American gladiators
American Gladiators was a television show that ran between 1989 and 1996.
Conception
American Gladiators was a sporting game show in which participants (two men and two women) competed against professional athletes in various games. The champions at the end of each season won a package including a new car, vacation, and cash (usually over $ 100,000 total). The disciplines were often quite extraordinary and sophisticated, with challenges presented by things like high ropes, steel cages, swing ropes, and other obstacles. The format was produced on behalf of NBC Television by the production companies "Four Point Entertainment" and "Trans World International".
Channel
In Germany, the show ran on RTL (1992–1994) and DSF (now Sport1 ) (1999–2001).
New editions
In 2008, the American television station NBC Television broadcast a new edition of the format. The first season started on Sunday, February 6th, the remaining six episodes ran in Monday prime time. A second season of the new edition was broadcast as early as May 12, 2008. After the season finale on August 4, 2008, NBC has not commissioned any further episodes. The production companies involved were "Reveille" and "MGM Worldwide TV", the new edition was moderated by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali .
In July 2014, the US magazine TV Guide reported that a new version of the show was in preparation, which, however , should take place in a more “post-apocalyptic” atmosphere, based on materials like The Hunger Games .
Gladiators in the original show
- Jim Starr .... Laser (1990-1996)
- Erika Andersch .... Diamond (1990–1993)
- Cheryl Barldinger .... Sunny (1989)
- Salina Bartunek .... Elektra (1992–1993)
- Shelley Beattie .... Siren (1992-1996)
- Chuck Berlinger .... Viper (1992-1993)
- Danny Lee Clark .... Nitro (1989-1992, 1994-1996)
- Debbie Clark .... Storm (1991-1993)
- Shirley Eson .... Sky (1992-1996)
- Lori Fetrick .... Ice (1990-1992, 1993-1996)
- Victoria Gay .... Jazz (1993–1996)
- Shannon Hall .... Dallas (1995)
- Steve Henneberry .... Tower (1991–1994)
- Raye Hollitt .... Zap (1989–1990, 1991–1995)
- Michael M. Horton .... Gemini (1989–1992)
- Tonya Knight .... Gold (1989-1992)
- Natalie Lennox .... Lace (1992-1993)
- Deron McBee .... Malibu (1989)
- Bobby Moore .... Rage (posed in Playboy)
- David Nelson .... Titan (1989–1990)
- Marisa Pare .... Lace (1989-1992)
- Sha-Ri Pendleton .... Blaze (1989-1992)
- Ed Radcliffe .... Tank (1995)
- Lee Reherman .... Hawk (1993-1996)
- Cathy Sassin .... Panther (1992 - ????)
- Billy Smith .... Thunder (1990-1992)
- Galen Tomlinson .... Turbo (1990-1996)
- Mark Tucker .... Rebel (1993)
- Barry Turner .... Cyclone (1992-1993)
- Lynn 'Red' Williams .... Saber (1992–1996)
- Julia G. .... mailing (1991–1995)
Gladiators in the new edition
Female gladiators
| Alias | Season | Surname | height and weight | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | to | ||||
| Blast | 1 | 1 | Jennifer Barry | unknown |
|
| Crush | 1 | 2 | Gina Carano | 1.73 m; 71 kg | |
| Fury | 1 | 1 | Jamie Reed Kovac | 1.73 m; 67 kg |
|
| Hellga | 1 | 2 | Robin Coleman | 1.84 m; 93 kg | |
| jet | 2 | 2 | Monica Carlson | 1.70 m; 59 kg |
|
| Panther | 2 | 2 | Corinne van Ryck de Groot | 1.65 m; 57 kg | |
| Phoenix | 2 | 2 | Jennifer Widerstrom | 1.68 m; 70 kg | |
| Siren | 1 | 2 | Valerie Waugaman | 1.75 m; 66 kg | |
| Stealth | 1 | 1 | Tanji Johnson | 1.57 m; 56 kg | |
| Steel | 2 | 2 | Erin Toughill | 1.77 m; 70 kg | |
| Venom | 1 | 2 | Beth Horn | 1.73 m; 62 kg | |
Male gladiators
| Alias | Season | Surname | height and weight | comment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | to | ||||||
| Beast | 2 | now | Matt Morgan | 2.08 m; 144 kg | |||
| hammer | 1 | 1 | Michael Briehler | unknown |
|
||
| Hurricane | 2 | 2 | Breaux Greer | 1.88 m; 105 kg | |||
| Justice | 1 | 2 | Jesse Justice Smith, Jr. | 2.03 m; 132 kg | |||
| Mayhem | 1 | 1 | Romeo Williams | 1.96 m; 104 kg |
|
||
| Militia | 1 | 2 | Alex Castro | 1.90 m; 100 kg | |||
| Rocket | 2 | 2 | Evan Dollard | 1.78 m; 73 kg |
|
||
| titanium | 1 | 2 | Michael O'Hearn | 1.90 m; 114 kg |
|
||
| Toa | 1 | 2 | Tanoai Reed | 1.90 m; 109 kg | |||
| wolf | 1 | 2 | Don "Hollywood" Yates | 1.93 m; 102 kg | |||
| Zen | 2 | 2 | Xin Wuku | 1.75 m; 73 kg | |||
Others
Rico Constantino , the finalist of the 1990/91 season, later became a professional wrestler in the WWE under the name "Rico" .
The events of the show were commented on RTL by the Dortmund cabaret artist Bruno Knust through his puppet character Joe.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Michael Schneider: Exclusive: Revived American Gladiators To Get Modern Makeover. In: TVGuide.com. July 7, 2014, accessed July 8, 2014 .