Friday nights: Joe Fridays vs. make-believe
ABC has devoted Friday nights to make-believe. “Once Upon a Time” (8 p.m., TV-PG) enters its seventh season, having swapped its Sunday night spot with “Shark Tank.” Also moving along, Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore) has left Storybrooke to create some stories of his own.
Before finding his own happy ever after, Henry happens upon a troubled Cinderella, still hassled by her evil stepmother. Somehow the story ends up in Seattle, along with the Evil Queen, Captain Hook and Rumpelstiltskin. Perhaps there’s something in the coffee.
On one level, “Once” makes for a logical pairing with the fantastic doings on “Marvel’s Inhumans” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). On the other hand, “Once” is at least pleasant to behold. That can’t be said of the Imax-produced “Inhumans.” Add a slow story and leaden dialogue, and it’s easy to see why “Inhumans” remains the most widely panned new series of the young TV season.
For those keeping score, Friday’s network fare is now divided between the fantastical/supernatural (add “The Exorcist” to the two mentioned above) and procedural whodunits and shoot‘em-ups, including all three CBS offerings and NBC’s repeats of “The Brave.” To those, add A&E’s “Cops” reboot, “Live PD” (9 p.m.), now entering its second season, offering a live feed of police departments at work all over the country.
NOT ALL ‘TALK’
A virtual unknown when “The Osbournes” debuted on MTV in 2002, Sharon Osbourne has remained one of the sturdiest staples of reality TV. “Sharon Flipping Osbourne” (10 p.m., WE) combines her overfamiliarity with the well-worn cable genre of real-estate renovation and speculation.
“The Talk” co-host and former “America’s Got Talent” judge scours Los Angeles in search of homes that she can tweak before selling for a profit. Help yourself.
INTO THE FISH BOWL
Who would have thought that a cable series about custom-built aquariums would catch on? Now in its seventh season, “Tanked” (Animal Planet, TV-PG) showcases bespoke fish bowls outfitted for rapper Tyga (8 p.m.), Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown (9 p.m.) and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (10 p.m., repeat).
TRUE CRIME DOC
Netflix begins streaming the true crime documentary “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” (TV-MA), examining the 1992 death of a trans-rights activist, which the New York City Police Department ruled a suicide and refused to investigate.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals meet in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (7:30 p.m., TBS).
› A 40-minute ticking clock sets the standard on “Hell’s Kitchen” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› “Third Rail With Ozy” (8:30 p.m., PBS) discusses gender roles and resentment in the workplace. Guests include Ann Coulter, Nick Cannon and Angela Rye.
› Cindy’s family proves an impediment to her ritual cleansing on “The Exorcist” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› A series that has grown more timely in the week since its debut, “Active Shooter: America Under Fire” (9 p.m., Showtime, TV-14) recalls the deadly 2015 incident in San Bernardino.
› Figures out of the past return on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› Wheels and wires on “MacGyver” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› A Russian adventure on “The Brave” (8 p.m., NBC, repeat, TV-14).
› Dean Cain hosts two episodes of “Masters of Illusion” (10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-14).
› A mobster’s murder sparks revenge violence on “Hawaii Five-0” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› A two-hour “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC).
› Illusionists audition on “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (11 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-PG).
› “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC). Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.