NGN FAVORITES: TELEVISION-SHOWS

Like many, most notably those born in the 1980's, television has become part of my day to day haha My tastes fall between mainstream and unique. Although I have enjoyed the "upgrades" within television, I am not a fan of things such as the countless breaks. Whatever happened to just the summer being the break between seasons? Or was it always that way, and that things I watched just weren't affected until now? Regardless, they are annoying. But, here are the shows I have, still, and currently like...

Fav Television Shows As A Kid

• He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe
• She-Ra The Princess Of Power
• Thundercats
• Transformers
• Care Bears
• The Smurfs
• Disney's Adventures Of The Gummi Bears
• Darkwing Duck
• Ducktales
• Toronto Blue Jays Baseball

This part of my life could be an entire post in itself, like many other 80's kids I loved television. Not our fault as ev-er-y-thi-ng was geared towards us. Care Bears and Smurfs were awesome then, so shush. Gummi Bears was a show I loved, but now as an adult seem to be one of the few who remember it. He-Man and She-Ra were the original nerd shows for me, and yes I said She-Ra haha I was huge into baseball as a kid too, again not my fault as it was when the Toronto Blue Jays were consistently good.

Fav Television Shows As A Teen

• WWE RAW
• WWE Smackdown!
• WCW Nitro
• WCW Thunder
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• Chicago Bulls Basketball
• Toronto Raptors Basketball
• 90210
• The Simpson's
• South Park

As a teen it was really anything with hot females haha But, I did watch the entire shows so I did get to see what they were kind of worth haha Switched from baseball to basketball, and was mildly obsessed with it so there was a lot of Bulls and Raps on my television. Of course, this was the ultimate peak of professional wrestling, so no shocker that WWE and WCW's shows are on there. It was more WWE than WCW, but still. My mom wouldn't let me watch The Simpson's as a kid, so as a teen I watched that and discovered South Park. Yes, I am a bit mouthier because of it. I said mouthier. The rest was genetic haha

Fav Television Shows In My 20's

• WWE RAW
• WWE Smackdown!
• Smallville
• Dexter
• Sons Of Anarchy
• The Big Bang Theory
• Trailer Park Boys
• The Sopranos
• Family Guy
• TNA Impact

Stopped really watching any sports as a young adult, but still had my wrestling. It was only WWE for the longest time, but TNA did appear on my radar for awhile. Started watching more shows in entirty at this point. Started with going back and watching all of Smallville (joined in progress about season 7-8), and The Sopranos, Dexter, and SOA followed. Saw the premiere of The Big Bang Theory, hated it, got talked into watching it later on it the season, now I love it. It happens. Family Guy. Nuff said....giggity.

Fav Television Shows Now

• WWE RAW
• WWE Smackdown!
• WWE NXT
• Arrow
• The Flash
• Breaking Bad
• The Big Bang Theory
• iZombie
• WWE Network (everything)
• Modern Family

WWE is really the only game in town now (sorry ROH and remaining TNA fans), but with the loss of competition came a revamped NXT brand that is on par with RAW and Smackdown! in many ways (if not better, but don't tell Vince). And we get all that comes with the WWE Network. Old, new, original, parodied. The Big Bang Theory is still a fav', and Modern Family is too easy to relate to, at times, not to like. Breaking Bad was epic. As nerds, we finally got a smorgasbord of shows, that is growing even still. For me Arrow and The Flash are tops. So far, I have enjoyed iZombie, but not sure if that will last or not.

COMIC BOOK VIDEO GAMES: STILL WAITING

It is the age of the comic book nerd in entertainment right now. Television has been had a jump in number of comic book shows that are on with Arrow, The Flash, The Walking Dead, Marvel's Agents Of SHIELD, Daredevil, quite a few others and more in the works. Movies always had a comic book presence, just not at the rate we have seen the last decade. And DC Comics is just now truly adding to the mix so combined with everything Marvel is putting out, there is a lot of movies.

