Down on the farm
In "The Ranch," brothers played by Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson (a "That '70s Show" reunion nobody asked for) try to save a small-town farm run by their tyrannical father, Sam Elliott. The presence of the steak spokesperson, as well as Debra Winger's willingness to play his conflicted lady love, may suggest a Sam Shepard-inspired take on family affairs, but predictable gag lines and an overly active laugh track contaminate what could have been a rich crop.
Now streaming on Netflix
Where the boys are
Syfy Channel gives the "Sharknado" franchise temporary relief with "Dead 7," a zombie Western that brings boy-band members back from the dead. 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees are all represented in what could either be a guilty pleasure or the worst grandstand showcase in State Fair history.
7 p.m. Friday, Syfy
Coats of many colors
Dolly Parton and Katy Perry will duet for the first time during "The 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards," the latest ceremony where the performances have become more important than the prizes. A seething Kenny Rogers must be plotting a collaboration with Kanye West. Host duties will be handled by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley.
7 p.m. Sunday, WCCO, Ch. 4
Morgan Almighty
Morgan Freeman has played God more than once on the big screen, but he's never explored the character quite as deeply as he does in "The Story of God With Morgan Freeman," a six-part documentary that boldly takes on Big Thinkers — reincarnation, creation, the apocalypse — but ultimately comes across as an overly ambitious Sunday school class. For more of my thoughts on the project, see Sunday's Variety section.
8 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic Channel
