Some of you who know me know that I have strong opinions on things. And since I’ve been writing, it turns out that I can express those opinions of things!! [Read more…] about Things David Hates: Brunch
What to do about Sochi?: An Open Letter
Hello everyone,
As you may be aware, in addition to doing TV reviews for Manhattan Digest, I’m also typically called on for live coverage of many of TV’s landmark events, whether it was this winter’s Grammy Awards or Oscars, or the upcoming VMA’s and Emmy Awards.
Looking ahead on the calendar, one of the landmark TV events of this season is the opening and closing ceremonies of this year’s Olympic Games in Sochi. While normally this is the sort of event I would jump on in a heartbeat, recent events in Russia make it difficult for me to be in a celebratory mood.
Recently, the Russian legislature passed some very harsh anti-LGBT laws that essentially codify such relationships as deviant and criminal, and puts a ban on “non-traditional” propaganda in the state. Those who violate this ban are subject to arrest, something that the Russian government has no qualms about enforcing (case in point: the Pussy Riot arrests). This has led to further controversy, as while the IOC is assuring athletes that they will not be arrested, the Russian government has restated that this law will apply to even visiting athletes. Further complicating matters, Olympic broadcaster NBC is not entirely sure how to approach this issue as part of their coverage, leaving a pretty realistic chance that the issue is completely whitewashed out of their coverage, even if events dictate otherwise (it’s not like the network had the most sterling of reputations for their coverage after the much less controversial London games either).
It’s safe to say that we here at Manhattan Digest have a more enlightened approach towards such issues, and I feel like this situation lacks easy answers. Do I just ignore the whole situation, essentially using my silence like a de facto boycott like Harvey Fierstein advocated in the New York Times recently? Or will there still be extensive demand for normal coverage? Conversely, do I ignore the celebration aspect and take a more strictly journalistic tack, in which should something controversial or breaking happen that myself (or one of our writers) comment upon it? My gut feeling says to lean against scrubbing and sanitizing coverage, but I’d rather not blow off a large event if our readership demands/requests it.
Ultimately, I think it’s best that I get the input of not only Ryan, our editor-in-chief, but also that of our readers. Manhattan Digest is a site heavily driven by crowd sourcing, and I feel that in situations like this one it’s my responsibility to cater to the interests of our readers first and foremost. If you have a preference or a suggestion, please do not hesitate to comment below.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Michael Tyminski
TV Columnist/Reviewer
Manhattan Digest
New York Street Photography- The People of New York
The people of New York City are what make it what it is. They are unique, strange, fun, powerful, humble, and hard working. All of which New York as a city most certainly is.
Blue Jasmine: Guess Who’s Back?
Woody Allen, at 77, has been one of the most consistent, lauded and influential American artists of the last 50 years (which also happens to be the amount of time that he’s been an active filmmaker). The Brooklynite basically birthed a brand new era of Jewish humor in his career beginnings with slap-sticky pictures like What’s New Pussy Cat and Bananas, and then went on to make more dense and existential dramadies such as Annie Hall (which is one of the few comedies to win the Academy Award for best picture), and has since continued to output new films at an almost annual basis. It’s a body of work so immense and lengthy that it could cause even his most ardent fans to ponder if there is really anything left for the director to do in his old age, and if he might have even have run out of things to say. A few years ago, this certainly appeared to be the case, as Allen’s films seemed to be stuck in a rut of mediocrity, with some people even calling his technique “dated”. Then, in 2011, a rather great surprise happened when Woody Allen released Midnight in Paris, which not only proved to be a critical favorite, but that $17 million picture happened to make a box office gross of $151,119,219 which easily made it Woody Allen’s most lucrative touchstone to date. Now, two years (and the forgettable To Rome With Love) later, Woody Allen has released another picture that is not just a latter day standout for him, but it’s a telling reminder of how important Woody Allen has really been for American film these last few decades.
