Using External Media to Promote Storylines - So great or so yesterday?

[JJYanks121]

If you take a look at the main site right now, you can see a 34 minute video of Jeff Jarrett on the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show. This was a follow up to the harassing calls that Bubba made to Jarrett that were aired on last week's Impact. Along those lines, Eric Bischoff will apparently be making an appearance on the show tomorrow to address the "State of TNA". The thing I noticed about the interview today, and I suspect it will be the same tomorrow, is that the interview on real radio (Howard 101 on Sirus XM) was done IN CHARACTER, or at very least, it was done to play to the fact that what happens on Impact is REAL.

To give perspective without making you sit through a long interview, Bubba talked about how Hogan called out Jarrett and "made an example" of him as degrading to the guy who started the company. The idea being that they are pushing what happened on air as real and that there is beef between the two men. Essentially, because TNA employs Bubba, they are using his show as extra promotion for theirs. The old "work everyone" is in full force here, and my question is, "is this compelling and should people buy that the issues are real or should they get with the times and realizes it's all an act?"

My feeling is, and has been for a while, that this is not 1999 anymore. Technology has never been greater and people are a lot more privy to information. I think the movement has started with WWE and TNA until 1/4 to acknowledge those on screen as performers and entertainers, similar to actors or actresses. This means that what they do on screen is not a representation of who they really are, or at least it doesn't have to be. Proof of this is interviews done on radio with guys like Chris Jericho who play a heel on TV but come off like a real nice guy on radio. Of camera, WWE superstars are not asked to stay in character like in the old days anymore (except Undertaker but that is a crazy exception) and I think it benefits everyone involved to be themselves off camera. Heels and faces can travel together, party together, even get arrested together (Helms is a face, Jericho a heel), not that I'd recommend the latter. The point is, what is played out on screen, stays on screen. TNA was going by this formula too.........until Hogoff showed up. These old school guys still live by the mantra "work everyone", to the point where they already tried to play off a real incident between Awesome Kong and Bubba the Love Sponge as a work so that it could potentially be used on TV if need be. Now, they are trying to take their on air power struggle and make people believe it is real in order to get the fans more invested in the product. My opinion is that the only people that will buy it are the small majority that watch already. I doubt that today's generation is going to buy that a story from TV carries over to real life. It works the other way where behind the scenes stuff can be played out on screen if it seems feasible to do so, but you can't take a story from a show and play it out in real life. That's like expecting Ben Savage to be married to Danielle Fishel in real life because they were married on Boy Meets World.

So, the floor is yours. Is the business better to acknowledge performers as separate from their on air characters and treat the shows as being on the same plane as any other television program, or is it better to "work everyone" and pretend that issues carry over from screen to real life and thus, have the workers stay in character as often as possible to try and sell a TV angle more? Let's hear some responses and I sincerely hope it's not "well I like WWE so I'll side with them" or "I like TNA so what they are dong is better". Please explain your answers and tell me if the business should "get with the times" or "work everyone".

 

[axl626]

On one point that you made, a lot of WWE guys are told to stay in character, or they were just a year ago. If you see Rey without his mask he freaks out among others who either stay in character or are their charcater. This isn't a problem and it's always been done but I guess since TNA may have started doing it once or twice it is insanely stupid. That's how it works, right?

 

[JJYanks121]

On one point that you made, a lot of WWE guys are told to stay in character, or they were just a year ago. If you see Rey without his mask he freaks out among others who either stay in character or are their charcater. This isn't a problem and it's always been done but I guess since TNA may have started doing it once or twice it is insanely stupid. That's how it works, right?

You are right. Rey is another that has to stay "old school" due to the mask. But he is the exception, not the rule. These days, it's a lot more common to see people out of character. I can support this personally as I saw, sat next to, and talk to Chris Jericho at a Tampa Bay Lightning game last Thanksgiving (so at the peak of his heel run) and he was just being himself, he went out on the rink and got the crowd cheering, playing the lovable celebrity. Meanwhile on WWE TV, he was the most hated heel challenging for the World Heavyweight Belt on Raw. For him to play an asshole to fans just to get his character over would have been stupid in my opinion and I value that time I spent talking to him. That's basically my point in that it doesn't have to carry over to real life.

