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American Gladiators

(Rated TV-PG, Game shows, Starring Hulk Hogan, Laila Ali, Where to watch: NBC)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Rough-and-tumble show is guilty pleasure at best.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 10–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The gladiators and contestants trash-talk each other throughout the show. Sometimes it sounds like bravado mixed with good sportsmanship, sometimes it sounds a bit more hostile. The show is designed to stress winning at all costs. The studio audience often gets in on the action -- cheering, for example when a gladiator knocks someone into a tank of water and jeering the soggy contestant.
  • Violence:

    The entire point of the show is watching ordinary people take on the very well-toned gladiators in a series of physical competitions. Though the events are all pretty rough, often involving wrestling or tackling, they're also more sporty than violent. It's a bit less physical than a football game.
  • Sex:

    No sex or nudity, but all of the gladiators -- male and female -- wear outfits designed to reveal much of their very muscular bodies.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Some parts of the show have corporate sponsors, such as the "Subway Replay" and the "Toyota Sequoia Anything-But-Ordinary Winning Moment."
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About American Gladiators

Parents need to know that that this game show is all about action. Though the contenders are competing against each other for a $100,000 prize at the end of the season, in the meantime they must go up against the gladiators in a series of grueling physical events. Many of these involve wrestling, tackling, and various types of mock combat. It can get pretty rough, and participants are sometimes injured (remind kids who watch that they shouldn't try any of these events at home). There's no swearing, but expect plenty of trash talking. And though there's no nudity, all of the gladiators wear revealing outfits designed to show off the bodies they've obviously worked very hard to develop.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about sportsmanship. The contestants and the gladiators often trash-talk each other, and their comments sometimes seem to have some anger behind them. This kind of thing is a common part of many games, especially physical ones, but when does it cross a line? And speaking of lines, is it OK to watch people batter each other in the name of entertainment? The ancient gladiators fought to the death to amuse Roman emperors. This show uses plenty of safety gear and has medics on hand, but the basic premise is similar. Is the show's whole concept inherently inhumane? Or is it simply another rough-but-fun spectator sport like boxing or football?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0

    Revived game show is good, but iffy

    Like other network game shows, this one has a grand prize; the remaining contestant will receive $100,000 and a spot as an American Gladiator. But unlike most game shows, this one involves some violence. The whole point of this show is to defeat your opponents and get past the Gladiators. But if you like competition game shows like this, this is a good one.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    A WWE altenative

    this is a fun tween friedly show. The violence is real all that violent.The show is all about beating you partner at phiscal challenges, no punching or blood or any of that bad stuff on WWE. The sex in the show is that most boy gladiators don't were shirts , and females wear ver "reviling" bikini type things . There is some mild trash talk , such as the word ass and damn overall a fun altenatvie to WWE or RAW. 5 stars 9+

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    We have it here too!

    We have it here in England, kinda the same games!

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0

    Silly family fun

    No educational value. Does encourage determination and focus. Silly costumes, not overtly sexual. Appropriate protective equipment in use. Both sides face disqualification for illegal use of aggressive moves aimed at unprotected or easily injured areas. The show is fun family viewing.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0

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