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TV This Weekend

Issa Rae Hosts SNL, HBO Bows David Byrne's American Utopia

ALSO: Supermarket Sweep, Crazy Rich Asians, Lovecraft Country, The Vow, and more.
  • Photos: NBC. HBO
    Photos: NBC. HBO

    The creator and star of HBO's Insecure is set to try her hand at sketch comedy tonight as Issa Rae hosts Saturday Night Live, with musical guest (and SNL four-timer) Justin Bieber.

    Also this weekend: David Byrne teams with Spike Lee to bring his critically acclaimed Broadway show to the small screen, Leslie Jones resurrects a nineties game show staple, and HBO and Starz go head-to-head with episodes of their two competing NXIVM docuseries. Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this weekend:

    SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

    NEW EPISODE: Issa Rae joins a criminally short list of black women to host Saturday Night Live tonight, where she'll be joined by musical guest Justin Bieber. Airs live coast-to-coast at 11:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM PT on NBC

    CONCERT FILM: Filmed at the Hudson Theatre in New York in January, David Byrne's American Utopia showcases a global dance troupe, eleven singers and musicians, and the Talking Heads legend himself in a one of a kind look at social justice, the ever-changing world, and the things that make us human. Spike Lee directs. Read our review. 8:00 PM ET on HBO

    SERIES PREMIERE: Silicon Valley isn't the only place dreams of cutting-edge success take root. The sixteen-episode Korean drama Start-Up follows a group of young entrepreneurs as they pursue their dreams in the competitive world of South Korea's high tech marketplace. Watch the trailer. Streaming on Netflix.

    SEASON FINALE: When your toilet is in the hallway, there's nothing to do but scream Help! I Wrecked My House. The HGTV home renovation show is set to wrap its first season by giving these home owners some sense of enclosure. 8:00 PM ET on HGTV


    SUNDAY OCTOBER 18

    SERIES PREMIERE: SNL alum Leslie Jones hosts the rebooted Supermarket Sweep, in which contestants use their razor sharp grocery shopping skills to navigate store aisles and stock up on food. Watch the trailer. 8:00 PM ET on ABC

    SEASON FINALE: With arrests in the NXIVM cult case piling up, the season finale of The Vow takes one last look at the case that has ensnared a host of Hollywood notables. 10:00 PM ET on HBO

    SERIES PREMIERE: As HBO wraps its NXIVM docuseries (for now), Starz begins its own. In the four-part Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult, India Oxenberg tells her story. Watch the trailer. 9:00 PM ET on Starz

    SEASON FINALE: The terrifying events of the past ten weeks become all too personal for Atticus (Jonathan Majors) and Leti (Jurnee Smollett) as Lovecraft Country airs its season finale, Watch the preview. 9:00 PM ET on HBO

    SEASON PREMIERE: Jimmy Kimmel hosts the second season of ABC's rebooted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Tiffany Haddish plays for the She Ready Foundation in this week's season premiere.. 9:00 PM ET on ABC

    SEASON PREMIERE: America's Funniest Home Videos kicks off its 31st season with videos of teachers dealing with unexpected distance learning interruptions, and kids following their parents' less than sterling examples. 7:00 PM ET on ABC

    CABLE PREMIERE: Based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians follows New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) to meet his family, having no idea that he comes from a very surprising family. Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina costar. Watch the trailer. 8:00 PM ET on TNT

    SEASON PREMIERE: Joel McHale hosts the second season of Card Sharks, the head-to-head elimination contest in which success of failure can arrive with the turn of a single card. 10:00 PM ET on ABC

    Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.

    TOPICS: Saturday Night Live, David Byrne’s American Utopia, David Byrne, Issa Rae