American Gladiators Intros 1989-1997

OGs Glads

[@TheNewEmphinix]

Born in the 80s, raised in the 90s. And I'm so proud of it!

[@JamesJohnson-nf4mh]

Same here! Looking back at it, I wouldn't have it any other way, my parents timed it perfectly.

[@jasepark18]

Same here, the 90's was awesome.

[@akviperkitty6]

Same here.

[@Marc_Masters]

Same here, the 90s were filled with creativity and imagination!!

[@MrRockgod2011]

im the same way as u

[@str8dominican]

Every Saturday after WWF superstars...memories.

[@kascnef]

str8dominican me too. i even tried the video game

[@cfoster81]

It was part of my Saturday Mornings at 11 am on WDCA from the fall of 1990 to 1997. Also, the game was hard to beat. RIP Todd Christiansen

[@kascnef]

Chris Foster how did he die

[@cfoster81]

Cancer

[@danalong1237]

And it was on WLEX and WDKY in Lexington (which both carried the show every Late Saturday/Early Sunday at 1:00am), WLKY in Louisville (which carried it every Saturday at 11:30pm) and the now-defunct WBKI in Campbellsville, which carried American Gladiators every Saturday Afternoon at 3:00pm as part of a 3-hour Saturday Afternoon block right before WWF Superstars and WCW Worldwide! BTW, does anyone have the promos for American Gladiators, WWF Superstars and WCW Worldwide (a.k.a. the Saturday Afternoon 3-hour Action Block on WGRB Channel 34) on WGRB (which later became WBKI)?

[@dmace81]

Best part of the show. That theme song is fucking epic.

[@danalong1237]

It was composed by Academy Award winner William Conti, best known for composing the 🎼 for the Rocky and 🥋 Kid films and for conducting the Academy Awards orchestra 21 times!

[@FellianTheDragon]

It is?

[@spectrumlocalb191]

dmace81 You are right I have that as my phone ring on my cell. Sounds funny but when you hear the first theme version it brings kind of a lump in.your throat.

[@explorer47422]

You should hear the British version!

[@_theporkchopexpress]

Only thing that compares to this theme is the A Team theme

[@natedoggcata]

Its interesting how you can see the rise and decline of the show just from the intros. 0:00 - tiny studio, incredibly low budget 1:18- show is a hit, budget increased big time. New arena, more gladiators, new theme, new events 3:38 to 5:23 - When the show was on the rise, more focus on the Gladiators and this is when the branched out with videogames, toys, etc 5:26 - This is when the show peaked. budget increases again and the show gets a major overhaul. Brand new arena, new logo, theme, Gladiators and events 6:35 - Show is on the decline and they are desperate throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks which is evident by this ridiculous opening that looks like some kind of high school drama 7:08 - The decline continues, budget slashed bigtime with a scaled down presentation. Even the Gladiators look like they are wondering if they will even have jobs soon.

[@werewolflover8636]

I agree for the most part but for me it went down hill soon as the original intro was changed.

[@BlackKusanagi]

The 7:08 bit is actually still part of the 6:35 intro

[@Teddy-se8qb]

it all went down hill when they changed the theme song.

[@derickennedy6278]

I can’t remember which episode (which is to my surprise - Season 3, Episode 6), but the announcer said “Here comes the Laser beam!”

[@PrincessofPower84]

The first season is so cheesy! Between the Gladiators' character intros, them being presented as villains, the masked "ninja", and the cardboard cutout fans, I can't get enough of it! 😂

[@terryleemangrumii8566]

These American Gladiators reruns definetly should be on Antenna TV in the future.

[@terryleemangrumii8566]

Or GSN, but please put the reruns of AG '89 & '08 in one package! Any network wanting to do it? Or have Netflix make available all 9 seasons total plus 2 internationals! Or we can wait for Shout!, Lionsgate, Mill Creek, TGG Direct, or 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment release COMPLETE seasons!

[@danalong1237]

Charge! is now airing reruns of all 7 seasons of the original American Gladiators TV series, including all 7 Grand Championships in their entirety.

[@mcbailey9]

They also showed them on ESPN Classic.

[@joere-uploader5766]

@@danalong1237 i am watching it in SPANISH in TELEXITOS it comes on mon-fri at 11am

[@-CT-SODBUSTER]

I know this is a late reply but to anyone interested they have a channel on Pluto TV that's 24/7 American Gladiators

[@timdakis2107]

Happy 30th Anniversary to the American Gladiators this year in 2019.

