#SetTheVCR: May 19-25, 2025

Monday, May 19

White Lies: Limited Series (Anytime / Acorn TV)

American Limited Series Premiere: Set in the wealthy neighborhood of Bishopscourt in Cape Town, South Africa, investigative journalist Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer) gets caught up in the ugly underbelly that lies beneath the picturesque beauty of the city, dragging her back to her turbulent past. Following her estranged brother’s murder in his luxury home, Edie’s world plunges deeper into chaos when her brother’s teenage children become prime suspects for the crime. As Edie investigates, she finds herself at loggerheads with veteran detective Forty Bell (Brendon Daniels, Four Corners), and grapples with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme Cape wealth.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: MR. POLAROID (ANYTIME / PBS)

Before the iPhone, the Polaroid camera let people instantly chronicle their lives. Along with instant photo mania, its company culture became the model for Silicon Valley. Mr. Polaroid is the story of Edwin Land, the man behind the camera.
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Mr. Polaroid reveals the American Experience of Edwin Land who dreamed up “a camera that you would use as often as your pencil or your eyeglasses.” “After years of trials, in 1947, Land demonstrated a working scientific prototype of his Polaroid camera to the press; by the 1948 Christmas season, the first Polaroid went up for sale in Boston.” The release continues, “The product, and the company’s unique culture, would launch not only instant photography mania but also become the model for today’s Silicon Valley tech culture.” Woah…that’s a strange connection, one I am not sure I am willing to make. Still, for now I am happy to shake it like a Polaroid picture, hey ya!

Tuesday, May 20

Sarah Silverman: Postmortem (Anytime / Netflix)

Following the recent death of both of her parents, comedian Sarah Silverman finds comedy in the darkest corners of life. She hilariously navigates the absurdities of death with her signature wit, from unexpectedly finding the “deal of a lifetime” while planning their funerals to cherishing the bittersweet experience of hearing her mother’s last words.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: UNTOLD: THE FALL OF FAVRE (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

This eye-opening documentary delves into Brett Favre’s controversial career, the dark side of sports stardom, and the scandals that marred his legacy.
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I appreciate the timing of this Brett Favre (non-sports) documentary. Currently some (I said some, not all) Canadians are melting down over Gretzky and his dubious MAGA associations. Yet, truly his political affiliations simply don’t matter. Gretzky’s a #GOAT. Full stop. By most common standards Favre is considered one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. And that’s the only Brett Favre verdict that matters. Michael Jordan went through all of this. The politics junk. Guys…he’s a jerkface. He’s not a nice guy. None of it matters. None. Of. It. The criteria for a #GOAT, for sports greatness is timeless. Were you good? Were you good at it? How much did you win? That’s why we have a hall of fame! A hall of fame is recognized greatness curated by established sports metrics like…winning. It’s impossible: literally impossible for “scandals to tarnish his legacy.” Favre won a Super Bowl in 1997. The NFL is gonna what…take it back? You can’t revise the history books when it comes to sports. The NFL can’t even overlook all the numerous rushing records O.J. Simpson set. That’s the beauty of sports. That’s his entire legacy. He’s paid to be good in the heat of the battle. If he’s not good in life…outside sports that is ultimately his issue.

Wednesday, May 21

Nine Perfect Strangers: Season 2 (Anytime / Hulu & Prime Video-Canada)

Nine new strangers connected in ways they could never imagine are invited by mysterious guru, Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman), to join a transformational wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps. Over the course of a week, she takes them to the brink. Will they make it? Will she? Masha is willing to try anything in the interest of healing everyone involved, including herself.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE ASSESSMENT (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

In a climate change-ravaged world, a utopian society optimizes life, including parenthood assessments. A successful couple faces scrutiny by an evaluator over seven days to determine their fitness for childbearing.
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The sci-fi hook is society enforces strict regulations on parenthood thanks to an environmental collapse and resource scarcity. In The Assessment’s world prospective parents must pass an initial test in order to prove their basic worth for having a child and then endure a seven-day live-in visit from a facilitator–a government-appointed assessor–who will put the prospective parents through a harsh assessment. The movie evolves from sci-fi to horror as the assessor unleashes all kinds of horrific situations and unconventional tests. If they fail The Assessment, they will never be parents. Sounds like in the future no one is “kidding” around…

Thursday, May 22

Sirens: Limited Series (Anytime / Netflix)

Limited Series Premiere: The miniseries follows two sisters over the course of a single holiday weekend at a lavish island beach estate owned by a wealthy socialite and philanthropist, who employs the younger sister as her personal assistant—a relationship that the older sister finds somewhat creepy and hopes to end.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE (ANYTIME / AMC+)

Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Doctor Watson (Martin Freeman) investigate a mysterious ghostly bride who appears to have committed murder from beyond the grave.
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The utterly brilliant Sherlock created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss ran from July 25, 2010 to January 15, 2017. The modern adaptation based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson. (Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are easily the greatest tv writers since Rod Serling. Their Doctor Who work is often top notch as well.) Typivslly the series is modern however The Abominable Bride depicts the characters in an alternative timeline: the Victorian London setting of the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. They’re kicking it old school. The title is based on the quote “Ricoletti of the club foot and his abominable wife” from The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual (1893), which refers to a case mentioned by Holmes. The episode also draws on elements of original Conan Doyle stories of Holmes such as The Five Orange Pips (1891) and The Final Problem (1893). (The Final Problem is one of my favourite Holmes story.) In either incarnation Benedict Cumberbatch must contend with dim witted fools. Keep UP! SherlockHolmes: “Dear God, what is it like in your funny little brains? It must be so boring!” So good! The madcap adventures of a high-functioning sociopath are also streaming on CBC Gem.

Friday, May 23

Worth The Wait (Anytime / Tubi)

The lives of multiple Asian-American strangers which includes Lana Condor and Ricky He whose lives fatefully intertwine as they navigate budding love, confront profound loss and encounter old flames.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Driven by a soul-baring interview with Paul Reubens, the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee as Himself is the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never-before-discussed personal life.
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This Pee-wee Herman documentary looks fantastic. We saw this with Screech (real name: Dustin Diamond) on Saved By The Bell and Steve Urkel (real name: Jaleel White). Though Paul Reubens has more talent than those other 2 actors…it’s the gross curse of success. We were douchebags to Screech and Steve Urkel. That’s how we only ever saw them, long after the shows were off the air. This was cancel culture before it became obnoxious and self-righteous. When the audience can only see that (often dorky) character…it’s a painful and lonely existence. Those characters are shooting stars…they don’t last. Then what? In a way Pee-wee As Himself is a damning commentary on the audience. After all don’t we still call William Shatner Captain Kirk? “Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self.” Paul Reubens died on July 30, 2023. Thankfully he participated in this 2-part documentary before he passed. As well Paul Reubens was able to complete a first draft of his memoir. I dunno if/when the memoir will be released. Still, my hope is the documentary creates complexity and mashes the childish simplicity with which we often viewed Pee-wee Herman (real name: Paul Reubens). Shall we go on Pee-wee’s Big Adventure? Programming Note: Both documentary parts air on Friday May 23: Part-1 debuts at 8:00-9:40 p.m. While Part-2 is broadcast 9:40-11:20 p.m.

Saturday, May 24

Big Mouth: Season 8 (Anytime / Netflix)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Nothing brings out the hormones-or the heartbreak- quite like high school. These longtime friends are growing up, and it’s the ultimate happy ending.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Who will be voted queen at Shadyside High’s 1988 prom? For underdog Lori, competition is cutthroat even before someone starts killing off the candidates.
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“Welcome back to Shadyside High. In this installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season is underway, and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider puts herself in the running, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.” I’m getting weary of younger actors trying and failing to say it’s the 80s. They’re not good at it. So if they get dispatched I am cool with it. 

Sunday, May 25

The Librarians: The Next Chapter: Season 1 (11:30 p.m. / TNT)

Series Premiere: The Librarians: The Next Chapter centers on Vikram Chamberlain, a Librarian from the past who time traveled from 1847 and now finds himself stuck in the present. When Vikram returns to his castle in Belgrade, Serbia and discovers that it is now a museum, he inadvertently releases magic across the continent. With the help of a new team of eclectic heroes, including a savant in world history, a scientific genius, and a highly skilled Guardian, Vikram has only six months to clean up the mess he made.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: JERROD CARMICHAEL: DON’T BE GAY (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Jerrod Carmichael returns to the stage for his fourth HBO stand-up special. His last special, Rothaniel, was raw, intimate, and sparked a conversation about what a comedy special could be. This new special continues to build on that impact with the same vulnerability and sharp wit that makes Jerrod’s voice so singular.
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Can Jerrod Carmichael get back on track? 8 and Rothaniel are solid comedy specials. (Love at the Store has moments.) However, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show was a disgusting ego trip: self-indulgent marketing ineptitude posing as creativity. He’s better than that. Viewers deserve better. Let’s see if this comedy special will be a gay ol’time.

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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.