It always takes me a month or so to remember it is a new year.

The editor on this show needs to be fired. All the back-and-forth between the contestants and hosts needs to be trimmed by about 99%. One of the great things about the original is that you never spent more then 5 seconds with the contestants, and they were typically humble and reserved. Now it's a bunch of loud douchebags mugging for the camera like this is an episode of Deal or No Deal.

At least the new Eliminator is awesome.

das

It's amazing how many of them simply couldn't understand the fact that you needed to get a good running head start. Every single time someone did that, they made it to the top, except once, when Big Country tripped on his way up.

The only thing wrong with the eliminator is that the rest of the show is of little importance. Even a 17.5 second lead, which is pretty big, can be made up really easily. But since the rest of the show is terrible, I don't really mind.

I recorded the two-hour premiere last night to watch it tonight. I only made it through the first 45 minutes, stopped the program, and deleted it. It was that shitty.

Damn network and producers ruining a good thing

Watching this program makes me want to pay for the extra sports package from Cox, just to get ESPN Classic, just so I can watch old school American Gladiators. Sure, it was kinda cheesy, but at least in a good way. This is horribly forced cheesiness, from Wolf's howl to Toa's blabbering. Everything is so silver and clear in Assault, I couldn't see anything in the course. I really wish they would have kept the old music- I liked it. And what's with the Eliminator? A barrell roll? Aren't you supposed to get a 5 second penalty before you can even begin climbing up if you fall off that or hand-bike? Give me Thunder, Tower, Gemini, Ice, Blaze, Zap, and those folks any day of the week. If they replayed those in primetime I'd watch them.

True, in the original show a 17 second head start was huge and you would really need to get lucky or show athletic brilliance to make up for it. Now, it's a nothing lead.

And I've never been a fan of Hulk Hogan, but they've managed to completely neuter his undeniable charisma. Someone on this show NEEDS to show some real personality, enough with the shitty scripted banter.

OK. Hulk Hogan was wearing a wig, right?

I'm NOT a wrestling guy so I haven't seen the guy in years or know much about him, but, methinks he's wearing a wig or hair extensions or somethin

But I don't think it is. When I went to the movies last weekend, they were showing that "First Look" crap they show while people find seats and wait for previews, and they had a whole spot about this show. They were going on and on about how expensive it was to create the new arena and the huge water tank, audience space, all the lights, etc. I think it probably DID cost a lot to build, but the actual "flashiness" they added to it just makes it look crappy. (Well that pyramid IS crappy.)

Agree 100%

Yeah... that first dude, the LA "professional" skateboarder was just talking all this smack until he basically had his ass handed to him. When they do the weak trash talk, you kind of want the gladiators to cream they just because their jackasses - not because you care about/are really rooting for the gladiators.

On another note, I will say two cool things - hooray that it is in HD and the helmet cameras are a pretty cool addition. Too bad they hardly ever used any footage from the headcams though.

IMHO, I think it is just goofy fun and will temporarily fill the void of scripted shows during the strike - and this comes from a perennial reality show hater.

Unfortunately the HD is all but unwatchable because of the arena setup and strobe lighting they use which causes excessive macroblocking.

That is my point. They obviously have some money behind the show, so there is no excuse for something that looks so cheap.

I like it. I only watched the first episode, but I thought it was cool. I love Hulk Hogan. The guy is an American icon. Most of the contestants were douchebags, especially the guy who came back after missing it 14 years ago, but the new events are pretty sweet. These new gladiators are tough as fuck and did a good job beating the players down. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ref the same guy that did it during the original show? Nice little touch there.

Yeah, man. Like Elvis and Marilyn Monroe, huh?

Exactly. I defy you to find any random person on the street who can't tell you who Hulk Hogan is. Besides, growing up in the 80's, the man was a legend to kids.

I just watched the 3 episodes (way too much for one sitting). I think it'll be okay once a week, but I'll have to tape it and FF through interviews.

What I don't like:
-Doesn't have the same charm as the original did (but I was young then)
-The Barrel Roll in the Eliminator.
-The way they cut to the commercials.
-The hand bike is worthless, just jump down and climb.
-The cheap look to the show
- $100,000 for the grand prize? That's it?

It's weird because you would think that how worthless the barrell roll and hand bike would be painfully obvious when letting people run through the Eliminator during any tests or trials. Especially without some sort of major penalty for falling.

This show seems fake to me.The finishes on most seem really fake.You can see the front runners looking back to see where the other is and not because they are worried but making sure they are on track.
I think Wolf is probably the most original and fits the show.Not sure why he is disliked.
Crush is hot and I have always thought so.She did seem to pack on a few pounds and I hope she is taking it off easier to get to 140 for her Feb 16th fight than she did last time.

Hogan I can deal with but Laila Ali is all wrong.She seems to think she is a diva or something.That whole deal with her and that one guy getting her a little wet was just bad TV

I don't mind watching and will continue to watch just to be entertained.

Yes, but kids today have ZERO clue who he is. He's as much of an American "icon" as Mr. T (about whom my 14 year old nephew has no idea - now if you were talking to him about John Cena...).

Ah.... Breakthrough and Conquer:

Oh, I don't know. We Tivo'ed the first two shows and watched the first one last night. I kinda dug watching Titan ham it up for the camera at every opportunity, and though Wolf's constant howling got predictably annoying my wife pointed out that he has amazingly white teeth.


I was happy to see "Pro Skateboarder Dad" get his ass waxed, but was scratching my head when I saw how "Fire Marshall Bill" swam... he looked like a fish out of water (only in water, if you catch my meaning). I was diasppointed to see the "Spider Monkey" win his event... it only pointed out that the Eliminator is more about agility and stamina than it is about strength.

And while the ultimate champion gets the opportunity to come back next year as a Gladiator, I just can't see Monkey Boy doing that.

This is what I was talking about earlier. Turbo throwing a left during Swingshot about a minute into the clip.

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shoulda broken his nose! American gladiator has RULES, man!

Which were enforced on the Monday night one where Justice yanked the contestant back into his zone in Gauntlet. They ended up giving the guy the full 10 points like he finished successfully.

Well I watch this while working out and its pretty fun. BUT seeing those old clips I remember how better it was than this one. Just to make sure, theyre NOT reruning it anymore right? Cause Id rather see the old school.

And whats this I read with Crush ready for a fight? Shes a boxer or something?