#SetTheVCR: August 24-30, 2026

The Undeclared War is what to watch on TV, we all want TV Recommendations that Whisper Wham! With maybe some Zombies. #SetTheVCR is your Kobe sure shot.

Monday, August 24

Revival: Season 1 (Anytime / Netflix-US)

One miraculous day in rural Wisconsin the deceased rise from their graves, yet appear and act unchanged. And now it is up to Officer and single mother Dana Cypress to solve a murder case where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. The first season of the Syfy adapting the Image Comics horror comic book series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton comes to American Netflix.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RELIGION OF SPORTS PODCAST: THE CULT OF KOBE (ANYTIME / YOUTUBE)

Go into any major metropolis in China, Italy, or Los Angeles, and you won’t just find basketball fans—you’ll find an entirely unique spiritual ecosystem built around the gospel of the Black Mamba. Filmmaker Gotham Chopra returns to the microphone to examine how the sheer intensity of Kobe Bryant’s career transcended standard athletic fandom, mutating into a global, boundary-defying cultural phenomenon.
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Kobe is a multi-million dollar catalyst. Though it’s a slight exaggeration, the Religion of Sports concept kinda stems from an inside joke that director Gotham Chopra used to pitch to Kobe Bryant while they traveled the world filming Kobe Bryant’s Muse. Chopra frequently joked that while there is a general “religion of sports,” (obviously influenced by his upbringing with his father, Deepak Chopra) Kobe had managed to fashion a literal, global “cult” around his dynamic Mamba Mentality. That connective realization is what originally inspired Chopra to co-found his multi-million dollar audio and film empire alongside sports royalty Tom Brady and Michael Strahan. NBA ball talk often revolves around stats, highlights and championship rings. And it should: winning matters so much. Winning defines the drive. But this latest offering from the Sportuality podcast is a deep-dive that respects the hardwood like a holy altar. Chopra examines how Kobe’s personal evolution completely mirrored ancient spiritual and wisdom traditions. The podcast tracks how a kid from Philly transformed himself into a transcendent figure who influenced human behavior through sheer discipline. “We are going to be interviewing people who have been inspired by Kobe and have translated his Mamba Mentality into something meaningful in their life.” to quote the trailer. That’s the impressive will of a Green Lantern, son. You don’t even need to be a Lakers fan to appreciate the intense psychological depth on display here. And this podcast is the best way to celebrate: Kobe Day.

Tuesday, August 25

The Christophers (Anytime / Hulu & Prime Video-Canada)

The estranged children of a once-famous artist hire a forger to complete his unfinished works so they can be “discovered” and sold after his death.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: AMERICAN MASTERS: MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD (9:00 P.M. / PBS)

Shaped by a solitary childhood, a lifelong romance, and a deep devotion to the wilderness, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mary Oliver became one of the best-selling poets in American history. This intimate documentary looks past her intensely private exterior to explore the traumatic early life, the artistic muses, and the Cape Cod landscape that inspired her iconic masterpieces like Wild Geese.
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It’s rare to use this space to recommend a poetry documentary. That’s not exactly a flourishing genre. And, full disclosure…I’ve never read any Mary Oliver. From what I can tell though? If poetry ever had a legitimate pop icon, Mary Oliver was it. While she spent nearly fifty years stalking the ponds and forests of Provincetown to avoid the public eye, her words became a modern secular liturgy for millions of readers. (Is any of that true? This PBS doc is part of the “American Masters” collection.) Directed by Sasha Waters, this feature-length documentary pulls off something incredibly tricky: it honors Oliver’s notable legacy as America’s favorite nature mystic without sanitizing her reality. It openly digs into her incredibly dark, broken childhood home and her fifty-year relationship with her partner and photographer, Molly Malone Cook. As I said, I dunno any of this. This all what Google has told me and I accepted without question. I’m on more solid ground with the doc’s recitations and commentary from Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Colbert, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi and even cult filmmaker John Waters, who was a close personal friend of the couple. Other than addressing my ignorance, that poetic powerhouse lineup is a key reason why I’m recommending this documentary. A poetry doc on PBS…keep your tote bag ready and see if you can come up with something that rhymes with orange.

