[TV] Ninja Warrior

[Guest Emperor]

So this weekend, Yveva and I recorded and watched two or three seasons of Ninja Warrior (seasons were like 3 hours). For those of you that are in the dark, let me explain how this show works.

 

You get 100 people, about half are athletes, the other half are just set up to fail (think American Idol). There is a gauntlet that each competitor has to run through in order to make it to the next round in a certain time. It is much harder than it looks. So of the 100 at the start, the usually narrow the field down to between 7 and 15. The next start is all about strength, balance and skills. Again this one is timed and the obstacles are not too tough, but about half will not make it through. I am thinking about this one where you have to jump up and grab this chain... yeah. The next stage is the toughest. Only a few make it through. It is all about upper body strength with a course that even gold medalists can not get through (Paul Hamm made it this far and failed). The fourth challenge is all about beating the clock, but really does not look all that tough.

 

So far only two competitors have won the game. They have had 16 seasons of this show.

 

The new show starts tonight on G4 at 630 and 1030. It plays every week. I suggest checking it out!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkBkZpK-fYQ

[Guest Segurant]

I saw the previews for it. I'll have to try and catch an episode.

 

While I was in Birmingham, AL, I did watch the season premire of Pros vs Joes.

[Guest Emperor]

What was great about this show was, instead of routing for one person to win, you were routing for anyone to overcome the course. And it is not fake like other game shows or reality TV, you either have what it takes or do you don't.

 

If I were a TV exec, I would buy this show and put it on the air.

[Guest Segurant]

Isn't it like American Gladiators but better?

[Guest Emperor]

Yes, because you are not playing against seasoned players to try and get through a course, you are playing against the course. It is American Gladiators minus the Gladiators with like four gauntlets.

[Guest Yveva]

of the non-athletes it was apparant that most were on for some sort of self promotion (think, Dancing with the Stars). It's a cultural phenomenon and it was kinda cool to see some competitors just show up at the event each season, fail at the first obstacle, and get cheering from the stands. And there were some people who came back again and again and did better each year, we were all "YEAH!!!! Go Mr. Dude!!"

 

The final few people were sometimes the same, though there was one guy who had been the only one to beat the course that failed on the first round (because it's timed one mess up can cost you the stage).

 

The third stage is INTENSE!!! I can't even begin to imagine the sort of upper body strength you'd need to complete it. In. frickin. Sane.

 

In the fourth stage competitors have to go lightening-fast, first with "Spider-Waul-ku" (the technical Japanese term for bracing your arms and legs against two walls and pushing yourself upwards), and then climb a rope, also at breakneck speeds (it was really high too, really really high), and then press the button at the top before time runs out. If time runs out the rope they're climbing drops and they don't get to go up in the tower. The breathless, weary superchamp is then met by a fresh-as-a-daisy reporter who was probably carried up on a bed of kittens with the express purpose of asking inane questions. It's cool to see someone who has tried for years to beat the course finally meet their goal. Inspirational really.

 

And yeah, the olympic medalists didn't have a chance. I like a game that pits everyday people up against elite atheletes.

[Guest Emperor]

Again on every weeknight 6:30 and 10:30. If you watch it, respond with your thoughts.

[Guest Haxorsist]

I watched the YouTube-clip. That was insane! What do the winners get? Fame and glory? :P

[Guest Cadsuane]

Or the bed of kittens the reporter was carried up on?? :lol:

[Guest Karana Majin]

I watched the clip and actually teared up at the look on the guys face when he was done. Priceless. Can you imagine what that feels like? :/ Not really, because I'm an out of shape American... :P

[SBoydW]

I bet I'll see this on MXC some time :lol:

[Silver]

holy hell, i wouldn't even be able to do the first part! that guy was awesome

[SBoydW]

He was quite athletic.... especially to do it all in one day.... I could do that.... in like a year...

[Guest Yveva]

Karstar... we saw him attempt it three different times (different seasons) before he made it, that made the victory even cooler! Same withe the trampoline guy, each time he made it further... we were so proud!

[Guest Emperor]

I am excited... I have it DVRed for tonight if people are interested.

[Guest Yveva]

I'm guessing that might be a yes :)

[Guest Emperor]

So who is watching it other than Yveva and myself? It looks like older episodes but still new stuff. They still only have one man winning it all, when really, two have done it.

[Guest Yveva]

I liked the new obstacle in the first stage, dancing bridge? It seemed to trip up a bunch of people. I also liked the ending, where they had to swing across stretchy ropes and then climb.

 

When people are SOCLOSE to getting to the button and then their time runs out it just breaks my little heart.

 

The third stage last night was fine, but not as difficult as the more recent ones with jumping bars.

 

How cool would it be to design obstacles/test the course?

[Guest Emperor]

Again, I would so bring this to America if I had a studio and money... and... you know... influence.

[Guest Emperor]

Between July 2nd and July 29th, G4 will be conducting a nationwide search for a contestant to fly to Japan in an attempt to become Ninja Warrior. Contestants are encouraged to send a video to the Ninja Warrior website, proving their athletic prowess, in an effort to become a semi-finalist online.

 

After those semi-finalists are chosen, you will have the opportunity to vote on the three best, who will come to G4 and endure a rigorous series of challenges on Attack Of The Show, after which the best Warrior will be chosen to fly to Japan and compete on the show. Not only that, but their attempt to become ninja will be documented in a one-hour special to be aired on the network in the Fall.