Black & White Report for April 6 -- "Specail" Guests

There was a typo in the crawl at the bottom of the screen that advertised the Live TNA Post Show. It announced "Specail Guests" appearing on the tnawrestling.com show. To me, that represented everything that's wrong with TNA.

I've been very supportive of the TNA brand over the years. I want them to succeed. It makes everything better. But the recent product has been so illogical (even for TNA), so hard to understand, and so counterproductive for the talent and fans that it's becoming hard to cheer for them. I am the tpe of wrestling fan who strives to appreciate a product for what it is, and not be too upset about what it's not. I have a pretty strong ability to suspend my disbelief. But I'm not sure I can handle TNA's show style for much longer (and judging from recent ratings, not many others can, either...)

I know the TNA creative team has talent. But they seem to lack focus or a coherent agenda. Each episode seems to lack this same focus. It's as if they are saying "We'll throw everything we can think of at the wall and see what sticks." Not a lot is sticking, because not a lot makes sense. Wrestling is simple. It, like all television, is about character and its motives. TNA seems to be relying on character created in WWE or WCW and assuming the audience knows about the motives. They're never clearly presented. Consequently, no one cares.

I have a background in television and comic book writing. The key to success in those genres is hooking the audience to the point where they *have* to be back after the commercial (or turn the page). You get them to do this by investing in the characters. But TNA creative isn't giving anyone anything to care about. In fact, they are making the characters really unlikable. Worse, they are not only driving away fans, but driving away talent. Daniels' return to ROH is a boon for that company, but a horrible thing for TNA. It, too, speaks volume about the faith that the people who brought TNA to a point where it could compete on a national level feel about the direction of the product.

Add to that the apparent lack of quality control. The spelling mistake should NEVER have made air. I know it's live television, and things like that can happen, but when the product already is bleeding fans, a small mistake like that really makes it look bush league. WWE has its "errant camera" moments, of course. There was one last night on Raw. But you know that they are so protective with the brand and product that there's quality control to a very high degree. Even if the WWE product is boring, crappy, or whatever, the production values and commitment to quality can often offset that.

At a time when the TNA product is hurting, the production team can't afford errors like that misspelling. While I don't think TNA will lose fans from the spelling mistake, it only reinforces an image the company needs to shed.

As I said, I want TNA to succeed. The people are TALENTED. They just need a recommitment to focus. Focus on character development. Focus on quality control. Focus overall.

There it is in black and white.