What's On Tonight (Friday): Sacrebleu! Le Maître Voleur Lupin Renoue Avec Ses Vieilles Habitudes!

Lupin

Another week, another Friday stuffed with worthy premieres.  Top Pick goes to the fourth season (part) of Netflix's Lupin.  Omar Sy stars as Assane, a master thief who has modeled himself after the fictional Lupin and finds himself constantly caught up in shenanigans that often mirror the Lupin books.  It's a fun, breezy, caper show and Sy is a very winning presence. I recommend watching the previous seasons first if you are a newbie, but the seasons are only 5-8 episodes each so it won't take you long.

Among the runner ups we have the premiere of Newlyweds, which has one of the most over qualified casts for a network multi-cam sitcom in recent memory.  We also have the premiere of sexy mystery involving witches show Yaga.  Add onto that the streaming premiere of The Invite and another Hallmark Christmas movie and you've got a lot to choose from.  And I didn't even mention Battle of the Streaming Stars (because it looks terrible)!  

⭐💎 Lupin (Netflix 3:01 AM) PART FOUR. 'Four years after the events of Part 3, Assane (Omar Sy) is still in prison. He has left his life as "Lupin" behind and plans to finish his sentence so he can move to Senegal with his family. Assane's peaceful plans are ruined when a mysterious criminal announces and executes simultaneous museum robberies using the Lupin name. Security footage seemingly places Assane inside one of the museums during a heist where Captain Belkacem is seriously hurt. To prove his innocence and find the impostor challenging him at his own game, Assane is forced to break out of prison and become Lupin once more.'

Elsewhere...

What's On Tonight (Thursday): Without Cupertino, there'd be no Top Pick

 

Courtesy CBS.

Sorry, that was a lame headline. Anyway, it's Cupertino's turn to be the Top Pick. I'm just working my way through the scripted network series ...

What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Terminal man

The Terminal List

I swear sometimes that man is out to get me! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, October 21!

Our Top Pick tonight is the second season of The Terminal List (Amazon Prime Video, 3 a.m.). This Chris Pratt-starring thriller (based on books) was popular enough in its day, but it's been 4 years since season one and we've had a prequels series in the meantime too. The cast includes Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, and Riley Keough.

Elsewhere, the Horses have their showdown for survival, Fire goes to the hospital, the Brothers dance, Scrubs has a birthday, the Statue of Liberty has Secrets, tigers are Nature, Lowdown has a Ren Fair, and Netflix has a Prison Experiment.

What's On Tonight (Tuesday): Basketball, Basketball, Basketball!

 

Courtesy NBCUniversal.

Tonight's Top Pick is Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, opening its second season with not one, not two, but three basketball games on NBC. Celtics, Pistons, 76ers, Knicks, Thunder, Spurs ... they're all playing.

What's On Tonight (Monday): "Radio Active," passive television?

 

Courtesy Paramount Plus.

Tonight's Top Pick is "Radio Active," the newest episode of CIA, airing at 9 p.m. on CBS. I try to keep an open mind about TV viewers, but I have no clue just how engaged the people who never miss a CIA are.

What's On Tonight (Sunday): A Pet isn't just for life

The Pet Cemetery Murders A Ghost Story

Another glorious morning. Makes me sick! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, October 18!

Our Top Pick tonight is The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story (HBO & HBO Max, 9 p.m.). HBO serves us a true crime spook story for spooky season, diving into the 1985 murder of Dorothy Lou Thompson and the pet cemetery murders. I ain't afraid of no ghost.

Elsewhere, James Norton was Live from London, the Simpsons visit the Treehouse, there's Gold in them thar televisions, Maigret is back on the case, Animal Control goes undercover, Professor T returns to duty, the Island pulls mutiny, and the Hostage goes back to '72.

What's On Tonight (Saturday): Super Scam, super scam, the American way

Super Scam Me

They're here already! Here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, October 17!

