‘Dangerous Book for Boys’ and ‘Unfortunate Events,’ Alexis Arrives on ‘Dynasty,’ a ‘Strike Back’ Reunion
A selective critical checklist of notable Friday TV:
The Dangerous Book for Boys (streaming on Amazon Prime): A kid’s imagination is a wondrous thing—and much the best part of this sweetly sentimental six-part family series from co-creators Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola, inspired by the best-selling guidebook. This Book is the legacy of a beloved inventor father to his three boys, but only the youngest, Wyatt (Gabriel Bateman), full embraces it, propelling him to modestly scaled flights of fancy where he reconnects with his late dad (Chris Diamantopoulos) for gentle life lessons. Diamantopoulos doubles as the dad’s cheerfully ne’er-do-well brother in the sitcom sections of the show, which play like a tepid Malcolm in the Middle that could use a bit more wacky danger. Luckily, Erinn Hayes (who’s survived Kevin Can Wait nicely) is on hand, offering emotional balance as the boys’s stressed mom, and Swoosie Kurtz steals her scenes, providing comic balance as the hippy-dippy granny.
A Series of Unfortunate Events (streaming on Netflix): Danger laced with outlandishly Gothic grotesquery is the selling point of this over-the-top fractured fairy tale, based on the Lemony Snicket novels. In the second season, those adorable orphans—Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes) and Sunny (Presley Smith)—once again are trying to escape the evil clutches of Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris in a variety of ridiculous disguises) while Patrick Warburton mournfully narrates their misadventures. New cast members this season include Nathan Fillion, Tony Hale, Roger Bart, Allison Williams, Sara Rue and David Alan Grier.
Dynasty (8/7c, The CW): The great disrupter has arrived to shake up the world of the Carringtons: Alexis, now played by prime-time soap diva Nicollette Sheridan (Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives). Will she have the sort of impact Joan Collins made on the original series? Doubtful, but there’s plenty of conflict as Alexis makes a claim on Grandpa’s will, and naturally, Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) tries to undercut her. Even more predictably, Cristal (Nathalie Kelley) sees her as a threat to her already rocky marriage to Blake (Grant Show).
Strike Back (10/9c, Cinemax): Good news for loyal fans: Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) and Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) are back—not rejoining Section 20, mind you. The former Strike Back stars are now private mercenaries, and they find themselves on familiar ground as they’re caught in the crossfire of a shootout between sharp-shooter Grace Novin (Alin Sumarwata) and a group of assassins. They’ll also be around for next week’s season finale. (The show was just renewed for a sixth season.)
Inside Friday TV: All 12 seasons of the Steven Bochco police-drama classic NYPD Blue are available for streaming on Hulu. Dennis Franz’s searing performance as the self-destructive Sipowicz is one for the ages. Among his memorable partners: David Caruso, Jimmy Smits, Ricky Schroder and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. … The Showtime documentary New Wave: Dare to Be Different (8/7c) shines a light on radio: the cutting-edge suburban Long Island station WLIR 92.7, which bucked trends and defied the FCC in the 1980s by programming New Wave and punk pioneers, helping popularize music by the likes of The Clash, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Talking Heads and U2. … Alex O’Loughlin directs this week’s episode of CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 (9/8c), in which the ex-wife of the man who shot Danny comes to the island to reveal how Danno saved her life. Jimmy Buffett, who recently opened the Broadway musical Escape to Margaritaville, returns as Frank Bama.
Conversation18 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
C
New episodes of "Agents of Shield" on ABC and "Blue Bloods" on CBS for me tonight. The El Rey channel is airing "Big Trouble in Little China" which is always a hoot to watch at 9pm. And STARZ Encore is airing my favorite ST:TNG movie, "First Contact," tonight at 9:57pm.
1
-
G
Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for me also. Did you read Agent Coulson and possibly other S.H.I.E.L.D characters will be starring in the new Captain Marvel?!. I'm excited for that! But of course I rather a season 6, even if shortened.
Once Upon a Time also for me tonight.
Yes , I loved Big Trouble in Little China back in the 80's! I also enjoyed Tango and Cash, Escape From NY and Escape From LA all staring Kurt R!
Add the comedy Overboard also. Hard to believe he used to be known as a Disney kid actor back in the days.
-
G
I first saw him as Dexter Riley in The Strongest Man in the World when it aired on "The Wonderful World of Disney" on NBC (opposite "60 Minutes") in the late '70s...
-
G
I think he also played a child actor in an even older Disney or family movie. Some child actors fall of the face of the earth, he must be very grateful for his successful long career.
-
G
I know he kicked Elvis Presley (way before he portrayed him in a TV movie a couple of years after his death) when he was a kid on It Happened at the World's Fair though I've yet to watch that...
-
-
R
Any "Barry" thoughts?
I quit watching SNL years ago (when it ceased being funny)...but when I'd run across Bill Hader (while channel surfing)...his attempts at humor always seemed (to me) to be somewhat "obvious"...
Thus...I was QUITE surprised when I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the first episode...
It was humorous (but NOT in the ha-ha way) while also being dramatic (although far-fetched)...and that final scene with the mobsters in the car...WOW!!!
-
R
Any "Siren" thoughts?
FOR ME...It was not NEARLY as interesting/intriguing as the previews (here and on TV) implied...
But...will leave it as a Season Pass on my DVR...will see if it ends up in my "4 and Gone" category...
-
C
Didn't watch it.
1
-
-
G
"Saturday Night Live" is a rerun (as it was last week), so nothing this weekend. Just as well as it's the Easter holiday...
-
R
CBS for me tonight, and also on Sunday. Saturday I'll probably watch The Zoo. (TWO new episodes, I believe.)
-
C
The 8:00 episode of The Zoo is just one of last season's episodes with added factoids popping up on the screen. Sometimes, they are interesting tidbits, but they frequently go by so quickly that I can't read them.
-
R
Ah, I see. Well not only does the network list it as a 'new' episode, but I haven't seen it before, so it'll be "new" to me. 😀 I had company over last weekend, and they were fascinated by the show last Saturday, so maybe they'll become two new viewers going forward.
-
C
Then, there'll be 4 of us watching it! LOL
-
R
Another show that ANimal Planet used to air which I wish they'd bring back is K-9 Cops. I love watching the police K-9s in action.
-
C
I don't.
-
R
When I Search Verizon for "The Zoo"...I find 1 series from the Dublin Zoo...and 1 series from the Bronx Zoo...
Which one are yinz (Pittsburghese) talking about???
-
R
LOL on "yinz." 😀
The one about the Bronx Zoo.
1
-
-
C
MacGyver is finally back! That, MasterChef Jr., and Graham Norton are about all I have on my schedule for tonight.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services