Aussies Reacted To ‘Australian Ninja Warriors’ With A 90’s ‘Gladiators’ Love Fest
Last night Australian Ninja Warriors had its big premiere and if the ratings or anything to go by, it could be sticking around for a while.
Drawing a national audience of over 2 million viewers, ANW’s debut episode was a ratings smash. Channel Nine are reporting the series was the highest rated non-sports program of the year – beating the likes of Married at First Sight.
Viewers were loving the physical challenges that play on the strength, agility and stamina of its fierce contestants – and yup – there’s some clear parallels with 90’s game show Gladiators. Oh, sweet memories.
GETTING A GLADIATORS VIBE FROM #NinjaWarriorAU. KEEP WAITING FOR KIMBERLEY JOSEPH TO WALK OUT AND ASK: "WAS THAT YOUR PLAN?"
— The NT News (@TheNTNews) July 9, 2017
For those too young to recall, Gladiators was a television game show that aired between 1995 and 1996. It pitted athletes against one another in often bizarre challenges, but eventually the series became more well-known for its colourful characters like Vulcan, Cheetah and Condor, as well as the red/blue/black spandex getup the players would wear.
Ways to make #NinjaWarriorAU better
-villainous commentator
-get rid of the annoying posses outside
-make it Gladiators— deano (@deank88) July 9, 2017
Because nothing says respectable athlete like a sparkly chest-baring unitard.
Here’s a snapshot of how viewers felt about the similarities on Twitter:
Within the first few minutes, viewers worked out they are essentially the same show.
So….. #NinjaWarriorAU is just Gladiators right
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) July 9, 2017
So this #NinjaWarriorAU thing is just the final challenge from Gladiators as its own show, right?
— Dad Take Bernie (@bernietb) July 9, 2017
Where are the Gladiators to knock them down???
— Short Bloke Josh (@ShortBlokeJosh) July 9, 2017
Australian Ninja Warrior needs @theschibecsta commentating it from his Gladiators days #youcantdothatVulcan #NinjaWarriorAU
— Mitchell Scott (@WhippingBoySEN) July 9, 2017
But it’s missing the awesome challenges involving those enlarged double-ended cotton buds aka pummel sticks.
#NinjaWarriorAU is like #Gladiators except without the Gladiators. Just the less fun bit, the Eliminator at the way through… ???? pic.twitter.com/7CMTEAB1NE
— Jamie Harvey (@Sirjamieharvey) July 9, 2017
We sure did miss this guy.
We need Vulcan! He'd get through! #Gladiators #NinjaWarriorAU pic.twitter.com/pX5sJA8YBS
— Ian Wheeler (@iwheeler) July 9, 2017
This is Gladiators meets Wipeout #NinjaWarriorAU #wheresvulcan pic.twitter.com/6aMyDhPvET
— Michelle Cooling (@Shell_Cooling3) July 9, 2017
Never forget that Gladiators did return in 2008, but bombed hard.
Stop complaining that #NinjaWarriorAU isn't #Gladiators, they brought Gladiators back in 2008 and none of you donuts watched it pic.twitter.com/ouq2h7gFo4
— Ti Butler (@tibutler) July 9, 2017
We were unworthy.
Header via Channel Seven.