Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Weak docu blurs facts, has innuendo, cursing, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MUSCLES & MAYHEM: AN UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF AMERICAN GLADIATORS is a five-part docuseries that tells the behind-the-scenes story of an iconic U.S. television phenomenon on the air from 1989 to 1996. It chronicles how the TV spectacle started from a bad pilot and eventually became an unscripted David and Goliath-type game show starring exceptionally strong and fit athletes taking on fighting personas and engaging in gladiator-like combat against "average" contenders. Interviews with former American Gladiators creators, producers, directors, and cast members like Michael M. Horton (aka Gemini), Lori Fetrick (aka Ice), Danny Lee Clark (aka Nitro) offer details about how and why the series evolved, and some of the unique challenges faced along the way. They also talk about the wild times they had while the show was in its heyday. A combination of archive footage and animated sequences round out the narrative, revealing how the show eventually became a highly produced spectacle that gave the gladiators superhero (and almost superhuman) status.
Is It Any Good?
The superficial and irreverent docuseries offers details about how the TV show American Gladiators (1989-1996) and its later incarnations became a U.S. pop culture sensation that made its cast into real-life, albeit temporary, superheroes. Muscles & Mayhem shares some interesting history about franchise, but it's not very detailed, and sometimes the facts presented aren't completely accurate or fleshed out. The show does succeed at giving viewers lots of insight into the behind-the-scenes drama, ranging from cast members being severely underpaid to their admittedly prevalent use of steroids. It isn't the best of documentaries, but Gladiators fans will enjoy revisiting the series and learning more about its dirty laundry.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how and why American Gladiators became popular. How much of its success is owed to the Gladiator cast? How much of it is owed to the fact that their contenders were "regular" people?
Muscles & Mayhem offers lots of interesting American Gladiator backstory, but the information it shares with viewers isn't always accurate. Is this a problem? What if the docuseries is meant to be more entertaining than informative?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 28, 2023
- Cast : Michael M. Horton , Lori Fetrick , Danny Lee Clark
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 30, 2023
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