Ahoy! San Francisco Opera’s production of “Moby-Dick” makes its TV premiere on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
The new opera from Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer based on Herman Melville’s classic was staged last year at the War Memorial Opera House with Jay Hunter Morris as Captain Ahab and a cast that included Stephen Costello, Jonathan Lemalu, Morgan Smith and Talise Trevigne, are conducted by Patrick Summers.
A “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.) about why people love vampires seems coordinated to bolster viewers for the bland new “Dracula” (NBC, 10 p.m.). In between, “Grimm” (NBC, 9 p.m.) doesn’t make that great of a zombie.
Matthew Broderick hosts a month-long Friday night showcase of screwball comedies on Turner Classic Movies, starting with “It Happened One Night” (8 p.m.), “His Girl Friday” (10 p.m.), “Libeled Lady” (11:45 p.m.), “Nothing Sacred” (1:30 a.m.), “The Mad Miss Manton” (3 a.m.) and “The Bride Came C.O.D.” (4:30 a.m.).
Why does “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) continue to book Ann Coulter? The corrosive blonde is on the bill of guests that otherwise includes Rob Reiner, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rob Lowe.
A welcome addition to the Friday talk shows is Paul F. Tomkins hosted “No, You Shut Up!” (Fusion, 9:30 p.m.), in which not only people just debate topics, but so do puppets, pets and inanimate objects. Now if we can only find that channel.
A fifth season starts for “The Dead Files” (Travel, 10 p.m.), which unlike the new “Time of Death” (Showtime, 9 p.m., see above) is just about ghosts and stuff.
“MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.) presents part one of its finale. The task for the remaining little chefs: chicken.
Designers on “Styled to Rock” (Bravo, 8 p.m.) are assigned to make futuristic garb for Kylie Minogue.
The ups and downs of Will Ferrell’s career are reflected in the double feature “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (TBS, 8 p.m.) and “Land of the Lost” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
It’s a night of Jay-Z with highlights of his “Made in America” (Showtime 2, 8 p.m.) followed by his concert film “Fade to Black” (Showtime 2, 9:35 p.m.).
There’s a Tim Robbins double feature of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (ABC Family, 6 p.m.) and his “Alice in Wonderland” (ABC Family, 8:30 p.m.), which bears little resemblance to the new “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.”
It may be a day late for “Hocus Pocus” (Lifetime, 8 and 10 p.m.) but it’s way, way too early for “A Boyfriend for Christmas” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) and “Meet the Santas” (Hallmark, 10 p.m.).
NBA action includes Heats at Nets (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Spurs at Lakers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Washington at Philadelphia (NHL Network, 7 p.m.).
There’s one college football game: Southern California at Oregon State (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Michael Douglas, Abigail Breslin. The View: Olivia Newton-John, Lynda Carter, Diana Adams & Leon Feingold, Dr. Drew Pinsky. The Talk: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, Cirque du Soleil, Mary Steenburgen. Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Garner. Wendy Williams: Iyanla Vanzant.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Morgan Freeman, Brian Regan. Jay Leno: Melissa McCarthy, Andy Cohen, Empire of the Sun. Jimmy Kimmel: Cast of “Modern Family,” Korn (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Harrison Ford, Padma Lakshmi, the Pack A.D. (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Geoffrey Rush, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Carson Daly: Tomahawk, the Pack A.D. (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka. Arsenio Hall: Simon Cowell, Paulina Rubio, Regina King, Tracee, Bernhoft. Chelsea Handler: Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Wild, Sarah Colonna, Ian Karmel (rerun).