This week’s TV recommendations are fit for a Primate and a Deathstalker. So if you like #SetTheVCR that’s Made for March get your pizza ready.
Monday, March 30
Henry David Thoreau (9:00 p.m. / PBS)
Henry David Thoreau helped define modern environmentalism and nonviolent resistance, yet his life has been obscured by myth. The author of Walden and Civil Disobedience, he was brilliant but flawed, idealistic but opinionated. A writer, scientist and activist, his words resonate urgently with today’s challenges as humanity looks for ways to live in harmony with nature—and each other. The three-part docuseries is narrated by George Clooney and with Jeff Goldblum voicing Thoreau. Programming Note: March 30 is Episodes 1 and 2 and March 31 is Episode 3; they’re all at 9:00 p.m. on PBS though check your local listings.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+ CANADA)
Follows the scandal of the titular Johnson, a Canadian a sprinter who broke the 100 m world record, but that later was found guilty of using enhancing drugs.
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In 1988, Ben Johnson was the fastest man in history—for exactly 9.79 seconds. In the sticky humidity of Seoul, he didn’t just beat Carl Lewis…his obnoxious American racing rival. He dominated him. It was a transcendent Canadian moment. Until Ben’s drug test came back positive for anabolic steroids. Decades later…can Canada’s greatest athletic—yet shameful—achievement be transformed into a global punchline? Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is a six-part limited series. The mockumentary’s first 2 episodes debuted on March 26 on GameTV and Paramount+ Canada a day later on March 27. Shamier Anderson and Ben Johnson are from Scarborough, like myself. And when you watch the first two episodes of Hate The Player; it is funny. Like really funny. There’s a sweet hint of Scarborough Sarcasm in Hate The Player: The Ben Johnson Story. A lot of the jokes are how me and my high school boys (boyz?) talked, clapped back…ball busted…back at L’Am. (We still do just in not in the high school caf.) If you’re from the hood…it’s all good. Shamier plays Ben, Andrew (King Batch) Bachelor plays Carl Lewis, Kristian Bruun is Ben’s running coach, Mark McKinney is Ben’s lawyer and Ben’s mom is played by Karen Robinson. Anthony Q. Farrell is the showrunner and Executive Producer. Just know this isn’t your run of the mill racing mockumentary.
Tuesday, March 31
Imperfect Women: Limited Series (Anytime / Apple TV)
Based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, Imperfect Women examines a crime that shatters the lives of a decades-long friendship of three women. The unconventional thriller explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that alter our lives irrevocably. As the investigation unfolds, so does the truth about how even the closest friendships may not be what they seem.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: UNTOLD: THE DEATH & LIFE OF LAMAR ODOM (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)
This documentary traces the life of Lamar Odom, from his rise to NBA fame and marriage to Khloé Kardashian to his near-fatal overdose in a Nevada brothel. In 2015, Lamar Odom was found unresponsive at the Love Ranch, a brothel outside Las Vegas. Through never before heard revelations and firsthand accounts, the documentary peels back the public narrative to expose the private struggles, hidden pressures, and pivotal decisions throughout Lamar’s life that led to that moment. Featuring candid interviews with Lamar Odom, Khloé Kardashian, and the former manager of the Love Ranch, the film revisits the infamous night that nearly cost Lamar his life.
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Eh…I guess so. Lamar Odom was fine as a basketball player…I dunno that he earned a “Last Dance.” All NBA players are defined by what they do on the court, especially in the 3rd and 4th. The drugs, the hoes, the Kardashian (I said hoes…inclusive) etc. I don’t really care about any of that. Those are his struggles. And he should get help. Those who know him and love him should support him. And that’s that…it has nothing to do with me or any NBA fans really. Odom is no Len Bias. That’s the one NBA player that drugs ruthlessly claimed. Len Bias coulda been somebody, especially with Jordan around. Spencer Haywood also struggled with drugs. And he hired a hitman to kill his coach. Now that’s a valid documentary. For now…this Lamar Odom documentary seems like lazy TMZ gossip and less of a sports/basketball doc. It should be Untold but the ball is in your court; what ya got?
Wednesday, April 01
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen: Limited Series (Anytime / Netflix)
A bride has a feeling that something horrifying will happen at her wedding – and the closer to the altar she gets, the worse it becomes. Rachel and Nicky are engaged to be married in a week. Before they can tie the knot, though, something very bad happens to get in the way. The Duffer Brothers are executive producers, if that helps.
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STEPHANIE SUGGESTION: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WILHELM SCREAM SOUND EFFECT (ANYTIME / YOUTUBE)
The Wilhelm Scream is arguably the most famous sound effect in movie history. It has appeared in more than 400 films, TV shows, and video games—including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, and countless others. But the true origin of the Wilhelm Scream has been debated for decades. This award-winning short documentary dives deep into the history of the Wilhelm Scream, exploring how it started, who created it, and how it became Hollywood’s biggest inside joke. Featuring interviews with Academy Award winning sound designers, never-before-seen archival, and a groundbreaking forensic investigation, this video finally answers the question: Who actually voiced the Wilhelm Scream?
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Stephanie here. Sammy has sent me in to tell you all about one of my absolute favorite things in film and television.
