Sammy Younan

#SetTheVCR: November 22-28, 2020

Sammy Younan

Girth Radio Presents…

From American Psycho to a Mr. T book signing at Honest Ed’s to Die Hard let’s give thanks for the 80s!

Sunday, November 22

The Simpsons: Season 32 (8 p.m. / Fox)
Fargo: Season 4 (9 p.m. / FX)
The Reagans (8 p.m. / Showtime)
Moonbase 8 (11 p.m. / Showtime)

Sammy Suggestion: Belushi (9 p.m. / Showtime)

We lost John Adam Belushi on March 5, 1982. A successful and original SNL cast member and of course half of The Blues Brothers. That’s about the extent of what I know about Belushi so I’m grateful for this doc to highlight what I’ve missed. Showtime comedy seems to be on a mission from God as this documentary follows their sublime docuseries The Comedy Store. Also highly recommended for all comedy nerds.

Monday, November 23

Sammy Suggestion: American Psycho (Anytime /Crave via Starz)

You know there’s these movies where everybody rambles like a drunk hobo with much praise and they generate film essays and write books brimming with analysis and special edition DVDs. And the whole time with all of that noise you’re just sitting there saying I don’t get it. What’s the big deal? American Psycho is like that for me. I’ve tried and found it dull and witless; absent any significant commentary on the 80s or our present. As such I’m giving this movie one last shot: If I don’t see anything good or valuable or worth noting the noise can hit the bricks.

Tuesday, November 24

Hillbilly Elegy (Anytime / Netflix)
Big Sky (10 p.m. / ABC)

Sammy Suggestion: There’s No Place Like This Place, Anyplace (Anytime / CBC Gem)

Honest Ed’s is physically gone but it’ll always be in our Scott Pilgrim comics and movies. There’s No Place Like This Place, Anyplace is a documentary about the demise of Honest Ed’s. It turns out we want museums rather than stores: people adore Honest Ed’s but shop at Walmart. So…that doesn’t make sense. Even if you’re not familiar with the Toronto institution know this documentary is about gentrification, displacement, redevelopment: significant issues that affect all of us as stores close due to the pandemic. Though sadly for all of the Honest Ed’s memories that fill this documentary absent is the Mr. T book signing in 1984. For reasons lost to time he was at the time touring Toys R Us and yet he came to Honest Eds. (And I never went!!)

Homer Simpson: “You’re right, Marge. Just like the time I could have met Mr. T at the mall. The entire day, I kept saying, “I’ll go a little later, I’ll go a little later…” And when I got there, they told me he just left. And when I asked the mall guy if he’ll ever come back again, he said he didn’t know. Well, I’m never going to let something like that happen again!”

Wednesday, November 25

Happiest Season (Anytime / Hulu)
Heroes of Lucha Libre: Season 1 (Anytime / Crackle)
A Salute to Sean Connery (5 p.m. / TCM)

Sammy Suggestion: The Mystery of D.B. Cooper (9 p.m. / HBO)

D.B. Cooper, one of the coolest Americans of all time, is getting a documentary by director John Dower. The Mystery Of D.B. Cooper a BBC and HBO production premieres today on HBO (and on Crave in Canada). Like Banksy, I’ve no desire to learn his identity. As you may/should know an unidentified man hijacked a Boeing 727 between Portland and Seattle on the afternoon of November 24, 1971. He eventually jumped from the plane over the wilds of Washington State with a parachute and $200,000, never to be heard from again. Hence the fantastic Mystery of D.B. Cooper.

Thursday, November 26

The Flight Attendant: Miniseries (Anytime / HBO Max)

Sammy Suggestion: Superintelligence (Anytime / HBO Max)

Did you hear about the WB movie with a popular female lead that was going to have a December 2020 theatrical release but instead becomes the first Warner Bros Pictures film to premiere on HBO Max? Yes, I’m talking about Superintelligence. What did you think I was talking about? Melissa McCarthy plays a former corporate executive with a movie classic unfulfilled life whose whole world is turned upside down when she’s selected for observation by the world’s first super-intelligence voiced by James Corden. This is one of those dumb Adam Sandler type movies that’s ideal for streaming so Americans should be giving thanks it’s on HBO Max. (And on Crave for Canadians.)

Friday, November 27

Illumination Presents Minions Holiday Special (8:30 p.m. / NBC)

Sammy Suggestion: Die Hard (Anytime / Crave via Starz)

Die Hard (and Die Hard 2) have been added to Crave via Starz to signify the end of America Thanksgiving and the start of the Holiday Season. Welcome To The Party, Pal!!

Cue: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: #SetTheVCR and gather the children.

Saturday, November 28

My Psychedelic Love Story (9 p.m. / Showtime)

Sammy Suggestion: American Masters: Keith Haring: Street Art Boy (9 p.m. / PBS)

Wow. Gonna make a tea for this one. Explore the life of artist Keith Haring, who revolutionized the worlds of pop culture and for those who wouldn’t or couldn’t go he brought New York City to them. Keith Haring: Street Art Boy premieres nationwide beginning November 28 on PBS (check your local listings as times will vary due to region) and streams on PBS on December 4.