What would it take to get bodybuilding back on ESPN?

[Papper]

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.

Well yeah, that's my point. As I kid I watched wrestling solely because of Hulk Hogan. And Ric Flair happened to be his nemesis.

I didn't really like wrestling when Hulk wasn't in frame.

[Papper]

You're describing Mike O'Hearn.

Haha, damn it you're right he is old though

But yeah, charisma and aestethics are the things that could do modern bb a favor. The top ten lacks any public appeal

[Earl1972]

it will never happen again because people are fatter than they have ever been, the last thing the average fat person wants to see is some muscle stud that basically reminds them how fat they are

bodybuilding needs to focus on it's core audience, guys like us that weren't made to feel inferior but were inspired by these male specimens

bring bodybuilding back to what it was before 1994 when guts weren't the norm and contests weren't won by guys with missing limbs, we don't need espn when we have the internet we just need the bodies to be what they were 20+ years ago

E

[MCWAY]

Well yeah, that's my point. As I kid I watched wrestling solely because of Hulk Hogan. And Ric Flair happened to be his nemesis.

I didn't really like wrestling when Hulk wasn't in frame.

The new WWF generation was supposed to usher in the post-Hogan era in wrestling. But my point was that McMahon's calculation that the popularity of his super-muscular wrestlers would have carryover appeal for the WBF missed big time. In retrospect, the steroid scandal may have simply accelerated the WBF's doom.

[MCWAY]

How is it finished though?  Is attendance at shows low?  Is the prize money down?  Is Phil Heath not making a shit ton of money being Mr. Olympia?

Exactly!

And for all those, wailing about how special the 90s were, here is big Lou with virtually the exact same criticisms of that crop of bodybuilders that we keep hearing from certain 90s fans about today's competitors.

[Azure]

it will never happen again because people are fatter than they have ever been, the last thing the average fat person wants to see is some muscle stud that basically reminds them how fat they are

bodybuilding needs to focus on it's core audience, guys like us that weren't made to feel inferior but were inspired by these male specimens

bring bodybuilding back to what it was before 1994 when guts weren't the norm and contests weren't won by guys with missing limbs, we don't need espn when we have the internet we just need the bodies to be what they were 20+ years ago

E

I don't know about that. At the expos, shows, and the gym it was those on the plumper side that were the most aggressive in hunting those guys down! lol

But I agree. No more guts and no more poofy people.

[drkaje]

What about something like "Jersey Shore"?.

[Azure]

What about something like "Jersey Shore"?.

Part of the problem with this is that you don't have the personalities for this. It can work but you need storylines and people to carry it off. You could probably work with Kai to do something like this since he seems to like acting and maybe Cedric McMillan but nobody else is that interesting

[The Scott]

Part of the problem with this is that you don't have the personalities for this. It can work but you need storylines and people to carry it off. You could probably work with Kai to do something like this since he seems to like acting and maybe Cedric McMillan but nobody else is that interesting

If you truly believe those two pieces of schmoe-chum are "interesting"...  TV in general is for the LCD of the world. 

I seriously doubt that is you.

[drkaje]

Part of the problem with this is that you don't have the personalities for this. It can work but you need storylines and people to carry it off. You could probably work with Kai to do something like this since he seems to like acting and maybe Cedric McMillan but nobody else is that interesting

The scene has tons of weirdos. Finding a new Snookie wouldn't be difficult.

There's no need for it to be on ESPN.

[Azure]

If you truly believe those two pieces of schmoe-chum are "interesting"...  TV in general is for the LCD of the world. 

I seriously doubt that is you.

Nope not me but in the trainwreck reality world they would make for a storyline. Reality tv is fake a lot of the times. They just make up scenarios and make you play along. I could see those two doing trainwreck television

Kai did a great job at last year's Olympia and that wasn't even enough to get them on tv because they look terrible and it's boring

[drkaje]

Here's your show, Azure...

"Troll beatdown". Find trolls for asswhoopings or proof that they can back up claims about hoes, money, lifts, real pictures, etc...

[Howard]

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.

The x rated , hardcore porn industry has boomed on the internet and was never mainstream.
Bodybuilding has brief stints and a handful of champs that gained mainstream acceptance.
This is done when they become famous in another field , like movies and TV ( Arnold and Lou ).
Pure bodybuilding alone will never gain ,mainstream appeal. I'm fine with that.

Hardcore bodybuilding will survive just fine thanks to a dedicated audience and the internet.
What's pathetic is the self imposed limits and lack of quality contest web streams that exist.

[MCWAY]

The x rated , hardcore porn industry has boomed on the internet and was never mainstream.
Bodybuilding has brief stints and a handful of champs that gained mainstream acceptance.
This is done when they become famous in another field , like movies and TV ( Arnold and Lou ).
Pure bodybuilding alone will never gain ,mainstream appeal. I'm fine with that.

