The Gladiators Thread

Speak for yourself. Saracen was my man.

I'm not sure it moved too much - from what I remember it was pretty much in the Saturday 6pm(ish) slot for most of it's runs.

I think the final nail may have been when ITV had big plans for Premiership football on Saturday nights, which of course lasted all of 8 weeks.

It was nowhere near as bad as people were making out. I loved the 90's version but people need to take their rose tinted glasses off when comparing the old ones and the modern ones. Both the first ever show and tonights show are comparable. There is no use in comparing the start of a new generation with the end of an old one. It simply cannot be compared. Towards the end of the old one the Gladiators were established and the show had found its feet. This time around, it isn't the case.

The only criticism I can give the show is the layout of the games. Some are very cramped, especially the eliminator. There is a fair bit of space which could be used better e.g. they would work around the pool rather than going in it and just simple things such as turning the travelator around giving a decent run up and having the wall some distance from the top will enhance it so much.

Overall I give it 8/10 and will be watching again next week.

Tom,

The first show had a very humble feel about it. I've watched it enough times to know every detail. There was a lack of atmosphere in 1992. However, the music for the events was brilliant from day one. (The only exception being Danger Zone, and they changed that).

I'll compare 1992 and 2008, if you like.

1992
PROS
* 6 Events per show
* Only 2 advert breaks
* Brilliant event music
* Very short, snappy interviews
* The lighting was just right
CONS
* Same events each show
* Lack of atmosphere in the arena
* Basic graphics

2008
PROS
* Good graphics
CONS
* 4 Events per show
* Advert break splitting female and male
* Crap music
* Distracting lighting
* Over-inflated egos
* Sob stories
* Far too much time spent on interviews
* 3 Advert Breaks
* Obsession with fire and water - I think the eliminator is dangerous
* Tiny arena
* Tiny Pyramid
* Strange arena layout
* The suspension bridge is VERY thin
* The duel platforms are tiny

I could go on, but I don't want to bore you.

For those of you who watched the show, I've put the old duel music to the new show - it's a huge improvement already! Click here to view.

Well done adders, agree with your points there, and good video. There was something about the various events music which was very good indeed.

I've been thinking, is the water a promotional stunt, or is it a production answer to the problem of having to have an adequete amount of crash matts, and a small area, where they've used the water in various events.

Is anyone comparing this to the recent US remake? I'm assuming Sky have picked up the format because it was a reasonable hit in the US?

Could be that the costumes, music, addition of water etc. are a result of the US show ?

I only agree with a few of those points which is their fault.

* 4 Events per show
* Sob stories
* Far too much time spent on interviews
* The duel platforms are tiny

Advert break splitting female and male - Whats wrong with that? Channels don't run themselves.
Crap music - ITV own the rights to the old music.
Distracting lighting - I prefer the new lighting. The old one was very dark and was the only let down. It didn't suit the show
Over-inflated egos - If you really did know the 90's series inside out you would know the Gladiators are supposed to have over-inflated egos. It happened last time too
3 Advert Breaks - Channels don't run themselves and ad breaks have no relevance to the show
Obsession with fire and water - Its adding a new edge and twist. It can't be a carbon copy of the original. Shows have to evolve. I actually prefer it over water.
Tiny arena - It would probably be costly to rent out a proper arena. That studio they have about the same floor space as they did in the arena. They just don't use it to their advantage.
Tiny Pyramid - Its still big enough
Strange arena layout - Why is it strange? Because it isn't the same as it was?
The suspension bridge is VERY thin - So?

Personally I think you are relying too much on what Gladiators was and you were expecting the new version to be a carbon copy of the old one, and because it isn't the same its no longer 'good'.

The difference with the US version is that they have gone half and half. Compared to the 90's US version it's more camp (as they presented it like they would a wrestling match or something similar), but not as camp as the UK's 90's version.

As for the US series, you can tell what angle they're coming from as they got Hulk Hogan to present it.

Advert break splitting female and male- Whats wrong with that? Channels don't run themselves.
It's stupid, and breaks up the events - the old structure was much better.

Crap music - ITV own the rights to the old music.
Point taken, but are you seriously telling me that they couldn't have made music to suit the feel of the show? The new version has a modern set and Medieval music - a bit of a clash, don't you think?
Distracting lighting - I prefer the new lighting. The old one was very dark and was the only let down. It didn't suit the show
I couldn't focus on the contenders. Especially on Pyramid. If the spotlights were white, I wouldn't mind, but they're green.

Over-inflated egos - If you really did know the 90's series inside out you would know the Gladiators are supposed to have over-inflated egos. It happened last time too
The Gladiators in the 1990s did have egos, but you could tell that they are real people. They're trying to make out that the Gladiators are robots in this series.

3 Advert Breaks- Channels don't run themselves and ad breaks have no relevance to the show
Again, there was no need in the 1990s, so I see no need now.

