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American Gladiators (1989 TV series)

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American Gladiators
GenreAction / Game Show
Directed byBob Levy
StarringMike Adamle
(1989–1996)
Todd Christensen
(1990)
Danny Lee Clark
(1995–1996)
Larry Csonka
(1990–1993)
Lisa Malosky
(1993–1995)
Joe Theismann
(1989)
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes139 [1]
Production
ProducersTrans World International
(1989–1992)
Four Point Entertainment
Production locationsUniversal Studios Hollywood
(1989–1991)
CBS Studios
(1991–1996)
Camera setupMulticamera setup
Running time60 minutes
Original release
Networkfirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 16, 1989 –
May 11, 1996
Related
Battle Dome

American Gladiators was a competition TV show that ran originally in weekly syndication from September 16 , 1989 to May 11, 1996. The premise of the show was to match contestants against each other, as well as against the show's own "Gladiators" in contests of strength and agility. Reruns currently air on ESPN Classic seven days a week.

The show was taped at Universal Studios Hollywood until 1991, then moved to Gladiator Arena for the rest of its run. The National Indoor Arena, home to the UK version, hosted the International Gladiators competitions.

The series was distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Television, a co-production of Trans World International and Four Point Entertainment.

Format

American Gladiators was conducted in a tournament style format. Up until season six, two tournaments were conducted each season.

In the first two seasons, 20 contenders (ten of each gender) in each half-season tournament were chosen from a nationwide contestant pool based on tests of strength and agility, with several alternates chosen in case a contender could not continue due to injury. Two contenders of each gender competed on each episode. Five preliminary round matchups were played with the winners automatically advancing to the quarterfinal round, along with the three highest scoring losers. Any alternates from that point on came from the previous round's losers.

The tournament then became single elimination, with the last two contenders standing meeting in the half-season final. The winners of each half received $10,000 and advanced to the Grand Championship at the end of the season, with an additional $10,000 and a new car available for the winner. The runners-up in these matches received $5,000 and (in the Grand Championship) a Club Med vacation.

In season three, 24 contenders in each half competed, and there was only one wild card spot, open to the highest scoring quarterfinal loser. Season four followed a similar format. Season five did away with the wild card altogether, with 32 contenders in each half competing, with the winners seeded 1-8 depending on their performance in the preliminaries.

In season six and seven, the tournament was spread out over the season, with no halves. The Grand Champions took home $25,000. Also, in season seven, contenders began receiving $2,500 in cash for winning each match (previously, a contender had to make it to at least the semifinals to receive cash).

Events

Main article: American Gladiators events

In each episode, the contenders competed in a series of events, the number of which varied from six to eight depending on the season. Most of the events tested the contenders' physical abilities against the superior size and strength of the Gladiators. In most events, the contenders were not directly pitted against against each other, but against the Gladiators. In each event, the contenders earned points based on their performance.

Originally, the points in each event were given on a 5 and 10 point scale, with 100 points usually the maximum in every event (except for Powerball). After the first half of the first season, they were given on a one-point scale.

Starting with the 1992 season, the last event before The Eliminator was labeled "Crunch Time", and was played for bigger points.

Many events were added and removed from the program's roster, with only five of the original events surviving the programs entire run on American television.

List of events:

  • Assault*
  • Powerball*
  • Breakthrough and Conquer*
  • Joust*
  • Human Cannonball
  • The Wall*
  • Atlasphere
  • Hang Tough
  • Swingshot
  • The Maze
  • Sky Track
  • Super Powerball
  • Gauntlet
  • Pyramid
  • Tug-O-War
  • Whiplash
  • Snapback
  • The Eliminator
*Assault, the Joust, Breakthrough and Conquer, Powerball, and The Wall were the only events to be played on all seven seasons of the show.

Visual makeovers

During the first half of the first season, the show's set resembled that of an ancient Roman gladiatorial arena (only with the walls being dark gray), with the stands raised high above the ground. For the second half, the show's set was changed into the more familiar sports-style arena. The hooded figures that officiated the games were replaced by officials dressed in modern clothes.

In season five, the show received a massive makeover, including a change in logo which changed even more for season six (the original logo got a more angular and three-dimensional look, and then completely disappeared), a change in color scheme (from red, white, and blue to silver and scarlet), the use of two video screens (sponsored by Slim Jim, referred to as the "SlimJim Superscreen") and music played during the introduction of each event from this season to the end of the series run (which also was used during the International versions, only in the International versions, music was played while the event was actually played). However, the most notable change was the change of the opening theme, which was a rock remix of the original theme.

However, during the final season, two more things changed. The logo changed completely from its gem shaped logo to the metallic "AG" logo, with the A on top of the G to form a diamond shape (this is also when the announcers used the acronym "AG" to identify the show on a regular basis, as the previous two seasons only found it being used sparingly), and the opening featured each gladiator in a pose to show off their physiques, only with little clothing on.

