Last week, Evan Pollard and Shanay Novell came out on top as the first to enter the finals of the re-imagined American Gladiators first season.  Novell went toe-to-toe with Siene Silva before edging her in The Gauntlet and then finishing her off with an under-two-minute performance in The Eliminator.  On the men's side, Pollard squared off against Anthony Abbatemarco, who was injured in The Power Ball challenge.  Pollard eventually powered himself to a win via impressive turns on The Wall and The Eliminator.

Part two of the semifinal round was scheduled for last night, pitting 25-year old high school history teacher and wrestling coach, Alex Rai, against youth minister and triathlete Andy Konigsmark.  In the women's competition, 32-year old former Portland Trail Blazer dancer, Monica Carlson, was up against rehab doctor and reigning Miss Fitness America, Venus Ramos.

In other news, American Gladiators' Siren spoke to TV Guide this week about her experience on the show so far.  Valerie Waugaman, better known as Siren on the reality competition, talked about how she got into the show.

“It just fit into the path of who I've been all my life,” Waugaman told TV Guide.  “I've been very competitive and athletic since I was a child, and I competed in volleyball in college, and then I went on to compete in professional figure competitions in the IFBB, the same federation that made Arnold [Schwarzenegger] famous.  They found me because I was a fitness model, and they were looking for female physiques just like mine.  They called me and said, ‘Would you try out to be a gladiator?'  I grew up watching the show, so I was just like, ‘Heck yeah, this is great.'"

“After the first couple of weeks of training camp, the network said, ‘Listen, it's not about creating a character that is like a fantasy character, it's really just yourself, but amplified about 10 times for TV.'  So you bring your own personality, but up to the next level.  Siren is just me, amplified,” Waugaman added about how she came up with her persona on American Gladiators.


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Reality TV Magazine, TV Guide
(Image Courtesy of NBC)