Blue Jasmine is a film that Woody Allen has not made any bones about it being directly inspired by Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire. The film begins with it’s central character, Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), arriving in San Francisco after her life comes crumbling down around her. Her wealthy husband (Alec Baldwin) had committed suicide after being arrested for a huge Bernie Madoff-esque scandal, and now Jasmine has lost all her assets and become hopelessly distraught and reliant on xanex. Traveling to the west coast so that she may live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins), who lives a lower-middle-class lifestyle, Jasmine only finds more troubling areas for her in this new set-up. The film then proceeds to show us how Jasmine adjusts to her new living conditions, while interspersed with flashback segments that show us how the character got into her current predicament
The film is very much an exercise in melodrama, but it’s done in a fashion that’s both delicious and effective. There is plenty of Woody Allen’s humor throughout the film (seen most ostensibly through Jasmine ditsy moments), but when the more harrowing moments occur they tend to pack a wallop. When we witness characters fight or have intense breakdowns, it’s easy to find it reminiscent of watching a great stage play such as Death of a Salesman, although a lot of that sensation might come from the film’s retro feel. Although set in the modern day, it often appears that Blue Jasmine could have took place in the 70s or 80s, from the look of the film’s decorum. It’s hard to tell whether the film’s characters dress in slightly dated attire on purpose or not, but it certainly reflects the sensibilities of the aging director, even at the odd moment when a cell phone or mac computer shows up.
As mentioned earlier, the film has a non-linear style to it, that actually is a bit reminiscent of the complex plotting that Woody Allen used in films such as Hannah and Her Sisters and Crimes and Misdemeanors. The film is rather clever with it’s story, and it manages to place quite a few elephants in our head while watching it. It doesn’t always work though. There’s a seemingly abandoned sub-plot that involves Jasmine being sexually harassed by her employer that comes off as unnecessary, and the film gets a bit predictable in some areas once audiences start to latch on to why Woody Allen is showing us certain scenarios. Still, the pay-off more than makes up for it, and the ending is one of the most harrowing and unexpected that Woody Allen has ever shot. Some will call it a downer for sure, but many others will find it perfectly in tune with the director’s existential leanings.
Already much press has been dedicated to Cate Blanchett’s performance. The actress really carries Jasmine with the right degree of humanity, along with aloofness that could only exist in a character of Woody Allen’s creation. The rest of the cast is excellent though as well, with many of them displaying their range in both the comedic and the dramatic. Alec Baldwin is so sinister and forward in his role that it will make you forget about all the times you laughed to him at 30 Rock, Sally Hawkins acts as the intriguing (stereotypical) class-opposite too Jasmine, and Bobby Cannavale (fresh off his scene-stealing turn on season 3 of Boardwalk Empire) shows once again that he knows how to play tough and hot-headed Italian men. One of the film’s best curios, however, is in the casting of comedian Louis C.K., as his sit-com Louie has pervasively been compared to Woody Allen’s work, and he has also worked with Susan E. Morse, a frequent editor of Allen’s films. C.K’s role in the film is limited yet fully likable, and Allen has expressed that he’d like to work with him again in the future.
It’s not a masterpiece, nor is it exactly a crowd pleaser, but it is a more than solid film from a veteran director that does a fine job of addressing most of the cues that has made his body of work such a driving factor towards suggesting that there is still much artisitic merit to be found in American cinema(similar to John Cassavetes). While certainly a relevant film for our time regarding it’s commentary on the economic recession, Blue Jasmine works best when one views it as an homage to the past, and a latter-day standout from one of the most fascinating careers since the birth of the New Hollywood era.
Take Me Home, Country Roads: A Theatre Review
Near Broadway perfection is occurring 8 times a week at the Stephen Sondheim Theater with the latest revival of Horton Foote’s 1953 classic play, “The Trip to Bountiful”. Set in 1950s Texas, this poignant piece tells the story of Mrs. Carrie Watts, an aging widow whose only wish is to visit her childhood country home one last time. Barring her request stands her overprotective son, Ludie, and his all too cosmopolitan wife, Jessie Mae, with whom Carrie shares an apartment in Houston. Carrie is played with such exquisite elegance and “chutzpah” by the remarkable Cicely Tyson that there is no question why Tony voters awarded her with the leading lady prize this year. Tyson breathes incredible zest into this faithful yet complex Christian lady who ultimately seeks the serenity she once had at her former homestead. Once bound by the confines of her daughter-in-law who forbids hymn singing, Carrie ultimately becomes free to sing her favorite church songs whenever she pleases. At one point in the show, her versions of “Blessed Assurance” and “Softly and Tenderly “ are met with an audience sing-along (normally something I would loathe in any live theater performance, but surprisingly found moving and sweet this time around.)
