The History of Learning the Ropes: Lyle Alzado's Pro Wrestling Sitcom

[TMC]

The 1980s would see professional wrestling gain the most mainstream popularity it had probably seen since the days of Gorgeous George, and the ratings they were drawing were so high that people in the TV industry were beginning to take notice. Among those who took an interest in the high ratings were producers at Robert Halmi Incorporated who saw the numbers that pro wrestling was bringing in, and thought they could capitalize on the popularity by creating a series that revolve around pro wrestling.

They teamed up with a Canadian Television Network named CTV, a syndication group named Producers Group International, and The National Wrestling Alliance to create Learning the Ropes, the first professional wrestling sitcom. Starring Lyle Alzado, Nicole Stoffman, and Yannick Bisson, the sitcom aired from 1988 and 1989 and mixed the family sitcom with the colorful world of pro wrestling and featured cameos from the likes of Ric Flair, Dick Murdoch, The Road Warriors, Ricky Morton, Stan Lane, and many more.

This video is the story of a one season wonder that occupies a very niche part of professional wrestling history.

Time Stamps

• 0:00 (Gimmick Episodes)
• 02:34 (Origins)
• 03:40 (The NWA)
• 04:42 (Casting)
• 05:44 (Lyle Alzado)
• 06:53 (The Pilot)
• 07:40 (The Debut)
• 08:40 (How good is the show?)
• 09:37 (The Wrestling Element)
• 12:25 (The NWA Cameos)
• 15:08 (The Ricky Morton Episode)
• 15:36 (The Dick Murdoch Episode)
• 17:00 (Cancellation)