Michael O'Hearn- American Gladiator
What is an average day like for an 'American Gladiator'?
Now that I'm on "American Gladiator", the day's hectic. You've got interviews, radio shows to do; you're pretty much on their beck and call. So, it's a lot of travelling, a lot of appearances, when you're not shooting. When you are shooting, it's up at 6, you're at the set at 7 o'clock warming up, working out on the machines, getting ready for a tape day, and then you film 16 hour to 20 hour days. Barely get some sleep, and then right back up, do it again. But it's only for about 3 weeks. It's just a lot of fighting. After that, a nice little vacation and then back on the tour doing this kind of stuff: radio shows, TV shows, which is actually a blast.
What is the goal for the contestants on 'American Gladiators'?
Well what the goal should be for the contestants on the Gladiators is to win. Not win their show but win the whole thing. You know you win $100,000 and a new car and a chance to come back to be a Gladiator. That's huge. Now the problem is they let their egos come into play and so that when they come in its to beat the Gladiators or to talk smack and they get sidetracked and then they lose and they go home and they pretty much got beat down on national TV.
What is your favorite challenge on 'American Gladiators'?
Jousting. Because I am there alone. It is just me against one other person. Kick their ass, knock them off, and then watch them fall in the water and then I get to laugh a little. Then do it to the next guy. But I will tell you power ball. That is dessert because that is just crazy fun. You just have to go out there and knock heads. They usually play someone in the middle, the roamer, so that way I get the whole field. Where the other gladiators only get a side. So it is nice.
Are you ever intimidated by a contestant on 'American Gladiators'?
Am I ever intimidated by a contestant? No.
How is the current 'Gladiators' different from the old version?
The new show is wild. It's a little faster. The set is amazing. The set is, we have fire now, water. So when we knock you guys off, the contestants. They actually go into fire and get burned up, and we sacrafice. Which is kind of cool! Yes, no. I was thinking that would be cool, but we do knock them off into water. So it's kind of like a double slap in the face. You just didn't lose. Now we dunked you in water. Yes you know, get out of that and your in spandex, and that's just embarrassing for anybody.
Is being an 'American Gladiator' like being a superhero?
I think when I grow up look an American Gladiator I use to thank of them as a ask a favor like the panicle health and fitness this guys will big in life then I get to the show you know as a contestant does have a fans and a kids look out to so such a responsibility knowing that going into the season and get into the show I know that I had a lot of pressure to and not just beyond in the TV show bring go out an active you know do what ever you do but more of responsibility because do look at you as a super hero you know when I'm clown a uniform I'm working as there ticking now you know there a large of there character.
How did you get the name 'Titan'?
There were a couple names for me that they were thinking about as a character on "American Gladiators." The first was 'The Natural' or 'Captain America'. And it was like the last day, and we're getting ready to shoot the next day. And I'm like, "So, guys, what's my character name? What are we doing? What are we doing here?" And they're like, "We still don't know. We'll know by tomorrow morning." So I came in the next morning, and they're like, "Remember the Titan. You're Titan, team captain." And it just came down from the studio heads. That's what they wanted. They couldn't really pick something that fitted until the last minute, and then that's what they settled on. And it's sticking, and I'm creating it my own way. I know there's mythology to it, but I didn't study it. So if you have any information, just let me know.
What are the responsibilities as captain of your 'American Gladiators'?
My responsibilities as captain is basically to keep the team up, hyped, focused on what they need to do. It is a team and when it comes down to it there is injuries. People do get down because we do film day in and day out. People get tired and it is my job just to keep them up, focused. And also just to be there for them to ask questions. Because a lot of these people have not been on screen before. So character development, what kind of ideas just for their character. Jesus so much. I do not know what else to say. But they just come to me for a lot of the questions about the show. How to handle it. What to keep quiet. What to talk about. One of the main things is if you get an hour of your own injury, you have got to keep quiet because you are going to get replaced. It is just like a ball player. If you start in position, you give that up for a couple of minutes. You might never get that back. Same thing here.
