Gladiators Australian Series 1
| Gladiators | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports entertainment |
| Created by |
Dan Carr John Ferraro |
| Developed by | MGM Television |
| Directed by | Timothy Kupsch |
| Presented by | Kimberley Joseph Aaron Pedersen |
| Narrated by | Tony Schibeci |
| Theme music composer |
Cameron Tait Marty Irwin Noel MacDonald |
| Country of origin |
 Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Patrick Condon Des Monaghan |
| Producer(s) |
Bill Edmonds Roger Kirk |
| Location(s) | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Queensland |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Running time |
60 minutes (including commercials) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Seven Network |
| Picture format | 576i (PAL) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| First shown in |
Australia |
| Original release | 29 April 1995 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Gladiators Australian Series 2 |
The first series of Australian Gladiators began airing on Channel 7 on 29 April 1995 following successful versions of the Gladiators format in America, the UK and Finland. The series closely resembled the UK series albeit with just four events and the Eliminator.
Fifteen episodes were filmed in a progressive competition at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre between 24 March and 2 April. Kimberley Joseph and Aaron Pedersen presented the show whilst play by play commentary was by Tony Schibeci. John Alexander acted as referee and John Forsyth as assistant referee. The Kix cheerleaders performed in the background of the events.
Winners of the heats received a Sony music system and a selection of CD's valued to $2,000. The runners up received a set of gym apparatus. The winners of the final won a car.
Gladiators
Male
- Condor - Alistair Gibb
- Cougar - Ashley Buck
- Force - John Gergelifi
- Hammer - Mark McGaw
- Taipan - Michael Melksham
- Tower - Ron Reeve
- Vulcan - John Seru
Force suffered an injury in Atlasphere in the third quarter final and had to retire from the show.
Female
- Blade - Bev Carter
- Cheeta - Nicky Davico
- Delta - Karen Alley
- Flame - Lynda Byrnes
- Fury - Julie Saunders
- Rebel - Barbara Kendell
- Storm - Charlene Machin
Events
Atlasphere, Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pyramid, Suspension Bridge, Tilt and Wall were played over Series 1. The Eliminator featured as the final event in every show.
Shows
Fifteen shows along with an unaired pilot[1] were filmed with the televised shows taking the form of a progressive competition. Each show featured four events along with the Eliminator. The winner of the Eliminator would progress to the next round.
Winning challengers are in bold.[2]
| Episode | Contest | Original airdate | Challengers (Female) | Challengers (Male) | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Unaired Pilot1 | N/A | Lisa Vs Jane | Brian Vs James | Powerball, Wall, Hang Tough, Duel |
| 01 | Heat 1 | 29 April 1995 | Gina Goode Vs Heather Marychurch | Clinton Barter Vs Howard Abuthnct | Gauntlet, Pyramid, Powerball, Hit & Run |
| 02 | Heat 2 | 6 May 1995 | Sabrina Hoyman Vs Carol-Anne Horrath | David Wallis Vs Paul Vella | Hit & Run, Wall, Duel, Powerball |
| 03 | Heat 3 | 13 May 1995 | Bernie Withers Vs Tracy | Andrew Vs Adam | Suspension Bridge, Hang Tough, Atlasphere, Tilt |
| 04 | Heat 4 | 20 May 1995 | Karen Swansborough Vs Hillary Darke | Tony Vs Corey | Pyramid, Tilt, Gauntlet, Suspension Bridge |
| 05 | Heat 5 | 27 May 1995 | Kerry Warman Vs Annie | Ian Jacobs Vs Mark | Wall, Duel, Powerball, Hit & Run |
| 06 | Heat 6 | 3 June 1995 | Nellie Baker Vs Fernanda Lacey | Ashley Martin Vs Alex Sanz | Atlasphere, Wall, Duel, Hang Tough |
| 07 | Heat 7 | 10 June 1995 | Theresa Brett Vs Alison Jackson | Rod McQueen and John Powell | Gauntlet, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge |
| 08 | Heat 8 | 17 June 1995 | Tania Vs Donna/ Kathy Katzourakis2 | Rhett Foreman Vs Andrew Strickland | Pyramid, Gauntlet, Duel, Powerball |
| 09 | Quarter Final 1 | 24 June 1995 | Sabrina Hooyman Vs Nellie Baker | Ashley Martin Vs David Wallis | Pyramid, Tilt, Wall, Suspension Bridge |
| 10 | Quarter Final 2 | 30 June 1995 | Kerry Warman Vs Bernie Withers | Andrew Halliday Vs Ian Jacobs | Powerball, Duel, Hit & Run, Pyramid |
| 11 | Quarter Final 3 | 1 July 1995 | Teresa Brett Vs Karen Swansborough | Rod McQueen Vs Tony | Wall, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Gauntlet |
| 12 | Quarter Final 4 | 8 July 1995 | Fernanda Lacey3 Vs Tania | Howard Vs Rhett Foreman | Duel, Pyramid, Hit & Run, Powerball |
| 13 | Semi Final 1 | 15 July 1995 | Teresa Brett Vs Nellie Baker | Dave Wallis Vs Rod McQueen | Suspension Bridge, Pyramid, Powerball, Hang Tough |
| 14 | Semi Final 2 | 22 July 1995 | Fernanda Lacey Vs Bernie Withers | Andrew Halliday Vs Rhett Foreman | Duel, Wall, Tilt, Gauntlet |
| 15 | Final | 29 July 1995 | Teresa Brett Vs Bernie Withers | Dave Wallis Vs Andrew Halliday | Gauntlet, Duel, Pyramid, Hang Tough |
1 The challengers in this episode were actually members of the production crew and changed throughout the episode. The names given were just for filming purposes. The headstarts given in the Eliminator were not based on points scored in the events.
2Replaced Donna after she fell on her pugil stick and injured her leg.
3Replaced Gina Goode who having won her heat was unable to continue in the Quarter finals due to an ankle injury.
Production
Production began in January 1995 when the producers began their search for Gladiators and challengers. The long list was cut to 100 people who attended tryouts in Brisbane (where it was decided the show would be filmed), Melbourne and Sydney. Fourteen Gladiators and a number of challengers were selected.[3]
The apparatus was delivered to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in March requiring 35 trucks and 100 riggers whilst the Gladiators filmed the opening credits at Dee Why. Challengers arrived at the BEC on 16 March to begin training.
An unaired pilot episode was filmed using the Gladiators and production crew as chaallengers. There was no audience and Force, Rebel and Cheeta did not compete in any events.
Filming commenced on 24 March and wraps on 2 April. Initially audiences numbered 2,000 but grew to 5,000 as filming progressed. St John's Ambulance personnel were on site during filming.
The first episode aired on Channel 7 on 29 April and immediately entered the top 10 most watch shows in Australia. A second series entered production in May.
References
- ↑ Original Australian Series Episode Write Ups http://forum.gladiatorszone.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1973
- ↑ Original Australian Series Episode Guide http://archive.gladiatorszone.co.uk/YaBB.pl?num=1087254252;start=all
- ↑ "A year in the life of Gladiators" Official Gladiators Magazine issue 3 Nov-Dec 1995