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RollerGames

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TV Series

The Resume

    (1989-1990)
    Syndicated sports-entertainment series
    Teams: Los Angeles Thunderbirds (T-Birds), Rockers, Hot Flash, Maniacs, Violators, and Bad Attitude
    Floor announcers: Chuck Underwood and David Sams
    Floor commentator: Shelly Jamison
    Halftime announcer: Wally George
    Premise: Six World Alliance of Rollersports (WAR) teams of variable face-heel factors pair off in a weekly battle at the ‘world famous’ Super Roller Dome

Why RollerGames might be annoying:

    Yes, two words combined to look like a single word.
    Cross roller derby with WWE and you might get this.
    Every team had a clear gimmick (all-American T-Birds, military Maniacs, fitness-oriented Hot Flash, flat-out obnoxious Bad Attitude, musically-inclined Rockers, and Hell’s Angels-like Violators).
    Sams presented himself as just as biased toward the ‘faces’ – in particular the T-Birds – as Jesse Ventura toward the ‘heels’ in his own sport.
    Only one team member could wear a helmet during any one cycle of 45 seconds; no one else was allowed to score within this cycle.
    It featured an alligator pit as a means of breaking any match that ended in a tie.
    The WAR does not exist in real life (though, obviously, war always has).
    Only one issue of RollerGames magazine – again clearly based on WWE – was ever printed (see the profile picture).

Why RollerGames might not be annoying:

    Each period, four in total, was six minutes long — in real terms half as many and half as long as in standard roller derby.
    Hot blonde twins Jennifer and Kristine van Galder were personally recruited by Sams during his trip to a trendy eatery where they were waitresses.
    By contemporary standards, most of the storylines – including one where the twins were sent to opposing teams – seemed downright subdued.
    The track at the Super Roller Dome had a few features not (yet!) seen in your standard roller derby.
    While there were established artists at the halftime show, one episode also had a Hot Flash competitor – not yet age 20 – performing.
    Sometimes by two-to-one, it usually outscored American Gladiators in the ratings.
    The cheerleaders – four to a side and dressed in the colors of the competing teams – predated the Dallas Stars Ice Girls by a good decade and a half.
    Pairing established legends with rising young players (e.g. T-Bird Ralphie Valladeres and his daughter Gina, on Hot Flash), it was truly an inter-generational – and gender-inclusive – experience.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 79 Votes: 41.77% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 16 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying