Gladiators (television franchise)

Infobox Television
show_name = Gladiators


caption =
format = Sports Entertainment
runtime = 40-50 minutes
creator = Dan Carr and John Ferraro
host = Various
country = flag|United States
Domestic Series:flag|United Kingdom
flag|Australia
flag|Nigeria
flag|Denmark
flag|Finland
flag|Sweden
flag|South Africa
International Competitions:
flag|Russia
flag|Germany
flag|Japan
flag|Bahamas
network = Various
first_aired = 16 September, 1989
last_aired = present
current versions = American Gladiators = Gladiators (Australia) = Gladiators (UK)
website = http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk

Gladiators is a sports entertainment television show that was an international success during the 1990s and early 2000s with shows being filmed in America, Finland, The United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Nigeria and Denmark. Russia, Germany, The Bahamas and Japan would also compete in international shows during the series. After a lengthy break, Gladiators was revived in 2008 in the UK, U.S.A. and Australia.

The concept of the show is that athletic members of the public battle against the show's own Gladiators (often semi-professional or ex-athletes) to claim points in several events that require speed, strength and skill. In the final event of the show, The Eliminator the contenders race against each other (with starting times based on previous events), with the first to finish winning the episode and moving onto the next round.

History

1990s success

The initial concept for the show by Dan Carr and John C. Ferraro was held in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the USA before being sold to Samuel Goldwyn Productions/MGM where the format was adapted and televised as American Gladiators with the first series airing over 1989-1990. As the show progressed, new events were introduced along with new Gladiators, sometimes retiring previous Gladiators.

Following the success of American Gladiators, other countries began to produce their own versions of the show with the UK and Finland starting production in 1992. American Gladiators had already picked up a cult following in the UK after being shown on late night TV. The UK, most noticeably adapted the concept into a large arena (the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham), glamorising the show, often adapting events from the American series as well as introducing many of their own, often more high-tech. Winners from the UK and Finnish series would then go over to America, to film a special show of American Gladiators in which they competed against the current American champions along with selected athletes from other territories such as Japan and the Bahamas and South Korea.

In early 1995, the first full scale international competition was launched in which selected Gladiators from the American, Finish and British series competed against contender champions from those three countries. A fourth country, Russia was added but as they did not have their own domestic series, the Gladiators and contenders were hand-picked by Russian TV producers. The Finnish series ceased production after International Gladiators 1.

In 1995, Australia began production of their own show, basing it on the UK series. After the first series, a three part 'Ashes' mini series was filmed in Australia, in which a selection of British and Australian Gladiators faced champions from the opposing countries. Australia then went on to compete in International Gladiators 2 along with the UK and America. Russia also returned, even though they still did not have a domestic series. Germany and South Africa also competed even though they too did not have their own domestic series.

Decline

After International Gladiators 2, the American Gladiators series ceased production due to falling ratings, although a live dinner show ran in Florida between 1996 and 1998. The UK and Australia continued to produce their own editions of the show, with the UK continuing to add new events to its roster (retiring some due to safety reasons) with Australia adding events from the UK series in its second and third series.

In 1996, the UK and Australia faced each other again in 'The Ashes 2' this time held in the UK Gladiator arena and an Australia vs. Russia mini series was filmed in Australia with two of the Russian Gladiators who had appeared in International Gladiators 2 appearing alongside new faces.

In 1997, due to falling ratings, the Australian show was cancelled, even though plans for a fourth series had commenced, which would include a brand new event that would be exclusive to Australia. South Africa competed against the UK in the Springbok Challenge held in the UK Gladiator arena, despite the fact that they did not have their own domestic series. Only one of the South African Gladiators who appeared in International Gladiators 2 appeared.

In 1999, it was announced that due to falling ratings, the UK series was to be axed. A final mini series in which past champions competed was filmed. It was at this time that South Africa finally began production of their own series and in 2000, a team of UK Gladiators and contenders went over to film the Springbok Challenge 2, a series filmed exclusively for South African TV only.

New Millennium

With the South African production in full swing, other territories began producing their own versions. Sweden began producing their own version in 2000 under the name Gladiatorerna, with the old UK apparatus being shipped over. Short lived series in Nigeria (2002) and Denmark followed.

In 2001, the South African series was overhauled, but it proved unpopular with viewers and the show was axed. Sweden continued to produce Gladiators, creating an event unique to the series, Spidercage, before being axed in 2004.

The revival

In August 2007, NBC confirmed that a revival of American Gladiators would be produced by Reveille Productions and MGM Television to air mid season during early 2008. The series drew elements from the 1990s UK series as well as being updated for the new millennium in which several events would be played over water. In September 2007, the Seven Network in Australia announced that it too was reviving Gladiators, although unlike the American revival, the Australian revival was to follow the lines of its predecessor rather than be overhauled.

