The Return of Wrestling Wednesday - Ric Flair's Return to WWE

Wrestling Wednesday…

World Wrestling Entertainment – The Incredibly Sad Saga of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair a.k.a. Flair Returns to the WWE



I was suffering through the New York Jets – Tennessee Titans match-up on Monday Night Football this week when I saw social media explode with talk of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair on WWE RAW. As I read the comments celebrating the return of Ric Flair to World Wrestling Entertainment, I could not help but sigh and feel bad. I knew it was inevitable. Still, I did not want to hear it happen. Ric Flair finally crawled back to Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Coming off the announcement of his upcoming divorce (his fourth) and more troubles with the IRS (not Mike Rotunda), I knew it was only a matter of time before Ric Flair sucked up what little bit of pride he had left and rejoined World Wrestling Entertainment – the company that cast him aside in 2008. What? You don’t remember it that way? Let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we?

In 2007, Ric Flair was one of the top faces in World Wrestling Entertainment. Despite being a 58-year-old well past his prime, Flair still brought out emotions unlike 95% of the roster. However, Ric Flair was not physically appealing to look at as he worked matches on television. In November 2007, Flair vowed he would never retire, only to have Vince McMahon announce that Flair would retire the next time he lost a match. This culminated at WrestleMania XXIV with a classic match where Flair lost to Shawn Michaels and subsequently retired from in-ring competition. Flair received an amazing send-off the following night on RAW and went off into the sunset. However, Vince McMahon still wanted to cash in on everything Ric Flair did. Therefore, Flair lost endorsement deals and public speaking engagements when the terms agreed upon by Flair and those companies were nullified by Vince McMahon and WWE. You see, Ric Flair was not good enough to wrestle on television or appear on television anymore. However, he was still important enough to Vince McMahon that McMahon had to get a cut of every check Flair earned. This ultimately led to Flair severing ties with WWE. Flair resumed wrestling again, including a stint in TNA Wrestling that ended when TNA released Flair after countless no-shows and other examples of unprofessional behavior. 

When I look back on Ric Flair’s retirement in 2008, I see a celebration of an amazing career. I also see a man forced into retirement against his will. As I said earlier, Vince McMahon looked at Ric Flair and saw an ugly old man performing in his ring. Flair, unlike Jerry Lawler – another legend performing well past his prime before his unexpected heart attack earlier this year, performed wearing less ring attire and did not have the many cosmetic procedures under his belt either to appear younger like Lawler. McMahon forced Flair out because of appearance during the same period when he moved Jim Ross from RAW to SmackDown because Ross did not have to facial appearance McMahon wanted the top broadcaster on the main show to have and McMahon himself limited his own appearances on television because he felt “too old” to appear on television. Ric Flair did not want to retire. That became more evident to me when Flair quickly jumped at the chances to work with Ring of Honor, perform on the Hulkamania Farewell Tour in late 2009, and join TNA Wrestling in 2010.

Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment may have saved Ric Flair after the final years of World Championship Wrestling tried to kill him. However, this same company also tried to kill Ric Flair with the retirement forced upon Flair. I was happy to watch Flair in 2010 and 2011 wrestle a handful of matches. Flair had an outstanding program with Mick Foley. Flair helped establish new talent like Jay Lethal and Douglas Williams and mentored guys like AJ Styles, James Storm, Robert Roode, and Gunner in TNA Wrestling. Flair may never say it while under contract to WWE again but TNA Wrestling saved Flair in 2010 the way WWE saved Flair in 2002.

Unprofessional behavior, a lot of which steamed from Flair’s drinking problems and issues with money, ultimately led to Flair’s termination from TNA Wrestling. His most recent separation and divorce from fourth wife Jackie added another major financial burden on Flair that only one thing could solve – a return to World Wrestling Entertainment. 

Ric Flair is back in WWE to make some money. I cannot blame him. I cannot hate on him for it. He has many financial burdens and a payday from WWE can help with that. It is the reason why Mick Foley prostitutes him to WWE repeatedly or why men like Matt Bloom and Shelton Benjamin leave the comforts and respectability of Japan and Ring of Honor respectively for goofy characters like Tensai and perpetual jobber duties within World Wrestling Entertainment. However, just like when I hear about the roles of these performers within the Vince McMahon cash machine, I feel the same way about Ric Flair as he returns to the machine – sadness.

I wish Ric Flair had the sense earlier in life not to waste as much money as he did. I wish Flair could have stopped with marriage at one or even two tries. Most of all, I wish Ric Flair, the man, had the same amount of self-respect as Ric Flair, the in-ring performer. Ric Flair, the in-ring performer, would never crawl back to the company that forced him into retirement because of his age regardless of how desperate for money he became because that Ric Flair had more respect for himself.

I know many who say they lost respect for Ric Flair when he tarnished the WrestleMania XXIV send-off by performing again. I never lost respect for Flair or felt that moment tarnished because Flair never wanted to retire in the first place. However, I lost respect for Ric Flair on Monday night. The legendary “Nature Boy” crawled back to the WWE because of financial desperation. It was the beginning entry on what will be a sad final chapter for a legendary career.

The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for December 17th...

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar of the Week: Anne Hathaway

Last week, actress Anne Hathaway received a Best Supporting Actress nomination from the Screen Actors Guild for her performance in Les Misérables. While at the New York premiere for the film, Hathaway definitely gave people something to talk about besides her performance in the film thanks to a little wardrobe malfunction.

What? You thought I'd post the uncensored version?  Google it, people.

Exiting her limousine, Hathaway’s dress shifted slightly with the slit in the gown reaching a position where she unknowingly flashed photographers as she exited the vehicle. Choosing to go “commando” for the event, Anne Hathaway gave everyone a nice tease. Instead of getting angry about paparazzi selling the image for tons of money, Hathaway took the paparazzi to task for their lack of respect and class by not deleting the embarrassing image. Then, she went on as if nothing happened. Anne Hathaway handled the situation with the class and dignity expected from one of the classiest ladies in Hollywood today. Congrats to Anne on the award nomination and the awesome candid image.

