Netflix Geeks Hustle for stand up-comedy: it’s that type of #SetTheVCR week.

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What an incredible week of TV from James Bond to KISS to serial killers to Charlie Brown? Oh yes. Let’s jump off the high dive and get into all of this.

Monday, June 21

Super Channel Free Preview (Anytime / Super Channel On Demand)

From hit movies and series to exciting sports, Super Channel brings you four channels of entertainment at its best: Super Channel Fuse, Super Channel Heart & Home, Super Channel Vault and GiNX Esports TV Canada. Right now, it’s all yours to enjoy – live or On Demand – during a free preview for Fibe TV customers, from June 14–23. I highly recommend a documentary The Corporate Coup D’Etat.
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Sammy Suggestion: I’ll Be Gone In the Dark: Special Episode (Anytime / HBO Max & Crave)

A six-part documentary series based on the book of the same name, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark explores writer Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the dark world of the violent predator she dubbed “The Golden State Killer,” the man who terrorized California in the 1970s and 80s and is responsible for 50 home-invasion rapes and 12 murders.
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The penultimate episode of I’ll Be Gone In the Dark brings up the uneasy question: what’s more “satisfying” a solved murder/crime or an unsolved murder/crime? The six-part docuseries based on the popular book of the same name debuted in June 2020. They both explored writer Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the dark world of the violent predator she dubbed The Golden State Killer. Who was revealed to be Joseph James DeAngelo (does real life need a spoiler alert?!). Now almost a year later this p.s. episode offers revelations in the Kathy Lombardo case a 1984 unsolved murder while highlighting the trauma that sadly persists when a crime goes unsolved. Not that solved crimes are “case closed” on trauma. Eventually we’ll hafta reckon with our passion for true crime and serial killers…we can name em and their crimes but rarely do we remember the victims. (I enjoyed I’ll Be Gone In the Dark but I couldn’t name a victim if you gave me multiple choice answers.)

Tuesday, June 22

2021 NBA Draft Lottery (8:30 PM ET / ESPN)

Unlike Shirley Jackson’s Lottery the NBA Draft Lottery will determine only the top four picks in the draft, meaning the team with the worst record this season (Houston Rockets) is still guaranteed no worse than a top-five pick. Well it’ll be either Houston Rockets (17-55) – 14% chance at getting number 1 or Detroit Pistons (20-52) – 14%.
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Sammy Suggestion: Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America (Anytime / History Channel on Demand)

Public protest has always forced our country to take an uncompromising look at itself to judge if we are on the right course. Civil disobedience created this country in 1776 and continues to serve as a charged impetus for change in the 21st century.
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Many of America’s previous moments were inspiring and highly effective. History has confirmed they ushered in significant change and radically improved the lives of so many. This documentary is like protest Wonder Years a look back at turbulent times which really is just classic American DNA. America is a country founded on the core principle of people standing up and saying: “No. We ain’t doing that.” Helps this doc is executive produced by active activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (I highly recommend his excellent book Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White as well as his comic book Mycroft Holmes and The Apocalypse Handbook…so dope!). Oh this doc premiered on June 19 on live tv however check Hulu soon…lotta History Channel content eventually ends up on Hulu.

Wednesday, June 23

Good On Paper (Anytime / Netflix)

After years of putting her career first, a stand-up comic meets a guy who seems perfect: smart, nice, successful… and possibly too good to be true.
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Sammy Suggestion: 007 – For Our Eyes Only (Anytime / Hoopla)

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The description says it best: “In anticipation of the 25th chapter in the iconic James Bond Saga, based on the novels of British writer Ian Fleming, Sabbatical Entertainment presents “For Our Eyes Only” an enthralling documentary that recounts and relives all of 007’s menacing missions throughout this legendary cinematic franchise, from 1962’s premiere of Dr. No to the highly anticipated No Time To Die.” The quality of these Bond docs varies: some people taking being On Her Majesty’s Secret Service seriously; others shrug and say Live and Let Die. I miss classic Bond with the gadgets, the filthy double entendres (Honey Ryder is so lol! while Pussy Galore is not even trying anymore…still funny though), flirting with Miss Moneypenny and Bond’s classic one-liners: of which Sean Connery was the best Bond for those.

