#SetTheVCR: August 18-24, 2024

Monday, August 18

The Legend Of Ochi (Anytime / Prime Video-Canada & HBO Max)

A young girl learns to never go outside after dark because of reclusive forest creatures known as the ochi. However, when a baby ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite it with its family.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NIGHT ALWAYS COMES (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Facing eviction in Portland a city her family can no longer afford, a woman plunges into a desperate and increasingly dangerous all-night search to raise $25,000.
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Vanessa Kirby plays Lynette, who shares a little house in Portland with her mother Doreen (Jennifer Jason Leigh). The owner is selling the house that Lynette and Doreen have been renting. Lynette is informed she can still have the house if she can raise $25,000 by the following morning. But if she fails, their house will be sold to someone else. How do you raise $25,000 in 24 hours? You don’t want to know. Or rather if you do want to know…check out Night Always Comes.

Tuesday, August 19

Above the Tide: 20 Years After Katrina (Anytime / ESPN+)

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Louisiana native and Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark examines the storm’s lingering impact on the city and its resilient people. Eh…I’m not really a Ryan Clark fan on ESPN. Though Hurricane Katrina does have a direct ESPN/sports connection. In the aftermath of the massive storm, The New Orleans Hornets spent 2 full NBA seasons (2005-2007) playing in OKC. That was the groundwork for the eventual move of the Seattle SuperSonics who relocated and became the Thunder in the 2008-2009 NBA season.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: AMERICA’S TEAM: THE GAMBLER AND HIS COWBOYS (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

A man who bet it all. A series of calculated risks. A team meticulously designed for greatness. America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is the definitive story of The Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones’ impact on NFL history. What began as a daring purchase led to the assembly of the iconic ’90s football team – a decade-plus journey, led by Jones’ intrepid business moves, that revolutionized global sports and resulted in three NFL titles. Through first-hand interviews and never-before-seen footage, this series unravels the dramatic twists and turns on the road to the Cowboys becoming the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
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“You glorify the past. When the future dries up.” The Cowboys (like the Leafs) have glory days…though they’re currently inglorious. This is a hey, remember when we were cool? documentary. The Netflix tagline for this documentary is telling. “On August 19, experience the historic rise of one of the greatest teams in all of sports.” The “historic rise” means it’s all past tense. The Chiefs documentary is contemporary, they’re winning right now. The Netflix tagline for this documentary is telling. “On August 19, experience the historic rise of one of the greatest teams in all of sports.” The “historic rise” means it’s all past tense. The Chiefs documentary (last week on Disney+) is contemporary, they’re winning right now. Well. Shall we gamble on this NFL docuseries So far we got a Lakers docuseries (2022’s Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers; a 10-part documentary series on Hulu), Celtics (2025’s Celtic City; a 9-part documentary series on HBO Max), Bulls (2020’s The Last Dance; a 10-part documentary series on Netflix & ESPN+), Patriots (2024’s The Dynasty: New England Patriots; a 10-part documentary series on Apple TV+) and now Chiefs (The Kingdom on ESPN+ & Disney+) and Cowboys documentaries. Which great team or sports franchise should get next?! Programming Note: Apparently, the answer to my question is The New York Jets. On August 21 Prime Video drops The Home Team: NY Jets a “revealing six-part docuseries that follows six New York Jets players and their partners – including Quinnen & Maranda Williams; Alijah & Jessie Vera-Tucker; Allen Lazard & Camila Escribens; Tyler & Scottie Conklin; Chuck & Aysha Clark; and C.J. Mosley & Jamie Reiff – throughout the 2024-25 regular season. The series will provide an authentic peek into the emotional journey these players and their families go on over the course of a 17-game NFL season.” Eh, sure. Jets are losers. Not sure what the appeal is to watch that?

Wednesday, August 20

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox: Limited Series (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

Grace Van Patten—a late replacement for Margaret Qualley (who left due to scheduling issues)—plays Amanda Knox in this based-on-a-true story drama chronicling Knox’s wrongful conviction and eventual acquittal for the murder of her roommate while studying abroad in Italy.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: DEVO (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

In 1980, new wave band Devo scored a hit with “Whip It” and gained mainstream success with their message of societal “de-evolution”, formed in response to the 1970 Kent State shootings.
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Like I’ve been Working in the Coal Mine, I actually don’t know a whole lot about Devo. Thankfully this documentary traces the band’s origins and “how their “de-evolution” ideology came to be after Bob and Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob and Gerald Casale, and Alan Myers witnessed the 1970 Kent State shootings, as well as their rise to fame on the back of 1980’s Whip It.” So, Here We Go. I will be Devo-ted to this on Netflix.

