#SetTheVCR: June 13-19, 2022

We got miracles and music, high stakes baseball and basketball…so it’s either The Summer I Turned Pretty or the latest #SetTheVCR.

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#SetTheVCR: May 30-June 5, 2022

Assemble your Boys because the NBA Finals begin on the same day Orville is charting New Horizons. This is going to be an unforgettable #SetTheVCR week.

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When The NBA Prey Becomes The NBA Shill

Another NBA Season; Another Jurassic Park Raptors ESPN Commercial. This is one of the strangest NBA traditions.

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I Ain’t Playing Around With The NBA Play-In Tournament

Having lived through another NBA Play-In Tournament my negative emotions and dislike of the experience has only deepened.

It’s still a Hell. No.

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Lockdown The Logic

As I write this it’s currently minus 20. Toronto has a naturally built in lockdown season; it’s called January.

Ain’t no need for vapid political machinations to shut down pop culture as an attempt to look they’re doing something. Politically something is always better than nothing, right? That’s like hitting the side of a TV to make it work.

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Noah Who Is The National Champion

This trailer for the National Championship is breathtaking.

“So for the glory of old Georgia; let the Bulldog nation rise and believe…believe in the names on the back.” #GoDawgs (Shout out to Ernie Johnson Jr.!)

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Morning Tea: Yo quiero Moonfall

Chicken Wings!

Jetpacks!

Moonfall! Brew a strong tea: yo!

The First Yo of The Day.

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

~ Plato


Ain’t No Thing But A Chicken Wing…

As for today’s cover image: Yo quiero Taco Bell?

Taco Bell has added Chicken Wings to give you yet another reason to spend dedicated time in the bathroom (“Ma bell, I got the ill communications!”).

Least you can catch up on your reading; right?

McDonald’s couldn’t make chicken wings work; what the hubris…welcome to 2022.

NHL Lockdown Business

That’s not good business:

“The NHL and its teams said they lost more than $1 billion from canceling 189 regular-season games in 2019-20 and barring fans from that season’s playoffs.”

And the ugly audacity of going back to that for the Leafs…and the Raptors. That’s horrible. (It gets worse if you factor in that it’s not “working.” How many people have gotten sick from going to NHL or NBA games? In Toronto or outside of Canada?)

NBA: All Star Returns…So Far…

Kyrie Irving has played in only 1 NBA game and still has more votes than 4 other guards including DRose.

That’s why he’s signed to Nike. Never doubt the marketing machine.

Otherwise no real surprises in the East Returns for NBA All Star.

While here are the West Returns for NBA All Star. Klay Thompson earning all these votes is a single tear sign of love. That’s nice; every so often humanity gets it right.

But like who is voting for Melo?! Are you drunk and/or high? West NBA All Star voting returns. #NBA #BallorFall

#NBA: Is Playing for Team Ruckus?

This has been an utterly enjoyable chippy NBA season.

I dunno if it’s men with cojones who refuse to back down or fraying mental health during an endless pandemic or players with a chip on their shoulders, lack of respect: the why doesn’t matter if we get more. #TeamRuckus #BallorFall

Rescuing Norman Mailer

Back on March 6, 2020 Hachette employees had a childish temper tantrum and embarrassingly refused to publish Woody Allen’s Apropos of Nothing.

(It’s his best book; highly recommended for comedy nerds!)

Skyhorse Publishing wisely published it; now they’re doing good again. Thank you for your service.

“The independent press Skyhorse acquired a new book by Norman Mailer after Mailer’s longtime publisher, Random House, declined to make an offer on the submission.”

Sweet Sci-Fi Jetpacks!

(Please Note: I’ve no way to verify this video is accurate or under what agenda it was upload to Twitter.)

If this is real this is fresh. How soon until everyone gets a jetpack?

Can we use this for action movies? Create ruckus??

#TrailerAlert: Moonfall

We got a last-ditch space mission to save Earth, a dismissed conspiracy theorist who was right! And a mysterious alien force hell bent on destroying earth.

I’m 100% In for Moonfall. #TeamRuckus reporting for duty. Mash Those Puny Humans! Mash em good!

#SetTheVCR…PSA: Indivisible – Healing Hate

Paramount+ cashes in on January 6th with Indivisible – Healing Hate.

