Gladiators (Australian TV series) series 3
| Gladiators (Australian TV series) series 3 | |
|---|---|
 1995 Gladiators Logo | |
| 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 | Chris Grove |
| Theme music composer | Cameron Tait Marty Irwin Noel MacDonald |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 27 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Patrick Condon Des Monaghan |
| Producers | Bill Edmonds Roger Kirk |
| Production locations | Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Queensland |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Running time | 60 minutes (including commercials) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Release | 4th May 1996 |
The third series of Australian Gladiators began airing on Channel 7 on 4th May 1995, the week after the last episode from series 2 aired.
Twenty four episodes were filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in December 1995 including three three-part specials. A further three episodes were filmed in Birmingham in the summer of 1996 as part of a second Ashes series. An episode filmed in the UK featuring Australian challengers was also shown.
The series was once again presented by Kimberley Joseph and Mike Hammond with Mike Whitney as referee and the Kix cheerleaders performed in the background of the events.
Chris Grove replaced Tony Schibeci as commentator and John Forsyth was replaced by Neil as assistant referee. Forsyth would act as the Australian referee in the second Ashes series.
The third series suffered a slight decline in viewing figures and due to an increase in costs, production on the fourth series was halted. A new series would not air until 2008.
Gladiators
Male
- Commando - Geoff Barker
- Condor - Alistair Gibb
- Hammer - Mark McGaw
- Predator - Tony Forrow
- Taipan - Michael Melksham
- Tornado - Tony Latina
- Tower - Ron Reeve
- Vulcan - John Seru
Cougar (Ashley Buck) was dropped following allegations of indecent behaviour with underage fans, for which he was later cleared. Tornado was brought in to replace him.
Predator suffered an injury in Heat 4 and was sidelined for the rest of the series.
Condor, Taipan, Tower and Vulcan wet to Birmingham to film the second Ashes series in 1996.
Female
- Blade - Bev Carter
- Cheeta - Nicky Davico
- Delta - Karen Alley
- Electra - Roz Forsyth
- Flame - Lynda Byrnes
- Fury - Julie Saunders
- Glacier - Lourene Bevaart
- Storm - Charlene Machin
Rebel (Barbara Kendall) had quit midway through series two and was replaced by series two champion and International Gladiators 2 runner up Lourene Bevaart as Glacier.
Blade would suffer an injury on Hang Tough which was so severe it could not be televised and was sidelined for the remainder of the series. Cheeta would also be sidelined due to injury. Due to this, reserve Gladiator Electra was brought in though she never appeared in the starting credits or any publicity material. The official Australian Gladiators magazine makes no reference to her. She was married to John Forsythe, who was assistant referee in series one and two and Director of training.
Delta, Fury, Glacier and Storm went to Birmingham in 1996 to film the second Ashes series.
Others
Laser, Lightning, Rio and Vogue along with Ace, Hunter, Rhino, Saracen and Wolf were the UK Gladiators who took part in the Ashes series. Falcon was a reserve and appeared in the opening credits but never appeared during the series.
Comet and Lynx along with Dynamite, Goliath, Titan and Viking were the Russian Gladiators who took part in the Australia Vs Russia series. Comet did not appear until the second episode and thus Lynx performed all four events in the first episode.
All fourteen Gladiators from the UK 1995 series appeared in the International Challenge of Champions series.
Events
Atlasphere, Duel, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Hit & Run, Powerball, Pursuit, Pyramid, Swingshot, Suspension Bridge, Wall and Whiplash (Gladiators)|Whiplash]] all returned. The Eliminator featured as the final event in every show.
Tilt had been axed midway through series two and did not appear in this series. Two new events were introduced, Skytrack and Joust, the latter of which was the apparatus for the UK event after it had been axed over there.
Shows
As per usual, fifteen shows were filmed in a progressive competition. An additional nine episodes were filmed for three special mini series; a Team Sports special, an Army Vs Navy series and an Australia Vs Russia series.
A further four shows were filmed in Birmingham in the UK, three as part of a second Ashes series and the International Challege of Champions (filmed in 1995) both which were aired as part of series three.
