"GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling" (1986) TV series 1986-1992

Directors:

Andrew Hecker
Tom Vitale

Writers:

Steve Blance (writer)
Lucette Dussaud (additional material)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Genre:

Action

Plot Keywords:

Wrestling | Acronym In Title | Female Wrestler | Professional Wrestler

Cast

Ericka Marr	...	Spanish Red (2 episodes, 1986)
Jeanne Basone	...	Hollywood (2 episodes)
Steve Blance	...	Himself (2 episodes)
Kitty Burke	...	Aunt Kitty (2 episodes)
Emily Dole	...	Mountain Fiji (2 episodes)
Mabel		(2 episodes)
Noel Tyler	...	Major Tanya (2 episodes)
Lori Weathers	...	Col. Ninotchka (2 episodes)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

David McLane Enterprises

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saved by the Bell: The College Years: Pilot (#1.0)" (1993)

Priceless 80's television series

GLOW (Gourgous Ladies of Wrestling) was one of the most popular professional wrestling television shows ever to air. Created by David McClane, this syndicated weekly show was, to my knowledge the only professional wrestling show that actually aired re-runs and ran seasonally. Often imitated but never duplicated this show ran a little over 5 years. It was broadcast "direct from the Riviera Hotel and Casino in the entertainment capital of the world Las Vegas Nevada" which gave the show a feel as if it were taped in someone's basement. The characters were totally over the top, with each GLOW girl having her very own "rap" style entrance theme song (possibly inspired by the Chicago Bears and their "Super Bowl Shuffle" of the time period). The theatrics and comedic aspects of this show far surpassed any wrestling "talent" (or general lack thereof) of its performers. The ropes were a bright pink and the characters had various "gimmicks". There was: Colonel Ninotchka, A Russian KGB agent; Americana, the all-American beauty; Tina Ferrari, Ashley Cartier and in later seasons Roxy Astor and Tiffany Mellon portrayed the "Park Avenue Knockouts"; the Heavy Metal Sisters Spike and Chainsaw brought working chainsaws and a blow torch to the ring; the Terrorist Palestina performed terrorist ceremonies and threw sand in her opponents eyes; the Housewives Phyliss and Arlene came to the ring with mop and bucket en tow and would use various household items on their opponents; the Princess of Darkness and in later seasons Big Bad Mamma would cast spells on their opponents using their "mojo bone" and "voodoo dust" respectively; Dementia would come to the ring in a cage wearing a hockey mask and swinging an Axe; and the Cheerleaders Susie Spirit, Debbie Debutante and in later seasons Cheyenne Cher and Vicky Victory would do amazing acrobatics in the ring. To top it all off Jackie Stallone (yes Sly's mother) was the manager of the "Good Girls" while the "Bad Girls" were managed by the notorious Aunt Kitty. After the first couple of seasons, there was some sort of falling out between McClane and the "Network" and McClane would leave GLOW to create his own series POWW (the Powerful Women of Wrestling) which focused more on the actual wrestling talent then the theatrics, music videos and comedy routines. Years later, McClane would try to revive this organization with the dismal WOW (Women of Wrestling) series which lasted only one season. When McClane left GLOW he took most of the "talent" roster with him but a new breed of GLOW girls would emerge and the show would continue for several more seasons before eventually getting canceled. Any true wrestling fan should view footage of this show if not just for the historical value then most definitely for the sheer comedic and political incorrectness of it. A new version of GLOW is rumored to be on the horizon headed up by Ursula Hayden who portrayed Babe the Farmer's Daughter in the original series and featuring Melody Trouble Vixen (MTV) from the original series as the manager of the "Bad Girls".