sydneyjayz Reviews

Man v. Food: St. Louis, MO (2017) Season 6, Episode 4

Right Restaurant, Wrong City. And ditch the Host!

[8/10 · 21 April 2024]

John Schieppe first opened Schiappa's Pizza in Lebanon, Ill., in 1979. He also had a location in O'Fallon, Ill, for years. While both locations are permanently closed, this episode of Man v Food, needs to get it right as Schiappa's Pizza was NEVER in St. Louis, MO, but Illinois. I ought to know, as I've eaten there for years; they had a great lunch buffet, and they have catered many of my children's Birthday Parties!

It does a disservice to the owners (including Steve Schieppe) who was on the episode, standing in the background, amongst the crowd, cheering on Webb. And speaking of Webb, as a Host of this show, needs TV camera training! The way he looks into the camera, is very amateur and almost scary.

I really miss Schiappa's! In addition to making one of the world's largest Pizzas, they had some of THE best hot wings ever!

The Cooking Channel can and should replace Webb, as Host. He's awful!

My rating reflects an 8 vice 10 due to inaccurate information.

Dallas: Tunnel of Love (1990) Season 14, Episode 5

Why was April buried in Paris?

[3/10 · 20 February 2024]

The burial of April in Paris had to be one of Dallas' dumber storylines. It made no sense to have her funeral in Paris. There was no connection to that area-none. There was no family present other than Bobby.

Ray live there, and Bobby never reached out to him; didn't call his mother; wouldn't let JR come over, none of this makes sense even in the worse amount of grief-the decision to have your bride who was killed in a plot that also did not make sense; to not have her mother there nor her sister. Bobby's son and no one else in the family to attend the funeral-a funeral that should've been held in Dallas or at least her hometown, to this day, makes no sense and when I say to this day I'm talking after seeing this episode for the umpteenth time on February 19, 2024. If there was ever a time for anyone to examine past episodes and why these conclusions were drawn this was one of them. This is the second wife that Bobby lost under stupid circumstances. Even when he lost Pam (whose car ran into the side of a tanker and blew up) they dragged that story out and they made it look like Pam couldn't come back because she was too vain to face her family. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I love Dallas but, this was amongst one of the dumber storylines ever-if it could say it jumped the shark, it jumped high. The shark went back in the water, swam around again, and jumped over itself, twice!

The Equalizer: Do No Harm (2023) Season 3, Episode 10

A Repeat of the Movie, "John Q"

[4/10 · 26 June 2023]

A movie starring Denzel Washington who, ironically, also did a stint as The Equalizer, reads as follows: John Quincy Archibald's son Michael collapses while playing baseball as a result of heart failure. John rushes Michael to a hospital emergency room where he is informed that Michael's only hope is a transplant. Unfortunately, John's insurance won't cover his son's transplant. Out of options, John Q. Takes the emergency room staff and patients hostage until hospital doctors agree to do the transplant.

Is there some reason that Queen Latifah (a world class Rapper) can't do any show, movie, or stage play without biting off of another writer? She's so much better than that. Be Original! U. N. I. T. Y.

ER: Nobody's Baby (2005) Season 12, Episode 2

Twice the Star Power with Glover and Lifford

[10/10 · 1 May 2023]

The addition of Danny Glover and Tina Lifford in this episode or ER brings together two powerhouse actors. Both were in the Lawrence Kasdan film, "Grand Canyon" released in 1991. An excellent Film done by Kasdan who also was the writer and director of another great film, "The Big Chill." Anything that Danny Glover appears in, be it ER, Brothers and Sisters, his legendary movie series in Lethal Weapon, elevates the performance landscape. This man can act! Tina Lifford is the acting treasure you see in multiple films and TV screens who just doesn't get enough of her due notice.

Lifford was in Nip/Tuck, Scandal, and Queen Sugar, just to name a few, in her long resume list of acting achievements. I am very happy ER showcased these two in this episode especially. ER frequently brings in guest stars to juice the script and they hit paydirt with these one.

Once and Again (1999–2002)

Where/When/Why hasn't Season 3 been released?

