What would it take to get bodybuilding back on ESPN?

[_aj_]

NASCAR has millions of fans. People would rather watch someone else drive in circles than oiled men in thongs.

How about that Yates lat spread, huh?

[drkaje]

How about that Yates lat spread, huh?

I literally believe a tiddlywinks tournament would get more sponsors, viewers, and generate more interest.

Ru Paul has a Drag Racing show, FFS!!

[drkaje]

In bodybuilding's defense, there's plenty of boring shit on television like "Say yes to the dress", "My 600LB life", "Kate plus 8", "Keeping up with the Kardashians", and shit about fucking midgets that people love watching.

Someone has to figure out marketing and target what aspect of professional bodybuilding people would find interesting enough to watch.

[Azure]

In bodybuilding's defense, there's plenty of boring shit on television like "Say yes to the dress", "My 600LB life", "Kate plus 8", "Keeping up with the Kardashians", and shit about fucking midgets that people love watching.

Someone has to figure out marketing and target what aspect of professional bodybuilding people would find interesting enough to watch.

Conflict, heroes vs villains, and sex all work as storylines with the actual competition as a backdrop since it's so boring. It can be done but not like the IFBB has it currently.

[drkaje]

Conflict, heroes vs villains, and sex all work as storylines with the actual competition as a backdrop since it's so boring. It can be done but not like the IFBB has it currently.

It would need lots of schmoes supporters!

[The Abdominal Snoman]

I think to get Bodybuilding back on ESPN, it would take Kai Green and his white towel several trips to ESPN headquarters in Connecticut...

[MCWAY]

In bodybuilding's defense, there's plenty of boring shit on television like "Say yes to the dress", "My 600LB life", "Kate plus 8", "Keeping up with the Kardashians", and shit about fucking midgets that people love watching.

Someone has to figure out marketing and target what aspect of professional bodybuilding people would find interesting enough to watch.

That's already been done. It's called the Internet. And it's worked. More pro shows, more prize money at the Olympia, the Arnold, etc. And bodybuilding shows are actually airing on the day they occur.

Lest we forget, this was bodybuilding on ESPN about 25 years ago.

The problem with this was that the USA was probably done when this preview occurred.

[_aj_]

The public would be interested if it was all "dad bods" and looked like Shizzo.

[MCWAY]

Remember this guy? "Mr. Cybrergenics", Franco Santoriello.

[The Scott]

I don't think it's possible because unless schmoes make up the majority of the population, no one really cares about the way the current crop (crap?) of bodybuilders look like.

And besides, everyone knows its all about the drugs and the only genetic advantage is being able to survive the truckload of dope you need to "compete" at any level today.  Bodybuilding isn't a sport.  Look out at the audience and you will realize its nothing but a booty pageant geared toward the schmoes.

[Never1AShow]

In bodybuilding's defense, there's plenty of boring shit on television like "Say yes to the dress", "My 600LB life", "Kate plus 8", "Keeping up with the Kardashians", and shit about fucking midgets that people love watching.

Someone has to figure out marketing and target what aspect of professional bodybuilding people would find interesting enough to watch.

This right here, figure out a formula to generate some interest.  Maybe a weekly show showing progress up to a contest a la a reverse biggest loser, where each week 3 people are followed around and there is a reveal in the posing room at the end of the weekly episode.  Pumping Iron kinda followed this format.

Of course, I also think that if they just stuck on a workout show reboot of that one with Haney and Valenti people would watch it and it'd get similar ratings as the old one.  People will watch because it's on.

[Brass Balls]

Bodybuilding isn't a sport.  Look out at the audience and you will realize its nothing but a booty pageant geared toward the schmoes.

Pretty much this. The general public doesn't want to see this garbage.

I've never walked into any store and found a place that sells glittery posing thongs. Nobody knows where come from and nobody really cares either. Of course every weirdo who "competes" in this weird underground subculture knows where to find them and buy them. Its the weird creepy shit like this that keeps it out of the mainstream.

[Coffeed]

Something I thought about... it parallels the NASCAR phenomenon where the most viewed portion is the crash.

Now think about this... back in the 90's people were collapsing and dying ON stage or just beyond the drapes. If we brought that back, it may have more of that gore-appeal that the mass public craves.

[MCWAY]

This right here, figure out a formula to generate some interest.  Maybe a weekly show showing progress up to a contest a la a reverse biggest loser, where each week 3 people are followed around and there is a reveal in the posing room at the end of the weekly episode.  Pumping Iron kinda followed this format.

Of course, I also think that if they just stuck on a workout show reboot of that one with Haney and Valenti people would watch it and it'd get similar ratings as the old one.  People will watch because it's on.

Again, you're not coming up with anything new. Vince McMahon tried this 25 years ago with the WBF.

Great bodybuilders, excellent production, profiles of the competitors, celebrity MCs, quality judges (all former competitors, including former Mr. Olympia, Chris Dickerson),  dancing girls,  highest prize money in history at that time (first six-figure prize money for the winner), etc.

WBF Bodystars didn't last six months. Heck, they revamped it to just "Bodystars", with features on everything from rollerblading to Olympic kayaking, with a WBF bodybuilder not featured until the very end of the show.

[Papper]

Seriously, perhaps a new Arnold would bring it back. Someone that charismatic and aestethic could turn it around. And make other good competitors come out of the woodworks...