Winning challengers are in bold.[1]
| Episode | Contest | Original airdate | Challengers (Female) | Challengers (Male) | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Heat 1 | May 5, 1996 | Joanne Vs Alison | Shane Velenecchi Vs Wayne | Hang Tough, Duel, Powerball, Atlaspheres |
| 02 | Heat 2 | May 11, 1996 | Liz Vs Marissa Heuttner | Paul Stubbs Vs Sam | Skytrak, Pyramid, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge |
| 03 | Heat 3 | May 18, 1996 | Leanne Martin Vs Mary | Cameron Vs Paul Reynolds | Wall, Gauntlet, Whiplash, Swingshot |
| 04 | Heat 4 | May 25, 1996 | Nikki Thompson Vs Kylie | Jamie Vs Phil Burgess | Powerball, Duel, Skytrak, Hang Tough |
| 05 | Heat 5 | June 1, 1996 | Astrid Vs Catherine Arlove | Josh Vs Kerry | Joust, Powerball1, Hit & Run, Pursuit |
| 06 | Heat 6 | June 8, 1996 | Jacqui Vs Christine | Jeff Prewitt Vs Gavin | Gauntlet, Swingshot, Suspension Bridge, Wall |
| 07 | Heat 7 | June 15, 1996 | Kate Vs Debbie | Daniel Vs James | Pyramid, Pursuit, Gauntlet, Hang Tough |
| 08 | Heat 8 | June 22, 1996 | Sandra Hansen Vs Lynne | Keith Hansen Vs Peter | Duel, Atlaspheres, Pyramid2, Whiplash |
| 09 | Quarter Final 1 | June 29, 1996 | Leanne Martin Vs Debbie | Josh Vs Paul Reynolds | Powerball, Duel, Skytrak, Gauntlet |
| 10 | Quarter Final 2 | July 6, 1996 | Marissa Heuttner Vs Christine | Paul Stubbs Vs Peter. | Pyramid, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge, Atlaspheres |
| 11 | Quarter Final 3 | July 13, 1996 | Joanne Vs Catherine Arlove | Phil Burgess Vs Jeff Prewitt | Duel, Skytrak, Hit & Run, Wall |
| 12 | Quarter Final 4 | July 20, 1996 | Nikki Thompson Vs Sandra Hansen | Shane Velenecchi Vs James | Pyramid, Swingshot, Joust, Hang Tough |
| 13 | Semi Final 1 | July 27, 1996 | Sandra Hansen Vs Catherine Arlove | Shane Velennechi Vs Paul Stubbs | Wall, Gauntlt, Skytrak, Suspension Bridge |
| 14 | Semi Final 2 | August 3, 1996 | Marissa Heutner Vs Debbie | Jeff Prewitt Vs Paul Reynolds | Swingshot, Duel, Pyramid, Gauntlet |
| 15 | Final | August 10, 1996 | Catherine Arlove3 Vs Marissa Heuttner | Paul Reynolds Vs Paul Stubbs | Gauntlet, Pursuit, Pyramid, Hang Tough |
| 16 | Team Sports 1 | August 17, 1996 | Natalie Shapiro & Leigh (Softball) Vs Kristen & Julie Towers (Hockey) | Johnny Platten & Richard Champion (AFL) Vs Matthew Hayden & Jimmy Marele (Cricket) | Pyramid, Skytrak, Hit & Run, Duel |
| 17 | Team Sports 2 | August 24, 1996 | Debbie Watson & Naomi Castle (Water Polo) Vs Sharon Finnan & Keely (Netball) | Graeme Mackay & Jason Croaker (Rugby League) Vs Brett & Michael (Rugby Union) | Gauntlet, Swingshot, Atlaspheres, Hang Tough |
| 18 | Team Sports Final | August 31, 1996 | Natalie Shapiro & Leigh (Softball) Vs Debbie Watson & Naomi Castle (Water Polo) | Johnny Platten & Richard Champion (AFL) Vs Jason Croaker & Graeme Mackay (Rugby League) | Wall, Pyramid, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge |
| 19 | Ashes 1 | Marissa Heuttner (AUS) Vs Sarah Damm (UK)/Michelle Kimberley (UK)4 | Paul Reynolds (AUS) Vs Emmil Watson (UK) | Pendulum, Powerball, Swingshot, Duel, Hang Tough | |
| 20 | Ashes 2 | Hannah Owen (UK)/Celia Duffield (UK)5 Vs Catherine Arlove (AUS) | Paul Stubbs (AUS) Vs Mark Everitt (UK) | Skytrak, Powerball, Gauntlet, Hang Tough, Duel | |
| 21 | Ashes Final | Marissa Heuttner (AUS) Vs Catherine Arlove (AUS) | Paul Reynolds (AUS) Vs Mark Everitt (UK) | Pendulum, The Wall, Swingshot, Duel, Hang Tough | |
| 22 | Army Vs Navy 1 | Sandra Hansen & Suzie Llewellyn (Navy) Vs Sandra-Lee Walker & Michelle Perrone (Army) | Peter Gatti & Keith Lewis (Navy) Vs Gavin Davis & Ritchie Gibson (Army) | Duel, Skytrak, Gauntlet, Wall | |
