Showing posts with label cartoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cartoons. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

W.W.W. featuring Sami Callahan and Bret Hart

On Wednesdays, we here at LOL, Wresslin' like to really pull out the stops and offer up a double shot of righteously killer content. Why Wednesday? Well, we could impress you with market research, work habit studies, and human psychology tendencies to show you there's a scientific reason the middle of the week is the best time to bring your A-game. However, truth be told, we don't have any of that stuff and settled on Wednesday because that was the only day that didn't have any content scheduled.

So, here you have "Watch Wresslin' Wednesdays." Please feel free to suggest a better title, because we are woefully uncreative when it comes to naming stuff.


Better at naming stuff than us.

The idea of W.W.W. is we each send the other a video that is related to wrestling (a match, promo, interview, guest starring spot, etc.). The only restriction is that it cannot be user-created, so your how-to on making an Iron Sheik Halloween costume ain't going to fly here, pal. Neither of us know what kind of video we're going to get that day.

After viewing, we each write a response. This could be anything we choose: a straight commentary, a philosophical enlightenment, or classless ridicule. Just as we don't know what kind of video the other will select, neither do we know what the other will write or how they will write it. What you end up with is a mash-up of styles, which in our book equates to two-blogs-in-one, and we can take the rest of the day off.


Adam's video to Matt - Sami Callihan vs. the Airhorns



Matt's response...

I'll be honest: the only reason I'm familiar with CZW, or Combat Zone Wrestling, because it was featured in The Wrestler when Mickey Rourke's character wrestled a stand-up fellow by the name of Necro Butcher. What that means, I don't know.


I set out to learn some more about CZW by checking out their Wikipedia page, but it became clear that it was written by someone in their PR department, if they have one. Take, for instance, the entry titled "Zandig hanging incident," where someone was hung above the ring by meathooks during a show.

The aftermath of the incident was negative, many fans even vowed never to attend a CZW show again. The company remained successful that year and had a sold out crowd for their annual Cage of Death show.

Take that, you fans with a sense of decency!

They also have a tag team named "2 Girls 1 Cup." Ok, ok. I get it. You're disgusting.

I can't really talk about their quality of wrestling, since that's not showcased here. No, what we get is a look inside the mind of the CZW fan. I don't care much about this Sami Callihan character; he's a douchebag and he's just one guy. However, the fans demonstrate that they are, in fact, scraped up from the bottom of the barrel.

Apparently, the airhorn is a thing in this promotion. They blow it during a big spot, such as when someone gets smashed with a fluorescent light bulb. But here, they've turned the tables on the wrestlers! They're going to blow it during a promo, if you can call it that.

This is what really turns me off to this whole thing, and why WWE will always be better. Sure the fans get a little rowdy from time to time, but for the most part we respect the product and enjoy watching it. It seems these guys just want to come and screw with the show. A show that, no matter how "hardcore" you think it is, is no more than backyard wrestling moved indoors, and that's only sometimes. Whatever you all think about WWE wrestlers, they can do more with a mic and without throwing each other through a pane of glass or into an electrified fence. That's not cutting edge or trendsetting. That's an easy way out.

They did, however, have a moment where there were competing "Asshole" and "Shut the fuck up" chants, and that's kinda cool.

Matt's video to Adam- Bret Hart Drawing Cartoons



Adam's response...

Bret Hart must have had a stroke in 1993.

That's the only explanation as to why he thinks he can draw. It has nothing to do with the fact that he does cartoon art either. I collect cartoon and comic art. I commission it from artists in the industry. So I should be sympathetic towards the Hitman's "talents." However, I'm not because he's really just awful.

Take for example, his sketch of the Undertaker.

And there's his sniveling, money tight, store owner Jew accomplice, Irwin R. Shyster.

Is that the Undertaker or an Islamic newspaper's political cartoon depiction of a rabbi? How about some more racial sensitivity from the Excellence of Execution?

"Me so solly, Hitman-son!"

That's Mr. Fugi? Maybe in a 1940's Disney/Loony Tunes cartoon it would be, but not 1993. Now, I know Mr. Fugi is a heel, and WWF was/is not the fore front of racial relations, but really Bret? You think that's ok to publicize? Still, it's not just your intent that's awful. Look at these two:

And there's the other Irwin R .Shyster ! One guess as to how I knew that.

This is actually a court room artist's rendition of how the divorce trial went.

