Hogan Knows Best

infobox television


caption = "Hogan Knows Best" title card
show_name = Hogan Knows Best
format = Reality
language = English
runtime = 30 Minutes
starring = Hulk Hogan
Linda Hogan
Brooke Hogan
Nick Hogan
country = United States
network = VH1
num_seasons = 4
first_aired = July 10, 2005
last_aired = October 21, 2007
num_episodes = 43
followed_by = "Brooke Knows Best"
website = http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/hogan_knows_best/series.jhtml
imdb_id = 0468996
tv_com_id = 35067

"Hogan Knows Best" was an American television show, centered around the family life of professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea). Often focusing on the Hogans' raising of their children, and on Hulk Hogan's attempts to manage and assist in his children's burgeoning careers. The title of the show is a humorous play on the title of a show from the 1950s, "Father Knows Best". On March 6, 2008 it was announced that "Hogan Knows Best" would continue through a spin-off, called "Brooke Knows Best." [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080307/lf_nm_life/celebrities_dc_4 news.yahoo.com] ]

History

The series premiered on July 10, 2005 with a 1.9 (cable Nielsen rating), representing the largest audience for a VH1 premiere ever,Fact|date=November 2007 but was shortly beaten by Flavor Of Love 2. It began airing on CMT in early 2006 and also airs on TMF, MTV and The Biography Channel in the UK and Ireland, TVtropolis in Canada, MusiquePlus in French Canadian (in French, the show is "Hogan a raison", "Hogan is right"), Both VH1 and MTV in Australia, MTV Italia in Italy (in English with Italian subtitles), MTV Central in Germany and Austria (in English with German subtitles), VH1, MTV Portugal in Portugal (in English with Portuguese subtitles), in The Netherlands on MTV Netherlands with Dutch subtitles and in India on VH1, in France on Game one ("le monde merveilleux de Hulk Hogan", "The Wonderful World of Hulk Hogan"), C4 and The Box in New Zealand. in Norway both on MTV Norway and VH1 with Norwegian subtitles, in Latin America with Spanish subtitles on VH1 (in Spanish, the show is "Papá Hogan a la Lucha!").

The show was originally pitched and offered to Hulk Hogan prior to his famous WrestleMania X8 "Icon vs. Icon" match with The Rock in 2002. It would chronicle Hogan's return to the WWE after the demise of the WCW and after surgery on both of his knees. Hogan declined. However, after later noticing the success of pop stars such as Hilary Duff and Britney Spears, Hogan accepted a deal to do the show as a way to help promote daughter Brooke's singing career. In the episode "Hulkamania Forever", Hulk also mentions that the family has no source of income, suggesting that the reason behind doing the show was a money making ploy,Fact|date=November 2007 as lawyer & music studio bills in excess of $200,000 had come in recently. Retired Pro Wrestler The Honky Tonk Man mocked the show in a shoot interview, calling it "Hogan Knows Shit."

It was reported that taping for a following season of "Hogan Knows Best" halted in the summer of 2007, due to Nick Hogan's car accident and felony charges for crashing his car and seriously injuring his friend. With regard to Nick's trouble with the law and the pending divorce between Linda and Hulk, the VH1 network is now undecided on whether or not they want to continue on with the series.cite web |date=November 11, 2007|url = http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/11/Northpinellas/Reality_clouds_Bollea.shtml|title = Reality clouds Bollea's career|format = HTML |publisher = St. Petersburg Times| accessdate = 2007-11-27 |quote=]

On Friday, May 9, 2008, at Nick's court appearance and sentencing, Hulk Hogan told the judge that "Hogan Knows Best" was not a reality show, but in fact, was scripted. Hulk said that often Nick would be in his room on the computer when the producers would ask him to do something like throw water balloons.

Hiatus reasons

On August 26, 2007, an intoxicated Nick was involved in a serious car crash while speeding in his Toyota Supra in Clearwater, Florida. Nick was sent to the hospital and released the following morning. However, his friend was seriously injured as a result of the car accident. Nick was charged with a felony for reckless driving and underage drinking. Also he was charged with violating limits on blood alcohol levels while driving. He was arrested on November 7, 2007, and sent to jail. However, his parents released him on a $10,000 bond shortly thereafter. Nick's friend, 22 year-old active-duty Marine John Graziano, is now on life support with serious brain injuries. It is now expected that the Iraq War veteran will require lifelong care, requiring him to spend the remainder of his life in a nursing home. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0731569720071108 Hulk Hogan's son arrested over car crash Lifestyle | Living | Reuters ] ] The Hogan family issued a statement on how they were saddened that criminal charges had been filed against Nick, and how John was unfortunately not wearing his seatbelt, but that Nick was. [ [http://www.movinstlouis.com/?nid=212&pid=1231 ToastedRav.com ] ]

