#SetTheVCR: June 23-29, 2025

Here’s a Countdown of TV Recommendations. For those who’re Young Werther or those with an Ironheart this is #SetTheVCR.

Monday, June 23

The Quiet Ones (Anytime / Hulu)

In 2008, a group of men from Denmark and across Europe pull off the biggest heist of all time on Danish soil. Kasper, a boxer with few chances left in life, is offered the opportunity to plan the robbery by its foreign initiators.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BARBARA WALTERS: TELL ME EVERYTHING (ANYTIME / HULU)

Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism, shedding light on sexism, ambition and the challenges women face in achieving success.
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Barbara Jill Walters died on December 30, 2022 at the age of 93. (Good Run!) So, Tell Me Everything, which premiered June 12 at the Tribeca Film Festival, serves as a fitting coda to a long, seminal career in journalism. Director Jackie Jesko deploys audio from Walters’ past interviews, allowing Barbara to effectively narrate her own story. The Boston-born journalist (I didn’t know she was Boston…either) was first exposed to showbiz and the entertainment industry through her father’s nightclub. The documentary features insights from Joy Behar, Connie Chung, Andy Cohen, Katie Couric, Lori Klein, Bette Midler, Victor Neufeld, David Sloan, Oprah Winfrey—and many more. Each of those reflections underpins Barbara’s “pivotal role in the history of journalism and her pioneering example for women in the industry.” Truthfully, I know Barbara Walters but I don’t really know Barbara Walters. For the first time, I feel like I finally get to meet her. I hope she’ll Tell Me Everything.

Tuesday, June 24

Survive (Anytime / Hulu)

A couple celebrates their son’s birthday in the middle of the ocean on their boat. A violent storm hits and it brings up hungry creatures from the depths and they fight for their survival.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: IRONHEART: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / DISNEY+)

Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago.
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Series Premiere: Ryan Coogler is not an effective marketing hook. Though, perhaps this means the latest MCU TV will suck less? I struggled to finish the Ironheart trailer when it was released back on May 14: she’s a D-List character. (At best.) Ironheart has rarely been written well in Marvel comics…if at all. Like recent Green Lanterns…she provides little value. The Bendis Iron Man run was acceptable, just not remarkable. I’ve read chunks of Jim Zub’s work and wisely skipped Eve Ewing’s Ironheart solo. “It’s Not For You” is silly is a standard issue rebuttal for these legit criticisms. However it doesn’t work…not with those large Marvel budgets. Couple that with lackluster MCU TV like the lousy She-Hulk and the bland Ms. Marvel and…well: there’s little hope. (Well other than this: Ironheart is considered to be the last television series and the conclusion of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Smell Ya Later Phase Five.) Basically? TV Guide description reads: “After heading back to Chicago, Riri dreams of changing the world with science and technology, working on an iron suit to rival that of Tony Stark — but all her plans are derailed, if not outright threatened, by the enigmatic Parker and his own secrets.” Programming Note: launches with a 3-episode premiere June 24 at 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25

The Bear: Season 4 (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

Season four of FX’s The Bear finds Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, Sydney Adam, and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich pushing forward, determined not only to survive but also to take The Bear to the next level. With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust, and overcome. This season, the pursuit of excellence isn’t just about getting better – it’s about deciding what’s worth holding on to.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: COUNTDOWN: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

An LAPD officer joins a secret task force to investigate a suspicious murder, but uncovers a sinister plot that requires the team to unite and save millions in the city.
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Series Premiere: The longer TV Guide description reads: “When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Jensen Ackles, is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.” Countdown echoes Reacher with a dedicated task force and a mission, a complicated conspiracy and a thick Supernatural beefcake so that’s good enough for me. Programming Note: Countdown premieres with three-episodes. New episodes will follow weekly, leading up to the exhilarating season finale on Wednesday, September 3.

Thursday, June 26

Small Town Sins: Season 2 (Anytime / Fibe TV1)

Three true crime stories of missing or murdered individuals in Ontario, Canada. Season 2 is four episodes. And it kicks off with 2 episodes focused on Helen Dorrington and Mary Hepburn. Mark Dobson was found guilty for the satanic cult killings of the two women at the Travelodge in Barrie in May of 2012.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: A MINECRAFT MOVIE (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.
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I ain’t gonna sit through half of these 2025 trainwrecks: Mickey 17, Disney’s Snow White, A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, F1, M3GAN 2.0, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Tron: Ares, The Running Man and others released or coming soon in 2025. It Is What It Is. Are you gonna watch this now it’s streaming?

