#i love seeing people's reactions to john doe it makes me whimsical

[john-does-whimpering]

every time i see someone who has just started malevolent on my recommended i giggle and giggle because oh brother you have no idea what's coming LMFAOOO

[imaginethathaikyuu]

i'm genuinely curious, what's your opinion on folklore? like i keep seeing some songs mentioned in the spotify wrapped asks but like i wanna hear you talk about it more 👉👈 what's your favorite song in the album?

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you shouldnt have asked this this was a mistake because now im gonna have to write a five thousand word essay on the grammy nominated album and masterpiece, folklore 

(if you dont like taylor swift just do us both a favor and Scroll On By thnx!) 

okay. look. ive been a taylor stan since i was 11 years old. in fifth grade i got her first two albums for christmas and i havent looked back since. so me and MS SWIFT have been around the BLOCK 

and i like a lot of people genuinely think that folklore is her greatest album to date. it blows her other albums out of the water. there are only a handful of her other songs that compare to anything on folklore, (all too well, dear john....last kiss maybe, out of the woods perhaps) and that says far more about folklore than it does about her previous music. because her previous albums are still fantastic (sans reputation. I Said What I Said.) 

the maturity, storytelling, world building of folklore is unmatched. she so easily crafts these stories and then puts you right into the world of the characters she’s singing about, it’s like you’re right there on the sidelines witnessing it all, and that’s fucking hard to do. i would know, i write stories, and taylor swift tells her tales in a way that i’m genuinely envious of

my biggest problem with her previous albums is that....how do i say this.......  like, with every album, there were a few songs on it that were only there to serve as singles to get radio play. and, dont get me wrong, taylor is very good at making songs for the radio and getting those plays, but nothing is more annoying than when you’re listening to 1989 and you just know shake it off is coming and are preparing yourself to skip it. the only thing more annoying than that is having to skip i knew you were trouble, 22, and we are never ever getting back together when i’m listening to red. those songs don’t fit. those songs aren’t very good in comparison to the rest of the albums they’re on. i never want to hear those songs unless i’m in the car and the local radio station plays them. 

my point is: folklore doesnt have that. there isn’t a me! or a look what you made me do. folklore is completely and only folklore. there are no songs that take you out of the whimsical mystical intimate world she’s built. there’s no cheesy single she put on the album just to generate sales. it’s just the stories she wanted to tell. that’s it. 

and i think people will be talking about folklore for a long time. i know i will. I Will Never Shut Up About Folklore, because it’s a goddamn masterpiece, and i love it in its entirety. i genuinely do not know how taylor is going to follow it up. it is too good for anything to be better than. (which, for the record, i say this about every album she puts out, but i mean it this time)

my favorite songs on the album are mirrorball, august, seven, betty, and hoax. i also really love exile, my tears ricochet, and the lakes. i didnt really like epiphany at first but i like it a lot now. the last great american dynasty is just fine to me, like i don’t love it as much as everyone else seems to, i think its a great song but i dont listen to it often. my least favorite is peace, im not sure why but i just don’t like it very much, and its the only one i will sometimes skip. if you want some song recs from folklore (and if you for some reason dont want to listen to the entire album) i’d recommend listening to tracks 4-8, then betty, then hoax, then the lakes. but like just listen to The Whole Thing

i have an entire thread on twitter of me reacting to the album on my first listen that i honestly think is pretty funny if i do say so myself and most of those reactions stand true to this day. the way i shit myself when i heard the first lyric of the album is “i’m doing good im on some new shit” ........miss swift........ she really is something else........

[upontheshelfreviews]

As a lifelong Disney fan I can’t understate how much of an impact Mickey Mouse has had on me. In childhood, he was an icon and friend – instantly recognizable, a source of joy and entertainment, a hero and a role model. I know this is making me sound like one of those cheesy sponsors reading off a cue card, but when you’re talking about a mouse, expect plenty of cheese to be involved.

In the spirit of Mickey celebrating his 90th birthday, I’d like to share with you my 20 favorite shorts he starred in. Why 20? Because I couldn’t narrow it down to ten and I like to go nine steps beyond as opposed to one.

There were only two rules I set while making this list:

Mickey is the main focus, or at the very least he must be given as much to do as the other characters he shares the cartoon with. There’s a lot of great shorts out there that has Mickey’s name in the title – Mickey’s Parrot, Mickey’s Circus, Mickey’s Birthday, Mickey and the Seal, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, etc. – or has his face in the intro that advertises it as his adventure, but upon watching you find they’re really about Donald, Goofy or Pluto or literally anyone else but him.

Shorts only, no segments from full-length films or direct-to-video works. This means no Mickey and the Beanstalk from Fun and Fancy Free or various bits from Mickey’s Once/Twice Upon A Christmas, but sadly no Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia. I thought of excluding any short that ran over the usual length of five to seven minutes to about twenty, but that made my job even harder.

Now before we get to the countdown, here are a few Honorable Mentions:

Mickey, Donald and Goofy in The Three Musketeers – If I were including full-length films on the list, this would be in the top five, bar none.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia – It would easily take the number one spot if it didn’t overlap with the #2 rule.

Plane Crazy – The mouse’s first appearance on the silver screen, though he wouldn’t make as quite a splash until his sound debut in Steamboat Willie a few years later

Orphan’s Benefit – One of my favorites as a kid. It made me laugh something fierce and still does, though a large part of it has to do with Donald and Goofy’s segments, hence why it’s only an honorable mention. Also, did you know that the color one we’re mostly familiar with is actually a remake of an earlier black and white version?

Mickey’s Delayed Date – Pluto and Mickey tussle for attention in this outing.

Haunted House – Spooky and atmospheric. Classic Disney nightmare fuel.

The Gorilla Mystery – Mickey plays Minnie’s white knight yet again as he goes to-to-toe with a dangerous gorilla.

Two-Gun Mickey – An American Tail: Mickey Goes West.

Mickey’s Surprise Party – After Minnie’s dog spoils the cookies she was making for Mickey, he saves the day with some shockingly transparent corporate sponsorship. At least I take comfort in the fact that Mickey’s favorite cookies are the same as mine.

Hansel and Gretel – Mickey and Minnie stumble upon a treacherous witch to the ominous strains of Danse Macabre.

Mickey’s Cabin – Mickey outwits Pete and his dimwitted cousin with a little reverse psychology when they hold him hostage in his winter cabin. Hilarity ensues.

Croissant – Mickey’s first short in the modern style proved you can’t keep a mouse on a mission down.

Yodelberg – Continuing with the previous short, it’s modern Mickey at its most fast-paced and stylish fun.

Shanghaied – It’s up to Mickey to save the day and Minnie again, this time from Pete and his dastardly crew of pirates.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol – Mickey’s first cartoon in 30 years has him slightly out of the spotlight, but still got him back in the public eye for good.

20. Mickey’s Trailer

This gets the lowest spot because the first half mainly focuses on jokes surrounding Donald and Goofy in their cool little mechanical trailer. But when it reaches the second half? That’s when things really kick into high gear. Goofy obliviously unhitches the trailer as they’re traveling through a perilous mountain pass and it’s up to Mickey to keep his vacation from reaching an untimely end. It’s amazingly suspenseful, with plenty of close calls from oncoming vehicles, trains and cliff sides. They still manage to sneak in a few decent moments of slapstick, but not at the cost of any of the tension. My only wish is that we could have seen Mickey and Donald’s response to Goofy’s cheerful “Well, I brought ya down safe and sound, a-hyuck!” at the very end. No doubt it would have been hilariously karmic.

