One of the high points of the Republican National Convention all week was the exuberant skewering of it each night on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (11 p.m.).
“RNC 2012: The Road to Jeb Bush 2016,” as they’ve been calling it, has been originating from Tampa, where correspondents have lacerated the city, let the delegates hang themselves with their own statements and individually turned the GOP themes each night on themselves: “We Built It” means their party built the deficit; the mistruths stated are things they constructed as well. That was also used on the second night’s theme, “We Can Change It,” which was used to show how facts are changed to suit candidates.
“The Daily Show” has always been sharp when treating how the rest of the media handles a story, and they’ve been strong all week with guests as well, and have not been condescending to them.
Because they cover everything a day late, Mitt Romney’s speech and whatever Clint Eastwood did will likely be covered on tonight’s rare Friday night edition. They’ll go off to Charlotte to target the Democrats next week.
Meanwhile, the other Friday night topical talk shows will continue their discussions, with Sinesh D’Souza, Jason Alexander, Ron Christie, Soledad O’Brien and Walter Kim are on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) and a packed “Washington Week with Gwen Ifill” (PBS, 8 p.m.).
With the season making way for fall, Gustavo Dudamel conducts the fourth annual Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night concert tonigt on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) with works by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Dubussy and Strauss, among others.
The theme for the concert, performed outdoors in the gardens of Imperial Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, is “Dances & Waves” and was recorded at the beginning of the season, June 7.
Another odd theme for the photo shoot on “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 8 p.m.) – taxidermy!
Kane is mesmerized by his new aide Mona on “Boss” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
Al Queda is about to attack on a new episode of “Strike Back” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
No Labor Day weekend for the guys in Maine at “North Woods Law: On the Hunt” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.), or in Alaska, home of “Bering Sea Gold: Under the Sea” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) and “Yukon Men” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ month-long Summer Under the Stars ends with a dozen movies starring James Caan, which includes in prime time, “Roller Ball” (8 p.m.), “Hide in Plain Sight” (10:15 p.m.), “Thief” (midnight), “Countdown” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Rain People” (4 a.m.).
In Canadian football, it’s British Columbia at Montreal (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
It’s Boise State at Michigan State (ESPN, 8 p.m.) in college football. The floodgates open tomorrow.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Jeremy Renner, Zachary Gordon, Rachel Weisz, Chris Harrison (rerun). The View: Kyra Sedgwick, Mario Cantone (rerun). The Talk: Craig Ferguson, Perez Hilton, Eric Buterbaugh, Carnie Wilson (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Obama, Daniel Radcliffe, Sara Ferguson (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Team, Jennifer Garner, Rodriguez (rerun). Jay Leno: Lauren Graham, Dan Patrick, the Dunwells. Jimmy Kimmel: Tom Arnold, Ashley Greene, the Wood Brothers (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Nancy Pelosi, Joe Jonas, 2 Chainz (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Seth Green, Sutton Foster. Tavis Smiley: Kyra Sedgwick. Carson Daly: Artie Lange, Chely Wright, We Are Augustines (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Kristen Bell, Michael Yo, Heather McDonald, T.J. Miller (rerun).