Best known as a FAST (Free, Ad-Supported Television) platform, the Roku Channel continues to offer and develop original programming.
Original is perhaps an overstatement for “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” The series of books about the Grace family, who move into a dilapidated mansion and discover a hitherto unseen world of fairies and other invisible creatures, was adapted for film in 2008.
While the film was set in England, here the Grace family hail from Brooklyn and have a period of adjustment when they move into the Spiderwick manse, located in Michigan.
Everything from the enchanted woodwork and hinges and musical score seem very familiar. It’s as if you’ve seen this all before, Hogwarts and all. And perhaps you have.
Look for Christian Slater, recently seen in FX’s “Fleishman is in Trouble.”
— Another tale of New Yorkers in search of a change of pace and scenery, the 2023 animated family comedy “Migration” streams on Peacock. The voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key and others animate a story of the Mallard family of ducks as they set off on a vacation flight to Jamaica, with decidedly mixed results. “Migration” also features the voice of Carol Kane (“Taxi,” “Annie Hall”), seen in the new Freevee comedy “Dinner With the Parents” that premiered just yesterday.
Written by Mike White (“The White Lotus,” “School of Rock”), “Migration” was a modest critical and box-office hit the world over. Many praised its visual effects, while some quibbled that it had little appeal for adults — as if a cartoon about ducks is aimed at that demographic.
— Apple TV+s six-part adaptation of James L. Swanson’s 2007 book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” concludes.
An admirable blend of true crime and history, “Manhunt” puts the focus on Secretary of War Edwin Stanton’s (Tobias Menzies) efforts to keep slain President Abraham Lincoln’s dreams of Reconstruction and reconciliation alive in the weeks after his 1865 assassination.
While much emphasis is placed on the book’s subtitle, the search for John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) and his fellow conspirators, “Manhunt” also trades in some notions that are as controversial today as they were in the 19th century.
Investigator Lafayette C. Baker, played by a hirsute Patton Oswalt, does not pull any punches when he speculates that the new racist president, Andrew Johnson (Glenn Morshower), could have been in on the plot, a vast conspiracy between Confederate hardliners and moneyed interests from Wall Street to Montreal.
— A blended family negotiates parenting in the reality TV spotlight on “The Barnes Bunch” (10 p.m., WE), featuring Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims.
In other reality fare, “The Never Ever Mets” (8 p.m., OWN) explores the ups and downs of online romance.
— Shudder, the streaming app dedicated to horror, debuts the 2024 shocker “Late Night With the Devil” with a “live watch party” at 9 p.m.
— Netflix streams the fantasy-action sequel “Rebel Moon: Part Two: The Scargiver.”
Also streaming on Netflix, “The Grimm Variations” recasts the fairy tale-collecting brothers as modern-day siblings styled in the wide-eyed fashion of Japanese anime.
— It’s interesting to note that an artist who burst on the scene with the 1973 single “Piano Man,” about the slightly curdled intimacy of a sad saloon, should celebrate his career with “Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG), a milestone performance at a vast arena built for basketball games.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— “S.W.A.T.” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) has been renewed for the 2024-25 season. This is notable for the fact that around this time last year, CBS canceled “S.W.A.T.” before fan reaction helped it change its mind.
— A single mother moves into a tech-heavy dwelling with grim results in the 2024 shocker “Smart Home Killer” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).
— “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) celebrates the music of Paganini and Robert Johnson.
CULT CHOICE
Second chances for second stringers abound as a beleaguered football coach (Gene Hackman) hires castoffs to replace striking players in the 2000 sports comedy “The Replacements” (7:30 p.m., TruTV, TV-14), starring Keanu Reeves.
SERIES NOTES
“Password” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … “Shark Tank” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC) … “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Naomi Campbell, Sue Bird and Kneecap on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) … Jake Gyllenhaal, Andrea Riseborough and Kaz Rodriguez visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Steph Tolev, Esther Povitsky and Haley Joel Osment on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
