#SetTheVCR: January 22-28, 2024

Monday, January 22

The Equalizer 3 (Anytime / Crave)

This line from the description: “As events turn deadly, Robert  McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.” That’s it right there. This is the third Equalizer so you know the routine by now; you can set your watch to the ruckus. Programming Note: This has been on Netflix-US since January 1st.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ZORRO: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO-US)

The story follows Diego de la Vega as he takes on the role of Zorro to unmask his father’s killers and bring them to justice.
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Series Premiere: “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” It’s 2024 and Zorro is back…no word yet on the return of The Lone Ranger or The Phantom. Zorro, whose name in Spanish means Fox is a noble bandit who fights on behalf of the peasantry. He’s a pulp character created in 1919 with a secret identity: Diego de la Vega. (You can see an early Superman influence as Diego hides his fighting abilities while also pretending to be a coward and a fop. That’s so Clark Kent. Bruce Wayne was always a rich airhead slash playboy. It’s all misdirection.) Since those remarkable Douglas Fairbanks movies Zorro has been adapted for over forty films. The most recent one was The Legend of Zorro in 2005 with Antonio Banderas. (In December 2021 Disney-ABC announced that a new Zorro series was in development featuring Wilmer Valderrama for Disney+. I’m not sure what’s the status of that project following the lengthy 2023 Hollywood strikes.) This Zorro series is 10 episodes that transports viewers to exciting adventures full of bravery and sword play all set in the 19th century. This is the American story of how California became California. And how one man fought hard against all the corruption and greed; fully determined to protect his people and defend his culture. Is he crazy like a “Fox?” Yeah maybe but the best heroes are a bit off.

Tuesday, January 23

Airplane! Movie (Anytime / Paramount+ Canada)

After the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must land a commercial airplane full of passengers safely. Comedy Gold!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: KEVIN JAMES: IRREGARDLESS (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

Kevin James: Irregardless delivers a hilariously unfiltered take on parenting, marriage, and getting older.
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I’ve never seen much Kevin James standup. I don’t know his voice or his vibe. Sweat the Small Stuff is a one-hour special for Comedy Central in 2001. He started like most comics with a Comedy Central special. His second comedy special, Never Don’t Give Up, premiered on Netflix in 2018. So it’s been a few years. Irregardless here he covers motivating children to put down their video games, to why he doesn’t trust technology and how many Tater Tots he can fit in his mouth. Still, yeah I’ll “Hitch” my wagon tonight to this Kevin James stand up special.

Wednesday, January 24

TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution (Anytime / Tubi)

An in-depth 3-part docuseries that looks at the whistleblowers sparking a UFO revolution, sourcing and releasing evidence that the government knows much more than they let on. It features a never-before-seen discovery of footage of an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP). Yes this is TMZ but it’s UFOs so I am curious.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE HOLDOVERS (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

The story of three lonely, shipwrecked people at a New England boarding school over winter break in 1970.
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“Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, an adjunct professor of ancient history – universally disliked by students and faculty – who gets stuck holding over at Barton Academy with the kids who can’t go home for the holidays.” So Breakfast Club over a Christmas break? This is the story of a cook, a professor and a student: “You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, the most convenient definitions. That’s the way we saw each other at 7 o’clock this morning. We were brainwashed.” This might be a Holdover from Peacock but I’ve learned my Breakfast Club lessons. I’ll attend this comedy classroom.