Jerk of the Week: Rob Parker 

Years ago, ESPN First Take was one of the premiere sports talk shows on television. Skip Bayless was the loud, brash, often controversial panelist who appeared frequently with other columnists, commentators, and analysts while hosts Jay Crawford and Dana Jacobson ran the show. However, like most every great ESPN show, someone higher up screwed with the successful format and ESPN First Take became the Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith Go Race Baiting Show. On the December 13th episode, Rob Parker joined Bayless and Smith for the broadcast and went on a rant that shook even Bayless and Smith.

A day earlier, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III said that he wanted to be defined by his work ethic and not his skin color when asked about being an African-American quarterback in the NFL. Parker, an African-American in his own right, seemed to take offense to RGIII’s statement denouncing the issue of race with the following statements: 

“For me personally, just me, this throws up a red flag. What I keep hearing, and I don’t know who’s asking the questions, but we’ve heard a couple of times now of a black guy kind of distancing himself away from black people.” 

“I understand the whole story of I just want to be the best. Nobody’s out on the field saying to themselves ‘I want to be the best black quarterback.’ You’re just playing football, right? You want to be the best. You want to throw the most touchdowns and have the most yards and win the most games. But time and time we keep hearing this, so it just makes me wonder deeper about him.” 

“And I’ve talked to some people down in Washington D.C., friends of mine who are around and at some of the press conferences, people I’ve known for a long time. But my question, which is just a straight honest question. Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?” 

After that last statement, Skip Bayless and show host Cari Champion both attempted to have Parker explain his comments in what essentially allowed Parker to dig himself into a deeper hole. Parker explained his “cornball brother” remark when he said, “He’s not real. Okay, he’s black. He kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he’s off to something else.” When Champion, an African-American female asked why this mattered, Parker added, “Well because that’s just how I want to find out about him. I don’t know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about how he’s a Republican, which, I don’t really care, there’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue because we did find out with Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods was like, ‘I’ve got black skin but don’t call me black.’”

In the aftermath of this incredibly stupid and racist rant by Parker, ESPN suspended Parker indefinitely from all television broadcasts and online media publications. Personally, I believe Parker should lose his job for this. However, considering that this was just an ordinary day on the Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith Go Race Baiting Hour, I expect Parker to get his own show out of this matter. More importantly though, this matter made me look at how far ESPN has fallen in the last six months with regards to their television content and how racially motivated the discussions are now from the majority of their on-air commentators. Michael Wilbon turned me off Pardon the Interruption years ago because of his constant use of the race card. JA Adande lost credibility with me through his ignorance and racial bias on Around the Horn. However, that was two people out of a roster of dozens of hosts and analyst. Now, for every Michelle Beadle or Dana Jacobson who left or Jay Crawford who moved to a show (SportsCenter) where his opinion is not expressed, Michael Wilbon, Skip Bayless, and Stephen A. Smith gained more clout while Jemele Hill’s star rose as she played the race card as if she would get a free Quizno’s sub after every six uses. Unless you watch SportsCenter or an NFL or MLB broadcast, ESPN shows nothing but programming dedicated to racially-based debating about issues far from sports-related.

Rob Parker crossed the line last week. However, as much as I would like to blame Rob Parker alone for making such a racial-charged and hate-filled remark about a man trying to fight the notion that race matters, this is not his fault alone. It is as much ESPN’s fault for encouraging this behavior, as it is Parker’s for encouraging racism in the first place. It is horrible when you bash a persona of another race because of their skin color. However, to bash a member of your own race? That is beyond disgusting.

Babe of the Week: Jennifer Lawrence



A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Ravi Shankar, 92 - Indian musician (December 11th)
- Jenni Rivera, 43 - American-born Mexican banta and norteño singer (December 9th)
- Jerry Brown, 25 - American football player for the Dallas Cowboys (December 8th)
- Mike Boyette, 71 - American professional wrestling best known for a 197 match losing streak in Bill Watts’ UWF (December 6th)
- Dave Brubeck, 91 - American jazz pianist (December 5th)
- Rick Majerus, 64 - American college basketball coach best known for stints at the University of Utah and St. Louis University (December 1st)
- Buddy Roberts, 67 - American professional wrestler best known as one of the Fabulous Freebirds (November 29th)
- Hector Camacho, 50 - Puerto Rican boxer (November 24th)
- Larry Hagman, 81 - American actor best known as JR Ewing on Dallas and Major Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie (November 23rd)

The Gun Control Issue -- How Many More Have to Die?

After a frantic last month of the semester, I finally am able to write a new entry in The Highlight Reel. The semester ended nicely. I got A’s in my Special Education, Special Education fieldwork, and 21st Century Schools courses and a B+ in Educational Psychology. While I have been stuck writing on educational subjects only, the world has continued its downward decent into damnation with the biggest stories of my time away from the blog involving senseless tragedies.  

On December 1st, 25-year-old Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend, 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins, before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide that shook the sports world to its very core. While a motive will forever remain a mystery, many speculate the tragic events occurred because of arguments between Belcher and Perkins regarding their troubled relationship and the possibility that Belcher was not the father of their three-month-old daughter, Zoey. After an argument following Perkins’ return from a Trey Songz concert, Belcher murdered her in front of his mother and daughter. Then, he drove to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice facility and, in front of Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli and Head Coach Romeo Crennel, committed suicide as they pled for him to put the gun down.

On December 14th, the United States of America wept and the world mourned. Adam Lanza, a 20-year-old from Newton, Connecticut, entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and opened fire. In the aftermath of his rampage, 26 people died - 20 children between the ages of 6- and 7-years old and six teachers / staff members. Also in the rampage, Lanza committed suicide. It was later determined that Lanza murdered his mother before leaving for the elementary school. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was the second-deadliest mass shooting in United States history and the second-deadliest attack on an American public school.

In both instances, people used these senseless tragedies as the soapbox needed to stand on and preach their viewpoint on the gun control debate in America. It’s the same argument made in the wake of the July shooting in Aurora, Colorado in which 12 people died and 59 others injured during a shooting at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. NBC Sports analyst Bob Costas spoke about gun control during halftime of the Sunday Night Football game the night after the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide. Hours after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, many political pundits were crying for gun control to become the top priority of President Barack Obama in the wake of this tragedy. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg cannot stop saying this in the aftermath of the shooting. 

