Gladiators Australian Series 2
| Gladiators | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports entertainment |
| Created by |
Dan Carr John Ferraro |
| Developed by | MGM Television |
| Directed by | Timothy Kupsch |
| Presented by | Kimberley Joseph, Mike Hammond |
| Narrated by | Tony Schibeci |
| Theme music composer |
Cameron Tait Marty Irwin Noel MacDonald |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| 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 | August 1995 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Gladiators Australian Series 1 |
| Followed by | Gladiators Australian Series 3 |
The second series of Australian Gladiators began airing on Channel 7 in August 1995, almost immediately after the first series, which had proved a ratings success.
Twenty-one episodes were filmed for this series, including a three-part special 'Ashes' series between the UK and Australia and a three-part Team Sports Special. Once again the shows were filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre between 5 July and 19 July. A seven-part International Gladiators series filmed in Birmingham was included in the series two block. A behind the-scenes special was also filmed.
Kimberley Joseph returned to host along with Mike Hammond, who replaced Aaron Pedersen. Play-by-play commentary was again performed by Tony Schibeci. John Alexander was unable to return due to his commitments to Wimbledon and was replaced by Mike Whitney.[1] Once again, John Forsyth acted as assistant referee and the Kix cheerleaders returned to perform in the background of the events.
Winners of the heats received a Sony PlayStation and sound system with CDs. Runners-up received a titanium watch. The grand final winners won a car.
Gladiators
Male
- Commando - Geoff Barker
- Condor - Alistair Gibb
- Cougar - Ashley Buck
- Hammer - Mark McGaw
- Predator - Tony Forrow
- Taipan - Michael Melksham
- Tower - Ron Reeve
- Vulcan - John Seru
Force (John Gergelifi) retired after Series 1 due to injury. In his place were two new recruits, Commando and Predator. Neither of the new recruits took part in the Ashes series.
Hammer, Tower and Vulcan took part in the International Gladiators 2 series in Birmingham. The Australian Gladiators magazine stated that Taipan was due to compete but had to pull out due to injury. However, there were reports that Cougar was to take part but had to pull out due to allegations of indecent behaviour with underage fans that he would later be cleared from.
Female
- Blade - Bev Carter
- Cheeta - Nicky Davico
- Delta - Karen Alley
- Flame - Lynda Byrnes
- Fury - Julie Saunders
- Rebel - Barbara Kendell
- Storm - Charlene Machin
Rebel would not appear after Heat 8 after apparently feeling disheartened that she lost the majority of the events she played. She did not take part in the Ashes series.
Delta, Flame Fury and Storm took part in the International Gladiators 2 series in Birmingham.
Others
Jet, Lightning, Nightshade and Vogue along with Hunter, Rhino, Warrior and Wolf were the UK Gladiators who appeared in the Ashes series.
The other Gladiators to feature in International Gladiators 2 were;
- Ice, Jazz, Hawk & Sabre (US)
- Angel, Power, Flash & Giant (GER)
- Astra, Lynx, Dynamite & Titan (RUS)
- Delilah, Sahara, Impi & Samson (SA)
- Falcon, Jet, Lightning, Panther, Vogue, Zodiac, Cobra, Hunter, Raider, Rhino, Trojan, Warrior and Wolf (UK)
Events
Atlasphere, Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pyramid, Suspension Bridge and Wall returned from Series 1 as well as the Eliminator which featured as the final event in every show.
Three new events, Swingshot, Pursuit and Whiplash were introduced all of them having already featured in either the American or UK series.
Tilt also returned from Series 1 but was axed midway through the series.
Shows
Once again fifteen shows were filmed in a progressive competition. Each show featured four events along with the Eliminator. The winner of the Eliminator would progress to the next round.
A three-part Ashes series between the Australia and the UK was filmed along with a three-part Team Sports series in which professional sports players went against the Gladiators. The Ashes special was shown prior to the domestic series airing. A Behind the scenes special was also televised.
Several members of the Australian team went over to the UK to take part in International Gladiators 2. These episodes were filmed in the UK Gladiators studios in Birmingham and were aired before the Team Sports Special.[2] There was a summer break between the domestic series and International Series.[3]
An episode entitled 'Heart of a Gladiator' was made due to fan interest in the Gladiators themselves. The show was to air on 6 April 1996[4] but was pulled due to the election that occurred in Australia the week before.[5] The episode was aired at a later date.
