Monday, May 30

Origins of Hip Hop: Season 1 (10 p.m. / A&E)

Narrated by Nas this series will explore Hip Hop’s legendary artists across eight episodes: Busta Rhymes, Eve, Fat Joe, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, and Uncle Luke.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: BIOGRAPHY: BOBBY BROWN (8 P.M. / A&E)

From growing up in the housing projects of Roxbury, Massachusetts, through his rise to fame with New Edition and beyond, Bobby Brown shares his personal journey like never before.
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Well: Bobby Brown got a Last Dance: clearly A&E are not Humpin’ Around with this Biography. I did not expect that we’d Rock Wit’cha. This two-part documentary covers the basics…Every Little Step he took: his substance abuse, his marriage to Whitney Houston and interviews with Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Keith Sweat, Babyface, New Edition’s Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill. It’s My Prerogative to check this out.

Tuesday, May 31

Killing It: Season 1 (9:30 p.m. / Showcase)

Craig Robinson (“The Office,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) stars in a comedy about class, capitalism and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream. And also about hunting really big snakes. 
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: 30 FOR 30: THE GREATEST MIXTAPE EVER
(8 P.M. / ESPN)

The documentary examines how 1990s streetball and the And1 Mixtape transformed basketball culture at large.
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Oh! A 30 for 30 that explores the intersection of hip hop and basketball: yes please! “In the late 1990s, a burgeoning young New York City DJ, Set Free, had the idea to set some grainy streetball highlights to a soundtrack of emerging rap music. The results culminated in what came to be known as the And1 Mixtape, a series of VHS tapes that forever transformed the game of basketball.” This documentary (which is really a time capsule) is narrated by Jadakiss and features interviews with Fat Joe, Funk Master Flex, Iman Shumpert, Isiah Thomas, Kemba Walker, Lou Williams and more. (Additionally, a companion 30 for 30 Podcast A Streetball Mixtape, will also debut on May 31.) Let’s kick it old school, shall we?

Wednesday, June 01

A Fan’s Guide to Ms. Marvel (Anytime / Disney+)

A documentary short that provides an exclusive look behind the original series, Ms. Marvel: from its comic book origins to its development and production as Marvel Studios’ next Disney+ series.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: MAN IN THE ARENA: TOM BRADY 
(ANYTIME / Disney+)

The ESPN+ series features Tom Brady and other notable figures deconstructing the milestones of his legendary NFL career, mining the psychological and emotional terrain of each victory and defeat.
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ESPN content has begun to surface on Disney+. Episode 7 is spectacular. I watched it 3 times. On September 28 in the Wall Street Journal Tom Brady wisely said: “You think people care what you think and then you care less what people think, and then you realize no one cared, anyway.” Pretty much. The title of this ESPN+ show comes from the stirring Theodore Roosevelt speech: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” And that right there…that’s Tom Brady.

Thursday, June 02

NBA Finals: Game 1 (9 p.m. / ABC)

The NBA Finals are where legends are made, and the season’s not over until a team is handed the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 2 on ABC with Golden State having home court advantage.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE ORVILLE: NEW HORIZONS
(ANYTIME / HULU & DISNEY+ CANADA)

Set 400 years in the future, The Orville: New Horizons finds the crew of the U.S.S. Orville continuing their mission of exploration, as they navigate both the mysteries of the universe and the complexities of their own interpersonal relationships.
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When The Orville premiered on Sunday, September 10, 2017 I initially tuned in because of the Star Trek admiration and Seth MacFarlane. However I quickly tuned out just as quickly as I tuned in. It wasn’t working. They failed to get the comedy-sci-fi balance right; in many ways it was a Star Trek sitcom minus the laugh track. And I honestly cannot tell you why I returned when Season 2 started. Maybe I missed Star Trek, maybe I missed sci-fi tv shows still I watched the first episode of Season 2. And then I came back for episode 2. And wow did they get it right. Orville’s second season is one of the finest television sci-fi seasons in the history of the medium. The 11 episode third season proves to be tantalizing because it will be on Hulu which allows it to have longer episode lengths (Orville editor and co-producer Tom Costantino confirmed episodes will be longer by 12-15 minutes (much like Stranger Things 4)) perhaps even delve into more adult themes…all of it would effectively and continuing distance itself from Star Trek as it charts New Horizons. I cannot wait for this season.

Friday, June 03

Physical: Season 2 (Anytime / Apple TV+)

In the second season, Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) has successfully launched her first fitness video only to encounter some new and bigger obstacles in her path.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: THE BOYS: SEASON 3 (ANYTIME / PRIME VIDEO)

The Boys is a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes – who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and as revered as gods – abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good.
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A confession: while I enjoy comic book adaptations of violence, comedy and some morally complicated people…I’ve seen all To All The Boys I Loved Before movies; and haven’t seen a single episode of The Boys. I must rectify this. When meeting your heroes what’s the worst that can happen right?

Saturday, June 04

This Is Going To Hurt: Limited Series (Anytime / AMC+)

This Ben Whishaw-led Limited Series rejoices in the laugh-out-loud highs, while pulling no punches in its depiction of the gut-wrenching lows of life on a gynecology and obstetrics ward.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX (ANYTIME / HULU)

What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory.
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Glitch Please! Documentary filmmaker Rodney Ascher tackles the question “are we living in a simulation?” Wait…are we?! From alternative dimensions like The Upside Down to holodecks and all their various accidents (“the safeties are off!”) we’ve always struggled with reality and found ways to escape reality. If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu reading this; it may be wise to watch this documentary. Maybe Biggie was right: It Was All A Dream…

Sunday, June 05

Barry: Season 3 – Episode 6 (10:00 p.m. / HBO MAX & CRAVE)

Desperate to leave his violent past behind in favor of his newfound passion, Barry (Bill Hader) is attempting to untangle himself from the world of contract killing and fully immerse himself in acting. But getting out is messy.
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SAMMY SUGGESTION: NBA FINALS: GAME 2 (8 P.M. / ABC)

The NBA Finals are where legends are made, and the season’s not over until a team is handed the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 2 on ABC with Golden State having home court advantage.
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The rather dry Wikipedia entry of the NBA Finals begins: “The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awarded the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.” All of that is true but this is the most exciting basketball stage. This is it: 4 games away from winning it all. The first game was Thursday, June 2nd same day as new Orville which I had to give some recommendation spotlight. Tonight however is game 2 and ain’t nothing distracting my focus. Golden State hosts the first 2 games; tonight we’ll see what adjustments coaches have made and get a sense of the Finals tone. One Shall Stand; One Shall Fall. So good; so fun!

–28-

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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