A royal pair

"2 Dope Queens," an offshoot of the popular podcast, showcases promising stand-up comics, with cameos from the HBO stable of stars including Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Stewart. But the show's real draw is the unrehearsed interaction between hosts Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson. They have the chemistry of an old married couple who aren't afraid to bicker in public and then hug it out.

10:30 p.m. Friday, HBO

Market watch

Director Matthew Heineman ("Cartel Land") got remarkable access to everyone from heroin addicts to poppy-field kingpins in making "The Trade," a five-part miniseries that goes deep on the opioid epidemic.

8 p.m. Friday, Showtime

Dirty work

Germaphobic Howie Mandel freaks out when he realizes the setting for the season premiere of "This Is Not Happening" — he's forced to perform his routine next to a much-licked stripper's pole. Nonetheless, the "America's Got Talent" judge embraces the show's concept, in which comics put the emphasis on storytelling rather than jokes. Roy Wood Jr. takes over hosting duties from Netflix-bound Ari Shaffir.

11 p.m. Friday, Comedy Central

Mandel

This is Minneapolis

If you're not lucky enough to bump into Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown during his time in the Twin Cities this week, you can catch him in a special episode of "This Is Us." Still not enough Randall for you? He and his castmates will pop by "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," which broadcasts live from the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis later Sunday, after the local news. And for the umpteenth time, no, I cannot get you tickets.

Sunday after the Super Bowl, KARE, Ch. 11

Neal Justin