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Have you ever noticed that the best originals always seem to come in groups of six? Hockey teams. Nike Air Force Ones. United States frigates. But the title of best original six-pack – quite literally – belongs to the muscle-bound men and women who made up the first cast of American Gladiators. (I’ll award a six-second head start in the Eliminator to anyone who can name all six off the top of his or her head right now.)
If you somehow came up with Malibu, Lace, Gemini, Zap, Nitro, and Sunny, please stop reading this and immediately Facebook friend me, as you are my new hero(es).
There are all sorts of interesting where-are-they-now stories about former Gladiators and contenders from the show. Kristi Kropp-Wagner, the former contender wearing yellow in this video, is now the faculty advisor for the co-ed badminton team at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. On a sadder note, season four women’s champion Cheryl Wilson was murdered by her husband in 1997.
As for the Original Six Gladiators, here’s what we know:
1. Deron McBee (Malibu)
Emperor Commodus probably would’ve given the laid-back surfer dude with the flowing blonde locks two thumbs down for his pretty boy appearance, and most film critics did just that in their reviews of 1997’s Mortal Combat: Annihilation, in which McBee starred as Motaro. McBee, who trained at the Billy Blanks World Karate Studio, has appeared in more than 30 other movies, including such blockbusters as The Killing Zone and Enter the Blood Ring. Curb Your Enthusiasm fans might remember McBee’s guest appearance during the second season as former pro wrestler Thor Olson, who Larry becomes convinced slashed his tires after the two men got into an argument. McBee’s late wife, Drzan, an aspiring professional wrestler, reportedly died after complications from surgery in 2003.
2. Marisa Pare (Lace)
After appearing in 59 episodes from 1989-1993, the ironically Canadian-born Pare, or Lace #1 to American Gladiator fans, made one appearance on the TV show Renegade with fellow former Gladiator Michael Horton. According to imdb.com, she resurfaced in 1997 on an episode of Clueless. Pare, whose given name is Roebuck, married actor Michael Pare in 1986. In 1987, she appeared as a fashion show coordinator in The Women’s Club, a movie in which her then-husband starred, before the two were divorced in 1988. Pare was one of two Gladiators to pose nude in Playboy.
3. Michael Horton (Gemini)
Creatively named for his split personality – calm one minute, violent the next – Horton served as team captain of the American Gladiators during his 80-episode stint on the show, which spanned four years. His greatest claim to fame since hanging up his spandex – besides his aforementioned appearance in Renegade, of course – was his role as the security guard in Night at the Roxbury. What is love? Pounding the living daylights out of a contestant with a foam jousting stick.
4. Raye Hollitt (Zap)
The Wilkes-Barre native played a reporter in 1997’s Letters From a Killer, starring Patrick Swayze. She has scored several other small roles in movies and television shows, which, coupled with her 1996 appearance in Playboy, make Hollitt one of the more ubiquitous American Gladiators. She runs an online florist business from her personal Web site, rayehollitt.com, which is borderline NSFW and states: “Sex, drugs, rock and roll….Isn’t that part of life. Well, it was for me!” At one point, Hollitt hosted a women’s strength competition called Radiant Pro at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. The overall winner received $3,500.
5. Dan Clark (Nitro)
The former San Jose State standout defensive lineman announced the plans to revive American Gladiators during a chat on ESPN.com in 2007. For more than five years, Clark has been a mentor in the Young Story Tellers Foundation, an organization dedicated to increasing literacy among inner city youths. Born in Toma, Japan, Clark was a contestant on Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bullriding Challenge on CMT, riding for 8 seconds with a strained groin during one episode. He also appeared on Walker, Texas Ranger and his voice is featured in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Want to know more about Clark’s life? Visit his MySpace page here.
6. Cheryl Barldinger (Sunny)
Barldinger is like the Chicago Blackhawks of this original six in that she kind of disappeared after suffering an injury during her first and only season. A post on an American Gladiators message board indicated that she recently worked as a spokeswoman for Up-time Nutrition.
Did anyone catch tonight’s relaunch of the American Gladiators franchise? What’d you think?
Scott Allen is an occasional contributor to mentalfloss.com.
It seems that the producers let the Gladiators talk more in this new version than in the ’80’s. In the 80’s, they made them more quietly menacing… and with good reason. Overall though, it was a fun show.
posted by Emily Rishel on 1-6-2008 at 10:48 pm
With my ‘dignity’ being firmly out of check, I’ll be the first to post a comment and admit to having occasionally watched the show - at well past the midnight hour - on my b/w, non-cable tv in my dorm room!
