5 things to watch on TV this weekend

Welcome to the weekend edition of What’s On. Here are the big things happening on TV from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekly edition of What’s On publishes on Sundays.]

1. Michael Douglas leads the biographical drama Franklin

Apple TV+, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: Based on Stacy Schiff’s book, Franklin follows Benjamin Franklin (Michael Douglas) as he embarks on an eight-year-long mission in France with his grandson, William (Noah Jupe), in tow. The limited series on the founding father premieres with three episodes, with the remaining six airing weekly. Here’s a bit from The A.V. Club’s review:

This is, in a way, the story of the American Revolution told from afar, from the seemingly comforting spaces Franklin infiltrated in Europe with his charm and his wit. And it’s a testament to how the limited series is constructed that it never feels like a boring history lesson.

2. Saturday Night Live brings back an ace host

NBC, Saturday, 11:30 p.m.: If there’s one thing Ryan Gosling is good at, it’s enlivening SNL. The Barbie actor makes his way back to Studio 8H this weekend to promote his upcoming film, The Fall Guy. This time, he’s joined by musical guest Chris Stapleton. (Can we get a country rendition of “I’m Just Ken”? Please?) Look out for The A.V. Club’s recap of the episode on Sunday.

3. You can finally watch Pedro Almodóvar’s “Strange Way Of Life”

Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.: Pedro Almodóvar’s short film “Strange Way Of Life” premiered at Cannes in 2023 and was released theatrically in Spain. Well, what about the rest of us who want to enjoy Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke getting romantic? It’s our time because Netflix starts streaming it on April 12. In the Western, the two actors play former lovers who reunite after 25 years when tragedy strikes. George Steane, Manu Ríos, and Pedro Casablanc co-star.

4. Hulu releases the rom-com The Greatest Hits

Hulu, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: The Greatest Hits centers on Harriet (Lucy Boynton), who realizes that listening to songs transports her back in time. She uses this gift to relive her past relationship and tries desperately to stop a car crash that killed her former boyfriend. In doing so, Harriet faces the usual time travel dilemma: Should she change the course of history or not? The cast also includes David Corenswet and Justin H. Min.

5. Good Times returns

Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.: Norman Lear’s ’70s sitcom Good Times gets an edgy, animated reboot thanks to producers like Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Curry. Set in a Chicago housing project, the show chronicles the day-to-day lives of the Evans family, with a voice cast comprised of Jay Pharoah, Yvette Nicole Brown, J.B. Smoove, Marsai Martin, and Gerald “Slink” Johnson.