TNT is arguably the reason for wrestling's explosion in popularity.
I think I have the history of this right. The general details, anyway.
David Letterman was a fan of TNT and suggested to NBC honcho Dick Ebersol (who was producing Saturday Night Live at the time, during Lorne Michaels' departure) that he check it out because it was bonkers and one of the most innovative things on TV.
Ebersol liked what he saw and started courting WWF as a potential partner for broadcast specials during the weeks that SNL was off (which, at the time, were just being filled with Johnny Carson reruns).
Ebersol and Vince create Saturday Night's Main Event, but Ebersol insists they bring the NBC production crew into the fold. When Vince sees what they do to the first episode in post production, it blows his mind. It was the first time he realized the potential of what wrestling could look like on TV.
SNME helps with the ongoing mainstreaming of the product, WWF hones its production style and becomes the best in the industry at TV presentation, which ultimately leads to a Main Event special in prime time that becomes the most watched wrestling program of all time at that point.
All because the WWF made this goofy little talk show on the cheap in some obscure corner of basic cable called the USA Network.
I can't wait for Primetime. I was always s huge fan of Primetime Wrestling. Gorilla and Bobby were the best, plus that's my favorite era of wrestling. 1983-1991 or so. I know Primetime started in 86, but that's my favorite era.
That Pamela Anderson Royal Rumble commercial is right up there with the Money In The Bank talking briefcase commercial for "Worst PPV Commercial Of All Time". And they wonder why the show bombed harder than Barb Wire and Stacked.
There was a good Hakushi squash match but other than that, you didn't miss anything. The less said about the 482nd match between The Bushwhackers and The Heavenly Bodies the better.
I would imagine wearing jeans wouldn't be great to wrestle in, especially dean ambrose who is quite agile and peforms high flying moves
ReplyDeletePlease God upload the Bobby Heenan show!
ReplyDeleteLove this. But not to sound greedy or anything, but my #1 want is WCW Saturday Night. I'll shut up for good once they start posting those.
ReplyDeleteThey should make it old school for me , and upload them Scramblevision style. Get the nostalgic experience!
ReplyDeleteWrong thread? heh, heh
ReplyDeleteBahahaha looks like it!
ReplyDeleteBOTCH-A-MA-NIA, *CLAP, CLAP, CLAPCLAPCLAP*
ReplyDeleteSeems like more 96 Raws are being uploaded early this week, so maybe they're not taking a break from it.
ReplyDeleteTNT is arguably the reason for wrestling's explosion in popularity.
ReplyDeleteI think I have the history of this right. The general details, anyway.
David Letterman was a fan of TNT and suggested to NBC honcho Dick Ebersol (who was producing Saturday Night Live at the time, during Lorne Michaels' departure) that he check it out because it was bonkers and one of the most innovative things on TV.
Ebersol liked what he saw and started courting WWF as a potential partner for broadcast specials during the weeks that SNL was off (which, at the time, were just being filled with Johnny Carson reruns).
Ebersol and Vince create Saturday Night's Main Event, but Ebersol insists they bring the NBC production crew into the fold. When Vince sees what they do to the first episode in post production, it blows his mind. It was the first time he realized the potential of what wrestling could look like on TV.
SNME helps with the ongoing mainstreaming of the product, WWF hones its production style and becomes the best in the industry at TV presentation, which ultimately leads to a Main Event special in prime time that becomes the most watched wrestling program of all time at that point.
All because the WWF made this goofy little talk show on the cheap in some obscure corner of basic cable called the USA Network.
:
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't a show so much as a segment on prime time wrestling.
So upload some prime time wrestling!
The MUDDASHIP!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Primetime. I was always s huge fan of Primetime Wrestling. Gorilla and Bobby were the best, plus that's my favorite era of wrestling. 1983-1991 or so. I know Primetime started in 86, but that's my favorite era.
ReplyDeleteNot even a minute into watching the 1994 "Slammys" with Todd Pettingill and Stephanie Wiand and I already want to kill them both.
ReplyDeleteI lasted through the UT match and then gave up. It was just too awful.
ReplyDeleteditto
ReplyDeleteMy father wears sneakers in the pool.
ReplyDelete"What's a Slammy?" Don't you just love it when somebody on a wrestling show admits that they don't watch wrestling?
ReplyDeleteThat Pamela Anderson Royal Rumble commercial is right up there with the Money In The Bank talking briefcase commercial for "Worst PPV Commercial Of All Time".
ReplyDeleteAnd they wonder why the show bombed harder than Barb Wire and Stacked.
Love that ppv though
ReplyDeleteThere was a good Hakushi squash match but other than that, you didn't miss anything. The less said about the 482nd match between The Bushwhackers and The Heavenly Bodies the better.
ReplyDeleteJust looked at the airdate of the 1985 episode and I'm wondering why exactly did that show air on a Friday?
ReplyDeleteEvery episode of TNT was aired/music cleaned up/etc. on Classics on Demand so this cost zero dollars in theory
ReplyDeleteI'm not seeing TNT on the PS3 version of the Network. Nothing in the Vault. Is it even there?
ReplyDelete