JerryvonKramer
Old School for Life
Thus far we've had polls for Play-by-play menand Color analystshttp://forums.wrestlezone.com/showthread.php?t=36280, now it's time to turn our attentions to an oft-over looked on-screen role: The Backstage Interviewer.
These guys help to get talent over and in a strange sort of way represent the average fan on screen. They also act as a kind of moral gauge, their reactions to wrestlers' promos are supposedly meant to mirror our own (which seldom happened in my case, cos I'm a life-long supporter of heels). They were also often used in presenting roles on home videos, countdown shows and "reports on location". I suppose the chief role of the backstage interviewer/ presenter is to give the overall product a sense of real-life legitimacy.
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For me, there are 4 guys in the frame here.
1.
Gene Okerlund, who I know isn't liked by everyone in these parts, is the quintessential backstage interviewer virutally synonymous with the role. Like I said in that thread: Mean Gene was "a slightly cynical, slightly world weary, street-wise guy -- the sort of guy who would never get swindled by a 2nd hand car salesman". Some of his facial expressions, especially when talking to heels, were priceless. He'd look confused and give this sort of "what are you like?" face. He was also great at interrupting heels to give the face argument, usually with "now, just wait one minute!". An all-time great. He's a cool anchor on Legends of Wrestling now-a-days too.
2.
Now, Mooney is something of a pet love of mine. If you don't know, he was Okerlund's number 2 from 1988-1992, which is roughly my period of specialist interest. What I love about him is that, where Okerlund was on Prime Time, SNME and the big Main Events, Mooney was on all the B-shows and all the non-P.P.V. event videos. I'm talking about stuff like Wrestlefest, the Super Tapes, Smack 'Em Whack 'Em, Hottest Matches, and VHSs of that nature. If you watch those vids, you'll see that Mooney had real comic timing. He was quite funny. And for kitsch value, his appalling attempts at commentary with Lord Alfred Hayes are priceless. Mooney was just so cheesy that his performance was always a little bit tongue-in-cheek. The stuff of legend in my eyes -- gets my vote.
3.
Gordon Solie is mainly known for his play-by-play work, but right at the end of his career he did like a news section for WCW called Wrestling News Network when he'd go through the rankings of the wrestlers, highlighting who was number 1 contender for various titles, and outlining any newcomers who were going to debut. Got to say I LOVED that. Just made wrestling seem like a real, legitimate sport rather than "sports entertainment" -- that's NWA-style all over isn't it?
4.
I always always thought Tony Schiavone was much better employed as a straight-laced, pipsqueak interviewer than as a play-by-play man because the role suits his company man image and personality a lot better.
So, personally, I'd expect this vote to be split 4 ways between these guys -- but if the results of the other polls are anything to go by I suspect there'll be plenty of new-school fan votes for Kevin Kelly and Coach too. Anyway -- vote away, and don't forget to give reasons for your choices!
These guys help to get talent over and in a strange sort of way represent the average fan on screen. They also act as a kind of moral gauge, their reactions to wrestlers' promos are supposedly meant to mirror our own (which seldom happened in my case, cos I'm a life-long supporter of heels). They were also often used in presenting roles on home videos, countdown shows and "reports on location". I suppose the chief role of the backstage interviewer/ presenter is to give the overall product a sense of real-life legitimacy.
----
For me, there are 4 guys in the frame here.
1.
Gene Okerlund, who I know isn't liked by everyone in these parts, is the quintessential backstage interviewer virutally synonymous with the role. Like I said in that thread: Mean Gene was "a slightly cynical, slightly world weary, street-wise guy -- the sort of guy who would never get swindled by a 2nd hand car salesman". Some of his facial expressions, especially when talking to heels, were priceless. He'd look confused and give this sort of "what are you like?" face. He was also great at interrupting heels to give the face argument, usually with "now, just wait one minute!". An all-time great. He's a cool anchor on Legends of Wrestling now-a-days too.
2.
Now, Mooney is something of a pet love of mine. If you don't know, he was Okerlund's number 2 from 1988-1992, which is roughly my period of specialist interest. What I love about him is that, where Okerlund was on Prime Time, SNME and the big Main Events, Mooney was on all the B-shows and all the non-P.P.V. event videos. I'm talking about stuff like Wrestlefest, the Super Tapes, Smack 'Em Whack 'Em, Hottest Matches, and VHSs of that nature. If you watch those vids, you'll see that Mooney had real comic timing. He was quite funny. And for kitsch value, his appalling attempts at commentary with Lord Alfred Hayes are priceless. Mooney was just so cheesy that his performance was always a little bit tongue-in-cheek. The stuff of legend in my eyes -- gets my vote.
3.
Gordon Solie is mainly known for his play-by-play work, but right at the end of his career he did like a news section for WCW called Wrestling News Network when he'd go through the rankings of the wrestlers, highlighting who was number 1 contender for various titles, and outlining any newcomers who were going to debut. Got to say I LOVED that. Just made wrestling seem like a real, legitimate sport rather than "sports entertainment" -- that's NWA-style all over isn't it?
4.
I always always thought Tony Schiavone was much better employed as a straight-laced, pipsqueak interviewer than as a play-by-play man because the role suits his company man image and personality a lot better.
So, personally, I'd expect this vote to be split 4 ways between these guys -- but if the results of the other polls are anything to go by I suspect there'll be plenty of new-school fan votes for Kevin Kelly and Coach too. Anyway -- vote away, and don't forget to give reasons for your choices!