Saturday Morning Ringside: Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors (2010)

 Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors was MTV's last contribution to the wrestling business.

The series aired on Friday nights and, at first, Saturday afternoons on MTV2. Season 2 Saturday replays aired in the morning, hence its inclusion here.

Lalo Gonzalez & Nigel Sherrod were the announcers, with Sherrod doubling as ring announcer, in season 1. When the series returned, ex-WWE announcers Kevin Kelly & Todd (Steve) Romero took over. However, Romero didn't last long, and when the series transitioned to Hulu to finish the season, ex-WWE, ECW, & TNA wrestler Stevie Richards took over on color. By season's end, Alex Abrahantes, recently released by AEW, replaced Kelly.

The roster was stocked with ex-TNA, WCW, & WWE talent, including Marco Corleone (Mark Jindrak), Tigresa Caliente (Trenesha Biggers, formerly with TNA), Petey Williams (now a WWE producer), and Chi Chi (Allan Funk, aka Kwee-Wee in WCW & Bruce in TNA). It wasn't until Robert Rodriguez bankrolled Lucha Underground in 2014 that the lucha style finally caught on with American audiences once more.

Let's take you back to the series opener.

I wasn't thrilled with the rudos (heels) winning 2 of the three matches, but this was only part of the problem. Viewer indifference cost the series its berth on MTV2.

Rating: B.

Literary Toons: The Pig Plantagenet (1985)

 From CBS Storybreak:

Allen Andrews' novel, The Pig Plantagenet was adapted by TV & comics writer Mark Evanier for Hanna-Barbera Australia. Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) is the series host.

Animated World of DC Comics: A Little Something Extra (Shazam!, 1981)

 Black Adam (Lou Scheimer) makes his 2nd & final appearance in "A Little Something Extra", as he tries tricking the Marvels. Yeah, good luck with that.

Rating: A-. Seems they pulled a Mxyzptlk trick in sending Adam away.

It was 50 years ago today

 Today, Rick Monday is a radio announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 50 years ago, he was an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, who were finishing a weekend series at Dodger Stadium.

On this day in 1976, two men attempted to burn the US flag. Monday was having none of that. Vin Scully calls it.

Monday, an ex-Marine, was hailed as a hero. Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan had high praise for Monday, as did everyone else, two and a half months away from the bicentennial. Fittingly, on the 50th anniversary of this episode, the Cubs are in LA this weekend, riding a 10 game winning streak as tonight's game has gotten underway as I write.

Saturtainment: The Shari Show (1960)

 Shari Lewis followed up Hi, Mom with The Shari Show, which ran for 3 seasons on NBC (1960-3). At the time, Howdy Doody had been airing six days a week, but when the show was ending, NBC decided to replace it with Shari on Saturdays.

Ronald Radd plays Mr. Goodfellow. During the series run, Fred Gwynne, who'd move on to Car 54, Where Are You?, and, then, The Munsters, appeared as Lamb Chop's personal physician.

In this sampler, it's Charlie Horse's birthday......

I never got to see the show, and I was born during the 3rd season. 

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: We Just Disagree (1977)

 In memory of singer-songwriter Dave Mason, who passed away earlier this week, we present a performance of "We Just Disagree", from The Midnight Special:

Rest in peace, Dave.

Coming Attractions: Coyote vs. ACME finally heading to the multiplex

 That lovable loser, Wile E. Coyote, will have his day in court against ACME after all.

"Coyote vs. ACME", co-written by James Gunn, was rescued from the WB scrap heap by Ketchup Entertainment, which will release the movie on August 28. Will Forte & John Cena are among the human stars.

If this connects with enough people at the theatres, David Zaslav will look even more like a tool than before. Scope the trailer:

You'd think Gunn would've stepped to the plate to try to save this himself when Zaslav decided to junk the project several months back. Personally, I'd strap Zaslav and his idiot staff to chairs, and make them binge-watch every Road Runner cartoon ever made.

We'll see what the public thinks come the end of August.