 

[Schizophrenic]

While I agree that it is interesting that they seem to be doing more "in character" interviews on radio and tv, I can kind of see why they would do it now, especially with Hogan, Eric & Jeff. It gets people interested in what is REALLY going on with TNA and that will attract some. It's like what Eric said about Pillman years ago. "I know all that other stuff is fake, but that might just be real." All for publicity, and if done right it can be a great idea. Ont he other hand it could turn out to be trouble. Anyone remember when Vader got arrested for assaulting an interviewer?

 

[axl626]

Oh, I'm not saying that everyone stays in character. I know Jericho is one of the most public WWE figures and he is just himself. I'm just saying that there are guys who stay in character most of the time. Obviously most guys are just themselves but there are a handful who stick very close to the kayfabe. I heard Sting had a particularly difficult time adjusting when this was changing.

 

[mister_b1LL]

My favorite show is Heroes, and even to this day, it still feels weird to see Zachary Quinto laugh it up with Hayden Panettiere at a party when just last Monday he was wanting her brains. Sometimes things need to be seen in character.

From a nostalgia aspect, I would still love to see wrestlers make appearances in character. I remeber seeing Regis and Kathie Lee back in the 90s and them having the Undertaker come out in full character. Seeing the interaction between him, Paul Bearer and the hosts was great.

Seeing a TV angle crossover into other forms of media is entertaining and in my opinion can sell a storyline a whole lot better. Even in this time where spoilers are abundant, the point is to entertain and this can definitely work.

 

[XgringolocoX]

Story line that utilize real situations and real emotions are usually the best. Bluring the lines between reality and entertainment gives you that feeling of mystique. Is it real, or is it made up story? Done well it's compelling and brings repeat viewers. This is what TNA needs.
The more you see a wrestling personna as fake, or scripted the more you see the matches that way. It takes you out of the moment and disallows that suspension of disbelief. Kayfabe protects against that. I think it should always be around to an extent. we don't need to, nor should we want to know everything.

 

[y2empleh]

Well after reading the original post there are 2 separate questions being asked in my opinion which I will address both.

1. Should external media be used to further storylines?

Whenever external media is used, it should NEVER be used in place of actual TV time. You should be able to watch the regular TV programming without the external media and still have the same storyline. The external media appearances should only be done to help a storyline gain exposure and some credibility. For example, the Hogan/DDP feud from WCW. They had been feuding for a while, and Hogan makes an appearance on Jay Leno. During the interview, DDP comes out and attacks Hogan. I'm going to ignore the fact that for whatever reason Jay Leno was actually featured in a PPV match between these 2, but as for the DDP/Hogan storyline, it didn't ADD to the story, it simply restated the fact that these 2 can't stand each other. Plus it gave some credibility and reality to the feud. One of my pet peeves with professional wrestling has always been wrestlers only seem to want to fight for 2 hours a week. So they don't want to fight each other the other 166 hours a week? So in that perspective it's refreshing when a storyline shows that they do want to fight each other even when the show is off the air. Now this brings me to the Jarrett/LoveSponge radio thing. Aside from the quick snippet on TNA Impact, I didn't listen to the interview nor have I seen the video posted on the main site. Nor will I likely ever watch it. With that said, I found myself a bit lost tonight watching the Jarrett/LoveSponge stuff on impact. The impact snippet last week made it seem like they can't stand each other and now they are friends? What gives. External media should NEVER be used in place of TV time in case someone like myself doesn't choose to watch the extra stuff. A good example of how NOT to use external media. Now onto the 2nd question posed:

2. Should wrestlers when doing outside interviews stay in Character or not?

Other then a few exceptions, I say they shouldn't stay in character. Unless if they are there to further promote one storyline, they are on these external interviews as an ambassador for the WWE. As such they are there to get over the next PPV, show a bit of their true self (Big Show's old appearances on the late late show with Conan O'Brien are a perfect example of this one), and also to further show that in essence is scripted and these wrestlers are trained professionals and the kiddies shouldn't try it at home. Most of the time, the simple fact that the wrestlers are even ON the external shows is out of character for them. Are we really to believe the Doctor of Thugonomics is going to be on "Live with Regis and Kelly"? Of course not. Now you have the exceptions to the rule like Sting or Taker who don't usually say much in the ring and they keep that mentality outside of the ring. Like one of the reviewers on the main site said when talking about Taker being on Raw 2 weeks ago: when they don't say much you are more inclined to listen when they do say something.

 

[NSL]

Doing "real" interviews in kayfabe character is the best way to promote storylines. It's been too long since we've been able to suspend disbelief, and actually buy into what's going on.

