‘Speed Racer: The Next Generation’ on Nicktoons

Sure, you could battle Friday night crowds and catch the premiere of the Wachowski brothers’ “Speed Racer.” Or you could stay in with the kids and watch “Speed Racer: The Next Generation,” an animated update of the 1960s Japanese ‘toon. (Saturday morning screenings are bound to be less swamped anyway, right?) In the new series, Speed’s now a student at the Racing Academy, where he quickly zooms to the top of his class. Can he balance the books, racing and scheming school board member Zile Zazic? (Nicktoons, Fri., 7 p.m.)