Saturday isn’t the only night for premium movie premieres. Showtime has lately been dropping them on Fridays as well. That’s the case with tonight’s “Lee Daniels’ the Butler” (Showtime, 9 p.m.), the esteemed movie from last summer that tracks a White House employee through several administrations and a whole lot of 20th century American history.
Forest Whitaker leads a cast that includes Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Terrence Howard, Vanessa Redgrave and Clarence Williams III. It’s the presidential portrayals that are interesting, with Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Live Schreiber as LBJ, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman (and Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan).
On the second episode of the Australian import “The Almighty Johnsons” (Syfy, 10 p.m.), Axl must reunite with the Goddess Frigg or his whole family will die.
“Fashion Police” (E!, 9 p.m.) looks back to 2000 with guests Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth.
Guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) include Nate Silver, Jamie Weinstein, former REp. Jane Harman, George Takei and The Rev. William J. Barber II, head of the North Carolina NAACP chapter.
Lowe tries to kidnap Blackbeard on “Crossbones” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
If you missed this week’s emotional finale of “24: Live Another Day” (Fox, 9 p.m.), it, uh, lives another day, in rerun.
Plenty of grim news to parse in “Washington Week with Gwen Ifill” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) and “Charlie Rose: The Week” (PBS, 8:30 p.m., check local listings).
“The Pool Master” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) plans cement ponds in Oklahoma and California.
The Space Acorn of Kecksburg, Penn., once part of a 1960s UFO hoax, is explored on “Monumental Mysteries” (Travel, 9 p.m.).
The death of a farmer is investigated on “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Eric goes surf casting on “No Limits” (Animal Planet, 8:30 p.m.).
Riley gets Maya and Farkle to teach her how to flirt on a new “Girl Meets World” (Disney, 8:30 p.m.)
Pete visits Japan on a new “Treehouse Masters International” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
The creator of the new CBS drama “Stalker” Thursday called “Sleepless in Seattle” (ABC Family, 8:30 p.m.) the most stalkery movie ever.
With no more original arts programming to present, here’s a repeat of “Ellen DeGeneres: The Mark Twain Prize” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), honoring the woman whose daytime hiatus continues until September — maybe the longest of any talk show.
Tanisha goes to the emergency room on a new “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” (We TV, 9 p.m.).
“Ultimate Factories” (CNBC, 9 p.m.) stops at the Heinekin’s main brewery before the “Brew Dogs” (CNBC, 10 p.m.), on loan from the Esquire network, looks at smaller craft breweries in Vegas.
Calvacade of Matthew McConaughey: He’s in both “Failure to Launch” (Oxygen, 8 p.m.) and “Dazed and Confused” (VH1, 8:30 p.m.)
You can catch Lizzie Caplan on both her current “Masters of Sex” (Showtime, 8 p.m.; Showtime 2, 10 p.m.) and on the earlier comedy “Party Down” (Esquire Network, 8 and 8:30 p.m.). That network rounds out the night with replays of “Parks and Recreation” (Esquire, 9 p.m.).
The month-long Friday night salute to the 100th anniversary of World War I continues on Turner Classic Movies, with “Lawrence of Arabia” (8 p.m.), “Gallipoli” (midnight), “Grand Illusion” (2 a.m.) and “King & Country” (4 a.m.).
Baseball is finally back, with Dodgers at St. Louis (MLB, 8:15 p.m.) among the games.
The British Open (ESPN, ) begins second round action in Merseyside, England.
The Tour de France (NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.) reaches stage 13, from Saint-Etienne to Chamrousse.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kurt Russell, Stephen Moyer, Alton Brown. The View: Carrie Ann Inaba. The Talk: Julie Bowen, Janet Montgomery, Justin Klosky, Marie Osmond. Ellen DeGeneres: Mila Kunis, Keith Urban (rerun). Wendy Williams: Chaka Khan, Lil Jon.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Melissa McCarthy, Tim Duncan, Rachelle Lefevre, Phish (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Dan Aykroyd, Chaz Ebert, Nick Thune. Jimmy Kimmel: Gary Oldman, Nathan Fielder, Bleachers (rerun). Seth Meyers: Andy Cohen, the Kratt Brothers, Jeff Koons (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Aisha Tyler. Carson Daly: Lennon Parham, Jessica St. Clair, Washed Out, Semi Precious Weapons (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Demian Bichir, Jonathan Butler. Arsenio Hall: Aaron Eckhart, Gabourey Sidibe, Leland Melvin, Biz Markie (rerun).