Obsession with fire and water - Its adding a new edge and twist. It can't be a carbon copy of the original. Shows have to evolve. I actually prefer it over water.
I don't mind them using fire outside of the events, but one of the contenders came dangerously close to jumping into the flames last night on the eliminator.


Tiny arena - It would probably be costly to rent out a proper arena. That studio they have about the same floor space as they did in the arena. They just don't use it to their advantage.
I'll use the example of the Powerball pitch. The floor space is TINY. I dread to think what Alaspheres will be like.


Tiny Pyramid - Its still big enough
For a show that is supposed to be bigger and better than the original, do you not think that the Pyramid should be at least the same size?

Strange arena layout - Why is it strange? Because it isn't the same as it was?
The 1990s show made use of the whole arena space for most of the events. Now, only half can be used at a time.

The suspension bridge is VERY thin - So?
It makes the bridge less wobbly, and looks stupid.

Personally I think you are relying too much on what Gladiators [i]was and you were expecting the new version to be a carbon copy of the old one, and because it isn't the same its no longer 'good'.[/i]
I was expecting Sky to use the good elements of the 1990s series, and add their own twist. Instead, they've made the show into something completely different. The events don't have the same feel, the arena doesn't have the same atmosphere, and most importantly, there isn't as much action.

Time's have changed - they make a lot less money now with the same amount of adverts.

You do make it sound like nobody's checked the safety!

Advert break splitting female and male- Whats wrong with that? Channels don't run themselves.
It's stupid, and breaks up the events - the old structure was much better.

But the adverts have to go somewhere.

Crap music - ITV own the rights to the old music.
Point taken, but are you seriously telling me that they couldn't have made music to suit the feel of the show? The new version has a modern set and Medieval music - a bit of a clash, don't you think?

I think they probably could have but IMO it could have been a million miles better than the original and people would have slated it.

Distracting lighting - I prefer the new lighting. The old one was very dark and was the only let down. It didn't suit the show
I couldn't focus on the contenders. Especially on Pyramid. If the spotlights were white, I wouldn't mind, but they're green.

I didn't even notice the spot lights ...

Over-inflated egos - If you really did know the 90's series inside out you would know the Gladiators are supposed to have over-inflated egos. It happened last time too
The Gladiators in the 1990s did have egos, but you could tell that they are real people. They're trying to make out that the Gladiators are robots in this series.

What is the problem with taking a different approach? Personally when I used to watch the original I got the impression that the Gladiators weren't real people then either.

3 Advert Breaks- Channels don't run themselves and ad breaks have no relevance to the show
Again, there was no need in the 1990s, so I see no need now.

Its to do with ratings and advertising revenue. Back then it would get huge audiences so to make money they wouldn't have needed to have so many ad breaks.

Obsession with fire and water - Its adding a new edge and twist. It can't be a carbon copy of the original. Shows have to evolve. I actually prefer it over water.
I don't mind them using fire outside of the events, but one of the contenders came dangerously close to jumping into the flames last night on the eliminator.

I accept your point about the fire. I do like the pool but I wish they had some sort of board they could put over the pool so they could use it in the eliminator. The rest of the games are recognisable but I'm in agreement about the eliminator.

Tiny arena - It would probably be costly to rent out a proper arena. That studio they have about the same floor space as they did in the arena. They just don't use it to their advantage.
I'll use the example of the Powerball pitch. The floor space is TINY. I dread to think what Alaspheres will be like.

Atlaspheres isn't returning, and the point above applies too. I do agree that if there is to be a second series they could benefit from going back to an arena or using the floorspace more wisely. The point above also applies to this.

Tiny Pyramid - Its still big enough
For a show that is supposed to be bigger and better than the original, do you not think that the Pyramid should be at least the same size?

It couldn't be much bigger because of the restrictions from the studio. I think its still a good height even if it is smaller.

Strange arena layout - Why is it strange? Because it isn't the same as it was?
The 1990s show made use of the whole arena space for most of the events. Now, only half can be used at a time.

Again, my point about some kind of floor to cover the pool over with applies.

The suspension bridge is VERY thin - So?
It makes the bridge less wobbly, and looks stupid.

From my understanding it would make it more wobbly? I don't think there was anything wrong with that game.

Personally I think you are relying too much on what Gladiators was and you were expecting the new version to be a carbon copy of the old one, and because it isn't the same its no longer 'good'.
I was expecting Sky to use the good elements of the 1990s series, and add their own twist. Instead, they've made the show into something completely different. The events don't have the same feel, the arena doesn't have the same atmosphere, and most importantly, there isn't as much action.

If Sky hadn't made any changes and it was a carbon copy of the old version (except in a studio), surely people would complain that no tweaks had been made when it was a perfect opportunity to do so?

Does Wrighty give it the old John Fashanu "Awoooga" ?

If not I'm not interested (not that I have a choice anyway being with VM, however I wouldn't give up all the on demand loveliness for a few leotard clad glads).