I am not going to say that gun control is not an issue in America because it is an issue. My problem with people like Bob Costas, Michael Bloomberg, and others right now is that this is not the time to preach the gun control agenda. Costas at least waited 24 hours but many like Bloomberg did not wait for the bodies to get cold before using their deaths as part of pushing the gun control agenda. If gun control really was as important an issue as so many are saying now, in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting, it would not take the backburner to the issues beaten over our collective skulls throughout 2012 -- namely gay marriage and the taxation of the wealthy. Gay marriage does NOT affect every man, woman, and child in this country. The idea of wealthy people paying their fair share of taxes, considering many millionaire pay less taxes than people who make less than $25,000 annually, is a matter of common sense and equality. However, it too does NOT affect every man, woman, and child in this country. Gun control DOES affect every man, woman, and child in this country. Every time someone leaves his or her home, he or she is walking into the great unknown where a psychopath may be waiting with an assault riffle and a vendetta against the world. 

I am not saying that the Second Amendment should be repealed and that the right to own firearms should be taken away from the American public. People do have that right. However, that right should end with hunting rifles and other small caliber weapons useful for home protection and safety. Nobody deserves the right to own a high-powered automatic assault weapon unless he or she is a member of a police force or branch in the armed forces. At that point, they only have access to those weapons as part of their job and not for recreation or whatever term you want to use for the proverbial penis-measuring contest in which gun owners participate. There is no reason at all why a person should have a high-powered assault rifle at home that fires off 100 rounds a minute or some other ungodly amount.

I may lose respect from friends over that opinion. I may not. I do not care. What I do care about is that this country finally regains a sense of safety in places that should be safe havens. Children should be able to go to school without their lives being on the line. Men and women should be able to go to the movies without worrying about being a target. We should be able to go to the mall, a park, or a restaurant without having a bulls-eye on our backs reading, “Come shoot me, Psychopath!” 

We cannot forget that the lead contributor in the Colorado theater shooting, the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and so many other shootings is that the perpetrator of the crime was crazy. Outhouse rat, bat shit CRAZY! Their rage and inability to handle that rage led to the deaths of many innocent people. Removing guns from the equation does not eliminate their rage or insanity. However, it does take away the tool that each man used in his masterpiece of chaos. Maybe with a less-productive weapon, some of these innocent victims may be with us today because the opportunity to stop these rampaging murderers would be greater. Perhaps Kasandra Perkins could have avoided Jovan Belcher’s knife. Perhaps… perhaps a lot of tragic outcomes would be different.

I just hope that, as the gun control issue remains the hot-button topic for the remainder of this news cycle, people screaming for the outlawing of all guns and people screaming about their right to have the most high-powered gun known to man remember one thing - the most important thing about this most recent incident. 

• Charlotte Bacon – 2/22/2006
• Daniel Barden – 9/25/2005
• Rachel Davino – 7/17/1983
• Olivia Engel – 7/18/2006
• Josephine Gay – 12/11/2005
• Ana M. Marquez-Greene – 4/4/2006
• Dylan Hockley – 3/8/2006
• Dawn Hocksprung – 6/28/1965
• Madeleine F. Hsu – 7/10/2006
• Catherine V. Hubbard – 6/8/2006
• Chase Kowalski – 10/31/2005
• Jesse Lewis – 6/30/2006
• James Mattioli – 3/22/2006
• Grace McDonnell – 11/4/2005
• Anne Marie Murphy – 7/25/1960
• Emilie Parker – 5/12/2006
• Jack Pinto – 5/6/2006
• Noah Pozner – 11/20/2006
• Caroline Previdi – 9/7/2006
• Jessica Rekos – 5/10/2006
• Avielle Richman – 10/17/2006
• Lauren Russeau – 6/10/1982
• Mary Sherlach – 2/11/1956
• Victoria Soto – 11/04/1985
• Benjamin Wheeler – 9/12/2006
• Allison N. Wyatt – 7/3/2006

Their lives are over. They died at the hands of a lunatic who had guns, legally obtained, and a hatred for the world. In the case of 20 of these individuals, they will never have the chance to drive a car, become a parent, have a lover, or live life to their best efforts. Whatever happens in this gun control debate stemming from this shooting, I pray that everyone involved does not forget these people. This is not about taking away your rights -- it is about making sure your name does not end up on a list like this as the victim of another maniac’s rampage.

Thanksgiving 2012 - The Things I'm Thankful for in 2012

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The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for November 19th

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar of the Week: Brad Keselowski 



I am not a big NASCAR fan anymore. To say I am a fan at any level is to tell a lie. However, I do respect the idea of a NASCAR Cup Champion who is a legitimate champion. Brad Keselowski is a Cup Champion in every sense of the word. 



Brad Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Championship after his 15th place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway clinched the title over Clint Bowyer (-39 points) and Jimmie Johnson (-40 points). For Keselowski, this was his first Cup Championship. With the title, Keselowski joins only Bobby Labonte as a driver to claim both a Cup and Nationwide/Busch Grand National Series title. This was the first Cup Championship for team owner Roger Penske and the first title won by a driver in the famed #2 Miller Lite “blue deuce.” While Keselowski won the title via the Chase format, I respect his championship and recognize it because Keselowski also won the championship the hard way. Using the traditional format where the entire season counts, Brad Keselowski would have won by 19 points over Greg Biffle and 28 points over Jimmie Johnson. Either way you look at it, Brad Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Championship. Congratulations to Brad Keselowski, Roger Penske, and the Miller Lite crew on a victorious season.

Jerk of the Week: World Wrestling Entertainment

I know. I know. WWE is my Jerk of the Week again. Even when I do not watch the company’s product, they earn this honor. I am just a petty hater. There is nothing WWE could do deserve this again. What was so bad this time, you ask? Well, since you asked…

Almost 10 weeks ago, Jerry “the King” Lawler suffered a near-fatal heart attack on-air during Monday Night RAW. Thanks to quick-working medics and the arena’s proximity to a hospital, Lawler survived the heart attack. Of course, survival meant two things: Jerry Lawler could return to work for WWE and Jerry Lawler’s near-fatal heart attack could become the fodder for cheap heel heat. CM Punk, the man who used religion as a basis for heel antics on Twitter recently, interrupted Lawler’s return to cut a promo mocking Lawler’s health scare. Punk’s associate, human scumbag Paul Heyman, added a tasteless faux heart attack of his own to complete one of the most disgusting and tasteless angles in professional wrestling history.

