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

#SetTheVCR: January 02 – 08, 2023

Posted on January 2, 2023January 23, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on #SetTheVCR: January 02 – 08, 2023

We got Witch Hunts, Giuliani’s evolution from Rudy to Doody, Soft Rock and…Edgar Allan Poe. Welcome to 2023 and #SetTheVCR!

Monday, January 02

The Bad Guys (Anytime / Crave)

To avoid prison, a gang of notorious animal criminals pretend to seek being rehabilitated, only for their leader to secretly find that he genuinely wants to change his ways.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: ALL OF THEM WITCHES (10:00 P.M. / AMC)

The one-hour documentary will explore an alternate and authentic history told from the perspective of today’s most well-known, practicing witches, as well as scholars of history and anthropology.
~~~

In 2017’s IT movie menacing murdering clown Pennywise promised the kids of Derry: “They all float down here. You’ll float, too.” An obvious nod to the grim sewer waters where their bodies will eventually float…a dark death visual. “You’ll float” was also a clever horror reference by Stephen King recognizing the grisly practice of witch swimming; dunking women accused of witchcraft in a body of water to determine if they’ll sink or float. Floating was a guilty verdict: they all float down here. I’m sad this All of Them Witches special is only an hour; it’s really meant to serve as a companion to Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches; AMC’s new horror TV show. There’s so much to cover and an hour is not enough; still this TV special explores the “history of Witch Hunts, paganism and voodoo, and challenges the myths that have become the fabric of popular culture.” Hopefully audiences will be bewitched by the special prompting AMC to do a proper docuseries. Programming Note: All of Them Witches will debut on Sunday, January 8 at 9pm across all five of AMC Networks’ Linear Networks: BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv will join AMC and AMC+.

Witchcraft is a very real and very powerful art.

Meet the people who practice it in All of Them Witches, an exclusive documentary premiering tomorrow on @AMCPlus or January 2 on @AMC_TV. pic.twitter.com/SGvHh5pFrU

— Mayfair Witches (@Immortal_AMC) December 20, 2022

Tuesday, January 03

The Menu (Anytime / HBO Max)

A young couple travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. (Classy Soylent Green?!) Programming Note: The Menu will be on Disney+ Canada Star tomorrow.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)

The series is the untold story of soft rock, whose artists dominated pop music worldwide in the ’70s, only to crash and burn in the ’80s, eventually experiencing one of the most unlikely comebacks in music history.
~~~

If you’re old enough chances are you’ve made a mixtape for Someone Special using one or two soft rock songs. (If the mixtape was all soft rock songs; it’s easy to understand why it never worked out.) According to the media release: “The series presents all-new interviews with some of soft rock’s biggest legends, like Air Supply (All Out of Love), Dan Hill (Sometimes When We Touch), Kenny Loggins (This Is It), Ray Parker Jr. (A Woman Needs Love), Rupert Holmes (Escape: The Piña Colada Song) and Toni Tennille (Love Will Keep Us Together). Through candid and poignant stories, these stars lead a celebration of the underappreciated music that continues to have a lasting impact on American culture.” Solely based on the compelling drama of the timeless Piña Colada Song I suggest you softly rock with this 3 part docuseries.

Wednesday, January 04

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 2 (Anytime / Disney+)

When the new season opens, months have passed since the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch continue their journey navigating the Empire after the fall of the Republic. Programming Note: The first two episodes stream today.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: GRAILS: WHEN SNEAKERS CHANGED THE GAME (ANYTIME / DISNEY+ CANADA)

Profiles entrepreneurs Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku, former Morehouse College golf champions who created the lifestyle brand Eastside Golf to promote diversity on the golf course.
~~~

This six-part docuseries profiles entrepreneurs and golf champions Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku who created the lifestyle brand Eastside Golf to promote diversity on the golf course. Yes; this includes their inspiring Jordan collab; recently launched on November 12, 2022. And…it’s directed by ESPN’s Hannah Storm so that’s an appealing hook. (Storm is a passionate sneakerhead. She’s can kick it like nobody’s business.) The series includes interviews with notable figures such as DJ Khaled, Chris Paul, sports executive Shawn Costner, founder of Stock X, Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, former MLB All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia; among others. So you’ll want to sneak this into your TV watching now that it’s in Canada (this originally aired on Hulu on December 14th). I’m so gonna “kicks” it with this.

Thursday, January 05

Ginny & Georgia: Season Two (Anytime / Netflix)

Netflix Gilmore Girls Returns: How do you live with the knowledge that your mother is a murderer? That’s what Ginny is going to have to figure out.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: COACH PRIME (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

Inside Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Jackson State University football program.
~~~

Deion Sanders’ college coaching career goes Prime Time with this four-episode docuseries (obviously on “Prime” Video.). Like all live as it happens inside the locker room and out reality sports TV shows (think Hard Knocks on HBO) this will cover Jackson State University’s football program for the 2022 season. As much as this is about the kids trying to succeed in a brutal sport; in a football program that is not a blueblood college this is also about Deion Sanders. The what’s next aspect after retiring from sports can be daunting. The competition is gone and the bright lights have faded. Is Sanders a good coach? Can he become a great coach? All these questions and more are answered when you hit “play.”