Thanks SO much for reminding me of this!
posted by Amy on 1-6-2008 at 10:59 pm
I was always a huge fan of American Gladiators I am extremely excited about the new ones. It’s always fun to see a David versus Goliath battle.
I watched the 2 new episodes tonight. I was pretty impressed - I thought they were well done and kept a lot of the heart of the original episodes. The events were good and they didn’t waste too much time between events. Additionally, the Eliminator is a serious test of strength and endurance - a very nice improvement from the old walk in the park from the original show.
Another episode is on tomorrow night at 8:00 - enjoy!
posted by Cole on 1-7-2008 at 3:37 am
The new show was awesome! Injured contestants and several upsets. I was very entertained. If only I had someone to feed me grapes… or should it be donuts for the American version? Hehe
posted by Roddy on 1-7-2008 at 6:59 am
I really enjoyed the 2 new episodes, I could not stop laughing during the first womens eliminator when the woman with the huge lead just lay down in exhaustion on the travelator.
posted by Marcus on 1-7-2008 at 7:18 am
U.S. Basketball Dream Team?? Ice Skating Queens (read that in both its meanings)??? Nah! American Gladiators is what the Olympics should be!
posted by Big al McGuffin on 1-7-2008 at 7:48 am
hahaha! YES! I almost passed out laughing as the first woman was just laying on the conveyor belt. I love how they immediately interview the winner while the loser is still trying to finish the course.
The best scene was during the winner interview of the first woman, you could see the loser crash through the wall and just fall into the cubes like a rag doll.
How annoying was “The Wolf” though? After the second time hearing him do his stupid howl I was already starting to hate him. Helga was a bit overhyped… haha.
All in all though I can’t wait for tonight!
posted by Tim on 1-7-2008 at 8:58 am
OK, first of all, that picture of “Malibu” is the one I’d put up in my co-worker’s workspace. (From the Friday Happy Hour a few weeks ago?)
Ah…the cheesy day-glo-tan. The crunchy, yellow-gold mane. The 80’s were so…
Secondly, my cousin and I used to ‘play’ Gladiators all the time when we were little. We made our own jousting sticks, but didn’t have the leotards. We loved this show!
posted by mrs.djs on 1-7-2008 at 9:24 am
I want to know what Wesley “Two Scoops” Berry and Rico are up to these days. Those guys would still dominate. I hope Rico still has his flowing mullet.
posted by Brasky on 1-7-2008 at 10:58 am
I saw the show last night. It was a decent re-do of the show, but I did have a few gripes about it. In the original, the men and women each competed in the same events. During last nights, they didn’t and you could tell that the events were all recorded at various different times and then edited together. (There was one part where a female gladiator falls into the water and a few moments later is completely dry and another where after the male eliminator you see people leaving the stadium and the women’s part had yet to be done.)
The other gripe is the gladiator costumes. In the 80s, the costumes were all red, white and blue. In the new one they are silver and blue. Kindof loses part of the whole AMERICAN part of it for me.
posted by Jennifer on 1-7-2008 at 11:16 am
I miss ATLASPHERE (the event where everyone is in what looks like a hamster ball)! What happened to that one? I hope they bring it back sometime in this new season.
posted by Samantha on 1-7-2008 at 12:45 pm
I thought last nights show were good, but almost had a “fake” feel in a few aspects. One scene we see them fall into the water, and then in the next event, dry, hair blown and redone. Was odd to me.
I’ll put money on Gladitors vs WWE wrestlers special some point this year. Both are on TV though NBC/USA, and WWE advertised Gladitors through a Hogan appearance.
posted by Craig Young on 1-7-2008 at 1:15 pm
Brasky, Two Scoops is in jail and Rico went on to become a pro wrestler in the WWE.
posted by Tychoides on 1-7-2008 at 1:17 pm
I felt like it was the 80’s all over again! My family quickly gathered round the tv after my Dad yelled down the steps “It’s on!”. I have to say though, I was disappointed.