Unlike in Series 1, Kimberley and Mike stood with the winners of the show as they said their goodbyes.
Winning challengers are in bold.[6] Following her win of the domestic series and runner up position in International Gladiators 2, Lourene Bevaart became a Gladiator for the third series.
| Episode | Contest | Original airdate | Challengers (Female) | Challengers (Male) | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Behind the scenes special | 5 August 1995 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 02 | Ashes Heat 1 | 12 August 1995 | Kerryn Sampey (UK) Vs Kerry Warman (AUS) | Phil Campbell (UK) Vs David Wallis (AUS) | Pyramid, Hang Tough, Wall, Suspension Bridge |
| 03 | Ashes Heat 2 | 19 August 1995 | Euince Huthart (UK) Vs Nellie Baker (AUS) | Matt Beeke (UK) Vs Andrew Halliday (AUS) | Powerball, Duel, Gauntlet, Wall |
| 04 | Ashes Final | 26 August 1995 | Eunice Huthart (UK) Vs Kerryn Sampey (UK) | Andrew Halliday (AUS) Vs Dave Wallis (AUS) | Gauntlet, Duel, Pyramid, Hang Tough |
| 05 | Heat 1 | 2 September 1995 | Kathy McMorrow Vs Claire Sudran | Scott Brewer Vs Jonathan | Powerball, Swingshot, Whiplash, Pyramid |
| 06 | Heat 2 | 9 September 1995 | Leanne Hickey Vs Bernadinne Wilde | Tommy Le Vs Rowan | Hang Tough, Powerball, Pursuit, Wall |
| 07 | Heat 3 | 16 September 1995 | Kim McGaw Vs Charity Crosby | Kris Lacey Vs Kane | Powerball, Duel, Pyramid, Tilt1 |
| 08 | Heat 4 | 23 September 1995 | Donna Talbort Vs Kim Knott | Scott Bannon Vs Neil Campbell | Hang Tough, Gauntlet, Atlasphere, Suspension Bridge |
| 09 | Heat 5 | 30 September 1995 | Lourene Bevaart Vs Rhonda Broughton | Martin Vs Dominic | Pyramid, Hit & Run, Duel, Swingshot |
| 10 | Heat 6 | 7 October 1995 | Melanie Parsons Vs Karen Trent | Mark Labourie2 Vs Joe Lukowski | Gauntlet, Duel, Pursuit, Hang Tough |
| 11 | Heat 7 | 14 October 1995 | Nicole Singleton Vs Tamsin | Steve Vs Russell | Suspension Bridge, Pyramid, Atlasphere, Whiplash |
| 12 | Heat 8 | 21 October 1995 | Sandra Nori Vs Belinda Panizza | Shane Saltmarsh Vs Matthew Dugard | Gauntlet, Swingshot, Pursuit3, Hang Tough |
| 13 | Quarter Final 1 | 28 October 1995 | Kathy McMorrow & Kim Knott | Shane Saltmarsh & Neil Campbell | Suspension Bridge, Powerball, Wall, Swingshot |
| 14 | Quarter Final 2 | 4 November 1995 | Charity Crosby Vs Sandra Nori/ Claire Sudran 4 | Dominic Vs Scott Brewer | Hang Tough, Pyramid, Pursuit, Duel |
| 15 | Quarter Final 3 | 11 November 1995 | Lourene Bevaart Vs Nicole Singleton | Tommy Le Vs Joe Lukowski | Gauntlet, Pursuit, Pyramid, Hit & Run |
| 16 | Quarter Final 4 | 18 November 1995 | Leanne Hickey Vs Karen Trent | Kris Lacey Vs Steve | Duel, Hang Tough, Atlasphere, Wall |
| 17 | Semi Final 1 | 25 November 1995 | Lourene Bevaart Vs Karen Trent | Joe Lukowski Vs Scott Brewer | Wall, Gauntlet, Swingshot, Hit & Run |
| 18 | Semi Final 2 | 2 December 1995 | Kathy McMorrow Vs Charity Crossby | Kris Lacey Vs Shane Saltmarsh | Powerball, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge, Wall |
| 19 | Final | 9 December 1995 | Lourene Bevaart Vs Kathy McMorrow | Shane Saltmarsh Vs Joe Lukowski | Gauntlet, Swingshot, Duel, Pyramid |
| 20 | IG2 Heat 1 | 17 February 1996 | Myriam Losch (GER) Vs Peggy Odita (USA) | Mark Everitt (UK) Vs Alexander Maltsev (RUS) | Powerball, The Wall, Pendulum, Hang Tough, Gauntlet |
