RollerGames

"RollerGames" was a U.S. television series 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 for reasons not directly related to the series.

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" and "Big Brother") teamed with Roller Games owner Bill Griffiths, Sr. to create a modern version of the sport marketed as "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 or her opponent into the alligator pit was declared the winner. The debut episode was the only time live alligators were ever used.

The show also included halftime entertainment by musical performers like Lita Ford, Warrant, Exposé, and had 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, Michael Flaningam "The California Kid", "Electric" Randi Whitman (who got her nickname because of her hair), "Stars and Stripes" Matt Bickham, "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, the Maniacs' top skater who got 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. The distributor did not go bankrupt due to "RollerGames".fact|date=May 2008 RollerGames delivered a 4.7 national rating vs. the "American Gladiators" 2.5 rating. Its debut in New York scored a 9.3 overnight rating.

Revivals

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.

In January 2008, "RollerGames" coproducer David Sams announced that he "intends to put banked-track Roller Sports back on Television and the Internet in 2008." [cite web|url=http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/RollerDerbyIsSport/message/4711
title=Press Release: Sams Announces Plans To Bring Roller Sports Back To TV and the Internet|date=2008-01-17|accessdate=2008-05-01] He later announced that The David Sams Organization was recruiting skaters, coaches, trainers, and cheerleaders for a series that "will be taped in the Los Angeles area, as early as this summer and fall." He also said "A tour is being planned for the winter/spring of 2009."

Following the cancellation of "RollerGames", Griffiths continued promoting an untelevised league under the name Roller Games International.

Promotional tie-ins

* A "RollerGames" arcade game was released by Konami, along with a Nintendo Entertainment System version, released in North America under their Ultra Games label.
* 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 songs "Made In The USA" (T-Birds, sung by Rockers skater Darlene Langlois), "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".

References

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."

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.rollergames.com Roller Games International]