#SetTheVCR: December 27-January 2, 2020
By: Sammy Younan
Tags: Streaming Tv, Black Mirror, Netflix, Comedy

Christmas is over…we’re heading into a bold year with great expectations if not for ourselves than for TV. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” ? Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption

Sunday, December 27

The Simpsons: Season 32 (8 p.m. / Fox)

Sammy Suggestion: Death to 2020 (Anytime / Netflix)

Take a look back at 2020 through a Black Mirror! Producer and Written by Charlie Brooker Death to 2020 stars Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant plus many more: and it’s narrated by Laurence Fishburne. So that’s Neo-oh. Should be good dark black humour fun.

Monday, December 28

Sammy Suggestion: 5 To 7 (Anytime / Hollywood Suite)

A Hollywood Suite Free Preview Recommendation: From 2014: 5 to 7 (director Victor Levin’s film debut). A subtle romantic comedy co-starring Bérénice Marlohe an absolutely gorgeous actress. “An aspiring novelist enters into a relationship with a woman, though there’s just one catch: She’s married and the couple can only meet between the hours of 5 and 7 each evening.” French romance meets New York City writing. A great line from the movie: “Some of the best writing in New York won’t be found in books, or movies, or plays, but on the benches of Central Park. Read the benches, and you understand.” So true! (You got until January 5 to enjoy all these free movies on Hollywood Suite. As I wrote in this space before: “Now this is a holiday tradition I can get into. It’s the annual Hollywood Suite Free Preview for Canadians. This year it runs from December 1 to January 5. Hollywood Suite is a collection of movie channels: one channel is dedicated to the 70s, another to the 80s, 90s and finally 2000s. All uncut and no edits: swears and sex and satire.”)

Tuesday, December 29

Streets of Dreams With Marcus Lemonis (10 p.m. / CNBC)

Sammy Suggestion: I Used To Go Here (8 p.m. / HBO)

Gillian Jacobs plays Kate who is getting an F at life. She doesn’t know how to B. But you know who does C her clearly? If you don’t know the beard you know the voice: Jemaine Clement! Like Rodney Dangerfield (Back to School), Melissa McCarthy (Life of the Party) Adam Sandler (Billy Madison)…a few other A+ comics Kate goes back to school to find life. It’s a classic genre even if most of these the movies earn a D eh: so be it. There’s always the other classic school genre: Summer School!!

Wednesday, December 30

Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy — Earthrise (Anytime / Netflix)

Sammy Suggestion: Equinox: Season 1 (Anytime / Netflix)

Following Dark and Into The Night this is my new Netflix Jam! “Equinox tells the story of Astrid, a young woman, whose sister, along with her entire class of graduating students, inexplicably disappeared without a trace when she was only 9 years old in 1999.” YES! 100% Hell Yes. Equinox is a Danish mystery thriller based on the Equinox 1985 podcast. Never listened but that X-Files premise has seduced me. Ok I’m 100% IN.

Thursday, December 31

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 4 (Anytime / Netflix)

Sammy Suggestion: Best of Stand-Up 2020 (Anytime / Netflix)

Jerry Seinfeld, Marc Maron, Kevin Hart, Donnell Rawlings, Jim Jefferies, Joy Koy…lots more are among the funny folks featured in Best of Stand-Up 2020. A clip show collection: remember when sit coms used to have clip shows? Comedy has suffered greatly in 2020 between the hokey President Trump “jokes” and the pandemic closing venues: comedians have done their best to adapt with uneven results. So as the red light flashes on 2020: “Thanks: that’s my time!” hopefully we make with the funny in 2021.

Friday, January 1

Cobra Kai: Season 3 (Anytime / Netflix)

The King of Staten Island (Anytime / Crave)

Sammy Suggestion: Headspace Guide To Meditation (Anytime / Netflix)

Netflix and…chill out! Headspace the popular meditating app from Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe is now on TV. An unusual offering from Netflix though one I hope will become popular because meditation’s benefits empowers us to effectively deal with the Stranger Things in this hectic life. Netflix has strived to become a lifestyle brand: with comic books and podcasts and now meditation. All that’s missing is a vagina scented candle. (This tranquil recommendation most likely pairs well with another decluttering your space documentary: The Minimalists: Less Is Now also on Netflix as of today.)

Saturday, January 2

Like A Boss (8 p.m. / EPIX)

Sammy Suggestion: Dark Waters (9 p.m. / Showtime)

Lotta people haven’t seen Dark Waters. “A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.” This time your Erin Brockovich is Mark Ruffalo who makes an ideal lawyer: you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.