TV picks for March 3-4: 'Saturday Night Live,' Danai Gurira, 'Top Gear'

March 2, 2018 at 7:46PM
In this Jan. 30, 2018 file photo, Danai Gurira poses for a portrait at the "Black Panther" press junket at the Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. The film opens nationwide on Friday, Feb. 16. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Gurira (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

A familiar face

Macalester College grad Danai Gurira, whose play "Familiar" opens at the Guthrie Theater on March 16, is among those being honored at the "Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards." The breakout star of "The Walking Dead" and "Black Panther" will be joined by Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe and Tessa Thompson.

9 p.m. Saturday, OWN

Nothing but net

After sitting out for the Winter Olympics, "Saturday Night Live" returns with three new episodes, starting with Charles Barkley as host. It's the fourth time back for the basketball legend. He'll be followed the next two weeks by Sterling K. Brown and Bill Hader.

10:30 p.m. Saturday, KARE, Ch. 11

Joey's joy ride

Matt LeBlanc's current sitcom, "Man With a Plan," may be running on empty, but he's still a likable driving companion in a new season of "Top Gear." In six new episodes, the former "Friends" stars joins Chris Harris and Rory Reid as they attempt to build the world's fastest tractor, land a NASA research vehicle in a muscle car and figure out what Rachel ever really saw in Ross.

9:30 p.m. Saturday, BBC America

DAVID S. HOLLOWAY
Charles Barkley examines race relations in the TNT TV show "American Race." ORG XMIT: 26449_003
Barkley (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Matt LeBlanc as himself in Episodes (Season 5, episode 1) - Photo: Sophie Mutevelian/SHOWTIME - Photo ID: Episodes_501_0428
LeBlanc (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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