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TV This Weekend

Slow Horses, Riches, and George & Tammy Bring the Drama

ALSO: Firefly Lane Season 2, Three Pines, Keke Palmer on SNL, My Unorthodox Life, and more.
  • Photos: Apple TV+, Amazon Studios, Showtime, Netflix, NBC
    Photos: Apple TV+, Amazon Studios, Showtime, Netflix, NBC

    As temperatures drop, the world of TV provides an extra reason to stay inside. This weekend brings the return of Gary Oldman’s Slow Horses, the premiere of Prime Video drama Riches, and buzzy docudrama George & Tammy, starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain as country music power couple George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

    Plus, Firefly Lane Season 2 brings new romantic entanglements, Alfred Molina headlines detective drama Three Pines, Keke Palmer makes her SNL hosting debut, and more. Here’s what’s new and noteworthy on TV this weekend:

    FRIDAY DECEMBER 2

    Slow Horses: Season 2 premiere. When long-buried Cold War secrets emerge that threaten to bring carnage to the streets of London, the hapless MI5 agents — led by boss Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) — must overcome their individual failings and raise their spy game in a race to prevent a catastrophic incident. Two episodes of the darkly comedic espionage drama drop today. Watch trailer. Streaming on Apple TV+

    Riches: Complete limited series. Prime Video looks to Succession for inspiration in this drama about privileged, ultra-successful siblings vying for control of the family business after their father’s sudden death. The six-episode drama is created by Abby Ajayi (Inventing Anna) and stars Deborah Ayorinde, Hugh Quarshie, and Sarah Niles. Watch trailer. Streaming on Prime Video

    Firefly Lane: Complete Season 2, Part 1. Longtime friends Kate (Sarah Chalke) and Tully (Katherine Heigl) navigate romantic drama, career reinventions, and family secrets as the Netflix drama returns for the first half of its super-sized final season. Part 2 is expected to drop in 2023. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

    Three Pines: Series premiere. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (Alfred Molina) investigates crimes in the idyllic Quebec village of Three Pines, where he finds long-buried secrets and is forced to face a few ghosts of his own. The drama is adapted from Louise Penny’s New York Times best-selling detective series. Read our review. Streaming on Prime Video

    My Unorthodox Life: Complete Season 2. In the wake of a headline-making divorce and removal as CEO, Julia Haart is left to battle for control of her business empire, which quickly turns contentious. Meanwhile, she works to reconnect with her daughter Batsheva, guide her daughter Miriam in her first committed relationship with a woman, and dissuade her son Aron from dropping out of secular school. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

    Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays: Special presentation. Struggling to find inspiration for their annual holiday album, superstar a capella group Pentatonix embarks on a whirlwind tour around the world. As they travel the globe, the group learns about new holiday traditions and spreads festive cheer. Watch trailer. Streaming on Disney+

    Sr.: Original documentary. Robert Downey Jr. pays tribute to his late father in this documentary chronicling the life and career of pioneering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

    The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday: Special presentation. Marshawn Lynch, D’Arcy Carden, Chloe Fineman, and more celebrities gather under the tent to compete for the title of Star Baker. The standalone holiday event serves as a preview for Roku’s upcoming American take on GBBO, featuring judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, and co-hosts Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry. Watch trailer. Streaming on The Roku Channel

    Hot Skull: Complete Season 1. In a dystopian world, as an epidemic spreads through verbal communication, a tyrannical institution pursues a linguist immune to the disease. The Turkish thriller is based on Afşin Kum’s 2016 novel of the same name. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

    Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?: Special presentation. Fire Island star Matt Rogers makes his Showtime debut in a musical holiday extravaganza featuring appearances from Bowen Yang and comedy duo Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. Watch trailer. 10:00 PM ET on Showtime

    SATURDAY DECEMBER 3

    Saturday Night Live: New episode. The iconic comedy returns from a three-week hiatus with first-time host Keke Palmer and musical guest SZA. 11:30 PM ET/8:30 PM PT on NBC

    Reno 911! It’s a Wonderful Heist: Special presentation. It's Holiday Season in Reno, and Lieutenant Dangle (Thomas Lennon) wishes he’d never been born. With the help of a roller skating “Angel,” he learns how much better the lives of the other deputies would be if he never existed, but will he decide to live on anyway? Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on Comedy Central

    Classic Holiday Specials and Movies: The holiday season continues with special airings of holiday classics:

    • Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch 7:15 PM ET on Freeform
    • Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire 8:00 PM ET on CBS
    • Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe 8:30 PM ET on CBS
    • The Story of Santa Clause 9:00 PM ET on CBS

    SUNDAY DECEMBER 4

    George & Tammy: Limited series premiere. Showtime tracks the historic partnership between George Jones (Michael Shannon) and Tammy Wynette (Jessica Chastain) in this limited series about the country music power couple. The premiere will be simulcast on Paramount Network, with the remainder of the season airing on Showtime. Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET on Showtime and Paramount Network

    Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: New episode (special time). RuPaul Charles, Gayle King, and Julie Bowen spin the wheel to raise money for charity. 8:00 PM ET on ABC

    Sunday Night Football: The Dallas Cowboys host the Indianapolis Colts on SNF. 8:15 PM ET/5:15 PM PT on NBC

    Housebroken: Special presentation. Honey’s (Lisa Kudrow) wishes for a new home comes true and the animals celebrate Trashmas in the animated comedy’s hour-long holiday special. The two-episode event also features guest star David Spade. Watch preview. 8:30 PM ET on Fox

    The Rookie: New episode (special time). Season 5 fall finale. Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the team investigate the unexpected death of a suspect in police custody. The fall finale is part of a special two-episode event beginning at 9:00 PM ET on ABC

    Ziwe: New episode. Ziwe explores the impacts of the quickly growing world of tech with Blake Griffin and Joel Kim Booster, then challenges her writers to face-off against artificial intelligence. 11:00 PM ET on Showtime

    Classic Holiday Specials and Movies: Freeform and AMC play the hits:

    • Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 2:20 PM ET on Freeform
    • Home Alone and Home Alone 2 6:40 PM ET on Freeform
    • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 7:00 PM ET on AMC

    Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.

    TOPICS: Slow Horses, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Showtime, Firefly Lane, George & Tammy, My Unorthodox Life, Riches, Saturday Night Live, Three Pines, Keke Palmer