#SetTheVCR: October 21-27, 2024

Monday, October 21

Poppa’s House: Season 1 (8:30 p.m. / CBS)

Series Premiere: A multi-camera sitcom about a talk radio host who lives with his adult son. (Starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr.) Legendary talk radio host and happily divorced Poppa has his point of view challenged as he finds himself still parenting his adult son, a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PERFECT DAYS (ANYTIME / CRAVE)

Hirayama is content with his simple life cleaning toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Unexpected encounters reveal more of his story in a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the world around us.
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A Film by Wim Wenders. That’s it…that’s the entire hook. The trailer is below, you can Google for more details but honestly…that’s all you need to know. A Film by Wim Wenders. Make a strong tea and sip this movie slowly like you’re have one of those Perfect Days.

Tuesday, October 22

Game 7 (Anytime / Prime Video)

One Shall Stand; One Shall Fall. A five-part sports anthology covering key Game 7s: 101: 2003 ALCS – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, 102: 1987 Stanley Cup Finals – Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 103: 2006 WCSF – Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs, 104: 2016 World Series – Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians and 105: 1994 Stanley Cup Finals – New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks. Let’s Go!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: TNT NBA DOUBLE-HEADER (7:00 P.M. / TNT)

Welcome to the 80th NBA Season: Opening Night Doubleheader. Two Key Dates: February 6: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET). February 14-16: NBA All-Star 2025 (San Francisco, CA). For now, we tip off and see what this season ushers in.
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Welcome to the final year of Inside The NBA? Sigh. The TNT Tip Off to the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season commences at 7:30pm with the NBA Champion Boston Celtics (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) hosting the recently revamped New York Knicks (with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges). The second game of TNT’s Opening Night Doubleheader at 10:00 pm features the Los Angeles Lakers (still sucking with LeBron James and Anthony Davis) hosting the recently revamped Minnesota Timberwolves (with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert (ugh)). TNT’s 2024 NBA Tip-Off Opening Week coverage continues on Thursday, October 24 with another doubleheader. The San Antonio Spurs visiting the recently revamped Dallas Mavericks (with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and offseason addition Klay Thompson). Followed by the Denver Nuggets hosting the recently revamped Oklahoma City Thunder at 10 p.m. Beyond NBA Tip-Off Opening Week fun? The stupid dumb Play-In Tournament junk runs April 15-18. After we get that stupid dumb crap the grown man NBA Playoffs begin on April 19. And June 5th: NBA Finals 2025 kick off. Which two teams will be left standing come June? Starting on October 22nd we’ll start to know.

Wednesday, October 23

The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (Anytime / Netflix)

This three-part documentary series revisits one of the greatest comebacks in sports history when the Boston Red Sox overcame a 3-0 series deficit to defeat their archrivals the New York Yankees, en route to winning their first World Series title in 86 years and breaking the infamous “Curse of the Bambino.” A relentless curse is a good Spooky Season watch.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THIS IS THE ZODIAC SPEAKING (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

The identity of the Zodiac Killer has remained a deep well of questions, theories and obsession for five decades. But, now, for the first time, a family has come forward to tell their story.
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Yeah, no. Every few years now we trot out some Zodiac docuseries or D. B. Cooper or Jack The Ripper where a major reveal is promised. Speculation Sucks. Speculation is one of the worst aspects of True Crime. There’s no such thing as a Zodiac smoking gun. Rather (and honestly) there must be an overwhelming and intimidating mountain of evidence to convict the posthumous serial killer. Otherwise this is utter bunk. Speculation and Facts are not synonymous. It doesn’t matter who the Zodiac suspects are or what the text in some out of context letter says because it was written by Arthur Leigh Allen. Or in the case of this three-part docuseries your classic “never before seen evidence” that proves…what exactly? That Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac killer? Come on, yo. It doesn’t matter what you think nor does it matter what you believe: again feelings do not and cannot qualify as incriminating evidence. This is all Geraldo Rivera’s Al Capone’s vault 2.0. (Now: Fincher’s Zodiac is a freshtastic and super dark movie! It is a a Fincher Masterpiece. Do check that out.) The sad irony is the title: “This Is the Zodiac Speaking” — is a riff on how the serial killer would start every letter. And decades later he continues to speak because the murders have never truly been solved. To unmask the Zodiac killer would instantly dilute the marketing appeal of the case. Same thing with D. B. Cooper: the unknown is the sizzle.