Our Top Pick tonight is Super Scam Me (National Geographic & Disney+ & Hulu, 9 p.m.). This is the latest report by investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller where she is tracking romance scammers. If you like good broadcast reporting on modern issues, don't sleep on Mariana's work.

Elsewhere, Ari Lennox goes to the Limits, Josh Gondelman has News, JD Vance goes to the Town Hall, Coven Academy gets pushed into a Locker, 48 Hours returns, and anime Gachiakuta goes linear.

What's On Tonight (Friday): I Did the Mountain Joke Last Week

Tenzing

This week's Top Pick is the mountain climbing adventure/drama Tenzing.  Reviews are excellent for the true story of one of the first men to climb Everest.  It features Genden Phuntsok as the film's namesake, Tom Hiddleston as his mountain climbing bro and Willem FUCKING DaFoe as a crusty British officer.  That last bit is worth the price of admission alone.

⭐🎥 Tenzing (Apple, 12:01 AM) 'Chronicles the true story of Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok), a gifted Himalayan climber who, alongside New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (Tom Hiddleston), was the first to summit Mount Everest. Encouraged by his wife Dawa, Tenzing finds an ally in expedition secretary Jill Henderson. Together, they persuade Colonel John Hunt (Willem DaFoe) that Tenzing belongs on the British climbing team, rather than merely serving it. What follows is an ascent defined as much by the tensions between backgrounds, classes and competing ambitions as by the perils of the mountain itself.'

Elsewhere...

What's On Tonight (Thursday): 9-1-1: Nashville, what isn't your emergency?

 

Courtesy TV Insider.

Tonight's Top Pick is the second season premiere of 9-1-1: Nashville, which is doing something involving a criminal replicating Biblical plagues. With all the disasters the 9-1-1ers have faced, when the shows are finally done, just go all out and have them face the damn apocalypse.

What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Money, that’s what they want

Shark Tank

This is my life! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, October 14!

Our Top Pick tonight is Shark Tank (ABC, 10 p.m. / Hulu, Thursday). This reality show has never been Top Pick and is currently on season 18. Might as well give the Sharks a moment.

Elsewhere, Brothers forget it's Valentine's Day, The Lowdown is back, Sesame Street goes to the Safari, Helluva Boss returns, Ark to the rescue, Nova takes on Evolution, Margaret Qualley has Love, Zimbabwe has the Dead, and the Horses are in trouble.

What's On Tonight (Tuesday): "Tomorrow" is Another Day

 

Courtesy LA Times.

Tonight's Top Pick is R.J. Decker, airing an episode entitlted "Better Luck Tomorrow" at 10 p.m. on ABC.

What's On Tonight (Monday): "Omission": Impossible

 

Courtesy IMDB.

It's Procedural Week with my three What's On Tonight nights, and we're kicking things off with the Top Pick, FBI, airing at 8 p.m. on CBS-CBS-CBS. The episode in question's named "Omissions."

What's On Tonight (Sunday): We rode the storm out there on Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Disney sees dead people! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, October 11!

Our Top Pick tonight is the series premiere of Treasure Island (MGM+, 10 p.m.). This latest adaptation of classic literature gives Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel six episodes to tell the tale of  Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Billy Bones, and Aaron Graham. Jim's mom is Hayley Atwell, so I'm in. (A big screen version of the book is due next year.)

Elsewhere, Danny Dyer was Live from London, Pet Cemetery turns into a ghost story, Marshals take it personal, the Youth is alone amongst couples, and Potomac still has its Real Housewives.

What's On Tonight (Saturday): Chang gets Britta'd

The Detour with David Chang

Keep it 100! Here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, October 10!

Our Top Pick tonight is the season finale of The Detour with David Chang (CNN, 10 p.m.). David Chang is a trash person but there aren't many options tonight except for this culinary travel show. This series wasn't strong enough for CNN Sundays so it go demoted to Saturdays. At least the finale has Gillian Jacobs.

