Gladiators Zone - Laser, Tina Andrew, Transcript Part 1

Az: A big hello to TINA our star tonight
JamesM: Welcome Tina!
cubbio: Hello Tina
HJPK123: hi tina
dead_metal: Like a shining Laser beam!!
Volcano: Welcome,Tina
Phantom: oh god she's here already. Hi Tina!
Az: you are on time Tina, hello
Billy: Hi!
Az: Hey LASER!
LASER: Great, Hi you guys, hold on, finally figured it out
dead_metal: Hello Laser
Daryl: Hi Tina
JamesM: Welcome Laser!
Volcano: Hi,Laser
HJPK123: hi LASER
Billy: Hi ya Laser!
Az: Yes a huge welcome to you!
LASER: thanks
lil_baybee_v: OMG LASER!!!!!!!!!!!!
suz: evening people
cubbio: Hello there Laser
PAUL: Ok let the chat begin...

QUESTION TIME BEGINS.

Billy: (Q) Which gladiators did you get on with?
LASER: I got on well with the new Glads and hit it off well with Falcon also.

Daryl: (Q) Hi Tina, Hope you are well, Thanks for joining us at the Gladiators Zone. My two-part question is, what have you been doing sicne Gladiators and are we going to see more of you in the future?
LASER: I have travelled the world, my husband and I now lives in USA. If Gladiators came back, I would definately give it another go.

Billy: (Q) Name your favourite event and why you like it?
LASER: I loved all the contact games. Duel, Powerball, Suspension Bridge - tops.

tigress: (Q) Hi tina did you get on with rebel and nightshade?
LASER: I got on very well with Rebel her name fitted her perfectly. I also liked Nightshate a lot but did not have the opportunity to get to know here very well.

Az: (Q) Do you keep in contact with any of the UK/South African Gladiators?
LASER: Currently I have no contact with any of the SA or UK glads.

tigress: (Q) did you prefer being a uk gladiator or south african gladiator?
LASER: UK. The South African Producers were too disorganised.

Phantom: (Q) So pleased to speak with you Tina. I swear you were so one of my favourites over the years. That perfect balance of ability... but also attitude. lol. Anyway, had your visa been renewed, would you have returned for the next series? and in what direction do you think your Gladiator career would have taken?
LASER: Hi Phantom, nice visiting with you guys also. I loved Gladiators and was devastated when I could not return. It took me years after to realise that it was for the best, but at the time, I did not want to accept it. I was waiting in South Africa while applying for our visas, I was supposed to join the team in Mauritius for training.

Jimmy_G: (Q) hi do you think that they will ever bring gladiators back and would you consider being the female presenter?
LASER: Jimmy, I don't know if they will bring it back, I think the rating will be as great as it ever was so it will be worth their while - Presenter - no - I will totally suck at it.

patricia: (Q) how did you get to be Sheena?
LASER: Patricia - When LWT tried everything they could and all avenues for me to return to the show proved fruitless, they told the SAcan producer about me. It was the same time SA sent a team over to UK to film the first series. I will always be Laser.

Az: (Q) Which events did you dread competing in?
LASER: There were no events that I dreaded. I was game for everything. Skytrak freaked me out after my knee guard got stuck in it on my first event.

Daryl: (Q) Did you keep any props or costume from the show?
LASER: I gave all my stuff to my favourite fan.
Phantom: lol. wonder who that could be... PAUL!!!

ryan: (Q) Hi Tina. Thanks for taking time out to talk to us. I understand you were brought in as a uk glad at the last minute. could you describe how that happened and just how much notice you had?
LASER: I am glad you asked. My husband and I were due to leave UK for a trip around the world when I was called to come to Birmingham. Since I tried out to be a contender, I thought it was for that. When I arrived, they put me through all the games and at the end of the day called me into Ken's office where he asked me "so what do you want your name to be?" You could have knocked me over with a feather. I had no notice. We cancelled our trip, booked into the hotel the same day and I was standby at first not knowing whether I would actually get to have a game at all. Then Nightshade got injured again and they put me in some of her immediate events.

dead_metal: (Q) Hey Tina, Thanks for doing this. I was wondering, what was your defining best and worst moments during your time as a Gladiator?
LASER: Most defining - it is hard to say which was my most defining - I think that is a question for you guys to answer. My worst was when I could not return to Glads.
PAUL: I think the Duel against Sarah Damm.
Phantom: Powerball vs. Marissa Heuttner, the Aussie contender.

PAUL: (Q) o did you pick the name Laser?
LASER: I didn't, the names that I liked were all taken. I wanted Valkyrie.
Phantom: OH i like it!!!
PAUL: Wow, that is a great name!
LASER: Someone somewhere had it already.

