#SetTheVCR: March 7-13, 2022
This is one of those #SetTheVCR weeks: There’s something from Hulu, Apple TV+, Netflix, HBO and HBO Max, Disney+ (well Canada) and even YouTube. Are you not entertained??
Monday, March 7
Gaming Wall Street: Docuseries (Anytime / HBO Max)
2-part documentary that explores the historic short squeeze of GameStop, but ultimately is a deeper dive into the underbelly of Wall Street.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: The Shop: Season 5 Premiere (Anytime / YouTube)
LeBron James, Snoop Dogg, Jon Stewart, and others gather in a barber shop to speak honestly on sports, music, pop culture, and more.
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The LeBron James produced series The Shop premiered on HBO on August 28, 2018. And for 4 seasons that’s where it was broadcast. However for its fifth season the barbershop set talk show moved from linear TV to YouTube. No surprise considering James’ penchant for switching teams. The first episode of Season 5 dropped on March 4 with guests with Donald Glover and Lamar Jackson plus 2 others I don’t know. Same format, same style…different platform. The opening theme song is Drake’s God’s Plan…and I’m not sure if that’s for the viewers or reassurance for the LeBron James and friends making this move to YouTube. Here’s the whole episode.
Tuesday, March 8
Taylor Tomlinson: Look at You (Anytime / Netflix)
Breakups. Therapy. Bangs. Taylor’s gone through some stuff since her quarter-life crisis, and she spins her mental health journey into insightful comedy.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: Pam & Tommy: Limited Series (Anytime / Hulu & Disney+ Canada)
Set in the Wild West early days of the Internet, “Pam & Tommy” is based on the incredible true story of the Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) sex tape.
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Tomorrow the final episode of Pam & Tommy drops on Disney+. Were you waiting for all 8 episodes? If so you can can get started tonight. As this limited series concludes what will be your next limited series: HBO Max has Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and Minx both set in the stylish 70s. Later this month Disney+ has Moon Knight as well as all the Netflix MCU TV shows while on March 25 CBC Gem is offering Hello (Again) a time loop rom-com. When one streamer closes the door; another opens a window into a whole new world.
Wednesday, March 9
The Last Duel (Anytime / Disney+ Canada)
A gripping true story of one woman’s tenacity, strength & courage to defy a nation and make history.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: The Andy Warhol Diaries: Docuseries (Anytime / Netflix)
After he’s shot in 1968, Andy Warhol begins documenting his life and feelings. Those diaries, and this series, reveal the secrets behind his persona.
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Terrible marketing considering Andy Warhol died on February 22, 1987. Anyways here we are on March 9 with a 6 episode docuseries that “chronicles the remarkable life of Andy Warhol from the intimate vantage point offered by the artist’s own posthumously published diaries.” Though as I pointed out he’s ah…dead. But if you’ve read enough comics you know nobody stays dead for long. So thanks to some “cutting-edge AI techniques” audiences are hoodwinked into believing the artist is revealing the contents of his artist heart. This Netflix limited series pairs well with Campbell’s Soup and Coca-Cola.
Thursday, March 10
Last Exit: Space (Anytime / Discovery+)
Rudolph and Werner Herzog take a journey into space; they look to answer when can space be colonized.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: Dune (Anytime / HBO Max)
A gifted young man must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over a precious resource, only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
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Remember how confusing it was for 1977 audiences to attend Star Wars marketed as the first movie only to see Episode IV? (The 1980 sequel Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, featured the episode number and subtitle in the opening crawl. That had to be irritating and confusing with no Google. What happened to Episodes 1-3??) Anyways people say Dune but the official title is Dune: Part One. Denis Villeneuve’s movie is actually the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. Dune: Part One primarily covers the first half of the book. Like Lord of the Rings Dune has achieved golden calf status among its fans and was often deemed unfilmable. (Some would argue David Lynch’s Dune neatly proves that point.) As for the movie, it’s your classic sci-fi hero’s journey: “Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people.” Now is it your great destiny to watch this tonight or will you wait for Dune: Part 2? (Please Note: Canadians can see Dune on Crave on March 18. Also Note: Dune is available on HBO Max in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos (English only) Whew!)
Friday, March 12
Upload: Season 2 (Anytime / Prime Video)
Greg Daniels’ (The Office, Parks & Rec) hit comedy is back! In this futuristic satire, people can have their consciousness uploaded to a luxurious digital afterlife. This season, customer service “angel” Nora has gone off the grid into the world of a tech-resistant group leaving Nathan in Lakeview where he awkwardly settles in with his ex, Ingrid, who’s unexpectedly uploaded for him.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: The Adam Project (Anytime / Netflix)
After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the future.
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“After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the future.” I guess The Adam Project is this generation’s The Last Starfighter. Though this is classic time traveling only you can save the future sci-fi tale it’s not based on anything…not a book or comic book or even a video game. Meaning everyone in the audience can experience surprise. It was originally a spec script that got picked up, in 2012 Tom Cruise was gonna be the star…he of course got replaced with Ryan Reynolds. (Totally different actors!) I wonder if the sequel will be called The Eve Project?
Saturday, March 13
Spencer (Anytime / Prime Video Canada)
The marriage of Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey: Limited Series (Anytime / Apple TV+)
Ptolemy Grey, an ailing man forgotten by his family, by his friends, and by even himself. Suddenly left without his trusted caretaker and on the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Ptolemy is assigned to the care of orphaned teenager Robyn, played by Dominique Fishback. When they learn about a treatment that can restore Ptolemy’s dementia-addled memories, it begins a journey toward shocking truths about the past, present and future.
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A reverse Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Ptolemy Grey (Samuel L. Jackson) has dementia. Suddenly thrust into the care of an orphaned teenager Robyn they learn about a treatment that can restore Ptolemy’s memories. This is an adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel who works here as an executive producer. It’s 6 episodes and Don’t Forget: it premieres with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday.
Sunday, March 14
The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth: Season 7 (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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SAMMY SUGGESTION: Game Theory with Bomani Jones: Season 1 (11:30 p.m. / HBO)
Emmy®-winning sports journalist and commentator Bomani Jones discusses timely issues that transcend the world of sports.
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While I’ve grown weary of “the timely issues that transcend sports” (players still hafta win the game at the end of the day; that’s the only issue at hand) I haven’t grown weary of Bomani Jones’ insightful commentary. You may have seen Jones on Back on The Record with Bob Costas or all over ESPN. This is executive produced by Adam McKay so that’ll add some showbiz flair to the proceedings. “I have been dying to work with Bomani for years now,” said Adam McKay. “He’s one of the sharpest and funniest truth tellers anywhere in the sports world.” I concur. New episodes will debut each Sunday for six weeks on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
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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.
