Deadspin
You might have thought the actual firing of Sean Salisbury would be the last shot ESPN could fire across his bow. But no, they've gutted him with the final insult: They're bringing back "Battlebots."
Yes, the show that Salisbury once hosted (and also Carmen Electra, Bill Nye and the Sklar brothers) is returning to ESPN this June.
ESPN has made BattleBots an offer: BattleBots will hold a Collegiate BattleBots Championship, featuring robots built by students enrolled in institutions of Higher Education. The Collegiate BattleBots competition will air as a series on ESPNU and ESPN2. This competition will be open to Colleges and Universities, and Student Teams who are enrolled in institutions of Higher Education. This will be a middleweight (120 pound) competition as governed under the current BattleBots rule set — But, BattleBots is allowing an additional 40 pounds to be added as bonus weight, thus making the total weight 160 pounds! So get creative.
That's just mean: That's like firing Stuart Scott and then bringing back "Teammates." We are sorry, Sean.
(But seriously, though: "Battlebots" rules. We can't wait.)
ESPN & BattleBots: Gearing Up For College And Pro Competitions [BattleBots]
Comments
BattleBots is Fond of Unnecessary Capitalization.
Wasn't Battlebots a Comedy Central series the first time around? Jon Stewart used to joke with his guests that his show was preceded by fighting robots, so it couldn't be a serious journalistic endeavor.
That's like firing John Buccigross and reinstating the overnight test pattern.
I don't know where to begin.
So tWWL missed the MMA bandwagon and is trying this again? Hokay, we'll just move along. Is it opening day yet?
That's like firing Peter Gammons and showing repeats of The Head.
ESPN And Salisbury: The Unkindest Cut Of All
Felix Pie disagrees with this sentiment.
So does JW Bobbitt.
It's been too long since I've had Biohazard and Vlad the Impaler in my life.
Will the Battlebots be equipped with camera phones?
Louis Skolnick is FIRED UP!
I haven't been this excited since Junkyard Wars stopped being good.
@Doyle McPoyle: Wrong Salisbury post.
NJIT senses a collective opportunity.
ESPN is also going to send Salisbury a picture message of a miniaturized Battlebot.
In retaliation, Salisbury has announced he is producing a revival of Fish On.
I can't wait to see Bender fight Sargent Feces Processor.
+ Watch video
Nice
I bet it came down to this or Roller Derby. Go Ralphie Valladerez!!!
Robot Wars : Battlebots :: NBA Western Conference : NBA Eastern Conference
That's like firing all the idiots who keep fuckin walking in front of the goddamn camera. Jeezus. Who are these fuckheads?
/Bermanized
That's like firing Craig Kilborn and airing the Daily Show.
@Schluby: The Gator Skaters > Ralphie Valladeres
There's no love lost between those two emotionless killing machines
Felix Pie's robotic testicle will dominate all
Nice to see ESPN jump on a bandwagon from five years ago.
Any chance of seeing some Pog championships while we're hitting these games at the height of their popularity?
Who's gonna build the robot that finds those college dorks a couple of dates?
This is like firing Mike Greenberg and airing episodes of Will & Grace.
Collegiate BattleBots Championship:
"You put your weed in there!"
@What Would Kornheiser Do?: Pogs? They are the weakest link. Good bye!
@Peter Cavan: I believe so. I remember when Jimmy Kimmel made his debut on ABC he had a vignette where he was saying goodbye to cable TV because he was now on broadcast TV. It involved him interreupting cable shows to say good bye. He interrupted John Stewart in the middle of the Daily show and said his good bye, a teary eyed John Stewart said "I'll tell Battlebots you said goodbye."
That's like firing Harold Reynolds then inviting him to dinner at Boston Market.
John Clayton is set to host "Magic: The Gathering" on the deuce.
That's like firing Hunter S. Thompson out of an ironic cannon.
The final insult will be when these collegiate robot builders (and presumed sci-fi/gaming enthusiasts) adopt John Clayton as their favorite ESPN personality and he becomes a part of the show.
@What Would Kornheiser Do?: Coming soon to tWWL: Celebrity Death Match. Clinton versus Dole!
Grant Imahara, you have calls on lines 1, 2, and 3.
@What Would Kornheiser Do?: You gotta admit they were all over that Stacker craze before it hit the big time.
I was pretty sure this was a bris announcement
Little do they know, future contestant Chief Knock-A-Clayton will have Sean inside of it!
Noticed this little nugget from the BattleBots wiki:
The machines entered in such contests are not technically true robots in that they are not autonomous in their actions. They are remotely controlled by their teams, so might be more properly referred to as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
Someone really has too much time on their hands...
@Sh!tShow: Is that your final answer?
If I wanted a 160 lb robot to destroy everything it touches, I'd call Paula Wagner to set up a meeting.
/narrowcasting
This is like canceling Cold Pizza and replacing it with First Take.
Wait, where was I going with this?
Lil Sean became self-aware on March 11, 2008.
You will all rue the day when Reese Davis gets cyborg genitals.
Watch out for Toyota in 2009.
"What? Oh my God, that's Jason Taylor's music!"
This is like firing Joe Theismann and airing reruns of American Gladiators.
I'm all for firing Trey Wingo and bringing back Austrailan Rules Football.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare to be wowed by a technological marvel made possible only through the collective brilliance of an expert team of engineers, scientists and graphic designers...Miss Carmen Electra!"
That's like firing Stuart Scott and then replacing him with a black man.
@Why Not Jon Lovitz?: +1
@UkraineNotWeak: A Hardy Second to both concepts!
This is like firing Andre Rison's house.
That's like firing Tom Mees and then acquiring the rights to Adult Swim.
I'm all for chaining a naked Stacey Dales to the radiator.
@Doyle McPoyle: I guess so. The tribe has spoken.
I better contact Old Glory to re-instate my robot insurance. When they grab you with those metal claws you can't break free, because they're made of metal, and robots are strong.
@Big Daddy Drew: He needs to watch out for Killhammed Ayyyiiiii.
"Ooooooh, Yeah! If Hulk Hogan can host the Gladiators, I can do some hosting of these battles bots!! OOOOOOOH, YEAH!"
-R. Savage
But, BattleBots is allowing an additional 40 pounds to be added as bonus weight, thus making the total weight 160 pounds!
Wrap me with 15 pounds of aluminum foil and I am ready to fight.
While we're resuscitating old Comedy Central shows, can we please bring back "Tough Crowd"? If only for the fact that Colin Quinn's "American Caste System" skit was fucking fantastic.
@Sh!tShow: You're fired.