It may seem that every original series Netflix presents turns to gold — “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black” and even “Derek” all got their share of Grammy nominations Thursday, placing the streaming outlet shoulder to shoulder with broadcast networks and premium cable channels even as such shows put Netflix as something cooler than both.
Less heralded, though, are things like “Hemlock Grove” (Netflix, streaming), whose 10 episode second season drops today. The 13 episode first season of the gothic werewolf saga set in the abandoned factory towns of Pennsylvania and based on Brian McGreevy’s novel, didn’t quite stand solidly in its cloven hooves in its first season, its frights seeming lost among buzzier, bloodier offerings on AMC, MTV and the CW.
The new season is said to depart from the novel a bit to concentrate on characters, with amplified gore and effects, one of Emmy nomination it did receive. (The other was for theme music). Famke Janssen continues her leading role as Olivia Godfrey.
Also new on today Netflix is a documentary about starting a insurrectionist baseball team outside of the MLB system in Portland, Ore., “The Battered Bastards of Baseball” (Netflix, streaming).
A New Zealand series makes its U.S. debut with “The Almighty Johnsons” (Syfy, 10 p.m.), about brothers who’ve been given the power of legendary Norse gods and the lead character is named Axl.
Find out what your kids have been singing since last year as “Frozen” (Starz, 8 p.m.), with its Oscar-winning song “Let It Go,” finally makes its premium cable debut.
A new standup special comes from “Kurt Metzger: White Precious” (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.).
Hard to figure who’s the worse madman on “Crossbones” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Jason Box, Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Reihan Salam, Ros Suskind and Sandra Tsing Loh are guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
This sounds like eight hours of work: a double play of “Titanic” (Oxygen, 6 and 10 p.m.).
The Friday night spotlight on the 100th anniversary of World War I continues on Turner Classic Movies with “Paths of Glory” (8 p.m.), “All Quiet on the Western Front” (9:45 p.m.), “The Big Parade” (12:15 a.m.) and two from G.W. Pabst, “Westfront 1918” (3 a.m.) and “Kameradschaft” (4:45 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Atlanta at Cubs (MLB, 4 p.m.) and St. Louis at Milwaukee (MLB, 8 p.m.).
Stage seven of the Tour deFrance (NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.) runs from Epernay to Nancy, France.
In Canadian football, it’s Ottawa at Edmonton (ESPNews, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Michael Douglas, Marcus Samuelsson. The View: Poppy Montgomery, Gilbert Gottfried. The Talk: Joan Rivers, Famke Janssen, Brian Malarkey. Ellen DeGeneres: Diane Keaton, Taylor Kitsch, Jason Mraz (rerun). Wendy Williams: Segun Oduolowu, Jenny Hutt.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Falcone, Hurray for the Riff Raff (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Liv Schreiber, Rob Reiner, Gabriel Iglesias. Jimmy Kimmel: Melissa McCartny, Marc Maron, Royksopp & Robyn (rerun). Seth Meyers: Al Roker, Jenny Slate, Paul Haggis (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Morgan Freeman, Adam Ray (rerun). Carson Daly: Nick Frost, Lucius, White Sea (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Rick Savage and Joe Elliott. Arsenio Hall: Jerry Springer, Tyler the Creator, Quincy Jones & Blush (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Eric Bana, Moshe Kasher, Heather McDonald, Julian McCullough (rerun).