[10/10 · 22 October 2022]

I don't do NETFLIX or any streaming, but would if this show aired on ANY streaming channel! And I'd buy the entire series-whatever the cost-because it is so worth it! I did that for Thirtysomething, as the same creators and writers spawned this show to masterful aplomb. True greed and back office bull crap is stopping the release of the final year series. It's 2022-the show ended in 2002 and we have waited too long- Enough is enough!

This family drama is all that: Marriage, Divorce, Re-marriage, raising children, workplace drama, school drama, money woes, housework, where's my socks? It hits all the holiday notes too! The writing is very real and very relatable. There is not a single scene that anyone who watches this show, cannot relate to. Straight, Gay, Black, White, Male, Female. It's not fluffy or contrite-it's just damn good writing with well executed acting by an ensemble cast that cannot be compared to anything on television today. Release the full 3 seasons and get it over with! I mean, really, what exactly is the problem with getting this Series released to DVD (yeah-we still pay for those) or streaming???

New York Undercover: Buster and Claudia (1995) Season 2, Episode 6

One of the BEST episodes and my personal favorite!

[10/10 · 21 May 2022]

The music in this episode (Buster & Claudia) was reworked. The original 1995 release featured the song, "The Bonnie and Clyde Theme" by Yo-Yo, featuring Ice Cube. The show that ran on BET tonight (4/28/3023) had a totally different music set and it took away from the ebb and flow of the episode. This wasn't the original NY Undercover we'd seen back in the day-and that's not cool! I'd love to see this series released to DVD so I can have it forever rather than fall to the mercies of re-runs that fails on original music set to the original episode. I understand there's a music rights/payment dispute behind all of this, and that's a shame. NYUC had the coolest music and musical artists showcased at the end of almost all of its episodes, via the club Natalie's. In fact, the entire episode didn't run its entire original soundtrack and that's truly ashamed.

It did have "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By" by Method Man Feat. Mary J. Blige.

Nonetheless, this episode featuring a young Terrence Howard (Empire) and Aunjanue Ellis (The Help) was all that, with a water back!

Windy City Rehab (2019– )

Windy City No-Hab, No Alison Victoria, Plz CANX this show!

[1/10 · 21 May 2022]

There is no way I would take Allison Victoria seriously at any work site. She dresses like she's going out to meet friends at a night club, vice, getting her hands dirty working on rehabilitation of homes. Who goes to a construction site in heels, string low-cut tank tops, and jewelry that could be strung up as a backyard swing??? Way too much focus on design instead of functional use of a property.

You need a place to put your dishes over a large mirror, in a remote living room, set-up for show. Victoria fawns over money like a Pimp with chicks on her personal stroll. The show is the best representation of tacky, tasteless, and money-grabbing bravado I've ever seen on HGTV (next to Fix My Flip)-the show where the Host comes in to tell you that she's better than you and she (thinks) she can prove it if you pay her enough-it is unwatchable. Victoria makes the Property Brothers (who are just as bad) look like they might know what they are peddling for dollars. Meanwhile, after the cameras stop rolling, the door bell no longer works, the homes don't sell, partners are pissed-rewind, reload. This must be a seasonal comedy special!?! Chicago doesn't need this or Victoria anywhere near their structures, homes, and architectural aesthetic. She is exceptionally bad for business and a so-called rehab show. HGTV really needs to pull up. They have become a cartoon of themselves.

Law & Order: Bad Faith (1995) Season 5, Episode 20

The Pre-cursor to the 2015 movie, Spotlight

[10/10 · 21 April 2022]

If this episode wasn't a pre-cursor to the movie Spotlight, the masterful film starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Liev Schreiber, and don't know what is. This was more than a typical ripped-from-the-headlines L&O storyline. This was art imitating true life amongst the sordidness of the Priests in the Catholic Church.

New York Undercover: Catman Comes Back (1995) Season 1, Episode 26

One of the best episodes of the Series!

[10/10 · 9 April 2022]

Last appearance for Sandy (Michael Michelle) who played JC Williams (Malik Yoba) fiancée. Sandy was gunned down by Danny Cort, played by, none other than, Ice-T, in a role he played masterfully. His revenge killing of Sandy, due to JC killing his brother in a police shoot-out, was tough to watch. Music was dope, w/Montell Jordan's (Musical Guest) rendition of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love." The filming in New York City-smoking hot scenes of the city, only second to NYPD Blue. You should watch this series (currently on BET or wherever it can be found)-should have lasted longer than 4 seasons.