[@JJB11]

Happy 35th Anniversary to the American Gladiators this year of 2024.

[@KameWeeb]

The theme song is KICKASS. I might be a 2000s kid, but I caught reruns on ESPN Classic with my granny! Loved this show!!!

[@camerona9067]

This and the NBA fanfare by John Tesh.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

By none other than Bill Conti, the man behind the music for the first three Rocky movies, and the TV themes Dynasty (1981-89) and Cagney & Lacey (from season 2, 1982-88).

[@MzLadyToya84]

I love Blaze, Gemini, Storm and Ice...I miss this show so much.

[@danalong1237]

Lace and Diamond were two of my son’s favorite Gladiators when he was a child.

[@marcushamner5994]

6:45 Jazz is my favorite! She’s a QUEEN!😍😘😘 😋💍🌹 #WifeGoals #TheBae

[@DarkSpiderZero]

It's interesting looking at these progression of videos one after the other. The first season intro was like a humble beginning, with its distinct 80s style and character intros. Then starting from the 2nd season onwards, the show started to hit its peak of popularity, and it showed in the more "electric" intros. Then in the later seasons, you can tell the show was on the decline, and the intros were revamped into the distinct 90s style, with its flashy graphics...to make it seem fresh again.

[@SHINBAXTER]

WHEN GAME SHOWS WERE LIKE 80S ACTION MOVIES! =)

[@StarWolf_88]

AND WE LOBED EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!!

[@valerystoichkov7429]

@@StarWolf_88 best times.

[@starstarstar4643]

It's a 90s show, only 13 episodes aired in the 80s

[@ericathewwfwcwdivastraight8906]

I love Watching American Gladiators when I was little the Theme is LEGENDARY and BADASS

[@jackmcmorrow9397]

"Visually interesting" well hot damn, I'm hooked!

[@MrHoldbrook]

This came on right after Saturday morning cartoons right?..man those was the days...

[@danalong1237]

Yes, and that show also came on WBKI right before two hours of wrestling shows!

[@turbohart921]

It's an absolute travesty what Saturday morning television has become 😒

[@grimreaper7734]

My Saturday morning- Cartoons until noon, WWF Wrestling then American Gladiators. I miss those days.

[@StarWolf_88]

@@grimreaper7734 ughhh why does shit have to suck now!!! Cartoons then this and WWF!? OMG WHAT HAPPENED!?

[@johnanderson9765]

@@StarWolf_88 Here it aired Sunday mornings on FOX.

[@Codecontroller]

theme song never gets old

[@jenniferclark9842]

I watched this on Saturdays. I always watched to see if anyone survived the Eliminator.

[@danalong1237]

And my oldest son watched it on WDKY, WLKY, WLEX and WBKI, which aired the show at 3:00pm as part of a 3-hour Saturday Afternoon block right before WCW Worldwide and WWF Superstars.

[@richiebee1984]

@@danalong1237 YOU MUST BE ON THE WEST COAST AS THIS SHOW CAME ON AT 12 NOON ON WNYW FOX 5 NEW YORK AFTER WWF SUPERSTARS AND THE ONLY FEW TIMES I CAUGHT WCW WORLDWIDE/PRO WAS ON A FEW RANDOM LATE NIGHT SATURDAYS(12:30 AM SUNDAY MORNING TO BE EXACT) I STAYED UP LATE ON WCBS CHANNEL 2

[@StarWolf_88]

This show LITERALLY was my childhood started when I was 1 ended when I was 9 and plenty of reruns! LONG LIVE AMERICAN GLADIATORS!!!! Who's here from Pluto TV? And Malibu is exactly what the late 80s looked like and ironic enough he only lasted that one season lmao

[@PrincessofPower84]

Excellent show! It was one of my favorites! My favorite gladiators were Gemini, Blaze, Laser, Lace, Siren (RIP), Tower, Sabre and Nitro 😍 Also, am I the only one who loves how Sabre went from a competitor to one of the gladiators? 🏅

[@TehJew22]

Really? Sabre was a competitor?!

[@hbdragon88]

Storm tried out as a competitor and was instead picked to be a gladiator. Laser was best friends/roommates with Nitro. In fact, both were 'replacement players' with the Rams during the 1987 NFL strike. Sky was first known as Athena, but she didn't like it, so she went with her childhood nickname Sky. She was recruited during their 50-week traveling tour as a 'replacement' to give the other gladiators a break and to rest up while they were injured. Nitro, Zap, and Gemini were all fired for wanting a cut of the merchandising. Nitro was lured back with the promise of being a host for the next season, while Zap was brought back as a contestant. But it was iffy since the other gladiators didn't want to fight against Zap.

