7. Louies Weird Weekends: Wrestling
British documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux gained fame in the 1990s for his analysis of American subcultures in the BBC 2 series Weird Weekends. After interviewing survivalists, porn stars and swingers, Theroux eventually set his sights on professional wrestling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVbf1jt9anM The episode focuses on Ted Turners World Championship Wrestling and an independent hardcore promotion called
AIWF. There are also interviews with various wrestlers, including Raven, Roddy Piper, Goldberg and Macho Man Randy Savage. The most striking feature of Therouxs documentary is just how unresponsive some of the wrestlers and trainers are when asked about the scripted elements of professional wrestling. In one memorable sequence, 5ft 7 WCW head trainer Sarge gets angry at Theroux and forces him to exercise until he is physically sick. Napoleon Complex much?