sralyn-71000 Reviews

Sing (1989)

Should Achieve Cult Status

[10/10 · 23 September 2022]

Though it bombed at the box office, I was obsessed with seeing it when it came out, and finally got to a year and a half later.

Hannah bore a slight physical resemblance to Susan Sarandon's Janet character in the Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). What girl, watching that famous night club scene, didn't want a pink poorboy sweater, pearls, leather mini and high heels?

Dominic was a 80s Tony Manero type. Tough on the outside, gentle on the inside. Incidentally, as the film progresses, Hannah doesn't become a tough chick like Sandy does at the end of Grease (1978).

We've yet to see this become a Broadway musical comedy, much like Xanadu in 2007.

The Heights (1992)

Stolen from My Idea

[1/10 · 24 January 2022]

I had an idea about a story of a rock group, called "Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo" (based on the Rick Derringer song of the same name), and submitted it to Fox. They instead changed my idea into the Heights, without giving me credit.

Full House: Ol' Brown Eyes (1991) Season 4, Episode 15

RIP Bob Saget

[10/10 · 10 January 2022]

Before I begin, I have a message for Movie-Man Dan:

You misspelled DALTREY terribly in your review. Please edit and correct the spelling stat!

Anywho, this came up after hearing news of Bob Saget's passing. I shared the scene with my Who fan clubs, as it was a topper.

SCTV: SCTV Solid Gold Telethon (1978) Season 2, Episode 4

Perfect Episode

[10/10 · 4 December 2021]

If there was ever a more perfectly written episode of SCTV, it's the Solid Gold Telethon.

I first caught the episode on Nick at Nite, with the Beef N Booze commercial as a cold open. (The way certain networks arranged scenes was unusual.) And Sammy Maudlin looked absolutely beautiful in his hosting duties. But I always wondered why John Candy used his Johnny LaRue character instead of William B. Williams for this.

Dave Thomas & Catherine O'Hara's hilarious Steve & Eydie was spot on. They later confess to Sammy that they had an early argument and set it to music.

After Lorna Minnelli performs "Over The Rainbow", LaRue, by now totally stoned, donates his weight in gold...guess all that booze must've paid off, cos the 2,000 lb goal was reached!

But the part that made the episode was the closing number...the camera zooms in on Sammy...and he breaks down...poor little guy! A beautiful end to a beautifully done episode.

Saturday Night Live (1975– )

Pretty Much Sucked after the Not Ready For Prime Time Players left

[4/10 · 6 November 2021]

The only good years of SNL were the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players. Apart from that, no way.

Though I did enjoy the 1986 skit "Helmsley Spook House", where Leona Helmsley advertises her "top-of-the-line spook house, where customers can expect to be scared by real rats, skeletons and human blood dripping down the walls". Scary, eh kids?

And then again, you can never beat Wayne's World, or Carvey's George H. W. Bush impression.

Cop Rock (1990)

Better than Glee

[10/10 · 29 October 2021]

Perhaps had it come out now, in the age of Glee, it would've been a hit. I enjoyed it then, and I wish they'd do a reboot.

Like Hull High, it had more talented actors, catchier songs, you name it. You can see influences of Grease, Miami Vice, Rocky Horror, Law & Order...

Shining moment was "You Lied", when the mother who sold her baby for drug money gets booked. And that finale, "We Shall Rise Again", can't be beat. Did any of them rise again in other projects? Who knows.

Melrose Place: Till Death Do Us Part (1994) Season 2, Episode 31

Worst Finale Ever

[1/10 · 22 October 2021]

It did not have to end this way. Alison could've gone through with marrying Billy in spite of her father, and then later told him what happened privately during the honeymoon.

And the Kimberly running over Michael disguised as Jane went a bit too far.

At least one happy ending came, when Amanda prevailed over Chas's false sexual harassment claims.