19. Mickey’s Mechanical House

Coming from the Mickey’s Mouse Works/House of Mouse era of cartoons, we get a whimsical story in Seuss-esque rhyme, narrated by John Cleese no less. Sick of the inconveniences of his old abode, Mickey moves into a sleek totally automated house. He quickly learns, however, that easy modern conveniences aren’t what make a good home. Unlike the other cartoons made in this time, the art style goes for a 50’s retro look that pays homage to the likes of UPA. I especially appreciate the cameo from the iconic Mars robot from the famous Disneyland episode Mars and Beyond. That’s how you know this short was made by real old-school Disney fans. The story is charming, the gags are clever, and it earns this spot on the countdown.

18. Giantland/Gulliver Mickey

Yes, I know I’m cheating here due to this being a tie, but I found these two shorts to be similar enough that I felt they were both worthy of the same place on the list. Each one begins with Mickey telling a story to his…younger counterparts? Nieces and nephews? Godchildren? They all refer to him as “Uncle Mickey” and they all look like him so maybe they’re really…no, best not to think of the implications.

Anyway, Mickey makes himself the hero of each tale, firstly in the role of Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (no doubt somewhat inspiring his future gigantic adventures in The Brave Little Tailor and Fun and Fancy Free), then of him being the giant washed up on the shores of Lilliput. There’s some good action all around, and plenty of creativity in showing the giant’s world, Mickey’s storytelling and how the Lilliputians attempt to subdue their captive.

17. Magician Mickey

Mickey’s putting on a magic show, but he’s constantly heckled by a disbelieving Donald. Little does the duck realize he’s messing with the Sorcerer’s Apprentice himself, and Mickey uses all his mystic powers to troll back at him. Even though it’s arguably Donald’s short as much as it is Mickey’s, he does provide the main source of the conflict, and Mickey does not hold back when providing some good old magical vengeance. He remains the perfect showman throughout, and the tricks he plays to get back at Donald are inventive and hilarious. I admit, I still crack up at the running gag where Donald attempts to go in one of his unintelligible tirades and spits out an entire deck of cards. Just goes to show you don’t mess with the mouse, especially when he’s in magician mode.

16. Steamboat Willie

Ah, the one that started it all. Well, technically it was Plane Crazy and The Galloping Gaucho, but Steamboat Willie was what really thrust Mickey into the limelight. It may be simplistic by today’s standards, but this short is nothing…short of iconic. It establishes everything you need to know about the character of Mickey Mouse – inventive, friendly, helpful, but not without a strong mischievous streak. Being one of the first cartoons to have fully synchronized sound certainly helps. It not only pushed the popularity of “talkies” but introduced the world to what would become one of the most recognizable characters of all time. How could I not include it on the list? I already wrote an entire article on its significance, so if you want to know more, feel free to go read it.

15. The Mad Doctor

When people talk about the darkest moments in Disney animation, there’s a reason why this short is often brought up. The Mad Doctor goes for straight-up horror, and pulls no punches. Mickey must work his way through a creepy castle to save his beloved dog Pluto before he becomes the next victim of the titular doctor’s dangerous experiments. There’s lots of shadows, spooky living skeletons, and booby traps galore that threaten Mickey along the way. It’s perfect fare for Halloween.

Without giving away the ending, it’s the kind I’d normally call a bit of a cop out, but I don’t see how they could have worked their way around it. This short was deemed so scary upon release that it was banned not only in the UK, but in Nazi Germany, which really says something. It didn’t frighten me that much when I was a kid, but there’s a pervading sense of dread that makes it unlike any other Mickey Mouse cartoon ever made. Its impact on the canon was strong enough that the Mad Doctor was made one of the main antagonists of the Epic Mickey video game. And getting to take him out after all these years is one of the most satisfying game moments you’ll ever experience.

14. Around the World in 80 Days

Now for something a bit lighter. Some of the best shorts made for Mickey’s Mouse Works and House of Mouse were the “Mouse Tales”, two-part adaptations of classic novels with Mickey and the gang filling in the roles. This is a simplified but still fun take on Jules Verne’s famous globetrotting adventure. Instead of a wager between high society gentlemen and a robbery caper mixup however, Mickey must circumnavigate the globe in order to claim an inheritance and save his orphanage. Goofy and a rescued native princess-turned-love interest Minnie (there’s no way around some of the more dated aspects of this story, is there?) help him along the way, but they also have to deal with a meddling Scrooge McDuck, who’d do anything to get his feathers on the fortune. They manage to squeeze in some great jokes, usually involving Mickey’s deadpan reactions to Goofy’s cluelessness. It’s a decent retelling that hits all the beats and will probably get kids interested in checking out the original story.

13. Ye Olden Days

Nothing like a good old-fashioned medieval romance to warm your heart. Humble minstrel Mickey attempts to rescue fair damsel Minnie when she refuses to marry foppish Prince Dippy Dawg – that’s Goofy’s early moniker to those not fluent in early Disney – and winds up engaging in a joust for her hand. Mickey and Minnie may not be the most fascinating couple in film history, but their earnest devotion to each other shows why their relationship has stood the test of time.

When I was rewatching this to see if it deserved a spot on this list, I was particularly impressed by how spirited Minnie was – she does not take her arranged marriage lying down, slapping the self-absorbed prince in the face while declaring “Never!” and fighting her captors every step of the way as she’s dragged to the tower as punishment. Plus, it’s her intervening on Mickey’s behalf that saves him from the guillotine and allows him to engage in trial by combat. Mickey, ever the underdog, uses his size and cleverness to his advantage, outdoing the prince in all his regalia with nothing but a spear, a suit of armor fashioned from a potbelly stove, and an intrepid donkey. I really don’t have anything to say other than this short’s simplicity and sweetness never fails to win me over.

12. The Pointer

An expertly animated adventure for Mickey and his loyal canine, even if the idea of the Mouse going hunting wouldn’t fly today. I just love Mickey and Pluto’s interactions; they remind me so much of me and my dog and the time we spent together (though let it go on record that I never have or most likely will engage in hunting for sport). This isn’t a case of the pet being smarter than the master like in future shorts, either. Those always aggravated me because of how they really dumbed down Mickey. Both are on equal footing here, and both get into equal amounts of trouble.

The moment where Mickey tries to talk his way out of an encounter with an angry bear is equal parts tense and humorous. It’s also one of the rare times I can recall Mickey attempting to use his own popularity to escape from a jam (“Well I’m, uh, Mickey Mouse! You know, Mickey Mouse? I hope you’ve heard of me…I hope.”) According to Andreas Deja, animator Frank Thomas incorporated a bit of Walt’s own actions while recording the lines for this scene, giving it a superb bit of what Thomas would call “the illusion of life”.

11. Lonesome Ghosts

Here we have another Mickey-Donald-Goofy venture with shenanigans surrounding the last two, but there’s enough of Mickey in there to make it count. Now tell me if this sounds familiar: a trio of oddballs, one smart if in way over his head, one irascible and sarcastic, and one delightfully naive, go into business capturing ghosts. And yes, at one point one of them says “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts”. It’s a shame Disney wasn’t able to capitalize on this fifty years later apart from syncing this short to the Ghostbusters theme in the DTV Halloween special. Lonesome Ghosts is a spooky jaunt where half the fun comes from the various ways the titular quartet of specters tease our hapless heroes. How the protagonists manage to send them packing kind of confuses me, but it still makes for a good chuckle. Steeped in atmosphere and loaded with laughs, Lonesome Ghosts is a ghoulish good time.