Thursday, January 25

Sexy Beast: Season 1 (Anytime / Paramount+)

The prequel series explores the origins of Gal and Don’s complicated relationship as they find themselves descending into the seductive madness of the London criminal world during the vibrant and volatile 1990s, while Gal’s budding relationship with Deedee threatens everything in their world.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: IN THE KNOW: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

Just so you know: Lauren Caspian (Zach Woods) is NPR’s third most popular host. He’s a well-meaning, hypocritical nimrod. He’s also a stop-motion puppet.
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Series Premiere: This is an interesting concept from co-creator Mike Judge. In the Know blends intricate stop-motion animation by ShadowMachine (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) with live-action interviews. Each 30 minute episode follows the making of an episode of Lauren’s NPR show In the Know, in which Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with real-world human guests. The NPR staff are stop-motion animated while the guests are…yeah humans. So…Beavis and Butt-Head meets Office Space? Human guest interviewees include Ken Burns, Finn Wolfhard, Norah Jones, Tegan and Sara, Nicole Byer, Roxane Gay, Mike Tyson and Hugh Laurie. If you don’t know…now you know! Programming Note: This is a binge drop. All six 30-minute episodes are available on streaming today.

Friday, January 26

Gone Before His Time: Kobe Bryant (Anytime / Tubi)

Recount the achievements – some personal, some professional, and many halted – of an NBA legend before his untimely death on January 26, 2020.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: 299 QUEEN STREET WEST (ANYTIME / CRAVE)

During the rise of the music video era in the 80s, Canada launched MuchMusic a low budget TV network that revolutionized how the world’s biggest stars connected with their fans and influenced the culture for the next three decades.
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So as most of you know on Saturday, August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, MTV was launched with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll” played over footage of the first Space Shuttle launch. And we’re off! Now everybody knows just how hot Duran Duran is. Then on Friday, August 31, 1984 MuchMusic went on the air in downtown Toronto: the Nation’s Music Station. And we’re off! Now everybody knows just how hot Corey Hart is. The task for both music stations was basically the same: funky cool VJs throwing to funky cool music videos. As well as doing funky cool interviews. And yet…MuchMusic was different than MTV. Canada has always struggled to craft culture: it reacts to culture more than it creates culture. Especially in the ’80s. MuchMusic was one the early attempts at creating culture…as we’ve seen with SCTV. If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s you will naturally connect with this special documentary.

Saturday, January 27

Masters of the Universe: Revolution (Anytime / Netflix)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Teela joins forces with He-Man and the other Masters in their quest to save Eternia from the grip of darkness. Sounds about right. You have the power…to enjoy He-Man in 2024!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE LEBANESE BURGER MAFIA (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+ CANADA)

The meaty saga of a rogue fast-food chain with mysterious origins, a cult following, and a secret pathway to the immigrant dream.
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Directed by Omar Mouallem, The Lebanese Burger Mafia follows the story of a wave of Lebanese immigrants who arrived throughout the 1970s and independently owned and operated Burger Barons in small towns throughout Alberta. Through interviews with the owners and their descendants, the doc showcases the opportunities and obstacles of their family businesses, and how they’ve been successfully integrated into the Canadian fabric. This is the classic hope and resilience of immigrants (Alberta is not an easy joint), this is classic Canadiana and community and this is classic Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Jay-Z rapping about New York City said: “Eight million stories out there in the naked city.” There’s a natural eloquence talking about NYC that makes the line fit; and yet it’s true everywhere you go. Check out this Canadian saga that will leave you hungry. (May as well go get a burger after you watch this.)

Sunday, January 28

Coven (9 p.m. / CBC)

Three millennial women explore what it means to identify as a witch in today’s world. We tend to know the past but…what is a modern witch? Is it…just a religion or a spiritual practice?
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: AFC & NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (3:00 P.M on CBS & 6:30 P.M. on FOX)

The final two teams left are the ones who essentially play in the Conference championship games and the winner is the Conference Champion. This is the NFL’s Final 4.
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Two teams are going to Super Bowl LVII: 1 of em will win and 1 of em are…just gonna home. Tonight we find out who is gonna be battle for NFL supremacy. Order pizza and wings, call up your boys and get comfy on the couch. First up a battle royale: Kansas City takes on Baltimore at 3 p.m. on CBS. Oh boy. Detroit at San Fran close out the night at 6:30 p.m. on Fox. Are you not entertained?

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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.