A quiet week here at Kevin's Bacon. But don't worry because next week I'm going to unload my extra- large mega-gigantic Super Bowl Preview. Should be fun. Look for that next Friday.
For now, let's keep it short.
Like most music listeners, I walk around all day with some kind of song stuck in my head. The songs can range anywhere from rock to rap, from polka to fiesta, whatever catches my ear in a given day. Sometimes I enjoy having it stuck in my head, others not so much.
Today's song is by a band who I believe is still in their prime right now and is arguably one of the best "prime" rock bands in the world. Im talking about the multi-talented Dave Grohl and his buddies, the Foo Fighters.
Grohl's done it all. From drummer of Nirvana, to lead singer/guitarist of the Foo Fighters, to drumming appearances with Queens of the Stone Age, to Them Crooked Vultures, to My Name is Earl (oh wait.. that's Jason Lee) Grohl has Rock and Roll Hall of Fame written all over him.
And screw me, because the Foo Fighters have been to Winnipeg a few times in the last 5 years, and I missed them. Won't happen next time.
So without further ado, this is Volume 1 of Songs stuck in Kevin's head. Here's the Foo Fighters newest song which was released as a single in the fall entitled "Wheels". Take a listen.
P.S. Don't forget...Extra-large mega-gigantic Super Bowl Preview coming next Friday. You won't even have to watch the game because I'm going to tell you exactly what will happen. I'll even predict the songs that The Who will play at halftime. (Hint: Think about it.... Super Bowl is on CBS... CSI is on CBS....)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
It's gonna get crazy in Georgia
What does the middle of April remind you of?
Spring is in the air as the snow is almost gone. Nice walks outdoors. The smell of barbecues.
As much as those things rock, the middle of April has one meaning to me.
The middle of April means that golf's greatest players meet up in Augusta, Georgia for an event called The Masters.
This year will be no different as golf's finest will walk by the azaleas, make their way past the oak trees, and take a trek over the bridges which surround the creeks and ponds. Not only an enjoyment for viewers watching in HD (seriously, if you don't have HD, get it now!!!), but an enjoyment for the golfers themselves as they try to become a part of golf lore by conquering the greatest colf course of all-time to take home the ugly but storied green jacket.
Now usually I don't think about the tournament until the week leading up to it, but I am already thinking about it at the end of January. Why? 3 words.
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods
Poor Eldrick has made a mess of things in the last month and a half and has gone from hoisting the FedEx Cup at the end of August to a sex addiction rehab clinic in Mississippi.
We all know the details so there's no point in rehashing them all. What we don't know is when Woods plans to return to the golf course. It is currently January 22nd and there still has been no comment from Woods which, in all likelihood, means he's still a while away from returning. He can't just return. He's gonna have to do his little interview with 60 Minutes or Barbara Walters or whoever the hell wants to do that. He's gonna have to apologize again and again. He's gonna ask for forgiveness. Then he'll step out on the 1st tee. All those things won't happen overnight.
So, what better way to make a comeback than on golf's grandest stage, The Masters? The Masters is one of golf's 4 major tournaments, and Tiger has won 15 majors, including 4 Masters. He is 3 away from tying Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 and 4 away from breaking it. He wants that record so bad. Which is why it's almost guaranteed he'll play this April.
This means one thing: Chaos
This is potentially going to be one of the biggest sporting events of all-time. Tiger Woods first tournament since the allegations. Augusta National Golf Club prides itself on being classy and there are many rules you have to follow to be allowed on the course. Think of all the possibilities of chaos and rule breaking:
-TMZ cameras hiding in the bushes clicking away and paparazzi running across the fairways only to get zonked by an oncoming golf ball.
-There WILL be Tiger hecklers, and then there will be those who are on Tiger's side and defend him , which may lead to a full-scale riot between the hecklers and the supporters.
-Other golfers staring down Tiger Woods giving him dirty looks and making snarky comments leading to the first on-course fight between golfers,
This has all the makings of a gong show rather than a classy golf tournament.
And while Augusta National is probably scared shitless that this stuff will happen, CBS television is jumping for joy.
What a time for CBS.
The Super Bowl in 2 weeks, which is shaping up to be the best Super Bowl matchup in the last 20 years.
The College basketball tournament in March.
Hit TV shows such as CSI and Two and a Half Men which make it the #1 network in America
The Masters in April.
We're looking at record ratings for golf here. Imagine Tiger in contention on Sunday afternoon, trying to put the last few months behind him by winning an illustrious fifth green jacket? Will people cheer for him? Will people hope for a Tiger choke? Whatever their thoughts they may be, they'll be watching. And CBS will be raking in the dough.
So to conclude, I'm excited for this potential gong show, but a little worried as well. I don't want one of my favorite sporting events of the year to turn into too much of a joke, overshadowing the great shots and breathtaking sights seen every year.
It seems only fitting that the slogan for the Masters is "A Tradition like no other" because come April 8-11, 2010, the Masters will not be just a golf tournament. It is going to become "An Experience like no other".
Get ready.
Spring is in the air as the snow is almost gone. Nice walks outdoors. The smell of barbecues.
As much as those things rock, the middle of April has one meaning to me.
The middle of April means that golf's greatest players meet up in Augusta, Georgia for an event called The Masters.
This year will be no different as golf's finest will walk by the azaleas, make their way past the oak trees, and take a trek over the bridges which surround the creeks and ponds. Not only an enjoyment for viewers watching in HD (seriously, if you don't have HD, get it now!!!), but an enjoyment for the golfers themselves as they try to become a part of golf lore by conquering the greatest colf course of all-time to take home the ugly but storied green jacket.
Now usually I don't think about the tournament until the week leading up to it, but I am already thinking about it at the end of January. Why? 3 words.
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods
Poor Eldrick has made a mess of things in the last month and a half and has gone from hoisting the FedEx Cup at the end of August to a sex addiction rehab clinic in Mississippi.
We all know the details so there's no point in rehashing them all. What we don't know is when Woods plans to return to the golf course. It is currently January 22nd and there still has been no comment from Woods which, in all likelihood, means he's still a while away from returning. He can't just return. He's gonna have to do his little interview with 60 Minutes or Barbara Walters or whoever the hell wants to do that. He's gonna have to apologize again and again. He's gonna ask for forgiveness. Then he'll step out on the 1st tee. All those things won't happen overnight.
So, what better way to make a comeback than on golf's grandest stage, The Masters? The Masters is one of golf's 4 major tournaments, and Tiger has won 15 majors, including 4 Masters. He is 3 away from tying Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 and 4 away from breaking it. He wants that record so bad. Which is why it's almost guaranteed he'll play this April.
This means one thing: Chaos
This is potentially going to be one of the biggest sporting events of all-time. Tiger Woods first tournament since the allegations. Augusta National Golf Club prides itself on being classy and there are many rules you have to follow to be allowed on the course. Think of all the possibilities of chaos and rule breaking:
-TMZ cameras hiding in the bushes clicking away and paparazzi running across the fairways only to get zonked by an oncoming golf ball.
-There WILL be Tiger hecklers, and then there will be those who are on Tiger's side and defend him , which may lead to a full-scale riot between the hecklers and the supporters.
-Other golfers staring down Tiger Woods giving him dirty looks and making snarky comments leading to the first on-course fight between golfers,
This has all the makings of a gong show rather than a classy golf tournament.
And while Augusta National is probably scared shitless that this stuff will happen, CBS television is jumping for joy.
What a time for CBS.
The Super Bowl in 2 weeks, which is shaping up to be the best Super Bowl matchup in the last 20 years.
The College basketball tournament in March.
Hit TV shows such as CSI and Two and a Half Men which make it the #1 network in America
The Masters in April.
We're looking at record ratings for golf here. Imagine Tiger in contention on Sunday afternoon, trying to put the last few months behind him by winning an illustrious fifth green jacket? Will people cheer for him? Will people hope for a Tiger choke? Whatever their thoughts they may be, they'll be watching. And CBS will be raking in the dough.
So to conclude, I'm excited for this potential gong show, but a little worried as well. I don't want one of my favorite sporting events of the year to turn into too much of a joke, overshadowing the great shots and breathtaking sights seen every year.
It seems only fitting that the slogan for the Masters is "A Tradition like no other" because come April 8-11, 2010, the Masters will not be just a golf tournament. It is going to become "An Experience like no other".
Get ready.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Theatre Thoughts
Last year, when I was an official blogger for the Manitoba Theatre Centre website during MillerFest (a festival honouring the works of playwright Arthur Miller), I focused my blog topics on my random thoughts throughout the plays. Well, fast forward one year, and I think it's time for the return of Kevin's theatre thoughts.
IN THE CHAMBER
Last Man in Krakendorf
-The play was supposed to begin at 8:00 pm, but ended up starting at about 8:10, due to audience members still arriving. You know that feeling you get at a concert where the headlining band is supposed to be on at 9 and it's already 9:10? The anticipation and excitement build, you begin to shake and move uncontrollably knowing that at any moment, the lights will dim and the show will begin. I wonder if theatre fanatics get that same feeling when a play starts up a bit late. It certainly didn't look like it Thursday night, but mind you, a 65- year old theatre-goer is not an 18-year old rock and roll fan.
-Definitely the most memorable opening scene of a play that I can recall. In fact, if there was an "Opening Scene of a play/movie" hall of fame, this scene would be in there along with the likes of Star Wars and Saving Private Ryan. Ok, that's pushing it, but if I ask you in 5 years what you remember most about the play, I wouldn't be shocked to get the following answer:
"Oh yeah, that was the play where the guy had the boner at the beginning."
-Microsoft Powerpoint in a play? I never thought I would see the day.
-The most uncomfortable moment of the play? When a picture of a man jumping out the World Trade Center flashed onto the screen. Apparently trying to compare it to pigs burning to death, another comparison probably should have been used. But what did you expect from a guy as unpredictable as Douglas Turner.
- This was the first one-man play I had ever seen, and like everybody else, I was absolutely blown away by the acting of Gordon Tanner and Steven Ratzlaff. Seriously, 50 minutes of continuous monologue? And not once can I remember them stumbling or stalling for a moment or two.
- I'm still confused as to why the play did not open up with the song "Pigs on the Wing" by Pink Floyd.
Last Man in Puntarenas
-Watching Hugo put on his glasses, and then take them off again, and then put them on again, and then take them off again as he put down his speech, was quite comical to me.
-I'm sure I wasn't the only one that had his/her eyes focused on the waiter in the background for most of the time. It was fun watching him wander around, disappearing for a few minutes, and then reappearing. What was he going to do next? Fascinating stuff.
-Just an idea... Wouldn't it have been cool to pop the balloons rather than remove them from the seats to signify that the guests were leaving? Plus, it would have woken up the 5-10 people that were sleeping in the audience.
-After the play, the audience was treated to some wine, crackers, cheese, and fruit. If I had to pick only two foods that I would eat for the rest of my life, crackers and cheese might be the front-runners.
-These two characters were both trying to tell a story, but couldn't quite get to the point and interrupted themselves countless times to tell other stories or say other things on their mind. You just want to yell at them and say, "Get to the flippin point already". And then I remembered that they are accomplished actors and I am an 18-year old student. Probably wouldn't have gotten the best reaction.
Everyone's ripping this play, but to be honest, I didn't find it that bad. Being a person that likes to rant from time to time, I guess I found the 50-minute rants to be passionate and comical. I believe that if the main topics of the plays were not pigs and health care, there would be a different reaction to this play.
One thing I know for sure, I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for one-man shows and would definitely attend future similar performances.
IN THE CHAMBER
Last Man in Krakendorf
-The play was supposed to begin at 8:00 pm, but ended up starting at about 8:10, due to audience members still arriving. You know that feeling you get at a concert where the headlining band is supposed to be on at 9 and it's already 9:10? The anticipation and excitement build, you begin to shake and move uncontrollably knowing that at any moment, the lights will dim and the show will begin. I wonder if theatre fanatics get that same feeling when a play starts up a bit late. It certainly didn't look like it Thursday night, but mind you, a 65- year old theatre-goer is not an 18-year old rock and roll fan.
-Definitely the most memorable opening scene of a play that I can recall. In fact, if there was an "Opening Scene of a play/movie" hall of fame, this scene would be in there along with the likes of Star Wars and Saving Private Ryan. Ok, that's pushing it, but if I ask you in 5 years what you remember most about the play, I wouldn't be shocked to get the following answer:
"Oh yeah, that was the play where the guy had the boner at the beginning."
-Microsoft Powerpoint in a play? I never thought I would see the day.
-The most uncomfortable moment of the play? When a picture of a man jumping out the World Trade Center flashed onto the screen. Apparently trying to compare it to pigs burning to death, another comparison probably should have been used. But what did you expect from a guy as unpredictable as Douglas Turner.
- This was the first one-man play I had ever seen, and like everybody else, I was absolutely blown away by the acting of Gordon Tanner and Steven Ratzlaff. Seriously, 50 minutes of continuous monologue? And not once can I remember them stumbling or stalling for a moment or two.
- I'm still confused as to why the play did not open up with the song "Pigs on the Wing" by Pink Floyd.
Last Man in Puntarenas
-Watching Hugo put on his glasses, and then take them off again, and then put them on again, and then take them off again as he put down his speech, was quite comical to me.
-I'm sure I wasn't the only one that had his/her eyes focused on the waiter in the background for most of the time. It was fun watching him wander around, disappearing for a few minutes, and then reappearing. What was he going to do next? Fascinating stuff.
-Just an idea... Wouldn't it have been cool to pop the balloons rather than remove them from the seats to signify that the guests were leaving? Plus, it would have woken up the 5-10 people that were sleeping in the audience.
-After the play, the audience was treated to some wine, crackers, cheese, and fruit. If I had to pick only two foods that I would eat for the rest of my life, crackers and cheese might be the front-runners.
-These two characters were both trying to tell a story, but couldn't quite get to the point and interrupted themselves countless times to tell other stories or say other things on their mind. You just want to yell at them and say, "Get to the flippin point already". And then I remembered that they are accomplished actors and I am an 18-year old student. Probably wouldn't have gotten the best reaction.
Everyone's ripping this play, but to be honest, I didn't find it that bad. Being a person that likes to rant from time to time, I guess I found the 50-minute rants to be passionate and comical. I believe that if the main topics of the plays were not pigs and health care, there would be a different reaction to this play.
One thing I know for sure, I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for one-man shows and would definitely attend future similar performances.
Monday, January 11, 2010
When Monday Night Ruled
Last Monday, I was flicking through the television channels when I came across Bret 'The Hitman" Hart on Channel 29. Bret Hart is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in a WWE ring. He retired about 10 years ago but there he was, standing back in the ring again. And wouldn't you know it, there was the CEO of the WWE, Mr. Vince McMahon standing alongside him. McMahon was the same guy who booted Hart out of the WWE in the most unconventional way.
And there they were celebrating with each other, raising each others hands, apparently Hart having forgiven McMahon for the issues that were explained in the link above.
So everything was good and everyone was happy, but then in classic WWE fashion, this happened.
Yep, it was a good old-fashioned back stabbing. The kick to the groin. Watching this live, I started to flashback to the days of my youth when wrestling was king in my life. 1998 was when I first entered the world of wrestling and, boy, was it ever an explosive world. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, DX, The Corporation, The Ministry of Darkness, even Drew Carey.
I learned that wrestling was scripted within a few years, but the years where I thought it was real had me yelling at the television on numerous occasions. "You suck, Undertaker", "Hell Yeah, Stone Cold". I think that's where the Kevin Hirschfield potty mouth originated.
But after 6 or 7 years of weekly wrestling watching, I suddenly lost interest. A massive part of my childhood was suddenly not so important any more. How could this have happened? Here are 5 reasons why I think wrestling lost its lustre.
1. Lack of Competition for the WWE
The "golden" years of wrestling as I like to call them, approx 1998-2001, featured some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history. Like this match:
THE main reason the WWE was on it's game is because of the competition of the WCW. Vince McMahon owned the WWE, Ted Turner owned WCW. They both had shows on Monday nights, Monday Night Raw(WWE) and Monday Nitro (WCW), and competition was at its highest between these two companies, making for more outrageous things happening every week to try and secure the viewers to their show. But in 2001, Vince bought WCW, and just like that, there was no more competition for the WWE. This was the beginning of the downfall.
2. Fail to properly promote new stars
I mentioned it earlier but back in the "golden" years, there were more stars in the WWE than at the Academy Awards. Austin, Rock, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, X-Pac, the list goes on...and on.... and on.
It was at a point where the whole Monday show was filled with at least one superstar in every match, and people couldn't leave the TV set, including yours truly.
But now it doesn't seem the same. The main attraction is a white guy who pretends to be black in John Cena. Who would you rather have as your main attraction? Would you rather have John Cena? Or would you rather have a beer-chugging, foul-mouthed, redneck from Texas, who constantly flipped people off and who wasn't scared to kick anybody's ass including his own boss? That man was Steve Austin. And I'd much rather have him. Even the main attraction before Austin was some blond dude named Hulk Hogan. Yeah, that guy. He's the reason wrestling even exists. So you go from Hogan and Austin(2 legends) to Cena?!?!? What happened there?
They're still trying to push the legends at us. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker are still wrestling after 20 years!! Even Ric Flair comes back for a match or two. But it appears the only way they can get a big buzz going is by either putting these legends in matches against each other at 50 or however old they are, or by bringing them back for a week (like Bret Hart).
3. Repetition of Storyline
Honestly, what can they do now for shock and awe that they haven't done before. Throughout those 4 years of competing against WCW, there were so many twists and turns to the plotlines that the Young and the Restless seemed normal.
We had Steve Austin being thrown off of a bridge, The Undertaker being lit on fire in a casket, yet surviving (amazing!!), Triple H drugging Stephanie McMahon and then marrying her, Val Venis getting his pee-pee chopped off. Yes sir, those were the days.
And either they've completely thought of every idea in the book, or they need to hire a new creative team fast, because they've got nothing. It seems every year the Undertaker dies and then comes back to life to haunt the opponent that "killed him". Honestly, I could see that Vince McMahon kick to the groin of Bret Hart coming from a mile away.
4. The changing of the name
This one has always been the most defining one for me. The day they changed their name from the WWF to the WWE is when professional wrestling died. It was already dying as a result of the WWE being the only show on TV. But this was the nail in the coffin. I will stand by this statement forever. Of course the name changed because of the confusion between the World Wildlife Fund and the World Wrestling Federation. So the tree huggers won and got their name, and wrestling was stuck to change from an F to an E. Just say these letters to yourself. F just sounds so hardcore and it stands out. E sounds so sappy and happy, not something wrestling was known for.
5. They got rid of the Hardcore Championship
This last reason is mainly in here for filler but this is something that has always bugged me. The Hardcore matches were matches that allowed opponents to use absolutely ANYTHING in the arena to hit their opponent with.
Trash cans, fire extinguishers, sledgehammers, thumb tacks, whatever made your opponent hurt the most. And it was no coincidence that these were every wrestling fans favorite matches to watch. But then in 2002, they suddenly got rid of the belt. I'm assuming it was for the safety of the wrestlers but this was a BIG mistake, WWE. There's nothing quite like watching a wrestler get hammered with a steel chair and then watching him as he tries to cut himself in the forehead without any seeing.
(Watch CLOSELY between :40 and :50 as Austin frantically searches under the ring for a cup of blood which he then proceeds to quickly pour over his forehead)
The reason why I am bringing this up is because 1) I'm bitter and 2) TNA Wrestling has launched their own Monday-night show to go head-to-head with the WWE. And guess who's running TNA? Hulk Hogan. And he's brought along some old friends as well.
So it appears the WWE may finally have some competition again. To remind you, because this post has been so brutally long, that was the first problem on my list of 5 problems with wrestling. So it appears that one of them has been corrected.
Just think, we're only 4 steps away from Monday nights being eventful once again.
And there they were celebrating with each other, raising each others hands, apparently Hart having forgiven McMahon for the issues that were explained in the link above.
So everything was good and everyone was happy, but then in classic WWE fashion, this happened.
Yep, it was a good old-fashioned back stabbing. The kick to the groin. Watching this live, I started to flashback to the days of my youth when wrestling was king in my life. 1998 was when I first entered the world of wrestling and, boy, was it ever an explosive world. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, DX, The Corporation, The Ministry of Darkness, even Drew Carey.
I learned that wrestling was scripted within a few years, but the years where I thought it was real had me yelling at the television on numerous occasions. "You suck, Undertaker", "Hell Yeah, Stone Cold". I think that's where the Kevin Hirschfield potty mouth originated.
But after 6 or 7 years of weekly wrestling watching, I suddenly lost interest. A massive part of my childhood was suddenly not so important any more. How could this have happened? Here are 5 reasons why I think wrestling lost its lustre.
1. Lack of Competition for the WWE
The "golden" years of wrestling as I like to call them, approx 1998-2001, featured some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history. Like this match:
THE main reason the WWE was on it's game is because of the competition of the WCW. Vince McMahon owned the WWE, Ted Turner owned WCW. They both had shows on Monday nights, Monday Night Raw(WWE) and Monday Nitro (WCW), and competition was at its highest between these two companies, making for more outrageous things happening every week to try and secure the viewers to their show. But in 2001, Vince bought WCW, and just like that, there was no more competition for the WWE. This was the beginning of the downfall.
2. Fail to properly promote new stars
I mentioned it earlier but back in the "golden" years, there were more stars in the WWE than at the Academy Awards. Austin, Rock, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, X-Pac, the list goes on...and on.... and on.
It was at a point where the whole Monday show was filled with at least one superstar in every match, and people couldn't leave the TV set, including yours truly.
But now it doesn't seem the same. The main attraction is a white guy who pretends to be black in John Cena. Who would you rather have as your main attraction? Would you rather have John Cena? Or would you rather have a beer-chugging, foul-mouthed, redneck from Texas, who constantly flipped people off and who wasn't scared to kick anybody's ass including his own boss? That man was Steve Austin. And I'd much rather have him. Even the main attraction before Austin was some blond dude named Hulk Hogan. Yeah, that guy. He's the reason wrestling even exists. So you go from Hogan and Austin(2 legends) to Cena?!?!? What happened there?
They're still trying to push the legends at us. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker are still wrestling after 20 years!! Even Ric Flair comes back for a match or two. But it appears the only way they can get a big buzz going is by either putting these legends in matches against each other at 50 or however old they are, or by bringing them back for a week (like Bret Hart).
3. Repetition of Storyline
Honestly, what can they do now for shock and awe that they haven't done before. Throughout those 4 years of competing against WCW, there were so many twists and turns to the plotlines that the Young and the Restless seemed normal.
We had Steve Austin being thrown off of a bridge, The Undertaker being lit on fire in a casket, yet surviving (amazing!!), Triple H drugging Stephanie McMahon and then marrying her, Val Venis getting his pee-pee chopped off. Yes sir, those were the days.
And either they've completely thought of every idea in the book, or they need to hire a new creative team fast, because they've got nothing. It seems every year the Undertaker dies and then comes back to life to haunt the opponent that "killed him". Honestly, I could see that Vince McMahon kick to the groin of Bret Hart coming from a mile away.
4. The changing of the name
This one has always been the most defining one for me. The day they changed their name from the WWF to the WWE is when professional wrestling died. It was already dying as a result of the WWE being the only show on TV. But this was the nail in the coffin. I will stand by this statement forever. Of course the name changed because of the confusion between the World Wildlife Fund and the World Wrestling Federation. So the tree huggers won and got their name, and wrestling was stuck to change from an F to an E. Just say these letters to yourself. F just sounds so hardcore and it stands out. E sounds so sappy and happy, not something wrestling was known for.
5. They got rid of the Hardcore Championship
This last reason is mainly in here for filler but this is something that has always bugged me. The Hardcore matches were matches that allowed opponents to use absolutely ANYTHING in the arena to hit their opponent with.
Trash cans, fire extinguishers, sledgehammers, thumb tacks, whatever made your opponent hurt the most. And it was no coincidence that these were every wrestling fans favorite matches to watch. But then in 2002, they suddenly got rid of the belt. I'm assuming it was for the safety of the wrestlers but this was a BIG mistake, WWE. There's nothing quite like watching a wrestler get hammered with a steel chair and then watching him as he tries to cut himself in the forehead without any seeing.
(Watch CLOSELY between :40 and :50 as Austin frantically searches under the ring for a cup of blood which he then proceeds to quickly pour over his forehead)
The reason why I am bringing this up is because 1) I'm bitter and 2) TNA Wrestling has launched their own Monday-night show to go head-to-head with the WWE. And guess who's running TNA? Hulk Hogan. And he's brought along some old friends as well.
So it appears the WWE may finally have some competition again. To remind you, because this post has been so brutally long, that was the first problem on my list of 5 problems with wrestling. So it appears that one of them has been corrected.
Just think, we're only 4 steps away from Monday nights being eventful once again.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
This is what the Seinfeld Curse does to you
What is the Seinfeld Curse?
