This January, Starz Asks, "Do You Like TV Shows About Gladiators?"

As opposed to Captain Oveur (image below left) who asks Joey, "Do you like movies about gladiators?"

Starz, the pay cable channel, wants you to tune in on January 22 at 10 pm eastern and check out Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and ... okay, they've got me, at least for the pilot. Maybe it's just because I AM this kind of kid that liked movies about gladiators, maybe it's because I write this blog about TV and feel like I should give everything a chance ... and then maybe it's because I could swear in this trailer for the series (LINK), at about the 1:19 mark, there are two hot sweaty guys doing each other for maybe a half a second.

Oh, and for you women who like your women in Grecian gowns and hair all piled up on their heads, there's some Lucy Lawless action here, too (her hubby Rob Tapert is one of the producers), and from a short bit of that same trailer, it looks like there might be some girl-on-girl going on as well.

And of course, I might be horribly wrong on both fronts.

Whatev, there's muscular half-naked guys engaged in combat with each other. There's lots of sweat and I'm sure oiled-up bodies and ... and there might even be a script with dialogue that people will recite toward each other.

Or, you could just watch the thing with the sound off and look at Spartacus, an Australian actor/model named Andy Whitfield (top of post and above right).

The only actors you recognize may be Lawless and Brit John Hannah (Alias, the Mummy movies) but that should let it stop you from recording at least one to try out, right?

If you need another reason, how about Peter Mensah (Terminator: TSSC, Avatar, 300) or New Zealand native Manu Bennett (above left) ... let's just say there's plenty of beef on display.

And, of course, the chance that it might be a decent show is just gravy. I figure it's gotta be better than Crash, the other Starz hour drama. 

In any case I have one more clip for you (LINK) and I suggest someone call Capt. Oveur and remind him the show premieres on Jan. 22 at 10 on Starz.

No, not Logo.

Not Here! TV.

Starz.