Vanessa Williams shines as Jessie Mae, whose constant irritations in life are driven by the mere presence of her mother-in-law. Adepero Oduye makes an impressive Broadway debut as Thelma, a sweet young lady who shares her personal story and a gentle kindness with Carrie during her trek. A usually likeable Cuba Gooding, Jr. also makes his Broadway debut as Ludie Watts. Unfortunately, his performance is not to the caliber of his peers. Gooding’s acting choices are often unclear and inconsistent.
The production team deserves special mention here as well. Jeff Cowie’s sets, Van Broughton Ramsey’s costumes, and Rui Rita’s Lighting all help to evoke vintage Southern gentility and warmth.
On the hyper-spectacled Great White way, it is refreshing to see a play whose primary focus is on character development and heart-felt story telling. At the performance I attended, the audience leapt to their feets with applause and affirmation at the curtain call—proof that patrons will support quality and excellence. With summer vacations now upon us, plan a stay-cation and take a “trip” to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on W. 43rd st. Your heart and mind will thank you.
“The Trip To Bountiful” plays through Oct. 9, 2013 at the Stephen Sondheim Theater 124 West 43rd street. Tickets available at the box office,www.telecharge.com, or by phone: (800) 432-7250
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on the City.
I am not a transsexual! There is nothing wrong with transitioning your spare parts. Nor is there any wrongdoing in using them on married men from New Jersey at the pier. However, it’s not my thing. I just like the clothes. On a Friday night after a couple of cocktails and sample sales, someone handed me a flyer stating:
Transexual wanted! A reality show producer seeks a transvestite, transgender or transexual person. $500+ a day….
What?! At $500 a day I could be! Where am I going to find some breasts? Perhaps, I could find someone who knows someone at the pier. Wait…let’s be clear, I am nobody’s tranny.
We live in an environment where dressing like our straight male counterparts is ideal. I meet so many of these cookie-cutter macho men dressed in wife-beaters and Timbs. They are closeted queens, getting poked by trannies in the alleys behind bars all over the city.
I choose not the suffocating anesthetic of street wear, but the electric jolt of designer skirts and dresses. Men’s fashion hasn’t changed much in the past 50 years. While menswear designers and consumers are content with those complacent concoctions, masquerading as fashion, I prefer to blend my genders to create new gender-bending silhouette: a juxtaposition of soft and hard.
Living in the city that never sleeps, you’ll find that the way we dress is not as gay as you think. In terms of what we wear, it’s a lot more closeted. Take our gay-borhoods or gay bars, you’ll find most gays dressed in t-shirts, jeans and fitted caps. No skirts, dresses or even short-shorts in 100-degree weather. When did we take the homo out of homosexual, and made it a homogenous decree for fellow gays to live by?
In the height of the sexual seventies before the age of AIDS; the city was swept with so many gays, parties and party favors. Although sex is usually on the table, in the bathroom, or in the doorway. A time when gays were so out it was in again. Now we have Splash closing and countless others before it, gay bashings and fake drugs. It was like the city’s insanity was wiped away with a giant sanitation napkin. Are we too afraid of the big disease that nearly destroyed the city three decades ago?
Before Paris was burning in underground clubs all over the city; it was on fire on the streets of Manhattan. Tales of sex, drugs and discotheques is like an urban legend compared with the status quo. Who gave New York City a Xanax?
The rise of Time Square and the fall of the twin towers put a damper on the edge of the city. The ho-stroll is filled with broke homeless hoes. The bars now cards and even the oldest male clientele have to show ID. Our first gay bar in the country, Stonewall, after four decades is now a museum for single women, the lesbians who love them, and random straight men who want to have sex with them all. The after-hours is in Atlanta, and the sex shops are empty. Barney’s Co-Op shut it’s doors in Chelsea for good, leaving little viable options to shop in the gay-borhood.
Our city is in a slump. We the gay people need to put our heterosexual self on the shelf next to the porn stash and take the homosexual back out of the closet.
