Sammy Younan
Girth Radio Presents…
A Confession: This week’s #SetTheVCR was a struggle. I suspect many stations and platforms are trying to avoid the American Election behemoth. I haven’t seen slim pickings like this since I tried online dating.
Sunday, November 1
The Circus (8 p.m. / Showtime & Crave)
The Simpsons: Season 32 (8 p.m. / Fox)
Fargo: Season 4 (9 p.m. / FX)
Sammy Suggestion: The Comedy Store (10 p.m. / Showtime)
Sadly the all too nostalgic good fun of The Comedy Store concludes tonight with: The Birth of a Bit. For over 5 episodes this docuseries featured interviews with David Letterman, Andrew Dice Clay, Marc Maron, Bill Burr, and so many others. Comedy is a good way to wash away all the Halloween horror; plus this series pairs well with discount Halloween candy.
Monday, November 2
Sammy Suggestion: With Drawn Arms (9 p.m. / Starz)
From Executive Producer, Nelson George With Drawn Arms is a documentary about Tommy Smith’s protest at the 1968 Olympics. You’ve seen the Black Power salute on the medal podium image many times. American Tommie Smith won the 200 meter race with a world-record time of 19.83 seconds. Australia’s Peter Norman finished second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the US’s John Carlos finished in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. This is the third documentary exploring that significant cultural moment. “This film has been in the making for eight years,” said co-directors Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi, a New York Times best-selling author. “We’re thrilled to work with Starz to ensure that Tommie’s message is heard nationwide, at such an urgent juncture in history.” It’s Nelson George so for me that’s enough: I’m In!
Tuesday, November 3
Sammy Suggestion: The 007 Collection (Anytime / Hulu & Crave)
Look. Here’s 2 Un-Fun Facts. First is the American Election is today. For the next week TV and Twitter is gonna suck…a lot. Awash in clever banality and poser punditry. It’ll neither be good nor smart nor beneficial. Drown it all out with Hulu and other online bubbles. Hence Un-Fun Fact Number 2. We lost Sean Connery on Halloween a somber moment to a typically good time season. Now that we’ve had a couple of days to absorb the loss Hulu has added the 007 Collection. From Dr. No to Goldfinger to Thunderball what better way to pay some respects to what the man has achieved and graciously given to us. If you’re in Canada that’s fine: The 007 Collection will be added to Crave on November 10. Look we cannot advocate for mental health yet participate in unhealthy activities like American politics on CNN, Fox, and social media. Diamonds are Forever but we only live…once. And as we just saw with Sean Connery who leaves behind an astonishing bounty of goodness: make your life a good one.
Wednesday, November 4
Sammy Suggestion: Aquaman (Anytime / Crave & Netflix)
Aquaman leaves Crave on November 4 but swims up to Netflix on November 5. Seems fishy but it’s true. (If that’s not your jam Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse appears in the Netflix Universe on November 26 while Doctor Strange magically appears on November 30. S’a bit of nerdery to get you over hump day.)
Thursday, November 5
Sammy Suggestion: Paranormal (Anytime / Netflix)
My hope is that Paranormal―based on a series of novels by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik that I never read―is closer to The Haunting of Hill House horror and less The House with a Clock in Its Walls tone and style: scary but not frightful you know? Bonus Fun? That’s clearly Cairo in the trailer so if you’ve never been here’s a cheap way to check out a fabulous city. And as we’ve seen Netflix’s international offerings such as Dark and Into The Night have been fantastic. So let’s go!
Friday, November 6
The Citation (Anytime / Netflix)
Sammy Suggestion: Dim the Fluorescents (Anytime / CBC Gem)
What Is Dim the Fluorescents? Dim the Fluorescents is the 2017 Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner. Fact. Dim the Fluorescents is a film about a struggling actress and an aspiring playwright who make their living doing role-playing demonstrations for corporate training seminars. Dim the Fluorescents has dance scenes but it’s not a movie about dancing. Kinda. Dim the Fluorescents was co-written and directed by Daniel Warth who did an amazing job. Dim the Fluorescents is a darkly sarcastic movie worth checking out.
Saturday, November 7
Sammy Suggestion: 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (8 p.m. / HBO)
Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, and The Notorious B.I.G. That’s a weird yet amazing party. And tonight they’re all inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