[@starstarstar4643]

​@@hbdragon88calm down, we've all seen the netflix docu-series...

[@detmstr480]

I wish all these season would be out on dvd. They were all awesome.

[@cwwaters]

Action oriented! Visually interesting!

[@garylewis3952]

Loved this show! Always loved Zap and Blaze 😍😍 lol

[@daniellefrank007]

Malibu quote: "I've never been on a surf board in my life" lol ! But he loved his character. He says he still gets love letters till this day.

[@YaowBucketHEAD]

Laser. Now that's a haircut you can set your watch to.

[@AndyBruinewoud]

This perfectly encapsulates TV editing in the 1990s.

[@Rikuto01]

"Visually interesting!" -- Yep, they don't write dialogue like that anymore.

[@StarWolf_88]

Lmao they don't....FAST PACED EXCITEMENT!!! Dude I was 4 wanting to take on Gemini lmao

[@tinamarie86]

Is anything considered "visually interesting" anymore these days?

[@PuertoRicanfjr12]

I was a huge fan of Ice. She was awesome.

[@SugarplumMsX]

Nitro was my favorite male gladiator and Ice was my favorite female gladiator!

[@devinmceachern]

I love _American Gladiators._ Favorite Gladiators for me is Zap, Diamond, Ice, Jazz, Siren (RIP) and my #1 favorite, Sky.

[@JASpiring]

Dang, so the UK's Falcon isn't the only deceased Gladiator?

[@devinmceachern]

@JASpiring Also no longer with us are Gold (Tonya Knight), Hawk (Lee Reherman), Thunder (Billy Smith) and the aforementioned Siren (Shelley Beattie).

[@JJB11]

Happy 35th Anniversary of American Gladiators this year of 2024!

[@maximusw01]

Malibu was my dad’s favorite when he saw this show

[@DesmondShannon87]

I remember Hawk because he was the host of the G4 Show called ARENA

[@newstarcadefan]

Yup but may he RIP.

[@AaronCMounts]

With names like Nitro, Turbo, Laser, Blaze and Lace, this is SO DELICIOUSLY '80s!

[@starstarstar4643]

It was a 90s show, only 13 episodes aired in the 80s (1989)

[@tcholmes77]

Nitro and Turbo were my favorite guys. Diamond was my favorite girl!

[@terryjohnson315]

Tenille Holmes

[@kylepowell9841]

I totally miss seeing this series since I was a kid, though.

[@caseyc408]

Gemini, calm one minute and violent the next... Yeah try saying that on TV now about a black guy!

[@JojoushiPWI]

+Casey C I have no idea why but this made me lmao

[@hardingirls12]

I thought the same thing.

[@StarWolf_88]

Yo I should've never laughed at that lmao

[@edgarbraintree4370]

You can’t; it’s too accurate, and we have to pretend it’s not. Same with calling them stupid, lazy, ignorant, criminalistic, etc .

[@werewolflover8636]

Still remember watching this right after WWF. Good times!

[@jbcolson1027]

"This is zap. Strong, Silent, Determinated" Did he just say determinated?

[@Tubewings]

No, he said "Strong, Silent, the Terminator".

[@grimreaper7734]

Her nickname was The Terminator.

[@johnanderson9765]

@@grimreaper7734 Should have been The Termanatrix.

[@superman31172]

i remember watching this as a kid and i was very impressed by muscles the dudes had and i wanted to have muscles like them and that is why today i lift weights

[@jaykay2242]

4:58, the exact moment we crossed into the early mid 90's "93" (lower case script, silly ass graphics all over the screen) then to cheesy, over dramatic melrose place-type intro.

[@Marc_Masters]

You think so?

[@StarWolf_88]

Wouldn't have it any other way lmao I guess the teens thought it was cool lol Idk I was 5 in 93 lmao it was flashy to me just start the games already!

[@TheNewEmphinix]

I miss the 80's

[@gotplague]

I miss shows like this. They promoted healthy competition and for the most part did not sell false drama. Just competition

[@Henryk1980]

Loved it in the late 80s in germany 😊 and still today

[@tonytone4332]

The names are awesome! Would never work today but we're the best in the 90s

[@JASpiring]

I'd expect a revival of AG this year or next. The UK version is back and it's a smash hit.

