It’s a TV week of long overdues. The last time we saw Atlanta was May 10, 2018; it’s finally out this week. Since 2013 they’ve tried to make a Halo TV show; it’s finally out this week. And Jeff Foxworthy hasn’t made a stand up comedy special in 24 years; it’s finally out this week. Manage your expectations for this week’s #SetTheVCR.
Monday, March 21
March Madness (Various Times / CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV)
The 2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament continues this week with buzzer beaters and upsets. It’s been a wildly fun tournament so far.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: JOE MONTANA: COOL UNDER PRESSURE (ANYTIME / HISTORY CHANNEL CANADA ON DEMAND)
This 6-part premium sports documentary series, Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure features stories that most people don’t know; the doubt from his coaches, the controversies with teammates, and the insecurities from within that drove one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the sport.
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OH! Joe Montana scored a Last Dance. I appreciate how he bodied NFL teams; dude is a GOAT. This “6-part sports documentary series featuring stories that most people don’t know; the doubt from his coaches, the controversies with teammates, and the insecurities from within that drove one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the sport.” (I hope the final episode is current; Montana is a #GOAT celebrity investor; seriously ask Google.) We got interviews with Jerry Rice, Steve Young, George Seifert, Ed Debartolo, Peyton Manning, Magic Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and yes Tom Brady. Some most excellent greatness. While this premiered on Peacock back in January; all 6 episodes are on History on Demand for all Canadians to enjoy.
Tuesday, March 22
Halloween Kills (Extended Version) (Anytime / HBO Max)
Evil dies tonight. Survivors of Michael Myers’ first rampage decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: JEFF FOXWORTHY: THE GOOD OLD DAYS (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)
Jeff looks back on simpler times as he talks aging, texting and “sex education,” then shares one wild story from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.
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Y’all I have some great news. Jeff Foxworthy’s first solo stand up special in 24 years is on Netflix today. I’m not a fan…or even a redneck but his Southern humour is laced with wacky wit. I’ll push play on this just to hear him cover “parenting (your children and your parents), texting, the joy of getting a butt dial, conversations with his wife and recalls a much simpler time (or was it?).” Great to see he’s still dadgum humming and still rolling out with the stand up comedy.
Wednesday, March 23
The Eyes Of Tammy Faye (Anytime / Disney+ Canada)
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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SAMMY SUGGESTION: PARALLELS: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / DISNEY+)
PARALLELS follows four teenagers, whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious event propels them into parallel dimensions. They will do everything to understand what happened and try to get back home.
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A French adventure/fantasy sci-fi mystery series is Disney+’s latest Original offering. Turns out they make more than MCU TV shows. This has Dark “Parallels” the complex time travel hit on Netflix (#MustSeeTV) though this Disney TV show doesn’t seem to be as yarn board complicated. More like the Tom Hanks Big movie. Parallels “tells the story of four friends whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious event scatters the group into different timelines.” Mon Dieu!!
Thursday, March 24
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed: Docuseries (Anytime / Discovery+)
A docuseries that pulls back the curtain and give viewers a look into the world of Hillsong, the megachurch with more than 150,000 global members that has recently come under scrutiny. ~~
SAMMY SUGGESTION: ATLANTA: SEASON 3 (10 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. / FX)
Season 3 of ATLANTA finds the group in the midst of a successful European tour, as they navigate their new surroundings as outsiders.
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New season who dis? Remember Atlanta? The first episode of season 3 is directed by Hiro Murai. YES! He’s also the visionary on Barry. As for season 3 the show’s title is a lie…or is it? Is Atlanta a place or a mindset? Taking place almost entirely in Europe, Earn, Paper Boi, Darius and Van are in the midst of a successful European tour. That means new surroundings as outsiders; the classic awkwardness from previous seasons returns as well they hafta navigate success. Things are easier when you’re the underdog; they’re a whole lot different as a top dog. (Please Note: this debuts with 2 episodes tonight; the season is 10 episodes. The fourth and final season premieres this fall.)
Friday, March 25
King Richard (Anytime / HBO Max)
Richard Williams is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HALO: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PARAMOUNT+)
Master Chief, a cyberneticly enhanced super-soldier, defends humanity from the alien Covenant in the 26th century
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The popular Xbox video game franchise has been adapted for TV. It’s been a while since I played the game so here’s the premise. Halo follows a 26th-century “Red vs. Blue” war between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant, a theocratic-military alliance of several advanced alien races. Got it. I’m not sure how the Master Chief fits into all this but over the two seasons we’ll find out. Yes Halo was renewed for a second season, ahead of its series premiere.
Saturday, March 26
Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (Anytime / Disney+)
Olivia takes audiences on a familiar road trip from Salt Lake City, where she began writing her triple-platinum debut album “SOUR” (Geffen Records) to Los Angeles.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: HELLO (AGAIN) (ANYTIME / CBC GEM)
HELLO (AGAIN) follows the complicated romance between chef Jayden and ER resident Avery. On a fateful day, Jayden and Avery bump into each other at a park and immediately fall hopelessly in love.
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A time loop romance! Well technically a Canadian time loop romance; as it’s on the CBC. Behold the relationship with chef Jayden and ER resident Avery. Only for a chef the relationship is not cooking. So naturally a supernatural time loop situation grants him the chance to get things right…or keep trying. The first season of this time loop romance is 9 episodes. Well technically a Canadian time loop romance; as it’s on the CBC and co-created by Simu Liu (the Shang-Chi dude).
Sunday, March 27
Knives Out (Anytime / CBC Gem)
A detective investigates the death of the patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH: SEASON 7 EPISODE 3 (8 p.m. / SHOWTIME & CRAVE)
THE CIRCUS returns for a 7th season. This documentary series pulls back the curtain on the Trump era of presidential politics, revealing the stories behind the headlines.
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I’m curious about the manipulative journalism process that zooms in on Ukraine; compared to numerous other conflicts worldwide. Do some lives matter more than others? We ignore a lot of conflicts and dismiss the suffering of many people. And I know from decades of reading comics Superman can’t save everyone. But it’s the choices we make that are curious and how we justify em. So it’s rather timely tonight’s Circus is tackling The Information War. Oh so making a strong tea for this one.
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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.
