Tag Archives: 2000s

‘The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling’ (2007): The unscripted side of pro wrestling

I’ve been out of the loop on professional wrestling for what seems like forever now. I don’t know the major players; I don’t know the companies, and from the few drop-ins I’ve done over the years, you can basically have it. But I have the fondest memories, as a very small boy, of the syndicated Big Time Wrestling show, out of the National Wrestling Alliance‘s Detroit territory, which could always be counted on to keep an hour of boredom at bay on a rainy Saturday afternoon (“And Pampero Firpo coco-butts The Sheik! He’s killed him! He’s killed him! No, no wait!  He’s getting up!”). And the early days of Vince McMahon’s WWF, when I was a teenager, were some of the best “TV theatre” around, with the hypnotic, hysterically funny “Rowdy” Roddy Piper a true artist at his craft.

Continue reading ‘The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling’ (2007): The unscripted side of pro wrestling

‘The Steve Coogan Collection’: The best from comedian that brought us Alan Partridge!

Was this past Christmas season a bust for you? I suppose after the blizzard, if you had electricity you were way ahead of a lot of people, and being able to afford a can of knock-off Spam in today’s economy put you that much higher up (our Christmas feast consisted of a Quicken loan denial letter and some bouillon cubes). At least we could sit down for some serious holiday TV and movie viewing.

Continue reading ‘The Steve Coogan Collection’: The best from comedian that brought us Alan Partridge!

‘The Roller Derby Chronicles’: 2 documentaries & tons of vintage game footage!

You know what sports I played as a kid? My TV, that’s what. And my favorite of all time was catching Big Time Wrestling coming out WXYZ, Detroit’s Channel 7. When Bobo Brazil, after breaking free of The Sheik’s camel-clutch hold, would give his skull-crushing “Coco Butt” to lay the Sheik out, well…why the hell would I want to go outside and toss around a ball and maybe miss that?

Continue reading ‘The Roller Derby Chronicles’: 2 documentaries & tons of vintage game footage!

‘Elvis: The Miniseries’ (2005): Slick production tiptoes around big questions

2022 marks the 45th anniversary of the death of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Elvis Presley.

Continue reading ‘Elvis: The Miniseries’ (2005): Slick production tiptoes around big questions

‘Sheena’ (Season 1): 2000s take on jungle heroine an agreeable time-filler

Perfectly acceptable first-run syndicated tripe, as Xena meets Baywatch in the Disney/M-G-M Studios Florida jungles.

Continue reading ‘Sheena’ (Season 1): 2000s take on jungle heroine an agreeable time-filler

Secret Stories of Hitler: ‘Swastika’ & TV documentaries highlight DVD collection

Mill Creek Entertainment has taken three Adolf Hitler-themed documentaries (one feature length, and two long-form TV outings), and put them together in a newly-monikered set, Secret Stories of Hitler.

Continue reading Secret Stories of Hitler: ‘Swastika’ & TV documentaries highlight DVD collection

‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’ (2006): Nominee for worst-ever Christmas movie

During this Christmas season, if you want your child to believe that the world is coming to an end from greed and indifference, and for him or her (or god forbid “ze” or “hir”) to think that Santa is an aggressive, violent, psychotic rageaholic with possible suicidal tendencies…then by all means, give them the gift of love and put 2006’s made-for-cable movie The Year Without a Santa Claus under the tree: certainly in the running for the worst Christmas movie ever made.

Continue reading ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’ (2006): Nominee for worst-ever Christmas movie