"Ha ha ha! You had a heart attack, Jerry!"

"Paul, don't die on me. Your last check didn't clear."

Many fans were outraged. Legends like Steve Austin, Lance Storm, Jeff Jarrett, and Chris Jericho questioned the segment. I read countless Tweets and Facebook posts crying foul of the angle. However, World Wrestling Entertainment always has their sheep ready to defend the logo. Many called those offended “hypocrites” because the majority of those complaining are the same people wanting a more hardcore edge to the product. I do not think for a second that anyone complaining about the angle was hypocritical in his or her displeasure. Their criticism had a point. There is a line between tastelessly bad and horrifically tasteless. Monday night’s post-heart attack mockery crossed it. 

In 1999, the Big Boss Man ambushed the funeral of the Big Show’s father. It culminated in Big Show bodysurfing on his father’s casket as Boss Man towed it away. I thought it was hilarious then and think it is hilarious now. What makes this acceptable is that Big Show’s father was not recently deceased. This was not a fresh wound used for heel heat fodder. This was black comedy and part of the show - tasteless but for show. WWE used to know where the line existed. After all, during this same period, they did not use the death of Owen Hart or the paralysis of Darren Drozdov as heel heat fodder. WWE was above that and recognized the fine line. That is no longer the case.

Since 2005, WWE has exploited the death of Eddie Guerrero, the cancer scares and Bells Palsy of Jim Ross, and death of Jerry Lawler’s mother as part of their ongoing attempt at obtaining heel heat in the cheapest manner possible. As bad as Tim White’s never-ending suicide skits from 2005 were, they were based on horrible writing and Vince McMahon’s warped sense of humor; not a real suicide attempt from White. The other moments, however, really happened. They affected families and friends outside of the bubble that is World Wrestling Entertainment. These moments created genuine pain and should have remained off limits. However, WWE could not make light of them quick enough. 

The mockery of Jerry Lawler’s heart attack does not surprise me. However, expecting it does not mean I have to like it. Quite the contrary, it actually makes me happy because it reaffirms my belief that World Wrestling Entertainment is the worst company in entertainment today and wrestling fans should boycott it at all cost. 

Babe of the Week: Selena Gomez

Free at last. Free at last.
Got away from the Bieber. She is free at last!

A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Hostess Brands Inc., 82 - American manufacturer bakery products including Twinkies, Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Merita bread products. (November 16th)

The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for the first time in a while...

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar(s) of the Week: Barack Obama and Blake Shelton

Congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the 2012 Presidential Election. On November 6th, Obama defeated Republican candidate Mitt Romney, 332 electoral votes to 206, to earn a second term as President of the United States. More importantly, this signified the end of the worst part of being an American as Obama’s victory signified the end of the political season that annually terrorizes families nationwide with political ads, unsolicited cold calls, and unwanted harassment from professional liars and their minions. As wonderful as the right to vote is, this right is more of a chore that I personally chose to ignore when the ballot is between two men who have nothing in terms of plans or concerns for the American people outside of their own kind (i.e. the wealthy and elite).

Entertainer of the Year and goes home with Miranda Lambert... Dude is just crushing life.

November 1st was the most successful day of country singer Blake Shelton’s career. At the 46th annual CMA Awards, Shelton left with three awards - Song of the Year (with Miranda Lambert) for “Over You”, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Shelton, a perpetual lock at the Male Vocalist of the Year honor with three consecutive wins, earned his first Entertainer of the Year honor over a crowded field including Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, and Taylor Swift. Shelton, who also is a judge/vocal coach on one of television’s biggest hits - The Voice, is currently one of the biggest stars in all of music. This huge haul at the CMA Awards solidified Blake Shelton’s spot among the upper echelon of country music and as one of the top stars in all of music today. Congratulations to Blake Shelton on these tremendous honors.

Jerk of the Week: The American Public

After having to witness friends turn against friends, family turn against family, and our country crumble to the verge of civil war over two professional liars, nobody else deserves the honor of Jerk of the Week more than the American Public. 

The election season showed the absolute worst in humanity with the way people acted, all in the name of political support. As much as I hate politics, my dislike only grew with my initial feelings justified by the actions of those around me. It was sad and tragic to watch. People who participated in this should be ashamed. They should be ashamed for more than just acting like complete morons over political topics though; they should also be ashamed for supporting this election in the first place. Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney offered nothing beneficial to the American public with their campaign platforms. The idea of America having choices on the ballot was a lie as both candidates were wolves cut from the same cloth while anybody else with a legitimately different idea (Gary Johnson?) was shunned from the debates and nothing more than small print on the ballot. 

Plain and simple, America let me down by participating in this fraudulent election. Many brave men and women have died so that we all have the right to vote. I believe many of them are looking at our country from the beyond and shake their heads as they see what voting has become in our country. Voting is not about selecting the candidate with the best ideas for our country. Voting is now a popularity contest between wealthy people with low self-esteem in constant need of reassurance -- a reassurance they get at the expense of simple-minded sheep who fall for their lies time and time again. 

For everyone who told me I have no right to complain because of my lack of participation, I say you have no right to complain about the results of the election. I did not put any of these people in office. I did nothing. You are the ones who fell for the lies, wasted your time and effort, and put them in office. This is your fault. Jerks.

Babe of the Week: Carrie Underwood



A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Jim Durham, 65 - American sportscaster who famously called “The Shot.” (November 4th)
- Pascual Perez, 55 - Dominican baseball player who played for the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees (November 1st)
- Brad Armstrong, 50 - American professional wrestler and member of the Armstrong wrestling family (November 1st)
- Emanuel Steward, 68 - American boxing trainer and HBO boxing commentator (October 25th)

Thoughts on a Special Event - Carrie Underwood in Greensboro

On November 4th, I was lucky enough to see Carrie Underwood live in concert as the 2012 Blown Away Tour stopped at the Greensboro Coliseum. Alongside my friend and neighbor Gwen Grogan, I crossed Carrie Underwood off my Concert Bucket List and experienced one of the most incredible concert experiences of my life. In a word, Carrie Underwood is AMAZING!