10. Mickey’s Good Deed

It’s Christmas Eve, and Mickey and Pluto are out in the cold with nothing but a bass fiddle that earns them barely enough to eat. A bratty rich half-pint sets his sights on Pluto and goes Veruca Salt on his father, leading to him offering Mickey a fair bit of dough in exchange for the dog. Mickey refuses, until he spies a poor widow and her many children even worse off than he is. This leads to him making a heartwrenching sacrifice to ensure they have a merry Christmas. It’s a short that runs the gamut of emotions. You feel for Mickey every second as he either loses everything he owns or willingly gives it up for a greater good, and there’s plenty of joy to be had when he gets his reward in the end (as well as when that terrible child is given his due punishment). I love watching this every Christmastime, and it exemplifies the giving spirit of the season.

9. Runaway Brain

You wanna know where that infamous image of a demonic Mickey came from? Well here ya go. Fast-paced, frightening and hilarious, Runaway Brain is a wild ride from start to finish. In some ways it feels more akin to a Looney Tunes short than a Disney one. The comic and story beats come right after another, yet leave room for sight gags and references a plenty. There’s even a brief shot that visibly homages The Exorcist. IN A DISNEY SHORT.

Borrowing from The Mad Doctor’s playbook, this time it’s Mickey who’s in a mad scientist’s sights after taking an offer for “a mindless day’s work” at face value, just so he could earn some vacation cash for Minnie. Said mad scientist, Dr. Frankenollie (love the nod there), voiced by Sideshow Bob himself Kelsey Grammar, switches Mickey’s brain with that of his King Kong/Frankenstein-esque creation Julius, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Pete. When the doctor is zapped into ashes by his own experiment – onscreen, mind you – Mickey, now trapped in Julius’ body, must find a way to get back to normal and stop Julius, stuck in Mickey’s form but no less monstrous, from pursuing Minnie. As I said before, the jokes come at you fast and hard. The climax in particular is especially rollicking, with some amazing lighting and coloring choices that pump up the action. As always, Mickey saves the day in the most entertaining – and in this case, bizarre – way possible.

8. The Band Concert

Mickey makes his technicolor debut in one of the first shorts that pits him against a troublesome Donald. All our stalwart conductor wants to do is perform a bit of William Tell for some music lovers in the park, but he’s consistently interrupted by Donald wanting to get in on the action with Turkey In The Straw and an improbable supply of easily breakable flutes. Still, you’ve got to admire both of them for their determination. I’d say nothing short of a cyclone could stop them, but that’s exactly what happens; the climax has them playing through the gale even as they’re hurled through the air! Considering the music they’re performing is appropriately stormy sounding, one has to wonder if they picked up their instruments from Hyrule. The Band Concert is a testament to Mickey’s unflappable perseverance and affinity for music.

7. The Little Whirlwind

Lured to Minnie’s by the promise of cake, Mickey agrees to give her yard a good cleanup in exchange for some dessert. Unfortunately, a playful sentient cyclone has other plans. I’ve never been bothered by Mickey’s voice, but this short shows how he works just as well silently. Much of the action is largely in mime with no dialogue. The slapstick is fun all around. I always did feel a bit bad that Mickey got the short end of the stick in this cartoon; after being tormented by the hellion hurricane, he’s pursued by a giant momma tornado who assumes her offspring was bullied for no reason, and when Minnie checks on his progress he’s blamed for the disaster area that was formerly her garden. I don’t know what the hell she was doing in the kitchen to not hear the two cyclones roaring through her yard but I hope it was worth it. At least Mickey ends up getting the cake – though not in a way he was certainly expecting.

6. Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip

Once more we witness Mickey’s loyalty to his equally devoted canine companion. A simple train trip to Pomona goes off the rails when Mickey must shield Pluto from dog-hating conductor Pete and both find themselves on the run from him. There’s disguises and mishaps galore, and it’s a constant back and forth to see who’s one step ahead of the other. Interesting fact: this short is also the source of the only known footage of Walt Disney recording his lines as Mickey.

5. Symphony Hour

A spiritual sequel to The Band Concert, Mickey once again plays conductor for a classical orchestra made up of his friends. Unfortunately someone thought it was a good idea to leave all the instruments in Goofy’s hands before their big debut, and they’re quickly destroyed. Now poor Mickey has to keep everything together as the concert falls to pieces and their sponsor Pete fumes from his viewing box.

This short… it’s hysterical. There’s no other word for it. Everything from the animation to the music – which sounds like a precursor to Spike Jones – cracks me up. Mickey is pushed to the limits of his endurance as his show crumbles around him. Not helping matters is the attitude of the performers. Sure, Goofy, Horace Horsecollar and the like soldier on admirably, but Donald threatens to up and leave several times. Yet Mickey isn’t afraid to stoop to any level to ensure the show, no matter how terrible, will indeed go on. And the worse it gets for them, the better it gets for us.

4. Thru the Mirror

After falling asleep while reading Alice Through the Looking Glass, Mickey dreams of entering his bedroom mirror and exploring the bizzarro version of his world on the other side. Living furniture, card battles and jazzy dance sequences ensue. Out of all the Mickey shorts on this list, this is probably the best animated. The scenes stick out in your mind long after the cartoon has ended. The size-changing walnuts, the catchy tap dance starting with a game of jump rope with a telephone cord that evolves into a Busby Berkeley homage with playing cards, and the escape from said cards while traversing the dangers of a literal living room? It’s golden age Disney at its finest. There’s not much in the way of story, but that’s not the point of this short. It’s just great animation fueled by years of practice and boundless imagination.

3. Get a Horse!

I remember hearing way back when this short was announced that it was supposedly one from Walt’s heyday which was lost to the ages and recently unearthed. Little could we have realized that it was merely a smokescreen – instead of an old cartoon, we were getting the first new theatrical Mickey Mouse short since Runaway Brain, one that paid tribute to the classic Mickey cartoons of old.

Since I watched Frozen more than once during its theatrical run, I had the privilege of experiencing Get A Horse as it should be: in a big dark movie theater with eye-popping 3D. It gives the perfect illusion that this crazy cartoon with characters jumping in and out and running around the theater really is happening right in front of you. Mickey and friends play around with the screen and the dimensions contained within and with-out in a way not seen since Chuck Jones’ masterpiece Duck Amuck. And having seen many, MANY classic Disney shorts before (if this list hadn’t already indicated), I could even tell where many of the sound bites used for the characters’ dialogue were lifted from. I simply don’t get it when people dismiss this short for “mocking” old school Disney when in reality it does anything but. I think this short is the epitome of what Disney is doing now with their animation, blending the best of the old with the technology and promise of the new. Also, Oswald cameo for the win!

2. The Prince and the Pauper

Talk about nostalgia. I watched this short with the same frequency as my favorite Disney movies on VHS. In fact, due to having no sense of time when I was younger, I thought this twenty minute short was about the same length as those films; it certainly flies by at the same speed. Mark Twain’s tale of royal identity switching has seen its fair share of adaptations, but this one will always be my favorite. We’ve got riveting action and phenomenal voice acting (Wayne Allwine, you were the best Mickey outside of Walt and Brett Iwan can’t hold a candle to you).

It’s also one of the most dramatic shorts in the Disney canon. Pete is at his most menacing outside of Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Scenes like where Mickey attends to the king in his final moments and the prince learns of his father’s passing carry so much weight to them. They’re framed cinematically and let you take in the gravitas. Still, that’s not to say there isn’t any comedy to be found. The Prince and the Pauper has plenty of moments that still make me laugh twenty-eight years later. It’s a short that has everything. Easily one of Mickey’s finest moments.

1. The Brave Little Tailor

If I were to point to one short that summed up everything I love about Mickey Mouse, all you need to know about him, and why he’s so great, The Brave Little Tailor would be it.

Due to a simple misunderstanding, Mickey is thrust into the role of reluctant hero, one who must face down a killer giant no less. But if most of what the previously mentioned shorts have shown, Mickey’s nothing more or less than the perfect underdog. And when he gets into action, he’s like a cartoon blend of Chaplin, Keaton and Fairbanks – not a coincidence as the former two were big influences on early Mickey. Scared though he is, he rarely panics. Instead he relies on his greatest strengths to save the day – his quick thinking, nimbleness from his diminutive stature, and his loyal, caring heart. There’s a reason why I chose this particular thumbnail for this entry. No matter how many times I see this enamored incarnation of Minnie shower her champion with kisses, making him stumble around dizzily and cheerfully cry “Whoopee! I’ll cut ‘im down to my size!” I always, always go “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwww”. It’s just too adorable for words. When you’ve got someone who loves you like Minnie does, you feel like you can take on the world.

I could go on about how the scene where he’s telling the story of how he killed seven with one blow (that’s flies, by the way, not giants) has been studied by animation students and enthusiasts to the point where Junction Point Studios aspired to recreate that level of expression and fluidity when creating Epic Mickey, or how Mickey defeats the giant has been homaged in other shorts as well as the airport fight from Captain America:Civil War, or just that wonderful storybook golden age Disney feel it has from start to finish, but I won’t. By all means, seek out the short and see it all for yourself.

No matter how many times the corporate side of Disney has airbrushed Mickey’s foibles to present him as the bland, perfect company mascot, Mickey’s bravery, kindness, and penchant for attracting trouble has never been fully scrubbed away. Different voice actors, animators, story writers and financial visionaries have come and gone throughout the years, and each has presented their own unique take on the character, but there’s no mistaking the world’s most famous mouse, the one who started it all.

Happy Birthday, Mickey. Here’s to 90 more.

Thanks for reading! What are your favorite Mickey Mouse shorts? Share them in the comments and be sure to follow and check out my Patreon if you want to read more!

My Top 20 Favorite Mickey Mouse Shorts As a lifelong Disney fan I can't understate how much of an impact Mickey Mouse has had on me.

[readingsanctuary]

I started the month in a really bad reading slump, so my main goal for the month was to get over that. Thankfully I successfully revived my love and enthusiasm for reading, and managed to have a really successful reading month. I’ve never read so many books in a month before in my entire life, and I’m feeling really good about it. I picked up what I felt like, and that meant I read a lot of graphic novels.

The House with Chicken Legs – by Sophie Anderson

All 12-year-old Marinka wants is a friend. A real friend. Not like her house with chicken legs. Sure, the house can play games like tag and hide-and-seek, but Marinka longs for a human companion. Someone she can talk to and share secrets with. 

But that’s tough when your grandmother is a Yaga, a guardian who guides the dead into the afterlife. It’s even harder when you live in a house that wanders all over the world . . . carrying you with it. Even worse, Marinka is being trained to be a Yaga. That means no school, no parties–and no playmates that stick around for more than a day. 

So when Marinka stumbles across the chance to make a real friend, she breaks all the rules . . . with devastating consequences. Her beloved grandmother mysteriously disappears, and it’s up to Marinka to find her–even if it means making a dangerous journey to the afterlife. 

With a mix of whimsy, humor, and adventure, this debut novel will wrap itself around your heart and never let go.

This was such a quick, enjoyable read, and an interesting twist on the Baba Yaga story. It’s such a whimsical story, I loved all the interesting details that were woven throughout the book. I was quickly absorbed by Marinka’s life, and invested in her story. There are some really interesting themes explored throughout, and Marinka’s reactions always felt really genuine. I loved watching her character develop and grow throughout the story as she came to terms with her situation, and explored her identity. I can see why this book was released to so much praise, I’m just so glad I picked it up.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Their Fractured Light – by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now-infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness LaRoux Industries’ corruption. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were the only survivors of the Icarus shipwreck, forced to live a double life after their rescue.

Now, at the center of the galaxy on Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players in the fight against LRI. Gideon Marchant is an underworld hacker known as the Knave of Hearts, ready to climb and abseil his way past the best security measures on the planet to expose LRI’s atrocities. Sofia Quinn, charming con artist, can work her way into any stronghold without missing a beat. When a foiled attempt to infiltrate LRI Headquarters forces them into a fragile alliance, it’s impossible to know who’s playing whom–and whether they can ever learn to trust each other. With their lives, loves, and loyalties at stake, only by joining forces with the Icarus survivors and Avon’s protectors do they stand a chance of taking down the most powerful corporation in the galaxy—before LRI’s secrets destroy them all. The New York Times best-selling Starbound trilogy comes to a close with this dazzling final installment about the power of courage and hope in humanity’s darkest hour.

This book took me so long to read, it just seemed to go on forever. I know that this is mostly because of my reading slump which hit right as I was reading this book, but I also feel like a lot of this book was about moving the characters towards a meeting point where they could then go on and finish the story. It almost feels like it could have been two books in that sense. One following Sophia and Gideon, and then a final book following all the characters once they meet.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Before She Ignites – by Jodi Meadows

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

Why aren’t more people talking about this book? It’s just so good, I loved every minute of it. I’m actually kind of mad that I don’t have the second book ready to start right away, but I will be pre-ordering that very soon. There is so much that I like about this book, firstly, this book has actual dragons in it!

Rating: 5 Stars

Bruja Born – by Zoraida Cordova

Three sisters. One spell. Countless dead.

Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider. Her sister’s newfound Encantrix powers have wounded her in ways that Lula’s bruja healing powers can’t fix, and she longs for the comfort her family once brought her. Thank the Deos for Maks, her sweet, steady boyfriend who sees the beauty within her and brings light to her life.

Then a bus crash turns Lula’s world upside down. Her classmates are all dead, including Maks. But Lula was born to heal, to fix. She can bring Maks back, even if it means seeking help from her sisters and defying Death herself. But magic that defies the laws of the deos is dangerous. Unpredictable. And when the dust settles, Maks isn’t the only one who’s been brought back…

This was everything I hoped it would be. I really enjoyed seeing more of the world in this book. I really love the magic system and the world building. I was worried about whether I would enjoy Lula’s perspective as much as I did Alex’s, but I needn’t have worried. This book was fantastic, and I already can’t wait for the next one.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – by

A brand new edition of this essential companion to the Harry Potter stories, with a new foreword from J.K. Rowling (writing as Newt Scamander), and 6 new beasts!

A set textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since publication, Newt Scamander’s masterpiece has entertained wizarding families through the generations. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world. Scamander’s years of travel and research have created a tome of unparalleled importance. Some of the beasts will be familiar to readers of the Harry Potter books – the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail…Others will surprise even the most ardent amateur Magizoologist. Dip in to discover the curious habits of magical beasts across five continents…

I borrowed the audiobook from my local library, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure if this book could work well as an audiobook, but it really does. It’s narrated excellently by Eddie Redmayne, who is in character as Newt Scamander for the entire book. The whole thing is just really well done.

