MTV (originally an acyronym for Music Television) is an American 24-hour television channel currently owned by Paramount Media Networks (a division of Paramount Global), and headquartered in New York City. Launching on August 1 1981, it originally aired music videos as guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys", before diversifying its output and shifting towards reality programming under the ownership of Viacom.[1][2]
As part of a broadcasting agreement between Viacom and Robot Wars production company Mentorn, a dedicated MTV version of the show was proposed for US audiences. In July 2000, a pilot episode - American Robot Wars 2000 - was filmed using the arena created for The Fourth Wars, though MTV ultimately decided not to commission a full series of their own.
Overview[]
In autumn 1999, Mentorn secured international distribution and production rights for the Robot Wars brand, greatly increasing their scope to build upon the popularity of the UK Series. Shortly afterwards, discussions began with Viacom over producing dedicated US versions of the show, with the aim of promoting the brand across multiple audiences. Alongside a child-oriented version for Nickelodeon - which would air in 2002 simply as Nickelodeon Robot Wars - it was intended for MTV to receive their own customized version as well, catering to the channel's "heavy teen" demographic.[3]
- "ROBOT WARS in association with MTV Networks are proud to announce...
AMERICAN ROBOT WARS 2000
...a spectacular, chrome plated civil war to crown the US Robot Wars Heavyweight Champion of 2000 on MTV.
Calling all American Robot Warriors. If you've got a battle ready robot and you're itching for a fight, you can't afford to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.
THE TITLE: US Robot Wars Heavyweight Champion
THE REWARD: Generous appearance fees for all competitors
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMADATION: All freight and flight arrangements will be made for you. All travel and hotel costs will be paid for you. It couldn't be easier.
WHEN: 22-23 July 2000
WHERE: Robot Wars, Park Street Studios, LONDON, United Kingdom
So if you’d like a free vacation, international fame courtesy of MTV and the chance to walk away with the American title – AND COLD HARD CASH - volunteer for active duty and contact Robot Wars immediately.
If you want to become MTV's Robot Wars Heavyweight Champion, act quickly because time is running out for you." - — MTV press release for American Robot Wars 2000[4]
In anticipation of the proposed series, a pilot episode was commissioned with backing from the then-known MTV Networks subsidiary. A press release for this was sent out to prospective US roboteers, confirming that American Robot Wars 2000 would be filmed on July 22-23 2000, prior to the Robot Mayhem live event and filming of the main UK Series 4.
Eight robots were originally planned to compete, but after one team pulled out, the producers reduced the number of participating robots to four. The seven remaining robots - frenZy, Ghetto-bot, Mauler, Mjollnir, Rammstein, Spike, and The Mangulator - all took part in auditions to try and secure a place in the competition. Auditions were largely determined by how they and their teams would appeal to MTV's intended audience, with Mauler notably being selected through Morgan Tilford's giant foam cowboy hat and "manic energy". frenZy, Spike and The Mangulator were the other three robots selected, though Rammstein and Ghetto-bot would still get to fight through taking part in the Series 4 War of Independence.[5] Originally, it was promised that all teams in attendance would receive a $5,000 appearance fee. However, the last-minute format change meant that only the teams competing in the pilot would receive this fee, to the dismay of Mjollnir's Todd Mendenhall.[6]
Though fully filmed - with Mauler emerging as champion - American Robot Wars 2000 never aired, and lead to no further production of a series on MTV. Later on, Viacom executives Albie Hecht and Kevin Kay watched the pilot themselves while evaluating ideas for a robotic sports program to be aired on their networks. This resulted in the decision to commission a Robot Wars series for TNN, which premiered in August 2001 as Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors.[7]
As of 2024, footage of the American Robot Wars 2000 pilot has yet to be found.
References[]
- ↑ 'CNN - MTV changed the music industry on August 1, 1981 - July 31, 1998', CNN, July 31 1998
- ↑ Denise Martin, 'MTV drops 'Music Television' from the network logo' Los Angeles Times, February 8 2010
- ↑ Brad Stone (2003) Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, pp.170-172
- ↑ 'American Robot Wars UK announcement from 7/6/00', robotcombat.com
- ↑ 'KillerHurtz - 2000 Build progress' Team Hurtz website (archived)
- ↑ Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, pp.175-177
- ↑ ibid, pp.208-209, pp.247-248
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