Thursday, October 24

Star Trek: Lower Decks: Season 5 (Anytime / Paramount+)

The fifth and final season will premiere on Paramount+ with two episodes today, in the U.S. while Canadians can check it out on CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Following the premiere, new episodes of the 10-episode long season will drop every Thursday on Paramount+ leading up to the series finale on Thursday, December 19. Thus concluding the witty adventures of the low-ranking officers with menial jobs on the starship Cerritos, one of Starfleet’s least important starships.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: CANARY BLACK (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

A top CIA operative, Avery Graves, is blackmailed by terrorists into betraying her own country to save her kidnapped husband.
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This is a classic Liam Neeson Tubi-movie only with Kate Beckinsale. I’d never pay for this but as a streamer movie? Yeah, sure. More blah blah blah description: “Cut off from her team, she turns to her underworld contacts to survive and help locate the coveted intelligence that the kidnappers want. Betrayed at every turn, she must rely on her cutting-edge training and primitive fighting skills in a deadly race to deliver a ransom that could trigger a global crisis.” Eh, sure: I’ll let Kate be my violent tour guide in this sinister Underworld.

Friday, October 25

World Series: Game 1 (8:00 p.m. / Fox)

The World Series starts tonight in LA. (If necessary, Game 7 of the World Series will be played Saturday, November 2 in LA). For the World Series we got the New York Yankees vs the LA Dodgers. Boom! This is what you wanna see: two large markets battling for dominance via the biggest stars. Ohtani gets to ball on MLB’s largest stage. This is how legends are born and reputations are formed. All the games are on Fox: in a 2-3-2 format. #BallorFall
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ROAD DIARY: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND (ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+)

Documentary which chronicles the behind-the-scenes preparation for Springsteen’s band 2023-2024 World Tour. The documentary offers the most in-depth look ever at the creation of the band’s legendary live performances, including footage of rehearsals, backstage moments, rare archival clips and personal reflections from Springsteen himself.
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At TIFF I saw on the same day: Piece by Piece and Paul Anka: His Way. In the morning movie Pharrell said relevancy is a drug. He’s acknowledging there’s a massive difference between being relevant and being popular. (Relevancy is damn hard to do. Popularity is easy, just scan TikTok.) Then in the evening documentary; Paul Anka just over 80 years old and still actively touring and recording reflects on his life and his work…why hasn’t he retired by now? He concludes; it’s like a junkie with a needle in his arm. Relevancy is a drug. To that list add Bruce Springsteen who is well into his 70s despite a number of health issues. Road Diary isn’t the story of a tour…rather it’s the preparation to go out on the road. He’s firing up the E Street Band as a machine that needs to be warmed up. That prompts Bruce looking ahead as well as looking back. Variety reporting from TIFF said: “Throughout the film and in the post-screening Q&A, though, the 74-year-old rocker stressed that he doesn’t plan to hang up his guitar any time soon. He wants to keep rocking until “the wheels come off.” “If I went tomorrow, it’s OK,” Springsteen told the crowd to loud applause. “What a fucking ride!” Undaunted, you keep going. The road…The Work is a phone call and I’m ecstatic these delightful; dudes continue to pick up on the first ring.

Saturday, October 26

Family Guy Halloween Special (Anytime / Hulu)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: The Halloween episode follows Peter and his friends as they aim to unseat the reigning champion (Glen Powell…yes the actor) in Quahog’s annual Pumpkin Contest by any means necessary. After the Halloween special there will be a Christmas event as well. Finally, Family Guy: Season 23 premieres in 2025.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BEFORE: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / APPLE TV+)

A child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, Lynn, encounters a troubled young boy, Noah, who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past. As Eli attempts to help Noah, their mysterious bond deepens.
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Limited Series Premiere: What Lies Beneath is a horror movie from 2000. What’s odd about it, is that it’s Harrison Ford’s first horror movie. (Only?) For all the work he’s done…he hadn’t done horror until then. Same goes for Billy Crystal. Dude’s never done horror Before: well unless you count Monsters Inc. For his first horror Billy Crystal has opted for a creepy child. “As Eli (played by Crystal) tries to process the recent death of his wife, the mysterious bond between him and Noah deepens, uncovering haunting memories and disturbing secrets. The plot explores themes of grief, love and the supernatural, with the lines between what is real and what is psychological blurring together.” You can’t have an “after-life” without the Before, right? Programming Note: This premiered with the first two episodes on Friday, October 25; followed by new episodes every Friday through December 20.

Sunday, October 27

Rivals: Limited Series (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

Limited Series Premiere: This eight-episode British drama is adapted from the Jilly Cooper novel of the same name and is set in the world of English independent television in 1986 and stars David Tennant.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: LIONESS: SEASON 2 (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)

CIA operative Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional lives as the tip of the spear in the agency’s war on terror.
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A must-watch for fans of espionage and suspense; Special Ops: Lioness is Paramount+’s latest new series that isn’t Yellowstone related. The Lioness Program, overseen by Nicole Kidman enlists Zoe Saldaña to oversee an aggressive Marine Raider whose operating undercover among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11. Think Miami Vice but with terrorism instead of drugs. TV Guide says: “In season two, as the CIA’s fight against terror moves closer to home, Joe (Saldaña), Kaitlyn (Kidman), and Byron (Kelly) enlist a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat. With pressure mounting from all sides, Joe is forced to confront the profound personal sacrifices she has made as the leader of the Lioness program.” Nothing like some sweet Special Ops to kick off the week.

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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.