#SetTheVCR: April 01-07, 2024

Monday, April 01

Leap of Faith (1992) (HBO Max / Anytime)

Did you enjoy the Steve Martin docuseries on Apple TV+? That was last week’s #SetTheVCR TV Pick Of The Week. Here’s an overlooked Steve Martin movie: Fake faith healer Jonas Nightingale is stranded in a small town where he finds he can’t fool all of the people all of the time. Tasty appetizer while we wait for a new season of Only Murders In The Building.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE MAGIC PRANK SHOW WITH JUSTIN WILLMAN: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

The show sees Justin Willman using his extraordinary skills to pull off ambitious and hilarious pranks like you’ve never seen before. Alongside his team of twisted professionals, he executes brain-bending experiences to help everyday folks blow people’s minds and settle old scores.
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Series Premiere: The good news is Justin Willman is back…but not with more Magic for Humans. Rather…Pranks for Humans? Huh. There’s a Just for Laughs quality to this to Netflix TV show. (Well, better production values…) I wonder why he/Netflix went in a different direction rather than continuing Magic for Humans? It’s Justin Willman and he’s magic…so I’ll check this out. Helps it streams on April Fool’s Day. Pranks for the jokes, Justin Willman.

Tuesday, April 02

Airplane II: The Sequel (Anytime / Prime Video-US)

When I interviewed Mark A. Altman for a #SetTheVCR Top Shelf special: The CW’s Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982 he laughed when I said Airplane II is magic. A faulty computer causes a passenger space shuttle to head straight for the Sun. Can Ted Striker save the day and get the shuttle back on track – again?
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: DEMETRI MARTIN: DEMETRI DECONSTRUCTED (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

From his thoughts on aggressively scented trash bags to desk jobs in hell, comedian Demetri Martin delivers a one-of-a-kind stand-up special.
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You would think it’d be smart marketing to stream a comedy special on April Fool’s Day but Netflix and Demetri Martin have opted for April…2nd. Okay then. Just happy to have him (and his comedic-easel) back. Apparently it’s been 5+ years without a special. That’s a long time and bonus? Deadline is reporting that following this special (his 7th) we can expect an 8th special soon! Sweet. #SetTheVCR for both, starting with this one.

Wednesday, April 03

Loot: Season 2 (Anytime / Apple TV+)

Billionaire Molly Novak has a dream life, complete with private jets, a sprawling mansion, and a gigayacht — anything her heart desires. But when her husband of 20 years betrays her, she spirals publicly, becoming fuel for tabloid fodder. Season 2 is a year after Molly Wells settled her very public divorce from tech billionaire John Novak, and now she’s thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE (9:00 P.M. / PBS)

What do we imagine when we think about the future?
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AI, AI Art, Self-Driving Cars etc. are part of an impressive future: our future. We live in a truly amazing time. Possibilities are far more tantalizing than fear. (Yes, I’ve seen Chopping Mall with killer robots and Terminator 2 with Skynet is a personal favourite.) Thankfully, hope, excitement…all these rich and positive emotions show up is this six-part docuseries on PBS. (Oddly executive produced By Drake. He’s never been the future when it comes to hip hop.)

Thursday, April 04

Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5 (Anytime / Paramount+)

The fifth and final season will find Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well…dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it. I wrote about my Star Trek feelings in a recent My Pal Sammy.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RIPLEY: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Tom Ripley, a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom’s acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder.
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Limited Series Premiere: Remember The Talented Mr. Ripley movie from 1999? Matt Damon was Ripley, Jude Law was Dickie and Gwyneth Paltrow was Marge. Now in Ripley it’s…Andrew Scott as Ripley, Johnny Flynn as Dickie and Dakota Fanning as Marge. Kind of a step down…this new cast. Both “Ripleys” are adaptations of The Talented Mr. Ripley a 1955 psychological thriller novel by Patricia Highsmith. (I went last week to a Netflix advanced screening, where I saw the first 3 episodes. At that screening I ran into Kris Langford co-host of How’d You Like That Movie? podcast he reminded me Patricia Highsmith’s novel has also been adapted in a 1960 movie: Purple Noon. I dunno that I’ve seen that version. I did see the Matt Damon adaptation, though I don’t remember much of it.) Watching the first 3 episodes what instantly stands out is the tones: it’s all black and white and incredibly moody. This is a stylish incarnation (where all 8 episodes are written and directed by Steven Zaillian) moves slowly. There’s lot of space which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. If you’ve seen Andrew Scott in Sherlock you know can do sinister. The limited series is called Ripley but he’s more like a Xenomorph.

