GLOW - 2017
Netflix
****
A mix of a skid row Charlie's Angels with Boogie Nights with the "fuck-it" kind of hope that can come out of hopelessness of Dirty Dozen, GLOW is the fictionalized account of the batshit insano Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling that aired in the 1980s.
Why the show works it's comedy rooted firmly in tragedy. These actresses have nowhere to go, with a future of nothing other than secretary roles in Steve Guttenberg movies. At the time, I would watch an episode here or there, but wasn't into it because it was the peak of the Dusty Rhodes vs the Four Horsemen era and the Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage era. But it is quite amazing that one of the Guerrero clan would really make these Hollywood actresses into very good pro wrestlers. They grasp their chance and take their body slams and monkey flips.
The Charlie part is Marc Maron, a stand up comedian I've never heard of. He's a dimestore Hollywood director, making movies like Blood Disco. He has no idea how the wrestling business works. His script for the show is a post-apocalyptic wasteland where women fight over the last man. His producer tells him to watch some Iron Shiek. They don't want shlock, they want stereotypes.
With Claws and now GLOW, we see the effect of the success of Orange is the New Black. As bad as our political climate is especially for women, at least tv continues to offer a beautiful vision for the future.
Netflix
****
A mix of a skid row Charlie's Angels with Boogie Nights with the "fuck-it" kind of hope that can come out of hopelessness of Dirty Dozen, GLOW is the fictionalized account of the batshit insano Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling that aired in the 1980s.
Why the show works it's comedy rooted firmly in tragedy. These actresses have nowhere to go, with a future of nothing other than secretary roles in Steve Guttenberg movies. At the time, I would watch an episode here or there, but wasn't into it because it was the peak of the Dusty Rhodes vs the Four Horsemen era and the Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage era. But it is quite amazing that one of the Guerrero clan would really make these Hollywood actresses into very good pro wrestlers. They grasp their chance and take their body slams and monkey flips.
The Charlie part is Marc Maron, a stand up comedian I've never heard of. He's a dimestore Hollywood director, making movies like Blood Disco. He has no idea how the wrestling business works. His script for the show is a post-apocalyptic wasteland where women fight over the last man. His producer tells him to watch some Iron Shiek. They don't want shlock, they want stereotypes.
With Claws and now GLOW, we see the effect of the success of Orange is the New Black. As bad as our political climate is especially for women, at least tv continues to offer a beautiful vision for the future.
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