Adders-P: (Q) Hi Tina, if I remember correctly, you joined the team in 1996. This was the year when Tilt, Joust, Pyramid and Pole-Axe were taken out of the pool of events. Would you have liked to have tried any of these events, and any of the events introduced post-1996?
LASER: I always wanted to do Pyramid. Pole Axe didn't really excite me. I am not scared of heights but that looked dangerous when the little arms retracted. I had visions of my hands getting pinched in there.

bexecola: (Q) Did you ever worry about getting hurt on the events you took part in?
LASER: No, if you are afraid, you will get hurt.

Billy: (Q) When did you realise that your bottoms were Amazon's?
LASER: Billy - What??
Billy: Actually-your bottoms are Amazon's.
PAUL: Tina, I think initially the bottom part of your costume was due to be Amazon who left the team before you joined.
LASER: Oh!! It fitted the top.

tigress: (Q) laser did you get on well with the SA team?
LASER: I was their mother. I got on very well with the SA team, but not with the producers. I did not like how the Glads were not taken care of, none of them had much money and lived on McDonalds and could not compete without eating properly.
Phantom: actually yes, that's a good point. Diamond - South African Bernadette Beyer - had some very kind words to say about you and the help you gave the SA Glads with the aparatus training...
LASER: I liked Bernadette a lot. She was serious about being a good Ambasador for SA.

Phantom: (Q) As one of the lead female combat Glads, why is it you came to be selected for the events you were? ie. Duel, Suspension Bridge - all the muscle games? lol
LASER: Phantom - probably because I was fearless and very agressive.

tigress: (Q) do you have any children?
LASER: I do. I have two kids. Michael 7 and Michaela 5.
tigress: aww lovely names.

Billy: (Q) Which one of the glads did you get on with best- Rio, Rebel or Ace?
LASER: I got on well with Rio and Rebel.
LASER: Cobra was the funniest. I remember him as always entertaining us in the back room while we waited for our games to come up.

tigress: (Q) Any gladiators you didn't get on with?
LASER: I kept to myself most of the time and really did not have any run ins with any Glads.

Billy: (Q) How scary is Wolf?
LASER: Wolf was a pussycat.

Adders-P: (Q) Was there any event which you'd have liked to try as a contender?
LASER: I would have loved to do the Eliminator!!!
dead_metal: I'm sure you would have won!!!

Phantom: (Q) How did you get on with John Anderson? lol. Were their any of his rulings you didn't agree with?
LASER: John was a honey. I do not believe that I ever got upset with any of his rulings.

patricia: (Q) how did you find out about this website?
LASER: I kept contact with Paul.

HJPK123: (Q) was there a contender you were impressed of?
LASER: Sarah stands out in my memory.

Billy: (Q) Any of the events you feared?
LASER: I died ten thousand deaths everytime I ran out in front of the crowds - the games didn't scare me - it calmed my nerves once I started to play.

Billy: (Q) Most memorable moment?
LASER: Each moment with UK Glads was memorable - I really mean that, it was like a fairy tale and I sucked every moment of it up.

tigress: (Q) laser i think you were one of the best female gladiators in history! i love watching you. what makes you so determined?
LASER: Tigress: WOW that is an awesome compliment. I think it is a lot of thing, my childhood - I had to be a fighter to survive!

chico: (Q) hi laser. how did you become a glad.
LASER: Pete and I (my husband) applied to go on the show as a married couple. He came off the treadmill in the try-outs and LWT informed me that since I was SAcan, we could not complete on the show as it is a British show. When they had the string of injuries, they must have remembered me from all the Contenders that tried out and contacted me. I was truly blessed.

tigress: (Q) who would you most like to face on duel and give a good bashing?
LASER: I would like to Duel Rio, not to give her a bashing, just to see if I could beat her!

Jimmy_G: (Q) who in your opinion was the best male and female gladiators?
LASER: Male: Hunter. Female: Nightshade. Based on performance and role model at the time.

Phantom (Q) What legacy do you feel that Laser left to the show, and what set you apart from other Gladiators?
LASER: Phantom. I hope the legacy that I left behind is wholesomeness. I avoided fame going to my head.

Billy: (Q) Did you want to be in the series after yours?
LASER: Billy. I wanted it more than anything. I even wrote to our President at the time to help me get a visa. Nothing worked because it wasn't destined to be.
Az: thats such a pity. The 1997 series could have been brilliant.
Billy: Thats so sweet!
Phantom: with the calibre of contenders in 1997, I don't think Laser would have had much trouble in the arena.

