America's favorite re-recycled Roman pastime

by MK
NBC has decided to put the striking writers of the WGA into a powerful sleeper-hold, then move swiftly into a devastating suplex. That way it's easier to distract their audiences from the fact that they couldn't come up with any new reality television ideas.

The brand-new re-hashing of the most original/ancient idea is back on the air Monday nights at 8pm (EST). And, while it can still be enjoyable to watch people try to interview after getting slammed to the ground by other, more freakish people--the show has definitely lost some of its charm the second time around.

Hulk Hogan is an adequate host, while Lela Ali leaves a bit to be desired. Hulk is familiar and likeable, while not going overboard with catch-phrases or banter. Ali simply doesn't have the experience to keep things moving in live interviews, but still comes off fairly polished. The producing is not yet up to snuff, and as a result the show feels choppy. During the "Assault" event, it was difficult to even see what was happening with the jerky editing. Undoubtedly, this will improve with time.

The main problem with this glorified re-run is that the contestants have become acutely aware of what a "reality show contestant" should act like. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, the contestants were real, three-dimensional--even awkward. Now, due to the identity of reality television, all the competitors have canned answers and seem like caricatures of themselves. This really takes the fun out of watching everyday Joe's and Jane's (well, very athletic Joe's and Jane's) pitted against Goliaths.

The Gladiators themselves, however, have some personality--something lacking in the original conception (not counting Rome). They have unique characters that are pretty cheesy, yet still entertaining. They are also extremely potent athletes, making each event as challenging as ever. By giving the gladiators voices, it becomes a bit more personal--rather than interchangeable muscle/spandex-bound parts. The women gladiators have a bit less personality then the very theatrical men, but that may also evolve over time.

NBC will probably score a hit with this particular environmentally-friendly re-use of a popular concept, but it may take a bit for the show to hit it's stride. Hopefully, the producers will realize that finding contestants who don't NEED to be on television (hint: don't cast in LA) will only enhance the inherent drama built around the competition and elevate this classic television series to a new level.