Season 2 set for 'American Gladiators'

BURBANK , Calif., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- NBC announced Monday it has picked up a second season of the hit U.S. TV competition series "American Gladiators."

"'American Gladiators' has delivered everything we were hoping for and has come out of the gate as a top contender," NBC's Craig Plestis said in a statement. "We couldn't be more pleased with the audience reaction to this top-notch show all ages can enjoy."

"Reveille and MGM are so thrilled that America has responded to our reinvention of 'American Gladiators,'" said executive producer Howard T. Owens, managing director of Reveille LLC.

As in MGM's original "American Gladiators," amateur athletes compete against the Gladiators in contests of physical strength and endurance.

The 24 male and female contenders compete in three rounds of challenges where the final man and woman left standing win a $100,000 top prize and go on to become Gladiators the following season.

All contenders have a unique story to tell and a compelling reason why they need to win, NBC noted.