#SetTheVCR: July 01-07, 2024

Monday, July 01

Lost: Seasons 1-6 (Anytime / Netflix-US)

First broadcast in 2004, Lost was the sci-fi supernatural show created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof. Featuring a large ensemble cast, the show follows the survivors of a plane crash who have to work together to stay alive on a remote island that holds plenty of secrets. All 121 episodes have been added today. I’ve never watched a single episode.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HATE TO LOVE: NICKELBACK (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

An intimate portrait of the Canadian stadium rockers roller coaster career. From their rural roots in Alberta to becoming one of the most successful, yet divisive acts in music history.
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Happy Canada Day! Canada is 157 years old and given the world so much music including…Nickelback. I’ve never understood Nickelback hate. They’re just a generic rock band; not terrible not amazing. Like I can’t stand The Killers, so pretentious for no good reason. Isn’t it boring to hate on Nickelback? A Finnish researcher published her Nickelback study: Hypocritical Bullshit Performed Through Gritted Teeth. “Critics have attacked Nickelback for being too calculated in their artistic approach,” she writes. Like…really?! Beyonce and Drake employ an army of writers. Max Martin wrote Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off. Like what are we talking about? Authenticity is not necessary for mainstream success, we’ve seen that with many worthless “influencers.” So I’ll watch the documentary as Canada Day fireworks pop off but I don’t understand all the hate. I really, don’t.

Tuesday, July 02

Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 2 (Anytime / Netflix-US & Crave)

Season 2 kicks off with Dal, Rock Tak, Zero, Jankom Pog, and Murf continuing their training to join Starfleet Academy and are called aboard a new ship for a mission under the command of Admiral Kathryn Janeway. All 20 episodes are not streaming; it’s a Binge Drop. In Canada, Prodigy airs on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PET SHOP BOYS DREAMWORLD: THE GREATEST HITS LIVE IN COPENHAGEN (ANYTIME / HOLLYWOOD SUITE)

Captured live by director David Barnard in a 14-camera shoot at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena, the concert film features a lavish stage show, full back-up band and mesmerizing visual backdrops in front of an exuberant, sold-out audience.
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Pet Shop Boys: Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live At The Royal Arena Copenhagen brings an exhilarating stage-to-screen experience directly to your home. If you’ve haven’t seen the Pet Shop Boys live It’s A Sin. So quit Being Boring and enjoy these #CouchWorthy Opportunities in Suburbia.

Wednesday, July 03

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Anytime / Netflix)

This series follows the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish — kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season. From Emmy Award-winning director Greg Whiteley and the team behind Cheer and Last Chance U, the seven-episode series will give viewers unfiltered access to this iconic team and franchise.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Eddie Murphy is back with as Axel Foley. Forty years after his unforgettable first case in Beverly Hills, Detroit detective Axel Foley returns to do what he does best: solve crimes and cause chaos.
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I often and easily put the NO in nostalgia: Stop selling me the empty calories of nostalgia when that ain’t fulfilling. Just because Eddie Murphy is back as Axel Foley doesn’t mean I’m automatically back. I ain’t giving out my time or my attention freely. I can’t stand nostalgia. I can’t stand nostalgia. I can’t stand nostalgia because there’s a condescending element to it. Nostalgia is baby talk sold to grown adults as fan service. If we’re going back to Beverly Hills Cop movies then we also need to return to Eddie Murphy’s comments on the flawed sequels. Eddie told Rolling Stone in 1989 that “Beverly Hills Cop II was probably the most successful mediocre picture in history.” He’s right! Released in 1987 Tony Scott’s Beverly Hills Cop II is a sloppy movie, man. Lousy continuity, Eddie always has his finger on his trigger (no actor training?!). Many struggles make it hard to overcome. It looks like a stylish student film. The humour holds up, at least. Rush Hour(s) refined this formula (2 cops from different lands) to great effect. On Inside The Actor’s Studio in 2006 Eddie summed up Beverly Hills Cop III as “atrocious” and it was such a disgrace “the character was kind of banished for a while (from Hollywood).” He’s right! III is awful, pointless…the action is subpar and the humour is non-existent. III also failed with the absence of key franchise hallmarks: no Pointer Sisters’ song and there’s no strip club scene. With Barry another SNL alum Bill Hader refined the formula using real violence and real comedy. (Barry is beyond dope! Shout out to Hiro Murai.) And now, we’re at Beverly Hills Cop IV. Why? Jerry Bruckheimer is back that helps. But is that enough? The last movie came out in 1994. The first movie came out in 1984. Is it worth it to go back? Will Beverly Hills Cop 4 be Raw and Delirious?

