1) “Fire Country” return, 9 p.m., CBS. The term “fire tornado” sounds like horror fiction, sort of like “Sharknado.” But lt’s is a real thing, when fire creates a deadly whirlwind. Alternately called a “fire whirl” or a “fire devil,” it was seen in California in 2018 and 2020; in tonight’s episode (shown here) it approaches the fictional town of Edgewater.
2) More returns, CBS. After a two-week basketball break, the Friday dramas are back. “SWAT” (8 p.m.) has a citywide sweep, after a cop is shot. “Blue Bloods” (10) has Frank worrying about police joining the Teamsters. Also, each of his kids has a case — Erin, with horse-race corruption, Danny with assaults in a Vietnamese neighborhood and Jamie with drug-trafficking by rival gangs.
3) “American Masters,” 9 p.m., PBS. Through 8th grade, William F. Buckley had most of his education in his family’s 114-room home, alongside nine siblings, six pianos and lots of visiting experts. He emerged with an abundance of words and opinions. He edited the Yale newspaper, wrote a book attacking the school, then wrote 50-some more books, created the National Review and hosted a PBS show for 33 years.
4) Movies. You can choose a Chris Pratt adventure – light fun with “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014), 8:30 p.m. on the USA Network or dino-danger with “Jurassic World” (2015), 7:52 p.m. on HBO. Other strong choices, at 8: “America Fiction” (2023), MGM+, and “While You Were Sleeping” (1995), Pop.
5) “Sugar.” Colin Farrell plays an old-school private eye. That’s on Apple TV+, which on Wednesday launched the second season of the oft-hilarious “Loot.” On Thursday, streamers added “Ripley” (Andrew Scott as a master opportunist) on Netflix, the offbeat romance “Musica” on Amazon Prime and the start of the final “Star Trek: Discovery” season on Paramount+.