Elsewhere, Rosalía is Live from New York, Larry Wilmore has News, Hallmark gets into the Spirit, Lifetime finds a Monster, Hokum comes to streaming, and Jiro has an apprentice (not Ahsoka?).

What's On Tonight (Friday): This House is Not Clean

Haunted Hotel

There were a lot of contenders for Top Pick today.  Apple has Matchbox the Movie, which appears to have very little to do with Matchbox cars other than the main characters played with them when they were kids.  Netflix has the Ben Affleck directed political/kidnapping thriller Animals.  Paramount has the premiere of the latest Avatar: The Last Airbender spinoff, Avatar: Seven Havens.  We also have the return of the entire CBS Friday night line up plus the streaming premieres of Disclosure Day, Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger and V/H/S/Mixtape.  What is the selector of today's Top Pick to do?  

I'll tell you what he does, he bestows Top Pick upon the second season of Haunted Hotel because he knows he'll actually watch it and probably be done before the end of the weekend.  I watched the first season, and though I didn't love it, I liked it enough to keep with it and it got better as the season went along.  Also, it's nice when Netflix actually produces a series where the seasons are released only one year apart the way God intended.

⭐👻 Haunted Hotel (Netflix, 3:01 AM) SEASON TWO. ' Katherine and her family find their groove as more paranormal problems come looking for vacancies. But can a haunted hotel ever really feel like home?'

Elsewhere...

What's On Tonight (Thursday): Yours, CBS' and Ours

 

Courtesy Deadline.

Tonight's Top Pick is the series premiere of Eternally Yours, airing at 8:30 p.m. on CBS. I'm meh on the concept -- your potential in-laws are vampires -- but I'm applauding Helen J. Shen (Maybe Happy Ending) getting a shot at TV fame. Hurray for the Broadway-Hollywood exchange still existing in some form.

What's On Tonight (Wednesday): The Carrie diaries

Carrie

Martin Mull takes over the fire station! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, October 7!

Our Top Pick tonight is latest remake/retelling of Carrie (Amazon Prime Video, 3 a.m.). This time a limited series, the Stephen King-authored story is updated to the present day and with Summer H. Howell as the title character. I can appreciate expanded the story to miniseries form, but... 8 episodes? Yet the early reviews are positive. Maybe it'll be better than other attempts -- the sequel, the pilot movie, and theatrical remake.

Elsewhere, Martin Mull gets documentary treatment, Abbott Elementary is in session, Chicago is One again, Last Seen is seen, Jamie Foxx aims for funny, our Slow Horses are finally the target, Ted Lasso has change, and Nova talks about satellite management.

What's On Tonight (Tuesday): If they can make it there ...

 

Courtesy CBS.

Tonight's Top Pick is the series premiere of NCIS: New York, airing at 9 p.m. on CBS. Well, good for LL Cool J and Scott Caan for hanging onto that sweet, sweet CBS procedural money.

What's On Tonight (Monday): Private Eyes, they're watching you ...

 

Courtesy IMDB.

Tonight's Top Pick is the U.S. series premiere of Private Eyes West Coast, airing at 8 p.m. on The CW. I have to admit, I'm impressed by how Jason Priestley stays consistently working.

What's On Tonight (Sunday): Save more, pay less

High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam

It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, October 4!

Our Top Pick tonight is the finale of High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam (TNT, 9 p.m.). This limited series is based on CIA agent John Nixon's memoir Debriefing the President. He learns that Iraq was not the threat the administration made it out to be and the bigger threat was Iran. But several in charge would rather not believe any of what Nixon discovered. Tom Berenger, Waleed Zuaiter, Christopher McDonald, and Talia Balsam also starred.

Elsewhere, the Tale of Two Cities concludes, Animal Control has negative reviews, the Lanterns dim, Marshals find marshaling personal, Tracker tracks a dad, Hostage talks marriage, kitties play sportsball, and the Simpsons get a chimp.