When it comes to reality, TV networks will find any Tom, Dick, or Harry to stand in the limelight. Since the brainchild of Jessica and Nick: Newlyweds leagues of fans have been interested in seeing how the other half live. What started as a sweet MTV show has now spiraled into a multi-billion dollar industry. Naturally, two of the all-time TV greats, Hulk Hogan and Donald Trump, had to make sure to take their slice of reality TV pie.
As the Republic National Convention wrapped up, Donald accepted the Republican nomination for president. Throughout the evening, there were a multitude of guests. But none stunned more than The Hulk introducing Donald. Hulk wore dark sunglasses and a bandana as he noted, “As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics.” Spoiler alert: he failed. Towards the end of the speech, he ripped off his shirt. Revealing a red Trump-Vance tank top, and thus, the convention officially turned into a three-ring wrestling circus.
Hulk Hogan Knows Best?
Hogan Knows Best was a short-lived VH1 hit that was so bad it was good. Perhaps one of the weirdest shows that ever existed, the series revolved around Hulk, Linda, Brooke, and Nick. In the mid-2000s, VH1 was in its prime. The network had a block of nighttime TV dedicated to washed-up 80s stars aptly dubbed “Celebreality Block.” In what felt like a weird fever dream, Hulk often came off as obsessed with his daughter as Trump is with his. Multiple episodes showed Hulk fixated on what he thought was protecting his teenage daughter. One showed the father of two putting a tracker on her car, and another where he found her birth control pills.
For most fans, Hulk and his wrestling buddies were the only reason they watched the show. Especially when Brian Knobbs was there as the babysitter or advice giver. The VH1 series was doomed from the start as the advertising revenue was never going to cover the tanning bed budget for the entire Amazon-like family. The series was short-lived and was not a good look for The Hulkster.
Donald Trump’s The Apprentice
In 2004, the landscape of reality TV changed when The Apprentice first aired. Advertised as the “Ultimate Job Interview,” the NBC series ran for seven seasons. The show featured aspiring business people who would vie for the show’s prize, a one-year $250,000 starting contract to promote one of Donald’s properties. The show even had a few seasons with celebrities playing.
The Apprentice portrayed Trump as having impeccable business instincts and unparalleled wealth despite his businesses barely surviving multiple bankruptcies and facing another. After the NDA expired, a former producer spoke out via Slate, noting that Trump’s dialogue was frequently edited to make him appear articulate. Love him or hate him, 28 million viewers tuned in to watch him that first season. One thing is for sure, he made for great TV.
The aftermath
Both men moved on from television but had tainted reputations after their reality TV shows ended. In 2015, Hulk, one of the biggest names in professional wrestling, had his contract with the WWE terminated after a tape showed him using a racial slur. The father of two was also taken out of the Hall of Fame. But just three years later, he was given a second chance and reinstated. Donald is also featured in the Hall of Fame, and he is well-known in the WWE.
On Thursday night, Trump returned to his reality TV roots as he talked, talked, and talked some more during his RNC speech. With a flair for dramatics, he used the ear bandage as a prop, much like he used to do in The Apprentice. During his speech, Trump forgot to mention most of what he would do to make the United States great again and instead focused on the limelight. Both these men’s favorite medium has been and always will be TV. At the center of both their hearts, Donald and Hulk are showmen. Neither is the greatest showman, but they’re showmen nonetheless.
TELL US — DID YOU WATCH EITHER OF DONALD OR HULK’S SHOWS?
