R.I.P. PAT HARRINGTON JR.

Pat Harrington Jr.

TV Line reports (read the article here) that Pat Harrington has died. The star of the sitcom "One Day at A Time" was 86. Harrington got his start on Television working with Steve Allen on The Tonight Show. During that time he got to work with other greats such as Tom Poston and Don Knotts before they were stars.

He was a fixture during the golden age of television appearing on such classic hits like The Munsters, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and McHale's Navy.

Harrington is most well known for playing building superintendent Schneider on One Day at A Time with Bonnie Franklin, McKenzie Phillips, and Valerie Berinelli about a divorced single mother raising her two daughters. As a fan I watched the show and was impressed how they blended dramatic and comedic elements so smoothly.

Thank you Mr. Harrington for your enormous contribution to TV.

THE PROFESSOR

FRANK MILLER WANTS TO DO A SUPERMAN COMIC WITH BATMAN AS THE BAD GUY

Bleeding Cool reports (read the article here) that on the heels of the release of the Batman vs. Superman trailer last week, Frank Miller, author of "The Dark Knight Returns" revealed at the CCXP Comic show in Brazil that he would like to write a Superman comic...with Batman as the bad guy. As a fan of Superman I would love to see what Miller would do with the Man of Steel. I think Miller may run into some issues with Batman fans.

Frank Miller is considered the quintessential "Batman" writer with The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One defining Batman for many generations as well as elements of his work being used in Tim Burton's Batman movie, Batman Begins, and Gotham. Most fans love Dark Knight Returns because of the fight at the end where Batman beats the hell out of Superman. Dark Knight essentially established Batman as the rebel and Superman for generations as the boy scout.


I think that if Mr. Miller does do a Superman comic then it would be fine if "Batman" was the bad guy but Bruce Wayne isn't. Maybe the story takes place in a different timeline where Bruce Wayne is too old or dead to be Batman. Thus a new Batman is on the scene terrorizing people working as a corporate puppet for Lex Luthor. Superman could be a new hero that works to stop Luthor and Batman as well.


Frank Miller doesn't need my help to write a Superman story. Whatever he does will be great and will thrill fans of all ages. I hope this happens soon because I would love to see Frank Miller's take on Superman.


Class Dismissed
The Professor

MY THOUGHTS ON THE MOST RECENT BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN TRAILER

The newest trailer for Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice was posted a few days ago (see it here). There are a few things that I enjoyed about it:

1. Clark and Bruce as well as Superman and Batman were presented as equals

This is very important. Sometimes Batman/Bruce is presented as smarter or even more dangerous than Clark/Superman but that was not the case here. The trailer showed the strengths of both characters from Superman's powers and Clark's reporter instincts to Bruce's drive and Batman's gadgets.

2. Zod is Doomsday!!!!

For months there were rumors that Zod would somehow become Doomsday through Lex Luthor's machinations. It was confirmed that this happens as Zod is shown then Doomsday shoots heat vision from his eyes at Batman.

3. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman shows up at the end of the trailer and protects Batman from Doomsday's heat vision blast. Gal Gadot makes an impressive Wonder Woman which looks even better in action than the still pictures we have seen previously.

4. Campy Lex Luthor

I noticed that Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is very campy in this trailer from his first meeting with Clark and Bruce to talking to Lois Lane, this Lex Luthor reminds me a lot of the Gene Hackman version in Superman 1 and 2.

There is no doubt that Warner Brothers wants this to be a big deal and it's being presented as such. This movie will make hundreds of millions of dollars. It will be interesting to see how it does when it debuts in March of 2016 especially with Captain America: Civil War debuting in June.

Class Dismissed,
The Professor

ALEXANDRA DADDARIO CAST IN BAYWATCH MOVIE

Alexandra Daddario

Get her red suit ready! Bleedng Cool reports (read the article here)that Alexandra Daddario has been cast in the new Baywatch movie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Zac Efron. Daddario starred with Johnson in San Andreas which came out earlier this year.

The young beauty will play Summer who was played by Nicole Eggert in the original Baywatch TV show.



We still have yet to find out who will play the role of "C.J." in the film although the role is rumored to be coveted by many actresses. Pamela Anderson used the role to catapult herself to Superstardom and become a sex symbol in the 90's. The Baywatch movie comes out in 2017.

Class Dismissed
The Professor

RIP NICK BOCKWINKEL

Nick Bockwinkel as AWA champion

Before there was Ric Flair there was Nick Bockwinkel. Flair made his reputation as a well-dressed ladies man who liked to "style and profile". In the 1970's there was one champion that did it with style and flare as well. That champion was Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel died on Saturday at the age of 80. Wresling lost another of it's all-time greats.

Bockwinkel wrestled in the AWA (American Wrestling Association) during the 1970's and 1980's. This was during the territory days so he wrestled every great legend of his time including Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Jerry "The King" Lawler just to name a few. Bockwinkel was a 4-time AWA champion.

In fact Bockwinkel was the first champion to work with Hulk Hogan during his time in the AWA from 1981-1983 when Hogan was just starting Hulkamania in the AWA. Who knows where Hulk Hogan would be without Bockwinkel's help. Ric Flair who was a fan of the AWA and was trained by Verne Gagne (the AWA's founder and great wrestler in his own right) also borrowed his style approach from Bockwinkel wearing custom-made suits.

RIP Mr. Bockwinkel. Your impact on this sport will never be forgotten.

THE PROFESSOR

KEVIN OWENS SHOULD BE THE NEXT WWE CHAMPION

Kevin Owens as NXT Champion

At Survivor Series, the WWE will crown a new World Champion. Seth Rollins who was the champ had to vacate the title due to injury. Now WWE is holding a tournament to crown a new WWE champ.

Many are speculating that Roman Reigns will become champion since Vince McMahon see his as the next "IT" guy. I don't think that's the right call. If WWE wants to make the statement that Reigns is "The Man" they'll have to do it at WrestleMania when the world will be watching WWE.

In the meanwhile WWE will need someone who can carry the title until that time and maintain the fans interest. Kevin Owens is that man.

Owens is a great heel that knows how to get under the crowd's skin and elevate everyone he works with. He has great mic skills and can definitely hold his own with almost any superstar.

Owens isn't a musclebound superstar like John Cena so WWE may not want him as champion but they may need him as champion. It is his different type of physique that makes him a draw and could bring fans into the sport when they see a different body type.

I hope WWE makes Owens the champion but I don't think they will. We can only wait and see.

THE PROFESSOR

ANDRE WARD VACATES SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

Andre Ward

Andre Ward has vacated his Super Middleweight title in order to move up to the light weight division and face light weight champion Sergey Kovalev sometime in 2016 according to ESPN (read the article here). Ward has been a world champion since 2009.

Ward has just signed a three-fight contract with HBO. He was supposed to fight on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto-Canelo Alvarez fight on Nov. 21 but he had to cancel due to injury.

Whenever Ward and Kovalev fight it will be one for the ages. Both have a great amateur background with Kovalev being more of a knockout artist with scary power. Ward is more technical and he likes to out box his opponent.

Many consider Ward the second best pound for pound fighter behind Floyd Mayweather. Ward will have his chance to lay stake to that claim when he returns to boxing on HBO sometime next year. As a fan I can't wait to see it.

THE PROFESSOR