Cop’s son may confess on ‘Friday Night’
Tonight’s must-see
“Friday Night Lights,” 9 p.m., NBC. Slowly and subtly, Jesse Plemmons has built one of TV’s best characters. It all looks terribly natural; Plemmons comes from small-town Texas and easily fits the setting. Still, he’s had years of method-acting training to make it all seem effortless.
Plemmons plays Landry, the cop’s son, the quarterback’s friend who admired Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) from afar. In protecting her from an attacker, he accidentally killed him – then foolishly followed her idea of ditching the body.
Now the body and more evidence have been found, and he must tell his father. Meanwhile, Riggins has been tossed off the team and struggles to get back.
And yes, it’s a “green week” episode. The coach’s wife tries to stir local eco-interest.
Tonight’s must-see II
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939), 8 p.m., TBS and TNT.
One of the all-time great movies returns. It offers music, whimsy and visual flair. Gather the family.
Other choices include
“Deal or No Deal,” 8:30 p.m., NBC. Nonfictional shows have an easier time working in a “green week” theme. Tonight, Howie Mandel and the models ride in on bicycles. They’re wearing dresses made from recycled parachutes; he isn’t. Also, Kermit the Frog visits.
“Men in Trees,” 8 p.m., ABC. TV is usually at its best with wedding tales, so this is promising: It’s the first half of a two-week episode involving Annie and Patrick. They’re well-meaning, if naive and overwhelmed. Tonight, her mother (Annie Potts) arrives.
“Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m., CBS. A man on a missing-person case claims to be a medium. Melinda has doubts and does her own investigating.
“Orangutan Island,” 8:30 p.m., Animal Planet. This show settles into the “Meerkat Manor” slot. If you missed last week’s opener, it reruns at 8.
“Women’s Murder Club,” 9 p.m., ABC. While working on the case of a slain expectant father, Lindsay and Jill re-evaluate their own lives.
“Man vs. Wild” season-opener, 9 p.m., and “Bear’s Mission Everest,” 10 p.m., Discovery Channel. Bear Grylls again gets dumped into torturous locations; this time, launching a two-parter, it’s the Sahara Desert. Then comes a special, as he tries to fly over Mount Everest in a gas-powered glider.
“Numb3rs,” 10 p.m., CBS. When a man dies during a virtual-reality game, officials need the gaming skills that Amita (Navi Rawat) had previously hidden. That puts her in danger.