This was one of the best Cop shows of the 90's Hip-Hop genre. For the corrected record by other IMDB reviewers, this show was conceived and created by the late Andre Harrell. It was sold to Dick Wolf-he didn't create any part of the show, but did a good job in destroying it by injecting a "white" perspective that didn't need to be included. The show was diverse enough. All races had a takedown by the Cops on this show. Society, at large, just wasn't ready for the smooth "Hip-Hop Cop." Take my word, it's "worth-a-watch!"

A Second Chance at Love (2022 TV Movie)

The great Eric La Salle and Gloria Reuben of "ER" fame.

[10/10 · 28 March 2022]

This movie aired its first run on the Hallmark Channel, Saturday March 26, 2022 and it was wonderful!

My only downside was too much emphasis was on the Daughter, who was truly annoying and completely unattractive. Her parts took away from the storyline instead of enhancing the story itself.

The great Eric La Salle and Gloria Reuben of "ER" fame, back together again, as second chance loves in each other's lives. This was a very very good, adult romance that was family oriented and well acted. You will enjoy this first rate film. And I absolutely missed and adored seeing Eric La Salle (an accomplished Director) we need more of him, in front of the screen.

Fix My Flip (2022– )

Garbage From The Word Go!

[1/10 · 13 March 2022]

Take a Real Estate, playing Flip Investor, who comes along to evaluate your property after the flipper of origin screws up and needs help. For the price of that help, it's Turner's money invested for payback, plus one helluva high percentage of the sales cut. I have to believe the housing joyride these fakes are on, will set us back to the 2006 housing bust where everyone will lose. And you show up in shorts so damn short, you can take a sharpie and create a map on the cellulite shown on Turners's thighs. It's really unattractive-when she sits down and crosses her legs in heels so high, to make her very appearance as a serious agent a joke. But I digress-this is a comedy, right?

HGTV is given a really false impression of how homes are handled from build to sale. Page Turner thinks she's cute and she plays that to the camera (for ratings) and the dance-around-yay-yay-yay-it's-perfect-I-love-it-formula is tired. The smartest move was by those women that refused to pay Turner the 30% she was seeking for her so-called expertise-knocking it down to 10%-and that was a gift. This show will fall off the schedule and we'll all move on to another fantasy sold by HGTV. Bye Page.

Good Times: That's Entertainment, Evans Style (1978) Season 5, Episode 24

"Booger Bookman" is gone.

[10/10 · 12 March 2022]

"Booger Bookman" is gone at 84. I loved Johnny Brown on Good Times-especially the episodes that showcased the range of his talents. Check out Good Times S3/Ep24, "The Rent Party" (1976) & S5/Ep22, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style" (1978). One of the old time great versatile entertainers we no longer have enough of in the world today-Mr. Brown will be surely missed!

Rest in the laughs and chuckle in peace.

Home Inspector Joe (2022– )

UNWATCHABLE

[1/10 · 10 March 2022]

This show does not represent the true Home Inspection process or Home Inspectors well. As a homeowner that has purchased and sold lots of properties (I'm not a flipper), I can state, with experience, a lack of professionalism with this show and the Host. Seems like the focus is on decorating a home vice truly inspecting for safety and home viability: Roof, HVAC, Electrical, Flooring, Plumbing-just to name a few-didn't see any of that in S1/Ep5 (2022).

I see a cancellation in the future.

TV hosts that have this type of personality can be annoying; too self-absorbed to put the needs of others first. Since this isn't a scripted program, per se, what you see is what you get. You really have to "earn" a negative review from me. This show earned the fourth 1-star I've ever given on a review.

Good Times: The Rent Party (1976) Season 3, Episode 24

Johnny Brown is a profound lost to the Entertainment world!!!

[10/10 · 6 March 2022]

"Booger Bookman" is gone at 84. I loved Johnny Brown on Good Times-especially the episodes that showcased the range of his talents. Check out Good Times S3/Ep24, "The Rent Party" (1976) & S5/Ep22, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style" (1978). One of the old time great versatile entertainers we no longer have enough of in the world today-Mr. Brown will be surely missed! Rest in the laughs and chuckle in peace.