The six-part docuseries is narrated by Mandy Patinkin and is streaming now. Yup.

It asks: “how did we become so divided, and what can be done to heal the hate?” Okay.

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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.

The Kyrie Irving Booster Shot…

I’m so curious to see/know/understand how Kyrie Irving will impact the Nets.

What does it all mean for Brooklyn’s D?

What does it all mean for Brooklyn?

Will his vaccination status (a choice he freely made!) become an obnoxious distraction? Not being vaccinated is the new kneeling. If the entire team is comfortable with his vaccination status then he has zero obligations to take a “shot” for the team.

While the science is sound as a pound this whole pandemic we’ve over sold the “benefits” of militant social solidarity. This ain’t high school, yo: a trail means you’re just following in somebody else’s footsteps. Yes some people won’t follow the pandemic rules; nobody promised us a fair life. His vaccination status is his issue not mine; I ain’t taking that on.

Why didn’t Kyrie Irving play earlier in the season? Even part-time? That seems silly now.

How long will it take for him to ramp up into game shape?

And with his return and the Chicago Bulls heating up how does this impact the East?! (Here’s my honest truth: I have zero respect for the Bucks. The coach is lousy and frowzy; I wouldn’t trust him in a pie eating content.)

After all the hype and all the talk; I had to see it to believe it but is real. Kyrie Irving really has returned to the NBA.

(Canada and Toronto are taking stupid pills so he will not be playing here. Raptors illogically cannot host fans (again!); starting January 15 Canada will prohibit any athletes who are unvaccinated from entering. Sigh. What’s the data and specific metrics that prompted that decision?)

Here’s his first bucket…welcome back!

Kyrie Irving’s Final Stats from His First Game This Season…Nets defeated the Pacers 129 to 121. A win is good.

So many questions but I guess for now I can go zen and just enjoy the moment. #BallorFall

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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.

Morning Tea: Uncharted Children of Men

Children of Men!

The Black Phone!

Uncharted! Brew a strong tea: yo!

The First Yo of The Day.

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.”

~ Washington Irving #HandleYourBusiness


The Black Phone…It’s For You?

As for today’s cover image: “New Black Phone; Who Dis?” The Black Phone will be in cinemas on June 24.

A Raptors Dynasty??

I’ve grown weary of this Masai narrative: “He is not content with just winning one title.” He says this all the time.

Raptors are great at identifying talent; yet lousy at winning. Even if they stumble into the playoffs this season then what? A first round exit?

Dynasties are inspiring. They deny others glory and firmly establish a viciously high standard of excellence. Look what Jordan did 3 times. Kobe and the Lakers. High standards by which others must rise and fall.

NBA: Boogie Is Free

Can the Nets Boogie with DeMarcus Cousins??

Here’s my honest truth: I have zero respect for the Bucks. The coach is lousy and frowzy; I wouldn’t trust him in a pie eating content.

So can Brooklyn employ DeMarcus like an assassin with a 6 Foul Gun to Hack-a-Shaq Giannis? Maybe even gather a rebound or two? #BallorFall

#NBA: Kyrie Irving Has Returned…So Now What?

Why didn’t Kyrie Irving play earlier in the season? Even part-time?

While the science is sound as a pound this whole pandemic we’ve over sold the “benefits” of militant solidarity.

This ain’t high school, yo: a trail means you’re just following in somebody else’s footsteps. Yes some people won’t follow the pandemic rules; nobody promised a fair life. #BallorFall

No Dancing At Sundance

The Sundance Film Festival has gone online.

That sucks raw eggs for all the filmmakers most especially for the rookies.

Instead of a theatrical premiere you get a distracted dude at home watching from a cracked ipad and pausing anytime he wants well…when he isn’t on his phone. (That lack of transparency is what makes it difficult to trust reviews like that. Did you actually watch the movie or needlessly pause it or ignore whole chunks by texting??)

And that’s the film aspect…for rookie filmmakers there is all the networking. Film Festivals are great because they pack the room…you can meet anyone at a party or event. How are we supposed to network during a pandemic when the media continues to advocate for social distancing via stranger danger??

