Guest Mudshark Report post Posted February 21, 2002 Does anyone out there know how the writing team is set up, and what they actually do? Just having a look at some of the other posts, it seems as if a lot of people have a problem with the WWF employing people with soap opera experience as writers (I'm guessing this came from the job ad that was posted a few weeks back). I'm wondering whether or not it's a bad thing. The way I see it, they're after writers who can help with characterisation and continuity, which are both areas that are weaknesses within the WWF at the moment. Employing someone experienced in episodic TV could help breathe new life into the more stale wrestlers, and provide a check on some of teh more implausible plotlines. It actually makes sense to me, but a lot of people on the board seem to think otherwise. I'm not saying that they should get total creative control, but surely they could be useful as part of the team. What does everyone else think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shockmaster! Report post Posted February 21, 2002 I'd assume a good soap writer would be a blessing for the WWF in the charcater continuity department. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted February 21, 2002 The "Hollywood" writers the WWF gets, for the most part don't know a thing about wrestling and/or the WWF. That gets the fans made. They sign writers who don't know a thing about wrestling and/or the WWF. I'm going to throw out an example. Vince Russo didn't write for soap operas, he was a fan that became the most successful writer the WWF ever had. Soap opera writers, IMO, don't mean a thing unless you know something about wrestling and/or the WWF product. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mudshark Report post Posted February 21, 2002 Well, I didn't really see much of Russo's stuff, but from what I've heard he seemed most concerned with swerving the viewers and making sure that you never knew what would happen when you tuned into Raw. Now that's OK in moderation, but I would prefer to see more character development and rational storylines, not crash TV. Russo was more notorious than successful, in my opinion. Just look at what happened when he went to WCW. He certainly wasn't successful there. Like I said in my first post, don't give these guys total control - you need people who know and understand wrestling first and foremost. But the inclusion of a talented episodic TV writer as part of a team would surely be of benefit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shockmaster! Report post Posted February 21, 2002 Ideally you would have a TV guy write all of the high drama backstage stuff and a wrestling guy handle all of the inring angle stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hayabusa Moleman Report post Posted February 21, 2002 I wouldn't count on a soap opera writing team being any good in the storylines. Soap operas regularly change a child into an adult the next day to further stories. Also, most stories revolve around a couple getting together and then them breaking up. Plenty of other outrageousness like people dying, then having long lost twins, clones, or other nonsense that most wrestling fans would find stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted February 22, 2002 All I have to say is that the Stephanie Wedding Angle looked like it was stolen from NBCs Passions Timmy vs Mini Me at WMX8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheDames7 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 My girlfriend watches Passions...that show is horrible! All I want from the WWF is some continuity and some psychology. Why is that so hard??? For example, let say that Angle and Austin have been fueding for a year....and then one of them turns. When they tag, it seems like there is no more issue between them because they are both heels or both faces. I can't stand that. Dames Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dmann2000 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 They should probably go for writers with knowledge of character development, continuity. Say like, guys with (soon to be) degrees in Motion Picture Theory. And with young minds who've watched wrestling for 13+ years. And could easily relocate to CT. Hmmmm, I wonder where they could find such a guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted February 22, 2002 Well the people that have wrestling knowledge that are writing WWF now aren't doing a very good job. Soap Opera writers wouldn't do any worse. I don't really see any reason you would need all the writers to have wrestling knowledge. They would need a wrestling person to handle matches and help with the promos but to write the show itself a soap opera guy or hollywood guy would work just as well as a wrestling guy. Well this would work in WWF because they are based around storylines. A guy not involved in wrestling would have trouble with feds based more in wrestling. In WWF as long as they kept the storylines simple enough for everyone any one could write for them. And to the guy that suggested Soap writers can't handle writing for wrestling because Soaps aren't realistic. Um excuse me, but pro wrestling isn't exactly a realistic show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hayabusa Moleman Report post Posted February 22, 2002 "And to the guy that suggested Soap writers can't handle writing for wrestling because Soaps aren't realistic. Um excuse me, but pro wrestling isn't exactly a realistic show." Hmmm....and I thought people wanted to change that to a more realistic show with continuity? Any dope can write storylines under current standards, but some of us would like to make our suspension of disbelief not so difficult. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Report post Posted February 22, 2002 Having writers who arn't deeply into wrestling is a good idea, because the worst thing the WWF could do would be to hire wrestling marks as writers, for 2 reasons: 1. They will want to use their job as a toy, a way of helping their favorite guys rather than doing what is best for the WWF. 2. They will inevitably want to put themselves on screen, which will then lead to them getting put over on screen, then being in big storylines, and so on. Vince Russo is the worst example of this of course, a nobody who used his power to get himself over as much as possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 I don't care if the writers watch wrestling or not. BUT they have to know what their audience wants to see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted February 22, 2002 "1. They will want to use their job as a toy, a way of helping their favorite guys rather than doing what is best for the WWF." Umm the writers are doing that now without wrestling experience. They throw comedy in places where it is not needed. They pick the worst wrestlers in attempts of drama (Hardys talk WTF!?!). I would rather a wrestling fan write compelling storylines knowing the expextations of the audience as well as generating interest in feuds for GOOD wrestlers. "Vince Russo is the worst example of this of course, a nobody who used his power to get himself over as much as possible" Vince Russo has stated that he wasn't a fan of wrestling prior to his job at the WWF magazine. Ferrara was, not Russo. Ferrarra was a professional Hollywood screenwriter who loved wrestling yet most of the marks claim the Attitude Era was their favorite. In defense of Ferrararrarararra, he did claim that Russo was responsible for the more idiotic ideas since he did not have a wrestling mindset. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 1. They will want to use their job as a toy, a way of helping their favorite guys rather than doing what is best for the WWF. - Well, if a "wrestling mark" was writing the shows. One would hope he doesn't help out his favorites. I can just see them putting the Title on Benoit for a year. 2. They will inevitably want to put themselves on screen, which will then lead to them getting put over on screen, then being in big storylines, and so on. Vince Russo is the worst example of this of course, a nobody who used his power to get himself over as much as possible. - Stephanie is worser than Russo. She's all over TV. Gets more face and mic time then most wrestlers get in a whole month. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shockmaster! Report post Posted February 22, 2002 The one thing a soap writer would be good at is continuity since most soaps have been on for a million years and its the writers job to keep the characters consistent with what they have done in the years before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hogan Made Wrestling Report post Posted February 22, 2002 The difference between Stephanie and Russo is that she has been around the wrestling business a lot longer, and she was also involved in storylines way before becoming part of the writing team. Russo became a mark while in the WWF, so as soon as he had a chance to put himself over (WCW) he took it. Also, I'm not defending Stephanie McMahon, in fact she is a perfect example of what I was talking about. But have you ever seen Brian Gerwitz put himself over on TV? He might have played a minor role in some little skit once, but he's never been mentioned by name or done anything of note. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 The difference between Stephanie and Russo is that she has been around the wrestling business a lot longer, and she was also involved in storylines way before becoming part of the writing team. Russo became a mark while in the WWF, so as soon as he had a chance to put himself over (WCW) he took it. Also, I'm not defending Stephanie McMahon, in fact she is a perfect example of what I was talking about. But have you ever seen Brian Gerwitz put himself over on TV? He might have played a minor role in some little skit once, but he's never been mentioned by name or done anything of note. It doesn't matter that she's been around the business from day 1. As for Gerwitz, c'mon, he isn't named McMahon, isn't dating a McMahon, doesn't have stroke like Russo did, of course he wouldn't be on TV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyB Report post Posted February 22, 2002 Well the people that have wrestling knowledge that are writing WWF now aren't doing a very good job. Soap Opera writers wouldn't do any worse. The WWF hasn't got any guys with Wrestling knowlege (other than Vince , Shane & Stephanie, Pat Patterson, Paul Heyman, and Gerald Brisco. If you look at that list Vince, Shane & Stephanie are mostly intersted in putting themselves over, Paul Heyman's story's have always sucked and he is more interested in getting ex-ECW guys over than writing good shows. Pat Patterson & Gerals Brisco are only really allowed to write finishes and/or tell Vince that his ideas are great no matter how good they are.) writing shows, all of them are Soap Operah/ex-Soap Operah/Hollywood/ex-Hollywood writers at the moment (hence the lack of Wrestling on WWF shows, poor finishes of matches & over the top angles). IMO when Hogan retires he should definatly get a job in writing the shows, he has a great mind for Wrestling - watch any of the Nitro's from 1995, the Hogan/Sting/Savage angle was amazing and he was supposedly involved heavily writing that angle. 1. They will want to use their job as a toy, a way of helping their favorite guys rather than doing what is best for the WWF. Yeah, just like Vince & Stephanie are doing right now? At least this time it would be a Wrestler getting a push not the owner and his daughter. 2. They will inevitably want to put themselves on screen, which will then lead to them getting put over on screen, then being in big storylines, and so on. Vince Russo is the worst example of this of course, a nobody who used his power to get himself over as much as possible. OH LORD NO, We can't take away from Vince & Stephanies TV time!!! Seriously if a writer wants to go on screen then all Vince has to say is "no". And Vince Russo only appeared on TV because other writers told him too, he was writing for WCW for at least a year before he appeared on TV as "Vince Russo" he appeared as "The Powers That Be" but you didn't actually see the guy. The one thing a soap writer would be good at is continuity since most soaps have been on for a million years and its the writers job to keep the characters consistent with what they have done in the years before. Have you ever watched Soap Operah's, characters change from good to bad overnight, they are never consistant. We've been seeing that way too often in the WWF lately and Wrestling Marks or Ex-Wrestlers would be much better at keeping them consistant in my opinion because they would know about their history. The difference between Stephanie and Russo is that she has been around the wrestling business a lot longer, and she was also involved in storylines way before becoming part of the writing team. Russo became a mark while in the WWF, so as soon as he had a chance to put himself over (WCW) he took it. No, Russo spent a year in WCW before putting himself over on TV. It was actually Ed Ferrara who put himself over on TV first (He played that guy in the skits on Jim Ross). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheDames7 Report post Posted February 22, 2002 I know Brian Gerwitz personally. I'm not saying he's a good friend of mine, but we've talked about his position before. The guy used to work for the Conan O'Brien show and he is the writer that does a lot of the hit or miss comedy. Most of the stuff that he does is with The Rock, Edge, Christian, and he told me that he wrote most of the Love Triangle storyline. He also told me that he would never want to be on camera, because he doesn't want to take bumps or anything like that. He travels with the McMahon's and has gotten some people hired because he has some stroke. He told me once I get my degree in Communications, all I have to do is call him. He's a really good guy, and a prime example of a writer who hasn't let success get to his head. Dames Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
