Return of the Gladiator

An article in Variety says NBC is preparing to bring back everybody's favorite action game show, American Gladiators. The updated version will be more like the original UK version than the American counterpart we know and love but the core idea is still there. Massive people try to destroy anyone who tries to challenge them. The new version will follow contestants and Gladiators prior to the match to give more of a back story to the matches.

My hopes for this show are high. Believe me the original is overdue to be brought back. The question is can they make it as entertaining and innovative? There isn't anything out there right now like it, because I've been dying to see some sort of Japanese stunt course show on American television. I hope having Gladiators back will force other networks to jump on board and bring something like that to an American audience. I hope they still have giant hamster balls, air guns, and epic jousting matches.

The Shows

The Totally Rad Show- A review of The Invasion, news of an Enter the Dragon remake, opinions of movies based on video games, impressions of Bioshock, another look at the PS3, and more. Plus, forum questions are back, and Alex celebrates a birthday! It is the Totally Rad Show Episode 22: "Apatomato" the one in which Jeff laughs too hard, Dan leaps out of his seat, Alex gets Chupacabra'd, and we all lend a helping fist to France.

Diggnation- Girl's boyfriend *accidentally* cooks her laptop in the oven..., Can you see it? (Give it a sec, you will...) [PIC], 25 "Only In America" Dumb Laws!, Kevin Mitnick's Business Card [pic], [PIC] This is Why You Don't Run With Sharp Objects, Billshare - An app for roommates with bills, Walking to the shops damages planet more than going by car

Twisted Wizard

There are now some reports coming out that Todd McFarlane, of action figure fame, is looking to spread his design ideas to the big screen with a new adaptation of the Wizard of Oz.
He's teaming up with director Josh Olson, who most recently did the movie History of Violence. I enjoyed what he did with that movie, making an adaptation of a graphic novel still graphic but not over the top. Hopefully he can take some of Mcfarlane's crazy ideas, and turn them into a fresh take on a classic movie.

If you look at the toys McFarlane has created, he sees a very dark version of Oz. Since the classic that came out in 1939, we've seen a couple different story adaptations of Baum's book. While we grew up with a happy, colorful version, the book depicts an Oz more like what we saw in Return to Oz. I hate to say it but that movie was down right scary when I was a kid but now looking back I think a dark and evil Oz is exactly what I want to see as an adult. McFarlane seems set on making a movie based on the wow factor but this story has to be based on the character's stories. Merely changing the look of the characters, and Oz, isn't enough. I want to know why they are different and what makes this Oz better. I'll be keeping my eye on this movie to see if it even gets off the ground.