Thursday, June 24

Long Shot (Anytime / Netflix (Canada))

When Juan Catalan is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, he builds his case for innocence around raw footage from a popular TV show. A documentary.
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An Unquiet Grave (Anytime / Shudder)

A year after the death of his wife, a man enlists her sister to help him bring her back.
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Sammy Suggestion: Enemy of the State (Anytime / Disney+ via Star)

A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.
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Enemy of the State is gonna seem quaint post-9/11. In 1993 The Fugitive sparked a handful of 90s high octane movies as innocent men/women went on the lam relentlessly pursued by shadowy and ethically dubious men and organizations. Through The Firm and The Pelican Brief, The Net, Speed and many more similar movies ordinary and slightly suburban characters discovered they could perform incredible feats to stay alive and stay free. (I’d even include The Matrix…Neo thought he was just a junkie hacker…turns out he stumbled onto something far bigger than he realized.) Enemy of the State is a 1998 thriller directed by Tony Scott, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (Aaron Sorkin and Tony Gilroy each performed an uncredited rewrite of the script) and stars…ready for this: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet, Gabriel Byrne, Jake Busey, Barry Pepper and Regina King. Whew! I dunno who wrote the IMDB description but it’s gold: “A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.” Goons really? Really.

Friday, June 25

Mary J Blige’s My Life (Anytime / Prime Video)

Mary J. Blige set the music world on fire with her trailblazing 1994 LP “My Life,”. In Vanessa Roth’s documentary Mary J. Blige’s My Life, the singer, rapper and actress reveals the demons and blessings that inspired the record and propelled her to international stardom. She celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time.
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Fathom (Anytime / Apple TV+)

Two biologists set out on an undertaking as colossal as their subjects—deciphering the complex communication of whales. Dr. Michelle Fournet and Dr. Ellen Garland journey to opposite hemispheres to uncover a culture eons older than our own.
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Sammy Suggestion: Who Are You, Charlie Brown? (Anytime / Apple TV+)

Honoring the “everyman” creator, Charles “Sparky” Schulz, “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” is an Apple Original Documentary that celebrates the significance and global multi-generational popularity of the comic strip and its timeless artistry and design to profile the man whose simple characters would touch the lives of millions through the decades and become beloved cultural icons.
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A Charles M. Schulz documentary! Good grief I actually don’t know much about Charles M. Schulz; though I read a lot of the comics. I’m sure this doc won’t be to “Snoopy” into his past but rather focus on the incredible and vast legacy he left behind with the Peanuts gang. My two favourites are Woodstock and Pig-Pen. (I know…I know…even when Charlie Brown practically stars in a comic strip he’s not my favourite…what a loser: but please don’t tell him.)

Saturday, June 26

Sammy Suggestion: False Positive (Anytime / Hulu)

As if getting pregnant weren’t complicated enough, Lucy sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about her fertility doctor.
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I’m a sucker for time loop movies and movies where one character has trouble trusting reality: especially the same reality everyone else is comfortable trusting. (Netflix just gave us The Woman in the Window where Amy Adams insists Julianne Moore is real…the reveal was sadly disappointing.). In False Positive the reality is that Lucy is pregnant that seems to be true true however the truth about her fertility doctor well that seems unsettling. But only depending on which reality you subscribe to: yes False Positive is a horror movie. Reports from the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival suggest it’s a contemporary take on Rosemary’s Baby. That’s “pushing” it.

Sunday, June 27

Sammy Suggestion: Biography: KISStory (9pm / A&E)

Celebrating one of the most iconic bands of all time, A&E announces the new definitive documentary film telling the stories behind the phenomenon of KISS. Directed by D.J. Viola, Biography: KISStory chronicles the band’s five decades in the business as founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons reflect on their historic career.
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Confession: I’ve never seen KISS live. I gotta go one of these days. (While notable live performers their distinct music has populated many wonderful film soundtracks so truly a lot of people know their music. Liking it is another matter but at least ya know who they are.) Coming out of comic books one of the primary themes that runs through most comics is who is the man behind the mask? That’s what this documentary does: reveals the men behind the grease paint masks. KISStory celebrates 5 decades of KISS and please note this is doc is on two nights on June 27 and 28 at 9pm both nights. That way you can #SetTheVCR while you continue to Rock And Roll All Nite.

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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.

From Batman to Burt Reynolds to James Bond? This week’s #SetTheVCR has a lot of action to offer. And BONUS! We’re moving #SetTheVCR to Monday, so have two Sundays this week. All that extra #couthworthy goodness, just in time for the inaugeration. Thanks, Obama – er – Biden.

