Back in the early 00’s, many up-and-coming cable networks were trying to grab the attention of the new, tech savvy millennial generation. However, one network – Comedy Central – arguably succeeded better than any other with their robotic phenomenon, BattleBots.
Created by Ed Roski and Greg Munson, BattleBots took the world by storm and ended up making robotics not only cool, but straight-up badass. In fact, one of the show’s champions would go on to become a star in his own right — friend of the network and MythBusters alumni Grant Imahara.
But, as is the way with television, the world eventually lost interest in the fighting robot competition and Comedy Central ceased production. However, a much bigger contender has now entered the fighting robot game according to a new report.
Today it was officially confirmed that ABC – yes, that ABC – has placed a 6-episode order for a revived version of the series from Roski and Munson that will air this summer. According to TV Insider, “the new version will emphasize design and build elements of each robot, as well as bot builder backstories. Onboard cameras and technology will also give audiences more combat analytics.â€
And former champ Imahara is excited too. “I’m excited to see BattleBots returning to TV. It’s always been a sport that celebrates engineering and creativity, along with a liberal dose of good, old-fashioned destruction,” he told Nerdist.
Odds are good that ABC is hoping to see the success with a new BattleBots that CW saw with its revival of Whose Line is it Anyway. The formula is simple enough: take a property that had niche success a decade ago, give it a new coat of paint while keeping most of the core elements intact and put it back out into the world right when the time feels right. And, in an age where the likes of Transformers is topping box-office charts and videos about robots go viral on the daily, the timing is most certainly right.
BattleBots premieres this summer on ABC.
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Who would you like to see in the new BattleBots? Let us know in the comments below.
“…the new version will emphasize design and build elements of each robot, as well as bot builder backstories.”
Meaning, this is a reality show surrounding the world of Bot making and actual fights will be 5 min at the tail end, making us all furious and eventually hating that which we once loved.
I own a Maker Space here in Springfield MO. And and have been gearing up to bring Bot wars here..
Bring back Minion!
Woot Woot! Can’t wait to see it!
YESSSS!!!! Loved this show, and was wondering why it was taken offline.
I so hope Grant Imahara returns to protect his championship.
As a teacher I used robots to teach all kinds of mathematics and physics. We participated in a robot competition called RoboRAVE International. http://roboquerque.org One of the challenges was jousting robots, which the kids liked because of the bot vs bot nature of it.
Make Grant Imahara the host and you’ve got a winner.
Biohazard and Ziggo were the best. Period.
Mauler 5150
WOOHOO i have missed this show so fucking much.
You forgot the show also introduced to Adam and Jamie as well.
Points to Battlebots! Heck Yes! We can even get teen robotics programs to build them, like this one… http://neobots.softempower.com/
http://botsiqpa.org/Check this out. Unlike the VEX bots, these are built solely for the purpose of fighting in an arena. Did it in high school myself.