You would think that video games would also be right up there in terms of quantity. Quality is improving with each passing console I must add, but there needs to be an increase in numbers for sure.It is hard to believe that with the success of the Batman: Arkham franchise, DC Comics didn't jump at expanding its empire within the video game world. Same can be said with Marvel, who of the two tends to be the merchandising machine, but not the case here. Not that anyone is asking for games that are basically video game versions of the movies, but something based on them. Spider-Man 1-3 did this early with free-roaming capabilities and only similarities with the movies. Everything else was almost its own video game universe loaded with comic book universe references. Why not do this with The Avengers universe that has unfolded? Either a collective or individual games. There are so many characters within both DC and Marvel's worlds that would almost work instantly in the styling of Batman: Arkham franchise. Green Arrow, The Flash from top of my head for DC Comics if we are eliminating flying capabilities. The Punisher, Spider-Man, and Deadpool for Marvel. Deadpool was recently re-released on PS4 (picture was a happy accident that was left as is haha), but it was an older PS3 game, and some upgrades would make for an epic game. Visually and story line. Add Ryan Reynolds as the voice. Might be gold.

I am sure there is a valid reason for the lack of presence by comic books in the video game market. Or perhaps they are in the works given the success in other fields. I am itching for something, given that I haven't come across anything saying there will be more Batman games with Batman: Arkham Knight being the final chapter of the Arkham franchise. Would love to see perhaps a villain version. The Joker and others. Just saying.

MORE WRESTLING THAN ANYTHING ELSE

If there are any "regulars" out there, you may wonder why so many more wrestling than anything else entries. Well, that is simply because professional wrestling never stops. I've said before what the WWE has become is truly sports entertainment.  Unlike other television shows and sports, there isn't an off-season in wrestling. Sure, we may get a pre-taped RAW if Christmas lands on a Monday, but we still get something.

With sports entertainment, there is also many other things to talk about then RAW or Smackdown!, even though there are things to talk about there on a weekly basis. There is the past, the present, the future of each superstar and diva (sorry, wrestlers and womens wrestlers), which include things like character direction, who they should face, who they should face again because it was amazing before. There is the direction of the WWE and the rest of the promotions out there. There are countless rumors and incidents to talk about. Countless "what if..." and "should be"s on every level of the business.
This time of year is Wrestlemania season, so there is even more things to talk about. This years event and it's card, how it should be, how things will turn out. Opinions on how things did go down, the next nights RAW. Plus, there is 31 previous Wrestlemania's and the matches they contained or should have.
I don't get this from anything else. Television shows usually only last so long before they are cancelled, or simply decide to end their runs. Television also functions as "seasons", so we only get half a years worth really, and nowadays with the breaks during the season. Movies are similar, except there is usually a 2-3 year gap between films, and that is if there is even a follow-up film. And revamps are highly possible (looking at you Spider-Man). With comic books it all depends on what you read and how publishing schedules work out. Even then, you are likely looking at a monthly wait for the next issue. Plus, now even the comic books are in a near constant revamp and relaunch mode.

With wrestling the worst that really happens are injuries or sudden character changes or firings, but even all of that gives fans something to talk about. So, if anyone was curious as to why the wrestling posts are heavier than anything else, that is why. Or if you don't care, I completely understand haha

A WTF GOES OUT TO DC COMICS

Rebirth. Another relaunch? If Dan Dido and Jim Lee want to be like Marvel so bad, just jump ship already. In regards to comic books, it was the only valid statement in a DC v Marvel conversation. DC Comics had relaunched/renumbered just the one time, where Marvel seemed to do it quite often. Haven't seen anything that has verified this, but if the rumors are true, I am not happy about that haha

I understand some of the possible reasons I have come across. Shows like Arrow and The Flash bringing in new fans, and wanting a product that is similar to that of the television show. It happened to me with Green Lantern. I watched the movie in 2011, didn't mind it at all, then began to read the comic books. Yes, I enjoyed Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern. I am thinking it is because I was only aware of the character, because I will admit now that the comic book is better and understand why that franchise is in reboot mode. I got into the comic book version and didn't expect things to be the same as the movie. A lot of people seem to forget that the shows/movies are adaptations of the comic books. I only point this out as I am curious as to what Dan and Jim have planned if their other forms of media become flops and failures? Rumors have it that Supergirl and Legends Of Tomorrow are up in the air in regards to there being second seasons.
In all honest, DC Comics should have done one of two things. First, they shouldn't have revamped and simply renumbered. Their top titles like Detective Comics, Batman, etc were approaching issue number 1000. Issue number 1001, should have been 1. They didn't do this so, secondly, they should have had a unshakable commitment to what they were doing. Some titles throughout the New 52 era, weren't in print long enough to really get any traction and make sense of things. They did  show commitment, just in the wrong way. Convergence took over for a couple of months, which for some people meant that if you weren't interested in the storyline, then you were left with nothing to read. When did they decide to not simply do as they always have done and simply made a new temporary title that tied into other permanent titles. I usually try to be pro-DC Comics all the time, but this is a hard one. As a Batman fan (ya, ya typical of me right?) I now have to deal with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo leaving the title, then whatever DC Comics decides to do with the goddamn Batman and his soiree of characters. The only saving grace is that Snyders' replacement is James Tynion IV, who we've been given tastes of his writing style throughout Snyder's run on Batman. And also, what happens to the good things that came from the New 52 relaunch? Again with Batman, I enjoyed some of the villains backstories being updated (Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, etc).