Hardcore bodybuilding will survive just fine thanks to a dedicated audience and the internet.
What's pathetic is the self imposed limits and lack of quality contest web streams that exist.

Minus the porn part, you've echoed my sentiments.

It's not even about the anabolics issue. When ESPN switched to natural bodybuilders (as did MD magazine), the coverage was even smaller.

Here's footage with Skip LaCour and the other Ronnie Coleman.

[Alfurinn]

Fat people is not what prevents bodybuilding from appearing on TV. That's ridiculous  

It's simply that it is not a sport, it is a spectacle pretty much like one you would see at a night club except that bodybuilders don't take the posing suit off at the end of the performance, although I recall a bodybuilder who did it in a competition.  

[rocket]

It's a fucking boring thing to watch.

Long and drawn out, too.

I can just barely tolerate watching it and I'm slightly interested in it so I cannot for the life of me see how a regular hetero espn watcher could possible want to waste his time on that shit.

What the fuck is the point of a dude who is going to get position 20, coming out and sapping a few minutes of your life?  Fuck all.

Fact is, solo posing routines are for the homosexuals in the audience.  Who else wants to see a guy who is not being compared to others, walk around sweating, flexing his muscles to mostly obnoxious terrible music?  There is no context.. nothing to compare him to.

It's very simple - there is only one way you can bring it to the mainstream.  It is a mixture of showing reality (where they are training up until the context and maybe doing big lifts / being characters) and then only showing like 30 minutes worth of comparisons and then bang, the winner is announced.

But no, they won't do that.  Because most aren't characters and most aren't that adventurous to show their strength.

Don't get me started on "Prejudging"..  Make up your mind in 30 minutes of comparisons.

Those who watch a lot of sport and understand what sport is at the core will understand why bodybuilding is rubbish.  It has no sub plots, it has no intrigue, it has very little variance, it has very little true competition - in short, it is straight up dull.

I would bet most people who have been around on here for a long time would mostly come here to see anything BUT bodybuilding contest information.  IE, who died, and maybe pre contest images.

Nobody gives a fuck about dudes on stage with no context (normal people aroudn them).  I'd rather watch 2 hours of ruhl walking around in public than that rubbish.

[Primemuscle]

It's a fucking boring thing to watch.

Long and drawn out, too.

I can just barely tolerate watching it and I'm slightly interested in it so I cannot for the life of me see how a regular hetero espn watcher could possible want to waste his time on that shit.

What the fuck is the point of a dude who is going to get position 20, coming out and sapping a few minutes of your life?  Fuck all.

Fact is, solo posing routines are for the homosexuals in the audience.  Who else wants to see a guy who is not being compared to others, walk around sweating, flexing his muscles to mostly obnoxious terrible music?  There is no context.. nothing to compare him to.

It's very simple - there is only one way you can bring it to the mainstream.  It is a mixture of showing reality (where they are training up until the context and maybe doing big lifts / being characters) and then only showing like 30 minutes worth of comparisons and then bang, the winner is announced.

But no, they won't do that.  Because most aren't characters and most aren't that adventurous to show their strength.

Don't get me started on "Prejudging"..  Make up your mind in 30 minutes of comparisons.

Those who watch a lot of sport and understand what sport is at the core will understand why bodybuilding is rubbish.  It has no sub plots, it has no intrigue, it has very little variance, it has very little true competition - in short, it is straight up dull.

I would bet most people who have been around on here for a long time would mostly come here to see anything BUT bodybuilding contest information.  IE, who died, and maybe pre contest images.

Nobody gives a fuck about dudes on stage with no context (normal people aroudn them).  I'd rather watch 2 hours of ruhl walking around in public than that rubbish.

I must agree with you on several points. The bottom line is money. If broadcasters and producers believed there was a big enough television audience to attract sponsors, they'd jump on broadcasting bodybuilding competitions. Unfortunately, bodybuilding has a niche audience....not one large enough to pay the costs involved in broadcasting. Even the possible sponsors would only be interesting to a select audience. 

[Howard]

It's a fucking boring thing to watch.

Long and drawn out, too.

I can just barely tolerate watching it and I'm slightly interested in it so I cannot for the life of me see how a regular hetero espn watcher could possible want to waste his time on that shit.

What the fuck is the point of a dude who is going to get position 20, coming out and sapping a few minutes of your life?  Fuck all.

Fact is, solo posing routines are for the homosexuals in the audience.  Who else wants to see a guy who is not being compared to others, walk around sweating, flexing his muscles to mostly obnoxious terrible music?  There is no context.. nothing to compare him to.

It's very simple - there is only one way you can bring it to the mainstream.  It is a mixture of showing reality (where they are training up until the context and maybe doing big lifts / being characters) and then only showing like 30 minutes worth of comparisons and then bang, the winner is announced.