Remember Million Dollar Man? WWF would pay for him to stay in huge suites, and drive fancy cars, and constantly be surrounded by women. People bought that character. No one buys Randy Orton as a raving lunatic, because they can spot him chilling outside a bar smoking a cigarette. No one buys Melina as a red carpet queen, because they never actually see her on a red carpet or taking photo ops.

I'm a big fan of it...Just do it right...

 

[Mantaur Rodeo Clown]

Doing "real" interviews in kayfabe character is the best way to promote storylines. It's been too long since we've been able to suspend disbelief, and actually buy into what's going on.

Remember Million Dollar Man? WWF would pay for him to stay in huge suites, and drive fancy cars, and constantly be surrounded by women. People bought that character. No one buys Randy Orton as a raving lunatic, because they can spot him chilling outside a bar smoking a cigarette. No one buys Melina as a red carpet queen, because they never actually see her on a red carpet or taking photo ops.

I'm a big fan of it...Just do it right...

That's a great example, but the thing is, The Million Dollar Man was a far more accessible character. He was just a rich guys after all. WWE could organize the illusion of that pretty quick. I don't know how they would go about getting a woman pro wrestler onto the carpet at the Golden Globes however. Maybe go as a date of a RAW Guest Host? Wow MRC, you rock at Creative.

But they're not exactly going to build a Hurri-cave for Gregory Helms to live in, I think doing interviews in character is great, if a little corny for non wrestling fans, but having a guy like CM Punk going on Jimmy Kimmel or Fallon and just be himself would be a good step, as he LIVES his character.

It might be a big ask for Orton to go around asking him to act like a total dick and a maniac for 365 days a year. Oh, wait.

 

[NSL]

I don't know how they would go about getting a woman pro wrestler onto the carpet at the Golden Globes however. Maybe go as a date of a RAW Guest Host? Wow MRC, you rock at Creative.

The Golden Globes wouldn't be viewed by a majority of their fanbase. But, put Melina in a posse heading into the MTV Music Awards, and you have a hit.

But they're not exactly going to build a Hurri-cave for Gregory Helms to live in, I think doing interviews in character is great, if a little corny for non wrestling fans, but having a guy like CM Punk going on Jimmy Kimmel or Fallon and just be himself would be a good step, as he LIVES his character.

It might be a big ask for Orton to go around asking him to act like a total dick and a maniac for 365 days a year. Oh, wait.

WWE can worry about WWE problems.

For TNA, it's not so hard. Have Eric Young walk out on a show like the Colbert Report and just go off about America sucking ass and not valuing their immigrants. Have Robert Roode appear on some talking heads type shows about money, and let James Storm appear at bars around the area. It's not hard to do...They just don't want to put the work in.

 

[Tastycles]

The problem with all of those suggestions is that nobody who is watching the Colbert Report but who doesn't watch wrestling is a) going to know who they are or b) believe that anything a pro wrestler says is valid. JBL is the only modern day exception and that is because of what he accomplished in actuality outside the ring. Nobody would buy them and as a result there is nothing that can be gained for the Colbert report to have them on. Putting wrestlers on anything devalues the programme in the minds of a lot of the audience.

Crappy radio shows can have people on in character because nobody really cares who is on the radio. Very few people use the radio for primary media (I've got a GCSE in Media Studies, don't you know?) and as a result they have a much more free reign. The problem is is that in order to play the angles up for the show itself, they have to replay the radio segment, which kind of defeats the point. I suppose its not too bad for promotion, but I don't really see the point.

 

[NSL]

The problem with all of those suggestions is that nobody who is watching the Colbert Report but who doesn't watch wrestling is a) going to know who they are or b) believe that anything a pro wrestler says is valid. JBL is the only modern day exception and that is because of what he accomplished in actuality outside the ring. Nobody would buy them and as a result there is nothing that can be gained for the Colbert report to have them on. Putting wrestlers on anything devalues the programme in the minds of a lot of the audience.

I know this, but for the wrestling company, it could work to get the name out there, and keep wrestlers' faces on TV.

The biggest problem is that wrestling isn't "mainstream" anymore. In the 1980's, you could put Piper or Hogan (in character) on the Tonight Show, and get a ton of viewers, and people would be sure to tune in that weekend. There's a few names that can do it now, but sadly, most of them reside "up north". Cena, HHH, and HBK could go on any show, and people would know them. TNA has Sting and a maybe Kurt Angle.