“American Gladiators” is returning to television, bringing all its spandex-clad glory not to syndication but to network primetime.
NBC is pushing forward with a new take on the show, which initially ran in syndication from 1989-97. As with the previous incarnation, the new “American Gladiators” will pit amateur athletes against a group of well-muscled regulars in a number of physical contests.
Can we get the mullets back, too?
Yuck to the mullets! But, I do hope the bring back the game where they beat each other with the big oversized q-tips. I thought that always looked fun. ![]()
Is it bad to admit that when I was a kid, I went to an American Gladiators show that came to Oklahoma City? I was very young. I guess that’s still not an excuse.
But I have to say that clip you posted: Best. Clip. Ever.
Nice, takes me back to summer Saturday afternoons in NM when it was too hot to go outside… Ahhhh… “Ninja Warrior” was getting kinda old anyhow. One can only take some much Japanese psychosis…
Anything that highlights the broadcast talents of Todd Christenson and Larry Csonka is great American TV.
I caught an episode or two of the original a few nights ago, maybe ESPN Classic. I remember as a kid watching this on Saturday night and thinking it was so cool. But wow, the production values were terrible.
Also, if they do any contestant recruiting in rural America, I don’t think they’ll have any problems bringing the mullets back.
I watched an episode with my son the other day. What can I say, he loved it and so did I. I just hope they don’t go all soap opera like the WWE(F).
I grew up as a Hulkamanic, keeping the three “demandments” of Hulkamania: training, saying your prayers, and eating your vitamins. (a fourth was added later - believing in yourself). Pretty positive stuff that you could let your kids be exposed to. Even Ms. Elisabeth (Randy “Macho Man” Savage’s wife/manager) was fully clothed.
Now the characters are bizarre and the story lines are somewhere between soap opera and erotic fantasy. Sad.
I was watching the old episodes the other day…it was terrible, but so addictive.
I agree - they have to keep the games, the format, and the commentary the same or this venture will fail.
And NO MULLETS!
I used to watch that show religiously in college. I just hope they keep the She-Males to a minumum. I always found it funny that they would have the women athletes go up against quasi-dudes. It just wasn’t fair.
Do you guys remember Wesley “Two Scoops” Berry? I think he was the champion of the 5th or 6th season. That guy was so awesome. He could man-handle the gladiators. I think he dominated his sport more than any other athlete in history. I think he’s in prison now.
And do you remember when a bunch of the gladiators starred in that Mortal Combat movie? That was sort of lame.