ECW Hardcore TV

Infobox Television
show_name = ECW Hardcore TV


caption =
format = Hardcore wrestling
camera = Multicamera setup
picture_format =
runtime = 58 minutes (with commercials)
creator = Tod Gordon
Eddie Gilbert
developer =
executive_producer = Paul Heyman (September 1993 - 2000)
starring = See Extreme Championship Wrestling alumni
narrated = Joey Styles
opentheme = "Closer"/"Thunderkiss '65" mix by Nine Inch Nails & White Zombie (1994-1997)
"This Is Extreme!" by Harry Slash & The Slashtones [ [http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwmusc.htm ECW Music] ] (1997-2001)
"Dragula" (1998-2001)
"Living Dead Girl" (1998-2001)
endtheme = "Living Dead Girl" (1999-2001)
country = USA
Specials from Japan
location = ECW Arena [ [http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwarena.htm ECW Arena Results] ] , South Philadelphia
network = Syndication [ [http://www.angelfire.com/ma/zombie5/ecwtv.html ECW TV LISTINGS] ]
first_aired = April 5, 1993 [ [http://www.tv.com/ecw-hardcore-tv/ecw-tv---4-5-1993/episode/298046/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;0 ECW TV - 4/5/1993] ]
last_aired = December 31, 2000 [ [http://www.tv.com/ecw-hardcore-tv/ecw-hardcore-tv---12-31-2000/episode/272342/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;47 ECW Hardcore TV - 12/31/2000] ]
num_episodes = 395 [ [http://www.rfvideo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=110&Page=2 RF Video - Hardcore TV listings] RF Video - official ECW videographer]
followed_by = "ECW on TNN"
website =
imdb_id = 0258348
tv_com_id = 4824

"ECW Hardcore TV" was the weekly professional wrestling television program of Philadelphia-based promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Even after ECW gained a nationally-available television program on The Nashville Network, "Hardcore TV" was considered the flagship program for ECW.

Format

"Hardcore TV" was edited from footage of ECW's events (both from the ECW Arena and house shows elsewhere) and backstage promos & vignettes, which were not shown to the live crowd or included on home video releases of the events. A segment called "Hype Central" advertised upcoming events and ECW merchandise in a tongue in cheek manner.

On occasion, music videos from major musical acts were shown, interspersed with footage detailing the history of current feuds, as well as spectacular spots. Frequently, the ending of the show would feature a montage of several different promos, with Dick Dale's cover of "Misirlou" as background music. These became known as "Pulp Fiction" promos".

In keeping with ECW's unconventional approach, episodes were not structured with a build toward a main event. Any given week's program could feature any number or type of matches. Heyman's intent was to keep things fresh by providing variety for the viewers.

Censorship and content

"Hardcore TV" showed graphic violence (including blood), sexual frankness, and harsh language, all of which were key elements of the ECW product itself. Due to the late night time slots, many times expletives and violence were not edited out of the early broadcasts, helping to get ECW noticed. This was a major difference between the syndicated "Hardcore TV" and the more "mainstream" [ [http://members.tripod.com/~ecwbyshaggs/interview.html Question: Paul do you see ECW getting a network deal so it can be seen nationwide? (RRitter72) Paul Heyman: I hope so, and would like to encourage any viewer or even potential viewer to write, fax, call, and e-mail any national network, be it E!, be it Fox sportsnet, be it FX, I don't care if it's The Family Channel, one look at Beulah or Francine, might make a man want to start a family after all, and ask those networks to carry, or at least consider carrying ECW. This type of campaign helped us get on PPV, it definitely scored us Cablevision. It kept us on America One, It got us back on Sunshine and with no corporate sponsorships, and no big name advertisers, we quite frankly need your support. And we're not so big and we're not so arrogant that we feel its beneath us to ask for your support. When you work with the group of guys that I am privileged to work with, you understand the value of humility. So I have no problem admitting that we rely on the support, indeed the aggressive support, of our audience.] ] "ECW on TNN" program.