[@tristanwassman3085]

I miss this show! I think it'd be cool if they released the run on DVD. How many other viewers say Gemini was their favorite?

[@LogoMan7777]

The second half of the first season is indeed on DVD.

[@danalong1237]

And hopefully Shout Factory will release the remaining six seasons and the first half of the first season on DVD and Blu-Ray and re-release the second half of the first season on DVD and Blu-Ray someday!

[@LadyWolvie82]

@@danalong1237 I would SO buy the lot of seasons on DVD if it happened. :)

[@StarWolf_88]

Get Pluto TV they have a channel of American Gladiators 24/7

[@danielpinzow3900]

Gemini was the best gladiator! Followed closely by Laser and Nitro

[@LaGranGaetani]

my favorite program as a boy and as a teen

[@onemorechris]

possibly the only time in history when the UK version of a show is more over the top, more extrovert and more in your face than the US one! The US version is remarkably understated

[@iamtamashii4184]

Sabre and Malibu played Jax and Motaro in Mortal Kombat Annihilation Hawk hosted a robot fighting show That's the last I heard of those Gladiators

[@iamtamashii4184]

@Raymond Frand I believe that was the robot fighting show

[@Marc_Masters]

Love it!! . I wish we could see wish years go with each intro...

[@Shindai]

And visually INTERESTING!

[@lb2.0.45]

One of my favorite competition shows of all time.

[@mr_wildschwein]

the 90s in a nutshell - in stereo where available

[@misstee101]

Diamond Rocks! So as the rest of the American Gladiatiors!

[@zorro9992]

My favorite was female Ice Ice baby! Sexiest female though was Diamond!

[@marcushamner5994]

zorro9992 6:45 Jazz is so sexy! All of the women were hot! But I wanted to marry Jazz! I had such a huge crush on her!😍😘😋💍❤️

[@johndoe-dl6qo]

Diamond was buff and beautiful! Too bad she didn't stay till the end

[@neptune04]

@@johndoe-dl6qo Maybe its just me but I thought Diamond looked better in her first two seasons than she did the later ones.

[@GrassValleyGreg]

Agreed. Little Gregory LOVED Diamond

[@Clasiku]

I first heard of American Gladiators when I was looking through the TV channels at 3 AM (CST) and there it was! American Gladiators on TelExitos (Telemundo's sister channel). It's in Spanish but I still watch it because I know it. I love this show and I can see the importance of it, I wish they brought back this on TV, though.

[@bobdorianamc1984]

From Universal Studios Hollywood! The Samuel Goldwyn Company presents... *AMERICAN GLADIATORS!*

[@samuelrodriguezelcentinela6365]

I saw this program with my father when I was a child.

[@1985OldSkool]

Announcer John Harlan also did other game shows and TV programs like "The Bob Hope Specials" on NBC, "You Don't Say" on both NBC and ABC, the second incarnation of "Password" on ABC, and subbing for Rod Roddy in September 1984 on "Press Your Luck" on CBS, among other jobs.

[@danalong1237]

But the best game show he ever announced was “Name That Tune!”

[@hulkk01]

Totally 90s and Old school!

[@nickbell8353]

Who's revisiting this after seeing the Netflix documentary?

[@RobertNielsen1970]

I remember being at a Farmer's Market in Valley Junction (West Des Moines, IA--my wife works at The Theatrical Shop there) where the Army National Guard had a "mini-Wall" set up, and as I watched some kids climbing, I said, "Okay, _why_ am I getting a _serious American Gladiators_ vibe here?" One of the soldiers tapped me on the shoulder and shouted, _"ICE! TURBO! LASER!"_ And I joined in, _"GEMINI! ZAP! THUNDER! DIAMOND!"_ We laughed, and he said, "You watched that show, too, huh?" I told him I never missed it when it ran on television. I said, "Hey, at least these kids don't have a steroid-crazed Gladiator chasing them up that thing! And, it's a lot _smaller,_ too!" He agreed, and we both laughed again.

[@LongLostYellowRanger]

2:37 that's the theme I remember as a little girl ^.^

[@devinmceachern]

Can we stop and appreciate how Sky looked sexy and badass while wearing a white shirt, jeans and a bra at 6:59?

[@nextlevel1523]

Now that all the gladiators are old and dying they admit they were all jacked up on steroids. The show encouraged it and sent them to "special" doctors.

