American Robot Wars 2000 (lost MTV pilot of British robot combat game show; 2000): Difference between revisions

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'''''Robot Wars''''' is a British robot combat game show that was broadcast on BBC Two and Channel Five from 1998-2004, and from 2016 to 2017. Because of the success of the show during Series 3 and Series 4, MTV was interested in airing an American version of the show. A pilot was created around the summer of 2000.
'''''Robot Wars''''' is a British robot combat game show that was broadcast on BBC Two and Channel Five from 1998-2004, and from 2016 to 2017. Because of the success of the show during its early series, MTV was interested in airing an American version of the show. '''A pilot was created around the Summer of 2000, called ''American Robot Wars 2000'''.


In this pilot, eight robots were supposed to compete in a knockout tournament. Seven of the robots were frenZy, The Mangulator, The Mauler, Spike, Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein. However, the unknown eighth robot withdrew, so the producers decided to reduce the number of competing robots to four. This meant that Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein did not compete, although they were in attendance during the battles. The remaining four robots were paid $5,000 for appearing in the pilot.  
==Background==
On 6th July, 2000, an MTV press release announced ''American Robot Wars 2000''. It invited all American roboteers to to compete for the US Robot Wars Heavyweight Champion of 2000. The event would take place from 22-23 July at Park Street Studios in London.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010617151300/http://www.tmz.com:80/history.html ''Team Minus Zero'' stating that the event indeed occurred from 22-23, 2000.] Retrieved 12 Nov '21</ref> The event would serve as the pilot for an American spin-off of ''Robot Wars''.<ref>[http://www.robotcombat.com/mentornletter7.html ''Robot Combat'' providing the MTV press release.] Retrieved 12 Nov '21</ref> Because it was filmed prior to Series 4, it also gave the event the distinction of being the first competition to feature the Series 4 Arena.


There were three battles in total. The first was The Mauler vs Spike, which the former won. The second was frenZy vs The Mangulator, with frenZy winning. It and Mauler would compete in the final, which Mauler ultimately won, thus enabling it to avenge its loss in BattleBots. What is notable is that this was The Mauler's and Spike's only appearance in Robot Wars (Mauler was supposed to compete in the First World Championship, but was disqualified because its weapon was deemed too dangerous for the arena). The pilot also marked the debut of the Series Four version of the Robot Wars Arena.
In the pilot, eight robots were entered to compete in a knockout tournament. Seven of the robots included frenZy, The Mangulator, The Mauler, Spike, Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein. According to ''Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports'', all teams were originally promised a $5,000 fee for attending. However, after the unknown eighth robot withdrew, the producers decided to incorporate an auditions stage, where four machines would be selected to compete based on whether the robots and their drivers would appeal. ''Gearheads'' stated that The Mauler's Morgan Tilford displayed "manic energy" that impressed the producers, and so The Mauler qualified. frenZy, The Mangulator, and Spike would also be selected. Because Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein did not compete, the producers decided to renege on giving their teams their appearance fees.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ycn_iAHDhnIC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=robot+wars+mtv&source=bl&ots=j30PFzs7L4&sig=Op4JomSSq1LiTSfRUKxN7zx4SFU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY0rPrstTUAhVqKMAKHUF9D0g4ChDoAQhaMAk#v=onepage&q=robot%20wars%20mtv&f=false ''Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports'' detailing the MTV pilot.] Retrieved 5 Mar '16</ref>


Ultimately, MTV decided not to air an American version of Robot Wars,<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ycn_iAHDhnIC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=robot+wars+mtv&source=bl&ots=j30PFzs7L4&sig=Op4JomSSq1LiTSfRUKxN7zx4SFU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY0rPrstTUAhVqKMAKHUF9D0g4ChDoAQhaMAk#v=onepage&q=robot%20wars%20mtv&f=false Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports detailing of the MTV pilot.] Retrieved 05 Mar '16</ref> although TNN would later do so, naming the show ''Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors''. The MTV pilot has never aired on television and remains as one of Robot Wars' most coveted media.
There were three battles in total. The first was The Mauler vs Spike, which the former won. According to ''Gearheads'', The Mauler successfully got up to speed with its rotating flails and chisels, and upon colliding with Spike, managed to rip its opponent's doll head off. frenZy ultimately "decimated" The Magulator, leading to a ''BattleBots'' rematch between it and The Mauler. Ultimately, The Mauler avenged its ''BattleBots'' loss, gaining the upper hand after frenZy's spike broke away from its hammer as it was attacking its opponent.


==Photo Gallery==
Ultimately, MTV decided not to air an American version of Robot Wars, and the pilot was not broadcast on television. However, ''Gearheads'' stated that Viacom executives Albie Hecht and Kevin Kay watched the pilot and felt it would complement the programming for TNN. Thus, an American spin-off of ''Robot Wars'' ultimately did air on the channel, entitled ''Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors''.
<gallery mode=packed heights=165px>
 
==Availability==
Based on ''Gearheads''' account, the pilot's last known location was at Viacom's offices. The recording may well still exist in MTV or Viacom's archives, but no footage has ever been publicly release. Currently, the only available media relating to the pilot are a collection of photos of the competing robots in the Pits.
 
