American Gladiators returns!

[JayR]

Straight from the horse's mouth:

AMERICAN GLADIATORS IS BACK!

The NO-HOLDS-BARRED hit competition series returns to prime-time television, with hosts Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali!

 

[bpatrick]

Right now, I'm asking myself if I really want to
splurge for a high-definition set. IMO, this is
just about rock bottom.

 

[adam95]

We've been hearing about a possible remake for several months. I assumed this might be the time because of the writer's strike. And, seeing as how I grew up with this show (it was on every Saturday at noon, right after cartoons) I was very excited about the remake. I should have known better. My hopes were dashed when i saw the words "host Hulk Hogan". I really hate anything that has to do with professional wrestling. There, I said it.

 

[Vandelay]

The fact that NBC did this should not be a shock, given the whole NBC 2.0 gutting which gets rid of core things (like local news staff) and gives us oodles of cheap to produce fakeality rubbish shows like this. The fact that some ex-pro wrestler, another form of rubbish, is hosting it will make it even worse. It is garbage like this that is going to turn profit centers like local news into things that are going to be trimmed more since the rubbish lead ins aren't bringing viewers - just look at WNBC last month.

 

[johnnya2k6]

I want to know what other new Gladiators they'll have besides Titan. Some other names that pop up in my mind are...

Volcano
Avalanche (or Blizzard)
Inferno
Fury
Cyber
Lynx
Wave
Hurricane (or Cyclone)
Skyscraper

And I don't mind Hulk Hogan as host, considering he's going through a tough time right now with his divorce. Mike Adamle -- the original AG host -- was way better; as for co-host...what, were Brooke Burns or Daisy Fuentes unavailable?

And also...will they bring back referee Larry Thompson and/or the Bill Conti theme?

Jonathan Allen

 

[Radiofreewill]

I want to know what other new Gladiators they'll have besides Titan.

Titan, Hammer, Justice, Mayhem, Militia, Toa, and Wolf are the male Gladiators. Blast, Crush, Fury, Venom, Siren (not the original), Stealth and Helga are the female Gladiators.

And also...will they bring back referee Larry Thompson and/or the Bill Conti theme?

Don't know about Larry, but I doubt the Conti theme will be heard outside of ESPN Classic.

 

[DToTheJ]

... seeing as how I grew up with this show (it was on every Saturday at noon, right after cartoons) I was very excited about the remake. I should have known better. My hopes were dashed when i saw the words "host Hulk Hogan". I really hate anything that has to do with professional wrestling. There, I said it.

The irony is, many of the same stations that carried the old-school "AG" after cartoons were the same stations that aired old-school WWF Wrestling on Saturdays, after and usually against cartoons on the bigger networks!

As for the popularity of the "Gladiators" franchise, I think it might have bottomed out after one of them did a Playboy spread.

 

[WMC2006]

I heard yesterday that the new Gladiators (and probably Hulk Hogan too) will be introduced on an upcoming (this coming week, possibly?) episode of Deal Or No Deal. Don't know if it's merely a quickie guest promo or if the gladiators will replace the Suitcase Ladies for the episode or what but DOND had become NBC's way of promoting their new shows/season premieres, etc.

I hope Hulk knows not to try to shake Howie's hand. ;D

 

[Skynet74]

Hey I'm looking forward to this. I used to Love the original AG. It's fun television. I think it will be good.

 

[chuckydoll]

"American Gladiators" returns

NBC is doing it in part because of the WGA strike. First telecast is a 2-hour special on Sunday night, January 6.

As a point of comparison you can see the original "American Gladiators" Saturday morning on ESPN Classic.