Rating: 4 Stars

Giant Days: volume 4

It’s springtime at Sheffield University — the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and fast-pals Susan, Esther and Daisy continue to survive their freshman year of college. Susan is barely dealing with her recent breakup with McGraw, Esther is considering dropping out of school, and Daisy is trying to keep everyone and everything from falling apart! Combined with house-hunting, indie film festivals, and online dating, can the girls make it to second year?

The Eisner Award-nominated series from John Allison (Bad Machinery, Scary Go Round) with artist Max Sarin delivers another delightful slice-of-life adventure in Giant Days Volume 4. Collects issues 13-16.

This was a birthday gift from my auntie, and I was so excited that I read it that same day. I loved it just as much as the previous volumes. It’s highly entertaining, and I definitely consider this to be one of my favourite graphic novel series.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Giant Days – by Non Pratt

Based on the hit graphic-novel series from BOOM! Studios, the publisher behind Lumberjanes, Giant Days follows the hilarious and heartfelt misadventures of three university first-years: Daisy, the innocent home-schooled girl; Susan, the sardonic wit; and Esther, the vivacious drama queen. While the girls seem very different, they become fast friends during their first week of university. And it’s a good thing they do, because in the giant adventure that is college, a friend who has your back is key–something Daisy discovers when she gets a little too involved in her extracurricular club, the Yogic Brethren of Zoise. When she starts acting strange and life around campus gets even stranger (missing students, secret handshakes, monogrammed robes everywhere . . .), Esther and Susan decide it’s up to them to investigate the weirdness and save their friend.

I really enjoyed this book, and was so happy when it lived up to the awesomeness of the comics. Non Pratt has done a fantastic job of writing something that can stand alone from the comics, while matching the tone of the comics, and making subtle nods to the source material.

My Review

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Giant Days: volume 5

Going off to university is always a time of change and growth, but for Esther, Susan, and Daisy, things are about to get a little weird.

Their freshman year is finally coming to a close and Daisy, Susan, and Esther say goodbye to Catterick Hall forever. Literally forever. It’s being bulldozed and re-purposed as a luxury dorm next semester. But as one door closes, another opens and between end of semester hookups, music festivals, and moving into their first home together, the life experiences are just getting started.

Written by Eisner Award nominee John Allison (Bad Machinery, Scary Go Round) and illustrated by Max Sarin, Giant Days Volume 5 finishes off freshman year in style, collecting issues #17-20 of the Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated series.

I’ve already said how much I love this series, and this volume changes nothing. It’s great. I love that they are showing the passage of time, and allowing the characters to move forward and progress through life. I’m really looking forward to finding out what the girls will get up to in their second year of university.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Ms Marvel: volume 9 – by G. Willow Wilson, Nico Leon

Kamala Khan has vanished! But where has she gone, and why? Jersey City still has a need for heroes, and in the wake of Ms. Marvel’s disappearance, dozens have begun stepping up to the plate. The city’s newest super hero Red Dagger and even ordinary citizens attempt to carry on the brave fight in Kamala’s honor. Somehow, Ms. Marvel is nowhere…but also everywhere at once! Absent but not forgotten, Ms. Marvel has forged a heroic legacy to be proud of. But when an old enemy re-emerges, will anyone be powerful enough to truly carry the Ms. Marvel legacy – except Kamala herself?

COLLECTING: MS. MARVEL 25-30

This is another of my favourite ongoing graphic novel series’, and one of the only Marvel titles that I’m interested in keeping up with. I really enjoyed this volume. I liked that they focused on Kamala’s friends, and how they cope without her while also covering for the missing Ms Marvel. It was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Rating: 4 Stars

Ancient Magus Bride volumes 2,3,4,5

Great power comes at a price…

Chise Hatori’s life has recently undergone shocking change. As a sleigh beggy–a person capable of generating and wielding tremendous magical power–she has transformed from an unwanted child to a magician’s apprentice who has been introduced to fae royalty. But Chise’s newly discovered abilities also mean a cruel fate awaits her.

I’m really enjoying this manga series, the anime is a pretty faithful adaptation so far, so no surprises, but I love the art, and I’m really enjoying reading the source material. I especially loved all the tiny details and explanations that weren’t in the anime, that really add to the story. I loved the anime, but I feel like I’m getting to know the characters and the world a bit better in this format, and I really like that. I love the magic, and the large, interesting world that’s being set out in these books. Also, I really like the bonus content in the collected volumes, it makes me so happy.

Ratings: 4 – 4.5 Stars

Sorry this post is a month late, I don’t know why I didn’t post it sooner, it’s been ready for a while. I’ve been such a mess this past month, I need to be more organised.

Want to chat, about books or anything else, here are some other places you can find me:

Twitter @reading_escape

Instagram: @readingsanctuary

Goodreads

Tumblr

August Reading Wrap Up I started the month in a really bad reading slump, so my main goal for the month was to get over that.

[ecoorganic]

John Cena Assesses How WWE Is Handling Shows Without Fans

Performing in empty arenas is a massive challenge for WWE wrestlers but John Cena shouted out Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins for how they’ve risen to the occasion.

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

John Cena on how WWE stars can stand out during the empty-arena era

John Cena has been away from WWE programming since April’s WrestleMania 36, but he has paid close attention to the weekly product that originates out of the Performance Center in Florida.

Cena, no different than any other viewer at home, is still adjusting to WWE shows without a crowd.

“I’ve always said that the most important superstar is the audience,” said Cena. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a better indication of that than right now. The program is different.”

The most successful talent of his era, Cena’s work has defined the WWE product over the past decade-and-a-half. His promos and fan interactions, which, positive or negative, always elicited a fierce reaction, were integral to his ability to connect with the crowd.

Though his look has largely remained the same over the course of his career, Cena has constantly embraced change, finding a way to create uniquely compelling content. As he watches WWE’s empty-arena shows at the PC, he continues to search for the best way to capitalize a new version of a well-established product.

“I firmly believe that not only will it survive, it will thrive, but it has to, as an entirety, embrace this process,” said Cena. “I believe they’re beginning to do that. The longer they go without an audience, they need to transform as an entirety what sports entertainment is. I think they’re in this weird sort of middle ground, where they don’t know when crowds will be let back in. If you truly commit to a paradigm shift, that may scare away the normalcy the viewers are used to seeing. So you kind of have to operate like there is an audience, but there isn’t an audience.

“It’s a very weird time. I don’t think they’ve committed to transition yet, and that’s absolutely justifiable because, eventually, people will be let back into turnstiles. It’s very complicated. There isn’t a clear-cut answer to be like, ‘Just do this and it will be better.’”

Cena was also excited to share that his animated Dallas and Robo show has begun its first run on cable, airing Saturday nights on the SYFY channel. Cena plays the role of an artificially intelligent robot named Robo, and he enjoys wonderful chemistry with co-star Kat Dennings, who handles the role of Dallas with charm and humor.

“I love the casting, I love the project, I thought this had everything necessary to be something special,” said Cena, who saw the show premiere on YouTube Red in May 2018 but then remain stagnant until SYFY’s acquisition of it last month. “It didn’t immediately pan out the way I wanted, and now we have a second life on SYFY.”

Cena relishes the chance to embrace his acting opportunities, and he poured in a tremendous amount of consideration on how Robo could best connect with viewers. The lens he uses in acting is the same he uses to build his stories in WWE. He never thinks of characters as babyfaces and heels, but rather searches for the timeless struggle between good and evil.

