With the US TV networks pushing towards more reality and game show type programming to meet the challenges of the Hollywood writers’ strike (the last fresh ep of Desperate Housewives aired in the US a week ago), the successful return of American Gladiators on NBC last week will hearten Seven, which plans a similar rebirthing of the former ratings winner here.

Gladiators returned on Sunday and Monday night last week and picked up a total of 23 million viewers across the two nights, which made it the highest-rated series premiere in the 18-49 demographic on any US network this season and NBC’s highest-rated unscripted series debut in that age group since the original Apprentice. NBC is already planning to renew it for 12 more episodes and it could get more eps if the strike continues.

Nine’s much hyped Cashmere Mafia was easily beaten by Gladiators on debut. Its 10.7 million viewers was OK but it’s no megahit as some of Nine’s on-air promos here are trying to suggest. Cashmere Mafia did better among women in the 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 age groups but Gladiators won among women in the younger 18-to-34 segment.

And Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Network, which is currently sitting in fourth spot in the key 18 to 49 age group (the only one that matters in the US), will start moving to the top when the 2008 season of American Idol begins tonight.

Idol will probably be the biggest winner from the strike, as its rivals won’t have enough high rating programs to challenge it each week, and if the strike continues, they will continue to concede ground to Fox, which has the added benefit of broadcasting the Superbowl this year.

American Idol‘s two weekly shows were first and second in the season regular listings last year, a vast difference to the growing indifference to the program here. Ratings did drift lower, but not enough to make a significant dent. The Tuesday show averaged 29.5 million compared to 18 million to 20 million for the likes of Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy and Dancing With The Stars.

Murdoch’s network stands to dominate US ratings while the strike is on because of its animated series, Idol and a couple of other “non-scripted programs” (although scripted programs, like Prison Break, will be affected).

News Corp CEO, Peter Chernin, told US media buyers last week that the network would move to the top of the 18 to 49 demo “within two weeks”.