The Golden Girls (1985–1992)

The loss of Betty White on New Years Eve 2021, seems unfair

[10/10 · 3 January 2022]

She would have been 100 in 17 days and was looking forward to that celebration-we all were! I'm sure God needed a laugh in Heaven, so he sent Betty. For the rest of us left behind, she continues to live on, in our hearts.

Insecure: Everything Gonna Be, Okay?! (2021) Season 5, Episode 10

For an ending...

[3/10 · 27 December 2021]

Ridiculous. What was the point? For a series finale, some of the storylines wrapped, but others was just hanging drama with leftover questions. Molly got married which was NOT predicted and seemed like a push to wrap up something--anything. Could have been better. Next up, Issa Rae improves, with her next venture (hopefully).

The Wendy Williams Show (2008–2022)

Worse than Basketball Wives!

[1/10 · 26 November 2021]

This show makes all Reality based TV and Talk Shows combined, an Emmy award winner for the category of "Worse of the Worse on Television!" Makes the show Basketball Wives an Oscar winner for a non-movie/unwatchable category. It amazes me how little talent is necessary to get paid so much. Clearly someone in Network TV is getting rich off of trash.

The War with Grandpa (2020)

As a Black G, I'd f my kids up for acting this way!

[10/10 · 9 October 2021]

This movie is laugh out loud funny! The range of Robert De Niro's acting chops and the supporting cast, pulls this off. There's a message here too-treat Senior Citizens with respect or be damned. No need to overly criticize or pick apart the elements. It's a comedy!!! It does what it's supposed to do-make you laugh!!! A person that can't laugh or lacks a sense of humor is never fun to be around.

Obsession (IV) (2019)

The Ending will shock you!

[10/10 · 2 October 2021]

I watched this movie because Mekhi Phifer, who is one of my favorite Actors, stars. This movie will truly make you think about a lot of things in relationships and how people can so easily be lied to and get played. The low ratings given for this movie are not justified. Trust me when I tell you, it's worth-a-watch!

The Cosby Show: Grampy and NuNu Visit the Huxtables (1989) Season 6, Episode 10

The Late Great Nancy Wilson & Moses Gunn!

[10/10 · 12 August 2021]

Doesn't get any better than seeing these legends singing "Moody's Mood for Love," acapella, with Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad!

Love it, love it, love it!

Changing Lanes (2002)

The Pis*sing Contest from Hell!

[10/10 · 25 July 2021]

Another Oscar worthy performance by Samuel Jackson. He should've won for the role of Gator in Jungle Fever--Oscar cheated him on that one too. Damn good movie--critics don't give it justice. Samuel Jackson is the prototype sinister Actor for what these scenes called for. And Ben Affleck is just as good--believable in his role. What makes these actors so good is you forget their names and get absorbed into the movie and the acting itself. Funny how a traffic accident on the FDR in NYC can change the lanes of both men, damn near, forever. Watch it!

ER: Things Change (2003) Season 9, Episode 19

Carter Loses his beloved Grandmother

[10/10 · 3 June 2021]

Very moving, real life way that Carter dealt with such a blow. When death comes, it comes. The reaction is real, at the moment (good or bad) and that is what Noah Wylie performed at its finest.

ER: The Peace of Wild Things (1999) Season 6, Episode 6

The official end of Nurse Carol Hathaway

[10/10 · 14 December 2020]

Uppity, interfering, and altruistic. Carol had NO business going so far as to set up the arrest of a patient, ride in the police car to watch the takedown, and then state she's doing all of this out of concern for that patients baby!?! Hell, if all Nurses went this far in pursuit of health, none of us would need a Doctor. Carol always stepped out of bounds and interfered in cases that were way out of her scope. She is the precursor to the upcoming annoying Neela and Sam Taggart years. The sooner she clocks out, the better for the series.

ER: Oh, Brother (2008) Season 15, Episode 6

The Late Great Chadwick Bozeman in this episode.

[10/10 · 11 November 2020]

The Black Panther star, Chadwick Bozeman played the son of former boxer-that being of "Rocky" fame, Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers. Two great Actors in an episode that no one could have predicted, we'd lose Chadwick Bozeman, 12 years later. So young and gone way too soon.