It’s never bad to have a new documentary series bent on presenting undercovered hotspots of the world.
The new “Vice” (HBO, 11 p.m.) grows out of the hip-hop magazine of the same name, and carries the same degree of cool as its tatooed, laid back correspondents wend their way down treacherous roads to shine a light on some sobering areas.
It’s reminiscent of Current TV’s old “Vanguard” series, while keeping its stories succinct enough to feature two a week. In tonight’s premiere, that includes the political violence in gun-crazy Philippines and the Taliban’s recruitment of children to become suicide bombers in Afghanistan.
It’s produced in part by the star of “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.), whose shows precedes it. His guests tonight include Sebastian Junger, Zack Kopplin, Abby Huntsman, Stephen Moore and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
On “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (NBC, 10 p.m.), Williams has a rock story — a very old one — as he digs up the old story of rock ‘n’ roll parody and fraud, the Masked Marauder, supposedly a supergroup of John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, from a fake album review by Greil Marcus, who went on to record a fake album to sell after there proved to be some demand. (Of course Lennon and McCartney would go on to jam with Jagger, and Dylan would record with another Beatle, George Harrison, in a more unlikely group, the Traveling Wilburys, with Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne).
Another two episodes of “Happy Endings” (ABC, 8 and 8 :30 p.m.) get burned off, even as the network tries to start a fake movement to save the show. Guest stars include Ru Paul and Andy Richter.
The next two chapters of “Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook” (PBS, 9 and 10 p.m., check local listings) features the expertise of Angela Lansbury and Liza Minnelli.
The CEO of Fatburger sneaks into a retail outlet on “Undercover Boss” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Peacock and “Star Wars” themed weddings take up “Say Yes to the Dress” (TLC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.).
“Touch” (Fox, 9 p.m.) has become one of the lowest rated shows on the network yet. But it has to be killing “Cult” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Friday’s the new home for “Vegas” (CBS, 9 p.m.), not a good sign for the freshman series.
Light up watercoolers are among the ideas pitched on “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Baseball today includes Yankees at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.), St. Louis at San Francisco (MLB, 4:30 p.m.) and Cubs at Atlanta (MLB, 7:30 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Rangers at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.) and Calgary at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
NBA action includes Miami at Charlotte (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Portland (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
The 17-film Friday night focus “A Woman’s World; THe Defining Era of Women in Film,” co hosted by Robert Osborne and Cher, begins with films about motherhood: “Mildred Pierce” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Stella Dallas” (TCM, 10 p.m.), “Penny Serenade” (midnight), “Bachelor Mother” (TCM, 2:15 a.m.) and “Made for Each Other” (TRM, 4 a.m.). Turner Classic Movies’ usual Friday night Underground series has moved to late nights on Saturday.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Chelsea Handler, Jane Levy. The View: Bridget Moynihan, Brian Banks, Justin Brooks, Lori Klein, Bobby Flay. The Talk: Michael Chiklis, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Kellie Pickler, Giuliana & Bill Rancic.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Chelsea Handler, Ross Bennett, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Jay Leno: Julie Scardina, Demetri Martin, Gin Wigmore. Jimmy Kimmel: Bruce Willis, Zendaya, Divine Fits (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Anderson Cooper, Teran Killam, Stuart Edge, Cat Power. Craig Ferguson: Trace Adkins, Naya Rivera (rerun). Carson Daly: Mark Webber, White Arrows (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Stephen Stills. Chelsea Handler: Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts (rerun).