Thursday, July 04

Independence Day (Today! / Check Your Favourite Streamer)

Happy Independence Day! America’s Independence Day has brought us all these wonderful freedoms where Will Smith a sitcom actor can make a massive blockbuster where we all gleefully witness famous landmarks utterly trashed by aliens. (By the way for a ‘96 movie the FX hold up so good.) This is a #SetTheVCR tradition.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island’s mysteries.
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Apparently this is the premise of this movie: This “adventure follows Kong’s journey to find his family through an undiscovered layer of Hollow Earth—and what he uncovers inadvertently brings forth the most dangerous threat to mankind yet…one that can only be countered (and possibly conquered) by the combined forces of Kong and Godzilla, now evolved like never before.” Okay then. Nothing like celebrating the 4th of July with a blockbuster and some classic Monster Fight Club! Programming Note: Warner Bros. announced the MonsterVerse will return with a brand new movie in theaters on March 26, 2027.

Friday, July 05

Live At Massey Hall Presents: Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot (Anytime / CBC Gem)

Recorded live from Massey Hall in Toronto this spring, the special features a memorable night of music with Blue Rodeo and The Gordon Lightfoot Band as the house bands, welcoming some of Canada’s brightest talent to join them on stage to celebrate the late Gordon  Lightfoot’s work, including: Burton Cummings, City and Colour, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Julian Taylor, Kathleen Edwards, Serena Ryder, Tom Cochrane, Tom Wilson and William Prince.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES (11:30 P.M. / PBS)

Trapped in a surreal loop, an artist with Alzheimer’s struggles to paint.
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Alzheimer’s is a disheartening type of dementia…names, memories vanish like blowing out the flame on a candle. Alzheimer’s is a thief that robs intimacy from relationships…someone special slowly becomes a stranger. This was the dreadful situation filmmaker Cara Yeates found herself in as her mother, a painter, was succumbing to the disease. Cara’s mother wasn’t just losing her ability to connect with her daughter…her art was fading. She no longer knew how to create or even why she should create. Cara’s always been a storyteller. Her latest creation is a short film Gone Before Your Eyes…this isn’t just a film. It’s a reflection of life, love, and loss, a gem of storytelling that leaves an indelible mark. Classic PBS. Programming Note: I spoke to Cara about these heavy themes in 2023.

Saturday, July 06

The Imaginary (Anytime / Netflix)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one can see, imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RED EYE: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+ CANADA)

London police officer DC Hana Li is escorting Dr Matthew Nolan back to Beijing where he has been accused of a crime. However, on board flight 357, she finds herself embroiled in an escalating conspiracy and a growing number of murders.
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Red Eye is a six-part British thriller that aired on ITV on April 21, 2024. (At first I was deeply annoyed, thinking it was a TV remake of the Wes Craven movie but it’s not…just same dumb name.) Anyways the Limited Series caught the Red Eye and crossed the pond to come here to Canada. Most of the series takes place during an all-night flight between London and Beijing after a British man (Dr Matthew Nolan) is extradited to China on suspicion of murder. Before getting on the flight Dr Matthew Nolan launched into a theatrical scene in the departure lounge talking about injustice. Of course, he went viral. And now on the flight with DC Hana Li, a passenger dies after eating a vegan meal intended for Nolan. So someone wants him dead. And they’re still on the flight? Lean back and buckle your seatbelt, we’re about to take off.

Sunday, July 07

Hard Knocks: Offseason With the New York Giants (Anytime / HBO Max)

This NFL season Hard Knocks will officially cover every part of the NFL season – the offseason (with the Giants), training camp (with the Beats), the regular season (the AFC North) and the playoffs. The NFL is a full year TV show now.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: JASPER MALL (ANYTIME / HOOPLA)

A year in the life of a dying shopping mall.
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Jasper Mall is a 2020 documentary directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb. I talked to both of em for their 2022 documentary Butterfly in the Sky, all about Reading Rainbow. Noticing the similarities between doing a mall doc and then a Reading Rainbow doc I asked the obvious question: Are all these 80s connections coincidences or are you guys 80s nerds? And after laughing Bradford Thomason admitted: “We’re ‘80s kids, for sure. We’re ‘80s nerds.” So knowing their passion and their experience flows from the ‘80s you’ll want to return to the mall and all that it used to be and mean. It’s more than a setting in a Stranger Things season.

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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.