Sydney (TV series)

Sydney
Craig Bierko, Valerie Bertinelli, and Matthew Perry in Sydney
GenreSitcom
Created byMichael J. Wilson
Douglas Wyman
Written byMichael J. Wilson
Billy Van Zandt
Jane Milmore
Directed byLee Shallat-Chemel
Iris Dugow
Art Wolff
Robert Berlinger
John Ratzenberger
StarringValerie Bertinelli
Matthew Perry
Craig Bierko
Daniel Baldwin
Barney Martin
Theme music composerEddie Van Halen
Alex Van Halen
Opening theme"Finish What Ya Started"
performed by Van Halen
ComposerMason Cooper
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producerPamela Grant
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 min
Production companiesOomp & Friends Productions
Gold Hat Entertainment
Grant/Tribune Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 21 (1990-03-21) –
June 25, 1990 (1990-06-25)

Sydney is an American sitcom television series starring Valerie Bertinelli, Matthew Perry, and Craig Bierko that aired on CBS from March 21 to June 25, 1990. It was created and written by Michael J. Wilson and Douglas Wyman. This series marked Valerie Bertinelli's return to a CBS series after One Day at a Time had ended in 1984.[1][2]

Premise

Sydney Kells (Valerie Bertinelli), a private investigator from a family of police officers, relocates her one-woman private detective agency from New York City to her small hometown. There, Sydney struggles to balance her personal and professional life. Her main client is an uptight lawyer, Matt Keating (Craig Bierko), with whom she shares sexual chemistry. Her over-protective brother Billy (Matthew Perry), a rookie officer, tries to help her when he can. Sydney and her best friend Jill (Rebeccah Bush) frequent a neighborhood bar run by Ray (Barney Martin), her father's old police partner.[3]

Cast

Theme song

Bertinelli convinced then-husband Eddie Van Halen to grant permission for the Van Halen song "Finish What Ya Started" to be used as the opening theme song to Sydney.[4]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
113March 28, 1990 (1990-03-28)June 25, 1990 (1990-06-25)

Season 1 (1990)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateProd.
code
1"You? You're a Private Eye?"Lee ShallatMichael J. WilsonMarch 21, 1990 (1990-03-21)3105

Sydney returns home trying to get a job.


Guest stars :  Tom Byrd, Rod McCary, and James Gregory Capps
2"Promises, Promises"Iris DugowMichael WilsonMarch 28, 1990 (1990-03-28)3107

Matt goes to Sydney's home to hide from hired thugs who try to prevent him from working on a case.


Guest stars :  Jeff 'Gonzo' Raymond, Liz Hitchler, and Felicia Michaels
3"Cliffhanger"Lee ShallatMichael WilsonApril 4, 1990 (1990-04-04)3106

A childhood crush reappears in Sydney's life while Matt continues to hide.


Guest stars :  Michael G. Hagerty, Kent Williams, and Michael Knight[5]
4"Love Ya, Babe"Lee ShallatStory by : Michael Wilson & Douglas Wyman
Teleplay by : Michael Wilson
April 11, 1990 (1990-04-11)3109

Sydney prepares for a trial while Matt argues with Jill.


Guest stars :  Steve Mittleman, Chazz Palminteri, David Pressman, and Brandon Michael Vayda[5]
5"She Loves Me"Lee ShallatMichael WilsonApril 18, 1990 (1990-04-18)3107

Billy falls in love with Matt's client.


Guest star :  Kristen Cloke
6"I Gotta Be Me"Lee ShallatMichael WilsonApril 23, 1990 (1990-04-23)3110

Sydney tries to prepare to meet one of the law partners, but things go awry.


Guest star :  Earl Boen
7"Georgie"John RatzenbergerMichael Wilson & Barney Dunn & Maria A. BrownApril 25, 1990 (1990-04-25)3111

Sydney is hesitant to work with another private investigator.


Guest stars :  Pat Harrington, Jr., Tony Longo, and Mickey Jones[5]
8"The Me Nobody Knows"Iris DugowMichael WilsonMay 2, 1990 (1990-05-02)3104

Sydney tries to help a person who suffers from amnesia.


Guest stars :  Stephen Furst, Hamilton Camp, and Yeardley Smith[5]
9"Sydney's Mom"Art WolffMichael Wilson & Douglas Wyman & Maria BrownMay 23, 1990 (1990-05-23)3103

Sydney does not trust her mother's new boyfriend.


Guest stars :  Richard Schaal, Andy Dick, Elaine Hausman, and Bradley Mott[5]
10"36-24-36"Art WolffMichael Wilson & Douglas Wyman & Maria BrownJune 4, 1990 (1990-06-04)3102

A reporter shadows Sydney in order to write a book about her.


Guest stars :  Annabelle Gurwitch, J.J. Wall, and Kathleen Freeman[5]
11"On a Claire Day"Robert BerlingerBilly Van Zandt & Jane MilmoreJune 11, 1990 (1990-06-11)3112

Matt thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him and asks Sydney to investigate her.


Guest stars :  Jane Milmore, John York, and Jeffrey Allan Chandler[5]
12"Jake"Ellen FalconMichael Wilson & Douglas WymanJune 18, 1990 (1990-06-18)5001

Sydney's past catches up with her as a criminal is released from prison and comes looking for her.


Guest stars :  Kevin Dunn, Asher Levin, and Nicky Rose[5]
13"Chicken a la Matt"Lee ShallatMichael WilsonJune 25, 1990 (1990-06-25)3113

Sydney is hesitant to go to Matt and Claire's wedding.


Guest stars :  Jane Milmore, Billy Van Zandt, Jane Ulyshen, and Eda Reiss Merin[5]

References

  1. ^ "TV Review: Sydney". Entertainment Weekly. People Inc. March 30, 1990. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Sydney". TV Guide. TV Guide Magazine LLC. ISSN 0039-8543. OCLC 5593691. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Buck, Jerry (April 11, 1990). "Valerie Bertinelli plays private eye 'Sydney' in new comedy". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Associated Press. ISSN 2692-2592. OCLC 52298458. Retrieved June 2, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ "Bertinelli plays private detective". Middlesboro Daily News. Vol. 80, no. 9. Middlesboro-Tazewell Newsmedia LLC. Associated Press. April 11, 1990. p. 14. ISSN 1041-7095. OCLC 14395566. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sydney Kells". www.thrillingdetective.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.