Get to know Mark Edward of Top Shelf Premium
A couple of months back my good friend introduced me to guy this Mark and told me that I should feature him because he is doing big things in a really unique way. Mark and I connected and he invited me to his showroom in the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey where I got to see his collection first hand. Boy was I not only taken a back by what I saw but I also felt an instant throwback feel when I walked in. Mark describes his brand Top Shelf Premium as “Wearable Vintage Garments” and by vintage we are throwing ourselves back to the early 90’s (so much so that he gave me a free copy of the PBS show “Ghostwriter” that was up on display. This made me quite the happy guy). From the music to the jackets to the hairstyle, it really screamed 1991 in so many different ways but for some reason it worked and gelled really well with the atmosphere at hand. It quickly made me think that Mark was onto something here, and I should get to know the guy more to see how this crazy idea of his started in the first place. A couple of days back, I got to know Mark and the company at hand. Take a look.
How did you come up with the concept for “Top Shelf Premium”?
The concept came from a simple lack of money – I needed extra coin around the holidays. Ive always been a collector of dope vintage. I put a few things up on eBay and saw that it sold immediately. I always knew I couldn’t work for anyone – so I started a website – started selling on the streets and pushed my way into the game.
What about the name, where did that come from?
Funny – I used to make glass art work out of Top Shelf liquor bottles – I couldn’t see my self having a future in that scene so when I started to succeeded with vintage I carried the name over.
What would you say is your mission statement for TSP?
I carry the dopest vintage in the game.
Do you think the clothes you provide can fit an array of people out there?
I love what I do – because when Im out shopping I find the piece and see the person that will wear it. I sell to all genres. Rock tees and leather for my grunge heads. Early Polo for the Lo-Heads. Vintage sport jerseys and tees for the sports fan. Outrageous patterns for all my people with confidence and that are experimental with there style. And tons of acid wash for everybody!! Acid wash in my fav – everyone looks great in it to me!
When I went to your gathering I got a strong early 90’s feel. What draws you to that era so much?
It’s the era I grew up in. So I know it hands on. Been there – done that, you know? I just love bringing back amazing memories when things were a lot simpler. Before the iPhone where I can speak face to face with someone across the world – we had to get walkie talkies to talk someone 50 yards away.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
I love the hustle mentality. So any hustler out there I look up to. Doesn’t matter what your hustling – there’s pride and a sense of making it your own way. It means a lot to me. I just want to be like Sinatra and be able to say I did it my way.
Do you hope to incorporate any celebrities into your mix and if so who?
Ive worked along side a few celebrities so far. I wardrobed Macklemore for The Source Magazine. A big customer of mine is P-Thugg from Chromeo. Last week I spent a few days with Lil Debbie – styling her for the photoshoot we did for my website. (topshelfpremium.com)
I love to work with artist – it brings my clothes to a life that it deserves – so bring em on.
Say you were doing a fashion show. What kind of music blends well with the fashions and products you are providing?
I’m personally a fan of early 90s Hip Hop and super new upcoming hip hop. From Das EFX to Joey Badass. I hear that rawness and passion behind the voice. Same feeling I get about my business.
Any tips to upcoming small business owners?
DON’T STOP.
What is your ultimate hope for TSP?
Long term goal -I want to be known as that dude when it comes to vintage. Short term I want to be able to sell across county, hitting all the festivals, colleges and big cities. Be able to reach out and spread the vintage love face to face.
For more information on Top Shelf Premium and how you can become of what I believe to be the next craze in the entertainment industry, check out their main site, Instagram and Facebook pages. Be on the lookout for this dude for real.
Album Review: AlunaGeorge – Body Music
AlunaGeorge: Body Music
Similar Artists: Purity Ring, Charlie XCX, Inc.
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: Vagrant
I was at first disheartened when I came face to face with the wave of “indie” artists who were embracing the sounds of modern radio — specifically the sounds of bubblegum pop and electronic focused R&B (the ones which nearly always contain some kind of glitchy vocal samples from the female vocalist). Don’t get me wrong, I adore pop music — I have no qualms admitting this — but I also feel that the radio has failed us when it comes to variety, or in awarding us any perceivable freedom with our choice of selection. After all, many of us entered the world of “indie” music for the sole purpose of escaping the hollow, cookie-cutter sounds that are endlessly rehashed over the FM waves. However, after further listening, it turns out that the best artists from this indie pop revolution are indeed advancing the limitations of these tainted “pop-radio” genres by approaching them with an experimental aesthetic and a keen ear for sound design.
