American Gladiators: The Next Generation

I was pretty excited last year when ESPN Classic decided to start showing old episodes of "American Gladiators", so you can only imagine my reaction when I heard that NBC is gearing up to air a retooled incarnation of the show that, as far as I'm concerned, redefined the word "awesome" (hint: I may have peed myself a little).

According to Variety, the new "Gladiators" will be more like the original U.K. version, "which focused even more on the characters and the behind-the-scenes stories of common folk going up against the show's powerful stars." This time around, "players will be given the opportunity to train for their match -- and viewers will be given a glimpse of their personalities prior to the [competition]."

Now, I spent a good part of my childhood ducking behind couches in my buddy's basement while he chucked tennis balls at me (in an attempt to recreate our favorite event, "Assault"), so I have a certain emotional investment in the success of this show. That being said, it seems to me that NBC has the right idea in trying to find a new angle because there is no way that you could recapture the early-90's greatness of "American Gladiators." In fact, I'm pretty sure that show was proof of a higher power because only God could have created such a perfect confluence of mullets, nerf and disturbingly muscular women (except for Lace, who managed to be both a warrior and a lady).

No matter how good or bad the show is, though, there will always be a place on my TiVo for people beating the crap out of each other, and a place in my heart for "American Gladiators," so I'll be watching. Hell, I might even audition. Better break out the spandex...

Source: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970702.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

As a bonus, here's a video of one of my favorite gladiators, Malibu, talking about the restorative powers of the sun. Enjoy!