jimi-hendrix-1970The biggest audience Jimi Hendrix ever played was at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival, before 500,000 in one of the last big rock festivals of the era. In a trio that included Billy Cox on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, they tore through early hits, burned through “All Along the Watchtower” and played the Star Spangled Banner — it was July 4 after all — with fireworks behind him.

The show was filmed but never shown until it was put together as “Jimi Hendrix Electric Church” (Showtime, 9 p.m.), with the performance bookended by interviews with promoters and stars from Derek Trucks to Paul McCartney. It takes a while before the concert starts, but when it does, the clunky film style and direction reveal a kind of charm that the quick-cutting dazzle dazzle of modern concert shooting rarely has. Plus, all the fire was in Hendrix’ performance.

Way before Serena Williams or even Arthur Ashe, the first African-American to win Wimbledon was Althea Gibson, a lanky star in the 50s who still had to fight discrimination off the court. Because there was no money in being a tennis star, either, she became a singer before she went broke altogether. To see her life story now, on “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), especially during The U.S. Open (ESPN, 1 p.m., ESPN2, 6 p.m.) is especially timely.

She’s got a weapon, and now she has an Investigation Discovery show: “Death by Gossip with Wendy Williams” (ID, 9 p.m.).

Going to a plastic surgeon to be a Michael Jackson impersonator seems cheating on “Atlanta Plastic” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).

On “20/20” (ABC, 10 p.m.), David Muir moderates a conversation Pope Francis has via satellite from the Vatican with Chicago high school students, residents in an L.A. homeless shelter and immigrants at a church near the Mexican border in Texas.

It could be the name of another Friday night show of political spin, but “Masters of Illusion” (The CW, 8 p.m.) is really about magicians. It’s also about the only other non-rerun on tonight.

A team of female divers bring a new flavor to the fourth season of “Bering Sea Gold” (Discovery, 9 p.m.), starting tonight.

James Corden stops in at “The Soup” (E!, 10 p.m.).

“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) is a rerun from a week or so ago, with Marc Maron and Claire McCaskill.

Turner Classic Movies marks the 100th anniversary in film for the comic great W.C. Fields with a night of his films: “The Bank Dick” (8 p.m.), “It’s a Gift” (9:30 p.m.), “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man” (11 p.m.) and  “David Copperfield” (12:30 a.m.).

A problem for some: “You’ve Got Mail” (TV Land, 8 p.m.) plays opposite “Sleepless in Seattle” (POP, 9 p.m.). More Tom Hanks? Try “Apollo 13” (Sundance, 8 p.m.).

Friday night College football begins with Charlotte at Georgia State (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.), Baylor at SMU (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Michigan State at Western Michigan (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Fordham at Army (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Kent State at Illinois (Big Ten Network, 9 p.m.) and Washington at Boise State (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.).

Baseball includes Arizona at Cubs (MLB, 2 p.m.) and Pittsburgh at St. Louis (MLB, 8 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly & Michael: Adam Sandler, Kit Harington, Science Bob Pflugfelder. The View: Kelly Rutherford, Dan Abrams, Misty Copeland, Charlie Wilson (rerun). The Talk: Ed Helms, Peri Gilpin, David LeFevre, Carnie WIlson (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Kanye West, Sam Smith (rerun). Wendy Williams: Brandy Norwood (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Garcelle Beauvais, Nigel Lythgoe, Darius Rucker (rerun). Queen Latifah: Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes (rerun).

Late Talk

Jimmy Fallon: Steve Harvey, Alison Brie, Florida Georgia Line. Jimmy Kimmel: Miley Cyrus, Ali Wentworth, Andy Grammer (rerun). Seth Meyers: Keegan-Michael Key, Tony Hale, MS MR, Jimmy Chamberlin (rerun). James Corden: Christina Applegate, Christian Slater, Elle King (rerun). Carson Daly: Pete Holmes, Rob Bell, Tennis (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Peter Bogdanovich.