“I don’t want to get locked into the dimensions of strictly wrestling,” explained Cena. “I don’t even view sports entertainment as wrestling, I view it as sport and entertainment. I think that’s one of the small, subconscious vehicles that allows me to look at things in a bigger scope and challenge myself to grow and take risks. I don’t use industry terminology, I don’t look at it like that. I really think the narrative of good versus evil is an important one, and certainly one that everyone can relate to with a lot of gravitas. That’s the nucleus of sports entertainment.

“You also can take it to any microcosm of any story, and it’s something I used to help me with Fast, it’s something I used to help me with Trainwreck, it’s something I used to help me with Suicide Squad, it’s something I used to help me with Dallas and Robo. Although the journey of Dallas and Robo through space in the eyes of freight trackers isn’t necessarily the struggle of good versus evil, as you watch, you begin to form opinions on which people are good and whose intentions are bad. That subconscious choice we’re always making between good and evil, it adds to the entertainment of storytelling.”

Cena briefly embraced his the dark side at WrestleMania 36 in his cinematic “

Firefly Fun House” match, donning an NWO shirt and too-sweeting Bray Wyatt in an unorthodox match that explored all of Cena’s worst fears and failures, like his bodybuilding past, rap career, retirement and even turning heel. It was a bold performance, as Cena put a tremendous amount of effort into making the first-of-its-kind WrestleMania match memorable.

“I’ve had many experiences and many stories in WWE over my tenure there, and a lot of it has been embracing conflict and embracing the tale of good versus evil,” said Cena. “This isn’t the first time I’ve done something like this. For the viewing audience, it was the first time they’d seen a cinematic depiction of this, but this isn’t the first time that we’ve seen a conflicted John Cena character. As with all the opportunities I get in WWE, I never try to be complacent and I always like to push the envelope. This was an instance where we could do just that, and I think we put forth a product that certainly got people’s attention and got people talking.”

The finish saw The Fiend atop Cena, with his mandible claw neutralizing the 16-time WWE Champion. The dream/nightmare sequence then came to a sudden end when Wyatt counted the pin fall, which led to Cena vanishing from the ring, disappearing from WWE programming, and perhaps remaining stuck in the upside-down world of the Funhouse.

“It left a lot of questions,” said Cena. “It wasn’t just single-serving, it is something you can go back and watch and enjoy. Those are some of the best efforts.”

Cena does not hide his respect or admiration for Wyatt, who he believes has stood out due to his endless creativity and imagination during the empty arena shows on SmackDown.

“Bray is obviously doing a great job,” said Cena. “And Seth Rollins has done an unbelievable job of adapting to a crowdless environment.”

When asked if he could offer advice for the talent working at the PC and how they should seize hold of this peculiar stretch to make themselves better, Cena emphasized the importance of focusing on the nuance of each individual story.

“The key is knowing your audience,” said Cena. “I worked a lot with the live audience, many times against the wishes of what a lot of people told me. I believe if the live audience is having a good time at a live event, then you as a viewer at home are having a good time. There were numerous times when, against many people’s wishes, I would involve a live audience and make sure they knew, 1.) I was listening, even if it wasn’t flattering to me, 2.) I understood, and 3.) I tried to incorporate. Now with an element that does not have a live audience, as a performer, you have to focus on what’s in front of you.

“It’s almost like movie-making. The biggest difficulty for me is not playing to the people in section 312. There are no people anymore. If there is ever a time to commit to story, this is it. A lot of times when there’s an audience, you really can lean on your ability to produce action. You cannot do that now. The viewer at home no longer gets caught up in the energy of the live crowd.

“It’s literally asking someone to unlearn what they’ve learned, and that’s a bold risk. And a lot of people are not comfortable taking those risks. But I think the more people embrace story, even when there is none—and that doesn’t mean, ‘Well, the creative team didn’t provide a story, that means there is no story.’ No, I’m living proof that is not the case. You just have to use your imagination. In this realm, imagination is king. Action will not drive the product forward. It has to be imaginative, and it has to be well-presented.”

There are no current plans for Cena to return to WWE, but that inevitability will inevitably occur no later than next spring’s WrestleMania. Until then, Cena hopes wrestling fans will join him every Saturday night on SYFY for a much different presentation of a character they know so well.

“In the current state of things, with an isolationist environment where we’re all longing for connection and we’re all longing for emotion, damn it’s good to laugh late on a Saturday night,” said Cena. “So get yourself comfortable, throw on some animation on SYFY, and just laugh.

“Be unbridled, let your guard down, and maybe whatever stress you’ve had for the week or whatever baggage you’re carrying with you, SYFY is giving you a chance to lighten the backpack. They do it through the whimsical imagination of animation. That’s why I’m really happy that Dallas and Robo has found a home, and I hope everybody enjoys it.”

Eric Bischoff returns to TNT on ‘AEW Dynamite’

Eric Bischoff made his AEW debut last Wednesday on Dynamite, moderating the debate between Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy.

Bischoff’s appearance marked his first return to TNT in two decades. The former president of World Championship Wrestling set the industry aflame in the mid-1990s with Nitro, creating a compelling product built around the New World Order, Sting, Goldberg, and Ric Flair, as well as emerging stars like Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and even a young Jericho.

“That moment really meant a lot to me,” said Bischoff. “There was the rush of getting back out in front of a camera and performing again. That’s something I really miss, and this was fun. Performing on camera is very different than performing in front of a crowd, so I focused on subtle reaction and nuance instead of being an over-the-top character. I played the straight man in that role [moderating the debate], and it was a blast.

“The other highlight for me, honestly, was being backstage in an entrepreneurial, creative environment, without the pressure and the burden, frankly, of having something so overly produced and overly scripted that you can’t explore. Even though I was there for an eight-minute segment, it was that ability to have a little bit of flexibility with my role that made it a lot of fun. Cody was the first guy to reach out to me, and I thanked him and said, ‘Thanks for the opportunity to play again.’”

Nitro famously defeated WWE’s Monday Night Raw in the television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks, which is why Bischoff’s podcast with Conrad Thompson is aptly named 83 Weeks. AEW lead broadcaster Jim Ross mentioned the podcast during Dynamite, and Bischoff noted that Thompson has certainly had an impact on his career.

“Had it not been for Conrad convincing me that a podcast could work, and had it not been for Conrad putting in the work and the time to make the podcast successful, I wouldn’t have been on Dynamite,” said Bischoff. “I wouldn’t have been there, and I recognize that. People should know, Conrad Thompson is a silent powerbroker in his own way. I’m grateful I’m on the Conrad Thompson team.”

For now, Bischoff confirmed that the appearance was a one-off. But in wrestling, it is wise to never say never, and Bischoff left the door ajar for a potential return.

“I had fun, people reacted well to it, and it helped the show, so as a performer, that’s all I could hope for,” said Bischoff. “If the phone rings and it’s an opportunity that makes sense for everybody, then of course I’d be grateful for that opportunity. But I’m not holding my breath, either.

“I’m 65 years old, and there’s not a lot of room for someone like me. I can take a bump or two, but I can’t get in the ring and have a match, so as a result of that, there is limited opportunity for someone like me. So if it happens, great, but if it doesn’t, then I’m thrilled that the last time I did it was a blast.”

The (online) week in wrestling

Randy Orton delivered an outstanding match with Kevin Owens on Raw, then followed that up with some of his most explosive work ever on the mic when spitting his venom at Ric Flair. Orton is leaving no doubt that the WWE title belongs around his waist. 

Seth Rollins has done a tremendous job making Dominik Mysterio’s SummerSlam wrestling debut so meaningful. This, of course, won’t be Dominik’s first SummerSlam, which took place in 2005 as Rey Mysterio wrestled Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match for custody of Dominik. 

