After seven weeks of intense and grueling competition, the winners of the revived reality competition
American Gladiators will be determined tonight during the show's two-hour first season finale.
The four finalists are fighting for some major prizes, including a 2008 Toyota Sequoia and $100,000. Most importantly, however, the top man and woman will get to join the show in its second season as a gladiator.
Having toppled the competition during the semifinals round, the four challengers facing off in the first
American Gladiators finale are Evan Dollard, Alex Rai, Shanay Norvell and Monica Carlson.
Dollard advanced to the finals by beating Anthony Abbatemarco during the first part of the semifinals, while Rai defeated Andy Konigsmark during the second semifinals round.
Norvell went up against Siene Silva at the semifinals, while Carlson bested Venus Ramos.
Monica Carlson, a 32-year-old mother of 8-year-old twins from Milwaukee, is one of 11 children, works hard to stay in great shop and enjoys participating in competitions. She is married to a football coach, and athletics play a large part in the family.
She is also very excited to have made it this far in American Gladiators.
“I love American Gladiators, grew up with it, one of those things I fantasized as a child ‘gosh, wouldn't that be amazing'," she told KGW News, adding that it's an experience that she'll cherish for all time. “It's all about the athletics and the sportsmanship and that's what I loved about it. It was truly what it says it is, you go out and fight for your life and you win or you lose.”
Monica Carlson isn't the only fan of
American Gladiators, apparently. The show has earned high ratings for NBC since it premiered on Sunday, January 6, and settled into its regular Monday timeslot on January 7.
American Gladiators is hosted by pro wrestler and reality star
Hulk Hogan (
Hogan Knows Best) and famed female boxer
Laila Ali (
Dancing with the Stars). It is produced by Reveille Productions and MGM Television.
Catch the first season finale of
American Gladiators tonight at 7/6c on NBC.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC, KGW News
(Image Courtesy of NBC)