MAY’S LOST LEGEND OF THE MONTH: MALIBU.
If you’re a frequent wanderer around the TNUC lair, you pretty much know all there is to know about Malibu from the TV show American Gladiators. Whether it’s his workout schedule, love interests, chosen suntan lotion or favorite ice cream flavor, the TNUC ‘Intro to Malibu 101’ course has been ongoing and free of charge.
There’s no question to why this guy is at the top of the TNUC food chain. He has all the fitting attributes and qualities we strive for in life. The exaggerated gum chewing…the flawless blonde locks of freedom that make up his mane. We’ll probably never stop singing his praises simply because there will never be anyone quite like this carefree spirit animal. If you haven’t witnessed his entire legacy from American Gladiators or just need a refresher, play the video below. Believe me, watching this guy in action will leave you feeling like those people who talk about what it’s like being in the presence of the Dalai Lama.
Many people point to Malibu as being the worst ‘American Gladiator’ to ever compete on the show, but I ask those naysayers to take long hard look at this clip to witness the ATTITUDE of this man. Fact of the matter is, he could care less about his so-called “loss”. While people laughed as he was pummeled into oblivion during the human cannonball, he was already daydreaming about lounging at the beach on his Orange Julius towel next to your sister, two seconds from persuading her into coming with him to an Ugly Kid Joe concert that night.
Sadly this “child of mother nature” was only featured on (2) episodes of American Gladiators, but though his time was brief, he left a presence that would echo throughout eternity. After the show The Big Bu’ vanished for a little while, leaving die-hard loyal disciples like Uncle T wondering what happened and what could have been…
It’s for these reasons that Malibu has been championed as May’s Lost-Legend-Of-The-Month!
Now it may come as a shocker to learn that his actual birth name is Deron McBee, but to avoid confusion and bewilderment, he’ll be referred to as Malibu for the remainder of this article. After his television debut, Malibu didn’t sink into a period of steroid & cocaine abuse as readers might assume, nor did he enter into the soft-core porn world. Quite the opposite story…he ended up landing more television and film roles, many times embracing the “child of mother nature” frame of mind of his early days.
Our Lost Legend ended up appearing in over 30 features throughout his career – including Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, The Killing Zone, Baywatch Nights and Time Barbarians, the latter in which he plays a medieval warrior chasing a bad guy to modern day Los Angeles to avenge the death of his wife (PERFECT). See above photo.
If none of these cinematic juggernauts ring any bells, it’s OK because you’ve probably seen him and didn’t even realize it. We call these instances “MALIBU SIGHTINGS” and they started for Uncle T just a few years ago. Let us begin:
MALIBU SIGHTING #1: Falling Down (1993)
This initial sighting caught me completely off guard and sent my Chef Boyardee Dinosaurs pasta all over the sofa. I must have seen Falling Down 47 times and never noticed Malibu standing in a hot pink speedo smiling under the golden sun. This scene takes place when Michael Douglas goes haywire on the beach pier at the end of the film.
◊ ◊ ◊
MALIBU SIGHTING #2: Elvira Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Trust me, it’s him. I could spot that mane from a mile away. Plus, by this time my Malibu radar was at peak performance levels, keeping a close eye to find him in anything from Weekend at Bernies to Little House on the Prairie. His three second appearance in the Elvira motion picture arrives at the end of the movie immediately following her Vegas-style dance routine. Truly mind-boggling!
◊ ◊ ◊
MALIBU SIGHTING #3: Married With Children | Episode: Her Cups Runneth Over (1989)
In this episode of the classic sitcom, Malibu plays a “Policeman” aka a male exotic dancer, who strips down and dances around the Bundy’s living room in a blue speedo. Again he’s still very Malibu in this scene. After sweating it out for Peg and Marcie he hangs out with the lonely ladies and snacks on some popcorn. [Watch the full scene here!]
◊ ◊ ◊
If you believe you’ve spotted Malibu in something, whether it be in a movie or at your local zoo, snap a photo and send it to uncletnuc@gmail.com. We’ll start a photo album to chronicle these sightings on the TNUC facebook page.
After some extensive research, it appears that Malibu is still embracing the “twisted steel & sex appeal” lifestyle to this day. He occasionally lands tv/film roles while painting during his free time. Most importantly though, his lion’s mane is still fully intact and shows no signs of going anywhere. That thing could have an entire feature dedicated to it alone.
The Bu’ hanging on to a babe in front of some of his paintings.
[Lost-Legend-Of-The-Month is a heartwrenching chronicle of forgotten iconic warriors who were either wiped off the face of the planet for reasons unknown or simply never got the chance to “peak” during their short-lived careers. We cherish these individuals and devote an entire month to celebrate their impact on society. To see the rest of em’, go here.]
uncletnuc.com 
Yes!!!! The Big Bu’, Malibu himself! One of the most classic idolized (at least by me and other ‘TNUC disciples) icon’s of the 80’s. I try to live every aspect of my life as a, “child of mother nature.” I used to be a skinny-twink, now I’m a muscle-bound-beefcake, all because of Malibu. That Married..with Children, episode is a classic.
“The exaggerated gum chewing…the flawless blonde locks of freedom that make up his mane. We’ll probably never stop singing his praises simply because there will never be anyone quite like this carefree spirit animal.”
LOL, I couldn’t stop laughing after reading that. The gif with Malibu chewing gum, priceless! Really enjoyed this article. I’m trying to collect my thoughts, figure out some sort of strategy to tackle the “Malibu sightings”. Any findings will be reported back to TNUC’s HQ! Long live the pink speedo!
Pingback: ANOTHER MALIBU SIGHTING. |