They had been icons of the Nineteen Eighties, recognized for his or her outlandish exploits onstage and within the ring, who later redefined their photographs within the 2000s by starring alongside their households in actuality reveals. And, this week, each Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan died.
Hogan lived lots of lives earlier than his loss of life Thursday at 71. He was knowledgeable wrestler who helped remodel the WWE right into a profitable cultural behemoth. He appeared in TV reveals and films — together with “Rocky III” — and offered voices for video video games. His victory in his lawsuit in opposition to Gawker Media basically killed the highly effective on-line information and gossip purveyor and heightened tensions round press freedoms and privateness rights. A racial slurs scandal noticed the WWE reduce ties with him, and although the group later welcomed him again into the fold, he pursued new professional wrestling ventures. Of late, he was considerably of a political determine, too, embracing President Donald Trump and even talking on the 2024 Republican Nationwide Conference.
However 20 years in the past, Hogan was sitting in a New York convention room with The Related Press, his two youngsters and then-wife, Linda Hogan. The quartet was about to hit stardom as a household, with the upcoming premiere of their VH1 actuality present “Hogan Knows Best,” which might run for 4 seasons. The ensuing story, written by AP journalist Derrik J. Lang, was revealed July 7, 2005, below the headline “Hulk Hogan, Family United in Dysfunction.” You may learn it because it ran, under.
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The similarities between Ozzy Osbourne’s household and Terry “Hulk” Hogan’s bleached-blond brood are as hanging because the wrestling legend’s well-known leg drop ending transfer.
Hogan, 51, is the one seasoned superstar amongst his household of 4, identical to Ozzy. Daughter Brooke, 16, is an aspiring music star, identical to Kelly. Son Nick, 14, is rebellious and barely apathetic, identical to Jack. And spouse Linda appears to be the true ringleader of the family, identical to – you guessed it – Sharon.
In fact, the tanned and rowdy Hogan household, stars of the upcoming VH1 actuality present “Hogan Knows Best,” want to suppose in any other case.
“Our intensity isn’t madness,” insists Hogan, clad in his trademark do-rag whereas sitting together with his household in a convention room excessive above Instances Sq.. “We are a united front here.”
The Hogans – who’ve ditched their actual identify Bollea in favor of father’s stage identify – are definitely united within the acceptance of their dysfunction and drive to grow to be superstars. They typically spat, however the feuds by no means attain the expletive-filled bluntness of the Osbournes.
“We’re the clean version of ‘The Osbournes,’” says Nick.
Because the “Real American Hero,” Hogan dominated the wrestling world within the Nineteen Eighties, method earlier than anyone ever smelled what The Rock was cookin’. Identified for addressing everybody as “brother” and tearing his yellow Hulkamania shirt together with his naked arms, Hogan often was an absentee daddy due to his demanding touring schedule.
“We went out of our way to be regular,” says Linda. “He would change his schedule around to try to be the soccer dad. Little by little, he started spending more time at home. He didn’t like being on the road as much anymore.”
Earlier than fatherhood, Hogan typically suggested little Hulkamaniacs to say their prayers and take their nutritional vitamins. Together with his personal children, curfews are enforced, medication are a no-no and courting is off-limits – though he did let a 22-year-old pal of the household take Brooke out on her first date after grilling the man on his sexual historical past. The expertise, which Brooke calls “totally embarrassing,” is captured within the first episode.
Linda says when Brooke and Nick would act up as children, it wasn’t the Hulkster who’d lay the smackdown.
“Our house is full of antiques,” she explains. “I have this one section in the living room that looks like an English riding setup so I’ve got the old English leather boots and the caps and the switch that I used to smack their fannies with. It’s got this little leather loop on the end of it.”
Now that they’re youngsters, dad says Nick is the naughtier child; mother says Brooke.
“Mom?” Brooke whines in reply. “Why me? I’m a virgin. I don’t do drugs. I’m perfect. I’m nice to people. I always did my homework.”
Regardless of the strictness, Linda and Hulk are supportive of Nick and Brooke’s extracurricular actions. Nick’s into automobiles. Brooke’s into being a star. She needs to trip her dad’s do-rag tails to Britneydom. After going by means of what Hogan calls a “boot camp” with boy-band impresario Lou Pearlman, Brooke ditched the producer and is recording a debut album on her personal.
“They were exposed to behind-the-scenes from early on,” says Linda. “They grew up thinking that’s the norm, that you’re backstage, not in the audience.”
“I can’t imagine just doing a normal job,” says Brooke.
Utilizing his fame, Hulk is giving Brooke a giant push. The pair popped up at this yr’s Grammys and starred within the VH1 particular “Hulk Hogan, Stage Dad,” the precursor to “Hogan Knows Best.” Hulk is afraid of Brooke receiving the Lindsay Lohan tabloid remedy, however it’s all a part of the job.
“I know I can handle it,” says the bubbly Brooke.
Though Hulk is the star of “Hogan Knows Best,” which premieres 10 p.m. EDT Sunday, boosting Brooke’s pop profession was the principle motivation for permitting producers and digital camera crews to invade their 18,000-square-foot dwelling in Belleair, Fla.
“We want to be on an even playing field,” says Hogan, citing the surge Ashlee Simpson’s actuality present gave her debut album.
“Terry and I knew about the reality side of having a reality TV show,” says Linda. “It’s in your face. It’s four months of having no privacy.”
“You just can’t stay on guard for 24 hours a day,” says Hulk. “There was an effort for a couple of days for me to keep the rag on my head. Screw it. Who cares if the bald head is hanging out?”
