The American Gladiators Documentary

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Kirk Johnson spent years working to birth the baby that is 30 for 30: The American Gladiators Documentary, and you can catch the two-part series in all its glory on ESPN+. Johnson, Lake Highlands High School 2003 grad, served as the film’s co-director.

Film critic Chris Vognar, writing for the Rolling Stone, calls the show “witty, mischievous [and] inventive,” and says Gladiators is “a worthy entry in ESPN’s enduring and consistently intelligent doc series.” The Daily Beast says most of all, the show is funny, “spotlighting some of American Gladiators’ unique personalities.”

American Gladiators aired weekly from 1989 to 1996, ranking for a time as the most popular syndicated series on television. As “amateur” contestants faced off against professional “gladiators” in crazy games and challenges, viewers chose up sides and reveled in the drama.

“Come for the 90’s nostalgia, but stay for the Elvis impersonators, the burps, the mental torment, the murder plots, the aliens, and of course the undeniable atrocity of America’s dark history,” says director Ben Berman. “And sports. It’s got some sports too.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtCV985X1M&ab_channel=ESPNMarketing

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.