Before Carrie took the stage, Hunter Hayes opened the show with a terrific set. The “Wanted” and “Storm Warning” singer showed me a lot in his 45-minute set. Besides his two signature singles, Hayes performed an outstanding cover of Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” mixed with Train’s “Drive By” that put a country spin on two of the premiere pop singles of the last five years. In addition, throughout the set, Hayes showed his proficiency with the guitar in guitar solos that would make country contemporaries Brad Paisley and Keith Urban proud. Hunter Hayes has a bright future and I became a big fan with that performance.

However, the night was all about Carrie Underwood. Carrie blew me away with her vocals, which never wavered once in a two-hour performance that included five outfit changes, 23 songs, and an acoustic set high above the audience. Yeah, she literally was above the audience with a portion of her band for a five-song set. It did not look like the safest structure ever but made for a cool concert experience nonetheless.



In fact, Carrie was close enough to me that she could hear when I yelled, “I love you, Carrie!” like a lovesick fool. She waved at me too. Now, there were many of us yelling for Carrie’s attention in my section. However, I am taking her wave and smile as mine and mine alone. Carrie Underwood loves me. Do not belittle my delusions, people!

Anyhoo, back to the concert. Carrie performed many of her major hits including “Before He Cheats”, “Cowboy Casanova”, “Good Girl”, and an emotional rendition of “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” While I didn’t get to hear Carrie sing my favorite song of hers as she did not perform “So Small”, her performance of “Remind Me” with virtual Brad Paisley made up for it. That performance will go down as one of the coolest performances I ever witnessed in person. The stage transformed into the desert landscape from the music video and just worked on so many levels.

I cannot stress enough how amazing Carrie Underwood is in person. The stage show, the vocals, the music, the electric atmosphere, and the stunning grace and beauty of Miss Underwood all combined for an amazing experience that left me, and the thousands in attendance, “Blown Away.”

An Ode to Horror Movies - Happy Halloween from The Highlight Reel!

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. Ever since I was a little kid, Halloween has held a place in my heart that few holidays could dare to match. Christmas has wonderful television specials, presents, and time with family and friends. Thanksgiving comes with football games and tremendous meals. Arbor Day celebrates trees and Groundhog Day is all about a wonderful Bill Murray film. However, none of those holidays matches the magic or wonderment that comes with Halloween.

Halloween is the one day of the year when you can dress like a fool and act childish without serious repercussions. You wander the streets in costumes and beg for candy like a homeless person without the police arresting you. In addition, the best horror movies ever made are on television around the clock to frighten, thrill, excite, and entertain views young and old alike. In all honesty, the horror movies are my favorite part of Halloween. Ever since I was a wee lad, I have loved horror films like a fat child loves cake or an alcoholic loves hooch (or an alcoholic child loves rum cake). 

My love for horror films began when I was four years old. Thankfully, I had a wonderful mother who trusted me enough to know I could tell reality from fantasy. That is why, without hesitation, I started renting horror films alongside my cartoons at Brewer’s Movie Club in Madison, NC. Initially, the covers of the movie boxes drew me to the films.



With covers like those, how could I not want to see what was on those VHS tapes? Therefore, when I checked out films for the weekend, I always had the best of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Kruger or some low-budget slasher flick with scantily clad young women alongside my copy of Disney’s Robin Hood or The Transformers: the Movie and my Coliseum Home Video release of the latest WWF event. Horror movies spoke to me. In a way, these films were the perfect films because they had everything – adventures, thrilling situations, pretty girls, and heroic characters overcoming tremendous odds. In addition, the films came with many wonderful life lessons that I still hold near and dear to this day. Those include:

• Never say, “I’ll be right back.”
• Avoid camping trips, summer camps, and the woods at all costs
• Never anger a goalie
• Do not do drugs
• Do not speak to or trust strangers
• If a town has a “town loon,” take his words as gospel because Crazy Ralph is always right
• Never enter a dark room
• Never split up from your friends, family when lost
• Always make sure there is one person in a group weaker than you are

With October 31st right around the corner, I thought now would be a great time to look back at the horror genre and some of my personal favorites (and least favorites) in this special edition of The Highlight Reel. Joining me in this venture into the abyss, I have some wonderful friends and horror fans contributing to this discussion on the best and worst of the horror genre.

Villains

In order to have a good horror film, one must first have a good villain. The villain can range from a vicious animal to a cold-blooded psychopath, an evil entity to an inhuman monster, or whatever else the imagination can conjure. I have selected four that stand on my Mount Rushmore of horror film villains: Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, the zombie, and the Reverend Harry Powell. 

For me, Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise will always be my favorite horror movie character. The mask is iconic. The body count is incredible. The character just exudes fear and evil with every cold, calculated movement from the mongoloid Momma’s Boy in a hockey mask. Jason Voorhees is a classic and legend in a genre full of memorable characters. Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise is another silent slayer hidden behind a mask. However, Michael differs from Jason in one extremely important way – motivation. Michael Myers initially is a murderer based on pure, unbridled rage with no real motivation. Unlike Jason, who witnessed his mother’s beheading at the end of the first Friday the 13th, Michael Myers just snapped at age six and began murdering his family and everyone standing in the way of Myers ending his bloodline. That initial unknown motivating spirit made Michael Myers intriguing. The engulfing power of the zombie leads me to hold zombies in high esteem. Regardless of if they are slow and lumbering like in the George Romero zombie classics (Night of the Living Dead; Dawn of the Dead; Day of the Dead) or fast and vicious like in the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake or 28 Days Later (I know they were infected but they acted like the undead), zombies offer a never-ending threat that I find absolutely chilling. Finally, I love Robert Mitchum’s performance as the Reverend Harry Powell in 1955’s The Night of the Hunter. Mitchum plays a misogynistic, murderous traveling preacher on a quest to find stolen money belonging to a former cellmate. His cold-blooded demeanor blended with the Southern charm only Mitchum could deliver on-screen provides one of the greatest individual performances in horror cinema history. 

