN / 🕖 7:00 CENTRAL

🍺Happy's Place (NBC, 8:00 PM) 'Bobbie doesn't want Gabby to get her hopes up too soon about her potential pregnancy, but accidentally rains on her parade in the process; Isabella hires Takoda's band to play at the tavern unaware he's in a death metal band.'

😂 Mel Brooks: The 99-Year Old Man! (HBO, 8:00 PM) SEASON FINALE. 'Charting Brooks' rise to superstardom and the enduring impact of his work on audiences and future generations of comedic writers and performers.'

🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV, 8:00 PM) 'The queens must create show-stopping looks inspired by a mash-up of two different legendary red carpet looks. Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford, and superstar stylist Law Roach guest judge.'

🔔 The Nowhere Man (Starz, 8:03 PM) 'Phumza shatters Lukas and Neo's fragile refuge at the homeless shelter, unleashing tragedy and igniting Lukas's hunger for vengeance; all the while, a child is desperately fighting for survival.'

🤸 Stumble (NBC, 8:30 PM) 'When Courtney learns that an AI company is looking at Huddleston as a potential site for its new data center, she goes full out to win them over, hoping to get much-needed money and sponsorship for her team.'

💰 Gold Rush (Discovery, 8:00 PM) 

🎥 Don't Breathe a Word (LMN, 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

👽 The Unexplained (History, 9:00 PM) 'Dreams have inspired humanity for thousands of years and in all this time, we have yet to answer one fundamental question: What is the purpose of dreams? From nightmares linked to unexplained deaths and more.'

⚔️ Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz, 9:00 PM) 'Achillia prepares for her return to the arena, while Ashur faces a devastating setback.'

🔔 20/20 (ABC, 9:00 PM) 
🍽️ Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food, 9:00 PM) 
🏠 My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 9:00 PM) 
👮 On Patrol: Live (Reelz, 9:00 PM) 
💖 Love During Lockup (WE, 9:00 PM) 
💀 Dateline NBC (NBC, 9:01 PM) 
🔔 Junk or Jackpot? (HGTV, 9:30 PM) 
🔔 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV, 9:30 PM) 

Mother of Flies

🕗 10:00 EASTERN / 🕖 9:00 CENTRAL

🔔 The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast (Starz, 10:00 PM) 'Caught in a longstanding neighborhood rivalry, Terry is shot, prompting the brothers to shift from street level sales to wholesale in a bid to escape the violence; a move that ultimately begins to draw the attention of law enforcement.' 

👹 Monsterquest (History, 10:03 PM) 'These are the chilling accounts of people who claim they were hunted by mysterious cryptids; from a Dogman in Ohio, a group of Bigfoot in Washington state, a Skunk Ape in Florida and a mysterious Wendigo in Wisconsin.'

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

LATE NIGHT

🔔 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 PM) 'Actor Jason Momoa; comic Marcello Hernández; YouTuber Linus Sebastian.'

🔔 Late Night with Seth Myers (NBC, 12:37 AM) 'Actress Emilia Clarke; actor Connor Storrie.'

🔔 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); Living Single (TV One, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM); M*A*S*H* (TVLand, 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM);  Friends (TBS, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM); Gunsmoke (TVLand, 10:45 AM - 4:00 PM); Seinfeld (Comedy Central, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): The Andy Griffiths 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);  Three's Company (Antenna, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Barney Miller (Antenna, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM); Everybody Loves Raymond (TVLand, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM); One Day at a Time (Antennae, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM); The Jeffersons (Antenna, 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM); Sanford & Son (Antenna, 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM); The Golden Girls (Hallmark, 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM); The King of Queens (TVLand, 11:00 PM - 2:00 AM); Becker (Antenna, 12:00 - 1:00 AM); Wings (Antenna, 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM)

📺 Johnny Carson (Antenna, 11:00 PM) 'Actor David Steinberg; actor Drew Carey; actor Regis Philbin.'

The Smashing Machine

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

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