It’s the ultimate ear-worm. The scream heard ’round the world. The Wilhelm Scream is one of the most – if not THE most – iconic and enduring inside jokes ever to come out of Hollywood. I first heard the scream in Star Wars. I learned about it in film school. And I have gotten a particular delight out of every single time I would catch it in something, ever since.
The Untold Story of The Wilhelm Scream is a fantastic documentary short about its origins and rise in popularity. And I promise, even if you’d never heard of the scream before now, you will instantly recognize it when you watch the documentary. And quite possibly picture a stormtrooper falling into the abyss that is the core of the Death Star. aaAGGGHhh!
(Pssst. No need for a link on this one. You can watch the entire documentary below.)
Thursday, April 02
XO, Kitty: Season 3 (Anytime / Netflix)
Kitty returns for her final year at Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) with her perfect senior year mapped out. She’s going to make meaningful memories with her friends, grow closer to her relatives in Korea, and make big decisions about her future. And, she’s going to define her relationship with Min Ho. For real this time. But when surprise revelations derail her plans and relationships, Kitty will have to learn to embrace the unexpected. This season, Lana Condor will reprise her role as Lara Jean, making it her first time appearing in the series and officially returning to the franchise.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PRIMATE (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)
Home from college, Lucy reunites with family including pet chimp Ben. Ben contracts rabies during a pool party and turns aggressive. Lucy and friends barricade in pool, devising ways to survive the vicious chimp.
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Oh yes, Sean Sirianni host of The Creative Imbalance podcast caught Primate at Toronto After Dark in 2025. He said the Johannes Roberts horror movie gave him Pray For Mojo anxiety. I’ve watched Project X (more than once!) so clearly I’m 100% In for this chimpanzee carnage. Maybe this is the Planet of the Apes prequel we always wanted. Either way I’m primed…for Primate.
Friday, April 03
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Anytime / Peacock & Prime Video-Canada)
One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest. With the truth about what transpired kept from her, Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleash a long-forgotten horror hidden away for decades.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: DEATHSTALKER (ANYTIME / SHUDDER)
The warrior Deathstalker is tasked by an old witch lady to obtain and unite the three powers of creation – a chalice, an amulet, and a sword – lest the evil magician Munkar get them and use them for nefarious purposes. After obtaining the sword, Deathstalker joins with other travelers going to the Big Tournament to determine the strongest warrior. The false king holds the true princess in captivity, and plots to have Deathstalker killed, and Deathstalker must fight to free the princess.
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A sword and sorcery remake of Roger Corman’s 1983 classic with practical effects, curses, monsters and roaring battle-scenes scored by Slash and directed Steven Kostanski (known for funtastic movie Psycho Goreman). Who is hungry for a fantasy feast? Programming Note: Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker earned six nominations for the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards including Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Visual Effects and Achievement in Make-Up.
Saturday, April 04
The Super Globetrotters: The Complete Series (Anytime / Tubi-US)
Saturday Morning Cartoons: The Super Globetrotters is an animated series from Hanna-Barbera Productions that aired on NBC from September 22, 1979 for 13 episodes until December 15, 1979. This cartoon featured the basketball team Harlem Globetrotters as undercover superheroes, who would transform from their regular forms by entering magic portable lockers. Perfect for March Madness.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: MADE FOR MARCH: PART 1 (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)
The series will feature unprecedented off-court access, exclusive game footage and interviews, and coverage of key regular season, conference and postseason matchups in the Big 12 and Big Ten. For the first time, cameras follow both teams across an entire season, capturing the intensity, pressure and passion on the road to and through the post-season.
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This Paramount+ docuseries doesn’t just cover 2 Men’s college basketball teams — it inhabits them. The locker rooms, the bus rides, the coaches pacing at 2 a.m. The moments before the One Shining Moment. The series is “chronicling two of college basketball’s most renowned programs—Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan Wolverines—this season in their bid for a national championship.” Going into the March Madness I have major they can win it all expectations for the Michigan Wolverines. They’re currently in it as I write this. (No. 4 seed Kansas was eliminated in the Round of 32 by No. 5 seed St. John’s losing 67-65 on a buzzer-beating layup. That is what makes March Madness special. Wonderful high stakes. One loss and you go home. No second chances. No best of seven. Just one brutal, beautiful buzzer-beater stands between you and success. Smell ya later Kansas!) Programming Note: It will premiere on Saturday, April 4, followed by two episodes on April 5 and the finale on April 18.
Sunday, April 05
Your Friends & Neighbors: Season 2 (Anytime / Apple TV)
In Your Friends & Neighbors Season Two, Andrew Cooper doubles down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, until the arrival of a new neighbor threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PIZZA MOVIE (ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+ CANADA)
A shy college student and his reckless roommate set out on a simple mission to grab pizza, but after a strange dose of a mind-bending experimental drug, they’re thrust into a chaotic night of absurd encounters, wild hallucinations, and unexpected revelations that could change their lives forever.
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This is the real test of the Stranger Things kids…can you make decent or even relevant pop culture? We gave you this incredible life…even though Stranger Things was mostly bogus (shoulda let AI just write Season 5, ugh…the humans did a terrible job) so now what are you gonna do? What are you gonna offer us? You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not…Pizza.
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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.