The responses of others provided an interesting list of favorite horror villains. While one villain shined brightly, there were many included in this who’s who from the horror genre.

“Pazuzu (The Exorcist), Dracula (1958 Hammer version) or Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th).” - Doug Smith 

“Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) - He is the OG. No one is better. He would make Michael Myers his b-tch and use Freddy’s glove to scratch a itch he has on his nuts. A total beast. Plus, he is retarded with a healing factor and beat the hell out of a b-tch with super powers. Bar none, the best.” - James Walsh  

“My favorite horror villain is, without a shadow of a doubt, Freddy Kruger (A Nightmare on Elm Street). The fact that it’s a game for him. He could kill you at any moment but that wouldn’t be any fun.” - Steak Sauce 

“I actually like Kane Hodder’s Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th: Part VII - Jason X). I guess my all-time favorite is Norman Bates (Psycho) or Pennywise (It).” - Terry Sligar 

While I have many favorite horror villains, only one irks me to no end: Chucky from the Child’s Play franchise. He was a doll. I do not care how murderous the spirit was inside the doll; he was a doll. You step on him and move on. Chucky would not bother me nearly as much if Child’s Play were a one-time deal either. However, this series lasted for four sequels with each more ridiculous than the last. Chucky was not funny, not frightening, and not entertaining. Chucky was only the worst.

The debate for worst horror villain was a two-man race with a pint-sized villain and a psychopathic mastermind drawing the majority of their wrath equally. 

“Jigsaw (Saw).” - Brian McNail 

“Michael Myers - never liked him. I think it goes back to how he was smaller and more ‘realistic’ in the first (Halloween) films. Horror movies are an escape for me; not something that I want to sit and think about.” - James Walsh 

“Least favorite is probably Chucky (Child’s Play) or the Puppet Master toys because they are toys! Break them in half!” - Jeremy Johnston 

“My least favorite is that doll I won’t name from Child’s Play. Toys are meant to be your friends as children, not the creators of nightmares.” - Stacey Holt

“My least favorite would be Madea… or Jigsaw (Saw). That stupid f--king voice.” - Steak Sauce 

Best and Worst Films

Choosing a favorite horror film for me is like trying to choose my favorite Taylor Swift song – so many choices and every one wonderful in its own way. Unable to choose merely one, I selected my ten favorite horror films. They are not necessarily the best horror films, just my favorites. They are the horror films that I can put into the DVD player at any time and feel at peace with the world. Each is uniquely entertaining for a cavalcade of reasons varying from gory and violent to haunting and bittersweet. These are my ten favorite horror movies (in alphabetical order).

28 Days Later – The first film of the 2000s’ “zombie renaissance,” 28 Days Later does not even include zombies; it features swarms of people infected by a disease called “rage.” The infected swarm England and create an apocalyptic setting that captivated me from the very beginning frames of this modern classic. The performances of Cillian Murphy and Naomi Harris only add to the excellence of this film.

Christine – John Carpenter turned Stephen King’s novel into a severely under-appreciated horror gem in this story about a boy and his car. The metamorphosis of Arnie from nerd to bad boy is almost as chilling as the 1958 Plymouth Fury from Hell. 

Dawn of the Dead – The 1978 original film stands out as the best zombie film of all-time. The zombies never looked better while the setting, the Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, created a desire within me to be inside a shopping mall after hours that I will carry with me until I die. This film was full of gory, desperation, and apocalyptic dread that makes a zombie film work.

Friday the 13th Part VI : Jason Lives – Violent, funny, intense, brutal, and down-right entertaining in every way, Friday the 13th Part VI revived the franchise with the rebirth of Jason Voorhees after the appearance of faux Jason in Part V. The killer soundtrack added to the charm while Jason Voorhees was never better than his tour of duty at Camp Crystal Lake in Part VI.

Halloween – Many say Psycho was the original slasher film. Others say it was The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. For me, John Carpenter’s Halloween set the gold standard for what every slasher film has attempted to be since 1978. That makes Halloween the original slasher film in my book.

Hostel: Part II – Brutal, violent, gory, vicious, and unrelenting, Hostel: Part II picks up where the first film left off with the kills even more horrific and brutal. I love the view into the mindset of the villainous clientele and the ultimate comeuppance of the villainous financers behind Elite Hunting that come with Hostel: Part II.

Scream – Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson breathed fresh life into the stale genre in 1996 with Scream. Innovative by approaching horror with a sarcastic approach that mocked the genre as well as reinforced the great things about the genre, Scream was vicious, insane, and captivating to the end credits. This film showed that anyone could be a suspect, you should always expect the unexpected, and you had better know the rules. 

The Birds – While many say Psycho is Alfred Hitchcock’s best horror film, my vote goes to The Birds. Just the idea that, for no given reason, birds could turn on a community and attack everyone sends chills down my spine. This is nature turning on humanity at its finest. In addition, marvelous performances from Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, and Jessica Tandy add to a chilling horror film that stands also as one of the premiere films of Hitchcock’s legendary career.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre – Leatherface and his family created one of the most imposing environments in horror history within their rural Texas farmhouse. From the chilling opening narration from a then-unknown John Larroquette through Leatherface’s almost poetic dance with the chainsaw as the film concludes, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre oozes a quiet intensity often imitated but rarely duplicated in the horror genre. 

The Wolf Man – This classic from 1941 is just an amazing film. While I do not find it scary, I love The Wolf Man because of its bittersweet tale of Lawrence Talbot (played by the legendary Lon Cheney, Jr.). Bitten by a werewolf, played by horror icon Bela Lugosi, as he attempted to save a young woman, Talbot suffers from the curse of the werewolf until it ultimately consumes him. The desperation in Cheney’s performance and the intensity of Talbot as the werewolf add to the horror as he unwillingly gives in to the curse at every full moon. The Wolf Man is not just a horror classic; it is a cinematic classic. 

Naming a favorite horror film created a wide range of selections from my panel. 

“Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Return of the Living Dead: Part 2. I watched these in secret with my dad when I was five.” - Brian McNail

“From 1980 or so, The Changeling starring George C. Scott. A very underrated-yet-scary and even disturbing movie. But there is one that trumps anything that I've EVER seen, and unfortunately it has never been released on DVD much less Blu-ray: The Dark Secret of Harvest Home starring none other than Bette Davis. This was a television movie from 1978 and it will scare the living hell out of you.” - Chris Knight 

“Honestly, ones that are creepy on a psychological level. The original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Alien, and The Exorcist are among my favorites. I also enjoy the Universal classics, some of the Hammer classics as well as quite a few silent horror movies such as Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and a few others.” - Doug Smith

“Event Horizon. Sci-fi horror is a genre that is both hard to pull off and totally under-appreciated. It was just pure perfection in my eyes (as well as a horror movie can be).” - James Walsh 

“My favorites are the slasher films with small towns or summer camps and with masked killers. My favorite is the original Prom Night because I felt bad for the killer. He saw these kids kill his sister and get away with it. He wanted her death to be avenged and I felt sad when he was killed at the end. Scream is also a fav as well. Psycho is the grandfather (or mother) of all horror because the genre was different after that movie.” - Jeremy Johnston 

“For starters, Nosferatu, just because it is a classic. I liked most of the Jason movies except the last one because Jason does not run, he just appears.” - Mic Grimsley

“A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. One reason was it was a huge improvement over Part 2. Plus, it made me afraid to walk down dark alleys, be around puppets, and trying to fix a static TV.” - Michael Jay Smith 

“My favorite horror movies are Halloween (the Rob Zombie remake) and Friday The 13th (2009). I don’t know why I like these movies. Maybe it’s because, when I was little, Michael and Jason scared me but, as I grew older, I overcame my fear of them.” - Stacey Holt

"My favorites are Return of the Living Dead and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. RotLD because it is that blend of horror done with that speck of dark comedy and punk rock that really clicks for me. Dream Warriors because Dokken and because I like every death scene and actually give a sh*t about the characters. You could say about every Nightmare save for the remake.” - Steak Sauce

“Sci-fi horror like Fire in the Sky, Communion, The Fourth Kind.” - Terry Sligar 

For every great horror film, there is a good horror film. For every good film, there is a decent film. For every decent film, there is a bad film. For every bad horror film, there is a putrid and vile waste of time that even your worst enemy should never view. Those horror films - the worst of the worst are among my least favorite horror films. As passionate as I am for the original series, I hate the Friday the 13th remake with that same passion. It turned Jason into a rip-off of multiple horror villains and Batman at one point. It was an unfunny joke. While a fan of the Saw series, I believe Saw V is one of the most pointless films in horror history. The Saw saga advanced an outstanding storyline through six films; with a seventh film - Saw V - merely there to grab cash from horror fans. Black Christmas, the 2006 remake of the wonderful 1974 original, wasted a sexy and talented cast with lame kills, a terrible storyline, and painfully bad editing. The best parts of the movie aired in the trailer and then were cut from the movie. Finally, while they have their devoted group of fans and an iconic horror villain, the Hellraiser films - all 87 of them - are complete garbage. In 1987, they tried to make a good film. It was mediocre, maybe deserving of a sequel, but nothing special. Since then, the acting and effects have gotten worse while the filmmakers continue to milk this dead cow for all it is worth. The Hellraiser franchise is a tragic waste of the talented Doug Bradley.

When selecting a least favorite horror film, there were many passionate responses towards films viewed as simply detestable.

“My least favorite are the Saw and Paranormal Activity franchises because I don’t see them as horror but everyone else does.” - Brian McNail

“Anything ever made related to zombies. They’re not scary and they don’t fall under the category of being ‘so bad they’re funny.’” - Doug Smith

“I hate Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2 because he was trying to be artsy like a douche bag. Also, my least favorite, besides Halloween 2, would have to be The Exorcist and The Omen. I get it - the Devil is evil. Those movies are just dull in my opinion (regardless of age or praise).” - James Walsh 

“Least favorite is the Hellraiser series. I just couldn’t get into them or the Saw movies. I don’t dig the new sadomasochist, gore, and twisted style.” - Jeremy Johnston

“My least favorite horror, and one I wish they would launch any and all copies they can find into the sun, is Child’s Play. I hate that movie because toys are supposed to be your friend, not the vessels of psycho’s souls.” - Stacey Holt

“Shaun of the Dead and the Saw series. Shaun was plagued by horrible acting and writing from the start. It’s a movie that just drags on. To be fair, I’ve only seen the first two Saw movies but Jesus were they bad. Also, the Hellraiser series. At least they tried with the first two but after that…” - Steak Sauce

“Torture porn. Hostel, House of 1000 Corpses, Saw.” - Terry Sligar

Overrated and Underrated Films

There are many films in the horror genre that I feel are overrated. As good a film as each may be, I feel they do not live up to the hype. It might be horror fan sacrilege but I stand by the following statement: the two most overrated horror films of all-time are Psycho and The Exorcist. Critics and fans alike list both films among the greatest of all-time, not just greatest horror films either. Don’t get me wrong; I love both movies. However, I would not dare call either the greatest horror film of all-time. The hype surrounding Psycho and The Exorcist make them overrated. In discussing overrated horror films, I have to stress that the Evil Dead series is painfully overrated. Bruce Campbell’s terrifically corny performance as Ash does not make up for the fact that both The Evil Dead and its sequel, essentially a remake of the first, are terrible movies. Finally, I have to stress again my displeasure with the Child’s Play films. There are some serious fans of this franchise and I cannot understand why. Chucky was stupid and these films gradually got worse throughout the series. These films never deserved the amount of sequels received. 

