Re: American Gladiators 2008
I thought this was awesome. When I first heard about the new version, I was worried that it would just be the AG name and nothing else. No, this feels exactly like the original and not a cheap knockoff like Battle Dome. I liked all of the contestants, and emphasizing their bios makes you root for a favorite the whole time. Anthony was an amazing athlete, and I hope he goes far. Siene made the eliminator look easy, though I know I'd still be trying to climb that cargo net a week later.
I hated the commercial placement, though. Building excitement by cutting to a commercial right after the whistle blows to start an event was a

. There were a couple of times in the first episode where they would show one contestant finishing an event and then cut to a commercial before showing the other contestant's go at it, and I hope they will stop that practice as well. Also, the two hour premiere was a bit much, even for me. I hope three hours right off the bat wasn't overkill for the general audience, though Casey's posts suggests it might not have been a problem.
Finally, a new Knight Rider? If it's any good, it's another NBC show to add to my lineup. The majority of what I watch is on that network this year.