The London duo of Aluna Francis and George Reid are the next in the wave of “hotly anticipated” acts who are said to be ushering in a new era of pop music. Granted, while there’s nothing on AlunaGeorge’s debut album that sounds miles away from the current strands of top charting radio, Body Music manages to be accessible, catchy and left of center all at the same time. You’ll immediately be reminded of groups like Purity Ring; although I would say that AlunaGeorge are less formulaic and more innately talented than them. Through the 13 tracks, the duo seem to go back and forth from maximalist, club oriented songs like those from Charli XCX, to minimalist, sensually moving tracks like those from Inc.’s debut No World. The thing is, the duo seem to not know which one of these styles they have perfected (hint: it’s the latter). It’s during the more somber, melancholically led pieces where we hear some real hard earned honest emotion from the duo. The songs that tackle these themes, such as “Outlines”, “Diver”, and “Friends to Lovers”, all contain lower BPM’s and are close to perfect in their own right, whereas the more dance oriented tracks such as “Lost & Found” and “Superstar”, are tightly sung and smartly produced, but overall unremarkable for a lack of ingenuity.
The musicianship on the album is consistently excellent, but after AlunaGeorge topped the UK charts a few months back with “White Noise”, they probably felt a lot of pressure to bring out the bangers with this release. Still, they should know that they don’t need to “go big” to make the necessary splash. The fact that major label artists are often pressured to make chart topping singles might be the main reason they are so frequently forgotten with time — as another artist is sure to outdo the last when it comes to louder drums and more radiant synths. The previously released “Your Drums, Your Love” happens to be the album’s one exception to big = forgettable, as it ends up sounding crowd pleasingly massive as well as acutely tuned emotionally — like every great single should be. Sadly, while “Best Be Believin” does its best to become the pivotal album climax — as it includes a grander array of instruments, such as acoustic guitar, piano, and a choir — in the end, it feels as if they tried too hard to make a spectacle out of it. Consequently, it doesn’t feel as honest or real as the best material here.
It’s quite ironic that the best bits off of an album called Body Music happen to be the least dance oriented ones, but it turns out the album title has more to do with the album’s lyrics — which deal with the most basic of human needs: to have physical human interaction. Aluna deals with this theme accurately lyrically, and as it turns out, the two are indeed good songwriters — although certainly not yet in the top tier. Still, although the album is far from perfect, it shows undeniable promise, especially when it’s at its most introspective. Few pop acts have the power to keep us enticed without the use of in your face bass and frenetic sampling; while AlunaGeorge certainly do bombard us with these elements a handful of times, it’s during the quietest moments where we peer into their hearts and realize their true potential.
Track Listing:
1.) Outlines*
2.) You Know You Like It
3.) Attracting Flies
4.) Your Drums, Your Love*
5.) Kaleidoscope Love
6.) Bad Idea
7.) Diver*
8.) Lost & Found
9.) Best Be Believin
10.) Superstar
11.) Just A Touch*
12.) Body Music
13.) Friends to Lovers*
Album Highlight – *
“Let It Be” Over
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…”. About 20 minutes into the flat, uninspired Beatles tribute “Let it Be”, I kept hoping that she would show up at the St. James theater with enough Demerol to end the misery. Two hours and ten minutes later, I was still out of luck but grateful to be released from the shackles of a lackluster production that consisted of over 40 usually-divine-but-in-this-case-truly- painful renditions of the Beatles’ incomparable repertoire.
Occasionally, I will attend Broadway shows and leave scratching my head asking, “Why?” In this particular case, I learned that the show was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Mop Tops.” So I’m still asking myself the same questions: “Why?” Why would a creative team throw together a moderately talented, but disengaging quartet of four performers to imitate John, Paul, George, and Ringo? Why would they choose to have no set but instead opt for cheap projections? Why would they encourage an audience (mostly comprised of baby boomers) to sing along when: a) most are singing the wrong words loudly and off-key and b) audiences are paying to be entertained, not to be the entertainers. The answer, of course, is that nostalgia sells. Most likely, the producers of this flim flam are banking on the fact that unsuspecting theater-goers will be duped into dropping over $100 per ticket, only to be reminded of groovier, peace lovin’ days gone by. If nostalgia and fun is what you seek, grab the Beatles White Album, crank the volume, and experience the genuine sound of a monumental group—complete without the distraction of those around you who are singing, talking, text messaging, and/or kicking the back of your seat. Your “ticket to ride” will be much more palpable and affordable.