As far as underrated horror films go, I have to start with the most underrated horror film of all-time: the 1983 slasher film Sleepaway Camp. There is nothing special or innovative about Sleepaway Camp for the first 85 minutes. Then, the ending happens. In the shocking finale, we see that Angela is the killer… and she has a penis. Yup. Angela is really a boy. It is an intense ending making Sleepaway Camp an instant classic. Despite being a made-for-television movie, Dark Night of the Scarecrow is one of the creepiest horror films of the 1980s. Packing a lot of action and terrific performances into this tale of revenge, Dark Night of the Scarecrow is outstanding and will always hold a special place in my heart. Night of the Demons, released in 1988, is one of many horror films where teenagers party in a location they should not and pay the price for it. However, this film deserves appreciation because of many great aspects that set it apart from its contemporaries. The special effects are outstanding with the demonic victims all sporting some great make-up jobs. Also, the film offers a rarity in horror movies as an African-American actually survived from beginning to end. Finally, a modern horror film that is extremely underrated is the 2006 horror mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. An homage to the slasher genre, and treating the genre as reality, Behind the Mask mixes dark comedy with documentary-style film making to create one of the more unique horror experiences in the last decade. 

It was very interesting to see some of the titles labeled overrated and underrated by the horror fans in my panel. It is quite the mix of established and lesser-known films making the list.

“Italian zombie/splatter flicks are underrated because most people won’t watch dubbed/subtitled movies. Paranormal Activity is overrated because people believe the sh*t is real.” - Brian McNail

“For overrated, I say the zombie genre. I’m also gonna throw in the entire Nightmare On Elm Street series. I understand the concept and it’s an interesting one. But it’s executed terribly and Robert Englund has the acting chops of Channing Tatum. For underrated, I think silent horror is under-appreciated at least by most modern audiences. I don’t think most people appreciate how honestly frightening your mind can make something even without modern audio/visual technology.” - Doug Smith

“Under-appreciated: Event Horizon. I also think the 13 Ghosts movie did not get a fair shake considering how much thought and back story was put into the actually ghosts and 'world' that the movie took place in.” - James Walsh 

“A lot of people hate the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake with Jessica Biel and Eric Balfour but I gotta say that it was the only movie where I felt really bad for the kids. I wanted them to escape so bad! It is very underrated.” - Jeremy Johnston

“Sleepaway Camp is underrated just for the ending alone.” - Michael Jay Smith

“I feel that Rob Zombie’s Halloween films are underrated. If people could look past the remake tag, they’d find two absolutely incredible movies. Also, people mistake Halloween 2 for a remake. It absolutely is not a remake; it is the sequel to a remake. As much praise as it receives I don’t think the Scream franchise has had enough. Overrated would be Paranormal Activity as a franchise as well as the Saw franchise. I really have to ask ‘who would be entertained by this?’” - Steak Sauce

“Overrated: Friday the 13th, anything with Bruce Campbell, a lot of 1990’s horror. Under-appreciated: Leviathan, La Cavaliere, Beware: Children at Play, Phantasm, the original Children of the Corn, and C.H.U.D.” - Terry Sligar

The Ideal Halloween Triple Feature

Every Halloween, I love to sit back with a cold, tasty beverage and enjoy a few of my favorite horror movies. It is a Halloween tradition of mine. In working on this ode to the horror genre, I started thinking about the perfect horror movie triple feature. What would I include in the perfect representation of this genre I love so much? Do I go with fun and excitement or do I select horror classics that display the growth of the genre? Do I choose films representing the sub-genres of horror or stick to one style? After a lot of thought, I selected these three films as my Halloween Triple Feature:

Dawn of the Dead (1978) - I love zombies. This is the greatest zombie film ever made. More importantly though, Dawn of the Dead includes everything about the zombie genre in such a perfect blend that this is not just a perfect zombie film; it is a perfect horror film. The undead roam the planet feasting on the living without a cure or cause in sight. There is no hope for humanity yet the survivors continue to fight and strive to survive. It is a perfect display of the human spirit - a desire to fight against insurmountable odds even in the face of catastrophe. The original Dawn of the Dead is a masterpiece.

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives - Jason Voorhees is an icon. Throughout the Friday the 13th franchise, Jason underwent many transitions (drowning Mama’s boy, grain sack wearing redneck mongoloid, undead killing machine, traveling spirit using bodies as shells, space cowboy). For my money, Jason was never better than the sixth installment of the series when everybody’s favorite hockey mask adorning killer rose from the dead via a lightning strike homage to Frankenstein‘s monster. The blend of dark comedy and brutal, vicious death scenes make for one of the most entertaining experiences in the horror genre. This is as close to a perfect slasher film from the 1980s as you will ever find. I love this movie.

Hostel - I know that many people hate these films. Torture porn, they label them. For me, Hostel represents the age of realism in horror films where the killers were as normal as their victims. The only difference between the hero and villain came in a lack of conscious and morality. In addition, Hostel fits into one of my favorite sub-genres of the horror genre: the wrong turn into danger genre. These kids make a bad turn, one mistake, and it turned their world upside down. It makes me think how life really can change drastically based on whether or not I go left or right. Hostel is an outstanding blend of violence and chance surrounded by groundbreaking gore that entertains me to no end.

In reading the responses of my panel, it was interesting to see the selections chosen in creating the ideal horror triple feature. Regardless of how the panelists selected their films, each person has a triple feature sure to entertain any horror fan at Halloween. 

The Beyond, Halloween 2, Night of Living Dead (1990 remake) - Brian McNail

The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari or Nosferatu, The Exorcist, and Saw - Doug Smith

Dawn of the Dead (with director’s commentary - dork, I know), Event Horizon, and Alien - James Walsh

Scream, one of the Friday the 13th films, and Halloween - Jeremy Johnston

Night of the Living Dead, Halloween, and Friday the 13th - Michael Jay Smith

Dracula (either the original with Bela Lugosi or the version with Gary Oldman), Halloween (2009) and Friday The 13th - Stacey Holt

Return of the Living Dead, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and Friday the 13th Part 4: the Final Chapter - Steak Sauce

La Cavaliere, Poltergeist 2, and Communion - Terry Sligar

I hope that everyone enjoyed this ode to horror movies. Thanks to all of the people who joined me in revealing some of their favorites and thanks to all of you for reading this special Halloween edition of The Highlight Reel. Now, sit back with some popcorn, candy, or an adult beverage and enjoy something scary. It’s Halloween and there is no better way to enjoy it than with someone getting slaughter on TV.