==Images==
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
MaulerMTV.jpg|The Mauler in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
MaulerMTV.jpg|The Mauler in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
SpikeMTV.jpg|Spike in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
SpikeMTV.jpg|Spike in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
Line 21: Line 27:
Mjollnir_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Mjollnir in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
Mjollnir_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Mjollnir in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
RammsteinInternals_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Rammstein in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
RammsteinInternals_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Rammstein in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
Ghetto-Bot_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Ghetto-Bot being tested before filming of the MTV Pilot.
Ghetto-Bot_RobotWarsMTVPilot.jpg|Ghetto-bot being tested before filming of the MTV Pilot.
Unknown8thRobot_RobotWars_MTVPilot.jpg|The unknown eighth robot in the pits for the MTV Pilot.
Unknown8thRobot_RobotWars_MTVPilot.jpg|The chassis of Ghetto-bot before filming of the MTV Pilot.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[BattleBots (found game show; 2000-2002)]]
*[[1995 Robot Wars UK Open (partially found rejected robot combat TV show pilot; 1995)]]
*[[Mechanoids (partially found BBC game show; 2003)]]
*[[BattleBots (found Comedy Central robot combat game show; 2000-2002)]]
*[[Robotica (partially lost game show; 2001-2003)]]
*[[BattleBots (lost build of unreleased GameCube/PlayStation 2 game based on robot combat TV series; 2003)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC gameshow; 1998-2017)]]
*[[BattleBots Collegiate Championship (partially lost unaired spinoff of robot combat TV show; 2009)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 1 (found TNN robot combat gameshow; 2001)]]
*[[Mechanoids (partially found BBC robot combat game show; 2003)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC gameshow; 2016)]]
*[[Plunderbirds: Talk Robots (partially found unfinished robot combat mockumentary film; 2019)]]
*[[Robot Wars (found cameos of robot combat-themed BBC 2 ident; 1999-2000)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost footage and HSE documentation of behind-the-scenes accidents of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-1999)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost near-death footage of Jeremy Clarkson from robot combat game show; 1998)]]
*[[Robot Wars (lost work on unfinished cartoon series based on robot combat game show; existence unconfirmed; 2002-2004)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found footage of robot combat show qualifying auditions and battles; 1998-2003)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
*[[Robot Wars (partially found uncut battles from BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)]]
*[[Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1 (lost original BBC Choice version of robot combat battle; 2001)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 1 (found TNN robot combat game show; 2001)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 2 (partially found behind-the-scenes footage of TNN robot combat game show; 2002)]]
*[[Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat game show; 1998-2000)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC robot combat game show; 2016)]]
*[[Robot Wars: Series 8 (partially found Science Channel reruns of robot combat game show; 2018)]]
*[[Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)]]
*[[Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)]]
*[[Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat gameshow; 1998)]]
*[[Robotica (found TLC robot combat game show; 2001-2003)]]
*[[Robots Revenge (lost Discovery robot combat documentary series; 2001)]]
*[[Robots Revenge (partially found Discovery robot combat documentary series; 2001)]]
*[[Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office (found testing video of Robot Wars competitor; 2000, 2007)]]
 
==External Link==
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/MTV_Pilot ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article on the pilot.]


==Reference==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 21:08, 25 July 2022

Robot wars title.jpg

Title card used for the British version of the show.

Status: Lost

Robot Wars is a British robot combat game show that was broadcast on BBC Two and Channel Five from 1998-2004, and from 2016 to 2017. Because of the success of the show during its early series, MTV was interested in airing an American version of the show. A pilot was created around the Summer of 2000, called American Robot Wars 2000.

Background

On 6th July, 2000, an MTV press release announced American Robot Wars 2000. It invited all American roboteers to to compete for the US Robot Wars Heavyweight Champion of 2000. The event would take place from 22-23 July at Park Street Studios in London.[1] The event would serve as the pilot for an American spin-off of Robot Wars.[2] Because it was filmed prior to Series 4, it also gave the event the distinction of being the first competition to feature the Series 4 Arena.

In the pilot, eight robots were entered to compete in a knockout tournament. Seven of the robots included frenZy, The Mangulator, The Mauler, Spike, Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein. According to Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, all teams were originally promised a $5,000 fee for attending. However, after the unknown eighth robot withdrew, the producers decided to incorporate an auditions stage, where four machines would be selected to compete based on whether the robots and their drivers would appeal. Gearheads stated that The Mauler's Morgan Tilford displayed "manic energy" that impressed the producers, and so The Mauler qualified. frenZy, The Mangulator, and Spike would also be selected. Because Ghetto-bot, Mjollnir, and Rammstein did not compete, the producers decided to renege on giving their teams their appearance fees.[3]

There were three battles in total. The first was The Mauler vs Spike, which the former won. According to Gearheads, The Mauler successfully got up to speed with its rotating flails and chisels, and upon colliding with Spike, managed to rip its opponent's doll head off. frenZy ultimately "decimated" The Magulator, leading to a BattleBots rematch between it and The Mauler. Ultimately, The Mauler avenged its BattleBots loss, gaining the upper hand after frenZy's spike broke away from its hammer as it was attacking its opponent.

Ultimately, MTV decided not to air an American version of Robot Wars, and the pilot was not broadcast on television. However, Gearheads stated that Viacom executives Albie Hecht and Kevin Kay watched the pilot and felt it would complement the programming for TNN. Thus, an American spin-off of Robot Wars ultimately did air on the channel, entitled Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors.

Availability

Based on Gearheads' account, the pilot's last known location was at Viacom's offices. The recording may well still exist in MTV or Viacom's archives, but no footage has ever been publicly release. Currently, the only available media relating to the pilot are a collection of photos of the competing robots in the Pits.

Images

See Also

External Link

References