New Week! New#SetTheVCR
Monday, May 25
Dog Park: Limited Series (9:00 p.m. / W Network)
In the grip of a mid-life crisis, Roland meets the eternal optimist Samantha and her life-loving group of dog-parkers. As Roland begrudgingly keeps returning to the park, he realises he might need a community to belong to.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE DEATH OF BUNNY MUNRO: LIMITED SERIES (10:00 P.M. / SHOWCASE)
A look at the life of a sex-addict traveling salesman who uses his door-to-door beauty products to meet women.
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Matt Smith has struggled since Doctor Who. Has he cracked the code with this new limited series?
Tuesday, May 26
Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast (Anytime / HBO Max)
Launching in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film, the podcast celebrates the emotional depth, imaginative world‑building and filmmaking brilliance that defined a generation and invites fans to return to the magic of the wizarding world with fresh perspective, smart insights and plenty of laughter. The podcast offers a thoughtful rewatch experience that balances high-level film recaps with in-depth discussion of the moments that matter most by revisiting key sequences and themes and diving deeper into standout scenes, performances and creative choices.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE BOROUGHS: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)
In the sun-drenched expanse of the New Mexico desert lies The Boroughs, a picturesque retirement community promising its residents the time of their lives. But for new arrival Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), paradise feels more like a prison. Everything changes when a terrifying nighttime encounter reveals that something monstrous is stalking the manicured cul-de-sacs. Dismissed by the powers that be as just another confused old man, Sam finds unlikely allies in a band of neighborhood misfits: a sharp-witted former journalist, a spiritual seeker, a cynical music manager, and a brilliant doctor running out of options. Overlooked and underestimated, these unlikely heroes must band together to unravel the dark truth at the heart of The Boroughs before their time runs out.
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Nothing is ever as it seems…
Wednesday, May 27
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder: Season 2 (Anytime / Netflix)
After solving the Andie Bell case, Pip is determined to fix the fallout – and stay away from any more investigations. But as Max Hastings’ (Henry Ashton) trial approaches, Connor’s brother Jamie suddenly disappears, and Pip finds herself in a race against time to find him.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SPIDER-NOIR: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)
Spider-Noir is a live-action series based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir. Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a seasoned, down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city’s one and only superhero.
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Your friendly noirborhood Spider-Man? Eh…sure I guess. I have enjoyed most of the Marvel Noir comics. Though, like most of the Marvel Noir universe, the 2009 four-issue Spider-Man Noir mini-series is fantastic. One of the better Noir comics, highly recommended reading. And Spider-Noir was fine in Spider-Verse. Still, based on those two experiences:
I’m not in and I ain’t out with Spider-Noir. What story are you gonna tell me and why? How does this move the characters and that gumshoe universe forward? I’m struggling to get excited for this TV series starring Nicolas Cage. (It’s wildly meta: a comic book adapted as a stylish cartoon feature-length movie now becomes a real-life TV series.) I dig that it’s set in 1930s New York, though. Hopefully for the Spider-private eye the dame turns out to be a femme fatale. Will you watch Spider-Noir in Authentic Black & White or in True-Hue Full Color? I’m team B & W. Programming Note: At the risk of being called a stool pigeon, the series debuts on MGM+ linear broadcast on May 25. It then beats feet to Prime Video on May 27 as a binge release with all eight episodes clocking in between 40-47 minutes
Thursday, May 28
The Four Seasons: Season 2 (Anytime / Netflix)
Coming off a hard year, our group of friends carries on their tradition of vacationing together – now with a baby in tow. The Four Seasons picks back up with the core group – Kate (Tina Fey), Jack (Will Forte), Anne, Danny (Colman Domingo), Claude, and Ginny – as they journey from the familiar comforts of the Jersey shore and upstate New York to the stunning landscapes of Italy. With warmth and wit, personal blind spots surface for the group as they each grieve their late friend and embark on new adventures.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: MARILYN & THE MOB (ANYTIME / SUNDANCE NOW & AMC+)
This two-part documentary provides a deep dive into the final weeks of Marylyn Monroe’s life, investigating her relationship with known mobsters like Sam Giancana and how she became a pawn in the Mafia’s power plays. Using archival footage and expert interviews, blurred lines between Hollywood, politics and organized crime are explored and speculate on whether the iconic star knew too much – and whether there could be more to her death than just a tragic overdose.