List of Gladiators

The following is a list of Gladiators who competed on the TV series. For a list of some of the Gladiators who competed at the live shows in Orlando, Florida, see the AG Gladiators Zone page.

Original six Gladiators

  • Malibu (Deron McBee): competed in 1989 only
  • Lace (Marisa Pare): competed from 1989-1992
  • Gemini (Michael Horton): competed from 1989-1992
  • Zap (Raye Hollitt): competed from 1989-1990, returned from 1991 to 1995
  • Nitro (Dan Clark): competed from 1989-1992, returned from 1994-95, color commentator during show's final season
  • Sunny (Cheryl Barldinger): competed in 1989 only, injured in semifinal round and never returned

Debuted during season one

  • Blaze (Sha-Ri Pendleton): competed from 1990-1992
  • Bronco (Robert Bruce Campbell):competed in one episode in 1989 as an injury replacement for Malibu, was never seen again
  • Gold (Tonya Knight): competed from 1990-1992
  • Laser (Jim Starr): competed from 1990-1996, only Gladiator to appear on all seven seasons of the show
  • Jade: competed in final episode of first half of season one as injury replacement for Sunny, never seen afterwards
  • Titan (David Nelson): competed in 1990 only

Debuted during season two

Debuted during season three

  • Storm (Debbie Clark): debuted in 1991 as an injury replacement for Gold, competed until 1993
  • Tower (Steve Henneberry): debuted in 1991 as an injury replacement for Turbo, competed until 1994
  • Viper (Chuck Berlinger): debuted at 1992 Grand Championship, competed until end of 1992-1993 season

Debuted during season four

  • Atlas (Philip Poteat): competed in 1992-93 season only
  • Cyclone (Barry Turner): competed in first half of 1992-93 season, injured arm and didn't return
  • Elektra (Salina Bartunek): competed from 1992-1994, sparingly after breaking nose in 1993 Grand Championship
  • Lace #2 (Natalie Lennox): competed in 1992-1993 season only
  • Havoc: competed sporadically in 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons
  • Sabre (Lynn "Red" Williams): competed from 1992-1996
  • Siren (Shelley Beattie): competed from 1992-1996, was only deaf Gladiator
  • Sky (Shirley Eson): competed from 1992-1996, was notable for being a female Gladiator who was over 6 feet tall

Debuted during season five

  • Dallas (Shannon Hall): competed from second half of this season until 1995, returned with Zap to compete in alumni show in the final season
  • Hawk (Lee Reherman): competed from 1993-1996
  • Jazz (Victoria Gay): competed from 1993-1996
  • Rebel (Mark Tucker): competed in 1993-94 season only

Debuted during season six

Grand Champions

Season Men's Champion Women's Champion
1 Brian Hutson Bridget Venturi
2 Craig Branham Dorann Cumberbatch
3 Mark Ortega Kathy Mollica
4 Clifton Miller Cheryl Wilson
5 Wesley "Two Scoops" Berry Peggy Odita
6 Kyler Storm Adrienne Sullivan
7 Pat Csizmazia Tiziana Sorge

Hosts and other personalities

Hosts

Officials

  • "Executioner", a referee dressed in a hooded black robe (1989)
  • Bob McElwee (1990)
  • Larry Thompson (1990-1996)

Announcers

Special Shows

Like some other game shows, American Gladiators had their own theme shows. Some shows featured celebrities competing against each other (like castmembers from Baywatch and Superman portrayer Dean Cain, as well as host Mike Adamle), but other theme shows were present. Examples:

Alumni Shows

There were three alumni shows conducted during the course of AG. The first occurred in the second season, and featured competitors from the show's first season. Contenders Lucian Anderson and Cheryl Ann Silich emerged victorious, beating out Terry Moore and Aimee Ross, respectively.

Season six saw a second alumni show, with the six Grand Champions since the show moved into Gladiator Arena competing against each other. Wesley "Two Scoops" Berry and Peggy Odita, the season five Grand Champions, won.

Season seven's alumni show, dubbed as the "Battle of the Best", featured season five champion Wesley "Two Scoops" Berry and Peggy Odita and season six champions Kyler Storm and Adrienne Sullivan face off, with the season five champions prevailing. In an unrelated show, former Gladiators Zap and Dallas, who left the show the previous year, faced off against each other, with Dallas beating Zap.

Pro Football Challenge of Champions

In seasons three and four, AG conducted a show where current and former NFL players competed against each other in an elimination-style format. Six players competed, with the competition whittled down to two for the Eliminator. Charles White won both competitions, both times erasing a deficit in the Eliminator.

International Challenge

A precursor to International Gladiators, this tournament aired in season four and featured contestants from all over the world. Among the contenders was season five champion Peggy Odita, who was representing Nigeria and who won the women's competition.

