My Pal Sammy
mypalsammy.substack.com
My Pal Sammy
@mypalsammy.substack.com
Like Batman's Butler but for Pop Culture: My Pal Sammy newsletter is your e-Alfred.

My Summer Lair with affable host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
If Santa was good to you...well: that's disappointing.

The coolest people are often on the naughty list. I'm literally hanging out with the wrong people. Sigh.

Guess that's what New Year's Resolutions are for...make more friends with the naughty list crew. #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays
December 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
The @millsandhunte.bsky.social virtual yule log is all warmth, glow, and smooth jazz — exactly the ideal cozy background comfort Christmas Eve was built for

Highly recommended if you just want to exhale. And get rid of your pants. #MerryChristmas

youtu.be/3Q3NDEzbeEY?...
Angels We Have Heard On High (extended)
YouTube video by Pas da' Millz
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
This excerpt of my interview on the @mysummerlair.bsky.social podcast captures a big reason why I love being a photographer. Thanks to Sammy for this! 😊
A 2025 #MSLVictoryLap includes this chat with photographer @culturesnapca.bsky.social about a city's soul:

"I love connecting with people. It's not just about getting a killer photo. I love connecting with people."

We connected over his #UrbanScrawl exhibit. 🎧 ⬇️
mysummerlair.com/podcast/henr...
December 22, 2025 at 1:04 PM
#CouchWorthy: March 2025 TV Highlights:
Andrew Schulz (Life) & Bill Burr (Drop Dead Years) comedy specials.

Daredevil was Reborn; so was Russo Bros. working on The Electric State.

Seth Rogen released The Studio.

More best of March 2025 #SetTheVCR. #CertifiedMSL

mysummerlair.com/setthevcr/co...
#CouchWorthy: March 2025 TV Highlights #CouchWorthy: January 2024 TV Highlights
Here are the hits and blockbusters we enjoyed in March 2025. Some TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. #CouchWorthy is your monthly TV Guide to help you plan a fantastic TV show schedule from must-wat...
mysummerlair.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Some delicious December TV offerings that do not involve a horny yet single interior decorator or other Hallmark movie junk.

Latest My Pal Sammy offers and suggests and recommend the following for December 2025:

mypalsammy.substack.com/p/setthevcr-...
#SetTheVCR for December 2025
Thank You So Much for Making 2025 Special...
mypalsammy.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
Remember in Stand By Me there’s a scene in the local junkyard. Through the fence the owner mocks Teddy, played by Corey Feldman: “Loony, loony, loony!”

Well today: Corey Feldman vs the World is out on PVOD through platforms such as @AppleTV.

Sadly, is Corey still a Lost Boy?
December 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Did you watch #StrangerThings5?

Holly Wheeler is played by Nell Fisher. IMDb says she was born on Nov 2, 2011 in London. Wee Lass; Big Talent.

See her in Bookworm and you’ll see. Based on her freshtastic Bookworm performance Demogorgons should be nervous.

mypalsammy.substack.com/p/a-bookworm...
A Bookworm Reveals The Secret to Endless Wonder
Listen now | How '80s movies staring kids taught us to dream bigger, stay curious & embrace magic.
mypalsammy.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
For #TalkyTuesday writer @benjamin.percy informs me who is scarier: Wolverine or @stephenking?

I mean they both have large yet fictional body counts, right?

We all gotta go sometime...so would you want to be taken out by Wolverine or by Stephen King? Hmmm. 🎧 ⬇️

mysummerlair.com/podcast/benj...
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
Last night’s #TrackerCBS had a famous cameo. Remember the Essex Corp orphanage in #Deadpool 2?

That infamous Insane Asylum has been in numerous movies/TV shows shot in B.C.

I heard the following creepy Scooby-Doo ghost story featuring...#RyanReynolds?!

mypalsammy.substack.com/p/that-time-...
That Time Deadpool & Cable Went Full Scooby-Doo
My Summer Lair | Getting Goosebumps Making Marvel Movies
mypalsammy.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
Spooky Season offers not just horror movies; but also horror comics.

That genre is 🔥 thanks to creators like Jeff Lemire.

Jeff visited #MSL to talk X-Men (mutants!), hometown 👻 (scary!) & the 10k-hour grind (frightening!) (or rather 10k Ink Stains).

mysummerlair.com/podcast/jeff...
My Summer Lair featuring Jeff Lemire (10,000 Ink Stains)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to comic book creator Jeff Lemire about his memoir 10,000 Ink Stains, published by Dark Horse Comics.
mysummerlair.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
“#JamesBondDay is a day of gratitude and a celebration of imagination: how bright sparks can ignite a fiery passion.

And ah…of course to recognize sexy ladies named Octopussy.”

A quote from a Bond-reflection I wrote for #JamesBond's 60th; still fits.

mypalsammy.substack.com/p/that-james...
That James Bond Spark: Bonding With Bond
Bowie // James Bond // Frank Sinatra // Spider-Man // Bruce Springsteen
mypalsammy.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The latest #MyPalSammy includes TV Terror recommendations from @paramountplus.com' Peak Screaming collection to #FearFest on @amcplus.com to Terror on #Tubi. Lots of Happy Horror!

