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Reviews
Strip Poker (1999)
A guilty pleasure
I love this show, because I enjoy seeing the men take their clothes off. My major complaint is that they get too many close-up shots of the women wearing skimpy thongs, when I'd like to see more close-ups of the guys in their boxers.
Now I must admit, the show itself is pretty stupid. The gender-based questions are sometimes insulting, and Graham Elwood makes way too big of a deal out of the losers having to come down to the center of the stage at the end of the show to strip off whatever else they're wearing. It's really pointless making the losers strip off the rest of their clothes, because no matter which team (the two guys or the two girls) wins or loses, all the contestants end up voluntarily stripping down at the end of the show anyway.
And they don't even take off all of their clothes. The guys always strip down only to their boxers, and the girls strip down to their skimpy lingerie. In my opinion, I think the losers should have to strip completely naked at the end of the show, while the winners admire, tease, and/or laugh at them (besides, the censors could/would blur out the contestants' genitals/private parts, since this is only a cable network).
And even though I'm a gay male, I like watching Jennifer as the dealer. Granted, I'm not attracted to her, but I still think it's amusing how she's always showing off her body (usually sticking out her chest, to arouse the hetero male viewers) and thinks she's so sexy. The best episodes are the ones where Graham and Jennifer start dancing with the contestants at the very end of the show (and the episodes where at the very end of the show the guys are wearing boxers with cool designs on them).
The View (1997)
Lisa Ling is the only reason to watch
My only reason for watching "The View" is to hear Lisa Ling's intelligent commentary. Incidentally, Ling is the youngest co-host on the show, whereas the older women act more overbearing and immature - - especially Star Jones and Joy Behar. Star Jones thinks she's some big diva, and has basically become a yeswoman for the Democratic Party establishment. Joy Behar is into male-bashing and pretty much makes a fool out of herself on every episode. Meredith Viera is somewhat more credible, but even she has her low points. On the other hand, Barbara Walters provides a refreshing voice to the group on the days when she co-hosts...Walters actually loosens up and isn't so serious (like her newsanchor alter ego needs to be in the evenings) on "The View", and actually can be fun to watch. But Walters is only a semi-regular, whereas Ling is present on a daily basis.
Still, I'd have to say that Lisa Ling brings the most dignity and credibility to this otherwise juvenile show, and I always look forward to
hearing what Lisa has to say.
Big Brother (2000)
Give us a Big Brother II!!!!!
Oh, come on! Survivor has NOTHING on Big Brother! Whereas the competitions on Survivor were tense and contrived, Big Brother gives viewers an excited, often light-hearted atmosphere of laid-back FUN.
Ever since they got rid of Will, Jordan, and Karen, Big Brother is finally shaping up to be an intriguing show...no longer are certain houseguests trying to purposely cause conflict, but "Big Brother" behind the cameras is now trying to cause the conflict by interrogating the houseguests, attempting to pit them against each other, and teasing them with indulgent incentives.
LOVE the group dynamics...Cassandra trying to keep everyone in line, Jamie getting all starstruck, Eddie rolling his eyes at everything that happens, Brittany hugging/squeezing everyone who crosses her path, George making a fool out of himself...it's HILARIOUS! I thought the "Karen Springer Show", the pie-eating contest, the dance marathon, and the "beauty pageant" were incredibly funny.
And I think host Julie Chen is really likable and does a great job with it. I want CBS to bring back Big Brother with a new group of houseguests.
So there!
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1998)
The Absolute Worst Show on Television!!!!!
This is a pitiful and exhausting half-hour about over-sexed twentysomethings with no lives! It isn't even funny! Traylor Howard deserves much better than her pathetic role as Sharon...they are strenuously trying to elevate her character into a Jenna Elfman-wannabe! Especially after Howard was so charming as Joy on BOSTON COMMON.
The male cast members aren't much better. They are stereotypically portrayed as "typical males." A talent like Ryan Reynolds especially deserves a better gig than this.
Former cast members David Odgen Stiers and Julius Carry are now off the show, and they're the lucky ones! Thank the lord that the quirky new sitcom IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW... and the funny new vehicle THE NORM SHOW have taken over on Wednesday night.
TWO GUYS, A GIRL, AND A PIZZA PLACE...Stupid title, stupid show! Cancel it, ABC!
Killers in the House (1998)
Suspenseful Experience
My heart was literally pounding throughout the entire movie! Mario VanPeebles and Holly Robinson Peete lead an edgy and frighteningly melodramatic cast. A down-on-their-luck black family suddenly inherits a Victorian mansion in Washington state, and falls in harm's way when a quartet of ruthless and hostile bank robbers decide to take cover in the mansion on a stormy night while on-the-run from the police. The entire movie is full of characters being chased around or held at gunpoint, barricading doors, and lying to or outfoxing each other in a delicate and dangerous game of "cat-and-mouse." Its plot is surreal, but gave me an exhilarating experience. Some parts are funny, especially the ending. A 'must-see' if you like horror!
Thea (1993)
Cancelled Too Quickly!!!
This has been one of the best sitcoms ever to be shown on television, starring a likable and highly-talented all-black cast. Thea Vidale, an underrated comedienne, heads the sitcom as in-your-face mama Thea Turrell, a widow who is struggling to raise her four kids with the help of her sister and brother-in-law. With her trademark one-liner of "See ya'!", Thea is charming, witty, and wonderful all at the same time! The show also features a young Brandy Norwood (aka Brandy) who later went on to top the pop charts as a vocalist and the sitcom star of "Moesha"; and a young Jason Weaver who lent his voice along with Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Young Simba in "The Lion King" and also co-starred in Steve Harvey's sitcom "Me and the Boys." Little did Norwood and "Thea" alum Yvette Wilson know that two seasons after the sitcom's cancellation, they'd be co-starring together in "Moesha." ABC cancelled "Thea" way too quickly, giving it only six months on the air and forcing "Thea" to lead-off an iffy Wednesday night lineup directly slotted opposite "The Nanny." This is truly one that got away!