Armed Forces Challenge of Champions

In seasons five and six, contenders from each of the four branches of the military (men and women in season five, men only in season six) faced off against each other, with the two highest scoring branches facing off in the Eliminator. The Marines won both competitions.

NYPD vs. LAPD

Conducted in season six, featuring officers from both police departments in competition. One of the female officers, the LAPD's Angela Shepard, was a season three contender who did not advance past the preliminaries (due to an injury she suffered during the Eliminator).

2007 revival

  • Recently, NBC is considering plans to relaunch Gladiators as part of their fall schedule changes and new project announcements, according to NBC Entertainment chief Ben Silverman. The show will be produced by Silverman's production company Reveille Productions. Silverman did not discuss how the show may fit into NBC's brand (although the network's other game shows such as Deal or No Deal, 1 vs. 100, and The Singing Bee have already fit into the brand) by saying "There's no deal done."[1]

Trivia

  • In the first half of Season 1, the women did not play Breakthrough & Conquer in the preliminary round. They played a game called Swingshot, but only the results were given with no footage ever shown. It is likely that this Swingshot was not the same as the event that debuted in Season 3, as it was announced as a new event that season.
  • Season 2 men's runner-up, first half champion Rico Constantino, went on to become well-known as a professional wrestler in the WWE, under the name of "Rico."
  • Season Three's Men's Grand Championship was decided by a video review after eventual champion Mark Ortega and Joe Mauro finished the Eliminator in an apparent dead heat. Ortega was declared the winner because he was ruled to have crossed the finish line a split-second before Mauro, in the show's most dramatic finish.
  • Season Three's Second Half runner up, Darryl Gholar, also competed on Battle Dome, falling in the first season final.
  • Season four women's champion Cheryl Wilson was murdered by her husband a few years after her Grand Championship. Rumors had circulated that Gladiator Blaze was killed, but those were proven false.
  • Gladiator Tower was unable to compete in Sky Track due to the fact that he was too big to fit into the one-size harness.
  • Three Gladiators have appeared as game show contestants (outside of theme weeks on certain shows). Michael "Gemini" Horton was a contestant on Press Your Luck in the 1980s; Dan "Nitro" Clark appeared with his family on Family Feud as normal contestants while Gladiators was in production; and Lynn "Red" Williams, who portrayed Sabre, appeared on Street Smarts in the 2000s, competing under his Gladiator name.
  • An effort to launch a live American Gladiators show on the Las Vegas Strip became mired in a securities fraud prosecution.
  • In addition to Mark Ortega's flying leap, another very memorable moment occurred during the 1992 Grand Championship. During the women's competition in The Maze, Kimberly Lentz got out of the maze just when the clock read 00, only to learn from referee Larry Thompson (after he checked the tape several times) that she would'nt earn 10 points (the rules state that a contestant must get out of the maze AND off the platform before time runs out, and she did not get off the platform by the time the 45 second time limit expired).
  • The show was featured in the fourth season premiere of Family Matters, which aired September 18, 1992. The episode, titled "Surely You Joust", saw Carl and Urkel compete to settle a score. (The story line was that Sabre was Waldo's cousin, and he set the whole thing up). The Joust, Wall, and Eliminator were featured (the only difference being the Eliminator course was missing the wall prior to the gauntlet, for reasons never explained). The stipulation was that if Urkel lost, he would never be allowed back in the Winslow family house. If Carl lost, he would have to apologize to Urkel for the incident which led to them being there in the first place (which involved both of them in a household mishap). They finished the Eliminator in a dead heat to finish with overall tie scores, but resolved their differences at the finish line in order to avoid doing the whole course again to break the tie. In addition to Sabre, Turbo, Siren, and Elektra all appeared in the episode, as well as Mike Adamle and Larry Csonka.
  • On King of the Hill, Luann Van Houten dates a fictional American Gladiator who goes by the name Pyro. Pyro is seen using the Atlasphere as his personal means of transportation. They later break up when Pyro discovers Luann is cheating on him with his best friend and co-worker Gyro.
  • Nitro and Ice appeared on the sitcom Ellen (episode 19 season 2). Adam wants to audition for American Gladiators, but Ellen makes it through and goes on a date with Nitro.
  • A short segment of the feature film Hot Shots! Part Deux parodies/pays homage to the show; Siren and Zap were the Gladiators with cameos in this segment.
  • In the movie Tommy Boy Chris Farley's character appears on the tv screen in a restaurant. The waitress asks the customers if they want to watch him or American Gladiators and they choose Gladiators.
  • In an episode of Boston Common, Tasha King (Tasha Smith) punches out a man after he started beating up on Boyd Pritchett (Anthony Clark). Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) is standing nearby, commenting, "Dude, I think that's Blaze from American Gladiators".

International versions

References

  1. ^ New NBC chief announces fall scheduling changes and new projects

See also

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