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Who killed Marylyn Monroe? (And who killed JFK?!) You can never overdose on a solid conspiracy theory…
Friday, May 29
Star City: Season 1 (Anytime / Apple TV)
Star City (the thrilling new space-race drama set in the world of For All Mankind) is a propulsive, paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race – when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SCREAM 7 (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
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Billy Loomis and his mother don’t deserve Scream…s 3-7. (3 wasn’t that bad but it still struggled and is the weakest of the OG trilogy.) Scream 4-7 are total rubbish. (Yes, I included 7. I don’t believe you always hafta watch a movie to determine its level of suck. I easily called that soon as the trailers dropped.) Even though Wes Craven made Scream 4…once he died the Woodsboro franchise should have as well. Especially considering the 4-7 writers who hacked this franchise up.The only notable Screams are 1-3. The rest are bastards that should be abandoned. And now, the new cast for Scream 7 is mostly terrible. Scream…s have become a mostly Mickey Mouse Club for younger actors who have less range than a light post. If you’re young and making a new Scream movie; expect to win a Razzie. At this point none of this is meta or even clever anymore. This isn’t horror, this is just horrible. Scream 4-7, join new I Know What You Did Last Summer, new Final Destination and new Urban Legend coming out soon…all as utter junk. The magic is gone. Let it go. The Scream is over.
Saturday, May 30
My Two Cents: Season 1 (Anytime / Netflix)
Zero and Wild Boar run a small bar, but financial troubles and misunderstandings put them both under pressure — just as a figure from the past returns.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: SHELTER (ANYTIME / STARZ)
Mason is a reclusive man living in a remote setting by the sea. When he chooses to rescue a young girl from drowning in a terrible storm, he unwittingly sets off a chain reaction that soon brings violence his way, forcing him to confront choices from his past.
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I dig these Jason Statham Team Ruckus movies far more than the dreck Liam Neeson spits out. Statham is on a fun run with Beekeeper and Working Man, I dunno what else. Ruckus for real…these movies have become goofy fun throwbacks to classic ’80s and ’90s action movies. Plus he often has a heart of gold in these movies, lol. And that’s inspiring for the kids. As for Shelter, well it’s a basic action movie boilerplate: the gruff hero isn’t dead inside: Aliens, Last Action Hero, Deadpool 2, Terminator 2 etc. We do this A LOT.
Sunday, May 31
The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards (8:00 P.M. / CBC & CBC Gem & Crave & CTV & Global)
The Canadian Academy annually produces the Canadian Screen Awards, bringing together the screen-based industries to honour and celebrate the country’s top talent in Canadian film, digital media, and English-language television, as well as the Gémeaux Awards, which recognize the best in French-language television and digital media productions in Canada.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: A TRIBUTE TO EDDIE MURPHY (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)
The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy honors one of the most influential and beloved figures in film, celebrating a career that has redefined comedy and left a lasting impact on global audiences. AFI’s highest honor recognizes artists whose work has fundamentally advanced the art of film and stood the test of time – an accolade that reflects Murphy’s decades of cultural influence across iconic blockbuster roles and critically acclaimed performances.
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“Featuring an all-star lineup of collaborators, friends, and admirers, the ceremony captures the humor, heart, and versatility that define Murphy’s legacy, offering an entertaining and intimate look at a true cinematic trailblazer.” I dig it when #Netflix broadcasts these Charles Montgomery Burns Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence for comics. Eddie Murphy is on May 31 for AFI. And sometime later, Bill Maher will stream for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
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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.