“Let It Be” plays through Dec. 29th 2013 at the St. James Theater, 246 W. 44th Street NY NY. Tickets available at the box office or on telecharge.com.
Take Reality and Wrestling, Add Soap And You Get Total Divas
Total Divas: Sundays at 10 p.m. Eastern on E!
One of the more intriguing stories in entertainment over the past decade has been WWE chairman Vince McMahon’s attempt to move from undisputed king of pro wrestling into other media outlets. While many of these moves have not ended particularly well for the company (with the XFL being the most notable failure) McMahon has not stopped trying to put some diversity into the E (for Entertainment) of his flagship company. Sunday night, he partnered with a different E! (the network) in a much smaller jump that could help build some credibility for his non-wrestling ventures.
Total Divas is a reality-style (it’s tied to pro wrestling, so I’m willing to take a wild guess and say the majority of it is likely scripted) show following the lives of it’s women’s division, also referred to as the Divas division. Headlining the show are the Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki), whose on-screen characters often have them being catty and manipulative. However, in real life they each date one half of this Summerslam’s main event in WWE poster child John Cena and former indy sensation Daniel Bryan. Also heavily featured are Natalya Neidhart (daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) and tag team the Funkadelics (Ariane and Trinity, who also double as valets to male tag team “Tons of Funk”).
Our opening episode touches on a lot of areas. Our first main plot involves the run-up to Wrestlemania, where the Bellas and Funkadactyls are slated to face off in eight person tag action. However, we also focus on the relationship sub-thread, after Cena buys Nikki a Range Rover well before he buys her a ring, making Nikki insecure about the future of their relationship. A storyline plot line sets up Natalya with two new Divas, Eva Marie and JoJo Offerman, leading them around the town and mentoring them while dealing with the disappointment of not having a match at the big show.
On a positive front, the show is incredibly well produced, full of slick production work and well designed video packages. These packages are a key part of an exposition heavy full segment, as the show has to introduce two new divas to the audience, but also focusing on giving sufficient backstory to the Funkadactyls, whom do not typically see a ton of TV time (the Divas usually only see about one to one and a half segments of a 3 hour episode of RAW), while ensuring that Natty and the Bellas are properly introduced to an E! target audience that probably runs scared from sports entertainment. That being said, I was quite irked by the fact that they couldn’t be bothered to refer to Jim Neidhart as anything other than “Natalya’s Dad” when they introduce Natalya by bringing up the fact that she comes from a strong wrestling pedigree.
That being said, the show tends to have a little bit of an identity conflict. On one hand, it seems like half of the time the various Diva’s are acting in character, but then the other half of the time you peel back to see the person inside in a more human and fourth wall shattering manner than your average reality show. The end result is some degree of muddying of our characters, which seems disorienting for someone who follows WWE’s other products, and has to be even more confusing for someone who doesn’t follow the product. This is made even worse by the fact that they tend to flip pretty regularly between stage names and real identities of almost every character on the show (most notably Ariane and Trinity, whom for the longest time have gone by Cam’ron and Naomi on WWE TV respectively) with minimal rhyme or reason.
The show seems to shine most in those moments where it lets the Divas be more honest. As wildly entertaining as it is to see Brie and Nikki get stuck performing their arrogant, alpha female shtick in other settings, it seems like we truly get to know Nikki best when she’s being both optimistic but also a little preoccupied about her relationship with Cena. Similarly, the Funkadactyls arc (which gets wrapped up a little bit too abruptly) ends up becoming the strongest line in the episode due to how much less scripted it feels as the two close friends get into a heated discussion over a mishap backstage, both being equally justified over the situation.
The Final Verdict: Total Divas does not totally commit to any of the roads it could have taken. On one hand, the show could have easily been scripted to excess and played out the way the first quarter of the show did: as a weekly hour-long pro WWE puff piece. On the other hand they could have just as easily taken the opportunity to pull back the curtain and learn more about the people that inhabit the characters. Instead, we got a little of both, creating an uneven, if fairly unoffensive hour of reality-ish television with a little bit of soap opera thrown in for good measure. It’s actually pretty funny that the show possesses as many shades of gray as it does, because the WWE has been avoiding such dynamics in it’s actual wrestling programming. It’s the sort of show that I would wait-and-see on, since the ratio of over-packaged and rehearsed to natural really will affect how entertaining the show becomes.