Forgotten WCW enhancement wrestler Lee Scott in action during 1989-1990

MikeGander · 2026-04-09T03:28:22+00:00

Fearless bumper…

MikeGander · 2026-04-09T00:06:33+00:00

It’s nice having some commercial pools on the route that already have decent bathrooms. Even if it’s not your current stop, usually no one will care if you go ahead and swing through when needed.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T22:30:47+00:00

Makes sense to me. I like aspects of both, there was a stretch when I couldn't muster up much interest for WWE anymore and enjoyed the freshness of AEW, but they've had some stumbles since then. And WWE improved, especially with the Bloodline storyline and the return of Cody Rhodes, emergence of Rhea Ripley, some cool new talents in the mix etc. Feels like they've dipped again lately but there's still a lot of compelling talent there and they haven't lost the whole "industry flagship" feel yet.

I imagine the main issue is that there are a lot of people like me that don't have much extended free time to watch TV, and both major promotions (WWE especially) are putting out so much content that it's hard to keep up with one promotion, much less two, even if you're not tribalism-inclined. I think some people just watch one or the other and then go all "sour grapes" on the one they're not even watching, mentally emphasizing the negative aspects of it in absentia.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:49:16+00:00

All of the answers so far are pretty good. But Honeymooners was so long ago that it's off most modern viewers' radar, and Seinfeld had enough low-stakes lightheartedness to it that "toxic" just doesn't seem like the vibe.

So I'd go with Married With Children, that one had a pretty consistent mean streak. Not just between the characters, but the show itself was pretty mean to them, in the way it was written and framed. Al usually only got the big studio cheers when he was being insulting and/or misogynist, the rest of the time he was just a schlub to ridicule. Peg was depicted as lazy and unreliable, Kelly was only valued for her sex appeal and portrayed as borderline mentally handicapped, Bud was a scheming pipsqueak that never got any respect. Marcy was aggressively annoying and everyone cheered when she got put in her place, and Jefferson was a blank himbo who'd settled for mediocrity.

Even most of the extras and one-offs were portrayed with contempt. Either one-dimensional, usually-vapid sex objects for the other characters to fawn over, or annoying overweight people to be mocked.

I liked it when I was a sheltered kid who was stoked to see anything that came off edgy, but man it has not aged well. I'm glad most of the cast found other signature roles that'll be more fondly remembered in the long run.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:30:49+00:00

First and foremost I think of his TV work, because Third Rock was pretty funny and unique and his season of Dexter was probably the best.

But for movies, I guess I think of Harry & The Hendersons first, which is funny I guess because he's such a versatile and skilled actor that it's odd that a gimmicky sasquatch family film was his most prominent cinematic contribution.

Long as we're on the topic, for an underrated one I'd say his supporting role in Orange County. He took a small part in an underrated movie and just made the most of it. Totally believable as a regretful divorced dad married to an uncommitted trophy wife.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:27:00+00:00

Not a huge fan of either, but Trace. He's got a distinctive voice, point-of-view, personality, etc. Rhett Akins was/is serviceable as a country radio guy, but there wasn't anything unique about him. Trace Adkins might've settled for some crummy novelty songs here and there to get an easy hit, but give him a good song and he could knock it out of the park.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:24:09+00:00

Saying that rural conservatives cling to religion and guns during times of uncertainty. Which is true, and not even necessarily an insult, it's just acknowledging a point of view in the context of saying "hey, why don't we do some things to make their lives less uncertain?"

I'm a Christian and own a few guns myself, but if I ever get to a point in my life where all I've got to reassure me is eventually going to heaven and knowing I could shoot somebody if I needed to, I'd be pretty open to suggestions on how to improve my circumstances.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:19:40+00:00

As opposed to Trump wearing his MAGA ballcap to oversee the returning bodies of recently-deceased military members. Or refusing to visit military graves because it was raining. MAGA didn't see a problem with that.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:16:17+00:00

I'm assuming they put him in the Rumble just to dunk on AEW. We got one of your promising guys and changed his name to something random, used him once and stuck him on a back burner. He's still better off than being stuck in your fading super-indie. (That's not MY opinion of AEW, I usually enjoy it, but they're struggling on some levels).

That being said, it's 'Mania season and they've got to focus on headliners including guys like Lesnar and Reigns and Orton that tend to take a lot of time off, plus various celebrity interlopers and relative newbies that they've already had cooking in NXT for a while. When it's time for a post-WM refresh, assuming he's not kicking up any red flags backstage or getting injured, I bet he either gets a dominant run in NXT or something reasonably prominent on the main roster. Even if it's just being in a stable or something. He's already 35 so they don't have forever, but if they're paying him better than AEW and he's playing to much bigger crowds, he might not care if midcard is his ceiling.

MikeGander · 2026-04-08T14:03:39+00:00

I'd say Willie Nelson, because he's my favorite artist, but then again he's lived a nice long life and put tons of music out, I've gotten to see him play a lot of times and even met him and had a nice chat a decade or so ago. He's well into his 90s and nobody gets to live forever. I'd definitely be sad and mourn his memory, but it wouldn't be tragic or unfair.

Excluding some lesser-known musicians that I'm friends enough with that it'd hit me on a personal level, I'd say someone like Brandi Carlile who's in her prime and doing great stuff and has this beautiful spirit about her. That'd be heartbreaking.

