#SetTheVCR: June 13-19, 2022

Monday, June 13

I Am Richard Pryor (Anytime / Paramount+ & Crave)

This profile tells the story of the legendary performer and iconic social satirist, who transcended race and social barriers by delivering his honest irreverent and biting sense of humor.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE 2022 NBA FINALS: GAME 5 (9 P.M. / ABC)

The NBA Finals are where legends are made, and the season’s not over until a team is handed the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The NBA Finals began on Thursday, June 2 on ABC with Golden State having home court advantage.
~~~

When Boston suddenly and surprisingly won Game 1 it proved…yet again how high the stakes are. This is the NBA Finals where you should be surprised even if you’re expecting the unexpected. Tonight’s game is HUGE. I’ve never seen an NBA game this massive because no team in this series has won 2 games in a row. And I dunno if that’s possible. I still believe Golden State is gonna win; still believe they’ve got the edge and they’re the better team but this series is not going 6. Tonight is gonna determine the fate of so much and so many.

Tuesday, June 14

Candyman (2021) (Anytime / Crave)

A sequel to the horror film Candyman (1992) that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: AMBULANCE (ANYTIME / PEACOCK)

Needing money to cover his wife’s medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank.
~~~

Michael Bay + the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history: $32 million + their getaway goes spectacularly wrong = Ambulance. That totally adds up.

Wednesday, June 15

Love, Victor: Season 3 (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

With their post-high school plans looming, Victor and his friends are faced with a new set of problems they must work through to make the best choices for their futures.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: GOD’S FAVORITE IDIOT: SEASON 1
(ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Sweet Clark seems like the last person God would tap to fight evil. He’ll need his office crush and good pals to help spread the word and save the world.
~~~

In a strange comedic switch Ben Falcone is the focus of this Netflix series. Usually “God’s Favorite Idiot” is Melissa McCarthy. Though she’s in this too; as his office crush. Turns out he is a light in this world…literally. He starts to glow like the Bat-light only this is the ah…God-light. God has big plans for him and he’s got to save the world…from Satan herself (Leslie Bibb). God may have faith in Ben Falcone but I’m thinking this is gonna need a miracle.

Thursday, June 16

The Orville: New Horizons – Episode 3 Mortality Paradox (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)

Set 400 years in the future, The Orville: New Horizons finds the crew of the U.S.S. Orville continuing their mission of exploration, as they navigate both the mysteries of the universe and the complexities of their own interpersonal relationships.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: BONNAROO MUSIC DAY 1 LIVESTREAM
(ANYTIME / HULU)

Expanding on a pilot run streaming last year’s Lollapalooza Hulu will livestream Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits in 2022 and 2023. Yes Hulu subscribers can watch these festivals at no additional costs.
~~~

Bonnaroo 2022 will take place June 16-19 in Manchester, TN and feature performances from Ludacris, Stevie Nicks, Herbie Hancock, The Chicks, Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, J. Cole, and many more. So Hulu wants to know…who do you want to see? Keep in mind Hulu will stream two more live music festivals later this year: from July 28 through 31, Lollapalooza in Grant Park in Chicago with a line-up that includes Metallica, Dua Lipa, Green Day, Doja Cat, Jazmine Sullivan, and so many others. Lastly performers for Austin City Limits Music Festival, which will take place the first two weekends in October, include Red Hot Chili Peppers, PINK, The Chicks, SZA, Kacey Musgraves, Flume, Paramore, and Lil Nas X. It’s not the same as being there but it’s an irresistible opportunity. For Bonnaroo there will be a single feed on Thursday, then two different live feeds Friday through Sunday. As well as some behind the scenes/backstage footage. And yes while this is included as part of Hulu for no extra cost…Molly is sold separately.

Friday, June 17

Good Luck To You Leo Grande (Anytime / Hulu & Prime Video Canada)

As Nancy embarks on a post-marital sexual awakening and Leo a sex worker draws on his skills and charm, together they find a surprising human connection.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: SPIDERHEAD (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

A prisoner in a state-of-the-art penitentiary begins to question the purpose of the emotion-controlling drugs he’s testing for a pharmaceutical genius.
~~~

During Geeked Week Netflix referred to Spiderhead as Black Mirror meets Shutter Island. Oh! I’m sold. Chris Hemsworth is the evil visionary manipulating prisoners’ emotions with chemistry. So like…what are even drugs man? Though adapted from George Saunders’ short story Escape from Spiderhead, this movie was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland). So this should be a…trip.

Saturday, June 18

The Martha Mitchell Effect (Anytime / Netflix)

This documentary profiles the cabinet member’s wife who spoke out during Watergate — and the Nixon administraton’s campaign to gaslight her into silence.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: AFTER JACKIE (8 P.M. / HISTORY CHANNEL)

The documentary tells the often overlooked story of the second wave of talented Black baseball players after Jackie Robinson, including Bill White, Curt Flood and Bob Gibson, who were up next in the fight for racial equality.
~~~

The way history is often presented to us has always been wonky. One day the Berlin wall fell and that was the end of communism. One day Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in major league baseball and ever since then MLB teams have fielded a wide diversity of ball players. So what did happen after Jackie’s success? Did ah…racism just magically go away? How did we learn to play ball…with others? What happened…After Jackie?

Sunday, June 19

Red Rocket (Anytime / Crave)

Mikey Saber — charismatic con man and washed-up porn star — plots his return to the big time from small-town Texas in this story of an American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.
~~

SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY: SEASON 1 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

A love triangle between one girl and two brothers: a story about first love, first heartbreak, and the magic of that one perfect summer.
~~~

Jenny Han, who also wrote the pilot, is the author of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I never read the books…or The Summer I Turned Pretty series still I’m a sucker for a solid teen movie. “Every summer, Belly and her family head to the Fishers’ beach house in Cousins. Every summer is the same… until Belly turns sixteen.” Oh! You can figure out what happens from there. 8 episodes is lot of high school drama…I was down for like a solid hour and half movie. Prime Video ignored me and has already renewed the show for a second season; so no pressure. Watch it all Summer long…whenever you feel pretty.

–28-

Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter because the F in FOMO doesn’t stand for Fun.