Here’s the thing. When the new American Gladiators aired a few months ago for its first season, I was seriously so freaking excited. Anyone who watched it with me saw it, and anyone who knows me probably heard about it. I was really into it, in part because of nostalgia, obviously; my sister and I would watch the original show all the time when we were kids, and it was fun to have something familiar but still new on the air. But I also really liked the gladiators themselves and the showman-like quality of many of them. And I liked the Hulk and his funny hand gestures and most likely fake hair peeking out from under his head scarf thing. I’d get all excited and squealy during the episodes - me and American Gladiators was like other people and sports. At least kind of.
But this season, I feel less into it. I’m not sure why, even. I like some of the new gladiators and some of the new challenges. I like the new eliminator. The Hulk is still hilariously awesome-ish. What could possibly have changed? Really I think it’s the novelty of it all. I was thinking about all of this this morning and I realized that there is one big difference between how I watched AG when I was a kid and how I watch it now. When I was a kid, we just put it on if we came across it while flipping channels. Now, we make it an event to sit down and watch American Gladiators. That’s the key. At heart, AG is a silly show that you can have on while you fold laundry or something. And its something that will definitely fill the needs of a 7-year-old on a lazy Sunday afternoon. But is it straight-through watchable for an adult audience who is accustomed to complex plots or, at the very least, clever humor? Probably not for more than a season or two.
So, it’s a little sad. But, also, I watch so much freaking TV that it would not be a bad thing to become less committed to a few of them. But, as the current season continues on, will I still watch every week? Of course. I’m not totally over it just yet.
Wait…the original series was on before we were ten? Huh.
OK, I held off on reading your post until after I watched this week’s episode last night, because I thought you would have some sort of spoiler about it. After watching Monday night’s episode, I then thought you would be lamenting about something entirely different than what I just read.
Yes, the novelty of it all is waning in this second season, but more importantly, all of the pity party and inspirational pep talks are becoming unbearable to watch. It is not because I feel so sorry for the contenders and their life stories. No, it is because it is just interjecting unnecessary touchy-feely minutes between all the excitement of the events, which is what we all tune in to watch.
AG is probably going to continue to be on my watch list, but only because I want to keep seeing Crush, Pheonix and Jet beating on people, not because I want to know that some idiot is being "inspired by his family" to win $100k and a new truck.
OK, that’s enough of a rant for now. I probably should have posted it on my blog, but I’m lazy today.
I will continue to both watch and fast forward through most of the talking. I will continue to watch, mostly for Crush who is awesome. I’m actually recording an MMA match that she is in Saturday night…
Yeah, the novelty wore off for me at the start of this season. I don’t think I’ve watched any of the new ones all the way through. I don’t even know how many have aired.
I dunno, Crash, Wolf, and that handsome guy were pretty hilarious, but meh. Maybe I’ll check out this new Eliminator, though.
You are SO falling behind in this thing. So the comment is still relevant to the post, let us not forget how awesomely frightening Crush is!