#SetTheVCR: April 08-14, 2024

Monday, April 08

26.2 to Life (9:00 p.m. / ESPN)

This documentary tells the story of incarcerated men at San Quentin Prison who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison’s long distance running club, who train all year for the prison’s 26.2 mile marathon.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SILENT NIGHT (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+ CANADA)

A grieving father enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve.
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“To all the party people that are on my ballsack / I’ve got more action than my man, John Woo / And I’ve got mad hits like I was Rod Carew…” So say the Beastie Boys. Welcome back John Woo! It’s John Woo so I’m 100% IN for this “what if Bruce died but Thomas Wayne” lived John Woo-special.

Tuesday, April 09

Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion (Anytime / HBO Max & Crave)

Did you watch The Curse of Von Dutch? Or LuLaRich? Or White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie? This latest fashion faux pas uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NEAL BRENNAN: CRAZY GOOD (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Crazy Good follows Neal’s previous Netflix original comedy specials Blocks and 3 Mics, as well as his half hour featured in Comedians Of The World.
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In this stand-up special Neal Brennan reflects (and mocks?) on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health. Have you seen his Netflix special: 3 Mics? Neal Brennan continues to create compelling comedy. What he’s doing is literally so special. Make some tea and chill with this one.

Wednesday, April 10

Lisa Frankenstein (Anytime / Peacock)

A coming of rage love story about a teenager and her crush, who happens to be a corpse. After a set of horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a journey to find love, happiness – and a few missing body parts.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: CHUCKY: SEASON 3 (PART 2) (10:00 P.M. / SYFY & SHOWCASE)

Before Annabelle of the Conjuring movie series, there was another terrifying doll.
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The third season of SYFY’s Chucky was split into two parts because of the Hollywood strikes. Well, the wait is over. The TV Guide reads: “In Chucky’s unending thirst for power, Season 3 sees Chucky ensconced with the most powerful family in the world – America’s First Family, inside the infamous walls of the White House. How did Chucky wind up here? What in God’s name does he want? And how can Jake, Devon and Lexy possibly get to Chucky inside the world’s most secure house, all while balancing the pressures of romantic relationships and growing up? Meanwhile, Tiffany faces looming execution on death row for “Jennifer Tilly’s” murderous rampage.” There’s a psycho in the White House? How disturbing.

Thursday, April 11

Night Swim (Anytime / Peacock)

A family moves into a new home, unaware that a dark secret from the house’s past will unleash a malevolent force in the backyard pool. I saw this at the movies…it’s a bit corny. However, Stephen King tweeted out: “Don’t believe the critics. This is a terrific suspense movie.”
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: FALLOUT: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind – and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.
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Series Premiere: I was shocked the Oscars got it right and recognized Oppenheimer for Best Picture. The Academy Awards are often numb to popular culture. And strangely, the atomic bomb has created so much pop culture. From many of the Marvel characters co-created by Stan Lee or Las Vegas aka Atomic City and so much more including now…Fallout. This Prime Video TV show is a post-apocalyptic drama created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (to go full circle back to Oppenheimer. It’s a strange coincidence two brothers are mining atomic culture at the same time. Jonathan directed the first three episodes if you wanna compare their work.). Yes, it’s based on the role-playing video game franchise created, which I’ve never played so I can’t speak on the faithful quality of this adaptation. This is a post-WWII retrofuturistic society: robots and old timey TVs, you know? Anyways as Episode 1 unfolds: “The survivors took refuge in fallout bunkers known as Vaults, built to preserve humanity in the event of nuclear annihilation. 219 years later, a young woman leaves behind her home in Vault 33 to venture out into the dangerously brutal, hostile, savage and unforgiving Wasteland of a devastated Los Angeles.” I’ve seen the entire first season and I really enjoyed it.

Friday, April 12

Franklin: Limited Series (Anytime / Apple TV+)

Limited Series Premiere: Based on Stacy Schiff’s book, A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, Franklin an eight-part limited series released weekly explores the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE GREATEST HITS (ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+ CANADA)

A love story centering on the connection between music and memory and how they transport us, sometimes literally.
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We talk about time travelling as if it’s a theoretical. When the truth is…music is an incredible time machine. There are certain songs, even full albums that are time machines. They instantly transport us to the past. Granted, it’s a past we can’t change but it’s a past we can revisit. “Harriet finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend , her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present. As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change the past, should she?” The former boyfriend is David Corenswet who James Gunn, recently cast as Superman back in June 2023. I dunno who he is or if he’s any good, so time to find out.

Saturday, April 13

Legion: The Complete Series (Anytime / Crave)

David Haller is a troubled young man diagnosed as schizophrenic, but after a strange encounter he discovers special powers that will change his life forever. This is a Marvel TV Show…
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: C’MON C’MON (ANYTIME / CBC GEM)

When his sister asks him to look after her son, a radio journalist embarks on a cross-country trip with his energetic nephew to show him life away from Los Angeles.
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Joaquin Phoenix is so good at creating this intimate portraits. If you’ve seen Her or enjoyed Signs you know what I’m talking about. C’mon C’mon is a mellow drama about relationships and families all told in black and white. Just a simple movie with no unending continuity or massive explosions. A sweet weekend palate cleanser.

Sunday, April 14

Secrets of the Hells Angels (10 p.m. / A&E)

Under former leader Sonny Barger, the Hells Angels “brotherhood” expanded across the United States. With continued accusations of criminal activity, the biker club became known as a serious threat and not to be crossed. Secrets of the Hells Angels examines the history of the group of outlaws to uncover the organization’s darkest secrets. Truthfully, I just wanna see if they cover Altamont Free Concert and Hunter S. Thompson’s work over the eight-episode series.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE SYMPATHIZER: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

An espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
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Limited Series Premiere: Robert Downey Jr. in makeup. Remember how good Tropic Thunder was? (And is? And will always be?) That’s the whole entire hook. Robert Downey Jr. in makeup. Worked for Mike Myers in Austin Powers. Same fantastic hook. I’m sold.

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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.