RIP ERNEST BORGNINE

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine died last night at the age of 95. Borgnine was an Oscar Winner for his role in "Marty" in 1955. Borgnine was also honored with a SAG award in 2010.

Borgnine began playing bad guys in movies like "From Here To Eternity" playing Sgt. "Fatso"  Judson who beats Frank Sinatra's character to death.

In 1955 he played Marty a lovesick butcher in the bronx who finds love with a wallflower named Clara(Betsy Blair). Borgnine won the Oscar for Best Actor and his career would never be the same.

He would go on to play many different characters with good hearts in "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Escape From New York".

His most beloved character besides "Marty" was Lt. Commander Quentin McHale in "McHale's Navy" which ran on ABC from 1962-1966.

During his career, Mr. Borgnine appeared in over 200 movies and TV shows during his 70 years in the business. He was a true star. For a true in-depth article, please read this piece at CBS NEWS.

If you like this blog then feel free to comment on Twitter @SEMScorpio.

The Professor

RIP ANDY GRIFFITH

Andy Griffith

On July 3rd Andy Griffith passed away. America lost one of its greatest performers. Griffith was known for his comedy album, "What it was, was football" in the 1950's. By 1955 he had starred on Broadway in "No Time for Sargeants" and in 1957 he was  a  drifter turned TV star in the movie, "A Face In The Crowd".

But in 1960, he started a show that would define his career, "The Andy Griffith Show". Playing Sheriff Andy Taylor in the fictional town of Mayberry, Griffith played the nice quiet sheriff in a town of crazy characters. With his son Opie (Ron Howard), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) Andy always had his hands full.

After the Andy Griffith show ended in 1968,  Griffith starred in a few movies that went against his squeaky clean image.

In 1987 he returned to TV as Ben Matlock, a crusty defense attorney in Atlanta. The show ran until 1996.

If you really want to read an in-depth article on Andy Griffith, please read this article in the NY TIMES.

Thank you Mr. Griffith for your many contributions to TV and Hollywood. You will be missed.

The Professor

COMIC BOOK NEWS: BATMAN IS COMIMG TO SMALLVILLE

Image Courtesy of DC Comics

Batman will appear in Smallville Season 11 starting in September, in a story entitled, "Detective."  According to writer Bryan Q. Miller at Comic Book Resources, Batman will be on the hunt for his parents killers when he enters Metropolis. Also this Batman is older than Superman by a few years. It should be a good story.

The Professor

ROSARIO DAWSON: DREAM GIRL

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Rosario Dawson is one of the most accomplished actresses in Hollywood. She's been in many movies including "RENT," "Clerks 2," "Sin City," and "Unstoppable".

Her incredible talent and stunning beauty have made her one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood among fans and studio executives.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to show my appreciation for Ms. Dawson and her incredible career.

The Professor

BOBBY ROODE'S CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN: QUANTITY OVER QUALITY

Photo Courtesy of Google Images and TNA Impact Wrestling.com

Booby Roode is the longest reigning world champion in TNA history. He has held the title since November 2011 and is a quality performer in the ring. One thing that his title reign is lacking in my opinion is a memorable and epic feel to it. This is a reflection of TNA's lackluster booking in some areas.

Make no mistake, Roode has faced some great opponents including A. J. Styles, Jeff Hardy, Sting, James Storm and others but the "big fight" atmosphere has been lacking. Roode has gotten clean and decisive wins in recent months against Jeff Hardy, RVD, and Ken Anderson to establish himself as a credible champion.

If I were booking Roode, he would be a beast of a man who did everything and anything to keep his title, much like Edge did in WWE.

TNA is trying to make Bound For Glory their big night when James Storm and Bobby Roode have their next confrontation for the heavyweight championship. In the minds of TNA fans that is a "BIG FIGHT."

Roode will defend his title on July 7th at Destuination X against Austin Aries. This could be a great Summer feud if TNA books it correctly. We will have to wait and see.

The Professor

AUSTIN ARIES IS IN A NO-WIN SITUATION IN TNA

Austin Aries

(Photo Courtesy of Google Images)

On last week's TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Hulk Hogan told Austin Aries that in order to face Bobby Roode for the World title at Destination X, he would have to relinquish the X-Division title on this week's edition of Impact Wrestling.

This makes no sense to me as a fan for at least two reasons:

1. The X-Division title makes Austin Aries a credible opponent

With the X-Division title, Aries has a lot more credibility as a challenger for the World title. Aries is the longest reigning X-Division champion in TNA history, so when he says that he should be in the main event, one of the reasons that fans believe him, besides his great skills in the ring, but also because that belt backs up his statement.

2. A "Champion vs. Champion" gives your main event more prestige

TNA is looking to attract more fans to its product and one way to do that is to promote that your two top champions are going to fight each other. They should play that fact up on TV and put both men on posters with their respective titles. That can draw much needed attention to TNA's struggling brand. The Destination X main event would surely be something that hardcore fans and casual fans would want to see if it was promoted as, "Who's really the best in TNA?"

This storyline will probably lead to Austin Aries relinquishing the X-Division title which is a mistake in my book. TNA probably think that they'll need the belt for some tournament match at Destination X.

Besides the money match is James Storm vs. Bobby Roode for the world title which won't happen until Bound For Glory in October so Aries won't win at Destination X.  So he'll lose a lot of momentum in the process. But that is TNA Wrestling's plan for building a new star. Peculiar.

The Professor

MATT MORGAN IS DONE WITH TNA WRESTLING

Image Courtesy of Google

WRESTLING INC.  reports that Matt Morgan has completed his contractual obligations for TNA Wrestling and may now be headed to WWE.

Morgan defeated Crimson over the weekend in Texas and then wrote on his twitter page, "Texas yesterday, Connecticut today, who says u can't go home!"

Morgan began his career in WWE back in 2002 when he was in OVW(Ohio Valley Wrestling). OVW was a talent development territory for WWE at the time.

Morgan said in an interview that he had a "beef" with TNA since he didn't feel he was being used properly.

I hope we see Morgan in WWE soon. I think he could really help their roster if given the right opportunity.

The Professor