Read Forgiven: One Man's Journey from Self-Glorification to Sanctification for Free Online

other adolescent male — he was chasing the skirt! Why, Yogi, Why? He lost it all — the swagger, the confidence, the cocky manner — suddenly, he had those pesky little cartoon birds flying over his head everywhere he went, whistling self-consciously whenever Cindy strolled by. Yogi left me with no choice — the bear was out, and the Caped Crusader was in!
    I said it when I was six, and I’ll say it again in my 40s, the original Batman series was the greatest television show ever created, and the actor behind the cowl (as the Mad Hatter would refer to Batman’s mask), Adam West, was a genius. In portraying the superhero, to use one of my favorite sayings, West just flat “got it.” In the Russo vernac-ular, “get it” means wink-wink to the audience. During my wwf run in the late ’90s, we aired a commercial during the Super Bowl with the tag line: “wwf . . . get it?” The message was designed to tell the audience, “Wrestling is fake; lighten up, have fun with it.” This was the exact swagger and confidence with which Adam West portrayed Gotham’s favorite crime fighter. The show was a classic example of the writing being solid, but the actor “getting it” to the point of making it off-the-charts entertaining. And this exact formula was what made Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley and the Rock the mega-stars they were. Writing like Shakespeare won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go — it’s all about how your actors play it out.
    That’s why, in wrestling, some guys get over (become popular with the fans), and some guys don’t. At the end of the day, they have to carry the ball, they have to deliver the written word. West delivered the word with dead-eye accuracy, much the same way the aim of his bat-a-rang would crack the devilish Egg Head.

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    Forgiven
    “It Feels Like the First Time.”
    Ah, yes, that classic Foreigner song brings back memories. A boy of six just doesn’t forget the first time he fell head-over-heels, gaga, in love. I attribute my loss of innocence to Batman as well. I know what you’re thinking — no, his leotards weren’t a turn-on. But I can’t say the same thing about Julie Newmar’s skin-tight catsuit. What male tot can ever forget the warm, tingly feeling they first experienced when Newmar pranced onto the tv screen. It was like the feeling I got when my dad took me to go see my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, play the New York Mets at Shea Stadium — combined with a snow day at school, and topped with two full sleeves of Chips Ahoys chased with a tall, cold glass of milk.
    Yes, this clearly had to be love. As corny as it is to put it this way
    — Newmar was the cat’s meow. Even Batman got all silly over her. Up until that point I didn’t think he even liked girls! After catching an episode which featured the feline, I wanted to grab my crayons and write all over my Batman coloring book, “Me & Catwoman,”
    “Catwoman & me.” This was pure, unadulterated puppy love. Julie Newmar, wherever you are, thank you for making me a man!
    Over the years my imaginary love relationship with boob-tube beauties would continue. As a matter of fact, let’s take a look at my Top-10 “Dream Fantasy Television All-Chick Weekend”: 1. pamela ewing
    The whole enchilada. Very sexy — showed just enough, but not too much. That little southern accent helped. Killer body.
    2. laura petrie
    Doesn’t matter that she was in black-and-white. Back in that era television had never seen anything like Mary Tyler Moore.
    Just look at those reruns on Nickelodeon — Richie’s mom was on fire! Those tight dresses, those skirts showing just enough leg for the time — I’m telling you — she was fine.
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    Vince Russo
    Now, maybe mtm didn’t age gracefully, but even today, I’d take her over Rose Marie in her prime!
    3. leah remini
    As Doug’s wife, Carrie, in King of