Friday, June 27

Every Time You Lose Your Mind (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+)

Like a falling satellite blazing across the musical landscape, Failure flamed-out in the late ‘90s – their promising rise derailed by drug addiction and record company inertia. But the pioneering trio left a profound imprint that transcended their affiliation with the LA alt-rock scene. Every Time You Lose Your Mind documents the origins, downfall and rebirth of a band that’s beloved by their peers and multiple generations of fans. Features interviews with Maynard James Keenan, Hayley Williams, Jason Schwartzman, Tommy Lee, Margaret Cho, the late Steve Albini, and more.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: YOUNG WERTHER (ANYTIME / CRAVE)

A writer stumbles across the love of his life only to discover that the young woman is engaged. Despite the urgings of his hypochondriac best friend, he soon turns his world upside down in a desperate, misguided and hilarious quest to win her heart.
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The opening title card of the movie reads: “Based on the smash hit 1774 novel of tragic romance: that drove the entirety of Europe into a full-on literary tizzy. Sort of like Beatlemania? But for books.” Young Werther premiered at TIFF 24 and it’s from writer and director José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço. Capturing the German novel’s spirit easily explains why Toronto is all over that trailer. All that Toronto as Toronto in the movie circled back to the relationship that is the plot’s spine. Werther has a complicated lens through which he loves Charlotte: he is the visual definition of the classic Facebook status it’s complicated. Toronto as Toronto is just one subtle filmmaking compliment that third rail powers Young Werther. Another? There’s a detectable wardrobe narrative that quietly presents itself. Like a married couple…Charlotte affects Werther and he affects her. Is this a spoiler alert…see in that trailer? She goes from a white outfit to a red dress. Meaning, what? in this My Summer Lair conversation…I asked José to reveal the wardrobe narrative philosophy. In part he said to me: “the colour that we were associating with Werther so much at the beginning of the film is red. And Charlotte was much more in blues and neutrals. And over the course of the film, yeah, they start to adopt pieces of each other’s wardrobe as they’re coming together and start to even each other out.” When is a rom-com not a rom-com? When there’s a wardrobe narrative. I’ve covered Young Werther in the My Pal Sammy dispatch Young Werther: “Love is blind. It’s dumb, too.” issued on January 10, 2025. (Man, my titles/headlines suck. I really need to outsource that obvious weakness to A.I. Thanks for putting up with me.) That link brings to a sassy fun interview with the movie’s writer and director José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço. If you’re in the mood for an intimate movie briming with heart and soul all clearly set in Toronto…as in Toronto this is your jam.

Saturday, June 28

The Day the Earth Blew Up (Anytime / HBO Max & Crave)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Porky Pig and Daffy Duck venture to the big screen as unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)… that is, if they don’t drive each other totally looney in the process.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE WOMAN IN THE YARD (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

A lone, spectral woman shrouded entirely in black appears on a family’s front lawn without explanation and warns them “today’s the day.” Where did she come from? What does she want? When will she leave? Only The Woman in the Yard knows.
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Ugh. The Woman in the Yard looks like lame M. Night. Or worse lame M. Night meets lame Peele. I’d say this is a strictly a streaming movie but. If I’m being honest? It’s strictly Tubi. This trailer is worse than the last one. Blumhouse is hosting a “Yard” sale but I ain’t buying.

Sunday, June 29

Please Don’t Feed The Children (Anytime / Tubi)

After a deadly viral outbreak, a group of orphans flees in search of a new life, only to be taken hostage by a woman hiding a sinister secret. Whew. They dumped Spielberg’s dumb kid’s movie to Tubi. That’s about right. Tubi should be an active graveyard for the subpar efforts of lousy Hollywood’s Crap Pack: Lily-Rose Depp, Kevin Smith’s loser kid, Arnold’s bogus son etc. Banish em all to Tubi.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NAUTILUS: SEASON 1 (9:00 P.M. / AMC & AMC+)

Nautilus tells the origin story of the iconic Captain Nemo: an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, a prisoner of the East India Mercantile Company and a man bent on revenge against the forces that have taken everything from him.
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Series Premiere: Jules Verne is in the house! However, this series is a reimagining of Jules Verne’s 1870 classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, presenting an origin story for Captain Nemo (an Indian prince-turned-crusading scientist.). Like Doctor Who Nemo and his followers managed to successfully take over the Nautilus and escape out to sea. “Now hunted by the East India Company and its vengeful Director Crawley, both of whom want the Nautilus back and Nemo dead, Nemo and his motley crew sail beneath the seas on a mission of retribution and vengeance to utterly destroy the power of the Company…and the Company itself.” This is a big show…lots of spectacle. And I can’t fathom if it’s gonna be just Season 1 or end up being reclassified as a Limited Series. Jules Verne is dope so even if you can’t see this series…check out Jules Verne’s books. Highly Recommended Reading. Programming Note: Nautilus premieres with two episodes on Sunday, June 29, at 9 p.m. on AMC and AMC+. Additional episodes will premiere weekly on Sundays until the thrilling two-episode season finale on Sunday, August 17.