#SetTheVCR: June 02-08, 2025

Monday, June 02

Mountainhead (Anytime / HBO Max & Crave)

A group of billionaire friends get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PRESENCE (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO-CANADA)

A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.
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Remember classic Friday The 13th movies that offer a Jason POV? Replace Crystal Lake with this haunted house and replace horny stoned campers with a suburban  family but keep that same eerie voyeur POV. This is Presence directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp.

Tuesday, June 03

A Working Man (Anytime / Prime Video-Canada)

Levon Cade has left his profession behind him to go ‘straight’ and work in construction. He wants to live a simple life and be a good father to his daughter. But when his boss’s teenage daughter Jenny vanishes, he’s called upon to re-employ the skills that made him a legendary figure in the shadowy world of black ops. His hunt for the missing college student takes him deep into the heart of a sinister criminal conspiracy creating a chain reaction that will threaten his new way of life. Programming Note: Americans can see this movie on June 26, 2025 on MGM+.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: IT’S ALL GONNA BREAK (ANYTIME / CRAVE)

Unearths the intimate behind-the-scenes footage that shows the creation of Canada’s indie-darlings of the early aughts, Broken Social Scene.
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“Almost 20 years later, the time is now,” the press release reads. “It’s All Gonna Break is a journey of how art is made, how it’s protected, how it impacts people all over the globe, how relationships change…and how we all have to grow up, eventually.” (The documentary is produced by Ann Shin…she’s a fantastic documentary filmmaker. Check out her work in A.Rtificial I.Mmortality and she produced episodes of Stay Tooned which you can see on CBC Gem. It’s a fascinating docuseries on the history and evolution of cartoons.) The Crave release adds: “This unconventional POV documentary features Chung’s never-before-seen archival footage capturing a creatively rich era in Toronto and paying tribute to the power of indie music, friendship and the artists who started out in Toronto bars before rocketing to global fame.” In the documentary Strombo confirms: “It’s kind of the most Toronto band ever. To close the chapter of when we were a city that made rock bands.” I’m not a big Broken Social Scene fan, though I do know their music. I will watch this for sure.

Wednesday, June 04

Curry Inc: The Business of Stephen Curry (9 p.m. / CNBC)

This all-new CNBC Sport production pulls back the curtain on how the four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP is building a legacy that goes far beyond basketball. Viewers get an inside look at Thirty Ink, Curry’s thriving business empire that spans media, fitness, lifestyle, philanthropy, and spirits.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: POWER MOVES WITH SHAQUILLE O’NEAL: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Reebok was Shaquille O’Neal’s first sponsor and now we will follow him as he takes on the role of President of Reebok Basketball to try and revive this struggling brand and restore it to its former glory. Along with Allen Iverson as VP, we will follow Shaq and team hustling to pull it off at the Reebok HQ in Boston.
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“Reebok, baby, you need to try some new thing,” so raps Kanye West on Run This Town. Reebok hasn’t “Run This Town” in decades. “Power Moves offers an all-access look at Shaquille O’Neal’s latest and boldest endeavor — stepping into the role of President of Reebok Basketball and leading the iconic brand’s comeback alongside Vice President and fellow NBA legend Allen Iverson. Filmed at Reebok’s Boston headquarters and all across the U.S., the show chronicles Reebok’s cultural revival under O’Neal and Iverson’s leadership.” I mean I refuse to wear New Balance. What hope does Reebok have? Over 6 episodes…let’s find out if the audience is Fila…ing this.

Thursday, June 05

Tires: Season 2 (Anytime / Netflix)

Fueled by a surprise marketing victory, Will and Shane have steered the tire shop into the fast lane. But sudden success brings its own challenges.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: GINNY & GEORGIA: SEASON 3 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

As Georgia’s trial sends shockwaves through Wellsbury, Ginny and Austin become entangled in a web of lies and betrayal, where no one emerges unscathed. It’s always been Ginny and Georgia against the world, but the world has never come for them quite like this. Now, Ginny needs to see where she stands when push comes to shove – Is the two of them against the world something Ginny really wants to sign up for?
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Netflix Gilmore Girls Returns: How do you live with the knowledge that your mother is a murderer? That’s what Ginny will hafta figure out. If you’ve got Georgia on your mind y’all be happy today with 10 fresh episodes. Can she fast talk her way outta murder? Or did she finally bite off more than she chew?