But then I am disregarding the current trend which makes it impossible for an aeststhic body to win

[MCWAY]

Seriously, perhaps a new Arnold would bring it back. Someone that charismatic and aestethic could turn it around. And make other good competitors come out of the woodworks...

But then I am disregarding the current trend which makes it impossible for an aeststhic body to win

No one man is going to turn anything around. And it is the futile search for such that is the problem. Plenty of people love Arnold but don't give a crap about bodybuilding, just as many wrestling fans who were big Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan but had no interest in the WBF.

[Alfurinn]

Bodybuilding could be on TV anytime, but it is going to be face some obstacles because bodybuilding defies patriarchy.

Bodybuilding defies patriarchy in that it turns the male body into an object of display subject to scrutiny. Also, the nature of bodybuilding is (homo)erotic whether or not you want to admit it and has been so since day one. It is impossible to disassociate eroticism from bodybuilding because it requires the exposure of the male body almost naked and, as most may know, muscles are secondary sex traits and, an erotic interest on the bodybuilder's part to exhibit his body to others can never be discarded .

For patriarchy, men are not supposed to become objects of any sort; that role has been assigned to women as a way for men to show how much they rule over women and how men are superior.

Also, bodybuilding is much closer to striptease than it is to sports and most heterosexual men have no interest in the male body.

[Azure]

Very good points made in this thread.

In some ways the curtain has been pulled back on the industry in regards to drug use. People used to think drugs was a part of the whole culture but now everyone believes that's all it takes

Next the guys looks terrible onstage and that is your biggest hurdle. The people on these boards all agree and you would count them as fans. Seeing this past Olympia through the eyes of People with no industry experience  was interesting to say the least. The women thought the men looked terrible onstage and weren't impressed ofF. These women also weren't interested in the physique division as well because it was boring.

There has been complaints amongst industry people that the current talent pool is horrible and that's why there's a lack of interest in the bodybuilding division. I'm inclined to agree but you need people who are out there DOING something. What is the current mr Olympia doing besides arguing on Instagram

Kai is doing more than him because he seems to get that you're a personal brand and more exposure = more opportunity.

[Brass Balls]

Also, bodybuilding is much closer to striptease than it is to sports and most heterosexual men have no interest in the male body.

Exactly. Look at who watches sports on tv or at a bar. Does anyone seriously think that same demographic that watches football, hockey or basketball would be interested in watching tan, greased up men in thongs posing, and then decide which one is best? Even if they did watch, most all would say they all look exactly the same. They don't care who looks drier or more striated.

[Parker]

Bodybuilding could be on TV anytime, but it is going to be face some obstacles because bodybuilding defies patriarchy.

Bodybuilding defies patriarchy in that it turns the male body into an object of display subject to scrutiny. Also, the nature of bodybuilding is (homo)erotic whether or not you want to admit it and has been so since day one. It is impossible to disassociate eroticism from bodybuilding because it requires the exposure of the male body almost naked and, as most may know, muscles are secondary sex traits and, an erotic interest on the bodybuilder's part to exhibit his body to others can never be discarded .

For patriarchy, men are not supposed to become objects of any sort; that role has been assigned to women as a way for men to show how much they rule over women and how men are superior.

Also, bodybuilding is much closer to striptease than it is to sports and most heterosexual men have no interest in the male body.

Hmmm...so how about combine bbing with krumping...the top 6 will go at each other in a krump contest.

[_aj_]

Seriously, perhaps a new Arnold would bring it back. Someone that charismatic and aestethic could turn it around. And make other good competitors come out of the woodworks...

But then I am disregarding the current trend which makes it impossible for an aeststhic body to win

You're describing Mike O'Hearn.

[Alfurinn]

Hmmm...so how about combine bbing with krumping...the top 6 will go at each other in a krump contest.

From men being judged by their appearance like objects (and as women are judged by men in beauty contests), the almost naked body to the suggestive poses and moves this is why patriarchy sees bodybuilding as a threat.  

[Parker]

From men being judged by their appearance like objects (and as women are judged by men in beauty contests), the almost naked body to the suggestive poses and moves this is why patriarchy sees bodybuilding as a threat.  

That's where the women judges come in. By them judging men, on who is more masculine to them, they are thereby helping patriarchy. They are signaling who they would want to mate with.

[Alfurinn]

That's where the women judges come in. By them judging men, on who is more masculine to them, they are thereby helping patriarchy. They are signaling who they would want to mate with.

There lies the problem. Men are not supposed to be judged for their appearance/bodies by either men or women. Men are not supposed to expose their bodies in any way that might make them look like sex objects. Patriarchy says men are superior to women so they must not assume roles where their nature is going to be objectified because being an object means being inferior.

[Azure]

That's where the women judges come in. By them judging men, on who is more masculine to them, they are thereby helping patriarchy. They are signaling who they would want to mate with.

yep and therein lies one of the problems. They want to pretend this is a sport because they don't want to admit to this being a beauty pageant...which it is. There's nothing athletic about it. It also doesn't help that it's not exactly the most masculine Endeavor or even have masculine ambassadors.

Back in the day pro guys did attract higher caliber women. They attracted models, actresses, cheerleaders, and
Some were getting the same type of women real pro athletes were Getting. This was before things went left and the distended guts. Nobody likes that. Also had to do with the way people carried themselves