1
00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:06,139
[Blessing Offor's "Good Good"]

2
00:00:06,172 --> 00:00:08,041
- * I'm by your side *

3
00:00:08,074 --> 00:00:09,309
* We made it together *

4
00:00:09,342 --> 00:00:11,611
- Last year for
only the third time

5
00:00:11,644 --> 00:00:14,147
in "American Ninja
Warrior" history,

6
00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:17,150
we crowned
a million-dollar champion

7
00:00:17,183 --> 00:00:19,052
born with cerebral palsy,

8
00:00:19,085 --> 00:00:23,323
and now he is your new
American Ninja Warrior.

9
00:00:23,356 --> 00:00:24,357
- I was literally
told I wouldn't be able

10
00:00:24,391 --> 00:00:26,059
to walk when I was a kid.

11
00:00:26,092 --> 00:00:29,729
- Tonight,
the good times roll again.

12
00:00:29,763 --> 00:00:32,399
- * Hands up to the ceiling *

13
00:00:32,432 --> 00:00:33,867
* Dance off for no reason *

14
00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:35,935
- Last year,
the mountain crumbled.

15
00:00:35,969 --> 00:00:38,004
This year,
it's gonna crumble again.

16
00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:40,006
- * Get lost in the dreaming *

17
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,509
- Oh, my goodness.

18
00:00:42,542 --> 00:00:44,110
- This season
on "American Ninja Warrior"

19
00:00:44,144 --> 00:00:45,712
is going to be nuts.

20
00:00:45,745 --> 00:00:50,550
* You give me
that feel-good feeling *

21
00:00:50,583 --> 00:00:52,752
* You give me that
feel-good feeling *

22
00:00:52,786 --> 00:00:54,454
- I made history
in my rookie season,

23
00:00:54,487 --> 00:00:57,157
and I'm ready to make
more history tonight.

24
00:00:57,190 --> 00:00:59,225
- * Yeah that love
we believe in *

25
00:00:59,259 --> 00:01:01,227
* You give me
that feel-good feeling *

26
00:01:01,261 --> 00:01:04,864
- I'm back, and you better
believe I'm better than ever.

27
00:01:04,898 --> 00:01:06,066
- * Whoo *

28
00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:08,068
* I'm feeling the love *

29
00:01:08,068 --> 00:01:10,203
* I'm feeling it in my soul *

30
00:01:10,236 --> 00:01:13,139
- It's the return of the
real-life Wonder Woman.

31
00:01:13,173 --> 00:01:16,276
Jesse Graff's back
for the 10th season.

32
00:01:16,309 --> 00:01:19,279
- I'm just hopelessly in
love with "Ninja Warrior."

33
00:01:19,312 --> 00:01:21,848
- * Yeah that love
we believe in *

34
00:01:21,881 --> 00:01:25,719
* You give me that feel-good *

35
00:01:25,752 --> 00:01:27,454
- Here we go.

36
00:01:27,487 --> 00:01:29,489
We're back at
Universal Studios Hollywood

37
00:01:29,522 --> 00:01:33,493
ready to start another season
of "American Ninja Warrior."

38
00:01:33,526 --> 00:01:35,395
Hello, everyone, and thanks
for joining us once again.

39
00:01:35,428 --> 00:01:36,529
I'm Matt Iseman.

40
00:01:36,563 --> 00:01:38,098
- And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.

41
00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:40,734
Matt, last year
was a thrill ride.

42
00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:43,103
We amped up the speed
with head-to-head

43
00:01:43,103 --> 00:01:46,206
races, which nearly gave
me multiple heart attacks.

44
00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:47,841
But I am ready to do it again.

45
00:01:47,874 --> 00:01:48,842
- I'm a doctor.

46
00:01:48,875 --> 00:01:50,110
I got you, big man.
- OK.

