City Guys

Neither the best nor the worst sitcom aimed at teens, this was one of several shows programmed after the success of "Saved by the Bell." The acting, as always in these shows, was execrable when compared to good prime-time programming, but a lot of that is deliberate. The actors are too busy mugging for the camera and encouraging whoops and catcalls from the hyperactive audience to worry about realistic performances. This one was set in an inner-city high school and featured a now cliched multicultural cast. The lame attempts at street cred and hipness were about 5 years behind the times, which means this was seriously cutting edge for network TV.

City Guys would have to be the best and coolist teen show I have ever seen. It is also the best programme I have seen all year in New Zealand. I feel the show is so underated and it doesnt get the credit it deserves. The show is so funny and entertaining, it also deals with everyday teen issues such as peer pressure and drug abuse.The show has a great cast Wesley Jonothan, Dion Basco, Caitlin Mowrey, Marissa Dyan and Scott Whyte.

I give this show a ten out of ten.

Perhaps like many of you, I grew up with Zack, Kelly and the gang on "Saved By the Bell." However, following the disappointment of "SBTB: The College Years" and "SBTB: The New Class," as well as graduating from not just high school but college as well, I decided I might just be a little too old for TNBC. Then, following a recommendation from a friend, I turned on the TV one Saturday to "City Guys," and changed my mind altogether. "City Guys" has all the right ingredients for a perfect TNBC comedy: Chris and Jamal, the girl-chasing troublemakers, L-Train, the humorously "slow" one, Cassidy, the pretty actress, the requisite couple Al (the wisecracking schemer) and Dawn (the smart activist), and Ms. Noble, the wise but fun principal who takes no guff. Hilarious hijinks ensue!

Unlike... certain other shows we all know and love... "City Guys" does not resort to stereotypes about nerds and cheerleaders. The gang at Manhattan High "keeps it real" with "special" episodes (Dawn's mom battles alcoholism, L-Train learns he has dyslexia) as well as wacky plotlines (L-Train, Al and Jamal join the ballet club, Chris, Jamal and Cassidy compete to see whose diet strategy will help Ms. Noble lose the most weight in time for her high school reunion). What more could you ask for in Saturday morning entertainment?

I feel that this show should be on DVD, because for one each episode deals with realistic issues, such as racism, hiv, drugs, etc. If Peter Engel can have the original saved by the bell released along with the college years and the new class,this show along with "Hang Time" and "California Dreams" should be on DVD as well for having similar themed shows. I have went to tvshowsondvd.com and voted tried to get other people to vote for these shows by posting good comments about in the other start new topic section after the add another comment section. Maybe only in great numbers and certain liscening rights can this show and others like can be released on DVD by the seasons. Also, show like Beverly Hills 90210 and Melorse Place may never be released on DVD, because despite high demand, they lack the music liscening rights to help make that happen. So I hope that one day "City Guys" will be released on DVD.

Personally, I think that "Saved by the bell" sucked. Especially "The college years" and "the new class". But "City Guys" is way better and isn't as fake. The only problem with it is it never got as much play as "saved by the bell". In fact, I couldn't even watch it until AFTER it went off the air. That Sucks!