Don’t let the gladiators talk, instead let them growl or communicate in some way that they don’t sound cheesy- perhaps sign language. Can you imagine a sign language smack down conversation? That would be much more amusing than the “recycled” tv show we watched last night.
posted by Bellamotives on 1-7-2008 at 1:53 pm
I was so pumped up for the show and was not really disappointed… except that the new version is (painfully) lacking the awesome theme song! I’ve been singing it to myself all day now.
posted by BevPotter on 1-7-2008 at 2:18 pm
Watched the old ones, watched the new ones, loved it, but this is definitely a show to Tivo rather than watch live. There is so much dreck (lame smack talking) and glurge (lame backstory) to fast-forward through that you can watch an hour’s show in about 15 minutes if you only want the good parts. The new Eliminator is superb.
posted by ianrey on 1-7-2008 at 4:01 pm
we gathered around the television last night, and even though a few disappointments, it turned out to be great.
wolf is annoying and looks like wolverine and yanni’s lovechild. the only gladiator i feel has the same vibe as the former greats, is the pretty boy… i can’t recall his name, i kept calling him ken.
toa is right there behind wolf. but, i’ll watch it tonight.
posted by keith on 1-7-2008 at 4:28 pm
I agree that there is way too much talking in the new AG. We watched it in FF to avoid the talking…it felt like porn kinda. The new events are cool, but we are tired of Wolf
posted by pat on 1-7-2008 at 5:00 pm
I felt annoyed that they reused the name “Siren” - the original Siren held a special place with a lot of fans. (”I can do anything anyone else can do, except hear.”)
None of the new Glads stand out - except Wolf for cheesiness.
And how stupid was it to leave exposed metal pipes under the water that the competitors have to swim under? The couldn’t have put a little padding on them? That changed the outcome of the second women’s Eliminator.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 1-7-2008 at 8:00 pm
They should have mentioned that Raye Hollitt was one of John Ritter’s conquests in the underated movie Skin Deep. She plays the “dance workout” instructor.
posted by bsgk1897 on 1-7-2008 at 8:20 pm
Golly, I feel like I’m splitting hairs here, but you mistakenly used a “C” in Mortal Kombat. Don’t let it happen again. The “K” makes all the difference to a lot of fine folks out there, myself included.
posted by MoneyPenny on 1-8-2008 at 11:31 am
I liked the show. I’m a bit worried that some of the outcomes are scripted, or at least modified to appear more dramatic, which can be an unfortunate necessity to make the show marketable.
I hope it lasts long enough for the quirks and foibles to get ironed out, like where padding needs to be added, which events do and do not work, how much drama needs to be injected into the Gladiators’ performance, etc. One thing the show has going for it is it’s timely release; on the tails of a writers’ strike and a floundering new season, there was no better time for Gladiators to debut.
posted by Brandon on 1-8-2008 at 2:22 pm
I have to say that there is only ONE American Gladiators and that would be the original. I dont like to new gladiators bc its not even the True Creator of gladiators…its a fraud of the real show….
posted by Theres Only One on 1-8-2008 at 8:07 pm
Reading these comments makes me wonder how we as a species have survived until now.
posted by Marty on 1-9-2008 at 8:56 am
my bf and I were disapointed that there weren’t any new gladiators named Laser, or Blazer, or Tazer, or any kind of “azer”!
posted by lainey on 1-9-2008 at 4:02 pm
This is a decent show, but DVR is a necessity. Just like Jeopardy, it cleanly condenses into about 20 or so minutes of TV.
However, just aboyut anything on TV anymore has become DVR-necessary for me. Unless I’m watching live sports, wasting time on commercials just doesn’t fit into a businessman’s schedule.
posted by Mike on 1-9-2008 at 5:53 pm
ho humm…yawn…
posted by bully on 1-16-2008 at 2:05 pm
OMG I know I’ll sound like a huge nerd but I freaking lurved American Gladiators original incarnation. I could not be more geeked they brought it back. I love how they left it essentially the same as the original too with the same events.
(btw, I was sooo close on naming the original Gladiators but I had thought Ice was in the first group.)
posted by Vanessa on 1-19-2008 at 11:17 am
Sorry to say it, but I was a little let down. When I saw the reruns of the 80s shows on ESPN Classic, I had to watch. I enjoyed the series as a child, but am now appalled that I was actually in love with it when I was a youngster. I’m not sure what my initial attraction to the gladiators was, but … it sure isn’t there now. Pros vs. Joes (on Spike) is a much better show of the same type of theme.
posted by Sonya on 1-20-2008 at 4:13 pm
I think it’s great, the contestants seem to all be fit and in good shape which makes all the difference…Plus I must say I have a CRUSH on CRUSH!!!
posted by ZF on 1-25-2008 at 5:23 am
Venom Rocks!!!!!!!!! I love the new AG :)
posted by Tara on 1-30-2008 at 7:01 pm
ZF YOU are so right about Crush! the new Eliminator is so cool! I cant wait to see the new episode:]
posted by Dj on 1-30-2008 at 7:05 pm