47
00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:51,344
- We're gonna have
twice the excitement

48
00:01:51,378 --> 00:01:53,580
tonight with two
different groups of ninjas

49
00:01:53,613 --> 00:01:55,415
on two different courses.

50
00:01:55,448 --> 00:01:57,617
For our preview, let's
go down to Zuri Hall.

51
00:01:57,650 --> 00:02:00,186
- Guys, it is so great
to be back once again.

52
00:02:00,220 --> 00:02:03,289
We kick things off right here
on the qualifying course,

53
00:02:03,323 --> 00:02:05,859
where we have some
new twists tonight.

54
00:02:05,892 --> 00:02:08,061
It starts with Pole Vault

55
00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:10,730
followed by
four new obstacles.

56
00:02:10,764 --> 00:02:13,533
There's a thrill ride
down Reel to Reel.

57
00:02:13,566 --> 00:02:14,834
- There you go, get it.

58
00:02:14,868 --> 00:02:18,538
- And a dash across
Dangerous Waters.

59
00:02:18,571 --> 00:02:21,975
Then, the ninjas have to grab
the wings on Duck Duck Goose.

60
00:02:22,075 --> 00:02:23,343
[duck quacks]
- Yeah!

61
00:02:23,376 --> 00:02:26,379
- And throw the bar
into Jawbreakers.

62
00:02:26,413 --> 00:02:29,549
If they hit the buzzer
in under 1:20,

63
00:02:29,582 --> 00:02:31,084
they'll get a chance
to conquer

64
00:02:31,084 --> 00:02:33,620
our 18 1/2 foot Mega Wall.

65
00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:36,189
And this year, we're
doubling the prize money.

66
00:02:36,222 --> 00:02:39,793
The Wells Fargo Active Cash
credit card earns unlimited 2%

67
00:02:39,826 --> 00:02:41,428
cash back on purchases.

68
00:02:41,461 --> 00:02:43,263
So they're giving away 2%
of our

69
00:02:43,296 --> 00:02:44,898
million-dollar grand prize.

70
00:02:44,931 --> 00:02:48,301
That's $20,000, a new record.

71
00:02:48,335 --> 00:02:50,103
All right, guys,
release the ninjas.

72
00:02:50,103 --> 00:02:51,404
- Thanks, Zuri.

73
00:02:51,438 --> 00:02:53,306
And just like last season,
the top 12 men and top

74
00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:55,108
4 women
from each group tonight

75
00:02:55,108 --> 00:02:57,911
will move on
with the final spots determined

76
00:02:57,944 --> 00:03:00,547
in our first head-to-head
races of the season.

77
00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:02,315
We call all them the Runoffs.

78
00:03:02,349 --> 00:03:04,818
- So let's get it started.

79
00:03:04,851 --> 00:03:06,486
- We're going to
kick things off

80
00:03:06,519 --> 00:03:09,322
with what's gotta be the best
comeback story of the season.

81
00:03:09,356 --> 00:03:12,559
This is Karen Wiltin,
a mom and physician assistant

82
00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:14,227
who was once a top ninja.

83
00:03:14,260 --> 00:03:17,397
But after a devastating
injury, we weren't sure we'd

84
00:03:17,430 --> 00:03:21,434
ever see her out here again.

85
00:03:21,468 --> 00:03:23,603
- I competed on season 11.

86
00:03:23,636 --> 00:03:26,139
My goal was to make
it up the Warped Wall.

87
00:03:26,172 --> 00:03:27,240
- Good lane.
- Let her go.

88
00:03:27,273 --> 00:03:28,541
Let her go.
Let her go.

89
00:03:28,575 --> 00:03:29,542
Oh, shoot.
- Yeah!

90
00:03:29,576 --> 00:03:31,277
- Oh, shoot.
Yes.

91
00:03:31,311 --> 00:03:32,612
Yeah.

92
00:03:32,645 --> 00:03:35,448
- I was literally at
the top of my game.

