FUBAR showrunner Nick Santora knows you’re going to make comparisons between FUBAR and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous films, especially since so many of them are true classics. But Schwarzenegger’s first-ever TV series isn’t trying to retread any old territory, even as it drops a few references to some of his iconic roles and includes a True Lies cameo you won’t want to miss.

“You can’t duplicate a classic,” Santora says. “You shouldn’t try to, because people will see what you’re trying to do and you’ll fail. I think you have to make something original and new, and FUBAR’s original and new.”

The action-comedy series sees Schwarzenegger as seasoned CIA agent Luke Brunner, who’s in for the shock of his career when he learns that his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), is a secret agent as well. This makes things ripe for high-stakes father-daughter hijinks. 

Santora considers working on FUBAR “the most surreal project of [his] career,” since he used to race to the theater to see Schwarzenegger’s films growing up. So in honor of the Terminator’s body of work, Santora told Tudum about the Easter eggs he planted throughout FUBAR for devoted Arnold fans.

🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐 

“Choppa”

In Episode 2 of FUBAR, when Luke and Emma are undercover on a train, they see a helicopter approaching. “And Arnold screams the word chopper, which originally happened in Predator,” explains Santora.

Reunited and it feels so good.

In Episode 6, Luke finally rekindles his romance with his ex-wife, Tally (Fabiana Udenio). “His post-sex scene with Tally is the same shot with the same look on his face with the same song playing [“I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos] as we saw in Twins, after the Kelly Preston sex scene,” says Santora. 

“That’s it and that’s all.”

Throughout FUBAR, Luke ends conversations by saying, “That’s it and that’s all.” It’s a tagline he claims to have come up with on his own. But in Episode 8, he finally admits that he stole the line from Throw Momma from the Train. “The Throw Momma from the Train reference is a Danny DeVito film, and Arnold and Danny are pals,” says Santora. 

Case in point

Per Santora, the case numbers on FUBAR files are often nods to Schwarzenegger’s films. “One is the badge number from Kindergarten Cop, another is the serial number of his Terminator character and another is the license plate from Last Action Hero.”

FUBAR is available to stream now. And Schwarzenegger will be back for more when his docuseries Arnold premieres on June 7.

Additional reporting by Stephan Lee.

FUBAR Season 1 TrailerSaving the world runs in the family.