Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends

Watch Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends

  • Not Rated
  • 1999
  • 2 Seasons
  • 8.5  (3,368)

Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends is a documentary series that premiered on BBC Two in the late 1990s, hosted by the British journalist and filmmaker Louis Theroux. The show is known for its irreverent and offbeat approach to exploring unconventional lifestyles and subcultures in America and abroad.

Over the course of its two-season run, Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends tackles a broad range of subjects, from survivalists in the Pacific Northwest and UFO enthusiasts in Nevada, to porn stars in California and neo-Nazis in Texas. Along the way, Theroux meets a cast of eccentric characters who offer varying degrees of insight and perspective into their worldviews.

Despite the obvious contrast between Theroux's middle-class British upbringing and the often outlandish beliefs and lifestyles of his interviewees, the show eschews overt judgment or ridicule in favor of a more curious, anthropological approach. At times, Theroux even seems to empathize with the people he's profiling, making for a nuanced and thought-provoking viewing experience.

One standout episode from the first season features Theroux exploring the world of professional wrestling in the American South. Through interviews with performers, promoters, and fans, Theroux delves into the intricacies of the wrestling world, including the blurred lines between reality and fiction, the physical toll of performing stunts, and the financial challenges of making a living in the industry. Along the way, he even steps into the ring himself, hamming it up for the camera in a hilarious and surreal sequence.

Another memorable episode finds Theroux visiting a swingers' club in suburban America, where he observes and participates in a variety of sexually explicit activities. Throughout the episode, Theroux remains non-judgmental and respectful towards his hosts, even as he clearly feels some discomfort and awkwardness at times.

Overall, Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends offers a fascinating look into some of the stranger corners of American culture, as well as a glimpse into how people with vastly different viewpoints and lifestyles navigate through the world. Despite its often bizarre subject matter, the show manages to be both entertaining and insightful, thanks in large part to Theroux's dry wit and easygoing demeanor.

Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
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Seasons
Wrestling
6. Wrestling
July 6, 1999
How real is wrestling? How dangerous is it? Does Louis have what it takes to become one? Just some of the questions Louis answers in this adventure into the American subculture.
Off-Off Broadway
5. Off-Off Broadway
June 15, 1999
Louis meets the hordes of out-of-work actors in New York as they try to land a part - and even goes on an audition himself, for a job on a Norwegian cruise ship.
Demolition Derby
4. Demolition Derby
June 9, 1999
Louis has to overcome his nerves to enter a demolition derby in car-mad Michigan.
Black Nationalism
3. Black Nationalism
June 2, 1999
American black nationalist groups have been branded anti-Semitic, homophobic, misogynist and even racist by the mainstream press. Louis Theroux goes to Harlem in New York to meet its proponents, and meets the Reverend Al Sharpton, the main point of contact in the black nationalist movement. Theroux also meets Khalid Abdul Muhammad, dubbed by the media 'the most dangerous man in America' and visits the Israeli School of Universal Practical Knowledge, who believe that blacks are the true Israelites and that all English monarchs until early modern times were black. Theroux also joins Al Sharpton on a march on Wall Street to protest at the shooting by New York police of Amadou Diallo, who was shot 19 times.
Swingers
2. Swingers
May 26, 1999
Louis journeys to Southern California to investigate the weird world of wife-swapping. Is he man enough for the group room? And what do you do if you want to touch someone's primary erogenous zones?
Infomercials
1. Infomercials
May 12, 1999
Louis investigates the world of television informercials and tries to sell a paper shredder on television as an infomercial host.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    May 12, 1999
  • IMDB Rating
    8.5  (3,368)