There’s plenty to be happy about heading into this weekend as Friday marks the first day of spring. And even better, NBC has a full line up of great shows airing tonight, Friday, March 20.
Whether you’re into laugh-out-loud sitcoms, prefer to curl up with some true crime, or enjoy all the jokes and celebrities that come with late-night TV, the network has you covered.
From Happy’s Place to Stumble, and Dateline to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the evening is packed with can’t-miss entertainment.
There’s a very special guest on Friday’s brand new episode of Happy’s Place, and we’ve got all the details, below.
Keep reading to learn more about this show and all the others airing on NBC this Friday night, March 20, 2026.
Talk about starting the weekend off on a high note! NBC’s March 20 Friday night lineup kicks off with an all-new episode of Happy’s Place!
The sitcom — starring Reba McEntire, her real-life fiancé Rex Linn, Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Tokala Black Elk, and Pablo Castelblanco — will keep Season 2 moving full-steam ahead with “A New Chapter.”
Friday’s episode is already drawing buzz, with Jane Lynch in a guest star spot as Gabby’s (Melissa Peterman) mother, Val. “We’ve seen [Lynch] do so much in so many wonderful shows, but she does something so specific as this character that is so hilarious and grounded and ridiculous,” Happy’s Place executive producer and director Pamela Fryman told NBC Insider. “Melissa is such a huge fan — we all are, obviously — and every bit of it is hilarious. Every minute of it is great. She’s something.”
RELATED: The Complete List of Happy’s Place Season 2 Guest Stars
Castelblanco told NBC Insider, “Jane Lynch was just iconic. She came in and blew it out of the park. [She’s] also a fantastic person — such a giving actor, so funny. I’m so happy she’s also in our family.”
Castelblanco told NBC Insider, “Jane Lynch was just iconic. She came in and blew it out of the park. [She’s] also a fantastic person — such a giving actor, so funny. I’m so happy she’s also in our family.”
The cheerleading mockumentary sitcom may have aired its finale on March 13, but that just means more opportunities to fall in love with the cast all over again — or for the first time.
RELATED: Why You Recognize Annaleigh Ashford, Who Plays “AI Lady” Jolene in Stumble
On Friday, March 20, Stumble will air a repeat, Episode 8, “God Bless Heådltston.” In this installment of the comedy, the cheerleading team at Headltston State Junior College and its coach, Courteney Potter (Jenn Lyon), look at potential revenue opportunities as they hope to get some necessary funding for their squad.
As the episode’s description reads, “When Courteney learns that an AI company is looking at Headltston as a potential site for its new data center, she goes full out to win them over, hoping to get much-needed money and sponsorship for her team.”
Dateline, the longest-running series in NBC primetime history, is re-airing its “Under the Bay Bridge” episode on Friday, featuring reporting by Josh Mankiewicz.
RELATED: San Francisco Police Reveal Why Rumors About Tech Titan Bob Lee’s Murder Weren’t Disputed
Here’s the focus of the episode, according to its synopsis: “When tech titan Bob Lee is stabbed to death in San Francisco, a complex investigation leads everyone to wonder what really happened under the Bay Bridge. Friday’s episode features an in-depth look at the timeline leading up to Lee’s murder, extensive and dramatic surveillance video, and interviews with Lee’s brother and children, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and more.”
11 p.m. ET: Local programming
Programming by local NBC affiliates will act as the lead-in for The Tonight Show. For millions of viewers, watching the late-night news before tuning into the iconic late-night talk show is the best way to end the day.
11:35 p.m. ET: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
NBC’s March 20 lineup will wrap up with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which is airing a repeat of the March 9, 2026 edition that featured Kit Harington and Hilary Duff.
RELATED: Hilary Duff Updated Jimmy Fallon on “Chaotic” Life with Her Husband and Their Kids
Fans went crazy over Duff’s first TV appearance in more than a decade, and the actress and singer didn’t disappoint as she updated Jimmy Fallon and viewers everywhere on her family.
She described life as a mother of four children as “chaotic as ever, but the best. We’re having fun.”