Referenced By / American Gladiators

Live-Action Films

• Near the end of Good Burger, Ed tells Dexter how to sneak into Mondo Burger. Dexter's response is "What is this, American Gladiators?"
• Several of the stunts were added to the film Hot Shots! Part Deux, and Gladiators Zap and Siren appeared in the scene in question.
• Tommy Boy: As Tommy giving his speech on the news, the diner he and Richard visited earlier are also watching this and the waitress asks if they want to still watch this or American Gladiators, and everybody chooses Gladiators.

Live-Action TV

• The popular game show Nickelodeon GUTS has been described as American Gladiators for kids... then years later the latter show did come out with their own version aimed at children.
• Family Matters: The episode "Surely You Joust" has Steve and Carl settling their differences while competing on the show. It ends in a draw.
• Saved by the Bell:
  • During the competition of the two teams in "Zack's War", both Zack and Kelly (on opposing teams) joust and ultimately win against gladiator "Beldo", who is Mr. Belding dressed in red, white and blue spandex.
  • After the Zack Attack goes their separate ways in "Rockumentary", Lisa ends up as gladiator named "Lethal Lisa" on U.S. Gladiators where she beat up everyone, including the audience.
  • In "Jessie's Song", the gang's algebra teacher, Mr. Dewey, mentions that he's going to try out for show after one of the day's lessons.
• The Golden Girls: In "Hey, Look Me Over", when Rose tries to come up with an insult for Blanche for allegedly sleeping with her late husband, Charlie, she first comes up with the phrase, "You've landed on your back more times than...than..." then looks to Dorothy who finishes up with, "...the American Gladiators?"

Web Comics

• The first panel of the "Game Shows" comic Bug Martini has Bug and his competitor on the show except the latter has a gun.

Web Video

• In an episode of Console Wars, Pat and Dan see whether the SNES or the Sega Genesis had the better Licensed Game based on the show.

Western Animation

• Animaniacs (1993): In "Amazing Gladiators", Flavio gets himself and Marita on her favorite TV Show, Amazing Gladiators as an anniversary present.
• Beavis And Butthead In one episode Daria walks by and sees them mud wrestling to try and get into Babes R Us Butthead replies" We're going to be cool like the American Gladiators."
• One episode of The Critic has Jay bemoaning all of the terrible things he has been, including a husband, father, a Navy SEAL, and an American Gladiator.
• Doug: One episode has Doug having an Imagine Spot where he fancies himself as a gladiator on an extreme version of the show with live alligators waiting in a pit for competitors that can't complete a rope climb.
• Family Guy: In "No Meals on Wheels", after Peter modifies his restaurant so that it's inaccessible to wheelchair users, one of the traps he uses is the patio being blocked off by both a 12" balance beam and the American Gladiator Thunder who knocks down a would-be paraplegic diner with a pugil stick.
• Garfield and Friends: In "Knights and Daze", Jon tries to get tickets for a sporting event called National Knights in an attempt to appeal to his girlfriend. On the show, a knight named Boulder awaits his next challenger. Jon's letter winds up in the volunteer box, resulting in him becoming Boulder's challenger. When Garfield and Odie find out, they rush to the studio to rescue Jon.
• Pinky and the Brain: In "Of Mouse and Man", Brain says in regards to Pinky's stupidity, "Now I know how American Gladiators stays on the air".
• South Park: In the "Clubhouses" episode after Cartman screams at Kenny for not wanting to build their clubhouse while he goofs off, he then goes back in his house and whiningly asks his mother, "Hey, Mom. Can I watch American Gladiators?"
• The Simpsons:
  • In "A Milhouse Divided", after Milhouse's parents divorce, his mother Luanne gains a new boyfriend in an American Gladiator named Pyro who even picks up Luanne for their date in his "car", a red Atlasphere. As they leave, a sound-alike instrumental of the show's theme song can be heard.
  • In "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken", it's revealed that Luanne cheated on him with his teammate and best friend, Gyro, and the two begin to fight with each other using pugil sticks.