The Bayley-Asuka match from Monday’s Raw was also outstanding. It’s matches like this that make Monday nights worth watching. 

Matt Hardy is fortunate to be in good health following last week’s chair shot from Sammy Guevara, and Guevara should be extremely grateful he is working with a consummate pro in Hardy. That chair shot was dangerous, reckless, and could have caused permanent damage. There is no questioning Guevara’s level of talent, but wrestling is a profession built off trust amongst the wrestlers. Trusting Guevara will be an issue following this chair shot. 

Adam Cole and former NFL player Pat McAfee are headed toward a showdown at NXT TakeOver XXX, but I would have much preferred we saw Cole against an Undisputed Era partner, like Kyle O’Reilly or Roderick Strong, at such a seminal TakeOver. When The Undisputed Era eventually makes its move to Raw or SmackDown, that match, which would have been extraordinary, could have been used to highlight the brilliance of the group. 

WarnerMedia is in the midst of significant personnel change, including the dismissal of Kevin Reilly, who was TNT President and a massive supporter of AEW. 

Chris Jericho and Jim Cornette had an entertaining exchange on social media, with Jericho tired of Cornette’s weekly critique of the AEW product and Cornette responding by making note of Jericho’s decision to hold Fozzy concerts this past weekend.

No match excites me more this week than Scorpio Sky challenging Cody Rhodes for the TNT Championship. Rhodes’ open challenge is a great forum during the pandemic, but it would be great to see a different outcome to one of his matches. Sky is incredibly talented and a run with the belt would only enhance his standing in the industry, and he could show the wrestling world what people who have been watching him over the past four years already know–he is a talent on the cusp of major stardom. 

There is nothing funny about Marty Jannetty’s apparent confession to murder, yet somehow this Kayfabe News story was able to add humor to, if true, a very ugly piece of news. 

Daniel Bryan and The Rock? Say no more.

The 40th anniversary of this Hulk Hogan-Andre The Giant match was on Sunday, which highlights the brilliance of Vince McMahon’s manner of promoting their WrestleMania III showdown. They’d already wrestled, Andre had been slammed too many times for his own good, and McMahon orchestrated one of wrestling’s most timeless stories. 

Tweet of the Week

Bret Hart shared a wonderful tribute for James Harris, who beautifully captured the essence of pro wrestling by making fans (myself included) believe in the frightening aura of Kamala.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2PP2cee

[ecoorganic]

John Cena Assesses How WWE Is Handling Shows Without Fans

Performing in empty arenas is a massive challenge for WWE wrestlers but John Cena shouted out Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins for how they’ve risen to the occasion.

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

John Cena on how WWE stars can stand out during the empty-arena era

John Cena has been away from WWE programming since April’s WrestleMania 36, but he has paid close attention to the weekly product that originates out of the Performance Center in Florida.

Cena, no different than any other viewer at home, is still adjusting to WWE shows without a crowd.

“I’ve always said that the most important superstar is the audience,” said Cena. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a better indication of that than right now. The program is different.”

The most successful talent of his era, Cena’s work has defined the WWE product over the past decade-and-a-half. His promos and fan interactions, which, positive or negative, always elicited a fierce reaction, were integral to his ability to connect with the crowd.

Though his look has largely remained the same over the course of his career, Cena has constantly embraced change, finding a way to create uniquely compelling content. As he watches WWE’s empty-arena shows at the PC, he continues to search for the best way to capitalize a new version of a well-established product.

“I firmly believe that not only will it survive, it will thrive, but it has to, as an entirety, embrace this process,” said Cena. “I believe they’re beginning to do that. The longer they go without an audience, they need to transform as an entirety what sports entertainment is. I think they’re in this weird sort of middle ground, where they don’t know when crowds will be let back in. If you truly commit to a paradigm shift, that may scare away the normalcy the viewers are used to seeing. So you kind of have to operate like there is an audience, but there isn’t an audience.

“It’s a very weird time. I don’t think they’ve committed to transition yet, and that’s absolutely justifiable because, eventually, people will be let back into turnstiles. It’s very complicated. There isn’t a clear-cut answer to be like, ‘Just do this and it will be better.’”

Cena was also excited to share that his animated Dallas and Robo show has begun its first run on cable, airing Saturday nights on the SYFY channel. Cena plays the role of an artificially intelligent robot named Robo, and he enjoys wonderful chemistry with co-star Kat Dennings, who handles the role of Dallas with charm and humor.

“I love the casting, I love the project, I thought this had everything necessary to be something special,” said Cena, who saw the show premiere on YouTube Red in May 2018 but then remain stagnant until SYFY’s acquisition of it last month. “It didn’t immediately pan out the way I wanted, and now we have a second life on SYFY.”

Cena relishes the chance to embrace his acting opportunities, and he poured in a tremendous amount of consideration on how Robo could best connect with viewers. The lens he uses in acting is the same he uses to build his stories in WWE. He never thinks of characters as babyfaces and heels, but rather searches for the timeless struggle between good and evil.

“I don’t want to get locked into the dimensions of strictly wrestling,” explained Cena. “I don’t even view sports entertainment as wrestling, I view it as sport and entertainment. I think that’s one of the small, subconscious vehicles that allows me to look at things in a bigger scope and challenge myself to grow and take risks. I don’t use industry terminology, I don’t look at it like that. I really think the narrative of good versus evil is an important one, and certainly one that everyone can relate to with a lot of gravitas. That’s the nucleus of sports entertainment.

“You also can take it to any microcosm of any story, and it’s something I used to help me with Fast, it’s something I used to help me with Trainwreck, it’s something I used to help me with Suicide Squad, it’s something I used to help me with Dallas and Robo. Although the journey of Dallas and Robo through space in the eyes of freight trackers isn’t necessarily the struggle of good versus evil, as you watch, you begin to form opinions on which people are good and whose intentions are bad. That subconscious choice we’re always making between good and evil, it adds to the entertainment of storytelling.”

Cena briefly embraced his the dark side at WrestleMania 36 in his cinematic “

Firefly Fun House” match, donning an NWO shirt and too-sweeting Bray Wyatt in an unorthodox match that explored all of Cena’s worst fears and failures, like his bodybuilding past, rap career, retirement and even turning heel. It was a bold performance, as Cena put a tremendous amount of effort into making the first-of-its-kind WrestleMania match memorable.

“I’ve had many experiences and many stories in WWE over my tenure there, and a lot of it has been embracing conflict and embracing the tale of good versus evil,” said Cena. “This isn’t the first time I’ve done something like this. For the viewing audience, it was the first time they’d seen a cinematic depiction of this, but this isn’t the first time that we’ve seen a conflicted John Cena character. As with all the opportunities I get in WWE, I never try to be complacent and I always like to push the envelope. This was an instance where we could do just that, and I think we put forth a product that certainly got people’s attention and got people talking.”

The finish saw The Fiend atop Cena, with his mandible claw neutralizing the 16-time WWE Champion. The dream/nightmare sequence then came to a sudden end when Wyatt counted the pin fall, which led to Cena vanishing from the ring, disappearing from WWE programming, and perhaps remaining stuck in the upside-down world of the Funhouse.

“It left a lot of questions,” said Cena. “It wasn’t just single-serving, it is something you can go back and watch and enjoy. Those are some of the best efforts.”

Cena does not hide his respect or admiration for Wyatt, who he believes has stood out due to his endless creativity and imagination during the empty arena shows on SmackDown.

“Bray is obviously doing a great job,” said Cena. “And Seth Rollins has done an unbelievable job of adapting to a crowdless environment.”

