It’s blockbuster week at #SetTheVCR. New Star Wars; New Stranger Things. It’s all happing; so are you in or are you out?

Monday, May 23

227: Complete Series (Anytime / Hulu)

This series (which ran from 1985-1990) took place in an apartment building numbered 227. The cast would frequently be sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs, involved in some discussion that would unfold into the weekly plotline.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE FOUND FOOTAGE PHENOMENON
(ANYTIME / SHUDDER)

The Found Footage Phenomenon is an independent documentary charting the origins of the found footage sub-genre, tracking it through to the technique’s current form, and asking what the future is.
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A Confession: I’ve seen The Blair Witch Project but I haven’t seen a single Paranormal Activity. I have issues with “found footage” movies: I just don’t like em. So I should get a handle on this genre because it’s not going away (Shudder broadcasts Host a 2020 horror movie filmed entirely on Zoom. Yeah I dunno if I can do that…) “The documentary tracks the origins of the found footage technique and how it transformed with technological changes throughout the last few decades. The Found Footage Phenomenon features interviews with integral found footage directors whose films impacted the horror genre like no other sub-genre has, around the turn of the millennium.” Alright let’s do this thing; let’s see what insights I can…found.

Tuesday, May 24

Yo! MTV Raps (Anytime / Paramount+)

Yo! MTV Raps will be a comprehensive deep dive into the current state of hip hop, with hosted segments from renowned battle rapper Conceited and celebrated deejay DJ Diamond Kuts, live performances, cyphers and lifestyle content.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: RICKY GERVAIS: SUPERNATURE (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

Ricky Gervais’ previous Netflix stand-up special, Humanity, launched in 2018. His acclaimed scripted comedy series, After Life, recently debuted its third season on Netflix. He’s been busy on the streamer.
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In his second Netflix stand-up special, Ricky Gervais gives his take on the rules of comedy, spoiling his cat and debunks the supernatural, concluding that actual nature is super enough. It’s Ricky Gervais: you in or you’re out!

Wednesday, May 25

Somebody Feed Phil: The Fifth Course (Anytime / Netflix)

Phil Rosenthal travels around the world sampling food and tradition with friends and a sense of humor.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NBA PLAYOFFS: GAME 5 OF CELTICS VS HEAT (8:30 p.m. /ESPN)

The 2022 NBA Playoffs Roll on….One Shall Stand; One Shall Fall.
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Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat battle for the right to represent the East in the 2022 NBA Finals. We’ll have a better sense of who is in the NBA Finals by today; Game 6 is Friday. While for the Warriors Game 5 is tomorrow. I’m not expecting the Mavs to win that series. The NBA Finals start June 2nd. It’s been a strange NBA Playoffs…lots of blow outs; show offs and good times.

Thursday, May 26

The Ellen DeGeneres Finale (3 p.m.  / CBS)

Over the course of the show’s run, it has won 12 Daytime Emmys for best talk show, more than any other talk show in history. And leaves behind over 3000 episodes. Smell Ya Later Ellen!
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE ORVILLE: SEASON 1-2 (ANYTIME / DISNEY+)

Set 400 years in the future that follows the adventures of The Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship. Its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space.
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Seth MacFarlane’s scintillating sci-fi series The Orville (slightly renamed The Orville: New Horizons) returns for a third season on June 2, 2022. Yes! I cannot wait. If you have not checked out Orville: Season 1 or most especially Season 2 than that’s your Summer homework. Trust me after finishing Season 2 you’ll have the best how I Spent My Summer Vacation report ever. Season 2 was broadcast on Fox from December 30, 2018, to April 25, 2019 and they got the balance right between parodying and paying homage to Star Trek (especially Next Gen!). For example: Jonathan Frakes directed while Joe Menosky wrote Sanctuary about a duo are smuggling their female infant off-world to avoid gender “corrective” surgery or persecution. Yo. Or the wildly compelling Identity Part I and Identity Part II about a group of technological superior beings who’re determined to exterminate all biological life. Similar to Star Trek: Voyager which had a serial killer as part of their crew…not good. This is a captivating sci-fi show written/directed/produced by many of our Star Trek friends. I urge you to start watching now so you’re prepared for Season 3. Space Ruckus Is Coming!

Friday, May 27

30 for 30: Bad Boys (Anytime / Disney+)

The Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s and early ’90s seemed willing to do anything to win. That characteristic made them loved — and hated. It earned them the title: Bad Boys.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: STRANGER THINGS 4 – VOLUME 1 (ANYTIME / NETFLIX)

The first half of the penultimate season of Netflix’s flagship show, Stranger Things. Volume 2 premieres on July 1st.
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This is what the show’s description says but it doesn’t matter; You’re In. “It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.”

https://youtu.be/5QiG9w0SUzk

Saturday, May 28

We Feed People (Anytime / Disney+)

A chronicle of how chef José Andrés and his nonprofit rebuilds nations in the wake of disaster, providing healthy food to those affected.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: OBI-WAN KENOBI: LIMITED SERIES (ANYTIME / DISNEY+)

Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere exclusively on Disney+ with the first two episodes; it’s 6 episodes total.
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The latest invitation to return to a galaxy far, far away: the story begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat – the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Kinda relatable considering we’ve all lost friendships during the pandemic. Again: the show’s description doesn’t matter; You’re In.

Sunday, May 29

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (Anytime / Prime Video)

Set in 1998, this origin story explores the secrets of the mysterious Spencer Mansion and the ill-fated Raccoon City.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: EMERGENCY (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

Ready for a night of legendary partying, three college students must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unexpected situation.
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Think Dope meets Old School and you got Emergency. This is gonna be a wild night…how can you not be in?

–28-

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