#SetTheVCR: August 26-September 01, 2024

The Sandman, Murders and a Fall Guy…all wild TV Recommendations. #SetTheVCR and buckle up.

Monday, August 26

FX’s The New York Times Presents: Lie to Fly (Anytime / Hulu)

The New York Times follows a growing movement calling for reform of the FAA’s strict rules around pilot mental health, which they claim leaves the public at risk. A pilot’s promising career takes a dark turn when he’s accused of attempting to down a plane after taking psychedelic mushrooms; the film delves into pilot mental health protocols and urgent calls for reform within the aviation industry.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SOUNDS & PRESSURE: REGGAE IN A FOREIGN LAND (ANYTIME / NFB.CA)

Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land follows the journeys of these icons. Through rare archives and infectious beats, this captivating five-part anthology series takes you from Kingston to Kensington Market to see and hear how reggae made roots in Canada against all odds.
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With Famous Kanye had a “Monster” hit that closed with the infectious Bam Bam sample from Sister Nancy. We’ve all been grooving to reggae (known and unknown) for decades. (Like, Bam Bam a Jamaican dancehall track that came out in 1982.) The NFB presents Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land a Toronto Dancehall doc! Check this out: “At the height of the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland behind to shine their light in an unlikely hub of Caribbean creativity: Toronto. Through rare archives and infectious beats, this captivating five-part anthology series takes you from Kingston to Kensington Market to see and hear how reggae made roots in Canada against all odds.” This is fantastic: Toronto’s dancehall contributions are massive and a documentary about that special scene is long-overdue. Our dancehall era here is what the Motown era was for Detroit. These are five 15 minute episodes that’ll be sure to uplift and have you grooving. Or ready to launch on a revolution.

Tuesday, August 27

Untold: Sign Stealer (Anytime / Netflix)

The alleged 2023 sign-stealing scheme in Michigan, told directly by viral villain Connor Stalions, who forever changed college football thanks to his role in the scandal. The latest Untold from Netflix which is their 30 for 30 sports docs.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING: SEASON 4 (ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+ CANADA)

In Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, our amateur podcasting trio wrestles with the shocking events at the end of Season 3 surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki. Questioning whether she or Charles was the intended victim, their investigation leads them all the way to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As Charles, Oliver & Mabel race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.
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Season 3 solved the mystery of who killed Paul Rudd. And as every Only Murders in the Building season concludes it offers a murderous preview of the next season: we know Jane Lynch (she plays Sazz Pataki) is the next murder victim. Hilariously Jane Lynch is Steve Martin’s longtime stunt double. So…was the killer aiming for her? Or was it a mix-up and Steve Martin was supposed to be murdered? And why anyone would want to kill either of them? While Season 3 introduced Rudd and Meryl Streep; Season 4 is special. Molly Shannon, Eugene Levy, Richard Kind and Zach Galifianakis will no doubt make this season Must See TV. (Kumail Nanjiani has also been cast but man, that guy sucks. So much.) As for the murder…as Sazz was dying, it appeared like she was trying to write something on Charles’ kitchen floor with her own blood. What that is is unknown so even before the season began the mystery have deepened. Once again these seniors with their bad knees can only solve a Murder in the Building.

Wednesday, August 28

After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun (Anytime / Hulu)

Produced and directed by Matthew Felker in collaboration with ABC News Studios, this four-part series features exclusive interviews with over 35 beloved cast members and the show’s creators, including Nicole Eggert, Carmen Electra, Billy Warlock, Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Traci Bingham, Erika Eleniak, Michael Newman, Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and more. Through dozens of new cast interviews and never-before-seen footage, this docuseries unpacks how the show captured the mythology of California’s beach culture, set physical beauty standards for an entire generation, and capitalized on the adage “sex sells.”
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ADAM SANDLER: LOVE YOU (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Adam Sandler hits the stage for a thrillingly unpredictable comedy special featuring songs, jokes, party-crashing dogs and plenty of love.
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Yo, son!! A new standup special from Adam Sandler. From 2018 his 100% Fresh special was 100% Fresh. Fantastic comedy. That comedy special is better than your mom’s grilled cheese. And this special? I can only hope is better than your mom’s meatloaf. Let’s Go! I dig his Hustle and I can only hope for comedic Uncut Gems.

