RollerGames

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RollerGames was a U.S. television show that presented a theatrical version of the sport of roller derby for a national audience, and featured a number of skaters who had been in the Roller Games league (1961–1975), as well as younger participants. It was broadcast for one season (1989–1990) before its distributor went bankrupt.

Contents 1 About the show 1.1 Roller Games International 2 Promotional tie-ins 3 References 4 Famous RG quotes 5 See also 6 Extrena links

[edit] About the show

In 1989, Emmy Award-winning television producers David Sams (who helped launch Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and The Oprah Winfrey Show while head of global marketing and creative affairs at King World) and Mike Miller (who went on to produce shows like When Animals Attack) teamed with Roller Games owner Bill Griffiths, Sr. to create a modern version of the sport called Rock and RollerGames. Instead of a banked oval track, a figure eight track was used where one side heavily banked, and included obstacles such as the "Wall of Death" (which was located on the heavily banked side) and the "Jet Jump". As a tiebreaker, two skaters would skate around a pit full of alligators. The first skater to skate around the pit five times or to throw his opponent into the alligator pit was declared the winner.

The show also included halftime entertainment by musical performers like Lita Ford, Warrant, Exposé and halftime commentary by Wally George. Main commentators for the show were former Ohio State football and basketball announcer Chuck Underwood and David Sams himself. Former Phoenix, Arizona news reporter Shelly Jamison (who also appeared nude in Playboy) served as sideline reporter. RollerGames premiered in 95% of the country, and, though generally panned by critics, was well-received among teenagers and college students.

The "world famous" Los Angeles T-Birds were one of the teams used for the show. Other teams were The Rockers, Hot Flash, The Violators, Bad Attitude, and The Maniacs. Many of the athletes that skated for Griffiths in the past were used for RollerGames. Some of the most visible skaters included twin sisters Jennifer & Kristine Van Galder, the "T-Bird Twins" (two blonde waitresses that Sams recruited while dining at a trendy LA area eatery), "The IceBox" Robert Smith, brothers "Mr. Mean" Harold Jackson & "Monster Man" Bernie Jackson, "Electric" Randi Whitman (who got her nickname because of her hair), "Stars and Stripes" Matt Beckham, "Dar The Star" Darlene Langlois, "Latin Spitfire" Patsy Delgado, and the late Ralphie Valladares, whose daughter, Gina, skated for Hot Flash. Other past Roller Derby personalities to appear on RollerGames included "Mizz" Georgia Hase, the cantankerous heel manager of the Detroit Devils and Bad Attitude, and "Little" Richard Brown, Maniacs' top skater who go to manage and coach several skaters on RollerJam.

Former ABC Monday Night Football director Chet Forte was recruited to direct the show. Many of the graphics and camera techniques were unique for the day, like the cameras on the skaters. Some of the storylines were off-the-wall, but tame by today's standards—the main storyline was a controversy involving the T-Bird Twins being drafted as one person, rather than two. Hair-pulling and catfights were crowd favorites.

In many cities, RollerGames aired late at night, against Saturday Night Live, while in others it aired mid-day on Saturdays. Although the show's ratings were quite good, even beating out the popular American Gladiators, it only lasted one season before getting cancelled due to the distributor going bankrupt, but not due to the Rollergames effort.

The show paved the way for a revival ten years later with the 1999 premiere of The New TNN's WSL RollerJam, where former RollerGames skaters Richard Brown, Patsy Delgado and Ray Robles skated.

[edit] Roller Games International

Following the cancellation of RollerGames, Griffiths organized three Roller Games International events (untelevised):

• August 8, 1990 in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)
• August 9, 1990 in Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
• February 6, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan (USA)

All three matches were T-Birds vs. RGI All-Stars.^[1]

[edit] Promotional tie-ins

• A RollerGames video game was produced by Ultra for the Nintendo Entertainment System and marketed in North America, along with an arcade game produced by Konami.
• In 1989 the World Alliance of Rollersports released a CD Soundtrack album featuring the show's theme song "Rock & RollerGames", as well as team theme song "Made In The USA" (T-Birds), "Hit And Run" (Hot Flash, sung by skater Tammy Hanson), "Rock It" (Rockers), "Bad Attitude" (Bad Attitude, also sung by Hanson), "Kick Butt" (Violators) and "No Brakes" (Maniacs). The album was produced by Douglas Cooper Getschal, who sang "Rock & RollerGames" and a few others.
• In 1990, Williams released a pinball game, RollerGames, designed by notable pinball designer Steve Ritchie, with features the main theme song recomposed by Dan Forden.
• G.C. London Publishing, the original publisher of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine, put out its first and only issue of RollerGames Magazine.
• Many of these unique items can now be found for sale on eBay.

[edit] References

1. ^ williamwsl1 (2000-02-24). RollerGames in the 90's. bankedtracknews. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.

[edit] Famous RG quotes

• Georgia Hase: "First of all, again, it is 'Miss' Georgia Hase!"
• David Sams: "That was absolutely DE-VAST-AT-ING!"
• Shelly Jamison: "Back to you, Chuck 'n Dave."

[edit] See also

• Roller Games—the show's namesake
• Los Angeles T-Birds

[edit] Extrena links

• Roller Games International