Jimmy_G: (Q) did you have any hobbies as a child?
LASER: Hobbies as a child - I did not really have any hobbies. I loved sports and was very involved in different sports.

tigress: (Q) Laser do you have any backstage secrets? On the forum someone said a lot of the female glads were jealous?
LASER: Tigress, as I said earlier, I pretty much kept to myself. I think some probably thought I was stuck up or shy - but none of that mattered. I don't know of anyone that was jealous of me in particular.
tigress: because you were so good! especially for a new gladiator!

Billy: (Q) Okay question - if you watched 97 which costume cut will yours should have been based on?
LASER: Don't believe I watched 97? I wasn't really picky on my clothes, would have taken what they gave me.

dead_metal: (Q) What did you make of Sumo-Ball, which was the new event for 1996?
LASER: Not a very exciting game to watch, but a few thing you could do as a glad to make it exciting if you were strong enough. Or stronger than your opononent.

Az: (Q) were you any good at Hang Tough? they could have given Lightning or Vogue a rest for a week!
LASER: I was never really given the opportunity to do Hang Tough. I would have liked to train for that, would have sucked to start because I have such a tall big boned body.

tigress: (Q) what fitness tips would you have to get in shape?
LASER: If you are competitive, find a sport that you want to compete in and have a friend that shares that interest and then motivate each other when you do not feel like training.

dead_metal: (Q) You became quite good at Swingshot, did you enjoy doing it?
LASER: I loved Swingshot, that was no effort, just fun! The secret was in launching yourself with as much force that you can.

chico: (Q) what did you think of the australian contenders and gladiators during the ashes series ?
LASER: I enjoyed the Australians. I actually would love to live in Australia.

Phantom: (Q) which type of events did you enjoy the most: one on one like Duel, where the spotlight was on you alone, or team events like Powerball where you had to work as part of a team with the other Glads?
LASER: One on one, but not for the spot light. Just no one that you can let down and vice versa.

Az: (Q) Laser, what is your profession now?
LASER: I bring foreign workers to the US to come and work here on farms and in the hotel industry. My toubles with visas have paid off, now I am an expert.
Phantom: I might enlist your help one day. lol

chico: (Q) where do you live at the moment ?
LASER: I live in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Billy: (Q) Why did the name 'Laser' suit you?
LASER: Billy - because I hit them with my laser beam.

tigress: (Q) do your children know that their mummy was a gladiator?
LASER: Sure, they do. I don't make too much of a fuss about it, some people here know about it, my proud husband always tells people - but it embarrasses me because I don't 'look' like used to.

Leopard: Hi Laser! I'm from Wisconsin.
LASER: Hi Leopard - are you visiting from US or are you in the UK?
Leopard: I live here in the US and am a Gladiator fan. The Gladiator Zone is an awsome website!
LASER: Isn't Paul great!
dead_metal: The greatest

tigress: (Q) Laser do you watch the american gladiators?
LASER: Very seldom. On a trip to Orlando we noticed they were still doing live shows there, but it is not very popular here anymore.

HJPK123: (Q) How did you come along with Ulrika and Fash?
LASER: Never really had a personal conversation with Ulrika, I admired her. Fash was very cool also.

tigress: (Q) would your husband be a good gladiator? was he gutted he didn't get the call back but you did?
LASER: He would have been awesome. He is 6.5 and in my eyes would have had most of our Glad for breakfast.
tigress: wow!

Phantom: (Q) When you were competing for the Springbok Challenge, did you associate more with the other SA Glads or with your old colleagues from the UK?
LASER: During the Springbok Challenge I kept my distance for sake of being professional. UK Glads were very nice to me and I so badly wanted to be on the other side. But I don't want it to come accross that I did not care at all for South African team.

tigress: (Q) so were you pleased when the uk team won? hehe
LASER: Tigress: No, but there was no way SA team was going to win. I was hoping my husband could be contender for SA, but they decided against that at the time. I also volunteered to be a contender for the SA team but the producers would not allow it.

Az: (Q) do you think you would have improved on events such as The Wall, Skytrak and Pendulum? you only managed to do them rarely.
LASER: I definately would have improved on those events. I had them all won in my head.

Az: (Q) did you envy any other Gladiator? i mean Lightning had such an awesome record on most events
LASER: I did not envy Lighting at all, nor any other glads.
Az: thats good, i may have phrased it wrongly. Just as though, did you wish you had the experience of a Lightning or a Falcon?
LASER: No problem. I did not feel that she was competition to me at all. She was just more experienced.

tigress: (Q) did you not want to join the mtn gladiators team in south africa? did you watch it in south africa?
LASER: The MTN gladiators actually tried contacting me when they bought the show. We were travelling at the time and my sister in law never passed the message along. When we returned, they had a full team.
tigress: oh no! that is such a shame.

