• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 15, 2008

Producers of the remake of "American Gladiators" aren't even waiting to find out if the show's strong early results will hold up. MGM Television, the producer of the show's initial run more than a decade ago and now a co-producer on the remake, is launching an off-air promo campaign behind the new version.

(NBC on Monday said it will offer "a second season" of the show. Only three new episodes have aired in "season one," with six more coming. NBC's move may be in reaction to the ongoing writers' strike and the network's need for unscripted programming.)

The MGM effort includes the launch of a dedicated Web site, americangladiators.com, focusing on the original run of the show from 1989 to 1996. Featured will be clips and updates on where the old gladiators are today. Also coming is a multi-city promotional tour.

In addition, MGM and a partner are developing a cartoon series based on the show. Says Jim Packer, co-president, MGM Television: "American Gladiators" is another example of how MGM franchises can be revitalized for today's audiences. The studio's strategy of reinvigorating popular franchises ... is definitely working and our new americangladiators.com broadband site will expand the franchise to the digital world."

Yet the idea for the remake may have come more from co-producer Reveille rather than MGM.

"Gladiators" did well during its initial two episodes on NBC, despite head-to-head competition from ABC's "Desperate Housewives." In fairness, the show may have served as solid counter-programming attracting men against the college football national championship on Fox.

Until Sunday, the show was the top new series of the season, but was toppled by Fox's "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles." That series benefited from a lead-in from NFL football.