Thursday, August 21

The Unbreakable Boy (Anytime / Starz)

Austin is a boy with both a rare brittle-bone disease and autism. But what makes Austin truly unique is his joyous, funny, life-affirming worldview that transforms and unites everyone around him. Eh, it is what it is.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PEACEMAKER: SEASON 2 (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

In Season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be. But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.
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Before Superman, Peacemaker was out here being an inspiration for the kids. Put that in your D.A.R.E. pipe and smoke it. For Season 2 James Gunn offers viewers an interdimensional portal, two Peacemakers, (two Eaglys??), Tim Meadows and a vengeance-seeking Rick Flagg Sr. So I’m 100% In, I want a “peace” of all this action…

Friday, August 22

Invasion: Season 3 (Anytime / Apple TV+)

Invasion follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world. In season three, those perspectives collide for the first time, as the series’ main characters are brought together to work as a team on a critical mission to infiltrate the alien mothership. The ultimate apex aliens have finally emerged, rapidly spreading their deadly tendrils across the planet. It will take all heroes working together, using their experience and expertise, to save the species. New relationships are formed, old relationships are challenged and even shattered, as an international cast of characters must become a team before it’s too late. The 10-episode third season returns with one episode, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through October 24, 2025.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HOSTAGE: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

When the British prime minister’s husband is kidnapped and the French president starts receiving threats, both leaders must face an impossible choice.
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Oh, yes…Julie Delpy plays the French president courting the far right anti-immigrant sentiment in the name of re-election. She’s also facing a tough negotiation with UK prime minister, Abigail Dalton. When the PM’s husband Alex is kidnapped in French Guiana, his fate is in Julie Delpy’s hands. But she has a personal weakness that makes her an easy target for blackmail. We got political intrigue, blackmail, kidnapping, violating ethnical principles and more. For five episodes Netflix will keep you…Hostage.

Saturday, August 23

Fixed (Anytime / Netflix)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: After learning he’s getting neutered, a dog has 24 hours to squeeze in one last balls-to-the-wall adventure with the boys in this raunchy adult comedy. From visionary director Genndy Tartakovsky comes “Fixed,” an adult animated comedy about Bull, an average, all-around good dog who discovers he’s going to be neutered in the morning! As the gravity of this life-altering event sets in, Bull realizes he needs one last adventure with his pack of best friends as these are the last 24 hours with his balls! What could go wrong…?
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: EENIE MEANIE (ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+ CANADA)

A former teenage getaway driver gets dragged back into her unsavory past when a former employer offers her a chance to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.
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Kinda screaming Baby Driver without the charm however it’s a heist movie and that means Getaway Driving Skills so I’m up for that. Samara Weaving is dope as well, that helps. Even though the movie is called Eenie Meanie you can’t always be so choosey.

Sunday, August 24

The Map That Leads to You (Anytime / Prime Video)

A woman meets an enigmatic stranger on a European trip. Their instant attraction faces challenges from life, duty and secrets that change her life forever. This adaptation of JP Monninger’s novel follows Heather as she sets off on an adventure across Europe with her best friends before she crosses paths with Jack, a magnetic and mysterious stranger.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: OASIS: LIVE AT THE CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM (ANYTIME /HOLLYWOOD SUITE)

Following the release of their 6th studio album, Oasis: Live at the City of Manchester Stadium (2005) documents the band’s triumphant return to their hometown, Manchester, for the concert of a lifetime. Directed by famed music film director Dick Carruthers (Led Zeppelin Celebration Day, The Rolling Stones Bridges To Babylon).
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“Maybe I will never be / All the things that I wanna be / Now is not the time to cry / Now’s the time to find out why / I think you’re the same as me / We see things they’ll never see / You and I are gonna live forever.” Enjoy the Canadian premiere of Oasis: Live at the City of Manchester Stadium. Noel Gallagher impressively shreds on Live Forever during this concert special. Didn’t know the bloke had it in him. Manchester…2005 was magical. None of us knew it was the beginning of the end. This concert was 2 months after Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah’s couch. Facebook and MySpace expanded to include high school students and we’re off.

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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.