One of television’s most iconic competition formats is officially back. American Gladiators — the beloved arena spectacle that captivated audiences from 1989 to 1996 — roars back to life today on Prime Video, premiering its brand-new 10-episode first season with a thrilling three-episode drop on April 17, 2026.

A Legacy Reborn

The original American Gladiators ran for seven seasons and became a cultural phenomenon, pitting everyday contenders against a team of superhuman athletes in a gauntlet of spectacular physical challenges. The show was briefly revived on NBC in 2008–2009, but this new Amazon MGM Studios production is the most ambitious reimagining yet — featuring a fresh roster of 16 Gladiators, a spectacular new arena, and an original theme song composed and performed by country star Jelly Roll.

Your Hosts: The Miz and Rocsi Diaz

Leading the charge as hosts are WWE superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and Emmy Award-winning television personality Rocsi Diaz. Together they bring energy, star power, and credibility to a show that demands nothing less.

Meet the 16 New Gladiators

This new generation of Gladiators is a formidable mix of professional wrestlers, elite athletes, CrossFit champions, and bodybuilders. Here is the full roster:

Male Gladiators:
Fang (Michael Wardlow) — AEW wrestler and three-time AEW TNT Champion
The Bull (Eric Bugenhagen) — Former WWE superstar, known as Rick Boogs
Steel (Jessie Godderz) — Pro wrestler and former Big Brother contestant
Mayhem (Fessy Shafaat) — Former Big Brother and The Challenge competitor
Lightning (Joseph Hall) — Former football player and bodybuilder
Ace (Drew Aggouras)
Eagle (Jason Peele)
Neon (Ayinde Warren)

Female Gladiators:
Hurricane (Kamille) — Professional wrestler
Supernova (Jessica “J-Rod” Roden)
Voltage (Dani Means)
Crush (Dani Speegle) — Elite CrossFit athlete
Blaze (Abigail Lay)
Huntress (Sydney Hunter)
Striker (Emily Nelson)
Empire (Lu Faustin)

Classic Events Return — With New Twists

The 2026 revival brings back the fan-favorite events that made the original series legendary: Joust, Powerball, Hang Tough, and The Wall. Joining them are two brand-new challenges — The Ring and Collision — designed to push contenders and Gladiators to their absolute limits.

The Prize and Episode Schedule

At stake is $100,000 and the ultimate title of American Gladiator Champion — one for a male contender and one for a female. The 10-episode season unfolds across three consecutive Fridays: episodes 1–3 premiere today on April 17, episodes 4–6 follow on April 24, and the thrilling final four episodes drop on May 1, 2026.

How to Watch

American Gladiators is exclusively available on Prime Video. New episodes drop every Friday. An Amazon Prime membership is required to stream the series.

HBO’s breakout comedy Rooster has officially earned its place in television history. The series, starring Steve Carell, has been renewed for a second season after becoming the most watched freshman comedy on HBO in more than a decade. The renewal was announced on April 9, 2026, while the first season is still airing, a clear sign of the network’s confidence in this charming college-set drama.

What Is Rooster About?

Rooster centers on Greg Russo, a famous author of beach read novels who accepts a writer-in-residence position at the fictional Ludlow College. His reason for taking the job is deeply personal: he wants to be close to his daughter Katie Russo, an art history professor at the same institution who is going through a very public emotional breakdown after her husband walks out on her. The show blends sharp comedy with genuine emotional depth, exploring themes of failure, reinvention, and the complicated bond between parents and adult children.

The Cast That Makes It Work

Steve Carell delivers a career-highlight performance as the lovably oblivious yet deeply caring Greg, earning praise from critics and audiences alike. Charly Clive plays his daughter Katie with heartbreaking authenticity, while Danielle Deadwyler shines as Dylan Shepard, a faculty member who becomes central to the story. Phil Dunster plays Archie Bates, the estranged husband who left Katie for a graduate student, and John C. McGinley brings scene-stealing energy as Walter Mann, the college’s eccentric president. The ensemble is rounded out by Connie Britton, Alan Ruck, Annie Mumolo, and Lauren Tsai.

