WKRP in Cincinnati - For Real!

One of my favorite all-time sitcoms was WKRP in Cincinnati that ran from 1978-1982 on CBS. In fact I have Season 1 on DVD (the crappy replaced music version) and am waiting impatiently for Season #2.

I loved everything from the spaced-out antics of Dr. Johnny Fever and Les Nessman's mystery injuries (he would turn up on every episode with a bandage or guaze somewhere on body, even to herb Tarlic's white belt and shoes. Of course, there was also the natural beauty of Jan Smithers. Anybody elese would probably say Loni Anderson, Jan was the one for me.


Now, there appears to be an actual WKRP in the city of Cincinnati. Why it has taken this long for someone to jump on the notoriety of this hit show (at least in syndication) is a noodle-scratcher. I guess it has to do with Mary Tyler Moore Productions (MTM) and CBS having the copywrite and all that, but seriously, has no one else even thought about this?

Then again, I still remember when a restaurant in Winnipeg, Canada that appealed to high-school kids and employed waitresses on roller-skates named "Arnold's" was informed by the attorneys of ABC television they had to cease and desist all likenesses and trademarks of the Happy Days hangout. True story.

This is Too Cool

My first-ever, first favourite wrestler when I was probably about nine or ten, was The Masked Superstar. I watched the Superstar beat up a many jobbers on my weekly Saturday evening American Wrestling Association (AWA)
Strangely enough, he was made a legitimate bruiser (and a pretty sucessful one, too) and not a jabroni, which considering his gimmick...

Here's an interview

I can't remember anyone he wrestled, nor do I remember when the last mach I saw him in. I just remember wanting him to keep hurting that other guy in the who mouthed off about him in an interview, just off a few yards from the ring, before the match.

Well, they ALL paid the piper let me tell ya. Anyways, I don't remember when he left the AWA, but all that torment throughout the years, all the sleepless nights wondering what ever became of my favourite anti-hero-was over when I saw "The Super Machine". By the way, this was not too long after "Bobby The Brain"Heenan had Andre the Giant suspended from the World Wrestling Federation (yes, at one time they were enemies, remember?) but, the machines, claiming they weren't who they obviosly were weren't fooling the Brain, or me-not for one second.



They said back then that it could have been Andre or the Giant Baba. But C'mon, it HAD to be Andre. Look at the way he lumbers, and the SOUND OF HIS VOICE for Pete's sake.

Anyways, then in the late 80s came...DEMOLITION!



But as for the Madman of Mystery, the Hooded Assassin, the...nah, I just made those up...

Video here, here and here.

And an interview way back with Bobby Heenan as his manager (I had no idea)



And just when you think he's gone again...He's back, and he's a CHAMPION!
(Actually this was the reason for this whole post. I found this website and just started this ramble for the Superstar)

I finally met the Superstar in 2007 at a Legends reunion autograph signing. It was a day before WrestleMania XXIII in Detroit. He was there with his old demolition tag team partner, Smash. Other stars present were: Tito Santana, The Iron Shiek, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Superfly Jimmy Snuka. I didn't seek anyone else's autograph. The only one that mattered that day was the Superstar's.

So, WOO HOO! Long FREAKIN' live the reign of the only FREAKIN' dude with a hood that EVER FREAKIN' mattered, The Masked FREAKIN' Superstar!!



Yay Bill E.

The Wrestler

Ok. Finally a crtically acclaimed, legitimate movie about the sport that I love. Mickey Rourke may have a comeback on his hands, as well as a Oscar nomination about the trials and tribulations of a ex-professional wrestler tryong to make a comeback.
I don't want to give anything away, which is a safe bet, since I don't know anything about it, but from what I've gathered it sounds like a real homage of a life of a wrestler outside the sport, and if the trailor is any indication, the "backstage" or "behind the curtain" element to the film is pretty dead on. The way the "boys" interact and show their love for their craft and each other.

