For two weeks, CBS' Friday shows took a basketball break. They were missed ... especially because this is the only network with three hours of full-budget Friday series.
That starts with "Race," which is currently pitting Internet and social-network stars. Just ousted were Erin White Robinson and Joslyn Davis, who do celebrity news; previously dumped were a funny stewardess and her daughter, plus one duo that gives beauty tips and another that juggles and does parkour. Seven remain; tonight, for the first time, "Amazing Race" reaches Armenia.
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE II: "Grimm," 9 p.m., NBC.
Sure, TV is obsessed with youth and beauty. Still, it pauses here to point out that obsession in others.
Someone seems to be stealing youth from some people and selling it to others. But who's doing it ... and what happens to the people who are stolen from? It's a fairly good episode that also includes some pivotal moments for Renard, the police captain who may run for mayor.
TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: "Dead 7," 8-10 p.m., Syfy; "Banshee," 10 p.m., Cinemax.
It's an action night on cable – with the second show being much more serious. That's "Banshee," well-crafted and fierce; as it opens its season, the sheriff returns to town and faces a serial killer.
And "Dead 7"? That's your standard zombie boy-band western. The villain is Apocalypta (Debra Wilson); chasing him, of course, are gunmen played by guys from singing groups: Nick Carter wrote and produced; he's also one of the gunmen, alongside Howie Dorough (his Back Street Boys colleague), Joey Fatone of 'N Sync, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and more.
Other choices include:
"ET." (1982), 7 p.m., Showtime. Steven Spielberg's film – a wonderful classic for any age – leads a strong movie night. Other premium channels have action hits from 2015 -- "Insurgent" at 7:55 p.m. on HBO, "Ant-Man" at 9 on Starz. And basic cable? "Moulin Rouge" (2001) -- so-so music, but gorgeous videos from director Baz Luhrmann – is 7 p.m. on Freeform; "Bridesmaids" (2011) is 8 on Oxyten.
"Sleepy Hollow," 8 p.m., Fox.There's only one day left to stop The Hidden One from becoming all-powerful. Abbie and Ichabod try a step that's both desperate and dangerous.
"Last Man Standing," 8 p.m., ABC. In a rerun, Mike (Tim Allen) is convinced Kyle is getting ready to propose to his daughter Mandy.
"Dr. Ken," 8:31 p.m., ABC. This rerun finds staffers straining to avoid working on a Saturday.
"Jazz," 9 and 10 p.m., PBS (check local listings). Here are the first two hours of Ken Burns' brilliant, 10-hour documentary series from 2001.
"Hawaii Five-0," 9 p.m., CBS. When a body is found in the water off Oahu, the probe leads to much more – a slave-trade operation based on a fishing boat. Also, there's a new twist in chases: Danny comandeers a bus to go after the guy who stole his car.
"Blue Bloods," 10 p.m., CBS. Nick (Michael Nouri) was the last person Frank (Tom Selleck) arrested as a police detective. Now Nick is out of prison, rehabilitated ... but linked to a murder.