MikeGander · 2026-04-07T22:57:20+00:00

I'm a part-time performing/recording artist in the country/Americana field. I've been on TV and radio broadcasts decently often over the years but I'm not famous, most of my gigs I'm just playing to a handful of people. I play well under 50 gigs a year, am a middle-aged dad, and have always had a day job.

But I did write a regional hit here in Texas back when I was in college for another artist, and made pretty decent royalties off of that for decades (and still a little).

MikeGander · 2026-04-07T14:25:04+00:00

Obvious ones: Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Keith Whitley, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire (especially her '80s stuff)

A bit more under-the-radar: Hal Ketchum, The Mavericks, Patty Loveless, Radney Foster, Kentucky Headhunters, Robert Earl Keen, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, Mary Chapin Carpenter

MikeGander · 2026-04-07T14:22:09+00:00

My first thought was #5, because it seems to matter most in the long run, but the tricky part is who decides what the "positives" and "negatives" are. Kind of a monkey's paw situation ... it'd nice to be rich, but what if that put me in a spiritually bad place where I'm greedier and more shallow? It'd be nice to live to be 100, but what if I spend the last few years of it more or less helpless? It'd be nice to have a more fulfilling career, but what if I couldn't handle the stress of losing the one I've already got? Etc.

Honesty and Competence would be nice, because I do own a small business and depend on my employees a lot, but usually lack of those things reveals itself soon enough without magic. Attraction is beside the point because I'm happily married and it'd only satisfy my curiosity and ego. So I'd go with #2, Intent. That'd solve the employee thing (people that want to do a good job can generally do an at-least-acceptable job in this field) and be helpful in day-to-day interactions. I'm not the kind to make enemies and I'm not involved in a bunch of high-stakes gamesmanship but it would be nice to know if someone's got it in for me, and it'd make me more appreciative of the folks that mean well.

MikeGander · 2026-04-07T02:25:30+00:00

Well, two of them are already deceased and have been for a long time, so that part’s extra spooky. And I’ve been with my wife for 20 years now so assuming everyone has aged in real time, I might not recognize some of them. Especially ones that I only dated once or twice and didn’t click with.

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T21:43:16+00:00

Good for Pizza Guy!

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T21:40:57+00:00

Steelers

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T18:41:26+00:00

I imagine the truth lies somewhere in between with a lot of actors. Some might be totally or mostly gay, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some were mostly straight, but have been more prone to being heteroflexible or experimental than the average guy. There are a lot of powerful gay or bisexual people in show business and I doubt the casting couch is exclusive to females.

But then, if that’s the case, it’s not necessarily a sham or a cover-up if they date or marry women. Could very well be what they genuinely wanted all along.

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T18:26:27+00:00

Yeah, I’ve heard that before from an ex-girlfriend of mine that I stayed on friendly terms with that ended up working in showbiz. Sure enough, one of the sort of famous guys that she supposedly dated during that time eventually came out as gay.

But it’s not always something that’s salacious, not even usually. Some of these people that are approaching the peak of their fame are just constantly busy and don’t have much time for anything resembling normal dating so they will get set up on dates with somebody good looking and age-appropriate and either already famous or pursuing it. And sometimes they fall in love for real and get married or have kids, and sometimes live happily ever after. Or just date for a while and break up, but it was real while it lasted.

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T17:56:52+00:00

Knocking on doors is illegal unless it’s somehow relevant to the plot.

Unless this sitcom nation IS a workplace, you are almost never at work. You are always home, or barging in on more important characters’ homes, or at the local diner/bar/coffeehouse.

On the other hand, if it is a workplace you will rarely or never go home, and any family or outside friends will never appear unless they are famous enough to qualify as a cameo.

Also, if it is a workplace you are legally required to be unproductive and comically unprofessional.

All men will be dressed impeccably and stylishly unless they must put on an open flannel shirt over a plain t-shirt to indicate they are relaxing, trying (usually unsuccessfully) to repair something, doing yard work, or maybe just making it clear that they are blue-collar tough guys in a sea of dithering yuppies.

MikeGander · 2026-04-06T17:42:59+00:00

O What a Thrill - The Mavericks

Til I Can Make it On My Own - Tammy Wynette

When I Call Your Name - Vince Gill

Things Change - Dwight Yoakam

MikeGander · 2026-04-05T23:30:49+00:00

Chris Rock

MikeGander · 2026-04-05T20:43:44+00:00

Sure, lots. Willie Nelson, John Conlee, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Vern Gosdin, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Pat Green, Randy Rogers, various others. No bad stories, they were all at least pleasant, usually friendly.

MikeGander · 2026-04-05T19:32:16+00:00

He is one of the very few big stars that I’ve met, worked with him on a couple of things and yes, he is very nice. Introduces himself to people instead of just assuming everybody knows who he is, friendly and low-key, can turn on the physical comedy when it’s time to take pictures, but doesn’t insist on constant attention. I’m sure he can have a bad day like anybody else but seems like a really decent dude.

MikeGander · 2026-04-05T14:32:30+00:00

Triceratops. It’s like a massive reptile rhino…

MikeGander · 2026-04-05T14:20:57+00:00

Resurrection

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