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For those not acquainted with the original show, I will endeavor to explain it. Watch the new "American Gladiators." That is it.

The new show is unbelievable similar to the original. Yes there is the backing of Hulk Hogan, who makes wrestling comments and of course displays his rather old 24 inch pythons, but over all it is the same show. The events are the same, the contestants wear the same tight uni-tards, the Gladiators are still steroid induced strongmen (this includes the female Gladiators), but surprisingly it works at least at first.

There is something fundamentally enjoyable about watching the show. It is a classic underdog vs underdog vs supermen and women. You revel in the success of a small teacher knocking over the giant Titan or a Soccer mom hitting a target sending a giant Helga into a pool of water. It gets you on some basic level and before you know it you have watched the show.

This is exactly how the original hit audiences in the 80s. Then it was very different and connected with fans on the same level as wrestling did in the 80s. The problem was that the freshness would wear thin. The show was repetitive and did not change week to week. It lost the audience and went off the air. The new show suffers from the same problem. Most people are watching it because of the first show and it starts to wear thin as the weeks progress. There is nothing original in the show, different hosts, different Gladiators, but essentially it is a clone of the original.
Overall the show is entertaining the first few times you watch it, then it begins to become the same show over and over again. If the show does not come up with something original, it will not last. So here is to the nostalgic feelings the show brings and here's to the hope that the producers of the show realize there must be originality in anything they bring back. If we look at the past we should not hold our breathe. These shows that are dusted off and brought back usually do not get the needed inspiration that allows them to succeed.

So enjoy the show until it becomes boring. Watch the underdogs battle the Titans. In the end viewers will tune out, however no one will have any hard feelings.

Learn more about this author, Paul Rees-Jones.
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