Learning the Ropes
Encyclopedia
Learning the Ropes is a Canadian-produced sitcom that aired on CTV
in Canada and in syndication in the United States from September 1988 to March 1989. The series stars Lyle Alzado
as Robert Randall, a teacher who works as a professional wrestler
in the evening. Although his children knew about Randall's double life, the family was forced to keep it secret at school. The series featured guest appearances by many members of the National Wrestling Alliance
(NWA).
. Robert Randall, played by retired National Football League
defensive lineman Lyle Alzado
, would balance day to day problems with his students and with his kids Ellen, played by Nicole Stoffman
and Mark, portrayed by Yannick Bisson
. Randall had an ex-wife who was enrolled in a law school in London, leaving him to raise the children by himself. He worked as a wrestler to help pay his bills, but was forced by his school's principal to keep his second job a secret. Randall's children and the people he worked with at the wrestling shows knew about his teaching job, however. The show also featured the relationship between Randall and Carol Dixon, one of his fellow teachers. Dixon, who was the niece of Principal Whitcomb Mallory, was attracted to Randall and frequently pursued him.
Each episode featured several minutes of footage of National Wrestling Alliance
wrestlers competing in the ring
, including Ric Flair
, Tully Blanchard
, Ronnie Garvin
, and the Road Warriors
. In wrestling segments filmed for the sitcom, Randall's character (known as the rulebreaking
"Masked Maniac") was played by real-life wrestler Steve Williams. During the filming of the show, Williams sustained some legitimate injuries, including a blown knee
and a cut that required 39 stitches. He has referred to his pay from the show as "the most painful $2,000" that he ever earned. Randall was not a successful wrestler, competing as a jobber to the stars
.
The show premiered in October 1988 and ran for one season, totaling 26 episodes. It was created by Ed Self and directed by Alan Erlich. The show's connection to the National Wrestling Alliance allowed for cross-promotion, and Alzado appeared on the NWA's Clash of the Champions II event to discuss and promote the sitcom. It has been inducted on the WrestleCrap
website, which bills itself as a collection of the "very worst of pro wrestling".
The show would also feature actual wrestlers from the National Wrestling Alliance
. In each episode there would be matches involving such wrestling stars as Sting, Lex Luger
, Ric Flair
, Hawk
and Animal
of The Road Warriors
, Ron Simmons
, Dick Murdoch
and many more.
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
in Canada and in syndication in the United States from September 1988 to March 1989. The series stars Lyle Alzado
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
as Robert Randall, a teacher who works as a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
in the evening. Although his children knew about Randall's double life, the family was forced to keep it secret at school. The series featured guest appearances by many members of the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
(NWA).
Synopsis
Learning the Ropes follows a single father who works as a private school teacher and vice principal, and also moonlights as a professional wrestlerProfessional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. Robert Randall, played by retired National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
defensive lineman Lyle Alzado
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
, would balance day to day problems with his students and with his kids Ellen, played by Nicole Stoffman
Nicole Stoffman
Nicole Stoffman is a Canadian actress and jazz singer. She is most famous in Canada for her role on Degrassi Junior High as Stephanie Kaye....
and Mark, portrayed by Yannick Bisson
Yannick Bisson
Yannick Bisson is a Canadian film and television actor.-Career:Born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Bisson moved to Toronto as a teenager and there he began acting lessons; he has been acting since the age of 13. His big break was in CBC's critically acclaimed 1984 movie of the week Hockey Night with...
. Randall had an ex-wife who was enrolled in a law school in London, leaving him to raise the children by himself. He worked as a wrestler to help pay his bills, but was forced by his school's principal to keep his second job a secret. Randall's children and the people he worked with at the wrestling shows knew about his teaching job, however. The show also featured the relationship between Randall and Carol Dixon, one of his fellow teachers. Dixon, who was the niece of Principal Whitcomb Mallory, was attracted to Randall and frequently pursued him.
Each episode featured several minutes of footage of National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
wrestlers competing in the ring
Wrestling ring
A wrestling ring is the ring stage on which professional wrestlers wrestle.-Configuration and construction:The configuration and construction of the "traditional" ring is very similar to that of a boxing ring, though the wrestling version has three ring ropes...
, including Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
, Ronnie Garvin
Ron Garvin
Ron Garvin is a Canadian former professional wrestler and referee most known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early career:...
, and the Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
. In wrestling segments filmed for the sitcom, Randall's character (known as the rulebreaking
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
"Masked Maniac") was played by real-life wrestler Steve Williams. During the filming of the show, Williams sustained some legitimate injuries, including a blown knee
Unhappy triad
An unhappy triad is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and the meniscus. The triad refers to a complete or partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and the meniscus...
and a cut that required 39 stitches. He has referred to his pay from the show as "the most painful $2,000" that he ever earned. Randall was not a successful wrestler, competing as a jobber to the stars
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
.
The show premiered in October 1988 and ran for one season, totaling 26 episodes. It was created by Ed Self and directed by Alan Erlich. The show's connection to the National Wrestling Alliance allowed for cross-promotion, and Alzado appeared on the NWA's Clash of the Champions II event to discuss and promote the sitcom. It has been inducted on the WrestleCrap
WrestleCrap
WrestleCrap is a professional wrestling website created by RD Reynolds and Merle Vincent , serving as a "hall of shame" for some of the worst gimmicks and storylines in pro wrestling history...
website, which bills itself as a collection of the "very worst of pro wrestling".
Cast
- Lyle AlzadoLyle AlzadoLyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
... Robert Randall - Steve Williams... The Masked Maniac (as Steve 'Dr. Death' Williams)
- Yannick BissonYannick BissonYannick Bisson is a Canadian film and television actor.-Career:Born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Bisson moved to Toronto as a teenager and there he began acting lessons; he has been acting since the age of 13. His big break was in CBC's critically acclaimed 1984 movie of the week Hockey Night with...
... Mark Randall - Nicole StoffmanNicole StoffmanNicole Stoffman is a Canadian actress and jazz singer. She is most famous in Canada for her role on Degrassi Junior High as Stephanie Kaye....
... Ellen Randall - Cheryl Wilson ... Carol Dixon
- Richard FarrellRichard FarrellRichard Farrell was a gifted New Zealand classical pianist who achieved almost legendary status, but whose flourishing career was cut short in a road accident at the age of 31...
... Principal Whitcomb Mallory - Barry Stevens ... Dr. Jerry Larson
- Jacqueline Mahon ... Beth
- Gordon Michael WoolvettGordon Michael WoolvettGordon Michael Woolvett is a Canadian-born actor from Hamilton, Ontario Canada, best known for his work as Seamus Zelazny Harper on the television series Andromeda . Previous to Andromeda he starred in another science fiction TV show, Deepwater Black...
... Brad - Grant Cowan ... Bertie Baxter
- Jefferson MappinJefferson MappinJefferson Mappin is a Canadian actor born in Montreal, Quebec.-External links:Jefferson Mappin has been a professional performer in Canada for more than thirty years....
... Cheetah - Kevin Rushton ... Q Ball
The show would also feature actual wrestlers from the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
. In each episode there would be matches involving such wrestling stars as Sting, Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
, Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, Hawk
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
and Animal
Road Warrior Animal
Joseph Aaron "Joe" Laurinaitis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior...
of The Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
, Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
, Dick Murdoch
Dick Murdoch
Hoyt Richard "Dick" Murdoch was an American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:A second-generation wrestler, the son of 1950s Texas wrestler Frankie Hill Murdoch, Dick Murdoch grew up with fellow second-generation wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, watching their fathers...
and many more.