Let the warm #FearPee flow in this #Substack newsletter: #SetheVCR for October.
mypalsammy.substack.com/p/setthevcr-...
#SetTheVCR for October 2025
Halloween on TV Is Funner Than A Weekend Gateway At The Overlook Hotel...
mypalsammy.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield. Check out this week's #couchworthy finds ⬇️

mysummerlair.com/setthevcr/se...
#SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
mysummerlair.com
August 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
🎤 “If you don't take risks the good stuff's not gonna happen either.” ~ @jefflemire171.bsky.social

Thrilled to welcome #JeffLemire to #MSL to discuss his storytelling memoir 10,000 Ink Stains, published by
@darkhorse.com.

Jeff & Dark Horse are at #SDCC2025:
mypalsammy.substack.com/p/pantsworth...
#PantsWorthy: Comic-Con 2025
A My Summer Lair Conversation With Jeff Lemire
mypalsammy.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
For Jaws’ 50th Anniversary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau directed Jaws @ 50 a documentary/retrospective.

I had a #MSL conversation with Laurent about Jaws, creativity, filmmaking, Hollywood &...the unusual way he came to see #Jaws.

The latest My Pal Sammy:
mypalsammy.substack.com/p/jaws-turns...
Jaws Turns 50 & Still Has Teeth!
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Newsletter: Celebrating JAWS @ 50 with Laurent Bouzereau
mypalsammy.substack.com
July 12, 2025 at 9:16 PM
August 2001—first time visiting London.

I had a profound concert experience.

As the last note rang out & the house lights came up, the moment felt as symbolic as a movie ending.

For #FathersDay this is how I got...Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of.

mypalsammy.substack.com/p/fathers-da...
Father's Day For U2
All That You Can’t Leave Behind // True Sammy Stories // Kite // London, UK
mypalsammy.substack.com
June 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
✊ Protest. Politics. Power.
The #Vietnam War lit a fire that still burns.

On this #MemorialDay filmmaker Caroline Marsden visits #MSL to discuss The War That Changed America. #EarJoy 🎧

#VietnamTheWar is streaming on Apple TV+. #SetTheVCR
mypalsammy.substack.com/p/setthevcr-...
#SetTheVCR: Returning To Vietnam's Pop Culture Jungle
Listen now | What Apple TV+'s Vietnam: The War That Changed America reveals beyond old school '80s movies...
mypalsammy.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Uncle Phil!

May 9, 1994: Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse. Season 4 Episode 24 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

You can hear "Hilary" crying in the background.

In Will Smith's excellent memoir Will (highly recommended) he writes this about this pivotal scene & its impact.

youtu.be/EZGXCDJATDs?...
The heartbreaking moment Will's dad left | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - BBC
YouTube video by BBC
youtu.be
May 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A #MayTheFourth Confession:
At the risk of losing my nerd street cred I admittedly have a hard time differentiating between gas and...a disturbance in the Force. #MyShame #HonestPost

Happy #StarWars Day.
May 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Crossed paths with a young lady on her mobile. As she walked past all I caught was: "Oh I know! So many people in my department have been bitten."

Appears the Zombie Apocalypse has commenced.

Do What Ya Need To Do.
March 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Big Night on TVO: The #OntarioPlace doc is broadcast at 9 pm (though you can stream #YourTomorrow & other
@tvodocs.bsky.social on YouTube.)

I spoke to the director; you can hear (and read) that
@mysummerlair.bsky.social conversation with #AliWeinstein here:
mypalsammy.substack.com/p/whats-an-o...
What's An Ontario Place You Miss So Much?
A MSL Conversation with Ali Weinstein about her Ontario Place documentary.
mypalsammy.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
On the subway platform the silence was suddenly & randomly shattered by a Jerry Garcia lookin homeless guy yelling out: "Rock 'N Roll!"

He then proceeded to shred the living hell outta an air guitar.

Though we're both on the same subway platform we are clearly not travelling in the same direction.
March 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
TV is infinitely better when I watch with my hand down my pants. Honestly.

The same way you instinctively grip the car door when your driver takes a sharp turn, when suspense heats up like Jiffy Pop...good gravy, the hand goes down.
March 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Eating #TacoBell is like swallowing a ticking time bomb...you’re not sure how much time you have left; if you can start something significant at work or just wait for the inevitable.

This time no hero is cutting the red wire at 0:01. Boom!
March 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by My Pal Sammy
Have I got TV Recommendations for Bookworms who like to watch TV In Order. Of course no matter how I build a TV Guide Piece by Piece it’s the Super Bowl which overshadows all #SetTheVCR suggestions. Check out this week's #couchworthy finds ⬇️!
#SetTheVCR: February 03-09, 2025 #SetTheVCR: February 03-09, 2025
Have I got TV Recommendations for Bookworms who like to watch TV In Order. Of course no matter how I build a TV Guide Piece by Piece it’s the Super Bowl which overshadows all #SetTheVCR suggestions.…
mysummerlair.com
February 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM