Guest Booker with Kevin Sullivan [KayFabe Commentaries]
The Good
The first "Guest Booker" is arguably the best. Kevin Sullivan is excellent at explaining psychology, capable of booking in this theoretical capacity and is able to really show off his genius. I think getting into the minds of these guys can be so difficult, yet some people make it so easy. Sully is one of them. He was so well traveled and understands so many aspects of the business and sees so many holes in logic that he is able to roughly book a year and makes you really want to see it. His main stars (the premise is that Hulk Hogan is not coming) are Paul Orndorff and "Superstar" Graham with people like Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham and the Freebirds in key supporting roles. He thinks very critically about keeping the title sacred, keeping the angles simple and building the heat for a worthwhile payoff. Like Cornette with the WCW Invasion, he recognizes the hypothetical nature of this session and does not get to caught up by that. Some talk too broadly, some don't really book much and some can really capture your attention and get their points across. Kevin Sullivan does that in what I would deem his best shoot interview performance!
The Bad
I really hate to nit-pick this because it is so excellent, but there are a few issues. One is the wide-open nature of this, which KFC reeled back on for future "Guest Booker" episodes. Sullivan cherry picks talent and there are guys he never even brings up again, so that seems unfortunate. He seems to be talking about guys as versions other than their 1984 version, specifically "Superstar" Graham, Rick Rude and even Curt Hennig to an extent. Graham had had his meltdown and was not the man of five years earlier. Rude and Hennig, while they became excellent four or five years later were not at the level that Sullivan seems to put them at in 1984. There are always little points like that in these "Guest Booker" shoots, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
The Rating: *****
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psychology. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, September 17, 2010
George Steele [RF Video Shoot Interview]
The Good
Sometimes I am baffled at how well an RF Shoot interview goes. I've heard a number of George Steele interviews on different shows, including 57Talk and Legends Radio, but none of them could even touch this one. First of all, he starts off with, "Do you want to
George or Jim?" Of course, the well-spoken and insightful Jim Meyers does the interview and really gives a lesson. He explains psychology, he explains leverage with promoters, he explains the logic of his career choices and he explains how he went from a serious heel to a cartoon character. All along the way, he throws is funny stories, yells at the dozing off crew and realistically sets himself up for a second shoot interview (about developing his George Steele character, his struggles with learning disabilities and his successes as a teacher/coach that ran parallel to his pro-wrestling career). RF's goofy trailers never made this seem like a top-notch shoot and it is certainly not Rob's doing, it is all the brilliance of Jim Meyers. This is a classic.
The Bad
I had thought Al Snow's second RF Video shoot was exceptional in that he really got into the meat and potatoes of psychology. While he has his own perspectives, it was enjoyable to listen to. This is along that line, but George Steele really explores his own career. The advantage he had is that his seasonal approach (summer runs when school was out for him) meant he did not have as many matches and therefore not as many angles, feuds, etc. Surely, some people would want him to spend more time on these and less on the psychology. Some people would probably prefer it the way around. Regardless, this is not hampered by all the usual RF Video flaws because the power of Jim Meyers' personality and his ability to talk and explain for hours.
The Rating: *****
The Good
Sometimes I am baffled at how well an RF Shoot interview goes. I've heard a number of George Steele interviews on different shows, including 57Talk and Legends Radio, but none of them could even touch this one. First of all, he starts off with, "Do you want to
George or Jim?" Of course, the well-spoken and insightful Jim Meyers does the interview and really gives a lesson. He explains psychology, he explains leverage with promoters, he explains the logic of his career choices and he explains how he went from a serious heel to a cartoon character. All along the way, he throws is funny stories, yells at the dozing off crew and realistically sets himself up for a second shoot interview (about developing his George Steele character, his struggles with learning disabilities and his successes as a teacher/coach that ran parallel to his pro-wrestling career). RF's goofy trailers never made this seem like a top-notch shoot and it is certainly not Rob's doing, it is all the brilliance of Jim Meyers. This is a classic.
The Bad
I had thought Al Snow's second RF Video shoot was exceptional in that he really got into the meat and potatoes of psychology. While he has his own perspectives, it was enjoyable to listen to. This is along that line, but George Steele really explores his own career. The advantage he had is that his seasonal approach (summer runs when school was out for him) meant he did not have as many matches and therefore not as many angles, feuds, etc. Surely, some people would want him to spend more time on these and less on the psychology. Some people would probably prefer it the way around. Regardless, this is not hampered by all the usual RF Video flaws because the power of Jim Meyers' personality and his ability to talk and explain for hours.
The Rating: *****
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Ron Garvin Shoot Interview [Highspots]
The Good
Ron Garvin can talk...and talk...and talk. If you like a shoot interview where the interviewer gets a few questions in and the next hour is story after story, opinion after opinion until it's over. Ronnie waxed nostalgic about breaking in, coming to the US and some of his successful runs in different areas. Most of the time was spent however with a philosophical lecture that included: success, happiness, society degrading and other weighty topics. It is interesting and not at all what I expected.
The Bad
Due to Ron Garvin's nonstop diatribes, his run with Terry and Jimmy, his time in Knoxville, his time with the ICW and even his run with the Crocketts and later the WWF are all cut short or left out. If you want that classic chronological interview, this ain't it. Garvin rambles and gives some pretty strong opinions about mainly different parts of our culture. I was disappointed by the lack of information on specific territories, angles and characters, but the trade off was not completely worthless.
The Rating: ****
The Good
Ron Garvin can talk...and talk...and talk. If you like a shoot interview where the interviewer gets a few questions in and the next hour is story after story, opinion after opinion until it's over. Ronnie waxed nostalgic about breaking in, coming to the US and some of his successful runs in different areas. Most of the time was spent however with a philosophical lecture that included: success, happiness, society degrading and other weighty topics. It is interesting and not at all what I expected.
The Bad
Due to Ron Garvin's nonstop diatribes, his run with Terry and Jimmy, his time in Knoxville, his time with the ICW and even his run with the Crocketts and later the WWF are all cut short or left out. If you want that classic chronological interview, this ain't it. Garvin rambles and gives some pretty strong opinions about mainly different parts of our culture. I was disappointed by the lack of information on specific territories, angles and characters, but the trade off was not completely worthless.
The Rating: ****
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Art of Managing with Gary Hart & Sir Oliver Humperdink
The Good
Gary Hart was one of the greatest shoot interviews ever and I've never heard him do anything that was not excellent. Sir Oliver Humperdink, in stark contrast to his on-screen character, is pretty low-key and uncontroversial, but insightful nonetheless. Mark Nulty is generally a meticulous researcher and interviewer and this is perhaps his best effort yet. What makes a great manager? How do you get talent over? How do you get the right heat? How do you cut a "money promo"? And so on and so on, Mark Nulty puts together an orderly and provocative interview. Gary Hart carries the day here (as one would expect) and even throws a couple jabs at John Nord, Jim Ross (I think?!) and "The" Sting. Humperdink is excellent as well and cuts a great lil' impromptu promo on Dusty Rhodes. This is just great stuff and what I think Kayfabe Commentaries is largely geared toward.
The Bad
I'm sure plenty of people might find this boring. It is in-depth, thorough and not particular controversial in its commentary. While one could find this dull that is largely a matter of opinion. I personally found this riveting and cannot say much negative about it.
The Rating: *****
The Good
Gary Hart was one of the greatest shoot interviews ever and I've never heard him do anything that was not excellent. Sir Oliver Humperdink, in stark contrast to his on-screen character, is pretty low-key and uncontroversial, but insightful nonetheless. Mark Nulty is generally a meticulous researcher and interviewer and this is perhaps his best effort yet. What makes a great manager? How do you get talent over? How do you get the right heat? How do you cut a "money promo"? And so on and so on, Mark Nulty puts together an orderly and provocative interview. Gary Hart carries the day here (as one would expect) and even throws a couple jabs at John Nord, Jim Ross (I think?!) and "The" Sting. Humperdink is excellent as well and cuts a great lil' impromptu promo on Dusty Rhodes. This is just great stuff and what I think Kayfabe Commentaries is largely geared toward.
The Bad
I'm sure plenty of people might find this boring. It is in-depth, thorough and not particular controversial in its commentary. While one could find this dull that is largely a matter of opinion. I personally found this riveting and cannot say much negative about it.
The Rating: *****
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