Premier American novelist Philip Roth, who turned 80 last week, is profiled on a new “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m.), where the famously reclusive writer is genial and generally welcoming to the cameras and limited self-examination.
He gets to recount his process and access his work from the perch of his Manhattan apartment and in the seclusion of his Connecticut farmhouse. But there are a number of things that aren’t covered, including his own personal life that was sometimes reflected in his pages and his decision to retire announced late last year.
Still, good to see him in the spotlight. (Here’s a story I wrote about it that ran in my old paper The Hartford Courant).
The comedy “Happy Endings” (ABC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) returns in an awkward new time slot, early on a night of light viewership, where shows generally go to die. And playing two episodes at a time makes it seem like they’re just trying to burn off the rest of the season. Still, the network is promoting its own save this show campaign, oddly.
Other shows that have been sent to Friday nights to die? Well “Cult” (The CW, 9 p.m.) and “Touch” (Fox, 9 p.m.) to name just a couple.
“Grimm” (NBC, 9 p.m.) on the other hand revels in its slot. It’s been the highest rated scripted show on NBC until “Revolution” returned this week.
“Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.) swims to a time slot one hour later.
“You Live in What?” (HGTV, 8 p.m.) appears to be a housing series for the hard of hearing. It’s a question just less urgant than “Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?” (Investigation Discovery, 10 and 10:30 p.m.).
The famously anti-religious Bill Maher still takes Good Friday off and shows a rerun of “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.). But most late night fare tonight are repeats except for Tavis Smiley. Good chance to catch that Prince performance on “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel” (NBC, 12:35 a.m.) rerun from earlier this month.
Get what they call the Full Tarantino when “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” (Encore, 8 p.m.) is immediately followed by “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” (Encore, 9:55 p.m.). These films are now about a decade old.
Then again there is also “Bad Boys” (Bravo, 7 p.m.) followed by “Bad Boys II” (Bravo, 9 p.m.). And while the first came out closer to 18 years ago, the sequel came out 10 years ago.
Nothing tonight that can be remotely connected to the Easter holiday. Unless you count “House Bunny” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.). And we don’t.
The month-long 14 film Friday night salute to director Roberto Rossellini on Turner Classic Movies winds up with “Socrates” (8 p.m.) and “Blaise Pascal” (10:15 p.m.).
And after a showing of Jean-Luc Godard’s “The Carabineers” (TCM, 12:30 a.m.) comes the 1987 “Border Radio” (TCM, 2 a.m.) with John Doe and the Monkees weird experimental film “Head” (TCM, 3:30 a.m.) which also features Frank Zappa, Sonny Liston, Annette Funicello and Carol Doda from a script credited to Jack Nicholson.
NCAA action includes Oregon vs. Louisville (CBS, 7:15 p.m.), Michigan vs. Kansas (TBS, 7;37 p.m.), Michigan State vs. Duke (CBS, 9:45 p.m.) and Florida Gulf Coast vs. Florida (TBS, 10:07 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tyler Perry, Ed Sheeran, Erin Andrews. The View: Earthquake, Kathleen Madigan, Retha Jones, Leroya Sanford, Bone Hampton. The Talk: Kristin Chenoweth, Lidia Bastianich, Donny Osmond. Ellen DeGeneres: Jimmy Kimmel, Nicole Kidman (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Joan RIvers, Jimmie Johnson, Kendrick Lamar (rerun). Jay Leno: Chelsea Handler, Sky Blu (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Halle Berry, Elle Fanning, Elle Fanning, RDGLDGRN (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Mariah Carey, Billy Eichner, Prince (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Kristen Stewart, Sloane Crosley (rerun). Carson Daly: Joel McHale, Eddie Huang, ZZ Ward (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Robert Egger. Chelsea Handler: Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Bobby lee, Morgan Murphy, Kurt Braunohler (rerun).