Exclusive: WCW Producer Neal Pruitt Discusses Filming WCW Nitro Without A Format
Former WCW producer Neal Pruitt says his staff had to learn to improvise during WCW's broadcast.
During the Monday Night Wars, WCW was notorious for last minute changes which surprised fans and the locker room. In an interview on Fightful Wrestling's podcast The List and Ya Boy, Neal Pruitt spoke about his time on Monday Night Nitro. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp asked Pruitt about the "format sheets" being printed within thirty minutes of going live on-air. Pruitt said sometimes the format would be abandoned within the first couple segments of the show.
"The issue became sometimes after where once you get into a segment or two, you didn't need the format. They were making stuff up on the spot so often, it was really tough. The production staff was so good and able to change on a dime. There was a lot of people that work in television, they get in their set ways and they get their tunnel vision on which is great when you're doing a production that doesn't change," said Pruitt.
WCW production was especially adaptive, according to Pruitt. He said there should not be many noticeable mistakes from production during those years. Also during the interview, Pruitt discussed working with Ric Flair, Goldberg, and Steve Austin. He shared his insight into both his days at WCW and what he sees on WWE television today. Neal Pruitt's Secrets of WCW Nitro podcast is available on iTunes and his website.
The List and Ya Boy airs Wednesdays at 3 pm on FightfulPods.com.
