Change Your Image
rmcnealy
Reviews
Lego Masters (2020)
British Baking Show and Master Class are the model
In building this series, British Baking Show is the role model they should have followed. Challenges, yes. Interesting competitors, yes. Comical - quirky host, yes. But whereas BBS had expert bakers Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry ( iconic figures to British audience), we know nothing about the two Master Builder judges on Lego Masters. Paul and Mary highlighted key skills for each challenge and have accompanying Master Class Show where they explain in detail. All that is missing here. LEGO audience would love to know - learn "inside baseball" LEGO building tips - techniques. Plus majority of competitors just not very sympathetic/likable. If there is a Season 2, easy segue to build in more tips - techniques from Masters.
Mafia's Greatest Hits: Arnold Rothstein (2017)
Stunningly Amateurish
Hard to take series seriously based upon first impression Arnold Rothstein episode provides. Thesis: Arnold Rothstein was the "father" of US organized crime. Simply not true. He was a gambler and "organized" crime certainly already thriving in New York and Chicago well before Rothstein's appearance. Further, 1919 World Series section laughingly inaccurate. Had White Sox wearing Halloween type baseball uniforms, when replica 1919 uniforms available on eBay or from Mitchell & Ness. Additionally, had players using modern gloves and wearing current style hats. Worse, had "Lefty" Williams pitching right handed! Plus, the infamous pre-Game 8 Williams intimidation is totally unsubstantiated. Here, presented in heavy-handed, gun-drawn, back alley scene. Certainly did not happen that way, if at all. Original source of the story comes from "Eight Men Out", by Eliot Asinof. He later recanted this as a literary dramatic flourish. Factually, Rothstein was one of many gamblers involved in the 1919 World Series fix. White Sox player Arnold "Chic" Gandil actually initiated the idea, as fixing games was not unheard of in this era of heavy baseball gambling and comparatively low player salaries. Frankly, if Rothstien were so brilliant, he would have had the White Sox WIN the first game, thereby improving his odds dramatically. Those familiar with this World Series know it was NOT a "sure thing" for the White Sox. Reds had better 1919 record than White Sox. Further, White Sox had only three frontline starters - Cicotte, Williams, Kerr - and Kerr was a veteran minor-leaguer. Fourth Chicago pitcher, Faber, was out with injury - flu. Pitching behind these three was limited to over-the-hill veterans and untried rookies. Strength of Reds team reflected in th poor batting averages of the non-Black Sox players, notably Hall of Fame members Eddie Collins and Ray Schalk. Net, net, the historical errors in this presentation drain all credibility from its premise.