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: September 20-26, 2020

Posted on September 20, 2020March 6, 2023 By Sammy Younan

Sammy Younan

Girth Radio Presents…

It’s the Fall and for all the changes to our TV landscape TV is heating up with new returns and new shows. The more things change…right?

Sunday, September 20

The Circus (8 p.m. / Showtime & Crave)

Sammy Suggestion: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Anytime / Crave)

The boring description reads: “Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend’s suicide and his tumultuous past.” Yeah whatever: this movie will fill the John Hughes hole in your heart. Some excellent teen angst. Everybody in this movie is broken.

Monday, September 21

Sammy Suggestion: Inherent Good (Anytime / InherentGood.com)

Comedian Trae Crowder introduced himself into our lives as the “Liberal Redneck” making a series of videos with his natural Jeff Foxworthy twang. Since those 2016 videos he’s written a book; done a stand up comedy tour and now he’s providing the ah…redneck take on UBI. Certainly, as the pandemic ravages, the economy (and “all y’all”) a Universal Basic Income is one of the most effective antidotes but what does that mean exactly? Teaming up with recent Presidential candidate Andrew Yang (a popular UBI Face) they set out to understand wealth inequality and how impressively beneficial giving out cash with no strings attached can be for so many individuals. The 60 minute documentary can be enjoyed on their website for free (mirroring UBI cash it comes with no strings attached) and is directed by Steve Borst (a name some might recognize…he’s written 20 episodes of Teen Titans Go! Also fun if you’re not up for a Monday doc about free money).

Tuesday, September 22

Sammy Suggestion: The Playbook (Anytime / Netflix)

So this is awkward. Initially, I was all hype to see this sports documentary with Jill Ellis (I dunno who that is) and Doc Rivers. Yet the Clippers coach Doc Rivers has lost 3 NBA Playoff series when leading 3-1 in his coaching career. 2003 Magic to Pistons, 2015 Clippers to Rockets, and just last week a fresh loss: 2020 Clippers to Nuggets. I dunno how to square this. Is Doc Rivers overrated? Is he lucky?! Perhaps this will provide some context but I gotta say blowing 3…not 1 but 3-1 leads is not good. There’s no spin when ya win.

Wednesday, September 23

Enola Holmes (Anytime / Netflix)
Agents of Chaos (9 p.m. / HBO & Crave)

Sammy Suggestion: Console Wars (Anytime / CBS All Access)

Growing up we survived The Cola Wars: Coke vs Pepsi. (Team Coke!). However, that was not the only corporate war we were collateral damage in: there was also The Console Wars. Sega, this wonderfully rogue arcade company, decided to take on Nintendo. Yup. Misfits vs Management a classic inspiring fable. Adapted from Blake Harris’s most excellent and highly recommended 2014 book Console Wars is about the home video game battle that ended up defining a generation (for real…no hyperbole on that.We got scars from this fight!). Originally set to debut back at SXSW Film Festival in March though that festival became one of the first major dominoes to fall as we began shutting down society in March and April. (I prefer a documentary however Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have also bought the rights of Blake Harris’ book (for whom they wrote the introduction!) with the intention of making a feature film or perhaps a limited  TV series. I’m not sure what the status of that project is since so many are in limbo due to the pandemic and budgets etc. Still for now the documentary should be good fun.)

Thursday, September 24

Sammy Suggestion: The Chef Show: Volume 4 (Anytime / Netflix)

Yesterday I wrote about The Console Wars. Today the celebrity chef cooking show is another form of that modern corporate warfare: having a cooking show has become a rite of celebrity passage lately. Jon Favreau and Roy Choi dish a second season of their culinary series The Chef Show based on Favreau’s Chef movie. (Which is good. Track that down if you get a chance it’s tasty.)

Friday, September 25

The Amber Ruffin Show (Anytime / Peacock)
The Invisible Man (Anytime / Crave)
Sneakerheads (Anytime / Netflix)

Sammy Suggestion: Utopia (Anytime / Amazon Prime)

“young comic-book fans are tasked with saving the world.” What could go wrong? I’m sure this Amazon Prime tv show is ironically entitled Utopia.

Saturday, September 26

Sammy Suggestion: Goodfellas: Behind Closed Doors (8 p.m. / Reelz)

I recently came to the conclusion that I prefer Goodfellas over Godfather. Now obviously they are both cinematic masterpieces but my conclusion is about recognizing my style and knowing my vibe: the darkness and violence of Goodfellas is more my jam. I suppose there is a sort of litmus test in all of this…perhaps we can also include the cartoonish Scarface? That’s somebody’s jam for true. In this TV special “Natalie Morales takes a look behind the scenes of this blockbuster from its transformation from a New York Times best-selling book” to a compelling feature film.  “Behind Closed Doors features new interviews with actors Paul Sorvino and Christopher “Kid Henry Hill” Serrone, as well as Goodfellas’ writer, Academy award-winning producer and interviews with the star-studded cast over the last three decades.” And if this does not “amuse you” you can always just watch the movie.

Sammy Baltic WebSammy Younan @ W • T • F

Set The VCR Tags:#SetTheVCR, Netflix

Post navigation

Previous Post: #SetTheVCR: September 13-19, 2020
Next Post: #SetTheVCR: September 27-October 3, 2020

More Related Articles

#SetTheVCR: December 06-12, 2021 Set The VCR
#CouchWorthy: Welcome to Earth Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: November 29-December 5, 2020 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: September 12 – 18. 2022 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: July 4-10, 2022 Set The VCR
#SetTheVCR: May 10-16, 2021 Set The VCR
  • #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