The "curse" that has been put on the careers of Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander. Since "Seinfeld" went off the air in 1998, these 4 have had more busts than a South American crack house.
From "Listen Up", Alexander's attempt at portraying a sportscaster which lasted 1 season , to " The Michael Richards Show", which was cancelled after just 8 episodes, the boys have yet to make a huge impact since "Seinfeld" packed it in after 9 seasons.
Well except for Michael Richards, who decided to confront some hecklers at his comedy show in 2006. The rest is history.
But then Julia Louis-Dreyfus came onto the scene and won an Emmy Award for her role on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" a few years ago. So I guess, technically, the curse is over. I don't necessarily agree. The curse will be over once all 4 have succeeded in a project post-"Seinfeld".
Meanwhile, Jerry Seinfeld decided not to start up any new shows after 1998, making a few guest appearances here and there. But in 2007, Seinfeld's first major role in almost 9 years took place.
"The Bee Movie"
So how could he make sure his new film got noticed? How could he pry people to the theater to see his role in the animated flick as a bumblebee? How could he make sure to remove himself from the wraths of the Seinfeld curse?
Well why not fly off a building.
There was the star of the greatest TV show of all-time flailing through the air trying to get some publicity for his new movie. The movie fared pretty well, getting nominated for a few Kids Choice Awards and a Golden Globe Award, but not winning. So I guess you could say, the curse continues for poor Jerry.
Only one thing will put the Seinfeld curse to rest.... A reunion show. (And, no, the one in the recent season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" DOES NOT count.)
Anyways, back to the stunt. Seinfeld teamed up with the Cannes Film Festival to put on this stunt. Seinfeld has had so many oddball ideas in the past, (eg. plotlines for his show) and it was really no surprise that he came up something so goofy yet intriguing.
The definitions that I have heard concerning publicity stunts are basically events that take place to promote something, and are covered by the media. Without the media, these events would not be really newsworthy.
A bumblebee jumping off a building and being held up by a few strings? Looks like a publicity stunt to me.
As for publicity stunts, they'll always be around. No matter how many millions of dollars you have, like Mr. Seinfeld, the interested onlookers and the swarm of media will never get old for the celebs.
The "curse" that has been put on the careers of Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander. Since "Seinfeld" went off the air in 1998, these 4 have had more busts than a South American crack house.
From "Listen Up", Alexander's attempt at portraying a sportscaster which lasted 1 season , to " The Michael Richards Show", which was cancelled after just 8 episodes, the boys have yet to make a huge impact since "Seinfeld" packed it in after 9 seasons.
Well except for Michael Richards, who decided to confront some hecklers at his comedy show in 2006. The rest is history.
But then Julia Louis-Dreyfus came onto the scene and won an Emmy Award for her role on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" a few years ago. So I guess, technically, the curse is over. I don't necessarily agree. The curse will be over once all 4 have succeeded in a project post-"Seinfeld".
Meanwhile, Jerry Seinfeld decided not to start up any new shows after 1998, making a few guest appearances here and there. But in 2007, Seinfeld's first major role in almost 9 years took place.
"The Bee Movie"
So how could he make sure his new film got noticed? How could he pry people to the theater to see his role in the animated flick as a bumblebee? How could he make sure to remove himself from the wraths of the Seinfeld curse?
Well why not fly off a building.
There was the star of the greatest TV show of all-time flailing through the air trying to get some publicity for his new movie. The movie fared pretty well, getting nominated for a few Kids Choice Awards and a Golden Globe Award, but not winning. So I guess you could say, the curse continues for poor Jerry.
Only one thing will put the Seinfeld curse to rest.... A reunion show. (And, no, the one in the recent season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" DOES NOT count.)
Anyways, back to the stunt. Seinfeld teamed up with the Cannes Film Festival to put on this stunt. Seinfeld has had so many oddball ideas in the past, (eg. plotlines for his show) and it was really no surprise that he came up something so goofy yet intriguing.
The definitions that I have heard concerning publicity stunts are basically events that take place to promote something, and are covered by the media. Without the media, these events would not be really newsworthy.
A bumblebee jumping off a building and being held up by a few strings? Looks like a publicity stunt to me.
As for publicity stunts, they'll always be around. No matter how many millions of dollars you have, like Mr. Seinfeld, the interested onlookers and the swarm of media will never get old for the celebs.
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