[@paulbalares2307]

The intro with Larry Czonka is my favorite followed by Todd Christensen

[@danbarker4857]

So referee Larry thompson , debuted the same time as Larry Cszonka did in 1991

[@StarWolf_88]

I am Star Wolf..cool, calm, collected back home in Middlesex County Jersey....

[@hustleantw]

Love this show as a kid

[@madude04]

this was pretty much the 90's.....

[@dlopezdlo11]

I had the pleasure of meeting tower at a celebrity golf tournament nice guy but one tall f'n dude

[@JamesJohnson-nf4mh]

The mullet game was strong in this episode.

[@martmoney86h57]

Intros are badass.

[@brianpaul8556]

What a great show this was.

[@1FACADE]

This is great! Thank you!

[@HellhammerSS]

I'm doing the Thunder Shake with my wife next time in bed

[@jr.a8301]

this show was the shit..i thought blaze was hot lol.

[@StarWolf_88]

You weren't the only one! 😍

[@josephbondoc2561]

Wow. I didn’t know Bill Conti contributed to this show. Epic.

[@Robi2009]

6:35 intro is like completly missing the point. They are shown as some fashion models, not top athletes like they used to...

[@StarWolf_88]

In the late 90s sex sold like hot cakes...

[@SanSan-kf5qr]

Best hair cuts ever!!!

[@masterkenny1607]

It was a lot cool stuff going on in the 90s what happened all you see now is a bunch of selfish people on tv.

[@jessyleppert2]

RIP John Harlan

[@markoj3512]

That was America! Power and athetlics! I miss those time on tv.

[@nathanbush6781]

As a gay guy, I loved this show while growing up...growing up in the 90's ruled! Too bad I started the decade at 6...ah couldn't I have been 15 or something lol so I could have better appreciated the decade!

[@LadyWolvie82]

You're all good there mate (although this is 4 years late)! I was 8 in 1990, therefore I can relate. :)

[@chatoXvato]

I miss the 90's.

[@spwash1000]

The Samuel Goldwyn Company presents the "AMERICAN GLADIATORS"! Let the games begin!

[@ericagray5222]

Love them

[@RazHolly]

One of my favorite toy lines!

[@almondosebastiano584]

Malibu reminds me Between Buffy Lorenzo Lamas and George Michael(R.I.P.)

[@GeekGameCulture]

It was too bad the 7th season was it's last. That modification to the set made it look like you were about to see something epic (the new lights and that huge AG logo there). Makes you wonder what they could've done with an 8th season if they could've gotten it. Was my favorite set version. EDIT: The G in the final season was copying off of the G logo of the UK version, and it seemed like they were trying to go that way since the UK struck gold the way they made it into how much went into their production values. I could imagine them moving into a bigger arena if they had another season to copy that, too.

[@jeangentry6656]

By the end the intro was a Gap ad w/muscly people, lol 😜

[@saidpatrickothmani6953]

Such a great show these days!!

[@AlfredRusselWallace]

Blade. Laser. Blazer

[@iTrollingTimmy]

And my personal trainer Michelle

[@arturomcneil5919]

From Universal Studios Hollywood this is American Gladiators

[@kagemaru259]

To think Titan was fired for getting mad at the referee and chasing him into the audience. Imagine being there live to see that.😂

[@LM-mr3fd]

My teenage self found Turbo and Nitro to be very attractive.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Theme by Bill Conti, who also did Dynasty and Cagney & Lacey.

[@akviperkitty6]

Turbo was hot.

[@trevormarshall8553]

Rip Gold, Siren, Thunder, Hawk

[@batangbatugan]

Is it embarassing to admit that I stopped watching the show when they changed the awesome theme and dropped the Gladiator roll call?

[@fathomflaw]

The longest tenure American Gladiator was Laser and the second longest tenure American Gladiator was Turbo.

[@GeekGameCulture]

The one AG person, Glad or otherwise, to last the entire 7 seasons, though? Mike Adamle! Seriously, he became THE voice of AG. Sad to see what's been going on with him lately, knowing that he has dementia (4th stage, I believe it is) and epilepsy from all the hard hits he took in football back in his day. Then again, shows how much of a fighter he is, and I heard he's a cool guy to talk to, so yeah, hope he's doing well.

[@michael2305]

boy i liked that show alot as a kid =)

[@LogoMan7777]

RIP John Harlan.