As I've worked (and continue to work on a part-time basis) for a couple of independent wrestling companies, I have seen the comraderie close up. It very much is a close, tight-knit family.
Plus the always hot Marisa Tomei is in it (Homer drool)

From www.firstshowing.net:


The Wrestler may go on to win some Oscars and you'll want to see it as soon as you can. Every quote in this trailer is accurate. It is certainly "tender, gripping" and "remarkable" and unquestionably a phenomenal achievement for both Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky. Even if you don't like wrestling, you need to watch this. The Wrestler is less about the sport and more about the lonely life of one wrestler. And it is as endearing as it is entertaining - a truly phenomenal bit of cinematic bliss.



The Wrestler is both directed and produced by visionary filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, of Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain previously, with a script written by Robert D. Siegel, of only The Onion Movie previously. The film first premiered at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival and was quickly picked up by Fox Searchlight for distribution. The Wrestler will hit very limited theaters starting on December 17th before expanding wider throughout January. Don't miss this - you will love it!

Star Trek:The Next, Next Generation

So Star Trek is making a comeback. And although I'm more of a Star Wars fan than Star Trek (have you seen those Trekkies, they're just weird) but I have kept up with the Star Trek universe whenever possible, not counting the many, many adventure novels about the crew of the (original) Enterprise, but I have seen all the movies (I cannot mention the ST movies without mentioning Christopher Lloyd. Best. Klingon. Ever.)

I still think the original t.v. show is vastly superior in many ways. Obviously, the updated special effects and the character of Data is the fodder for an argument of The New Generation being the superior brand, and it's a toss-up as to who is the better captain; Picard or Kirk. Picard is more intellectual (not so much "smarter") but Kirk is more wily and obviously gets more chicks-even the green ones. Now as for the debate as to who would I rather be commanded by when the captain is off the bridge, it's no contest; Spock punks Riker.

But anyways, I digress ( a lot)
With the release of the new film on May 8 of next year entitled simply, Star Trek, we get to see a prequel of the original 60s television series , with a young Enterprise crew played by a fresh new crop of young actors, including Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run) as Mongomery "Scotty" Scott-yay!

Also, as this article reveals from the U.K's Mail One, we find out Uhura (played by the ultra sexy Zoe Saldana) and Kirk (Chris Pine) get it on! Bet you didn't see that one coming. But are you surprised, as I said, Kirk always gets the chicks. I hate guys who can seemingly do that on a whim (only because I can't)



Just by reading this article alone, you get the feeling that Kirk is somewhat of a brazen douche bag early on, and he and Spock actually get into a fight. Obviously that is worked out judging by their endearing friendship throughout their ensuing careers and lives, especially in Spock's "death" scene in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, my favourite ST movie so far (love that Ricardo Montalban)

It's being dubbed as the "most action-packed Star Trek yet," and as the following trailer shows, that seems to be pretty accurate.







Rounding out the cast is Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock, John Cho (Harold & Kumar fame) as Hikaru Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings) as Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Winona Ryder (looking extremely hot) as Spock's human mother, Amanda Grayson and Eric Bana (Troy) as Romulan villian, Nero. (What, no Klingons?) Watch for a cameo from original cast member, Leonard Nimoy as the "older" Spock.

Director, J.J. Abrams says that he tried to find a cameo role for William Shatner, but "didn't want the script to 'shove him in because that would be a disaster."

I think this one may just be...MONEY!

Paul McCartney Hints at “Mythical” Beatles Track Release

If this turns out to be true, talk about cool. I mean who in their right mind doesn't like The Beatles and wouldn't drool with anticipation for a "new" track?
How many people stood in line to pick up 1996's release of Anthology?

I myself was in Fab Four heaven when I got mine. Although I was a bit miffed about waiting Then of course I, along with everyone else, had to wait until 2000 for the Anthology book to be released.

Will this be an actual new release or just another re-release such as a number of "alternate" versions of singles from Anthology and McCartney's re-release of Let it Be, entitled Let it Be-Naked. No diifference really, except the strings were taken out of The Long and Winding Road and the George Harrison solo on the title track was switched to John Lennon's

We'll see...if it's even true.