Phantom: Well, can I just say it has been an absolute pleasure to speak with you, Tina. Out of all the Glad girls over 8 years, you will always stick out as a highlight for me - and others. I would also join everyone in congratulating Paul for coping with the unforseen technical fault at the start and herding us all so well. lol. Especially with everything we know he has had to deal with lately. This has been a great time! Bye everyone...
PAUL: Thank you Phantom.
LASER: Thanks Phantom, it has been my pleasure and a great trip down memory lane.

Billy: (Q) Which of the MTN Glads did you get on in the Springbok Challenge?
LASER: Wildebeest, Diamond and Spider.

dead_metal: (Q) What was Gauntlet like too play, it always looked really exciting?
LASER: Gauntlet was awesome - I wished they put me int he front more !
dead_metal: Yeah, you were always in the middle!

Jimmy_G: (Q) if you could choose another name for yourself on glads what would it be?
LASER: (not Sheena!) LOL

tigress: (Q) what does sheena mean?
LASER: Queen of the jungle (supposedly), but I think it is more connected scantily clothed women.

PAUL: Well I think that completes the live web chat with Laser. I want to thank you all for coming along and sorry about the technical problem.

QUESTION TIME ENDS.

dead_metal: Bless you Tina, Its been a pleasure too talk too you.
Jimmy_G: thank you
Az: A massive thanks to Paul for organising it.
tigress: tina you are an inspiration and a true gladiator!
dead_metal: Paul, as always you're the star on top of the xmas tree.
tigress: thank you paul and tina
Az: and the one and only LASER for joining us for it!
LASER: Thanks Paul - your'e the best. I've enjoyed talking to all of you, apologies if I did something wrong this side that botched up the moderating of the chat.
PAUL: Ha ha, thank you guys!
Az: It has been a pleasure chatting Laser
Chimera: dammit, I completely forgot :(
LASER: Thanks Tigress.
Az: you are late mister!
PAUL: Laser not a problem, it all worked out in the end.
LASER: Hi Chimera, did you have some questions - were you out enjoying the sun, Paul tells me it is so nice and warm there. Here it is freezing we had the coldest day in 100 years for this time of the year.
Chimera: forgive me - where abouts are you at the moment?
PAUL: Laser is in South Dakota, Chimera.
Chimera: yes, it was lovely today - just been at the gym, you'd be proud ;)

Chimera: (Q) I wanted to ask if you saw much of Zodiac and Nightshade as they were injured?
LASER: I did not. I had some deep conversations with Nightshade, she was an inspiration to me and a wonderful woman. Zodiac and I had nothing in common and really did not talk at all.
PAUL: You would have been an awesome team with Nightshade. You both had true Gladiator spirit.
Az: so many clean sheets on Powerball! lol
LASER: I know. My heart broke for Nightshade.

Chimera: (Q) What was it like returning the following year but facing your old team-mates Rio, Rebel, Lightning and Vogue? Any animosity?
LASER: No animosity.

dead_metal: Laser,Nightshade and Rio on Powerball
Chimera: would've been a cracking team
PAUL: Laser, Nightshade and Rebel on Powerball!
dead_metal: Oh yeah of course. Sorry Paul
LASER: Paul - you should have John Anderson's position - that would have been an awesome team!
dead_metal: Paul doing a Scots accent. Interesting
PAUL: Glllaaaaaaaadiator ready! Hmm, maybe more north eastern dead_metal!
dead_metal: Wolf this is t'red card!!!

Chimera: (Q) were there any games you didn't do but would have liked to?
LASER: Not really, I would have liked to do more Powerball games, and maybe Hang Tough.
Chimera: wish we'd seen you on Hang Tough :(
LASER: I probably would have been scary at first until I got my shoulders conditioned.

Az: i cant wait to get the 1996 series on DVD so i can see you in action again
dead_metal: Gladiators you will go on t'second whistle
LASER: I know, Paul promised me a copy to, I can't wait. I will cherish it. I have seen some clips on You tube it brought back awesome memories.
PAUL: Well this chat has been fantastic and I can't thank Laser for coming along. Laser, you will have those DVD's I promise!
LASER: I know that Paul - take your time - I know you have your plate full.

Chimera: (Q) being that you were only in the show for one domestic season, were you often recognised as Laser when out and about?
LASER: We left the UK shortly after the filming but when I returned before coming to the US, people recognised me.