Thursday, August 29

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 (Anytime / Prime Video)

Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. This season features the long-awaited Siege of Eregion, a definitive battle in J.R.R. Tolkien’s history of the Second Age of Middle-earth, from which not everyone makes it out alive. The banners are raised, and the devastating war against Sauron is just beginning.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HERE COME THE IRISH (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

The series documents life on and off the field of the legendary University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team through exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with those closest to the program.
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Back in 2015 Showtime broadcast: A Season With Notre Dame Football. It’s an incredible documentary. Still one of my favourite sports docs. This was a whole new world for me…I dunno anything about college football. Joe Montana introduced me to the Fighting Irish. So grateful for that. And former Head Coach Lou Holtz who is in this Peacock documentary as well. Here Come the Irish drops its first pair of episodes beginning Thursday, August 29; Notre Dame start their season against Texas A&M on August 31st. From August 29th all throughout the 2024 football season expect new installments that offer remarkable access into Notre Dame’s rich gridiron tradition. “On the field, witness the intense training regimens, strategic game preparations, and the electrifying atmosphere of game days. Off the field, the series delves into the academic commitments, personal stories, and the motivation to be college football’s best. Through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and a deep dive into the rich history of Notre Dame football, this series paints a comprehensive picture of the dedication, perseverance, and spirit that define this legendary program.” This sounds amazing. Today…let’s watch TV like a champion.

Friday, August 30

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (Anytime / Hulu)

A documentary about a woman who was at many points in her life a newspaper headline: Anita Pallenberg was a “rock n’ roll goddess,” a “voodoo priestess,” and an “evil seductress.” She was accused of trying to break up the Rolling Stones, among other things. But those who loved her considered her an exciting cultural force, and a loving mother – and innocent of the accusations. Never-seen-before home movies and family photographs explore life with the Rolling Stones and tell a bittersweet tale of both triumph and heartbreak.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE DELIVERANCE (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Upon moving to a new home, Ebony Jackson finds herself fighting for her life against mysterious forces that could tear her family apart. It’s a battle of wills that will define Ebony’s life — and her faith.
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The Netflix Algorithm dishes up The Exorcist with a diversity twist. Though the streamer is marketing this as a faith-based film…not sure if that’s meant to reflect the horror movie aspect or cash in on the lucrative Christian market in America. Either way. TV Guide says: “Ebony Jackson, a struggling single mother fighting her personal demons, moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. But when strange occurrences inside the home raise the suspicions of Child Protective Services and threaten to tear the family apart, Ebony soon finds herself locked in a battle for her life and the souls of her children..” This is all based on the real-life case of Latoya Ammons, a single mother who claimed that her house was haunted, that her children were being possessed by evil spirits and that she needed a “deliverance.” There’s True Crime and then there is True Horror.

Saturday, August 31

Terminator: The Animated Serie s (Anytime / Netflix)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: The heroine of this series arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee, who is working to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future, who forever alters the fate of his three children.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE FALL GUY: THE EXTENDED CUT (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film.
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It’s often reckless to infuse box office earnings with any significant narratives (I’m fully aware idiots Rorschach test the box office all the time…) but after a certain point…it’s worth pointing out that Fall Guy simply flopped because Ryan Gosling sucks. Gosling’s worth of mouth is clearly negative. And sure they are other factors, right? Maybe marketing was to blame. Or Tracker’s recent success on CBS is why The Fall Guy struggled at the box office. Justin Hartley is way closer to Lee Majors than Ryan Gosling, both are notably centered around a distinct GMC pickup truck and both rugged dudes use many physical skills. The audience has spoken on that one. Me? It’s simple. Gosling’s pervasive ineptitude clearly makes him The Fall Guy on this one. The latest TV show adapted as a movie (overall a terrible genre!! 21 Jump Street aside…) is now streaming with 20 additional minutes. Eh, Directed by David Leitch watch his work in Bullet Train or Deadpool 2 instead. Programming Note: This’ll stream on Prime Video-Canada on September 13th.

Sunday, September 01

Gary (Anytime / Peacock)

This documentary sheds a new light on Gary Coleman’s life and explores the controversy surrounding his tragic death at the age of 42. Viewers will get insight into Coleman’s lifelong illness and depression, his financial troubles, tumultuous marriage, and his heartbreaking demise.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HORROR’S GREATEST (ANYTIME / SHUDDER)

Embark on a thrilling journey through the genre’s best with insights from the masterminds behind your favorite scares.
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Did you watch The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time? Just an outstanding horror docuseries. The people that made that are back with Horror’s Greatest. (That title needs work…it’s not as clever a hook as: The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time.) “Horror’s Greatest is a deep dive into everything we love about horror — from fresh looks at classics to unearthing scores of hidden gems, this series has something for every fright film enthusiast. A gallery of ghoulish pros, including actors, directors, writers, composers, and special effects artists, draw on their unique knowledge to answer the big questions: What are the must-see films in horror’s many sub-genres? What’s the appeal of horror tropes, and how do today’s filmmakers subvert our expectations? What shape does horror take in countries outside of the United States? The answers encompass the breath of the nightmares we watch for our entertainment.” The trailer teases Takashi Miike’s Audition a disturbing Japanese horror film from 1999. Oh man…super creepy. If you haven’t watched that, check that out. Either way…since it’s September 1st…let’s ease into the horror and fall season, shall we?