On November 24, 2007, it was announced that Linda filed for divorce from Hulk Hogan after 24 years of marriage. Hogan was uninformed of this until a reporter showed him the paperwork submitted by his wife. Linda had been away from him for three weeks in California when she submitted the paperwork. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/11/24/hogan.divorce.ap/index.html Report: Hulk Hogan's wife seeks divorce - CNN.com ] ] In court papers, Linda states the marriage is "irretrievably broken." In the court papers, she also addresses custody of their son, Nick, asking for primary physical custody of him, while Hulk would receive "liberal visitation and access to the child." [ [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/linda-hogan-asks-for-half-in-divorce-filing-hulk-asks-for-privacy-6171.php Linda Hogan asks for half in divorce filing, Hulk asks for privacy - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, message boards, chat and games for unscripted television programs ] ] Linda is reportedly seeking half of the couple's $9.5m in assets, including a stake in their Bellaire mansion in Florida. [ [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/1128/hoganh.html RTÉ.ie Entertainment: Hulk Hogan issues statement on divorce ] ] In addition, Linda also asks for alimony, child support, and Hulk to pay for Nick's health insurance and take out a life insurance policy to cover child support for Nick if necessary. [ [http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/64175/Major-New-Report-On-Nick-Hogan-Car-Cash.htm 411mania.com: Wrestling - Major New Report On Nick Hogan Car Cash ] ] It is unknown how all these circumstances will affect the lighthearted reality show if it's even to return, which is also unknown. [ cite web|url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-11-24-hogans-divorce_N.htm |title = Linda Hogan files for divorce from Hulk Linda Hogan has filed for divorce from her wrestler husband Hulk Hogan, according to Pinellas County court records, a newspaper reported Friday.] Hulk Hogan appeared on the "Jimmy Kimmel Show" on January 30, 2008 and said that "Hogan Knows Best" will continue, although the focus will shift to Brooke and the name be changed to "Brooke Knows Best".

Cast

*Terry "Hulk" Hogan is represented on the show as a strict and protective father, particularly with regard to the opposite sex being anywhere near his daughter, Brooke. On more than one occasion, he has schemed ways to spy on her when hanging out with guys. However, because of a competition involving finding the right boyfriend for Brooke, Terry wanted to win so badly that he actually encouraged Brooke to be together with the young man he chose for her. The young man was Davey Boy Smith's son, Harry Smith. His career as a wrestler has taken its toll on his body, including weak knees and an artificial hip replacement, though he still works out in order to maintain his physique. He has also claimed, on the show, that he had his teeth knocked out six times and his nose broken twelve times. In an effort to conceal his baldness, he always wears a hat or bandanna.
*Linda Hogan is Hogan's wife. An ardent animal lover, she temporarily took a baby chimpanzee into the house in one episode, and seriously considered adopting it. Of she and Hulk, she is the more lenient parent. She has serious reservations about Hulk returning to the ring, and about her son contemplating a wrestling career.
*Brooke Hogan is Hulk and Linda's teenage daughter, who produced a new song to kick off her career, and signed a $1.3 million contract when she turned eighteen. Hulk's nickname for her is "Brooke-tini." On the show, she made crude remarks about Harry Smith and the two never hit it off.
*Nick Hogan is Hulk and Linda's son, who is two years younger than Brooke. Nick is always up to antics. Although Nick and Brooke have an amicable relationship overall, there are moments when they take pleasure in getting one another in trouble. Nick aspires to be a professional wrestler, though his father has encouraged him to take acting lessons in order to improve his sense of showmanship. Nick was a professional drifter for Dodge until July 2007. He got his Formula-D license in 2006.

Recurring themes

* The family keeps over thirty pets, including dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, chinchillas, and their affinity for animals has been the source of conflict of more than one episode.
* A close-knit family, they often end episodes by assembling into a huddle as a way of signifying that they are a team.
* Promoting Brooke's attempts to become a singer.
* Hulk often objecting to Brooke's boyfriends and dates.
* Fitting in and meeting people in the Miami area.

Production information

Throughout the episodes of "Hogan Knows Best" there is a recurring theme to which his family wants Hogan to abstain from physical wrestling events due to his age, previous injuries, and the threat of a debilitating injury should he continue. This has led Hogan to allow endorsement opportunities to be presented to him on the show.

Hogan endorses Socko, an energy drink (later changed to "Hogan Energy Powered by Socko"), which features his likeness. Hogan has joked on the show that he missed out on an endorsement that would have put the "Hulk" name on the George Foreman Grill and regretfully endorsed a shake mixer instead. On the show, Hogan records a voice-over for a radio commercial, and the entire Bollea family appears on an infomercial for a new indoor cooking device, "Hulk Hogan's Ultimate Grill."

Hogan commented on the "Bubba The Love Sponge Show" that the series may come to an end after the third season. Fearing the family will not be together enough for a successful series, he cited the busy schedule of Brooke touring, and Nick being signed to drive for Dodge.

However, in early March 2007, Hogan confirmed on "The Bubba The Love Sponge Show" that Season Four had started filming and they had just wrapped up filming the new season's first episode which premiered on July 22, 2007.

DVD release

"Hogan Knows Best" Seasons 1, 2, & 3 were released on DVD on September 25, 2007 exclusively at Suncoast & FYE. [http://www.fye.com/Hogan-Knows-Best--Seasons-1-3--f-y-e--Exclusive--Front-Page_stcVVproductId26847091VVcatId455366VVviewprod.htm Seasons 1, 2 & 3 DVD FYE & Suncoast Exclusive]

"Hogan Knows Best" Season 1 was released on DVD Region 2 in early 2008. Known Release Countries are Germany, Norway and Australia. [http://www.platekompaniet.no/dvdproduct.asp?id=NO1137696 Season 1 DVD Norway] [http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/795296 Season 1 DVD Australia] [ [http://www.amazon.de/Hogan-Knows-Best-Season-1/dp/B000ZONFQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1215019260&sr=8-1 Amazon.de: Hogan Knows Best - Season 1: Hulk Hogan, Linda Hogan, Brooke Hogan, Dan Radlauer, David Roma, Scott Bennett: DVD ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/hogan_knows_best/series.jhtml VH1's Hogan Knows Best website]