| 23 | Army Vs Navy 2 | Jacinta Peel & Candace Cushway (Army) Vs Donna & Tess (Navy) | Dwayne & Rick "Wombat" Morse (Army) Vs Tim O'Brien & John Iles (Navy) | Pyramid, Whiplash, Swingshot, Suspension Bridge | |
| 24 | Army Vs Navy Final | Sandra-Lee Walker & Michelle Perrone (Army A) Vs Candace Cushway & Jacinta Peel (Army B) | Gavin Davis & Ritchie Gibson (Army) Vs Tim O'Brien & John Iles (Navy) | Joust, Skytrack, Pyramid, Hang Tough | |
| 25 | Australia Vs Russia 1 | Kathy McMorrow & Charity Crosby (AUS) Vs Elena & Larissa Toutchinskaya (RUS) | Shane Saltmarsh & Joe Lukowski (AUS) Vs Vladimir & Yuri (RUS) | Gauntlet, Hit & Run, Atlaspheres, Wall | |
| 26 | Australia Vs Russia 2 | Karen Trent & Suzanne (AUS) Vs Elena & Larissa Toutchinskaya (RUS) | Wayne & Dimitri (Aus) Vs Vladimir & Yuri (RUS) | Whiplash, Duel, Pursuit, Swingshot | |
| 27 | Australia Vs Russia Final | Kathy McMorrow & Charity Crosby (AUS) Vs Elena & Larissa Toutchinskaya (RUS) | Shane Saltmarsh & Joe Lukowski (AUS) Vs Vladimir & Yuri (RUS) | Pyramid, Hang Tough, Suspension Bridge, Powerball | |
| 28 | International Challenge of Champions6 | Eunice Huthart (UK) Vs Kerryn Sampey (UK) Vs Bernie Withers (AUS) | Wesley Berry (US) Vs David Wallis (AUS) Vs Shane Saltmarsh (AUS) | Atlaspheres, Pendulum, Hit & Run, Duel, Pyramid | |
| 29 | Heart of a Gladiator7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1This was the first appearance of reserve Gladiator Electra.
2This was the last appearance of Cheeta.
3Catherine Arlove was injured after Hang Tough and was unable to compete in the Eliminator and thus Marrisa won the series by default.
4Replaced Sarah after she was injured.
5Replaced Hannah after she was injured.
6This was an episode filmed in the UK featuring the winners of International Gladiators 1, The first Ashes series, and the Australian series 1 champions. Only UK Gladiators featured in this show. As the injured Andrew Halliday was the winner of both the Ashes and first Australian series, he was replaced by David Wallis and Shane Saltmarsh respectively. Bernie Withers and Shane Saltmarsh were the runners up.
7This was a special episode made due to fan interest in the Gladiators themselves. The show was to air on April 6, 1996[2] but was pulled due to the election that occured in Australia the week before[3]. The episode was planned to air at a later date after series three.
Production
Production began in October 1995 following the success of series two. Recording dates were pencilled in for 11- 22 December at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre[4].
The Gladiators were given their specialist training schedules in October and took a break from promotional activities in November whilst the production crew started work on the new events.
Filming bgean in December and continued though into the new year[5].
A fourth series went into pre production. Pendulum, a UK event seen in the International series was to be introduced[6] and there were events being developed that would be unique to the Australian series[7].
However due to injuries, rising production costs and a slight decline in viewing figures, Channel 7 opted not to go ahead with a fourth series and after being on television for an almost constant eighteen months, Gladiators was over until it's revival in 2008.
References
- ^ Original Australian Series Episode Guide http://archive.gladiatorszone.co.uk/YaBB.pl?num=1087254252;start=all
- ^ "Heart of a Gladiator" Australian Gladiators Magazine Issue 5
- ^ "Heartless" Australian Gladiators Magazine Issue 7
- ^ "A year in the life of Gladiators" Official Gladiators Magazine Issue 3
- ^ "G Mail" Official Gladiators Magazine Issue 7
- ^ "Storm: In the line of fire" Australian Gladiators Magazine Issue 6
- ^ "Behind the screams" Australian Gladiators magazine Issue 9