Wednesday, August 26

One Hundred Years of Solitude: Grand Finale (Anytime / Netflix)

Following the signing of the armistice, peace still does not reach Macondo. Fearful of Colonel Aureliano Buendía’s threats, the Conservatives plot an assassination attempt that – by a twist of fate – brings Fernanda del Carpio from Bogotá to the town. When she marries Aureliano Segundo, one of the bastard Arcadio’s twin sons, she gives Úrsula Iguarán her first legitimate heirs. This Grand Finale concludes the epic and sprawling adaptation of the 1967 novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! (ANYTIME / HOLLYWOOD SUITE)

If you put Mel Brooks, Ed Wood, and South Park into a blender you’d get Vampire Zombies…From Space! an over-the-top comedy which satirizes and pays homage to drive-in, creature-feature horror films of the 1950’s. From the depths of space, Dracula has devised his most dastardly plan yet; turning the residents of the small town of Marlow into his personal army of vampire zombies! A motley crew consisting of a grizzled detective, a skeptical rookie cop, a chain-smoking greaser, and a determined young woman band together to save the world from Vampire Zombies…From Space!
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Do I really need to tell you what Vampire Zombies…From Space! is about? Rather, check out this passionate MSL conversation between two fans of B-movies and magic. We go back…way back. Some of the movies writer/director Michael Stasko and I discuss include Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957), Invaders from Mars (1953), They Live (1988), Night of the Living Dead (1968), old school Halloween (1978) and so much more. Whew. Notable Vampire Zombies…From Space! cast includes: Craig Gloster plays Dracula (his Dracula is amazing!!), Lloyd Kaufman (the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio) and Judith O’Dea (who played Barbara in 1968 as in “they’re coming to get you, Barbra!” yeah that Barbara). If you dig Mel Brooks and classic horror movies and B-movies and magic and you enjoy laughing, this movie is totally your jam. (Vampire Zombies…From Space! with the fishing line holding up the UFOs and the zombies and its modern comedy, truly belongs in every decade channel on Hollywood Suite. Yeah, it’s a 2026 movie but you wouldn’t be shocked or surprised to discover it on the dedicated ‘70s or ‘80s movie channels.)

Thursday, August 27

Adults: Season 2 (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

An ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither “good” nor “people” yet. Samir, Billie, Paul Baker, Issa and Anton share their meals, anxieties and, occasionally, toothbrushes. Over the eight-episode season, the housemates tackle capital-R Responsibility to varying degrees of success.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE UNDECLARED WAR: SEASON 2 (ANYTIME / PEACOCK & CHANNEL 4)

Set in 2024, The Undeclared War returns with a fresh wave of tension and drama as the elite Malware Department at GCHQ grapples with the aftermath of a devastating Russian cyber-attack. Just when it seems the UK has gained the upper hand, Danny and his team discover a mole in their midst and uncover a far more dangerous threat.
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This imported show is basically Mr. Robot with British accents. If you thought the digital tensions in the first season were tight, Season 2 cranks the paranoia up to a crisp 4K maximum. (Paranoia > Anxiety!) This time, the cyberattack is Britain’s electoral system. The exact same voter fraud that President Trump and so many other Republicans are irresponsibility concerned about. Speaking of President Trump, this season features a weaponized Twitter misinformation campaign, a high-level mole (those are the best kinds of moles!) and, of course: Simon Pegg returns. Season 2 offers a claustrophobic, techno-thriller that actually respects your intelligence because…it’s so deeply rooted in contemporary intelligence. (Just because America has the CIA doesn’t mean they have a dedicated monopoly on intelligence.) Officially, we’ve gone from You Got Mail to You Got Malware. Programming Note: Season 2 debuted on July 21, 2026, in the UK on Channel 4 and it’s touching down in the US via Peacock. Press play but only…if you are absolutely sure about the link.

Friday, August 28

Dark Matter: Season 2 (Anytime / Apple TV)

In season one, the series followed Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Jennifer Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, threatening to tear their fragile stability apart. Elsewhere, Amanda and Ryan join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE WHISPER MAN (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as The Whisper Man.
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I struggled with Alex North’s novel and did not finish reading it. So like high school, I’ll just watch the movie and skip the novel. Granted, Robert De Niro has become sand in your underwear annoying with his generic anti-Trump rhetoric. Dude, we all get it. Still, can he do what he’s actually good at…is this a return to a special De Niro performance? Or will he sleepwalk through this performance an an old-school, grizzled detective like it’s another eye rolling Fockers movie? With stage whispers from a cast you know well: Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan and Hamish Linklater, the word of mouth 0buzz about Whisper Man (produced by the Russo brothers’) is this mid-budget thriller actually has the potential to become real cinema instead of just cheap algorithmic white noise which only whisper sweet nothings. Plus, what this movie offers the novel could not is gloriously atmospheric…those rain soaked streets like it’s a dark ‘90s detective thriller. Who is the grimy Manhunter here: Adam Scott or Robert De Niro? Either way, it’s no “secret:” the serial killer is in trouble.

