EPSN Classic late nights!

I stumbled upon ESPN Classic's (late)weeknight schedule the other week. They were running American Gladiators from 1990. The second season of Gladiators that ran in early 1990 with a revamped look. New look to the fields, better production quality and new commentator in Todd Christensen.

Pretty sure this was the start of Christensen's shitty broadcasting career. He criticizes everything, including the way contestants can't properly aim the Big Bazooka that Fires Nerf Darts. Very condescending tone, as it the average joe should know how to fire one of those things. Christensen apparently impressed somebody with his analysis of the Wall, Breakthrough & Conquer and The Eliminator, though. Later in the year, he was hired by the NFL to call regional games. So he took the same path to the NFL booth that his AG predecessor, Joe Theisman, did. Both sucked. Larry Csonka succeeded Christensen in the AG booth, but surprisingly he never made it to the NFL booth. (If he did, it was in very limited exposure). Kind of a shame, because I think a bulldozing Dolphins runningback who dented opponents' helmets would have more credibility than a Gimpy Redskins QB or a Raiders Tight End with Long Curly Hair.

The actual Gladiators show is enjoyable. This season featured Titan, a big powerlifter dude who never appeared again. He kinda' resembled WCW's Ice Train (aka "I.M. Smooth"). They also dumped the goofy "judge" with the executioner's hood from 1989 and went to retired NFL refs wearing standard zebra uniforms. Basically, they re-tooled the show away from the strange "kinda'/sorta' pro wrestling vibe" that it had in the first season.

ESPN's "Cheap Seats" follows American Gladiators, nightly. Hosted by two nerdy guys, it's like a sports version of Mystery Science Theater 3000. On Tuesday night, they goofed on some old IWA wrestling, circa 1981. Fun stuff, as they pondered just what IS the proper definition of a "Mexican Surfboard".

Goofy crap like this is why I loved cable in the 80's and early 90's: quirky late night stuff. Since about 2002, the late night quirky-ness seems to have died down, with the closest thing being old re-runs of "Twilight Zone" on SciFi channel. Glad I found something.