Friday, January 06

The Northman (Anytime / Crave)

A young Viking prince is on a quest to avenge his father’s murder.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE PALE BLUE EYE (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

West Point, 1830. A world-weary detective is hired to discreetly investigate the gruesome murder of a cadet. Stymied by the cadets’ code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case — a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.
~~~

This is the second Edgar Allan Poe at West Point movie. Before this Netflix movie we got Raven’s Hollow on Shudder back on September 22nd. Though Christian Bale is playing detective Augustus Landor who has been called to investigate a gruesome murder at West Point Military Academy. And if he’s Sherlock well then his Watson is… Edgar Allan Poe. This is all adapted from a Louis Bayard novel. I dunno who that is; but I know who Poe is. I’m so IN for all things Poe.

Saturday, January 07

The Rig: Season 1 (Anytime / Prime Video)

Workers on an oil rig off the coast of Scotland are about to take a break: when the time comes for them to return back to land, the oil rig becomes engulfed by a supernatural mist. Will they make it back?
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: WITHOUT SIN: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / CRAVE)

Explores the relationship which develops between a grieving mother and the man she believes murdered her daughter.
~~~

From ITVX the UK’s freshest streaming service (launched on December 8th) comes this classic super dark, super British limited series. Stella Tomlinson is a grieving mother. Her 14-year-old daughter Maisy was found dead thanks to Charles Stone. 3 years after that awful murder Restorative Justice contacts this numb mother and the father with a recording from Charles Stone saying he wants to atone for his sins…which…doesn’t include murdering their daughter?? It sounds straightforward but you won’t need 4 episodes for something so simple. Expect despair and drama. Programming Note: This will be a binge release; all four episodes of the miniseries drop on Friday, January 6 (just as they did back when the series aired in the UK on December 28th).

Sunday, January 08

Irreverent: Season 1 (9 p.m. / Showcase)

Canadian Broadcast Premiere (aired November 30, 2022 on Peacock): A criminal from Chicago is forced to hide in a small Australian reef town posing as the new church Reverend.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: GIULIANI: WHAT HAPPENED TO AMERICA’S MAYOR? (9 P.M. / CNN)

Explores how a storied figure of American politics went from a crime-fighting prosecutor to a key player in President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
~~~

Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s response to the September 11 attacks transcended partisan politics and transformed him into a national hero. Time magazine named Giuliani its Person of the Year for 2001 noting Giuliani’s public image prior to the attacks had been that of a rigid, self-righteous, ambitious politician. So the suggestions were always there but he how did he evolve from being “America’s Mayor” to joining Donald Trump’s legal team in 2018? This is what this four part docuseries will explore. Giuliani’s political journey is not quite as heroic as Notre Dame’s Rudy; who is still my favourite pop culture Rudy.

He helped a country heal after 9/11. But on January 6th, Rudy Giuliani had a completely different role. Go inside his rise and fall in the @CNN Original Series Giuliani: What Happened to America’s Mayor? #GiulianiSeries premieres Sunday, January 8th at 9p ET/PT pic.twitter.com/JTw9GRMgJs

— CNN Original Series (@CNNOriginals) December 30, 2022

–28-

Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

Set The VCR Tags:#SetTheVCR, Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, Streaming TV

Post navigation

Previous Post: #SetTheVCR: December 26, 2022 – January 01, 2023
Next Post: #SetTheVCR: January 09 – 15, 2023

More Related Articles

#SetTheVCR: May 10-16, 2021 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: December 13-19, 2020 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: January 24-30, 2022 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: September 13 – 19, 2021 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: September 26 – October 02, 2022 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: May 16-22, 2022 Set The VCR

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: January 23 – 29, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Can you read my Poker Face? You People are gonna enjoy this week's #SetTheVCR selections.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 16 – 22, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Two Canadians: one esteemed, one disgraced, Al Pacino is hunting Hitler and The Daily Show host is regenerating…kinda. It's not strange if it's on TV; it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: January 09 – 15, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It's all battles for this week's #SetTheVCR: NFL playoffs, Spyware vs privacy, staying alive in a horror movie, chasing waves in Japan…it's a lot. Who will be…The Last of Us?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 02 – 08, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got Witch Hunts, Giuliani's evolution from Rudy to Doody, Soft Rock and…Edgar Allan Poe. Welcome to 2023 and #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: December 26, 2022 – January 01, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Let's #SetTheVCR strongly as we conclude 2022 and slip in 2023. May your New Year's Resolutions include Watch More TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: December 19 – 25, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    If you wanna shake it up this Christmas; flirt with the naughty list a bit…I got some outstanding TV recommendations where there is no grand moral Christmas takeaway and the only setup is a double cross from secret agents. So gather your spirits and let’s assemble by the warm glow of a flat screen TV: it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: December 12 – 18, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    I've Recruited some of the best TV recommendations as we head into the Christmas season to help you #SetTheVCR most effectively.
  • #SetTheVCR: December 05 – 11, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR features the return of Doom Patrol, the fifth George Clooney and Julia Roberts movie, Bugs Bunny talk to other cartoons about the meaning of life and…Brad Pitt on a Bullet Train. Get cozy even as your cheeks get rosey.
  • #SetTheVCR: November 28 – December 04, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    We're wrapping up November and easing in December. You know what that means right? Indeed. So to help here's some non-Christmas #SetTheVCR selections for this week. You're welcome!!
  • #SetTheVCR: November 21 – 27, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    It's (American) Thanksgiving so this week's #SetTheVCR celebrates the Land of Hope and Dreams while giving you an Opportunity to Smile.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • Under-Review: Steve Kerr: A Life
    by Sammy Younan
    Steve Kerr: A Lifeby Scott Howard-CooperPublished by HarperCollins Publishers on June 15, 2021NBA // Non-Fiction // Bulls & Warriors From the “diary” of sportswriter Scott Howard-Cooper: On August 10, 2019…he wrote:“Beginning work on a biography of Warriors coach Steve Kerr, to be published by William Morrow in Fall 2020. Kerr’s journey through triumph and tragedy...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Steve Kerr: A Life” »

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme