The New York Times has a review of "Rollergirls," a new reality TV show debuting tonight at 10PM on A&E. The subject is Roller Derby, a sport in which women knock each other down in a 100-foot rink. The stars have names like Venis Envy and Miss Conduct. The review of the show is mixed--at best.

The first episode focuses on a rookie, a stolid, fresh-faced young woman who takes the name Venis Envy to join a team called the Putas del Fuego (Whores of Fire). She explains in a voice-over that Roller Derby has always been her dream ("It's what I think about every day"), and she wants her mother to approve of her new pursuit. We watch as she improves her skills and bonds with her teammates. And that mainly involves a lot of drinking - with the occasional stop to toilet-paper another player's house or urinate in a dark alley. These players are all based in Austin, Tex., which is supposed to be Texas's classy town. One can only imagine Rollergirls' Night Out in Fort Worth.

Roller Derby is kitschy, but the players take it and themselves very seriously. The women discuss how much they value their friendships, and they exult in their own physical strength, playfulness and high jinks. But the girl-power thing palls quickly; every clique - water polo players, scrapbook aficionados - thinks its members are really, really fun and special. To outsiders, the Rollergirls on the town mostly look like just another boozy office outing to a Chippendales show.

There are some intriguing snatches of drunken dialogue, however. In a rented limousine on the way to some late-night bars, Lux explains another player's absence by saying, very earnestly, "She had some family issues to deal with, and she also messed up her foot at the Jell-O wrestling."

Lemonkid

Canada

May 2003

JAN 02, 2006 04:42 PM

Oh yeah

PunkNiteMike

Piqua, OH

OLD SKOOL

JAN 02, 2006 05:07 PM

im gonna try to check out that show tonight! plus, i know columbus has a rollerderby team & i know i'll be going out there to check them out come april!

Tallboy66

Chicago, IL

January 2005

JAN 02, 2006 05:31 PM

Katie Kouric was on this morning in skates and a helmet interviewing some of the girls for the new movie.
If I could skate better I'd be a ref. for the roller derby girls.

badRonald

Montreal, QC

September 2004

JAN 02, 2006 06:34 PM

Is Skinny Minnie Miller part of the show??

I'm old.............

ChazStrummer

Cedartown, GA

OLD SKOOL

JAN 02, 2006 06:47 PM

I'll be watching.

Tangus

Chicago, IL

November 2005

JAN 02, 2006 07:22 PM

Carolina Rollergirls

lil_tuffy

MODERATOR

San Francisco, CA

JAN 02, 2006 07:25 PM

It's the new burlesque.

ttown

Tacoma, WA

March 2005

JAN 02, 2006 07:47 PM

Gotta plug the amazing Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle: http://www.ratcityrollergirls.com/

It_Thing_Hard_On

Humptulips, WA

November 2003

JAN 02, 2006 07:51 PM

Oh shit, I forgot that was on tonight.

I'm sure it will replay.

GalacticLovers

Purchase, NY

January 2006

JAN 02, 2006 08:45 PM

They're athletes, but I really don't get how guys find them attractive?

Meh. To each his/her own.

JohnClement

Silver Spring, MD

January 2004

JAN 02, 2006 08:56 PM

It_Thing_Hard_On said:
Oh shit, I forgot that was on tonight.

I'm sure it will replay.

Same time tomorrow night.

SoEffinHappy

Philadelphia, PA

April 2003

JAN 02, 2006 08:58 PM

Batty and a couple of other SGs are part of the Philly Roller Derby league. They also did an article about it in PW.

Cawigula

Austin, TX

September 2005

JAN 02, 2006 09:00 PM

These players are all based in Austin, Tex., which is supposed to be Texas's classy town.

Nope, it's Texas' hippie town. I'm suprised these shows aren't getting protested in the most offended city I've ever lived in.

cincity

Owego, NY

May 2005

JAN 02, 2006 09:00 PM

Its a rad ass show...I am a part of the Roller girl team in my town...its sooo much fun!

SoEffinHappy

Philadelphia, PA

April 2003

JAN 02, 2006 09:00 PM

GalacticLovers said:
They're athletes, but I really don't get how guys find them attractive?

Meh. To each his/her own.

DrunkInPublic

Poughquag, NY

September 2004

JAN 02, 2006 09:25 PM

This is the oddest thread ever...

PhantomVI

Chicago, IL

May 2003

JAN 02, 2006 09:34 PM

Everyone is scared of us. It's funny.

PhantomVI

Chicago, IL

May 2003

JAN 02, 2006 09:43 PM

Seriously, if any of these reviewers actually knew how much work these girls do to skate like that, they'd's all shut their fucking mouths.
Yeah, there's showmanship and flash, but all of these girls are working harder than most poeple can imagine. And yes, drinking and having a damn good time is part of it all.
Oh, and Lux was talking trash. Tell Ellen Degenerate, who broke her leg and ankle in four places, that's she's expendable.

PhantomVI

Chicago, IL

May 2003

JAN 02, 2006 09:56 PM

ttown said:
Gotta plug the amazing Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle: http://www.ratcityrollergirls.com/

Hell yes. My girlfriend proudly displays a RC sticker on her car.
It's good to know that others are out there supporting the hard work these women are doing.

[Edited on Jan 02, 2006 11:57PM]

PhantomVI

Chicago, IL

May 2003

JAN 02, 2006 10:02 PM

GalacticLovers said:
They're athletes, but I really don't get how guys find them attractive?

Meh. To each his/her own.

I happen to find my girlfriend very attractive

egon

Las Vegas, NV

July 2003

JAN 02, 2006 10:13 PM

we have an awesome roller derby team here in las vegas. the sin city neanderdolls!! So for all those who come to vegas, come and support our awesome roller girls

drink fight skate

Lyingstones

Albuquerque, NM

September 2003

JAN 02, 2006 10:37 PM

PhantomVI said:

I happen to find my girlfriend very attractive

my girl and a few of my friends are in the Duke City Derby. and yes, they are very hot.

Duke City Derby

[Edited on Jan 02, 2006 11:38PM]

sewpunk

I'm lost

February 2005

JAN 03, 2006 06:52 AM

I would love to be a part of the derby circut.... If only I had more time in my schedule...

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

JAN 03, 2006 07:05 AM

sewpunk said:
I would love to be a part of the derby circut.... If only I had more time in my schedule...

Word.

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Las Vegas, NV

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February 2005

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