Cinderella story
It's likely that Bill Murray will be watching his beloved Chicago Cubs this weekend from choice seats in Wrigley Field, but maybe he'll DVR "The Mark Twain Prize" ceremony in which he was honored earlier this week by Miley Cyrus, Jane Curtin and David Letterman. Stick around for Murray's acceptance speech, in which he passes his statuette around, giving audience members the coveted opportunity to rub Samuel Clemens' head.
8 p.m. Friday, TPT, Ch. 2
Going out with a bang
"Comedy Bang! Bang!," the loosey-goosey spoof of talk shows, heads into its fifth and final season with an impressive list of game guest stars including Malin Akerman, Kaley Cuoco and Allison Janney. Look for a return appearance from former "band leader" Reggie Watts, who deserted the show early in its run for the bright lights of "The Late, Late Show With James Corden."
10 p.m. Friday, IFC
The play's the thing
Tracey Ullman makes up for dedicating her last comedy series to the state of America by putting a definite British twist on "Tracey Ullman's Show," which has already run across the pond. At 57, the actress still has the spirit of a naughty teenager, even when she's channeling Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. If only the producers hadn't opted to crank the laugh track up to 11, a major distraction in what is otherwise a tutorial on sketch comedy.
10 p.m. Friday, HBO
For Pete's sake
The most unsettling aspect of Comedy Central's roast of Rob Lowe wasn't the vicious attacks on punching bag Ann Coulter, but rather the way comics felt free to weave in jokes about the fact that Pete Davidson's father died during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Turns out, the young "Saturday Night Live" star has been referencing the tragedy for years in his own stand-up and continues to do so in his new special, "Pete Davidson: SMD." It may be a bit much for some viewers, but often the best way to deal with loss is with laughter.
10 p.m. Saturday, Comedy Central
Neal Justin