Saturday, August 29

The Simpsons: Yellow Mirror (Anytime / Disney+)

A defective lamp reveals a heartbreaking truth about what Homer believes is reality, and an AI-powered tablet befriends and controls Maggie. The Simpsons struggle to find the light through two dark tales of the curious and bizarre in this Disney+ exclusive.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA (ANYTIME / iPLAYER)

In April 1985, at the absolute peak of their global fame, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley pulled off a staggering geopolitical feat: becoming the very first Western pop group to perform in communist China. Combining flawlessly restored archive footage with modern-day interviews, this 90-minute documentary explores the 10-day tour that shook a nation, introducing electric guitars and pop culture to a society undergoing a massive cultural transformation.
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Do you remember Wham!’s classic Freedom video released back in 1984? The music video opens with reflections from George and Andrew on their China visit before running a compilation of charming highlights. (Soccer!) Think of that scrapbook Freedom video as a trailer for this compelling 2026 documentary. Wham! 10 Days in China revisits that surreal moment when Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go met the political complexities of the Cold War. On paper, it sounds like a music documentary. In reality, (now on the BBC) it’s something much bigger. With Wham! 10 Days in China, director Mike Christie takes a story most of us thought we knew—Wham!’s historic 1985 concerts in China—and reframes it as a fascinating moment of cultural exchange, politics, history and, yes, dazzling pop music. As for MSL, while Mike and I do discuss Wham! 10 Days in China, we recorded a broad conversation about creativity starting with Pet Shop Boys, New Order and Nick Cave…extending to Dungeons and Dragons.

Sunday, August 30

Robot Chicken: 25th Anniversary Special (Midnight / Adult Swim)

A celebratory cruise ship trip bringing together characters from across the network’s 25-year history: Appearances and cameos include Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Moral Orel, Smiling Friends, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, and Dethklok from Metalocalypse as the onboard band. This streams the next day on HBO Max.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HOLLYWOOD CRIME STORY: THE MOB TAKES OVER THE MOVIES (ANYTIME / AMC+ & SUNDANCE NOW)

A gripping documentary series uncovering how organized crime infiltrated Hollywood across the 20th century. As stars and gangsters overlapped, the line between glamour and crime blurred through unions, financing and the hidden power brokers. From early mob influence to later scandals and crackdowns, the series reveals how deeply the underworld shaped the film industry. From union extortion and financial manipulation to money laundering through actual film budgets, the underworld’s reach stretched far deeper into Tinsel Town than anyone cared to admit. This gripping three-part docuseries uncovers the secret history of how organized crime actively infiltrated, funded, and shaped the American film industry across the 20th century.
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I figure with the whole Warner Bros hot mess, revisiting the time the mob ran Hollywood is good timing. Honestly, I’m exhausted from the devoid all nuance, aggressive, irrational hysteria marketed as a legitimate reaction to President Trump. Dude…the mafia used to run Hollywood! The most ruthless gangsters weren’t just wise guys on a movie screen with tommy guns—they were controlling the purse strings behind the scenes. This three-part docuseries is basically The Godfather meets E! True Hollywood Story. It tracks how the mob moved seamlessly from standard bootlegging right into controlling Hollywood’s unions and studio bank accounts. The series does a phenomenal job of looking past flashy headline-grabbers like Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen to focus on the true, quiet architect of Tinsel Town corruption: fixer Sidney Korshak. Korshak ran a “Supermob” that essentially operated as Hollywood’s unseen power broker, mediating between studio executives and mafiosos while directly influencing how films like The Godfather actually got made. And you thought Ari Gold with a paint gun was ruthless! Evolving into the modern era, the sordid fun continues; the ‘70s and ‘80s reveals the wild true stories of how mob money made from adult cinema was funneled into distributing legendary indie horror flicks like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Look, is the panic over the Warner Bros merge valid? Some of it is, is fine. But, let’s not act like it’s new or different or even scary. This docuseries offers a sleazy, fascinating and well-researched ride that proves American cinema has always been a little bit criminal.