Friday, June 06

The Survivors: Limited Series (Anytime / Netflix)

Fifteen years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RESIDENT ALIEN: SEASON 4 (11:00 P.M. / USA & SYFY)

Resident Alien Season 4 starts with Harry (Alan Tudyk) and his baby Bridget stuck in prison on the Grey Moonbase, while a shape-shifting Alien called a Mantid (also Alan Tudyk) has taken over his body on Earth passing himself off as the real Harry Vanderspeigle. Harry manages to escape the Greys and arrives back on Earth for a showdown with the Mantid Alien, but soon finds he may not have what he needs to finish the job.
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“Based on the Dark Horse comics, Resident Alien follows a crash-landed alien named Harry and his life on planet Earth. The fourth season starts with Harry and his baby, Bridget, stuck in prison on the Grey Moonbase, while a shape-shifting Alien called a Mantid has taken over his body on Earth, passing himself off as the real Harry Vanderspeigle.” An un-fun-fact that only Max has discovered so far. Another un-fun-fact is Sheriff Mike suspects the mysterious deaths in Patience aren’t caused by anything human. (That character is my favourite on the show.) So much for Harry’s secret mission is to kill all humans. In season three, Harry vowed to work with General McCallister to rid the Earth of the Grey aliens, a task made more difficult when he discovered that the Grey Hybrid Joseph had taken a job in town as the new Deputy. Thanks to the aliens Earth is in danger and the only one who can save it is…an alien. There’s a lot going on and it’s all wonderfully sarcastic. Highly Recommended; Resident Alien is Must See TV. Rather than drop the traditional trailer I offer an official three season recap issued by the TV series. Programming Note: This season is 10 episodes. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock one week after they air on USA and SYFY. And I know I posted the American TV details however in Canada you can watch Resident Alien on CTV Sci- Fi channel on June 6 at 11 p.m. It’ll stream on Crave the following day, so Episode 1 of Season 4 will be on Crave on June 7.

Saturday, June 07

Predator: Killer of Killers (Anytime / Hulu)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: The adult anthology movie follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a World War II pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK (7 P.M. / CNN)

George Clooney makes his Broadway debut as Edward R. Murrow, showcasing his legendary, history-altering, on-air showdown with Senator Joseph McCarthy. As McCarthyism casts a shadow over America, Murrow and his news team choose to confront the growing tide of paranoia and propaganda, even if it means turning the federal government and a worried nation against them.
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We tend to overinflate the stakes these days…the sky is always falling. We cry wolf a lot. Edward R. Murrow remains a journalism who was sound as a pound. As McCarthyism casts a shadow over America, Murrow and his news team choose to confront the growing tide of paranoia and propaganda, even if it means turning the federal government and a worried nation against them. Good Night, and Good Luck closes its theatrical run with a matinee performance on Sunday, June 8 in New York City. But before that happens here is the play broadcast live on CNN.

Sunday, June 08

The Killer Clown: Murder on the Doorstep (Anytime / AMC+ & Sundance Now)

The true story of Marlene Warren, a young wife and mother who was shot in the face on the doorstep of her Florida home by a clown bearing balloons and flowers. Behind her brutal murder, which her 21-year-old son and his friends witnessed, lay a web of love, betrayal, and deceit. The crime remained unsolved for nearly three decades until a surprise twist was revealed.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NBA FINALS: GAME 2 (7:30 P.M. / ABC)

The NBA Finals are where legends are made, and the season’s not over until a team is handed the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The NBA Finals began on Thursday, June 1 on ABC with the OKC Thunder having home court advantage.
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The rather dry Wikipedia entry of the NBA Finals begins: “The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awarded the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.” All of that is true but this is the most exciting basketball stage. This is it: 4 wins away from claiming an NBA Championship. I fully expected the Thunder to reach the Finals. But, honestly? I did not see the Pacers playing in June. I’m not a “Fox News Viewer” during the NBA season; I don’t just blindly watch my home team. (I can’t stand that junk. That’s not loyalty that’s strictly obtuse ignorance.) I watch a variety of teams during the long season…and Pacers seemed…decent. But nothing I saw from East teams made me pause; I fully expected Boston to repeat. When Jayson Tatum went down that belief shattered. OKC is formidable but that’s the inspiring beauty of sports…a complete disregard of the odds. By Game 4 we’ll have a full sense of 2025 NBA Finals. One Shall Stand; One Shall Fall.

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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.