When asked if he could offer advice for the talent working at the PC and how they should seize hold of this peculiar stretch to make themselves better, Cena emphasized the importance of focusing on the nuance of each individual story.

“The key is knowing your audience,” said Cena. “I worked a lot with the live audience, many times against the wishes of what a lot of people told me. I believe if the live audience is having a good time at a live event, then you as a viewer at home are having a good time. There were numerous times when, against many people’s wishes, I would involve a live audience and make sure they knew, 1.) I was listening, even if it wasn’t flattering to me, 2.) I understood, and 3.) I tried to incorporate. Now with an element that does not have a live audience, as a performer, you have to focus on what’s in front of you.

“It’s almost like movie-making. The biggest difficulty for me is not playing to the people in section 312. There are no people anymore. If there is ever a time to commit to story, this is it. A lot of times when there’s an audience, you really can lean on your ability to produce action. You cannot do that now. The viewer at home no longer gets caught up in the energy of the live crowd.

“It’s literally asking someone to unlearn what they’ve learned, and that’s a bold risk. And a lot of people are not comfortable taking those risks. But I think the more people embrace story, even when there is none—and that doesn’t mean, ‘Well, the creative team didn’t provide a story, that means there is no story.’ No, I’m living proof that is not the case. You just have to use your imagination. In this realm, imagination is king. Action will not drive the product forward. It has to be imaginative, and it has to be well-presented.”

There are no current plans for Cena to return to WWE, but that inevitability will inevitably occur no later than next spring’s WrestleMania. Until then, Cena hopes wrestling fans will join him every Saturday night on SYFY for a much different presentation of a character they know so well.

“In the current state of things, with an isolationist environment where we’re all longing for connection and we’re all longing for emotion, damn it’s good to laugh late on a Saturday night,” said Cena. “So get yourself comfortable, throw on some animation on SYFY, and just laugh.

“Be unbridled, let your guard down, and maybe whatever stress you’ve had for the week or whatever baggage you’re carrying with you, SYFY is giving you a chance to lighten the backpack. They do it through the whimsical imagination of animation. That’s why I’m really happy that Dallas and Robo has found a home, and I hope everybody enjoys it.”

Eric Bischoff returns to TNT on ‘AEW Dynamite’

Eric Bischoff made his AEW debut last Wednesday on Dynamite, moderating the debate between Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy.

Bischoff’s appearance marked his first return to TNT in two decades. The former president of World Championship Wrestling set the industry aflame in the mid-1990s with Nitro, creating a compelling product built around the New World Order, Sting, Goldberg, and Ric Flair, as well as emerging stars like Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, and even a young Jericho.

“That moment really meant a lot to me,” said Bischoff. “There was the rush of getting back out in front of a camera and performing again. That’s something I really miss, and this was fun. Performing on camera is very different than performing in front of a crowd, so I focused on subtle reaction and nuance instead of being an over-the-top character. I played the straight man in that role [moderating the debate], and it was a blast.

“The other highlight for me, honestly, was being backstage in an entrepreneurial, creative environment, without the pressure and the burden, frankly, of having something so overly produced and overly scripted that you can’t explore. Even though I was there for an eight-minute segment, it was that ability to have a little bit of flexibility with my role that made it a lot of fun. Cody was the first guy to reach out to me, and I thanked him and said, ‘Thanks for the opportunity to play again.’”

Nitro famously defeated WWE’s Monday Night Raw in the television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks, which is why Bischoff’s podcast with Conrad Thompson is aptly named 83 Weeks. AEW lead broadcaster Jim Ross mentioned the podcast during Dynamite, and Bischoff noted that Thompson has certainly had an impact on his career.

“Had it not been for Conrad convincing me that a podcast could work, and had it not been for Conrad putting in the work and the time to make the podcast successful, I wouldn’t have been on Dynamite,” said Bischoff. “I wouldn’t have been there, and I recognize that. People should know, Conrad Thompson is a silent powerbroker in his own way. I’m grateful I’m on the Conrad Thompson team.”

For now, Bischoff confirmed that the appearance was a one-off. But in wrestling, it is wise to never say never, and Bischoff left the door ajar for a potential return.

“I had fun, people reacted well to it, and it helped the show, so as a performer, that’s all I could hope for,” said Bischoff. “If the phone rings and it’s an opportunity that makes sense for everybody, then of course I’d be grateful for that opportunity. But I’m not holding my breath, either.

“I’m 65 years old, and there’s not a lot of room for someone like me. I can take a bump or two, but I can’t get in the ring and have a match, so as a result of that, there is limited opportunity for someone like me. So if it happens, great, but if it doesn’t, then I’m thrilled that the last time I did it was a blast.”

The (online) week in wrestling

Randy Orton delivered an outstanding match with Kevin Owens on Raw, then followed that up with some of his most explosive work ever on the mic when spitting his venom at Ric Flair. Orton is leaving no doubt that the WWE title belongs around his waist. 

Seth Rollins has done a tremendous job making Dominik Mysterio’s SummerSlam wrestling debut so meaningful. This, of course, won’t be Dominik’s first SummerSlam, which took place in 2005 as Rey Mysterio wrestled Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match for custody of Dominik. 

The Bayley-Asuka match from Monday’s Raw was also outstanding. It’s matches like this that make Monday nights worth watching. 

Matt Hardy is fortunate to be in good health following last week’s chair shot from Sammy Guevara, and Guevara should be extremely grateful he is working with a consummate pro in Hardy. That chair shot was dangerous, reckless, and could have caused permanent damage. There is no questioning Guevara’s level of talent, but wrestling is a profession built off trust amongst the wrestlers. Trusting Guevara will be an issue following this chair shot. 

Adam Cole and former NFL player Pat McAfee are headed toward a showdown at NXT TakeOver XXX, but I would have much preferred we saw Cole against an Undisputed Era partner, like Kyle O’Reilly or Roderick Strong, at such a seminal TakeOver. When The Undisputed Era eventually makes its move to Raw or SmackDown, that match, which would have been extraordinary, could have been used to highlight the brilliance of the group. 

WarnerMedia is in the midst of significant personnel change, including the dismissal of Kevin Reilly, who was TNT President and a massive supporter of AEW. 

Chris Jericho and Jim Cornette had an entertaining exchange on social media, with Jericho tired of Cornette’s weekly critique of the AEW product and Cornette responding by making note of Jericho’s decision to hold Fozzy concerts this past weekend.

No match excites me more this week than Scorpio Sky challenging Cody Rhodes for the TNT Championship. Rhodes’ open challenge is a great forum during the pandemic, but it would be great to see a different outcome to one of his matches. Sky is incredibly talented and a run with the belt would only enhance his standing in the industry, and he could show the wrestling world what people who have been watching him over the past four years already know–he is a talent on the cusp of major stardom. 

There is nothing funny about Marty Jannetty’s apparent confession to murder, yet somehow this Kayfabe News story was able to add humor to, if true, a very ugly piece of news. 

Daniel Bryan and The Rock? Say no more.

The 40th anniversary of this Hulk Hogan-Andre The Giant match was on Sunday, which highlights the brilliance of Vince McMahon’s manner of promoting their WrestleMania III showdown. They’d already wrestled, Andre had been slammed too many times for his own good, and McMahon orchestrated one of wrestling’s most timeless stories. 

Tweet of the Week

Bret Hart shared a wonderful tribute for James Harris, who beautifully captured the essence of pro wrestling by making fans (myself included) believe in the frightening aura of Kamala.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

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