You know (tm) how you can tell when an impression is bad? When it opens up with "I'm (X)!" The whole point of the impression is that the voice is immediately recognizable. So by writing "IRS" on a brief case, well, sort of negates the drawing, doesn't it Most Tragic Man Ever? Or how about, just in case someone misses the "Hulk" on the shirt, well it's also on the headband too!

Also, when you attest that Money Inc. doesn't like your drawings, well it's probably because they suck. Not because you're exaggerating Ted Dibase's nose.

Now, this is not to say that it's all bad. I give credit where its due (I am tough but fair!). First, you sketch in pen/marker, which is impressive. You also work off no photo reference, so the exaggerations can be expected a little. But it seems rather disingenuous when he's preaching that "everyone can do something" and for him that's art. I'm all for the sentiment that everyone can do something. Picasso can do art, I play a pretty mean bass guitar, Matt has his belly dancing, and Bret is a wrestler. Not an artist. Not a cartoonist. But a wrestler.

And possibly a doodler who could find a backup career doing caricatures on the Santa Monica pier.

By labeling this "Bret Hart" I kind of negate my above impression point.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

W.W.W. featuring the WWF Locker Room and Kevin Nash

On Wednesdays, we here at LOL, Wresslin' like to really pull out the stops and offer up a double shot of righteously killer content. Why Wednesday? Well, we could impress you with market research, work habit studies, and human psychology tendencies to show you there's a scientific reason the middle of the week is the best time to bring your A-game. However, truth be told, we don't have any of that stuff and settled on Wednesday because that was the only day that didn't have any content scheduled.

So, here you have "Watch Wresslin' Wednesdays." Please feel free to suggest a better title, because we are woefully uncreative when it comes to naming stuff.



Better at naming stuff than us

The idea of W.W.W. is we each send the other a video that is related to wrestling (a match, promo, interview, guest starring spot, etc.). The only restriction is that it cannot be user-created, so your poorly digitized, music video tribute to Bryan Danielson "selling out" a'int going to fly here, pal. Neither of us know what kind of video we're going to get that day.

After viewing, we each write a response. This could be anything we choose: a straight commentary, a philosophical enlightenment, or classless ridicule. Just as we don't know what kind of video the other will select, neither do we know what the other will write or how they will write it. What you end up with is a mash-up of styles, which in our book equates to two-blogs-in-one, and we can take the rest of the day off.


Adam's video to Matt - Vince holds the WWF meeting



Matt's response...

This is the number one reason why I would want to work for WWE. The WWE on Earth-53, that is. You see, under normal circumstances, I'm sure company meetings are rather bland. But in the WWE universe, meetings consist of getting every character on the roster into the same room and trying to conduct a reasonable amount of business. That, my friends, would be comedy right in front of your eyes.

Take this one, for example. The title says Vince runs the meeting, and he eventually says his piece, but look who kicks this thing off. The APA. Do Farooq and Bradshaw resemble anyone you've seen at a board meeting? Ever?

"Alright, let's get this thing started." "Damn."

Next, it makes sense for Mr. McMahon to step in and rally the troops behind this hostile attack from a rival company. And just as he's getting everybody in the room on the same page, in steps the Undertaker to throw a wrench into things. Again, tell me how often that's happened around the office.

"Alright...now we'll be hearing from the director of the Death Valley branch."

As much genius as there is contained in this video, it also highlights a little thing that's interesting about the internet: false claims of ownership.


Quick, who can tell me who silentrock06 is? Any of you?

If you can't, that just proves that you're not part of the WWE, because they would know that silentrock06 owns at least three minutes and 43 seconds of their property. How do I know this? Well, his name is plastered all over this video, even so much as to garner a credit at the end, listing his name and where he posted this video - Daily Motion.

So not only has silentrock06 stolen the video from WWE, but someone else took the video from another video hosting site and put it on YouTube. And no one seems to care.

Now, granted, if people didn't post video from professional wrestling shows that most certainly is protected by a copyright somewhere, then we wouldn't have much of a column. That's kind of the whole point of what you're reading right now. However, we're not surprised when we skim through the site and notice that things are taken down from time to time. It was bound to happen.

But taking something that clearly isn't yours and then slapping your name across it, as if somehow you were part of its creation, seems quite bold indeed. It's like stealing someone's car, and then stitching your name into the seat. There seems to be a disconnect about who actually owns something.

