#SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023

Monday, February 06

John Lewis: Good Trouble (Anytime / CBC Gem)

The film explores Georgia representative’s, 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HISTORY’S GREATEST OF ALL TIME WITH PEYTON MANNING (10 P.M. / HISTORY CHANNEL)

The new series counts down the top ten G.O.A.T.s across a single category from titans of industry and daredevils to sports cars and sports stadiums during each hour-long episode.
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Sometimes the G.O.A.T. debate is obvious and not really a debate: Michael Jordan in NBA or Tom Brady in NFL. It’s virtually impossible to see anybody passing those record wins and skills and talent in our lifetimes. Other times though #GOAT is a legit debate. The description of the first two episodes of this 8 episode docuseries: Stadium is Episode 1: “From the Roman Colosseum to Wrigley Field, host Peyton Manning counts down the top 10 stadiums.” Oh, okay them’s fighting words. Episode 2: “Peyton Manning counts down the top ten sports cars of all time as voted on by a panel of experts. From the Mustang to the Ferrari, which car gets your engine running?” And so on. This show will spark a lot of discussion…the hashtag is #GOATonHistory. So let the parking lot rumbles begin!

Tuesday, February 07

Beast (Anytime / Prime Video-US)

A father and his two teenage daughters find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the Savanna has but one apex predator. Basically Jaws on land.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RIGHT TO OFFEND: THE BLACK COMEDY REVOLUTION (ANYTIME / CBC GEM)

The two-part documentary explores the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have articulate the Black experience in America.
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Protests are only as strong as the best art. “Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution explores the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humor to expose, challenge and ridicule society’s injustices and to articulate the Black experience in America.” This aggressive social commentary is something we’ve seen before…like In Living Color. Even a common experience such as racism…there’s an absurd quality to it that naturally creates humour. So over two remarkable parts you’ll hear from Tommy Davidson, Michael Eric Dyson, Norman Lear, Tiffany Haddish, Nelson George, Kevin Hart and so much more. Oh this is so much fun. I saw this A&E docuseries back in the Summer of 2022 and I highly recommend it.

Wednesday, February 08

The Flash: Season 9 (8 p.m. / The CW Network)

Today the final season of The Flash staring Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash kicks off; the final “run”” will be 13 episodes. #SetTheVCR (Shortly after that’s done on June 16, 2023 The Flash movie comes out with ah…Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash. Not at all confusing for audiences: “Hey! Have you seen The Flash?”)
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

The documentary tells the remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon.
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The life of 11 time NBA champion and civil rights leader Bill Russell who passed away on July 31, 2022. (11 championships is one thing, add in two back-to-back NCAA titles, a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Every team Russell was on won big.) Sadly, this is a memorial: this two-part documentary features the last interview with Bill prior to his passing in 2022. Directed by Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI…highly recommended doc) there’s interviews with Bill’s family and friends as well as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jim Brown and many more. The NBA is honoring Bill’s outstanding work by having his number 6 adorn every court in the league. This is the story of the man behind the 6.

Thursday, February 09

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special (Anytime / HBO Max)

As Harley goes to obsessive lengths to ensure that her first Valentine’s Day with Ivy is the best ever, Bane’s efforts to impress an unexpected date go horribly awry.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: YOU: SEASON 4 (PART 1) (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Starting anew in London, Joe vows to bury the past and be his best self. But on the rocky road to redemption, a new obsession starts to take hold.
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The logline is accurate for Season 4 of You: “New year, new country, new persona – and yet Joe can’t seem to shake off his past.” Yup that’s about right. Joe dips his toes (well some of them) in a new country and ends up murdering hot chicks. “You” know how it goes by now. Programming Note: Part 2 comes out March 9, one month later just for…You.

Friday, February 10

At Midnight (Anytime / Paramount+)

At Midnight is a romantic comedy about two people who have made the “safe” choice not to fall in love.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: YOUR PLACE OR MINE (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.
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Some romance as we approached Valentine’s Day: Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher play longtime friends who swap homes and wonder about their relationship. Can boys and girls be friends? Turns out they met and slept together 20 years ago. But come on that’s all in the past. Right? Right… Let’s see what kind of “helpful” advice the best friends give these two potential lovers. So…shall we Netflix and chill at Your Place Or Mine?

Saturday, February 11

Somebody I Used To Know (Anytime / Prime Video)

On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person she’s become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who reminds her of the person she used to be.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE PERFECT 10 (8:00 P.M. / FOX)

The 90-minute documentary shines a spotlight on the only 10 legendary football icons who have achieved one of the rarest dual accomplishments in all professional sports – winning the coveted Heisman Trophy and being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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This is special: The Prefect 10 is about the 10 individuals who’ve won a Heisman Trophy and been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s…rare. 10 dudes in total? This doc brings “seven of the 10 legendary football greats together for the first time to reminisce, share stories and their life journeys to achieve the rare accomplishment they all have in common, winning the Heisman and entering the Hall. The legends who sat down for the once-in-a-lifetime conversation, while the cameras rolled, include Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Barry Sanders, Roger Staubach and FOX Sports’ very own Charles Woodson.” Woodson was the 10th player to do it, inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2021. (Carson Palmer will become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, so maybe he’ll make it 11?). The three who are not taking part are Paul Hornung (died: November 13, 2020) and Doak Walker (died: September 27, 1998). That leaves…O.J. Simpson. Still some Perfect football to enjoy while you wait for the Super Bowl.

Sunday, February 12

Marvel Studios Legends: Ant-Man, Hank & Janet, & Wasp (Anytime / Disney+)

Marvel Studios: Legends weaves together the many threads that constitute the unparalleled Marvel Cinematic Universe. This episode traces those moments big and small that transformed Scott Lang into the tiniest of Earth’s mightiest heroes. Its release is ahead of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania which opens in theaters on February 17, 2023.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SUPER BOWL LVII (6:30 P.M. / FOX)

This will be the fourth Super Bowl hosted by the Phoenix, with the most recent being Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.
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It’s chili and chicken wings o’clock. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles battle it out for NFL supremacy and greatness at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Rihanna is the halftime headliner. And you know what? This has the potential to be a solid Super Bowl. I expect the game to be close, the Chiefs to win, the commercials to be memorable and the chili to be spicy. Oh and for sports fans who are nerds…look out for The Flash movie trailer…and Fast X trailer: both are expected to drop; it won’t all be Tide commercials. Go sports!

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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.