| 21 | IG2 Heat 2 | 24 February 1996 | Janet Allen (UK) Vs Lee-Anne Liebenberg (SA) | Andrew Halliday (AUS) v Andreas Sasse (GER)/Dennis Galli (GER)5 | The Wall, Skytrak, Pyramid, Duel, Hang Tough |
| 22 | IG2 Heat 3 | 2 March 1996 | Lourene Bevaart (AUS) Vs Ludmila Machtchenko (RUS) | Pat Csizmazia (USA) Vs Prince Sunney (SA) | Powerball, Pendulum, Pole-Axe, Suspension Bridge, Swingshot |
| 23 | IG2 Heat 4 | 9 March 1996 | Claudia Lederer (GER) Vs Elena Lebedenko (RUS) Vs Lee-Anne Liebenberg (SA) | Dennis Galli (GER) Vs Yuri Volkov (RUS) Vs Peter Brits (SA) | Atlaspheres, Pyramid, Gauntlet, Powerball, Duel |
| 24 | IG2 SF1 | 16 March 1996 | Janet Allen (UK)/Jackie Kinsella (UK)6 Vs Peggy Odita (USA) | Sean Clay (UK)7 Vs Andrew Halliday (AUS) | Skytrak, The Wall, Gauntlet, Swingshot, Duel |
| 25 | IG2 SF2 | 23 March 1996 | Lourene Bevaart (AUS) Vs Elena Lebedenko (RUS)/Ludmila Machtchenko (RUS)8 | Pat Csizmazia (USA) Vs Peter Brits (SA) | Pyramid, Atlaspheres, Suspension Bridge, Hang Tough, Gauntlet |
| 26 | IG2 Final | 30 March 1996 | Lourene Bevaart (AUS) Vs Peggy Odita (USA) | Pat Csizmazia (USA) Vs Andrew Halliday (AUS)/Shane Saltmarsh (AUS)9 | Pole-Axe, Powerball, Pendulum, Hang Tough, Duel |
| 27 | Sports Athletes 1 | 13 April 1996 | Karla Gilbert Vs Emma George | Chris Fydler Vs Peter Winters | Wall, Whiplash, Swingshot, Duel |
| 28 | Sports Athletes 2 | 20 April 1996 | Shelley Oates Vs Nikki Andronicos | Guy Andrews Vs Sean Carlan | Pyramid, Atlasphere, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge |
| 29 | Sports Athletes Final | 27 April 1996 | Shelley Oates Vs Emma George | Guy Andrews Vs Peter Winters | Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge, Wall, Swingshot |
1This episode would mark Tilt's last appearance in the show.
2Mark was injured after falling from Hang Tough and withdrew from the competition before the Eliminator.
3This event marked Rebel's last appearance as a Gladiator.
4Replaced Sandra after she was injured on Pyramid.
5Replaced Andreas Sasse in after Andreas suffered a leg injury.
6Replaced Janet Allen after Janet suffered an elbow injury in Gauntlet.
7Standby for Mark Everitt.
8Replaced Elena Lebedenko after she picked up an ankle injury.
9Replaced Andrew Halliday after a shoulder injury in Powerball which was further aggravated in Hang Tough.
Production
Production began in May 1995 following the instant success of the first series. Tryouts were held in May whilst the producers decided to bring in new events. Filming began in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 5 July with audience figures of 5,000. The three part Ashes series was filmed between 17 and 19 July. Former Gladiator Force attended the Series Two Wrap Party.
Prior to the second series airing, some of the Australian team headed to the UK to compete in International Gladiators 2 in August whilst another team appeared in a series of live shows in Malaysia in September.
Series two began broadcast in August 1995 with production for the next series beginning in October.
References
- ↑ "A year in the life of Gladiators" Australian Gladiators magazine Issue 3 Nov-Dec 1995
- ↑ "Gladiators rule the world" Australian Gladiators magazine Issue 4
- ↑ "A year in the life of Gladiators" Australian Gladiators magazine Issue 3
- ↑ "Heart of a Gladiator" Australian Gladiators Magazine Issue 5
- ↑ "Heartless" Australian Gladiators Magazine Issue 7
- ↑ Original Australian Series Episode Guide http://archive.gladiatorszone.co.uk/YaBB.pl?num=1087254252;start=all