What to Watch Friday: Dateline, 20/20 have exclusive interviews with accused murderers
20/20 (9 p.m., ABC) - 20/20 has the story of Nicholas McGuffin, who spent almost 10 years in prison for the 2000 murder of his former girlfriend, Leah Freeman, before the conviction was overturned. Freeman was 15 at the time of her murder, and McGuffin was 18. He still insists he did not kill Freeman, and speaks to 20/20 about his work with the Forensic Justice Project, which helped him gain his freedom, and about his life now. The show also looks at the details of Freeman’s disappearance and death, and features interviews with McGuffin’s friends and family members, and with attorneys and investigators connected to the case.
Dateline NBC (9 p.m., NBC) - Dateline’s “House on the Hill” episode features an exclusive interview with Karl Karlsen, accused of murdering his son Levi (in New York) and his wife Christina (in California) 20 years apart. Both murders, authorities say, were committed for life insurance payouts. Andrea Canning will also talk to the family members of Christina, to Karl’s ex-wife, Cindy Karlsen, and to first responders, investigators and others.
The Kingmaker (9 p.m., Showtime) - This Lauren Greenfield documentary, nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a WGA Award, makes its television debut. The film is a searing portrait of Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, whose behind-the-scenes machinations in the political careers of her husband, and later her son, cemented her indelible mark on the global political stage. And yes, she had a lot of shoes.
All the Bright Places (Netflix) - This Netflix original movie, based on the internationally bestselling novel by Jennifer Niven, tells the story of Violet Markey (Elle Fanning) and Theodore Finch (Justice Smith), who meet and change each other’s lives forever. As they struggle with the emotional and physical scars of their past, they come together, discovering that even the smallest places and moments can mean something. Netflix writes that this compelling drama provides a refreshing and human take on the experience of mental illness, its impact on relationships, as well as the beauty and lasting impact of young love.
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