But no, they won't do that.  Because most aren't characters and most aren't that adventurous to show their strength.

Don't get me started on "Prejudging"..  Make up your mind in 30 minutes of comparisons.

Those who watch a lot of sport and understand what sport is at the core will understand why bodybuilding is rubbish.  It has no sub plots, it has no intrigue, it has very little variance, it has very little true competition - in short, it is straight up dull.

I would bet most people who have been around on here for a long time would mostly come here to see anything BUT bodybuilding contest information.  IE, who died, and maybe pre contest images.

Nobody gives a fuck about dudes on stage with no context (normal people aroudn them).  I'd rather watch 2 hours of ruhl walking around in public than that rubbish.

You make some excellent points, but I think it's the contest format that's the real problem here.
For example, watching people play cards is about as boring as watching grass grow.
BUT, thanks to mini cams showing cards dealt and sexy girls throwing cash down on the table, allows it to appear exciting . While I have zero interest in watching poker stars, I recognize just how popular it is.

Here's my 3 step approach to make bodybuilding a more interesting sport :

1. Let the bodybuilders compete as serious bodybuilders.
Notice that in most other pro sports , the athletes play hard as serious athletes .
They are the performers and need to focus on playing the game only.

2. Use the best lights, music, stage venue and promo possible.
Great lighting and sound ( music) with top MC's covering it, should be the expected norm for
all major contests. Look at the top football, soccer and baseball venues with the professional coverage.
Watching a football game inside the new Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium is a very different experience then
sitting inside a typical high school stadium.

3. I agree that the majority of contest time should be spent on posing comparisons.
I'd like to see a lot more 2 and 3 man individual pose comparisons instead of the posing routines.
I also think having them do all the mandatory shots without a break is boring.

Have them get called out just to do a front and back double bicep and maybe repeat it.
Then have 2-3 different guys get called out and only do those 2 poses with some good music and build up.
To me that would be a lot more interesting and exciting .
They could keep a running score of who wins each pose as well.
" Ok we now have Kai against Phil in a back db bi battle. If Kai can get him on this pose, he could pull off the upset."

[MCWAY]

You make some excellent points, but I think it's the contest format that's the real problem here.
For example, watching people play cards is about as boring as watching grass grow.
BUT, thanks to mini cams showing cards dealt and sexy girls throwing cash down on the table, allows it to appear exciting . While I have zero interest in watching poker stars, I recognize just how popular it is.

Here's my 3 step approach to make bodybuilding a more interesting sport :

1. Let the bodybuilders compete as serious bodybuilders.
Notice that in most other pro sports , the athletes play hard as serious athletes .
They are the performers and need to focus on playing the game only.

2. Use the best lights, music, stage venue and promo possible.
Great lighting and sound ( music) with top MC's covering it, should be the expected norm for
all major contests. Look at the top football, soccer and baseball venues with the professional coverage.
Watching a football game inside the new Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium is a very different experience then
sitting inside a typical high school stadium.

You mean like THIS?

3. I agree that the majority of contest time should be spent on posing comparisons.
I'd like to see a lot more 2 and 3 man individual pose comparisons instead of the posing routines.
I also think having them do all the mandatory shots without a break is boring.

Have them get called out just to do a front and back double bicep and maybe repeat it.
Then have 2-3 different guys get called out and only do those 2 poses with some good music and build up.
To me that would be a lot more interesting and exciting .
They could keep a running score of who wins each pose as well.
" Ok we now have Kai against Phil in a back db bi battle. If Kai can get him on this pose, he could pull off the upset."

And the difference between your proposal and what the WBF did 25 years ago would be......

Check the footage I posted earlier.

Heck, even in the 2nd WBF show, McMahon had a 900 hotline for the fans to vote for the champion (the proceeds for which were supposed to go to the Special Olympics. It was the first bodybuilding show I saw on the day it actually occurred ($15 on pay-per-view).

[MCWAY]

WBF superstars vs. WWF Superstars on Family Feud:

Promo for WBF Fitness Weekend (1992):

Mike Christian on Prime Time Wrestling (1991):

[MCWAY]

WWF Wrestling Challenge (WBF clip with "Bodybuilding Lifestyles" Magazine and Berry DeMey promo at 27:18)

[Alfurinn]

Would male strippers do well on TV?

[Azure]

Would male strippers do well on TV?

Magic Mike did pretty well.

[The Abdominal Snoman]

There are more gay producers, writers and directors than ever before. One would think Bodybuilding would be all over ESPN with all the different channels ESPN now runs...

[Alfurinn]

Magic Mike did pretty well.

As a regular TV show?

Both bodybuilders and male strippers are practically the same thing, except one stays clothed till the end. Ironically many many bodybuilders are strippers.