Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

#SetTheVCR: November 1-7, 2020

Posted on November 1, 2020March 9, 2023 By Sammy Younan

Sammy Younan

Girth Radio Presents…

A Confession: This week’s #SetTheVCR was a struggle. I suspect many stations and platforms are trying to avoid the American Election behemoth. I haven’t seen slim pickings like this since I tried online dating.

Sunday, November 1

The Circus (8 p.m. / Showtime & Crave)
The Simpsons: Season 32 (8 p.m. / Fox)
Fargo: Season 4 (9 p.m. / FX)

Sammy Suggestion: The Comedy Store (10 p.m. / Showtime)

Sadly the all too nostalgic good fun of The Comedy Store concludes tonight with: The Birth of a Bit. For over 5 episodes this docuseries featured interviews with David Letterman, Andrew Dice Clay, Marc Maron, Bill Burr, and so many others. Comedy is a good way to wash away all the Halloween horror; plus this series pairs well with discount Halloween candy.

Monday, November 2

Sammy Suggestion: With Drawn Arms (9 p.m. / Starz)

From Executive Producer, Nelson George With Drawn Arms is a documentary about Tommy Smith’s protest at the 1968 Olympics. You’ve seen the Black Power salute on the medal podium image many times. American Tommie Smith won the 200 meter race with a world-record time of 19.83 seconds. Australia’s Peter Norman finished second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and the US’s John Carlos finished in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. This is the third documentary exploring that significant cultural moment. “This film has been in the making for eight years,” said co-directors Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi, a New York Times best-selling author. “We’re thrilled to work with Starz to ensure that Tommie’s message is heard nationwide, at such an urgent juncture in history.” It’s Nelson George so for me that’s enough: I’m In!

Tuesday, November 3

Sammy Suggestion: The 007 Collection (Anytime / Hulu & Crave)

Look. Here’s 2 Un-Fun Facts. First is the American Election is today. For the next week TV and Twitter is gonna suck…a lot. Awash in clever banality and poser punditry. It’ll neither be good nor smart nor beneficial. Drown it all out with Hulu and other online bubbles. Hence Un-Fun Fact Number 2. We lost Sean Connery on Halloween a somber moment to a typically good time season. Now that we’ve had a couple of days to absorb the loss Hulu has added the 007 Collection. From Dr. No to Goldfinger to Thunderball what better way to pay some respects to what the man has achieved and graciously given to us. If you’re in Canada that’s fine: The 007 Collection will be added to Crave on November 10. Look we cannot advocate for mental health yet participate in unhealthy activities like American politics on CNN, Fox, and social media. Diamonds are Forever but we only live…once. And as we just saw with Sean Connery who leaves behind an astonishing bounty of goodness: make your life a good one.

Wednesday, November 4

Sammy Suggestion: Aquaman (Anytime / Crave & Netflix)

Aquaman leaves Crave on November 4 but swims up to Netflix on November 5. Seems fishy but it’s true. (If that’s not your jam Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse appears in the Netflix Universe on November 26 while Doctor Strange magically appears on November 30. S’a bit of nerdery to get you over hump day.)

Thursday, November 5

Sammy Suggestion: Paranormal (Anytime / Netflix)

My hope is that Paranormal―based on a series of novels by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik that I never read―is closer to The Haunting of Hill House horror and less The House with a Clock in Its Walls tone and style: scary but not frightful you know? Bonus Fun? That’s clearly Cairo in the trailer so if you’ve never been here’s a cheap way to check out a fabulous city. And as we’ve seen Netflix’s international offerings such as Dark and Into The Night have been fantastic. So let’s go!

Friday, November 6

The Citation (Anytime / Netflix)

Sammy Suggestion: Dim the Fluorescents (Anytime / CBC Gem)

What Is Dim the Fluorescents? Dim the Fluorescents is the 2017 Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner. Fact. Dim the Fluorescents is a film about a struggling actress and an aspiring playwright who make their living doing role-playing demonstrations for corporate training seminars. Dim the Fluorescents has dance scenes but it’s not a movie about dancing. Kinda. Dim the Fluorescents was co-written and directed by Daniel Warth who did an amazing job. Dim the Fluorescents is a darkly sarcastic movie worth checking out.

Saturday, November 7

Sammy Suggestion: 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (8 p.m. / HBO)

Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, and The Notorious B.I.G. That’s a weird yet amazing party. And tonight they’re all inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Sammy Baltic WebSammy Younan @ W • T • F

Set The VCR Tags:#SetTheVCR, Horror, Netflix, Rock N Roll

Post navigation

Previous Post: #SetTheVCR: October 25-31, 2020
Next Post: #SetTheVCR: November 8-14, 2020

More Related Articles

#SetTheVCR for Sunday, March 24 to Saturday, March 30, 2019 Set The VCR
Set The VCR: Sunday Feb 11 2018 to Saturday Feb 17 2018 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: August 16-22, 2020 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: December 27- January 2, 2022 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: February 16-22, 2020 Set The VCR
#CouchWorthy: Hot Docs Film Festival 2020 Movies
  • #SetTheVCR: March 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Big Names in this week's #SetTheVCR: The Sandman, Mr. October, David Koresh and Tom Cruise. All they require is a Watcher, Britpop supplies the soundtrack.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a fantastic TV tour: from Local comedy, to Irish hospitality to an Essex County visit after seeing Changeland you'll want to wear comfortable pants. Or no pants…even better!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got historical farts, spies in a cold war and a talking seashell…that can only mean it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 27 – March 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Selective Outrage, a ghost and a Lil Yoda…obviously it's time for #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Smile! It's a fresh week of TV; you don't need The Consultant to know the Circus is back in town. It's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week in #SetTheVCR we go to space, technology runs amok and the American Government has been keeping UFOs secret. Welcome to the future…in this week's TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A #SetTheVCR week that starts with a #GOAT…but will it end with a #GOAT?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 30 – February 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Ark you excited for another #SetTheVCR? Train your Watchful Eye on these fresh recommendations that'll make you Stand and cheer.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 23 – 29, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Can you read my Poker Face? You People are gonna enjoy this week's #SetTheVCR selections.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 16 – 22, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Two Canadians: one esteemed, one disgraced, Al Pacino is hunting Hitler and The Daily Show host is regenerating…kinda. It's not strange if it's on TV; it's #SetTheVCR!
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sportsby Yaron WeitzmanPublished by Grand Central Publishing on March 17, 2020NBA // Non-Fiction // 76ers One of the best lines in Yaron Weitzman’s NBA book: “Hinkie triggered a culture war.” Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers” »

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme