February 18, 2008
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It's amazing how the first season of the re-imagined American Gladiators has come to a close. Last night showcased the finale of the reality competition's maiden offering, even as tryouts have been underway to find hopefuls for season 2.
Ahead of last night's finals, American Gladiators host, Hulk Hogan, spoke to The Globe and Mail about the show and his take on some of its challenges and what draws audiences to it.
February 17, 2008
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.
February 12, 2008
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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.
February 8, 2008
Monday night saw the first semifinal round episode on the modern re-imagining of American Gladiators. Two women and two men battled it out for the chance to get through to the finals. Shanay Novell went up against Siene Silva, while Evan Pollard faced off with Anthony Abbatemarco in the special 90-minute installment.
In the women's competition, Shanay, the wellness trainer, came out on top after both women went through Hit and Run, Hang Tough, the Gauntlet, the Joust, the Wall and finally, the Eliminator. Both competitors were neck-and-neck until Shanay fared slightly better during The Gauntlet. She finished off her opponent by completing The Eliminator with a time of less than two minutes.
February 4, 2008
By at least two very significant measuring counts, numbers seem to indicate that American Gladiators, which has received a new spin, is back with a vengeance. For one thing, it packs a hell of a wallop in viewership, as one half of NBC's one-two punch on Monday nights.
And if the turnout in Colorado for the tryouts in preparation for American Gladiators' second season is anything to go by, the re-imagined 1990s physical contest is only going to pick up steam.
January 28, 2008
Would you like to be pummeled by a series of otherworldly behemoths for a chance to become one of the behemoths who perform said pummeling? NBC has just announced the dates and locations of open casting calls for this summer's second season of American Gladiators. They are casting for the next batch of American Gladiator contenders and, if you live in one of the selected cities, you can show up in person and show off your Gladiator potential. The big twist for this new version of Gladiators is that the winner of each season is given the option of becoming a Gladiator themselves for the following season. There are a lot of men and women in their mid-twenties right now who have the chance to realize their childhood dream of appearing on American Gladiators.
January 22, 2008
Beginning on February 4, American Gladiators will expand to 90 minutes. On February 4 and February 11, Gladiators will start the night off at 8pm on NBC, run for 90 minutes, and will be followed by 90-minute versions of Deal or No Deal. This is in anticipation of Gladiators' first season finale. The two-hour finale is set for Sunday, February 17. It will begin at the special time of 7pm, and will be followed by the tw- hour TV movie/backdoor pilot for the reincarnation of Knight Rider. Medium, which is going to be pre-empted on January 28 thanks to the State of the Union Address, will not return until February 18, where it will begin a six week run of new episodes.
January 18, 2008
Who could have predicted this, right? If you were to tell me six months ago that NBC would revive my childhood favorite American Gladiators, make it a prime time event and that it would become a major hit for a network in desperate need of such a hit, I would've told you to put down the bong and take a nap. It's astonishing, really, that American Gladiators, the formerly syndicated late-night cult hit featuring 'roided up beasts beating the crap out of Joe Six-Pack in a series of contrived athletic events, is now receiving over ten million viewers per episode in prime time. In some ways, it makes me really happy. In others, it makes me question where this country is going. Mostly, it's just nice to have Assault back in my life. On the heels of Gladiators' ratings success, NBC has already green lit a second season that will air this summer in the weeks leading up to NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Along with NBC pillaging the country music reality series Nashville Star from sister network USA, the Peacock has designated their summer programming as “NBC's All-American Summer.”