TNN censored a great deal of the latter program, despite the violence and raunchiness being the signature ingredients that made ECW unique. TNN didn't want the ECW theme song ("This is Extreme!" by Harry Slash & The Slashtones) because according to Paul Heyman (owner of ECW), it sounded "too demonic." TNN also didn't want any references to "hate" (they preferred "intense dislike") and wanted no music videos on the ECW program.

TNN's restrictions angered Paul Heyman to the point that he actively tried to get ECW thrown off that network, and thus kept "Hardcore TV" as a backup. (See the "ECW on TNN" article for more info.)

Broadcast history

Philadelphia market

In addition to being syndicated [ [http://www.wrestleview.com/info/faq/ecw.shtml ECW ran shows mostly in Philadelphia and was syndicated on television by various stations before it was brought to TNN in 1999.] ] , "Hardcore TV" aired in permanent time slots in ECW's home territories, Philadelphia and New York City.

Shows were broadcast on a Philadelphia local cable sports station (SportsChannel America's [ [http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling3/keysplace/nwa.html Of all the remaining NWA members Eastern Championship Wrestling was the most recognizable due to their TV programming on the regional SportsChannel America cable network, and in August 27, 1994 the NWA held a tournament to crown a new NWA Champion at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia.] ] local affiliate, SportsChannel Philadelphia) on Tuesday evenings. After SportsChannel Philadelphia went off the air in 1997, the show moved to WPPX-TV 61. It later moved to a former independent broadcast station WGTW 48 in Philadelphia on either Friday or Saturday nights at 1 or 2 a.m.

Chicago/Northwest Indiana market

In the Chicago/Northwest Indiana market, the show traded back and forth among WCIU 26 at 2 a.m. Saturdays. Then, UPN station WPWR broadcast in both Chicago and Gary on Channel 50, at 10 p.m. on Fridays, a week behind. Meanwhile, KBS Chicago (a Korean station that also carried Big Japan shows at midnight) would broadcast "Hardcore TV" at 11 p.m. on Fridays.

Orlando market

WRBW in Orlando aired "Hardcore TV" at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday nights (early Sunday mornings). The rest of Florida Sunshine Network [ [http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/tdyedfan According to The Tye Dye Guy, his initial exposure to the extreme brand occurred when the original ECW’s programming became syndicated outside of Philadelphia on the Sunshine Network.] ] (now known as Sun Sports) aired the program at 3:00 a.m. on Friday nights (early Saturday mornings). WRBW did invoke syndex, so ECW was blacked out in the Orlando market on Sunshine.

Other markets in the United States

Shows were also aired on the MSG Network in New York City on Friday nights (early Saturday morning) at 2 a.m., KJLA in Los Angeles on Saturday nights at 11 p.m., WUNI in Worcester-Boston on Friday nights (early Saturday morning) at 1:00 a.m, and WPTT TV 22 (later WCWB, now WPMY) in Pittsburgh on Saturday nights at 12:00 a.m.

Episodes available online for download

Episodes were also available online for download at various points, from the websites of some affiliate stations. [http://oratory.rajah.com/index.php?archive=2365 The Wrestling Oratory] "As a footnote, I never attended a live ECW show. Even further, I never participated in a Strictly ECW e-mail campaign. I never got to see a live version of Hardcore TV on MSG, the Sunshine Network, America One (though, there was that one time I almost crashed my 28.8 modem trying to download the show off of the America One website) or even WUNI-27, Worcester-Boston at 1 AM on Saturday mornings when I was in college. However, I still, in some way feel a profound love and attachment to the company."]

Additional networks

*America One Network [ [http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=24086 The America One Network aired wrestling on Saturday nights from ... aired on the America One Network in the past included ECW Hardcore TV and TNA Xplosion. ...] ] [ [http://www.pwbts.com/columns/b031001.html "Team ECW" was a group of hardworking people ... ECW's reputation spread. ... it was televised nationwide on the America One Network, as well as on other ...] ]
*Bravo (UK TV channel) [ [http://www.tpww.net/news/archives/010102.html News and Rumors for Tuesday, January 2] The People's Wrestling Website]
*Empire Sports Network

References

External links

* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/1059-ecw-hardcore-tv/ Retro Junk]