Last night (1-6-08) marked the return of one of my favorite television shows of all time, American Gladiators. I waited all day to sit and be amazed by this show. As many of you know I have a very unhealthy obsession with this show, its history and its cast, even going so far as to write about where they are now, and what they did for Halloween. As soon as I learned that the show was returning I started counting down the days. Hell during one drunken night Nick Fit and I even planned to drive to Vegas to try out to be on the show, but 60 some shot later that thought turned into vomit on an unhappy stripper.
So Last night at 8 pm I tuned in to watch and as I waited to hear that magical theme song…you know the one,
Do Da Da Do Da Da Do
Do – Do – Do – Do
Do Da Da Do Da Da Do
Do Do Da Do Do Da Do
Yet, I never heard it. I must say I was a little disappointed, but I figured, alright, this is the NEW Gladiators, perhaps they aren’t focusing on a theme song. Then the show began. I was a little disappointed with the choice to put the Gladiators in black and silver as opposed to the classic colors, but I figured that’s o.k. too. Then came the moment of truth, the run down of the Gladiators. For the next television season, every Monday night, these would be the people sharing my t.v,. time with the WWE on Monday nights (I live in mountain time so Raw starts at 7 pm) so I would have to be impressed. Opposed to some, I was.
So I sat last night and watched the entire two hours of the show and in the end I was pleased. Sure, it wasn’t exactly how I remember MY gladiators, but I still thought it was pretty bad ass. It put on a good show. Then I woke up this morning and decided to take a look at the NBC message boards. That was a mistake.
Now I have always believed that message boards were the rallying point of the incompetent, and no where is this more true then on the American Gladiator board. People going on and on about how over produced the show is, or that Hulk Hogan is a bad host, or about how the contestants are acting…poorly and that NBC is killing a great show and to them I say, shut the hell up. These people are rediculous. I imagine they are like most of the people that actually liked the Transformers movie. Sure, they vaguely remember the original, but they shouldn’t call themselves fans.
It wasn’t like the Gladiators was ever a “sport”, it was pro-wrestling with a “mission” thrown in. Hell I applaud the new Gladiators on their showmanship. At least this batch of ’em doesn’t seem like they are so roided out they want to eat the competitors. Sure, Wolf was a little over the top with his howling, but why not be? IT IS AMERICAN GLADIATORS. It is supposed to be over the top.
All in all I give the new show an 8 out of 10 after its first episode. Being that another is on again tonight I will follow up tomorrow and let you know what I think then, I will also focus more on the events and competitors then as well.
Hey Stupid! 