U.S. Men in U.S. Open Semifinal, TCM Gets Political, NFL in Brazil, Netflix’s ‘Rebel Ridge’

Following several shocking upsets, history will be made at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, when for the first time since 2005 (Andre Agassi defeating Robby Ginepri), two U.S. men advance to the semifinals, with No. 12 ranked Taylor Fritz facing No. 20 Frances Tiafoe in a highly anticipated, high-stakes match. Whoever wins advances to Sunday’s finals, the first U.S. male player to do so since Andy Roddick (the last U.S. male Grand Slam winner in 2003) fell to Roger Federer in 2009. Winning the final match won’t be easy, especially if No. 1 seed from Italy, Jannik Sinner, wins his match (3 pm/ET) against surging No. 25 player Jack Draper from the U.K.

Special

Borrowing from a list compiled by The New Republic, TCM devotes the next nine Friday nights to screening classic political films that still have relevance in today’s polarized climate, enhanced by discussions between host Ben Mankiewicz and guests from the worlds of politics, journalism and entertainment. Opening night, co-hosted by The New Republic editor Michael Tomasky, includes the 1966 docudrama The Battle of Algiers, followed by 1949’s Oscar-winning All the King’s Men (10:15/9:15c, featuring Steven Spielberg) and Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 satire The Great Dictator (12:15 am/11:15c, featuring John Turturro).

In a first, the NFL travels to Brazil for a match between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo. It’s also the first opening-weekend Friday game since 1970, and the third NFL game to be streamed exclusively on Peacock, though it will be broadcast on NBC stations in the competing teams’ home cities and will be available on mobile devices with NFL+. Noah Eagle does the play-by-play, with analyst Todd Blackledge and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung, with the pregame (7 pm/ET) led on site by Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl champ Rodney Harrison and co-host Jac Collinsworth.

Movie Premiere

The spirit of Reacher infuses this action thriller starring Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad) as ex-Marine Corps Martial Arts specialist Terry Richmond, whose civilian mission to post bail for his cousin in small-town Shelby Springs goes sideways when local cops seize his life savings. The officers, led by corrupt sheriff Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), have no idea who they’re messing with, as Terry (aided by court clerk AnnaSophia Robb) becomes a one-man army of retribution and justice.

INSIDE FRIDAY TV:

• Power Book II: Ghost (8/7c, Starz): The second half of the fourth and final season of the Power spinoff opens with Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) and Brayden (Gianni Paolo) trying to curry drug queenpin Noma’s (Caroline Chikezie) favor.
• Whose Line Is It Anyway (8/7c, The CW): The long-running improv comedy show, hosted by Archer’s Aisha Tyler, kicks off its 21st season with back-to-back episodes, featuring guests Jordin Sparks and Tiffany Haddish mixing it up with cast members Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady.
• 2024 Paralympics (9/8c, NBC): A two-hour highlights special spotlights recent action in the inspiring games from Paris.
• 20/20 (9/8c, ABC): National correspondent Matt Gutman interviews murder suspect Karen Read, facing a second trial charged with second-degree murder and motor vehicle manslaughter in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe.

ON THE STREAM:

• The Boy and the Heron (streaming on Max): Hayao Miyazaki’s mesmerizing Oscar-winning animated film makes its streaming debut.
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All-Stars (streaming on Paramount+): The top 10 international contestants become scream queens in a sort-of acting challenge, recreating campy moments in horror, sci-fi and action films. Carson Kressley joins the judging panel.
• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (streaming on Hulu): How did Bravo miss this one? A scandalous eight-part reality series goes inside a group of Mormon moms whose #MomTok TikTok videos explode virally, leading to dissent within the sisterhood when allegations of swinging sex antics go public.
• The Demon Disorder (streaming on Shudder and AMC+): John Noble (Fringe) appears in this Australian horror film as the demonic and deceased father of brothers showing signs of possession (or worse) by dad’s malign spirit.
• Selling Sunset (streaming on Netflix): The workplace reality series returns for an eighth season of back-stabbing office intrigue and listings most of us couldn’t dream of affording.