The simple story of a 10 year girl who wants to win a prize in order to buy a bike is more complicated when she’s in Saudi Arabia and the contest is in reciting the Quaran. Riding bikes is frowned upon for Saudi women but the indomitable spirit in “Wadjda” (Starz, 10 p.m.) it represents freedom and the chance to excel on wheels.
The film by Haifaa al-Mansour stars Waad Mohammed and presents a humane picture at a time of unsettled times. It makes its cable debut in Arabic with English subtitles.
Let’s hear it for the Nebraska outsider artist from outside Stapleton who spent his life creating elaborate “healing machines” in his barns that were widely unknown until long after he died. The life and work of the eccentric recluse are examined in the documentary “Emery Blagdon and His Healing Machine” (PBS, 10:30 p.m., check local listings).
Here’s what Friday needed: More wedding reality shows. The latest, “Bride by Design” (TLC, 10 p.m.) concentrates on the work of custom wedding dress designer Heidi Elnora whose scheme to get women into their own designs is called Build-A-Bride. (The main drawback may be that in the end, they may look too much like bears). It joins the usual suspects such as “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta” (TLC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.).
Now that the World Cup is over we can concentrate on the more important summer sports, such as the World Series of Beach Volleyball (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.), which moves to broadcast coverage this weekend.
A death in a feted community is investigated on “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Jordin Sparks and Common stop by on “Fashion Police” (E! 9 p.m.).
When a (fake) waiter won’t serve a homeless person, bystanders decide “What Would You Do?” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Nenna plans to escape on “Crossbones” (NBC, 10 p.m.) because wouldn’t you?
Kathryn Hahn plays a Los Angeles housewife looking for love or excitement in Jill Soloway’s “Afternoon Delight” (Starz, 9 p.m.), a 2013 comedy with Josh Radnor and Jane Lynch.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Hogan Gidley, Richard D. Wolff Amy Goodman and Matt Kibbe are guests on “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
A two story model is getting a little fancy on “Treehouse Masters” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
The month-long Friday night survey of films on Turner Movie Classics about World War I on the occasion of its 100th anniversary comes to an end with “Random Harvest” (8 p.m.), “Waterloo Bridge” (10:15 p.m.), “Oh! What a Lovely War” (12:15 a.m.), “Mata Hari” (2:45 a.m.) and “After Tonight” (4:30 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kelsey Grammer, Kesha, Anita Lo. The View: Kristin Chenoweth, cast of “Virgin Territory,” James Monroe Iglehart. The Talk: John Stamos, Mike Vogel. Ellen DeGeneres: Zac Efron, Fitz and the Tantrums (rerun). Wendy Williams: Chloe Melas, Tinashe (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Douglas, Paul Morrissey, Kiesza (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jon Hamm, Brit Marling, Martha Stewart. Jimmy Kimmel: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper , Classixx (rerun). Seth Meyers: Taye Diggs, Andy Serkis, Neon Trees (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Bradley Cooper, Lisa Joyce. Carson Daly: Marc Maron, Kaiser Chiefs, Chuck E. Weiss (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dr. Stanley B. Prusiner, Terry Crews. Arsenio Hall: Kid Cudi, Jason Brown, Erik Griffin, Ralphie May, Tiffany Haddish (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Cameron Diaz, Mary McCormack, Brad Wollack, Whitney Cummings (rerun).