Az: Laser you have just become one of my faves! You are lovely and have told us so much.
LASER: Thanks Az!
PAUL: My Mam says "Hello!" Tina!
LASER: Paul, give your mom a big kiss from me!
tigress: I am leaving now Laser but you are an inspiration to me. love you lots and thank you for chatting one of my idols!
LASER: I have to tell you guys something that I will never forget. After the first show that we filmed, I remember Paul, his mom and friends coming up to me outside of the hotel where we stayed. He was a little boy then. I remember and have kept all my fan letters.
dead_metal: Awwwwwww
Az: thats so nice
LASER: Paul - you should be made honorary Gladiator Fan!!
dead_metal: He still is our little boy. bless him
Az: he already is setting up this site!
dead_metal: ha ha
PAUL: I'm 25 now! i'm getting old! Ha Ha
LASER: Amazing
Az: you're funny Tina
PAUL: I always remember Rebel introducing me to you Laser backstage and helping you get extra tickets for the show.
Az: but i realise it must have been so long. 11 years!
Chimera: grow old, but never grow up :)
Chimera: Laser, you certainly left a lasting impression! easily one of the best one-season Glads :)
Az: easily, along with Rocket
LASER: You guys were so encouraging. I thought I totally sucked and you thought I was next best thing to sliced cheese!
PAUL: Yep!
Az: this is fab! Laser, you never sucked

Chimera: (Q) did you get much press coverage as you joined half way through the season?
LASER: I did. I missed some of the shoots for the magazines and stuff. But did a lot of newspaper articles. My fave was where they had a picture of me as a cleaner to Gladiator with maids uniform and mop and bucket.

dead_metal: It was always exciting seeing you on Duel and Suspension Bridge.
Az: i only remember 1 bad performance, but every Glad has had those.
LASER: Az which performance did I dissapoint you so much?
dead_metal: yeah come on Az!!! lol
tigress: yeah az!
Az: well i guess it was the Ashes against Catherine on Duel, but every Gladaitor made mistakes! It was disappointing to see you drop your stick
LASER: I will never forget that. I felt that tarnished my record on duel because I wanted to be totally undefeated.
Az: but that was just a minor thing and we all remember you for the awesome Powerball and other Duel displays.
dead_metal: at least you won your Grand Final Duel, and thats the main one.
Chimera: it was refreshing to see a Gladiator who was so good at Duel and Ther Bridge to also be willing to jump off Swingshot and climb The Wall.
LASER: I admit I wasn't very good at the Wall, but it is so much technique in that, and with a little training, no one was going to get a way from me on The Wall. Did you know that Suspension Bridge was the very first game that I participated in.
Chimera: you had some of the most memorable battles on Suspension Bridge - prior to that, they'd just got boring and would end usually after one blow.
LASER: I remember Ken coming to me after the first game that I did (Suspension Bridge) where the tussle went on right to the final second) and saying "now that is what we are looking for!".
Az: that is exactly what we were after Tina. excitement, not the quickest possible bout.
Chimera: cool, a very successful debut then! I think the first we saw you on was Pendulum.
LASER: They did not show different events as we filmed them.

Chimera: (Q) Pursuit was practically abandoned in 1996 - how do you feel you would have performed on an Eliminator-style obstacle course?
LASER: Never practised on it. Since that is what got me to apply to be a contender, I would love to do the Eliminator. I will kill who ever I am up against. If I was a contender, I would have won!

PAUL: (Q) Would you liked to have done a Gladiator vs Gladiator show like the male Gladiators did in the final series?
LASER: I did not know they did that for the male glads. I would still be up to do that! Will need to train a little first though.
PAUL: Yes, Hunter won the final Eliminator against Ace.
LASER: Yeah, I thought Hunter was the best male Glad.

LASER: Well, I'm off all you good people. Have a fabulous evening and thanks for coming to chat with me. I had fun.
PAUL: Thank you Laser x
dead_metal: Cheers Laser, you're the best
LASER: You are welcome. Thanks again for all you do!
Jimmy_G: cya
Az: thank you so much for giving up nearly 2 hours of your precious time
LASER: Bye. It is a pleasure, it felt like minutes
Az: indeed, it has flown by. bye xx
dead_metal: must do it again some time
Az: aww wasnt she lovely!
Chimera: doh! I missed her leave too :( Paul, thank her from me - I'm such a doofus!
dead_metal: She was just lush
Az: She said so much and say im a big Laser fan now, didnt realise she was that nice. Glad to see she is willing to talk to fans.

LASER LEFT. CHAT CLOSED.