American Gladiators, once a sports-like event in the early 90s, has become a spectacle once again, but in reality format. The format of the new series is similar to the original, with many of the same events such as Joust, Hang Tough, Assault and the final challenge, the Eliminator. The stark difference between American Gladiators of the 90s and American Gladiators of the new millennium is the added dramatic effects such as events over water and lakes of fire. This seems to be the new face of American television, and I think it’s here to stay.

I’ll admit, I was skeptic about the new series, but once I got a taste of the new gladiators and the new competition, it was addicting. You cheer on the underdog contenders against their massive counterparts, the American Gladiators. This competition is not only about winning; it’s about stories, money, and coming back as a legend. The winner of the competition would come back next season as, you guessed it, a full fledged gladiator.

Working in reality television, I’ve seen prizes, or at least the dangling carrot, NBC has to offer its contestants. When I was Dat Phan’s publicist, I, along with countless fans, helped him to become the Last Comic Standing in 2003. As the winner, he was to receive a television deal and a chance to star in his own sit-com. Of course, months past and Dat Phan quickly faded away into comic obscurity. Dat Phan still tours college and clubs across the country, but he’ll always be thankful for the opportunity at NBC, even if they didn’t give him his own show. Let’s face it, the reality television has overshadowed sit-coms and save a few shows still left on the air, newer generations of television viewers seem to prefer American Idol, Survivor, America’s Next Top Model, and the Apprentice (Celebrity Apprentice, that is) to the traditional joke-and-punch 30 minute sit-com.

Reality TV also translates into dollars and sense. The overhead of an elaborately planned reality television show is much less expensive than a 1/2 hour comedy, let alone an hour dramatic series. There are no writers to pay (initially anyway), no superstar actors, and no special effects. You do the math.

As American Gladiators wrapped its season, the expositions into the characters—I mean contestants—seemed to mimic reality TV. The audience gets to peer into the lives of the men and women on the road to be the next American Gladiators. We saw a young man who dedicated his competition to his mother; an aspiring black woman who would do anything to win; another man, a teacher, with a heart of gold; and a mother of twins with a rockin’ body.

In the end, the best contender won, and it didn’t take an expert in reality television to know the grown-up version of Dash from Disney’s the Incredibles and the long-shot, underdog mom of twins would win the competition. But will they come back next year as American Gladiators? Will NBC keep their word? We’ll have to wait and see.