This was Theroux's big break into showbusiness, holding a regular prime time slot on BBC2. He mostly followed American subcultures around, investigating and researching their backgrounds, friends and enemies in the process, often presenting moral questions to the viewer, encouraging them to make up their own mind regarding the subject in hand, rather than directly give his own opinion. The show ran from 1998-2000, with a total of 17 episodes.
On the series, Louis had this to say:
“Weird Weekends set out to discover the genuinely odd in the most ordinary setting. To me, it's almost a privilege to be welcomed into these communities and to shine a light on them and, maybe, through my enthusiasm, to get people to reveal more of themselves than they may have intended. The show is laughing at me, adrift in their world, as much as at them. I don't have to play up that stuff. I'm not a matinee idol disguised as a nerd”
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| Series | Weird Weekends |
| Airdate | 15/01/1998 - 30/10/2000 |
| Episodes | 17 |
- UFOs
- Porn
- Is it that easy to be a male porn star? Louis finds out.
- Starring: J J Michaels
- Watch Online: Google Video Click Here
- Swingers
- Louis investigates the pros and cons of "the lifestyle".
- Wrestling
- 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.
- Gangsta Rap
- Televangelists And Religious Cults
- How far will Christians go to spread their word? Louis investigates the new craze of televangelism.
- Starring: Randy James
- Watch Online: Google Video Click Here
- Survivalists
- Infomercials?
- Investigation into the quality of US shopping channels.
- Black Nationalists
- Louis encounters many awkward moments interviewing black supremacy groups and discovering their extremity.
- Demolition Derby?
- Off-Off Broadway
- Louis investigates talent agencies in New York to see how they work and find out whether he has what it takes to make it big.
- Starring: Nicole, James Lawrenzo
- Hypnosis
- Is hypnosis real? Louis Theroux investigates several hypnosis techniques, one of which claims to turn you into a millionaire. No challenge!
- Starring: Marshall Sylver, Michael, Ross Jeffries?
- Enlightenment
- What is enlightenment in India? Louis visits many spiritual leaders and their followers questioning their validity.
- South Africa
- Body Building
- How legal are body building competitions? What risks are involved for men and women? How sexual is the underground world? Louis Theroux investigates!
- Starring: Guy Grundy, Charles Peoples?, Tatiarna?, Maria?
- Thai Brides
- Weird Christmas
- Louis brings three familiar faces from Weird Weekends together to complete individual challenges (an evangelical balloon release, a porn shoot and a music recording) to spread good faith during the Christmas Period in New York. He also hosts a Christmas dinner for his guests while discussing their differences and what they can do to bring them closer together.
- Starring: J J Michaels, Randy James, Mountain Mike, Reverend Short?
