#SetTheVCR: December 22-28 2025

Tis the season to spend with the Life of John McClane and the Life of Chuck. Season’s Greetings from #SetTheVCR.

Monday, December 22

The New Yorker at 100 (Anytime / Netflix)

It is considered one of the most culturally significant magazines of all time. Now, as The New Yorker marks its centennial, the iconic publication is granting unprecedented access to its inner workings, its contributors, and its archives. This documentary follows the editors, writers and creatives behind the scenes of one of the last print magazines of our time.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ELWAY (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Elway will explore his multifaceted life, from the early days being drafted to play baseball by the New York Yankees to his iconic moments in college football history. It will also recount his victories, including winning two Super Bowls as a player and a third as an executive with the Denver Broncos. Told in his own words, the definitive story of Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway goes deep on his NFL dreams, heartbreaks and Super Bowl redemption.
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All I really know about him is that John Elway did not want to play for the Baltimore Colts after they drafted him first overall in the 1983 NFL draft. Sometimes that’s the right thing to do. I want context on that decision and much more. Most of ESPN’s 30 for 30s are solid; I watched Elway to Marino. But that was a few years back and offered a different context. Tell me: who is John Elway? And what did he achieve? Always dope to open a new week with a living legend.

Tuesday, December 23

Kennedy Center Honors (Anytime / Paramount+)

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has selected the five Honorees who will receive the 48th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the annual national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C. this December are: country music icon George Strait, legendary rock band KISS (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley), Tony-award winning stage and screen star Michael Crawford, Grammy-winning disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor, blockbuster film powerhouse and Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone. I don’t care about any President Trump junk…this is pop culture, son. Pop culture is more valuable than trash politics. Especially KISS and Sylvester Stallone? Well-earned!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: MR. DRESSUP: THE MAGIC OF MAKE BELIEVE (ANYTIME / CBC GEM & PRIME VIDEO)

Ernie Coombs get a Last Dance! A detailed look about at famed, iconic television show from Canada that impacted multiple generations and its on-going legacy.
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We lost Ernie Coombs (better known as Mr. Dressup) in 2001, at the age of 73. Americans know who Jim Henson is and who Mister Rogers is. Mr. Dressup is to Canadians what Mister Rogers was to Americans. That’s not an accurate comparison since their childhood shows ran on different emotional vibes; though it sort of works like how Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are tied together. Both fantastic NBA players yet totally different styles. Mr. Dressup ran for 29 years crafting 4,000 episodes: when you see that staggering number you can instantly understand the indelible impact. (It helped Sesame Street taught us to “Count:” “Ah-Ah-Ah!”) This documentary features interviews with Canadians touched by the humble kindness and contagious creativity of Mr. Dressup, including Eric McCormack, Graham Greene, the Barenaked Ladies, Jonathan Torrens, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrew Phung, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Bif Naked, Peter Mansbridge and Michael J. Fox. This doc will leave you verklempt but it restores joy to this season since we’re all kids at heart.

Wednesday, December 24

Best Christmas Movies Ever! (Anytime / Hoopla)

Best Christmas Movies Ever! is a festive journey through the most beloved holiday films of all time. Featuring exclusive interviews with stars, filmmakers, and critics, this documentary dives into classics like Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause, It’s a Wonderful Life, and more! Relive iconic moments, uncover behind-the-scenes secrets, and settle the debate–Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Hint…Yes! Die Hard is the best Christmas movie.)
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: DIE HARD (TODAY! / PICK A STREAMER…)

A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. A Certifiable Christmas Classic.
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A fancy fun holiday tradition: Die Hard has humour and heart and is a Christmas special worth returning to over and over again. And sadly, in 2022 a Die Hard terrorist had perished! It’s funny how they’re going out one…by one in real life. Just like the movie. It was a somber Christmas viewing recognizing Clarence Gilyard aka Theo has passed on November 28, 2022. (Did we spend most of the ’80s with a nerdy black guy named Theo?!) Take a moment during this year’s viewing to enjoy and toast his brand of villainy. Understandably, Die Hard ‘s dark cloud was issued on February 16, 2023 when Bruce Willis’s family announced that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He has retired from acting. Yet remains missed. This is like when Michael Jordan retired. He’s no longer playing but oh we have the highlights. And Die Hard are some of Bruce’s best highlights. Merry Christmas to one and all. Except for Hans.

Thursday, December 25

NBA Christmas Day Games (Noon / ABC & ESPN)

Basketball games held by the National Basketball Association on Christmas Day have been an annual tradition since the league’s second season in 1947. This year’s holiday slate offers five consecutive nationally televised games that’ll be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks. Noon on ABC/ESPN. Game 2: San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder. 2:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Game 3: Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors. 5:00 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Game 4: Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers. 8:00 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. And finally Game 5: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets. 10:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN. Programming Note: If NBA doesn’t work for you or isn’t enough there’s always NFL Christmas Day starting at 1:00 p.m. with Cowboys at Commanders on ye olde Netflix. Broncos at Chiefs is on at 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: STRANGER THINGS 5 – VOLUME 2 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

With Hawkins under lockdown, El in hiding and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.
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Volume 2 is Episodes 5-7. The end is nigh. This is the final Stranger Things season…the Hawkins Losers are gonna take on their local Pennywise. That’s the concern with Stranger Things 5. Can you finish strong? Stranger Things 5 did not start strong. Season 4 ends with Vecna shattering Hawkins like a stubborn coconut—the body count is at 22 and rising—preparing to invade Hawkins. The kids have failed, they’re a legit Losers Club, now. A most excellent cliffhanger. And yet Stranger Things 5 opens with gratuitous exposition in large part because the flawed filmmakers took 3 years to make this season. All the drama and tension of 4’s cliffhanger has been neutralized. They bait and switched Season 4’s dramatic cliffhanger because of their spectacular failure to quickly issue a follow up season. “Oh yeah…that was all scary but eh…forget about all that. Oh, look…we have a radio station now. How cool is that?!” Like those old school serials where it turns out the hero didn’t get thrown off a cliff, the next episode reveals he somehow safely rolled to the side and he’s okay. Yeah, that’s not okay. And this is supposed to be the “golden era of television?” Not even close. I’ll finish this because it’s the end but what a harsh and rather rude way to kick off a season. Tis the season to be thanking their fans and instead the Duffers and company insult them. Programming Note: Volume 1: November 26, 2025, Volume 2: December 25, 2025 @ 5pm PT and The Finale: December 31, 2025 @ 5pm PT.

Friday, December 26

Sinners (Anytime / Prime Video-US)

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. (Currently Sinners in streaming on HBO Max but as of today it’s on US Prime Video.)
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE LIFE OF CHUCK (ANYTIME / HULU)

A life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz. From childhood to adulthood, Charles “Chuck” Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.
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It’s so strange. Most Stephen King movies are terrible. (Well you could pun it up and admit they’re horror-ible. #RimShot) Yet when they’re good like Stand By Me, Misery or Shawshank Redemption…they’re very good! What a bizarre system. I don’t get it but the non-horror King movies seem to do well. Well, Misery isn’t horror-horror but it’s wonderfully dark. Recently, Misery celebrated its 35th anniversary. The Shining is coming to IMAX on December 12 for its 45th anniversary and of course The Running Man just sprinted back. And those 3 were only November and December of this year. Stephen King haunted 2025 like a recurring nightmare. Earlier this year there was It: Welcome to Derry (on HBO), The Institute (MGM+), The Long Walk and 2025 opened with The Monkey. (Terrible movie!) Finally, The Life of Chuck was released back in June. Whew. Now streaming, this is a natural and obvious TV recommendation. Life of Chuck is a pitch perfect movie ideal for that lazy yet reflective time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The tone of the Mike Flanagan movie perfectly aligns with the seasonal mood. As you can tell from the title The Life of Chuck is focused on Charles “Chuck” Krantz, a seemingly ordinary man whose life is told in reverse. Starting with his death and ending with his puzzling slightly creepy childhood. That look back reveals the profound richness and interconnectedness within even mundane lives as the world mysteriously ends. (Oh, yeah the world is ending…there’s some darkness in that, I suppose. Thankfully, most of us are in a happier place in history.) As you watch The Life of Chuck here’s to your remarkable life and all you want to do in 2026. Programming Note: This’ll stream on Prime Video-Canada on December 29.

Saturday, December 27

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (Anytime / HBO Max)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: In the time of the Aztec Empire, Yohualli Coatl – a young Aztec boy – experiences tragedy when his father and village leader, Toltecatzin, is murdered by Spanish Conquistadors. Yohualli escapes to Tenochtitlan to warn King Moctezuma and his high priest, Yoka, of imminent danger. Using the temple of Tzinacan, the bat god, as a lair, Yohualli trains with his mentor and assistant, Acatzin, developing equipment and weaponry to confront the Spaniard invasion, protect Moctezuma’s temple, and avenge his father’s death.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE COPENHAGEN TEST: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

This espionage thriller series follows first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) who realizes his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies.
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The Copenhagen Test offers Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera. Just Handler-it a Razzie right now, before the series infiltrates TV. Neither has any legit Bona Fides. James Wan is the only Asset that might save this Covert Action Operation. Otherwise it’s for Sleeper Agents on their couch. Programming Note: This is a Binge release, all 8 episodes will drop on December 27.

Sunday, December 28

MuchMusic Presents: k-os Live (Anytime / Crave)

A concert special showcasing k-os’s energetic live performance, blending his unique flow and conscious lyrics for MuchMusic audiences, capturing his innovative sound in a performance setting.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Washed-up revolutionary Bob exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.
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On March 27 I tweeted in response to the One Battle After Another trailer: “100% Out. There isn’t a single reason to put on pants and go to the movies to see One Battle After Another. Maybe streaming? Maybe; though even then I’m reluctant. This looks and smells like Tubi movie with the kid from Growing Pains.” However I got invited to a press screening of the movie so eh, it was free. Let’s go. And truly, while I’m still not a Leo fan…The Road Sequence…is a unique and super cool car chase. Also not a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movies (they often slide into pretentious angst…dude’s Punch Drunk Love on his vision, which isn’t that distinct. There Will Be Blood was a long salty podcast.). So yeah, check this out just for that car chase.