I know I'm spitting into a hurricane here, but it's just something that bugs me. Put stuff up on YouTube all you want, but don't be surprised if it gets pulled, and don't add yourself to the credits. I suppose you could be nice about it, like the kid that uploaded a segment from Raw that Adam was watching not long ago who said "Please don't take this down; I don't own it!!!" as if that were supposed to make a difference. At least he asked nicely.

So silentrock06, I hope this is what you wanted. You've got your modicum of fame, and have even made it onto the wrestling comedy blog of record, so congratulations. Now go create something of your own, you louse!


Matt's Video to Adam- Kevin Nash Wants Batman




Adam's response...

Something tells me that this segment is not on the new Rise and Fall of WCW DVD that just dropped the other day. That's not because it's good or bad or an example of typical WCW lunacy. It's just that this isn't part of WCW. It's really part of this:


You think I'm joking? Well hear me out. There are many similarities. First, both properties were owned by Time Warner. Second, both involved sexy nurses. There also are many references to Batman, a property also owned by Time Warner.


I know it's Tiny Toons. Same studio.

So if you watch TNA (and I know you don't) you should know that the Kevin Nash/Jeff Jarrett feud is as long as the day is....long...I guess. One of the more noticeable aspects of it was the time that Jarrett smashed Nash over the head with a guitar, much like El Kabong. Nash would suffer amnesia, another link in the guitar shot/neurological disorder connection (I think this might be more evidence.) Anyway, this amnesia lead Nash to identifying himself only as "The Commissioner."

Above: Kevin Nash

Not realizing that Michael Chiklis is part of the Fantastic Four, Nash then states that "the Joker has escaped...the asylum...." and cries out for Batman. How a man who didn't know his own name can somehow figure out the Joker is terrorizing Gotham City is beyond me, but hey, if Vince Russo thinks it's funny who am I to judge?

Now, let's presuppose that Kevin Nash is really Commissioner Gordon. Or at least thinks he is. Why would he call Bruce Wayne to find Batman? Forget the little "wink" about that for a moment. If Nash is really Gordon, then wouldn't he use the Bat-Signal? Or, at the very least (since he mentioned Chief O'Hara, thus referencing the 1960's television show Batman), the red bat phone?


Totally inconspicuous. I'd never recognize that if I were to see it in Bruce Wayne's private study...

This is where the entire segment falls apart. Continuity is important, people! Especially when you mix up wrestling with comics! What? Stop singing "Bingo" and listen to me!

I hate you, Big Sexy. So much.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

LOL, Wresslin' recommends: TNA iPhone app.

Phew, that giant Mania recap really sucked out all of our creative juices. We could really just take a few minutes and veg out, if you know what we're saying? Maybe listen to some tunes on the ole' iPod and-


Yes, yes of course. Well believe it or not, TNA did something right. They developed a pretty awesome iPhone application. It's a game, but not a conventional wrestling game. It's more of an RPG, a'la Final Fantasy. Sure, there aren't androgynous teens battling corrupt androgynous governments, and we can't imagine Asian teens blowing off school to play it, but the game still has it's merits.

Anyway, we aren't ones for "grades" here, so let's just run down some of the good and bad points.

The Good:


Surprisingly fun and simple gameplay-

Your wrestler has a hit point meter and does damage with various attacks he unlocks. He also has three defensive manuevers that can be used once per match, but can be refilled if you're awesome enough. Manuvers use the touch screen to good effect.

Fun, cartoony graphics-

Seriously, look at this and tell us you don't want to at least try it.

We wonder if digital Kevin Nash is injured just walking.

Is that ref presenting himself?

We love how everyone is ridiculously jacked except for Samoa Joe

Sound-

Real audio clips of entrance music and crowd chants. Nothing amazing, but certainly a nice touch.

Dry sense of humor-

There is a story mode where you build a jobber into a champion. And you can be a face or heel, depending on the story options you choose. So there will be instances where your character will cut a promo in the ring, when the crowd will react with the most markish responses. For example, if your character is a heel, he may call Christy Hemme a "dog." The crowd will heckle back "Boo!!!" and "A dog is a terrible thing to compare her too!"

It could be Engrish. It could be intentional. All we know is that it cracks us up.

Price-

Five bucks can't be beat.

And for The Bad:

Majority of roster needs to be unlocked-

Seriously, who wants to play an exhibition match between Abyss and Eric Young?

Game crashs about half the time.

Yea, so except for the fact that the game doesn't work, we whole heartedly recommend it! It's kind of like TNA in real life!