How old am I? This old:
The new version of "American Gladiators" has failed to rouse my usual weakness for nostalgia, because I already was old and cynical (and not watching the show) when the original version was on.
Sigh.
I assume based on my page views there are some people out there under 40 reading this blog, but I have no idea why. Thanks for doing so, though.
Comments (10)
Neil,
Is that a picture of the Clemens family accompanying your piece?!
Ouch!
Neil, I'm one of your under-40 readers (34 in a fews days, to be exact). I love some of the off-beat topics and your sense of humor.
As for AG, I'm blah about it. I remember watching this on weekend mornings when I was younger, but it didn't have the 'must watch' buzz that the Dukes of Hazzard or Knight Rider had on me. I'd probably compare it to something like The World's Strongest Man Competition. If you were flipping around and came across it, you might watch it, but your weren't hunting around looking for it specifically.
Keep up the great writing!
Neil, I am also under 40 (28 in a few weeks) and a reader of your articles and blogs. I watched AG last night and while I am excited to have it back, there were aspects that did annoy me a bit. The first being the "characters" on the show that seemed more interested in howling and doing dances than being gladiators. One of the best aspects of the original AG was that the gladiators were cocky and showy without needed an alter-ego. I do love the new water involvement and the Eliminator was awesome. Overall I was impressed and will continue to watch.
Vincent/Jeff: I was just kidding with that under 40 crack.
WatchDog welcomes readers of all ages, genders, colors, creeds and team affiliations, most of all those young enough to understand this crazy new Internets fad.
I'll keep trying to mix current stuff in with my tiresome baby boomer junk. Thanks for reading.
(Glauber is even older than me, by the way. He just looks younger.)
I had no idea this thing had ever existed until ESPN Classic starting replaying it to death. I avoided those like the plague, I will do the same with this.
I'm praying that Roller Derby featuring the San Francisco Bay Area Bombers is the next nostalgia show to make a comeback. Not that Roller Games or Roller Jam crap they showed on TV this decade, but real Roller Derby.
Best:
I still find it hard to believe that I'm older than you. Perhaps it's because I'm far more immature. After all, I still get a kick out of telling someone next to me, "Hey, look over there!", then putting my finger next to his/her cheek, and then watching as he/she turns back and feels my finger jab into his/her cheek.
Sandy, San Francisco Bay Area Bombers were the greatest. Charlie O'Connell was my hero. He was No. 40, I believe. And Dynamite Mike Gammon. Speed to burn. It seemed so real.
Those were the days.
I'm also in your
And, I can remember staying up late when my Aunt babysat my older brother and I to watch the original American Gladiators. I'm sure it was on at 11pm or maybe midnight, but it certainly felt like it was 3am to an 8 year old.
Recently, I began DVRing (welcome to the 21st century) re-runs of the original American Gladiators on ESPN Classic. The DVR is crucial because the interviews conducted by Larry Csonka and Mike Adamlee are borderline attrocious. However, I'm still struck with nostalgia when seeing Thunder, Ice, and my favorite competitor, Wesley "Two Scoops" Berry (knowledge of that American Gladiator champion actually won me a $20 bar bet once).
My excitement was limited when the new American Gladiators was announced. After watching last night's 2 hours spectacle I've reached some important conclusions:
1.) The video editing and post-production work makes it difficult to appreciate the competition at hand (if you saw the PowerBall competition, you'd get what I'm saying);
2.) Some of the new, more complicated events are borderline ridiculous (find the assault arrow in a sandbox?);
3.) The sportsmanship that made the original American Gladiators respectable appears to have all but vanished int he newer version, leading me to believe it's only a matter of time until someone gets hurt or sues (again, welcome to the 21st c.);
4.) And, finally, after watching Hogan and Ali interviewing the competitors and gladiators, I've learned that maybe DVRing these episodes and fast forwarding straight to the Pyramid event might be a better idea.
Keep up the good work, Neil, you make my workday fly by (but shhh, don't tell me employer).
It's supposed to say "I'm also in your under 40 demographic" above...I'm actually a mere 25...but your Baby Boomer nostalgia are like old stories told from the porch rocker...