Sammy Younan
Girth Radio Presents…
Comic book movies and NBA games…either way you’re gonna chill with superheroes in this week’s #SetTheVCR.
Sunday, August 9
Sammy Suggestion: NBA Games (12:30 pm-? / ESPN, NBA TV, ABC)
There’s 7 NBA games today starting at 12:30 pm. What a wonderfully lazy Sunday: put the NBA on and doze on the couch. That’s a rare and beautiful gift. For all the darkness and frustrations we’ve endured since March; when grief ends hope begins.
Monday, August 10
Sammy Suggestion: Jim Jefferies @ JFL: Volume One (Anytime / Crave)
If you have Garfield’s sad Monday feelings then get ready to have his happy lasagne emotions! How about jokes from two cool comedians: Jim Jefferies and Dave Merheje. I mean that right there is a stand up comedy dynamic duo. This JFL (Just for Laughs) special also has a Volume 2 which is also on Crave though Volume One’s line up is better. (Bonus jokes and fun? You can enjoy solo Jim Jefferies comedy specials on Netflix and since you’re there check out Dave Merheje’s special as part of Comedians of the World.) You “Odie” yourself to get some comedy in your pop culture diet. (Last Garfield reference…)
Tuesday, August 11
Hard Knocks: Los Angeles (10 p.m. / HBO)
Sammy Suggestion: Rob Schneider: Asian Momma, Mexican Kids (Anytime / Netflix)
In June 2019 I happily got to see Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider perform stand up comedy for the first time. Adam, I knew what to expect…Rob though was a revelation. If this special is based on the material he performed you are in for a comedic treat. If it made the cut there’s a fantastic bit he did about growing up and a Mom’s superpowers. And if it didn’t make the cut? Well, we’ll always have Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.
Wednesday, August 12
Sammy Suggestion: Ruff Ryders: Chronicles (10 p.m. / BET)
On Wednesday, July 29 my recommendation was No Limit Chronicles which is Master P’s Last Dance: a five-part docuseries. Well, BET has followed up with more Chronicles with the group who asked you to: “stop, drop, shut ’em down, open up shop.” Yes, the “Ruff Ryders get a 5 part Chronicles. Who should BET chronicle next?
Thursday, August 13
Sammy Suggestion: Teenage Bounty Hunters: Season 1 (Anytime / Netflix)
A #SetTheVCR Heads Up: Teenage Bounty Hunters actually drops tomorrow. Still, with tomorrow’s recommendation being Bloodshot we may as well talk about this TV show now.
“Twin sisters Sterling and Blair balance teen life at an elite Southern high school with an unlikely new career as butt-kicking bounty hunters.” I assume they’ll be balancing bail skipping bad guys while dealing with cute boys who ghost em…it’s all the same really. Even odder? Kadeem Hardison plays Bowser Simmons, a bounty hunter though no word if he’s got those flip-up sunglasses. Ah Netflix and their quirky TV shows…it’s A Different World.
Friday, August 14
Ted Lasso: Season 1 (Anytime / Apple TV)
Project Power (Anytime / Netflix)
Sammy Suggestion: Bloodshot (8 p.m. / Starz)
Bloodshot was released on March 13 right around the time the NBA shutdown along with most of North America. The pandemic obviously hampered Bloodshot’s box office earnings (though it did open in China in late July.). A healthy box office was “important” because this movie was Valiant Comics’ Iron Man. As that Robert Downey, Jr. movie big banged the MCU; Bloodshot was intended to create a Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe; Harbinger was to follow Bloodshot. And yes this would mean Valiant’s Robert Downey, Jr. is Vin Diesel. (Which would be impressive…Vin is in MCU and Fast and Furious two of the biggest and most successful shared cinematic universes.) So with everything in doubt…I dunno where we stand. Watch this and decide: do you want another shared cinematic universe? Will non-nerd audiences come out for comic book movies like Harbinger? Or all these plans and schemes Bloodshot?
Saturday, August 15
Sammy Suggestion: Birds of Prey (8 p.m. / HBO)
I was not a bird watcher of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) at the movies. In an effort to distance themselves from Marvel; DC Films continues to try different things and the results are mixed. Birds was a Suicide Squad movie spinoff film though the problem was Squad was “strictly for the birds:” at 59% on Rotten Tomatoes the audience score is generously high. (When you google Suicide Squad the people also ask section includes: Is Suicide Squad a bad movie? lol!). And though the movie was released in February it’s theatrical run was cut short due to the pandemic (though it was clear audiences weren’t exactly flocking to Birds of Prey.). So a little bird told me it didn’t do as well at the box office. DC is clearly trying but this might be more E for Effort. For now, you get a bird’s eye view of this movie: “After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.”
