I lived in Dallas at the time and it came on also after snl. The same timeframe AG started, there was a better funded show getting preseason publicity. That was roller derby that was trying to make a comeback. But the roller derby on tv fizzled shortly after beginning and AG took off. First episode of AG had a massive collision that hooked me. NFL referee , Bob McElwee was the course ref and he was useless on that show as he was as an NFL ref.

I was curious about how often they trained (because they seemed to be really good at some of the games like the wall climb and the rings). According to this article (which could be BS), they didn't really train at all.

Quote:

---

Blaze: The scary part is, we never really rehearsed. At most we'd do a walkthrough to familiarize ourselves with new events. Meanwhile, the contestants got to practice.

---

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/07/06/american-gladiators-games-cast-history-episodes#gid=ci0255500710022511&pid=john-ferraro-1982-present



Different topic, but anybody else remember this MTV show with this thing that would launch you over the goal post?

I used to pretend to leave my girlfriend's house at the end of American Gladiators before sneaking back in. I have fond memories of that show.

AtlAg05 said:

---

Watched the first episode, interesting enough to continue.

That story of Nitro body slamming someone on concrete in his audition was brutal.

I remember staying up late to watch these in the 90s, I think it aired at 11pm.

---

For a while American Gladiators came on after some roller derby show that was pretty rad too…

We watched it as well and it was entertaining enough. I could not for the life of me remember when it came on though. It makes sense after SNL bc at the time we would stay up and watch that over at friends houses. Did they ever switch it to an earlier time though?

There was a kids version at one point

Yes, correct. Not what I was talking about though.

YES!! Sandblast. Was amazing. A more modern AG done on the beach

MookieBlaylock said:

---

Yeah just finished and the ending when updating where everyone is at in life they threw in a curve ballthat had me double take and rewind

Excellent series that brought back so many memories of pizza rolls and American Gladiators
Then spending the late night trying to catch a boob on the pay per view channels with the volume barely audible

---

Holy **** you weren't kidding about that curve ball

If you were a certain age, you probably did some type of American Gladiators rip off game at a church or school social.


"Ok. You are going to be dodging the tennis balls of Satan (greed, lust, drugs, gossip) and you are going to advance to the goal, and you can take refuge behind the church, parents and other barriers until you advance to the promised land.

Netflix was definitely better than ESPN.

My wife and I have been showing the kids old episodes on the YouTube American Gladiators channel, my kids think it's great. Maybe they'll bring it back and make it a little more sports oriented and a little less WWE than the 2008 attempt?

That was an awesome trip down memory lane!

MookieBlaylock said:

---

Yeah just finished and the ending when updating where everyone is at in life they threw in a curve ballthat had me double take and rewind

---

Can you share the curveball for those of us who probably won't watch?

Never saw American Gladiators after SNL. WWF Saturday Night Main Event was what followed SNL where I grew up.

David Happymountain said:

---

Never saw American Gladiators after SNL. WWF Saturday Night Main Event was what followed SNL where I grew up.

---

Saturday Night Main Event took the place of SNL once every few months. I used to check the TV Guide on Sunday as soon as we got home from church with the newspaper to see if it was a lucky week where we got wrestling instead of sketch comedy.

I need to check this out. Watched American Gladiators every week and went to the Live Tour with my dad when they came to DFW.

you'll enjoy this series. That Tour schedule was crazy!

MookieBlaylock said:

---

Yeah just finished and the ending when updating where everyone is at in life they threw in a curve ballthat had me double take and rewind

Excellent series that brought back so many memories of pizza rolls and American Gladiators
Then spending the late night trying to catch a boob on the pay per view channels with the volume barely audible

---

Just completed

What was the curve ball?

The guy that would go into Mexico?

I thought he was a coyote that went to Mexican prison for years and got by off his American Gladiators fame…