Sunday, January 17

Tiger: Docuseries Part 2 (9 p.m. / HBOMax & Crave)
TIGER is a two-part documentary offering a revealing look at the rise, fall, and epic comeback of global icon Tiger Woods. Part 2 is the conclusion.
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Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie (10 p.m. / PBS)
The TV special Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie profiles the prolific British author and creator of such classic literary as sleuths Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.

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Batwoman: Season 2 (8 p.m. / The CW & Showcase)
Javicia Leslie takes over as BATWOMAN in the second season of the CW drama.

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Sammy Suggestion: Pennyworth: Season 2 (9 p.m. / Showcase)

Former British SAS soldier Alfred Pennyworth forms a security company and goes to work with Bruce Wayne’s billionaire father, Thomas, in 1960s London.
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The Canadian Debut: Alfred Pennyworth is no longer in Batman comics (RIP!) but he lives on in TV with all kinds of EPIX adventures. “In Pennyworth: Season 2 civil war has erupted in London, leaving Alfred in the middle and looking for an escape route.” Season 2 will feature the introduction of Lucius Fox (Simon Manyonda) who if you’ve read DC Comics will make you say oooo. (Please Note: in Canada Pennyworth: Season 2 debuts tonight on Showcase. It premiered in America on December 13 on EPIX.)

Monday, January 18

Sammy Suggestion: AMERICAN MASTERS: HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE (9 p.m. / PBS)

Jazz iconoclast Nina Simone, Emmy and Tony winner Cicely Tyson and action star Pam Grier are among the Black female entertainers celebrated on a new AMERICAN MASTERS.
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Although Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier are among the entertainers celebrated in the latest episode of American Masters: the highlight is of course: Nina Simone. Keep her alive and keep her relevant: she’s so good. A stunning talent who truly demonstrated How It Feels to Be Free.

Tuesday, January 19

Sammy Suggestion: THE NIGHT CALLER: DOCUSERIES (ANYTIME / SUNDANCE NOW)

A 4-part true crime docuseries exploring a killer’s harrowing legacy – of tragedy, grief, responsibility and redemption – through the eyes of those closest to the killer and his victims whose lives he altered irrevocably.
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I did not know about any of this. (How does serial killer marketing work? Why do we know some names/crimes and not others?) “From 1959 to 1963, a mysterious attacker terrorized Perth, Australia, committing random and extraordinarily violent crimes. Determined to find the culprit, the Perth police arrested two different suspects. And in a climate of fear, both men were convicted. But the violence didn’t stop. Even when the actual killer was caught and confessed to all the crimes, the first two men remain behind bars.” Woah. Did you know about all this? New Day, New True Crime. There are four episodes in the docuseries and they’ll drop weekly on Sundance Now.

Wednesday, January 20

Presidential Inauguration (Anytime / All The Channels)
Broadcast networks and cable news outlets will offer live coverage from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., of the “Presidential Inauguration” of Joe Biden.
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Sammy Suggestion: SPYCRAFT: DOCUSERIES (9 p.m. / Netflix)

The spy game is a serious business, and throughout history, the tools and technologies developed for it have mattered as much as the spies themselves.
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Q (the good one…the best one) was Desmond Llewelyn and oh how he tolerated James Bond. He worked hard to make Bond look good; and do his duty for Queen and Country. His passing in 1999 was sad; so think of this docuseries Spycraft as a tribute. This eight-episode series gives viewers an unprecedented look at the incredible spy gadgets and the agents that put them to use with accounts from ancient history to modern day intrigue. If you’ve ever visited the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. one of the startlingly rooms is the bug room: old school bugs were so big (how did that work?) eventually they got smaller and better, even becoming cameras. We tend to think of technology we use: phones getting smaller, better…improving with each iteration. Spy gadgets do as well. So this is your mission if you choose to accept it!

PS: What does it say that the only way to find an official trailer for this series is from Netflix Uzbek. Hmm….