Record-Breaking Debut on HBO

Rooster premiered on HBO and Max on March 8, 2026, and immediately made an impression. The first four episodes averaged 5.8 million U.S. viewers, a number that set it apart from any comedy HBO had launched in over ten years. The show holds an impressive 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with particular praise going to the writing, the performances, and the show’s ability to be genuinely funny without sacrificing emotional honesty.

What Season 2 Will Bring

Following the fall-semester setting of the first season, Season 2 will shift to the spring semester at Ludlow College. The creators have hinted at new challenges for both Greg and Katie as the year progresses, with more faculty dynamics, student storylines, and personal revelations ahead. A specific premiere date for Season 2 has not yet been announced, though production is expected to move quickly given the early renewal order.

Why Rooster Is the Comedy to Watch Right Now

Rooster arrives at a time when HBO has been investing heavily in prestige comedy, and it delivers on every level. The college setting gives writers an endlessly fertile backdrop for both humor and drama. Steve Carell‘s transition from big-screen comedies back to television feels completely natural here. He brings the kind of grounded, empathetic charisma that made The Office legendary, but applied to a more adult and emotionally layered story.

The Season 1 finale is set to air on May 10, 2026 on HBO and Max, so there is still time to catch up before the semester arc wraps up. Whether you are in it for the laughs, the heartfelt father-daughter moments, or simply the joy of watching a stacked cast firing on all cylinders, Rooster is exactly the kind of show that reminds you why prestige television remains so exciting.

Fox’s gripping crime thriller Memory of a Killer has wrapped up its first season and fans already have reason to celebrate: the network has officially renewed the Patrick Dempsey-led drama for a second season. With 16.2 million total viewers tuning in across platforms, the show has proven itself as one of broadcast television’s strongest new entries of 2026.

A Double Life on the Edge

At the heart of the series is Angelo Doyle, a seasoned contract killer who has spent decades keeping his dangerous profession hidden from his family. Played with remarkable nuance by Patrick Dempsey, Angelo is a man who has mastered the art of compartmentalization, until everything begins to unravel at once. When someone makes a move against his pregnant daughter Maria, the wall between his two worlds collapses with terrifying speed. To make matters worse, his wife’s recent death, long assumed to be an accident, may have been something far more sinister.

A Memory Slipping Away

What sets Memory of a Killer apart from other hitman dramas is its central and devastating emotional core: Angelo is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, mirroring the condition of his brother, who already lives in a memory care facility. The threat comes not only from external enemies but from within Angelo’s own deteriorating mind. Each mission he undertakes to protect his family may be among the last things he will clearly remember. This layer of vulnerability transforms the show from a standard thriller into something far more affecting and deeply human. Angelo must search his long history of past hits for clues about who is targeting his daughter, and that list is very long.

A Stellar Supporting Cast

Emmy winner Michael Imperioli delivers a scene-stealing performance as Dutch, Angelo’s oldest friend and a seemingly respectable chef whose upscale restaurant conceals a world of criminal enterprise. Odeya Rush plays daughter Maria, whose pregnancy and vulnerability drive much of the season’s tension and emotional stakes. Richard Harmon, Daniel Davis Stewart, and Peter Gadiot round out a cast that consistently delivers strong ensemble work across all ten episodes of the first season.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

The series was originally developed by Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone. Partway through production, television veterans Aaron Zelman and Glenn Kessler stepped in as showrunners, bringing their substantial experience with acclaimed dramas to sharpen the series into the taut, emotionally layered thriller it ultimately became. The polished execution despite the mid-production transition speaks to the strength of the creative vision and the dedication of the cast and crew alike.

Fox Commits to Season 2

Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn praised the series upon announcing the renewal, calling Memory of a Killer “a true standout” and crediting the visceral performances from Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli as a driving force behind its success. The renewal was confirmed on April 6, 2026, the very day the Season 1 finale aired on Fox, a deliberate and confident signal from the network. A full return for the 2026-27 broadcast season is now locked in.

For viewers who have not yet caught up, all ten episodes of Season 1 are available to stream. The combination of a high-stakes thriller premise, emotionally rich character work, and two of television’s most compelling performers in top form makes Memory of a Killer one of the most rewarding dramas on broadcast television right now. Season 2 cannot come soon enough.