Sweet Sci-Fi

The only good Alfonso Cuarón movie: Children Of Men. (Gravity can suck it…twice!) So much sci-fi ruckus and I say that knowing Clive Owen never picks up a gun.

I appreciate super dark; super grim #scifi. Hopefully we gets lots in 2022.

#TrailerAlert: Uncharted

Uncharted released the Plane Fight scene that was the highlight of the trailer.

Proving yet again CGI is incredible; unlike practical effects you can use CGI to increase the danger; tighten the tension while keeping the actors relatively safe. (see the John Wick movies for more examples.)

#SetTheVCR…PSA: Pam & Tommy

Pam & Tommy contains a Mötley Crüe cast; you’ll recognize all the faces.

Though word on the street is the 8 episode limited series has a lot of “shortcomings.” #Rimshot

February 2nd: #Disney+ in Canada; Hulu for Americans. That’s nice…we’re all on the same page.

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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.

Morning Tea: Stranger Things in Atlanta

Stranger Things!

The Shadow!

Atlanta! Brew a strong tea: yo!

The First Yo of The Day.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Mondays?

#Pulp that To Do List today…all week.

(Image by Francesco Francavilla dude is so good!)


Fresh Kicks

As for today’s cover image: I always check out a stand up comic’s sneakers soon as he comes out.

Especially for specials because dope kicks make a special truly special.

Here is what Roy Wood Jr wore for his latest special Imperfect Messenger: 1985 Nike Dunk High Acid Wash.

There should be a blog for comedy and kicks.

Disney+ Is Taking It To The IMAX!

Disney Plus is trying! I just wish the actual monthly offerings look as good as this…

“Disney Plus is the first major streaming service to provide the Imax Enhanced features for at-home viewing (although of course without Imax’s gargantuan screens).

The 13 titles available in the Imax-enhanced format include the Disney Plus premiere of Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings on Nov. 12. The others are Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow. Ok then…#SetTheVCR??

#SetTheVCR…PSA: A Snowpiercer Update

“I said: brr… It’s cold in here!

There must be some Snowpiercer in the at-mos-phere!”

A #SetTheVCR…PSA: Snowpiercer: Season 3 circles around on January 24, 2022.

Bring It On!

#SetTheVCR…#PSA: Atlanta: Season 3

Atlanta: Season 2 ended 2018. And it was only 11 episodes. To take this long the standards for Season 3 are ridiculous. If Hiro Murai is back then so am I! Dude directed 7 of the first season’s 10 episodes, 7 episodes of Season 2 including “Teddy Perkins.” That dude is the unsung hero of this series. He In; I’m in!

I Got Furious Over This Real Fast!

“Vin Diesel Asks Dwayne Johnson To Return For Fast And Furious Conclusion.”

Nah Man: Don’t Be Weak.

Fast and Furious movies are better without The Rock.

It’s bad enough Paul Walker won’t conclude the saga.

Don’t Hobbs-le the franchise with Dwayne Johnson.

This clown made Rampage and Skyscraper. Hit the bricks. The series is called Furious so be it.

The NBA 75th Anniversary Season: Jordan Is A Money #GOAT

You truly can’t celebrate the NBA’s 75th Anniversary without recognizing Michael Jordan’s incredible wealth.

He built this financial house of the modern NBA as much as the TV contracts did.

#TrailerAlert: The Hating Game

Lucy Hale is the hot chick; Austin Stowell is the hot dude and they hate each other. Or do they…

December 10, 2021 if you’re gonna sit through this.

#SetTheVCR…PSA: Stranger Things: Season 4

Let’s visit 1986 in the Stranger Things: Season 4 trailer: Welcome to California. (What happened to Hawkins?!)

That’s one year after The Breakfast Club came out…which is roughly how old the cast of kids is now. Are they in college yet? This season takes place during spring break so it should be wild.

The fourth season will have nine episodes and Chapter One is entitle The Hellfire Club.

I know the Hellfire Club is real but I’m assuming because it’s Stranger Things this is a fun Marvel comics reference.

If you’ve seen X-Men: First Class you know who the Hellfire Club are. Otherwise that’s a deep cut for nerds only. That’s fresh!

Stranger Things: Season 4 | April 2022 | Netflix

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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.

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