Scott Bowden presents Kentucky Fried Rasslin

With the popularity of MTV spreading like “Wildfire” Tommy Rich in 1982, Memphis began producing music videos on almost a weekly basis for its stars, featuring heartthrobs like Stan Lane and Steve Keirn, the Fabulous Ones, in a successful effort to expand the audience to teens. Eventually, the Memphis footage began mirroring several recording artists’ MTV-style videos–with much lower production values, of course.

Several videos to introduce new stars were shot on promoter Jerry Jarrett’s sprawling estate, with decidedly mixed results, such as the homo-erotic introduction of the New Generation: Bart Batten and Johnny Wilhoit, best friends with benefits, who spent a memorable sunny afternoon together on a hot summer day near Nashville. (Every time I see this video, I keep rooting for Kimala and Apocalypse to come running out of the bushes to maim these two sissies.)

Imagine my surprise when a snippet of the New Generation video showed up on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” in reference to AAA’s rating of the Isle of Man compared to the United States. Oh, that Stewart-he may be no Romeo, but he’s a lovin’ one-man show. At this point, I think Wilhoit and Batten could use a Web Redemption on “Tosh.0” a la David Willis, “The Crying Wrestling Fan.”

Stewart actually could have substituted a clip from this Fabs video for the same effect. (I was about 12 at the time, but I recall turning away from the screen in horror immediately when Stan Lane came bounding out in a Speedo to work out with Steve Keirn-the era of the cool Fabulous Ones videos was officially over when this aired in late 1983.)

What’s forgotten is that the Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas and Johnny “Ace” Laurinaitis) were originally billed as the New Generation in Atlanta-Eddie Gilbert was on the WCW booking committee and must have liked the name from his Memphis days. Much like Wilhoit and Batten years earlier, the Dudes were also dead on arrival in WCW thanks to this video.

Incidentally, several fans have questioned how Laurinaitis, who’s suddenly been thrust into an on-air RAW role as part of the CM Punk angle, ever earned such a high-profile, high-paying job as executive vice president of talent relations for WWE. Judging from this promo, clearly the man knows talent when he sees it…or not…you figure out. (Gotta love announcer Chris Cruise’s reaction.)