Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form
Set The VCR Classic VHS Logo

#SetTheVCR: December 29, 2019-January 4, 2020

Posted on December 29, 2019December 31, 2023 By Sammy Younan

A New Year; Some Old TV. What are your TV resolutions for 2020?

Sunday, December 29
Sammy Suggestion: Preacher: Complete Season 4 HULU
The 4th and final season is now on Hulu. All done! Preacher concluded on September 29, 2019, after 43 episodes. Though I’ve read the comics I did not watch the tv show. Sometimes it’s great when a tv show is all done and I can sit down with the whole thing. It’s not great for ratings and all that…I get that. Still, as a “trade,” I appreciate it. (I’ll probably do the same thing with American Gods.)

Monday, December 30
Sammy Suggestion: Pavarotti 8 p.m. Showtime
Showtime’s latest documentary Pavarotti will reveal why he’s such…a “big” deal. In 2016 director Ron Howard (produced of course and always by Brian Grazer) gave us The Beatles: Eight Days a Week a documentary on music’s Fantastic Four. We don’t often get docs from Ron Howard; he’s entertained and delighted us with many features (I dig The Paper and Apollo 13) yet music seems to captivate his interest. I dunno much about Pavarotti but I trust Ron Howard enough to go down this road and see what’s what.

Tuesday, December 31
Sammy Suggestion: Happy Death Day Netflix
So look there’s plenty of Dick Clark specials to watch the ball drop and ring in the new year (2020 so sounds like a sci-fi movie!). However, I am suggesting Happy Death Day because it’s Groundhog Day fun. The premise is simple: “A college student must relive the day of her murder over and over again, in a loop that will end only when she discovers her killer’s identity.” However, the execution is what makes it fun and last day of the year worthy. If you were stuck in a loop what would you do differently? Who would you kiss? What would you learn? How would you grow? Sometimes you gotta look back before you look ahead. This movie was written by Scott Lobdell so I mean right there that’s X-cellent. Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 1
Doctor Who: Season 12 8 p.m. BBC America
Brockmire: Complete Season 3 (IFC) Hulu

Sammy Suggestion: Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice 9 p.m. CNN
A Linda Ronstadt documentary: The Sound of My Voice. Huh; I don’t really have any pro or negative Ronstadt feelings. However, it helps it is CNN Films, though. They do such a solid job. Fresh Dressed (2015), The Reagan Show (2017), RBG (2018), Love, Gilda (2018) and Apollo 11 (2019) are all CNN Films. It’s a crazy and surreal banner; much like ESPN’s 30 for 30 you pay attention when CNN airs their latest “film.” Other than that since I dunno anything about Ronstadt I can’t tell if is…No Good. Come on. You hadda know that was coming!

Thursday, January 2
What Is Jeopardy!? Alex Trebek and America’s Most Popular Quiz Show 8 p.m. ABC
Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning 9 p.m. Lifetime

Sammy Suggestion: Alita: Battle Angel Crave
I did not get around to seeing Alita: Battle Angel at a cinema near me. I couldn’t tell if it was good or a turkey. The movie is based on the 1990s Japanese manga series Gunnm by Yukito Kishiro which I never read. It was directed by Robert Rodriguez (not a big fan) and produced by James Cameron who co-wrote the script (I broke up with James yet again following the latest Terminator! Skynet Save Me!!). So I dunno. Some red flags; some interesting possibilities. Movies like this are great for streaming services and I’m glad it’s on Crave as of today. Let’s press Play and see what happens, shall we?

Friday, January 3
Ilana Glazer: The Planet is Burning Amazon Prime Video

Sammy Suggestion: The Imitation Game Netflix
The Imitation Game was uploaded to Netflix on January 1st so you’ve got some time to check it out. True Story: “During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.” Benedict Cumberbatch plays yet another brilliant jerkface (his Alan Turing has more humanity than his Sherlock but isn’t as cool as his Doctor Strange) and Matthew Goode is in this as well; keep waiting for him to breakout: that investment will jackpot one of these fine days. A decent WWII thriller with spies: those are usually entertaining.

Saturday, January 4
Sammy Suggestion: Dracula: Season 1 Netflix
The basic facts that make Dracula must see tv and why you should invite him into your home! Of course, it’s based on Bram Stoker’s novel however this series is by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat our friends over at Sherlock! (And Doctor Who!!). So that makes it a BBC production (well BBC-Netflix production). It’s 3 episodes though as we saw with Sherlock each episode is over an hour. So I am fully 100% in…I doubt this will…wait for it: suck!

Sammy Baltic Web

Sammy Younan @ W • T • F

Set The VCR Tags:#SetTheVCR, Comic Books

Post navigation

Previous Post: #SetTheVCR for Sunday, March 31 to Saturday, April 6, 2019
Next Post: #SetTheVCR: January 5-11, 2020

More Related Articles

#SetTheVCR: September 02-08, 2024 Set The VCR
Set The VCR Classic Logo #SetTheVCR for Sunday, January 13 to Saturday, January 19, 2019 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: April 26-May 2, 2020 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: March 11-17, 2024 Set The VCR
#CouchWorthy: June 2024 TV Highlights Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: June 13-19, 2022 Set The VCR
  • #SetTheVCR: August 25-31, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is dedicated to my Stans.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 18-24, 2024
    by Sammy Younan
    Night Always Comes and like a TV Gambler you seek bold TV Recommendations without going Eenie Meanie. Once again #SetTheVCR is here to help, always cooler than Devo.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 11-17, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week’s TV recommendations are all locations from The Kingdom to Magic City to Alien: Earth. When it comes to Sammy Suggestions for #MustSeeTV I’m a #SetTheVCR Rainmaker.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 28 – August 03, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From a Red Eye to Area 51 this week’s TV Recommendations will make you put up your Twisted Metal. I dunno what that means, either, though I do know it’s #SetTheVCR time.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 21-27, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    OPEN Happy Gilmore 2 is the TV Pick. TEXT This week’s TV Recommendations range from a Holy War to a Code of Silence. And Happy Gilmore is back…with a (golf) range like that it can only be #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 14-20, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Welcome To The Summer I Turned on The TV enjoying an Apocalypse and many Home Runs. With these recommendations #SetTheVCR is for TV Rif Raf and Amateurs.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 7-13, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    #SetTheVCR is your Institute for TV Recommendations: from Trainwrecks to Jaws I drop it like it's hot!
  • #SetTheVCR: June 30 – July 6, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    New Sandman means new TV dreams for this week to let your Old Guard down and enjoy TV Recommendations just like Sinners. It’s #SetTheVCR so let’s get Lost Together.
  • #SetTheVCR: June 23-29, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Here's a Countdown of TV Recommendations. For those who're Young Werther or those with an Ironheart this is #SetTheVCR.
  • Morning Tea: Happy UFO Day 2025!July 2, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • Trial By Trailer: The Running Man (A Remake…)July 1, 2025
    Trail By Trailer is judging a book by its cover or in this case...a movie by its trailer. Are you 100% IN or is it a Hard Pass?
  • #CouchWorthy: Barbara Walters: Tell Me EverythingJune 22, 2025
    Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism and the challenges women face in achieving success.
  • #CouchWorthy: Bono: Stories of SurrenderMay 29, 2025
    Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender now streaming on Apple TV.
  • #CouchWorthy: Super Team CanadaMay 16, 2025
    Super Team Canada follows six lesser known and underrated Canadian superheroes, tasked with saving the world.
  • #CouchWorthy: Murderbot: Season 1 May 15, 2025
    Murderbot a private security cyborg hides its acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments is simultaneously drawn to humans.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme