Saturday GLOWcase: James Paul Maher: A Devoted GLOW Fan from New Jersey

 

Welcome to the Saturday GLOWcase! In addition to featuring the wrestlers, cast, and crew of GLOW, I also highlighting the original fans of the show. Without the dedicated viewers, GLOW wouldn’t have thrived for the four amazing seasons that it did. Today, I am celebrating one of those loyal fans who made GLOW the iconic show it is.

James Paul Maher, circa late 1980's

James Paul Maher found GLOW purely by accident. One Saturday at noon, while flipping through channels, he stumbled upon WPIX Channel 11 airing Season 3, Episode 5, where Vicky Victory faced MTV. From that moment, James was hooked and watched every episode he could find. Although he caught Season 3 twice, the show was eventually dropped from his local station, so he never knew Season 4 existed. Hollywood, Sally, and Thunderbolt quickly became his favorite wrestlers, each leaving a lasting impression on him.

James always wished he could’ve gone to Las Vegas to see GLOW live. The closest he got was calling the GLOW 900 number, which cost him $20—a charge that initially got his dad in trouble until his mom called the number herself and found out the truth. Even though he wasn’t allowed to record GLOW on VHS, James got creative and recorded the raps from the TV using his radio, despite his dog barking in the background. His dad eventually helped him set up a better recording method without the noise.

AI James preparing to record the GLOW raps

James’s dedication didn’t stop there. In 1998 or 1999, he bought his first GLOW DVD from eBay, but without a DVD player, he watched it on his computer. He joined the original GLOW message board run by Ursula, where he chatted with other fans and even Hollywood, who sold him some personal videos. Hollywood was always very sweet to him, as was Tiffany Mellon, who sent him an autograph photo.

Through the message board, James also connected with PJ DiGiacomo from Somerville, New Jersey, and bought all four seasons of GLOW from him. PJ likely got his footage from Manzerman, who sold wrestling tapes online. James spent around $400 on his GLOW collection and kept adding missing episodes thanks to Ursula’s releases and his own hunts on YouTube for better quality footage. He transferred all the VHS tapes to DVDs, making a mostly complete collection with only a few missing skits, ending credits, and one televised match from Episode 91 of Season 4 (Roxy vs. Daisy rematch), which he has yet to find.

Hollywood and James

GLOW was a bright spot in James’s life when he felt like an outcast without many friends. It was a show where he could escape and forget his troubles for an hour. GLOW became an important outlet for him, especially since he wasn’t very close to his parents. He never imagined he’d meet his favorite GLOW girl, Hollywood, who has been incredibly sweet to him. Hollywood has visited him in Florida, picked him up in Tennessee for lunch, and done so much for him. In fact, today she picked him up for lunch while he was visiting Tennessee with our mutual friend and fellow GLOW fan, Rick Howard Jr., a few weeks ago. Hollywood’s kindness and generosity have shown James the beautiful person she is inside and out, and he couldn’t have asked for a better friend in his life.

James representing Hollywood with his GLOW belt

Over the years, James has also met several other GLOW girls, including Beastie and Lightning. He and I have been online friends for many years, and we finally met in person this past March on a GLOW cruise with Hollywood and Lightning from Miami to the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola, and the Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. We became even better friends and made many great memories on our trip, with hopes for many more in the future.

James as his CHARMING-GLOW alter-ego Malachy MacCharm

James’s story shows the lengths fans would go to engage with GLOW, despite the challenges. His dedication and creativity in capturing GLOW's essence highlight its enduring appeal. James’s journey from discovering GLOW by accident to becoming a devoted fan showcases the show's lasting impact and legacy.

Saturday GLOWcase: Les Muir, A Dedicated Fan of GLOW from Chilliwack, Canada

Welcome to the Saturday GLOWcase! In addition to featuring the wrestlers, cast, and crew of GLOW, I will now also be highlighting the original fans of the show. Without the dedicated viewers, GLOW wouldn’t have thrived for the four amazing seasons that it did. Today, we’re celebrating one of those loyal fans who helped make GLOW the iconic show it is.

Les Muir, a devoted fan of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling), hails from the charming town of Chilliwack, Canada. His introduction to GLOW came through an unconventional route compared to many fans of the 80s wrestling phenomenon. Les and I first crossed paths on the 2017 GLOW cruise, where we quickly bonded over our shared appreciation for the iconic wrestling show and became good friends.

Les With Hollywood

Growing up in a farmhouse in the 1980s, Les's television experience was quite different. With only a 40-foot antenna outside the house, he could only access 3 or 4 channels on a good day. Cable television remained a distant luxury until he turned 20. As a result, Les never actually watched full episodes of GLOW during its original run. Instead, his first encounter with the GLOW ladies came through various talk and game shows where they made appearances.

One day, while watching the Phil Donahue show, Les noticed the colorful and dynamic presence of the GLOW wrestlers. Though he couldn’t watch the matches themselves, the glimpses he got from these shows were enough to spark a lasting interest. Among all the GLOW wrestlers, Beastie stood out as his favorite, thanks to her wild and unique outfit that left a lasting impression.

Les (Center) with GLOW girls Beastie & Sunny to the right and Angel on his left

Despite the limitations of rural television reception, Les's enthusiasm for GLOW remained strong. His story is a testament to the far-reaching impact of GLOW, which captivated audiences even outside the usual broadcasting range. Les's journey from discovering GLOW on talk shows to celebrating its legacy on a themed cruise highlights the enduring allure of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.