Beach Clash

Beach Clash
Created by	Bryan Taylor
Presented by	David Hirsch with Alison Armitage
Theme music composer	Garth Young Treana Morris
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	Taylorvision First Media Entertainment All American Television FremantleMedia
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 19, 1994 (1994-09-19) – September 17, 1995 (1995-09-17)

Beach Clash is a game show that aired in syndication from September 19, 1994, through September 17, 1995. ^[1] The show was hosted by David Hirsch and Alison Armitage. Teams of one male player, one female player, and two "hardbodies" competed in beach-themed events in an attempt to win the season's grand prize of $10,000 and a Hawaiian vacation. ^[1]

Reception

The show was met with largely negative critical response, often being considered a poor copy of the then hugely popular game show American Gladiators . ^{[2] [3]}

The Dallas Morning News 's television critic Ed Bark penned a negative review of the show, writing, "These competitions, ranging from Hill Climb to Beach Bout, are strictly Dullsville" and said "Hirsch's commentary is an ultimate case study in making something of absolutely nothing", while "Armitage's principal contribution is to giggle at his attempts to be a hardbody in mind, if not body". ^[4] A.J. Jacobs of Entertainment Weekly said, "This T&A fest would make Aaron Spelling blush". ^[2] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly stated, "After all, what are shows like American Gladiators and Beach Clash if not genially decadent versions of overbuffed Greek gods and goddesses bulging and sweating for the amusement of us rabble?" ^[5] Brother's Bar called it "one of many American Gladiators knock-offs that were popular in US syndication in the early to mid-90s (to make, it sounds like nobody actually watched half of them), this one’s set on a Californian beach (and nails that aesthetic to be fair) and has a pretty great theme tune featuring a bit of Eurodance and a warbling woman (“Beach Claaaaash!”) you just don’t get nowadays. [...] The games start off mildly Run-the-Gauntlety but aren’t all that great really (and in the case of the jetski races completely unfollowable), becoming a bit sub- It’s a Knockout but they are at least quite quick." ^[3]

References

1. Schwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1995). "Beach Clash". The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows (2 ed.). New York: Facts on File. p. 12. ISBN   0-8160-3093-6 . Retrieved July 3, 2023– via Internet Archive.
2. Jacobs, A.J. (February 17, 1995). "'American Gladiators'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
3. Bother, Brig (July 19, 2022). "Beach Clash". Bother's Bar. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
4. Bark, Ed (October 22, 1994). "'Trashsports' challenge your staying power". The Dallas Morning News . Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
5. Tucker, Ken (June 2, 1995). "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.