#SetTheVCR: June 24-30, 2024

Monday, June 24

Breakin’ on the One (Anytime / Hulu)

In 1981, a breaking battle between the Rocksteady Crew and the Dynamic Rockers in New York City sparked a movement that grew from its devastated borough origins to influence the highest ranks of sports and entertainment.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: TAYLOR SWIFT VS. SCOOTER BRAUN: BAD BLOOD (ANYTIME / HBO MAX)

True to the VS format, the two episodes will examine the opposing sides of the argument; one exploring Swift’s side that the sale was conducted without consulting her and that she has since been blocked from buying back her masters, and the other examining Braun’s allegations that Swift refused to negotiate and instead incited a public feud by pitting her fan base against him.
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In the Summer of 2019 Scooter Braun‘s Ithaca Holdings acquired Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group — and with it, the master recordings to each of Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums. She was not happy, she couldn’t just Shake It Off. The infamous Bad Blood battle between Braun and Swift is the focus of Discovery+’s latest VS series (previous docuseries were Johnny vs Amber, Kim vs Kanye: The Divorce etc.). Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood is two episodes. Each segment will span a full hour and “explore the two sides of the dispute that led to Swift beginning the process of re-recording her studio albums from Taylor Swift (2006) through Reputation (2017). The show will reportedly provide a comprehensive look inside the industry practices, gender dynamics, and fandom culture that have shaped this particular conflict.” So are you gonna have a Blank Space and keep an eye open or will you just automatically side with Taylor’s Version?

Tuesday, June 25

King of Collectibles: Season 2 (Anytime / Netflix)

Ken Goldin’s go-to auction house will feature a key dress worn by Kate Winslet in James Cameron’s Titanic along with a high-grade copy of DC’s Action Comics #1 — the first appearance of Superman.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO-CANADA & PEACOCK)

Jamie regrets her breakup with her girlfriend, while Marian needs to relax. In search of a fresh start, they embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee. Things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.
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No brothers, this is only Ethan Coen but that should be enough, yes? He also co-wrote this caper movie. And skipping a lot of plot: needing to get away to Tallahassee, Jamie convinces Marian to make it a road trip with all the adventure that implies. Here we go! Programming Note: It’s been streaming on Peacock as of April 12th, 2024.

Wednesday, June 26

Dracula: Limited Series (Anytime / Shudder)

Today is World Dracula Day as Bram Stoker’s famous novel was published today in 1897. Shudder has added this Dracula TV series from 2013: Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Dracula; it’s 10 episodes. Hopefully it doesn’t suck like Dracula, right?
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: OBITUARY: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / HULU & CRAVE)

A small-town obituarist resorts to murder when work dries up locally.
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Classic 80s tagline: “To live, she writes. To write, she kills.” Okay you got my attention. “Elvira Clancy relishes using ever more crafty methods to kill off the town’s unpleasant residents while making them look like accidents. Stalk. Kill. Publish. Repeat.” Yup I’m in. Did I mention this is a comedy yet? So of course if she’s writing up obituaries via murder then it stands to reason the newspaper would hire a suspicious new crime correspondent. Ha. Kinda hard to murder a crime beat reporter isn’t it? Programming Note: All six episodes of Obituary are now streaming on Hulu (since November 2023) and now it’s been added to Crave on May 31st.

Thursday, June 27

FX’s The Bear: Season 3 (Anytime / Hulu)

Season three follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, Sydney Adamu, and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HART TO HEART: SEASON 4 (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

In a series of conversations, A-list talent will join Kevin to reveal their honest, unfiltered, and unexpected true selves. It’s a place where the public will see the human side of our most well-known celebrities and world influencers. Each episode will be packed with meaningful conversation, open-dialogue, and a lot of heart.
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A return to Kevin Hart’s wine cellar and intimate conversations with celebrities. Season 4 guests include Ben Affleck, George Lopez, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Samberg, Judd Apatow and Niecy Nash. Think of this as Peacock’s version of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. (Here’s a Hart to Heart confession: I don’t find Season 4’s lineup all that compelling. Andy Samberg is a highlight.)

Friday, June 28

Madame Web (Anytime / Crave)

Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel’s most enigmatic heroines. Dakota Johnson badly plays Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who develops the power to see the future… and realizes she can use that insight to change it. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women bound for powerful destinies…if they can all survive a deadly present. Whatever, dude.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ERIC: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

This emotional crime drama follows the desperate search of a father when his nine year old son disappears one morning on the way to school.
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Cue the TV Guide description: “When Edgar, a young boy goes missing in 1980s Manhattan, his grief-stricken father Vincent, a puppeteer on America’s leading kids’ TV show, finds solace through his friendship with Eric, the monster that lives under Edgar’s bed. In his quest to find the truth to Edgar’s disappearance, Vincent is forced into the dark shadows of a city rife with corruption to discover that the real monsters live much closer to home. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s AIDS epidemic, Detective Ledroit, tasked to uncover internal corruption in the NYPD, finds himself drawn into the search for Edgar, while privately coming to terms with secrets of his own.” It’s Benedict Cumberbatch so that’s really the are you in or are you out moment.

Saturday, June 29

My Lady Jane: Season 1 (Anytime / Prime Video)

Inspired by the best-selling book, My Lady Jane is a radical retelling of English royal history, in which King Henry VIII’s son Edward does not die of tuberculosis, Lady Jane Grey is not beheaded, and neither is her rascal of a husband Guildford. At the center of this swashbuckling new series is the brilliant and headstrong Jane, who is shocked to be crowned queen overnight and finds herself the target of nefarious villains coming for the crown (and her head).
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: A FAMILY AFFAIR (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman (Joey King), her mother (Nicole Kidman) and her movie star boss (Zac Efron) as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.
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Zac Efron is terrible and Joey King is the worst (pretty sure I watched all 3 Kissing Booth movies.). Still here we are: A Family Affair is your classic paint by numbers Hollywood movie. Netflix is right to experiment with AI; let the algorithm blindly write these bland movies. I put this on a Saturday night because if it sucks as much as I expect it to suck, it’s Saturday night: just crank up Mary J Blige’s Family Affair and have a dance party instead. A most excellent back up plan.

Sunday, June 30

I Am: Celine Dion (Anytime / Prime Video)

This documentary gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit. I’m guessing the documentary’s name is to help Taylor Swift?
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SUE BIRD: IN THE CLUTCH (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Follows the life of WNBA star Sue Bird, capturing the final chapter of her 19-year career in basketball. The documentary picks up on Bird and fiancée, Megan Rapinoe (U.S. soccer star), confronting the thought of retiring from the only life she’s ever known.
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Fresh from Sundance, Sue Bird: In the Clutch has been added to Netflix (Canada and America). I’m not really sure who Sue Bird is; which I suppose that’s the point of the documentary. My primary focus is the NBA but I suppose that’s the value of the documentary. More importantly, the WNBA will hafta figure out and get better at marketing their stars. David Stern (and so many others) figured out how to market NBA stars: promote the talented individuals in a team sport. Yet, you can only be an effective household name if your work is good on the court. I suspect Sue Bird has done that. Programming Note: Power of the Dream is streaming on Prime Video. That WNBA documentary looks…corny. We tend to overstate and overvalue the political contributions of athletes. This ain’t the Cleveland Summit. For better WNBA docs check out Full Court Press, 30 for 30: Breakaway and 144 (kinda: 144 is a bit weak & dated.) all on ESPN+ while Tubi offers Shattered Glass.

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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.