TV viewers will be reunited with old favorites this weekend as Saturday Night Live returns for its 47th season, The Sopranos explores Tony’s past in the new prequel The Many Saints of Newark, and Seinfeld moves to on Netflix after a months-long streaming hiatus. Plus, Margaret Qualley shines in the new Netflix series Maid, the iHeartRadio Music Festival takes over The CW, and Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the new Netflix original thriller The Guilty. Here’s what’s new and noteworthy on TV this weekend:
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1
The Many Saints of Newark: Original movie. David Chase returns to the world of The Sopranos in this drama starring James Gandolfini’s son Michael as Anthony Soprano, a young man coming of age amidst a mob war in Newark. The film boasts an all-star cast playing younger versions of iconic Sopranos characters, including Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti, Jon Bernthal as Giovanni “Johnny Boy” Soprano, Corey Stoll as Junior Soprano, and Vera Farmiga as Livia Soprano. Premieres day and date on HBO Max and in theaters. Watch trailer. Streaming on HBO Max
Seinfeld: Complete series. After a three-month streaming sabbatical, all 180 episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s iconic sitcom arrive on Netflix today. Over its nine seasons, the comedy was nominated for 68 Emmys, winning 10, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 1993. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix
Maid: Complete first season. A single mother (Margaret Qualley) turns to housekeeping to make ends meet as she battles poverty and homelessness in this moving drama based on Stephanie Land’s bestselling memoir. Read our review. Streaming on Netflix
The Guilty: Original movie. 911 call operator Joe Bayler (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger, but soon discovers that nothing is as it seems. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs from a script by Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective). Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix
All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs: Complete first season. Amazon Prime Video gives viewers unparalleled inside access to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2020-2021 NHL season in the first hockey-centric installment of its sports docuseries. Watch trailer. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Welcome to the Blumhouse: Season premiere. The spine-tingling horror anthology returns with four new stories, two of which will be released today (“Black as Night” and “Bingo Hell”), followed by two next week. Watch trailer. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Diana: The Musical: Special presentation. Filmed before its opening on Broadway, this musical event celebrates the life of Princess Diana (Jeanna de Waal) and honors her enduring legacy through song. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix
My Name is Pauli Murray: Original documentary. This Sundance documentary explores the influence of Black, non-binary lawyer and activist Pauli Murray, whose work influenced Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Thurgood Marshall, and other legal scholars. Watch trailer. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales: Special presentation. Dean, Poe, and BB-8 must face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends. Watch trailer. Streaming on Disney+
The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World: Special presentation. Whoopi Goldberg hosts a two-hour special in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. Among the stars set to appear are Christina Aguilera, Halle Bailey, Tom Brady, and John Stamos. Watch preview. 8:00 PM ET on ABC
S.W.A.T.: Season premiere. Hondo (Shemar Moore) retreats to a quiet town in Mexico to reassess his future, only to find himself drawn into a local family’s fight for justice. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on CBS
Dynasty: Season finale. Blake (Grant Show) and Cristal (Daniella Alonso) face new obstacles that threaten Blake's senatorial campaign, Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) turns to Amanda (guest star Eliza Bennett) for help, and Alexis (Elaine Hendrix) continues her scheming as Season 4 wraps. Watch preview. 9:00 PM ET on The CW
Magnum P.I.: Season premiere. Magnum (Jay Hernandez) is tasked with finding a single mom being hunted by two dangerous gangs. Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET on CBS
The Ghost and Molly McGee: Series premiere. Tween optimist Molly McGee moves into a new home haunted by a grumpy ghost in Disney Channel’s new animated buddy comedy. Season 1 will feature guest stars Kelsey Grammer, Greta Gerwig, Natasha Rothwell, and Jane Lynch. Watch preview. 9:35 PM ET on Disney Channel
Blue Bloods: Season premiere. As Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) consults a psychic to solve the murder of a young boy, Frank (Tom Selleck) is at odds with the mayor over how best to protect the city from an uptick in crime. Watch trailer. 10:00 PM ET on CBS
Real Time With Bil Maher: Sopranos star and longtime E Street band member Steven Van Zandt joins Bill Maher and this week's panelists Katherine Mangi-Ward and Matt Taibbi. 10:00 PM ET on HBO
SATURDAY OCTOBER 2
Saturday Night Live: Season premiere. Fresh off an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, SNL returns to Studio 8H for Season 47 with first-time host Owen Wilson and musical guest Kacey Musgraves. 11:29 PM ET/8:29 PM PT on NBC and Streaming on Peacock
iHeartRadio Music Festival: Special presentation. Filmed September 17-18 in Las Vegas, the 2021 festival features performances from Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Florida Georgia Line, Journey, and more stars. Night 1 airs tonight, followed by Night 2 tomorrow. 8:00 PM ET on The CW
College Football: Week 5 brings a host of exciting matchups:
The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill Story: TV movie. Lifetime’s latest ripped-from-the-headlines drama tells the story of Dr. MacNeill (Tom Everett Scott) and the massive web of deception uncovered after the death of his former beauty queen wife, Michelle (Charisma Carpenter). Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on Lifetime
La Brea: Encore presentation. NBC will re-air the pilot of its new disaster series, which debuted earlier this week. The drama centers on a family that's split in two after a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles, engulfing hundreds of people. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on NBC
Love Strikes Twice: TV movie. After years in an out-of-sync marriage, Maggie (Katie Findlay) wishes for a do-over and wakes up 15 years earlier. Will she choose her husband Josh (Wyatt Nash) again, or is an ex-boyfriend her true happily ever after? Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET on Hallmark Channel
PBC Countdown: Fury vs. Wilder III: Special presentation. Prepare for the duo’s third world heavyweight title showdown next week with this Premier Boxing Championship special. 11:00 PM ET on FOX
The Internship: It's Owen Wilson night on TV as the SNL host's 2013 comedy gets an HBO Saturday night showcase. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on HBO
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3
Axios on HBO: New episode. Axios national political correspondent Jonathan Swan interviews the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States Adela Raz. Watch preview. 6:00 PM ET on HBO
America’s Funniest Home Videos: Season premiere. AFV returns for is 32nd season with a series of mischievous animal videos. Alfonso Ribeiro hosts. 7:00 PM ET on ABC
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Former Celebrity Jeopardy! champion Andy Richter puts his game show bonafides to the test in a matchup against Vanilla Ice and Caroline Rhea. 8:00 PM ET on ABC
Call the Midwife: Season premiere. The long-running British drama returns for its milestone tenth season, which centers on Sister Julienne’s (Jenny Agutter) attempts to secure the financial future of Nonnatus House. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on PBS
iHeartRadio Music Festival: The CW’s two-night event ends tonight with performances from some of music’s biggest names. 8:00 PM ET on The CW
Sunday Night Football: Tom Brady faces a familiar opponent as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on his old team, the New England Patriots. 8:20 PM ET/5:20 PM PT on NBC
Billions: Season finale. Axe (Damian Lewis) and Chuck’s (Paul Giamatti) reignited rivalry comes to a head in a dramatic Season 5 finale. Watch preview. 9:00 PM ET on Showtime
Animal Kingdom: Season finale. 9:00 PM ET on TNT
Grantchester: Season premiere. From merriment to murder, the residents of Grantchester have their hands full in the sixth season of the Masterpiece hit. Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET on PBS
The Walking Dead: World Beyond: Season premiere. AMC’s sequel series kicks off its second season with an episode that sees Hope’s (Alexa Mansour) commitment put to the test. Watch trailer. 10:00 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: Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, The Sopranos