I am sure everything will be good. Just a matter of overlooking this almost comic book cliche of relaunches, and revamps. I enjoy movies and television shows too, I just don't expect the comic books to be the ones to change and mirror the live action. Save that for new titles that are separate from the main comic book universe. I didn't read the Smallville comic books, but thought that they were an amazing idea. I enjoyed Batman '66 for a brief period, and have been wanting a Batman (1989) series. Perhaps it is time for some change atop DC Comics. Till next time, stay Nerdy!

FRANCHISES THAT SHOULD SIGN WITH ROCKSTEADY

If not Rocksteady/Rockstar, then at the very least a "Grand Theft Auto" or "Batman: Arkham..." style/concept with another gaming company. Most notably "free-roaming" as this became a personal must have after playing "Grand Theft Auto III" on PS2 back in 2002, and the GTA games that followed. And after daydreaming of "GTA IV" being "Batman-ized" it became reality with "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and company.
Now some of the may have possibly have had a video game with the same idea, not a "hardcore gamer" but personally haven't played them. But, if  they have appeared before, then let us simply add them to the "remake, and release on the almost baron PS4 platform" list. And sorry to the X-Box peeps, but this is basically Playstation focused. But, hey most if not all would be available to you as well. (yes, well aware of Spidey. But, Batman "won" this battle thus far...well a matter of opinion for sure).....

Ghostbusters

This may have happened on an earlier platform, but with the new remake coming out, why not revisit and improve on the video game side of things? Either a customizable "noobie" joining the squad, or if they have to use movie characters as the playables, then make it a mixture of the original and the new.

Green Arrow

Pretty much every DC Comics and Marvel Comics character could fit here, and they do, but loving the CW television series "Arrow" so we're going with Ollie. Batman has shown it can work, some would need something extra to make it work for them (Superman, etc), but needs to happen.

Mega Man

Haven't played these since the late 80's and early 90's on the original NES, but thought it would have been cool to see Mega Man at least in a manner similar to Mario in Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64. And yes, have mentioned Nintendo twice but am still pushing for a PS4 platform. But, this would be a cross between N64 3-D style meets Grand Theft Auto realism. Still "cartoonish" though.

Street Fighter

Has there been a style done like this before? I know that there has always been a "story" to it all, but it was generally a head to head fighting game. What if the fighters traveled the globe training, developing their trademark abilities, and of course fighting. Except the fights will be part of the story. For example, say Ryu has to fight and defeat the disiples of the master who taught him the Hadouken. All this leads up to the "Street Fighter Tournament". Each player has a different path, but develop at the players own pace and direction. Just an idea.

Star Wars

No. Not a racing game. No. Not a movie adaptation. No. Not "The Force Unleashed". But, something that would be the beautiful offspring of GTA and Knights Of The Old Republic (X-Box). Free roaming. Decision based, to head towards the lightside or darkside of The Force. Most importantly, on a Playstation console.

Underworld

Not as Selina or any other main player in the movies, but as a freshly turned Vampire or Lycan. Looking to climb the ranks of any faction, perhaps a neutral "third party" as well. Grand Theft Auto style for sure, with random citizens actually being members the opposing "team", who turn and start to fight you. Perhaps the ability to "turn" others would become an option as you progress and develop your characters. Cross-over DLC's would include versions of Van Helsing and Bufy. Who of course are playable in game, but are hunters.

Sons Of Anarchy

Sure, we basically seen this with "GTA IV: Lost And Damned", but it would be different in the way the it would be loosely based on the television series, not directly. And it would be about progressing and developing your character, climbing the ranks from earning your "cut" until you are President of the club. Perhaps somewhat decision based in regards to path to the top as well direction of the MC.

There are plenty more of course, almost anything one likes in entertainment could apply here. Almost. And of course a matter of personal preference. Perhaps another day, more will be listed. Until then.....stay Nerdy!