'American Ninja Warrior': The untold truth behind NBC show which challenges elite athletes with tricky obstacles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Even die-hard fans of 'American Ninja Warrior' may not be aware of how much has changed since the program's debut or the effort behind its production. With a long and illustrious history, the show embodies an unspoken reality that continues to evolve with each season.
Every summer, audiences nationwide are spellbound by the ultimate beach body enhancer: 'American Ninja Warrior', the internationally beloved obstacle competition program. The program showcases a brand-new, thrilling sport that pushes competitors to the edge of their physical capabilities, showcasing the finest that athletes can be.
Aspiring to be the one to win the $1 million final prize, competitors must climb, swing, and leap their way over the show's challenges, including iconic fixtures like the Warped Wall and the daunting rope climb at Mount Midoriyama. Only two participants have made it to the final finish line in the show's history; the majority do not.
Here are a few facts you may not have known about the series. May the finest ninja warrior win.
The hosts can't watch the participants run the entire course
Although the hosts of 'American Ninja Warrior' give the impression that they are in the thick of things, the layout of the course occasionally limits their view of the initial obstacles. Rather, the hosts observe on monitors, which also show them up-close views of the obstacles they can see, according to Matt Iseman of Reality Blurred.
This enables them to provide more accurate commentary on little details, such as grips and hand placements. "On a typical course, we usually can't see the first or second obstacle," Matt said. "We can then see most of them up to the Warped Wall and then we'll have monitors in front of us."
He explained, "We're watching the monitor trying to get a better sense of it, particularly on stuff where it's hand placement — where's their grip going?", about the close-ups and obscured objects.
Typically, the majority of the route is visible. Fear not—when competitors reach the top of the Warped Wall, the hosts are at least treated to a complete view.
The obstacles are made with a lot of work
It should go without saying that a great deal of thought and preparation go into creating the intricate obstacles in 'American Ninja Warrior.' However, witnessing the intricacy of the process firsthand is truly fascinating. While Mount Midoriyama in Las Vegas spans the equivalent of four football fields, the entirety of the course occupies the size of just one football field, leaving plenty of space for new challenges.
Planning the hurdles, according to producer Brian Richardson, requires months of thinking, with some ideas beginning as sketches made on napkins. They then map out the course on paper before constructing a prototype and putting it through its paces in a warehouse.
If it passes, it advances to the course. However, the testing process is far from over; additional assessments are conducted to ensure that the course's difficulty level is appropriately calibrated. According to Brian (via Mental Floss), "Moving a rope 6 inches closer or farther away can make a world of difference."
Producers meticulously test various obstacles until they settle on roughly 24 to incorporate into the course, presumably to have about 20 percent of participants complete the city qualifiers.
Contestants must rely on their quick thinking and adaptability to tackle any challenges thrown at them by the producers. With no prior knowledge of the obstacles they will face and no opportunity to test the route beforehand, beforehand, they must navigate each obstacle with skill.
Nighttime is the preferred time for filming
Contestants on 'American Ninja Warrior' competed throughout the day until Season 5 when nighttime shooting was introduced. In every city, tapings start at 8 pm and continue until the early hours of the morning. Consequently, some competitors start their runs at 3 or 4 am.
Those competitors who are on the edge may choose to stay until the late hours to find out if they made it into the top 15 or 30, even if they ran earlier in the evening. This adds a significant strain on the competitors and introduces a whole new level of difficulty to an already demanding performance.
What else is putting competitors under pressure on the show? As long as it's safe to do so, competitors are encouraged to walk out on the course and demonstrate their skills to the obstacles, regardless of the weather, as they shoot in all conditions.
The cities must prepare extensively for the event
Bringing an obstacle course the size of a football field into the heart of a bustling metropolis for several nights of filming is no small feat. The requirements for road closures, permits, and security can be rather onerous for the volunteer cities.
There are, however, several advantages as well, since the show is renowned for stimulating the local economy while it is in town. It's difficult to quantify the precise amount of revenue the event generates for the city, but it normally results in hundreds of hotel rooms reserved for the cast, the Ninjas, their families, and spectators, as well as an increase in foot traffic.
As a result, several communities submit pitches to 'American Ninja Warrior', explaining to the show why they would be an interesting destination. This frequently entails a state tax credit that helps defray production expenses; some towns additionally provide free permission to shoot at a notable site as an additional incentive to the program.
The age restriction is a topic of ongoing debate
Contestants in the original season of 'American Ninja Warrior' had to be at least 21 years old to compete. This age requirement remained unchanged for twelve seasons.
Though it should come as no surprise that some of the quickest and strongest competitors were in their early 20s, many of the older contenders were the true inspiration.
People of all ages have always been able to attempt the obstacles in Ninja, and watching contestants in their 40s, such as Jon Stewart, Sandy Zimmerman, Sam Sann, and David Campbell, has reinforced the idea that it's never too late to begin a fitness journey and see amazing results.
Nonetheless, in 2018, the age restriction was lowered to 19, and the show began to highlight younger Ninjas. Season 13 saw a significant shift as teens as young as 15 were invited to tackle the intricate obstacle course when the age restriction was once again decreased.
Although youth has been a recurring theme on television, opinions among viewers regarding the wisdom of the lower restriction were evenly divided. Many felt they would have an unfair edge because of their younger, more flexible bodies.
Others were skeptical, believing that the inexperience of younger contestants could work against them. However, the remarkable success of some of these younger competitors, namely Kaden Lebsack, the winner of the Last Ninja Standing for the past two years, indicates that the transition is here to stay.
Where is 'American Ninja Warrior' filmed?
'American Ninja Warrior' has been filmed in many different locales around the country over the years. However, the program is mostly filmed in Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
The preceding seasons were recorded at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, with the finals on the Las Vegas Strip. Season 16 will be no different in terms of location, with competitors competing for the big prize of $1 million.
How can you get tickets for the taping of 'American Ninja Warrior'?
As the premiere of season 16 approaches, viewers may reserve a ticket to watch the competition live. According to their official audience sign-up page, fans as young as eight years old can apply to witness the program if accompanied by an adult.
The show's taping lasts around five hours from the time it begins. As of May 2024, fans may enter their details to be alerted when tickets become available.
How to apply for 'American Ninja Warrior'?
'American Ninja Warrior' does not conduct typical casting calls, in contrast to other competition series. Approximately 100 individuals are selected by the producers to "run" in each of the places they visit after potential participants submit a submission tape.
You can always join the walk-on queue if your video doesn't land you in one of those specially chosen positions. However, that will require a different kind of training.
Producer Brian compared the walk-on queue to the Black Friday sales, telling Mental Floss.
"You sleep in a tent for a week or more outside the course, with no guarantees. We usually only have time to run 20 to 30 people from the walk-on line. Sometimes people spend a week camping out and never get to run the course."