Thursday, January 21

Walker: Season 1 (8 p.m. / The CW)
A reimagining of the long-running series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” WALKER follows the adventures of Cordell Walker, a widower and father of two with his own moral code, as he returns home to Austin after being under cover for two years, only to discover there’s harder work to be done at home.
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Sammy Suggestion: Batman Beyond & Batman: The Animated Series (Anytime / HBO Max)

BATMAN BEYOND, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, and a number of other popular DC titles are finally heading to HBO Max
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True Story: When Batman Beyond debuted on January 10, 1999 I was like: no thanks. I did not enjoy seeing how the Batman story “ends.” The show slowly steadily won me over: I’ve even read some of their DC Comics. Still Batman’s legacy will always include these 2 special shows. Batman: The Animated Series is one of the best representations of Batman: especially stunning episodes such as Almost Got ‘Im. It’s worth a revisit. The 4 seasons of the Animated Series while the 3 seasons of Beyond have been added to HBO Max including a number of associated movies.

Friday, January 22

WandaVision (Anytime / Disney+)

Living idealized suburban lives, super-powered beings Wanda and Vision begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.

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The Sister: Season 1 (Anytime / Hulu)

Almost a decade into his new devoted married life Nathan is rocked to the core when Bob, an unwelcome face from the past, turns up on his doorstep with shocking news, triggering a series of catastrophic decisions.

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Fate: The Winx Saga (Anytime / Netflix)

Fairies attend a magical boarding school in the Otherworld, where they must learn to master their magical powers while navigating love, rivalries and the monsters that threaten their very existence.

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Sammy Suggestion: DEREK DELGUADIO’S IN & OF ITSELF (ANYTIME / HULU)

IN & OF ITSELF chronicles conceptual storyteller Derek DelGaudio’s attempt to answer one deceptively simple question: Who am I?
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This is magic! Yes! But it’s also the spark magic ignites…it’s the same spark we’ve seen in Justin Willman’s Magic for Humans. Know that DelGaudio’s remarkable one-man show, which enjoyed a lengthy Off-Broadway run between 2017 and 2018, is brimming with card tricks, optical illusions, and even teleportation. What?! However, echoing Magic for Humans DelGaudio transforms the usual magic hustle into a powerful meditation on existential yearning and his own bumpy quest for meaning in life. I mean what’s more important? The magic or the magician? The story or the writer? Oh this’ll be a solid cup of tea.

Saturday, January 23

Sammy Suggestion: I am Burt Reynolds (ANYTIME / Crave)

Burt Reynolds was the epitome of American macho. Known for his charm, his iconic mustache and penchant for women and cars. His career includes more than 200 films and TV series, a nude photo on a bearskin in Cosmopolitan, but also a fight against drug addiction due to stunt injuries. Through rarely viewed archive material and interviews with his family, friends and colleagues, an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved stars is drawn.
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Burt Reynolds is cool. I don’t know if it’s the mustache or the swagger but Burt Reynolds is cool. And while I enjoyed him in many movies; I don’t know that much about him. The latest in the Paramount Network’s I Am documentary series is I Am Burt Reynolds. Previous I Am documentaries include MLK, Patrick Swayze, Evel Knievel, Paul Walker, Jackie O and it all began with Richard Pryor in 2019. It’s their version of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries. (The Paramount Network is a cable TV channel with an app so most Americans have access to it. However in Canada we’ve gotten the bulk of their I Am documentaries via Crave.)

Sunday, January 24

Sammy Suggestion: Bridge and Tunnel: Season 1 (ANYTIME / EPIX)

Written, directed and produced by Edward Burns, this dramedy series set in 1980 revolves around a group of college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island home town.
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Bridge and Tunnel is written, directed and produced by Edward Burns…remember him? This dramedy is set in the 1980s and focuses on a group of recent college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan. However they are clinging to familiarity of their working-class Long Island hometown so that’s the tension. As I can personally attest growing up in the 80s is not easy.

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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.

Is this good?
Will this be good?
Every movie trailer answers or challenges those 2 questions. The ham-fisted rebuttal comes swiftly, however: no you don’t need to always see a movie to know it’s tank.

Do you really need to sit through a Michael Bay Transformers movie to know for sure? Tank is Tank. And Fresh…well Fresh is always Fresh. I’m down like I’m Brown for that.

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My latest comic book spy thriller following Brubaker’s Velvet and Waid’s Black Widow…is Dynamite’s new James Bond series by Warren Ellis. You can listen to Andrew and I “Bond-ing” over this series in Geek Hard’s Back Issue Bloodbath Episode 61.

I’m a fan of double-crosses and double-agents…the morality of spies is just fascinating.

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Radiohead and James Bond…the game is afoot!

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