Friday, April 05

Scoop (Anytime / Netflix)

Inspired by real events, Scoop is the inside account of the tenacious journalism that landed an earthshattering interview – Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight appearance.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SUGAR: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / APPLE TV+)

John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.
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Series Premiere: The first of two Colin Farrell TV shows this year: The Penguin will be on HBO Max this fall. But first; Sugar is your classic detective prone to violence in the ironically named City of Angels. The rich and powerful have skeletons in their closets and some of em are literal. All 8 episodes are directed by Fernando Meirelles giving the show a cohesion. (I like that, not a fan of different directors for these shorter TV seasons.) Sugar’s Watson is Ruby  and she warns him about taking on the missing heiress case. And of course, the Siegel family who hires Sugar is a hot Hollywood mess. All the classic neo-noir staples so far. A mystery about a terrible tragedy, a lost girl and a “lost” private investigator. Sugar is some sweetness for your TV week.

Saturday, April 06

NCAA Tournament – Final Four (6:09 p.m. & 8:49 p.m. / TBS)

The final four in this March Madness tournament starts with NC State vs Purdue. Two big men going head to head. That’s followed by Alabama vs UConn. Both games are held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. One Shall Stand; One Shall Fall. I’ve been enjoying March Madness so much this year. I’m sad to see it comes to an end. The National Championship will be held on April 8 at 9:20 p.m. on TBS.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: TWO FOR ONE: LIMITED SERIES (8:00 P.M. / TCM)

Host Ben Mankiewicz will be joined by a director to introduce the two films they chose.
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It’s all a bit vague but yeah, basically after a prominent director introduces their two films they’ve chosen: “they will offer commentary on the double feature’s cultural significance, its influence on other films, behind-the-scenes stories, and their own personal reflections.” Tonight is Martin Scorsese with Blood on the Moon (1948) and One Touch of Venus (1948). oooooo: That’s fresh when he talks movies. April 27th is Rian Johnson’s double feature is Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Jewel Robbery (1932). Spike Lee hosts on May 4th with A Face in the Crowd (1957) and Ace in the Hole (1951). June 1 is Ethan Hawke offering The Gunfighter (1950) and Gun Crazy (1950). Following that on June 8 David Byrne shows up with A Matter of Life and Death (1946) and Wings of Desire (1987). For more hosts and their Two For One movies check out the full list here.

Sunday, April 07

Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight (9:00 p.m. / CNN)

Examines the 2003 Space Shuttle disaster across four immersive episodes featuring exclusive interviews and revealing never-before-broadcast footage. Co-produced by BBC, the four-part series premieres with two episodes on Sunday, April 7 at 9:00 p.m. on CNN. The final two episodes will air the following Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. Space Is The Place!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BEACON 23: SEASON 2 (ANYTIME / MGM+)

In Season Two, Beacon 23 is now little more than a prison with Aleph onboard, and The Artifact provides more questions than answers. Without a clear path forward, the inhabitants of Beacon 23 must rely on each other, but their conflicting agendas may get in the way.
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And now a science-fiction mystery thriller. That’s my jam. Plus an Artificial Intelligence humanoid? Oh Yes. Indeed every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster is a government agent while Halan is ex-military and the lonely Beacon-keeper. Got it. But how exactly did Aster end up here? Halan is starting to doubt her and question her agenda…paranoia in space is so deadly. Is Aster is friend or foe? I didn’t read the Hugh Howey novel this is all adapted from; have you? So, I dunno what to expect except shifting alliances and lots of tension because space comes with so much pressure. That’s a recap of Season 1’s strangeness. “In Season Two, Beacon 23 is now little more than a prison with Aleph onboard, and The Artifact provides more questions than answers. Without a clear path forward, the inhabitants of Beacon 23 must rely on each other, but their conflicting agendas may get in the way.” Hopefully this is the latest contribution to the flourishing in space no one can hear you scream genre. Programming Note: Beacon 23: Season 1 was added to Prime Video-Canada on March 15th. No date set yet for Season 2.

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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.