Author: Shari Harrison

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Lego Masters Season 2: Mid-Season Review

Lego Masters Season 2: Mid-Season Review

Posted on by Shari Harrison

I am so excited to say that Lego Masters is back with Season Two. The first episode launched on June 1, 2021, and new episodes debut of Fox on Tuesday nights at 9 PM. There are twelve new teams, but I’m happy to see Will Arnett is back as host with his same funny schtick, and thankfully,  Brick Masters Jamie Berard and Amy Corbett have also returned.

The prize is the same as last season, $10,000 and the “Lego Master” trophy.

The teams are:

    1. Zack and Wayne – Brothers from California.
    2. Zach and Tim – Son-Father from Michigan
    3. Mark and Steven – Brothers from Georgia
    4. Syreeta and Randall – Friends from Illinois
    5. Natalie and Michelle – Friends from Oklahoma and Arizona
    6. Paras and Moto – Friends from Massachusetts and Colorado
    7. Maria and Philip – Married couple from Michigan
    8. Susan and Jen – Friends from Utah
    9. Jack and Dawn – Siblings from Ohio and Michigan
    10. Dave and Richard – Friends from Illinois and New York
    11. Caleb and Jacob – Brothers from Wisconsin
    12. Bryan and Lauren – Siblings from California

The show grabs you from the first episode, and I find that I cannot wait until next week.

Once again, the contestants are friendly with each other, but each team wants to win. The builds are bigger and more challenging then Season One. It is hard to pick a favorite because they are all so great at building and you hate to see any team leave at the end of each episode.

Episode 1

The first episode, each team had to build an eye-catching float in the first-ever LEGO Day Parade. The prize for the winner of this challenge was the “Gold Brick”. The team that wins the “Gold Brick” can use it only once, to be safe from elimination. The team that won, you know once you saw the final build, they were going to win it. Each “float” was amazing and fun to look at.

Episode 2

The second episode, each team had to build their own slow-motion hero shot. They picked their own mini figure at random and build something to explode behind them. The teams have to use one of four blasting substances: Glitter, slime, water or dust, and the mini figure CAN NOT be blown/knocked off, when the explosion happens.

Once again, this episode, didn’t not disappoint. Each team’s blast, was as amazing as the one before. I do not envy the Brick Masters job to pick the team that has to go home.

When a team leaves the stage, everyone hugs the team and the team leaves their personal mini-figure at the entrances to the stage. My heart was saddened every time a team leaves, but the show must go on.

Episode 3

Continue reading “Lego Masters Season 2: Mid-Season Review” →

Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Posted on by Shari Harrison

Welcome to the first edition of Shari’s Suggestions. In this column, I will be reviewing original graphic novels (OGNs). The majority of books I review will be aimed at young to young adult readers. So, if that is what you like or are looking for, keep coming back. The first OGN I am reviewing is Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
DC Comics / DC Ink
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Steve Pugh
Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
Release Date: September 3, 2019

This book is a an alternate story of the origin of Harley Quinn. This graphic novel is for teenage readers and up. There is some violence and a few curse words.

The story starts with Harleen Quinzel arriving in Gotham on a bus from her hometown because her Mom had to take a job out of the country. She is going to stay in an apartment with her Grandma for the time being. She enjoys staying there, but since she is high school age, she needs to attend the local high school, where she meets the girl who will become her best friend. That’s right, Ivy is here too. The two hit it off right way and Ivy has some positive influence on her. Continue reading “Shari’s Suggestions #001: A Review of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass” →

Review: Lego Masters Season Finale

Review: Lego Masters Season Finale

Posted on by Shari Harrison

On Wednesday April 15, 2020, the final episode for the first season of Lego Masters aired on Fox at 9 pm EST. The show is hosted by Will Arnett, and the final show came down to three teams:  Sam and Jessica, Tyler and Amy, and Mark and Boone.

The final episode included a challenge for each team to build whatever they wanted in a twenty-four hour period. They had one hour to plan and design their build and then the final twenty-four to make it a reality.

Here is a little bit about each team:

Sam and Jessica are in an adult Lego group, but didn’t meet until the competition. Because of that dynamic, they struggled in the beginning, but as the competition evolved, you could see their teamwork and confidence in each other grow. Their strength comes from them both being art-focused and creative. Continue reading “Review: Lego Masters Season Finale” →

LEGO Masters: A TV Show That Will Knock Your Block Off

LEGO Masters: A TV Show That Will Knock Your Block Off

Posted on by Shari Harrison

Someone has figured out a reality show for adults who love to play with their favorite toy as a kid and turned it up a notch. I am talking about LEGO Masters. It is on Wednesday nights at 9 pm EST on FOX.  It is based on a British show of the same name. The best part about the show is its family-friendly feel.

There are ten teams of two and what a great group they are. The diverse teams are made up of fathers and sons, brothers, couples, friends, and even a team that met at a club for adults who love LEGO. The winners will win $100,000 and a LEGO Master’s trophy. The first week they competed for the Golden Brick, of which the winner is immune from being eliminated at a time of their choosing.

There have only been two episodes so far. It premiered on Wednesday, February 5th and is hosted by Will Arnett (In case you don’t know he is the voice of LEGO Batman, but don’t worry. He will remind you.). He is the perfect host for this show. He has two expert judges with him. Amy Corbett is a senior design master at the LEGO Company. She works on the LEGO Friends line and worked on the concept team for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. You can follow her on Instagram at @brickmasteramy or on Twitter at @BrickmasterAmy. Jamie Berard is the other judge, and he is a LEGO Brickmaster, with thirteen years of experience with LEGO. He works on LEGO products for teens and adults with a focus on the Creator Expert and Architecture lines. You can follow him on Instagram at @brickmasterjamie. Continue reading “LEGO Masters: A TV Show That Will Knock Your Block Off” →

My Convention Experience After Hip Surgery Was An Eye Opener

My Convention Experience After Hip Surgery Was An Eye Opener

Posted on by Shari Harrison

Shari HarrisonI want to start this post by saying that I love going to Comic Conventions. They are great places to see friends and make new ones.

There is so much to do from shopping, to going to different panels, and to getting autographs from your favorite writer, artist or TV/Movie star. Some lines are longer than others. Even if you are looking for exercise and are counting steps, a Comic Con is the best place to do that for 3 days straight.

My love for Comic Cons was disrupted in a big way for me on the weekend of August 18, 2018 at TerrifiCon at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Hotel in Connecticut.

Let me explain. On July 10, 2018 I had hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and remove some bone spurs. I had to be on crutches for two months, which takes us through TerrifiCon. Bobby, my wonderful husband, rented me a motorized scooter to help me get around the huge hotel and the convention. The scooter was easy to operate. It moved at a good speed and maneuvered around corners amazingly well.

What Went Wrong?

With all the being said, I felt invisible at the Con. People were cutting in front of me, and I was afraid of running them over. I couldn’t wait on line to get an autograph from our favorite writers/artists. I felt I was in the way, and I was afraid of knocking items off their tables if I got too close. People would step in front of me so they could get ahead in the line to get an autograph. They would say that they were sorry, but they still cut in front of me. It was very frustrating and my self-esteem was as low as it could get. Bobby did all he could to make me feel better, but it was everyone else at the Con that left me frustrated and damaged.

Continue reading “My Convention Experience After Hip Surgery Was An Eye Opener” →