NBC Orders “American Gladiators Revival”

23 Aug

Posted by Alex Davis as American Gladiators, NBC, New Show

MAJOR EDIT: NBC put out a press release a bit ago for it. Some classic events like Joust, Hang Tough, The Wall, and the Eliminator will survive. They will be utilizing water skis, special effects, and the latest technology to update your favorite games and some new ones. The new Gladiators will be action and stunt stars, both male and female. American Gladiators is currently casting contestants, so it’s a go. And fixed a spelling error. And a quick retraction: I thought it said “Jet skis”, but the release said “water skis”; I apologize.

A bit ago it was rumored that NBC might be looking into a revival of American Gladiators. According to Cynopsis, it seems that the rumor has come true. NBC has ordered the old 80s and 90s syndicated television series from MGM-TV and Reveille. It will still have a group of Gladiators (four men and four women) facing regular people. This time around, however, they will give contestants more of a chance to train and we will get more of a back story on them.

I think I said it before, but my only fear is the cheese-factor from the old version. If this version takes itself too seriously and loses one of the main fun parts it had. I can’t wait to see the new games that can be implemented as we are in the 21st century, though.

18 Responses

glenn
1
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:31 am

Ill give em a chance…i posted a detailed idea if what it should look like.

I agree it shouldnt take itself too seriously but my bigger fear is these “reality” like training segments…this is giving me serious “dog eat dog” flashbacks.
Adam
2
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 am

I remember American Gladitors. I thought it was a good show and a revival is long overdue. I hope it’s just as good as the original version.
captparis1
3
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:21 pm

I agree with Glenn. If those reality segments are want the audience actually wanted (particular that hard to please male demo- the networks are dying to reach) The Contender would still be on NBC, not ESPN.

Any word on the grand prize ($500,000 would be my guess) or who would host (Jim Rome would be perfect for this!)
Kevin G.
4
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm

To further confirm, there was a brief, 10-second or so spot last night during Last Comic Standing announcing casting calls for “the return of American Gladiators”.
wheelloon
5
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm

Great news! Like others have said, I hope the show isn’t screwed up by certain “tweaks” made that compromises what made the original show fun.

That said, focusing a bit more on the contestants and their training isn’t a bad thing, provided it doesn’t become a sapfest akin to Deal. The back stories of the gladiators should be given some focus too, we all would like to know how to get muscles that big *or at least me*… :)

AND, they better use the same theme as the original show! It can be updated, but if somebody makes up a completely new theme song for it, an iconic part of the show will have been lost. It would be almost comparable as getting a new theme for Jeopardy…
Jackson
6
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:41 pm

I think Mike Adamle should return to host. He did a good job then and it gives something the old fans of the show could relate with. He did that show Battle of the Network Reality Stars for Bravo, which is part of the NBCU family. I don’t see why not just bring him back.

Oh yeah, bring back that awesomely cheesy theme song back too. The original one, of course.
Tim Connolly
7
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:47 pm

“Jet skiis”

This worries me.
David Howell
8
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:22 pm

It makes me think the show will be on a budget of $448. ;)

Oh wait, that was the original. :)

This sounds fun. I always found it ironic that our version in England was far more slickly produced than the US original.

I have this feeling this will be an incredibly spectacular show in production, and I hope that’s the biggest change.
LaJuan
9
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:55 pm

I agree with Jackson on Mike Adamle (I just hope they have a better co-host than Lisa Malosky..PLEASE!!) Wheelloon, my thoughts EXACTLY! Captparis1, spot on with the Contender reference. Didn’t even think about that! but no Jim Rome. I’d take anybody over him. Even the commentary team of Battle Dome (Steve Albert and that radio dude with the scratchy voice)! Now that I mention it, anybody remember Battle Dome (the only person to get something out of that was T-Money) and that even funnier Knights and Warriors!?!?

But I have to disagree with you, David. I think the fact that the show was spectacle was what made people love it! A drastic change could alienate some people. I’d forgive it if we got some of the games from the UK….and a random non-competitive Jet cameo b/c she’s fit—that’s what the Brits say, right? :)
LaJuan
10
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm

I spotted an error in my post: I wanted to say that the fact that the show WAS NOT spectacle made people love it. My bad.

I just read the MGM release and there’s something I don’t like:
“These unsung heroes combine brawn and heart in their effort to be worthy competitors, which the audience can cheer for against the villainous gladiators.”

The gladiators aren’t villians. They are freakin Gladiators. Remember that they had just as many fans as the contenders. Audiences wanted to do the Thunder Shake, cheer on Siren using sign language, the signs (including “Viper needs A Diaper”, the best poster EVER), etc. If you’re going to make them villians I might as well be watching the other two shows I mentioned.
Intelligentfan777
11
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:19 pm

Excellent! AG is one of the best physical competition game shows ever!

I Say, update the show for the 21st century, but keep the fun factor, and we’ll have a winner!
Eric
12
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:23 pm

I wonder what this means for ABC? Will they still be able to run the classic Episodes on ESPN Classic? I bet you the people at the mouse ears are kicking themselves now.
Jordan Hass
13
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm

Will “Two Scoops” make a comeback just like the show?
Nikolai
14
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 pm

My favourite event from the old “AG” is Assult. I just hope they come up with a launcher that doesn’t jam so frequently should they bring back that event.
Joe_Mello
15
August 24th, 2007 at 12:51 am

Well, MGM being part of the production puts me a little at ease, since there’s a remote connection to the original there. The focus away from strength and power is a little disconcerting, but it works for Ninja Warrior.

Of all the shows that would suffer from manufactured drama, AG would have to be up there. One of the show’s better aspects was that it didn’t try to be wrestling, especially since the competition spoke for itself. I’m all for a slick, stylish, and modern presentation but don’t do it at the cost of the game.
glenn
16
August 24th, 2007 at 9:09 am

With the steroids controversy i think thinner, more athletic gladiators were needed, especially on the mens side. (often since male contenders actually were able to just out gun some of the later male gladiators with speed and agility to the point the series was revamped to be more power based (with the bungee cords and the like)

top stunt and bodybuilding stars of the day…here’s holding out hope for gladiator rico (if his stint as a gay clown in WWE didnt totally kill his rep).
Brandon
17
August 25th, 2007 at 12:39 am

I’m kind of looking forward to this.
To make a correction, I have read about 4 or 5 stories on this, all quoting the press release(s), and the phrase that is used is “special effects, water skills and the latest technology”. So they are probably not using water SKIS, just doing water events that require water SKILLS. I thought that water skis sounded a little too odd, and they would most likely have to go outdoors for that.
So, it looks like they are going to have a pool and have some water based events a la Dog Eat Dog and GUTS, which could be ok.
shelly
18
October 13th, 2007 at 11:36 pm

I have some trepidation–partly because I’m a fan of the original AG, and partly because of the recent announcement that Hulk Hogan is going to host. (My personal choices for hosts were Nitro, Hawk, or to bring back Mike Adamle (though I read he didn’t want to host this again; nowadays he covers sports in Chicago).)

If you’re going to make (the gladiators) villians I might as well be watching the other two shows I mentioned.

In the first half of season one, it seemed to me like the glads were being made out to be villainous. At that point, IMO, the only likeable gladiators were the original Lace, Malibu (even though he sucked), and Sunny. To me, Gemini, Nitro, and Zap I could take or leave at that point. (I didn’t like Gemini until about the second season, or Zap until she came back in the third season. Nitro…I thought he was a better commentator.) Also in the last two seasons (the seventh more so than the sixth), the glads overall (I thought) had a bit of an air of invincibility.