The first episode of the new American Gladiators premiered on Sunday 6 January, 2008 proving to be a ratings hit. A seconds season was instantly commissioned. At the same time, it was announced that Sky One were commissioning a UK revival which would follow the basis set by the American revival.

The Australian revival premiered on Sunday 30 March, 2008 with the UK series starting on Sunday 11th May. Both revivals proved instant ratings hits for their respective channels. On Monday 12 May, 2008, the second season of the American show began, with the series being moved to a bigger arena.

Format

In a standard Gladiators show, two female and two male contenders face each other and the Gladiators in anywhere from four to seven events. The line up of events differs across each show with different Gladiators playing the different events dependent on their skill type. Towards the end of the initial UK and American series, the male and female contenders did not necessarily play the same events. Contenders score points for winning against the Gladiators, with the winner having a time advantage in the last event the contenders compete in, The Eliminator.

The winner of the Eliminator goes through to the next round (or wins the series) unless a qualifying time is needed for the next round.

Shows are usually presented by a male and female host (with the exception of all but one season of the original American Gladiators, which were presented by two male hosts [notably Mike Adamle and Larry Csonka] ), as well as a main referee (often wearing a striped black and white shirt, in the style of an American football referee) presiding over events, handing out disqualifications or red and yellow cards to contenders or Gladiators if needed. A timekeeper is often present behind the referee but these are not always referred to or provide a speaking role. An unseen commentator will provide play by play accounts (again with the exception of the original American Gladiators series, where the on-screen hosts also provided the play by play)

The show is filmed in front of a live studio audience made up of fans and supporters of the contenders. It is not uncommon for the cameras to focus on particular crowd members or banners. Some incarnations of the show such as the Australian and original UK series have cheerleaders to provide background entertainment.

Events

For a full list of Gladiators events around the world, see

There have been 35 events involving Gladiators (as well as the Eliminator) across the incarnations. Four of the events have an alternate name in certain territories. A different selection of the events will be played in each episode. No single territory has had all thirty five events on its roster. The UK had the biggest number of events during its initial run with twenty three events.

All events were created by either the American or UK series with the exception of Soccer Shootout (South Africa) and Spidercage (Sweden). The UK notably adapted some of the American events, with the adaptations becoming the standard design for the concept. For example the UK version of Skytrack would later be adopted by the Australian and American revival series whereas the UK concept of the American event Tug-o-War known as Tilt eventually superseded Tug-o-War for the 2008 American revival.

Over the course of the original UK and American series, several events were dropped, often due to safety reasons. The Eliminator was the only event which was played in every episode across every territory.

The Gladiators

There have been over 300 Gladiators across all the territories. Inevitably, there has been some cannibalisation of names, although there have only been three instances where the same name has been used twice in a territory for a televised series with Gladiators named Siren and Titan in both the original and revival formats of the American show and Panther being used for both the original and revived UK shows. The names Panther, Ice, Scorpio, Lightning, Blade, Cyclone, Flash, Force, Shadow, Thunder, Viper, Nitro, Cobra, Rebel, Hurricane, Laser, Phoenix and Rocket have been used for both male and female Gladiators.

Most Gladiators come from either an athletic or body-building background. Seven Olympic athletes have competed as Gladiators: Amazon (Sharron Davies) (UK), Nightshade (Judy Simpson) (UK), Rebel (Jennifer Stoute) (UK), Olympia (Tatiana Grigorieva) (AUS), Hurricane (Breaux Greer) (US), Battleaxe (Shirley Webb) (UK) and Predator (Du'aine Ladejo) (UK).

There have been five instances where contender champions have been 'upgraded' to Gladiators, with Australian series 2 and International Gladiators 2 runner up Lourene Bevaart becoming Glacier, American Gladiators 2008 series 1 champions Monica Carlson and Evan Dollard becoming Jet and Rocket respectively, Finnish series 1 winner becomming Safiiri and 1994 UK champion and International Gladiators 1 champion Eunice Huthart became Gladiator Blaze. However, Eunice only competed as Blaze in non televised shows, opting to perform as herself in future televised shows.

Only two Gladiators have played for two different domestic series in differing countries; Vulcan (John Seru) who was originally an Australian Gladiator who transferred to the UK team upon the end of the Australian series and Fox (Tammy Baker) who transferred from the UK to the South African team when the UK series finished. Laser (Tina Andrew), a UK Gladiator went on to compete as Sheena, a member of a South African team for the Spinrgbok Challenge 1. However, she did not compete in the domestic South African series.

Further reading

* American Gladiators
* American Gladiators (2008 TV series)
* Gladiators (UK TV series)
* Gladiators (2008 UK TV series)
* Gladiators (Australian TV series)
* Gladiators (2008 Australian TV series)
* MTN Gladiators

References

* http://www.gladiatorszone.com
* http://gladiators.sky.com/
* http://www.nbc.com/americangladiators
* http://au.tv.yahoo.com/b/gladiators/
* http://www.sky.com/gladiators