Super big nerd week. There’s something for EVERYBODY in this week’s #SetTheVCR. If you’re not happy watching TV after this week well then…there’s always Revenge of the Nerds!
Monday, January 10
Terminator: Dark Fate (Anytime / Netflix Canada)
An augmented human and Sarah Connor must stop an advanced liquid Terminator from hunting down a young girl, whose fate is critical to the human race.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (ANYTIME / HBO MAX)
Starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield, The Eyes of Tammy Faye looks at the rise, fall, and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. Legendary for her indelible eyelashes and idiosyncratic singing, Tammy’s religious empire was wrought with schemes and scandals.
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“An intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.” Tammy Faye and her husband Jim Bakker weren’t just televangelists they had their own theme park! I dunno how much of this biopic spends on the theme park but I’m sure it’s “not enough.” Otherwise this is a classic American story: extraordinary rise, extraordinary fall, extraordinary eyelashes, extraordinary wealth and extraordinary sandal. (Please Note: this is not to be confused with the 2000 documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye narrated by ah…RuPaul. Yup I know.)
Tuesday, January 11
The Many Saints of Newark (Anytime / Crave)
Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NAOMI: SEASON 1 (9 P.M. / THE CW & SHOWCASE)
Naomi follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes. Based on the DC comic.
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Series Premiere: In 2019 Brian Michael Bendis introduced Naomi McDuffie, a brand new DC superhero he co-created with David F. Walker, with artwork by Jamal Campbell. Raised by ordinary human parents Naomi lives an ordinary life in an ordinary town until Superman crashes through the center of town battling with Mongul. It sets off a chain reaction where Naomi learns she is not only adopted but that she possesses this unknown energy. This is the origin story we read in her comic books; this being a CW show much of that will hafta be tweaked. (The official CW description replaces the Superman vs Mongul battle with “a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core.”) As you can tell from the name of the show Naomi doesn’t have a classic superhero name (all the other CW shows The Flash, Arrow, Batwoman etc. are all branded superheroes. So this’ll clearly be her hero’s journey. Are you gonna join the journey?
Wednesday, January 12
The Book Of Boba Fett: Chapter 3 (Anytime / Disney+)
No longer just a hired gun, Boba Fett reinvents himself on Tatooine alongside Fennec Shand.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ETERNALS (ANYTIME / DISNEY+)
Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” follows a group of ancient heroes from beyond the stars who had protected Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity once again.
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Not a fan of their Marvel comics means I was reluctant to don pants and head to the cinema to check out the 26th MCU movie. Well now I don’t hafta wear pants and I can check out “the saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.” (As you already know this was followed by Spider-Man: No Way Home and 2022 will offer us Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder as movies as well stay tuned for Disney+ for additional MCU TV shows…I can’t wait for Moon Knight!)
Thursday, January 13
Station Eleven: Limited Series (Anytime / HBO Max & Crave)
Episode 10 *Season Finale* of the Hiro Murai produced TV show.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PEACEMAKER (ANYTIME / HBO MAX & CRAVE)
PEACEMAKER explores the continuing story of the character that John Cena reprises in the aftermath of executive producer James Gunn’s 2021 film The Suicide Squad – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it!
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Series Premiere: The original Peacemaker first appeared in Fightin’ 5 #40 (November 1966) and was created by writer Joe Gill and artist Pat Boyette. So while he’s been around comics for decades his most notable connection was he was used as an inspiration and influence for The Comedian in Alan Moore’s Watchmen (In Empire James Gunn described Peacemaker as “a bit like Eastbound & Down with Watchmen.”). So that should give you a sense of what James Gunn and John Cena have been cooking. These series is set before and after the events of The Suicide Squad (like the notable post-credit scene…). Like Marvel, DC Films is adapting their upcoming film slate into spin-off television series’ for HBO Max. This’ll be the first series; with Gunn writing all eight episodes of the first season and directing five of them. So are you ready for a “peace” of the action?
Friday, January 14
After Life: Season 3 (Anytime / Netflix)
Struggling to come to terms with his wife’s death, a writer for a newspaper adopts a gruff new persona in an effort to push away those trying to help.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NOBODY (ANYTIME / CRAVE)
Hutch Mansell fails to defend himself or his family when two thieves break into his suburban home one night. The aftermath of the incident soon strikes a match to his long-simmering rage. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must now save his wife and son from a dangerous adversary — and ensure that he will never be underestimated again.
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Oh! Universal Pictures released Nobody theatrically on March 26, 2021. I never got around to it; it was one of those “fell through the cracks” movies for me. So much ruckus!! Nobody is like Falling Down (remember how good that movie is?!) meets John Wick (remember how good that movie is?!). Just starring Bob Odenkirk. Amazing. Team Ruckus Reporting for Duty!
Saturday, January 15
Deadly Class: Season 1 (Anytime / Netflix Canada)
In 1980s San Francisco, a homeless teen is recruited to a storied private school where kids from crime families learn to master “the deadly arts.”
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ARCHIVE 81: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)
An archivist takes a job restoring damaged videotapes and gets pulled into the vortex of a mystery involving the missing director and a demonic cult.
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Oh…creepy Netflix; one of my favourite Netflix moods. “When archivist Dan Turner takes a mysterious job restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994, he finds himself reconstructing the work of documentary filmmaker Melody Pendras and her investigation into a dangerous cult. As Dan is drawn into Melody’s story, he becomes convinced he can save her from the terrifying end she met 25 years ago.” This is adapted from a podcast of the same name and will consist of 8 moody episodes.
Sunday, January 16
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe: Docuseries (9 p.m. / CNN)
A new four-part documentary series reclaims the life and legacy of Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe to reveal a new story, of a complex and powerful woman ahead of her time like…Marilyn Monroe was the first women in Hollywood to own her production company.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: ALL MADDEN (ANYTIME / TUBI & PEACOCK)
Youngster Ralphie Parker spends most of his time dodging a bully and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, a Red Ryder air rifle.
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John Madden’s recent passing on December 28 has prompted a number of tributes for the coach, commentator and famed video game pitchman. As coach of the Raiders he defined their silver and black modern era eventually winning a Super Bowl and as a TV commentator he was the NFL voice (and face!) of childhood; a much more innocent time. Just like the guy who voices Optimus Prime. Thankfully before he passed away Madden and his family viewed All Madden as a sort of living eulogy. Though this in-house Fox Sports documentary (same spark as ESPN’s 30 for 30!) aired on Christmas Day; his passing has renewed interest in the documentary. As such it’s been added to Peacock and Tubi for streaming; also ESPN+ if you have that. Fine way to pay respects to a giant and a legend…especially on another classic NFL Sunday as The Shield heads into the 2021 Playoffs.
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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.