93
00:03:35,482 --> 00:03:37,117
And then it was like
three days after that

94
00:03:37,150 --> 00:03:39,753
is when I hurt my neck.

95
00:03:39,786 --> 00:03:44,124
I was training for just
local Ninja competitions.

96
00:03:44,157 --> 00:03:45,759
[loud thump]

97
00:03:45,792 --> 00:03:49,863
I felt this crunch and instant
pain in the back of my head.

98
00:03:49,896 --> 00:03:52,899
I knew in that instant
something was seriously wrong.

99
00:03:52,932 --> 00:03:54,734
[somber music]

100
00:03:54,768 --> 00:03:58,104
And my husband came over,
and he held my hand.

101
00:03:58,104 --> 00:03:59,272
I knew my girls were scared.

102
00:03:59,305 --> 00:04:00,807
And they were there.

103
00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,511
- I was really, really scared,
because she was just laying

104
00:04:04,544 --> 00:04:06,946
on the floor, like, crying.

105
00:04:07,047 --> 00:04:10,817
And I thought that she
wouldn't get better.

106
00:04:10,850 --> 00:04:13,853
- I had basically ruptured
all of the ligaments

107
00:04:13,887 --> 00:04:17,090
from the base of my
skull down to C4.

108
00:04:17,123 --> 00:04:18,925
* *

109
00:04:18,958 --> 00:04:21,761
I was in the cervical
collar for several months.

110
00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:26,132
I didn't know if I was ever
going to be active again.

111
00:04:26,166 --> 00:04:28,435
I just remember
breaking down in tears.

112
00:04:28,468 --> 00:04:30,337
You know, our whole
life totally changed.

113
00:04:30,370 --> 00:04:31,671
* *

114
00:04:31,705 --> 00:04:34,541
But I didn't think that
my injury was going

115
00:04:34,574 --> 00:04:36,276
to be the end of my story.

116
00:04:36,309 --> 00:04:37,744
[uplifting music]

117
00:04:37,777 --> 00:04:40,547
- She kept working after
her injury to become

118
00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:42,849
better than she was before.

119
00:04:42,882 --> 00:04:44,818
- The first time
back into the Ninja

120
00:04:44,851 --> 00:04:46,419
gym was actually
on the one-year

121
00:04:46,453 --> 00:04:48,254
anniversary of my injury.

122
00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:50,724
[together]
Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen.

123
00:04:50,757 --> 00:04:52,092
- Come on.

124
00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:53,793
It's all coming back,
just like riding a bicycle.

125
00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:54,928
Come on.

126
00:04:54,961 --> 00:04:56,629
I know my girls are watching.

127
00:04:56,663 --> 00:05:00,033
So I hope that they
learn like no matter

128
00:05:00,066 --> 00:05:04,270
what life throws your way with
adversity, you can persevere.

129
00:05:04,304 --> 00:05:07,440
And they too can
bounce back from those things.

130
00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:09,242
There you go.
Put your foot right there.

131
00:05:09,275 --> 00:05:10,343
There you go.

132
00:05:10,377 --> 00:05:12,512
- I want to be
just like my mom.

133
00:05:12,545 --> 00:05:14,180
* *

134
00:05:14,214 --> 00:05:16,649
- I'm super excited to be back
on "American Ninja Warrior."

135
00:05:16,683 --> 00:05:19,853
It's such a blessing just
to be able to compete.

136
00:05:19,886 --> 00:05:22,489
And I'm just so fortunate
I got back here.

137
00:05:22,522 --> 00:05:26,092
And so that's a win for me.

138
00:05:26,126 --> 00:05:29,295
* *

139
00:05:29,329 --> 00:05:31,197
[cheers and applause]

140
00:05:31,231 --> 00:05:33,733
- It's so great to see her
standing at the start

141
00:05:33,767 --> 00:05:34,934
line again.

142
00:05:34,968 --> 00:05:36,770
- And there are
those daughters.

143
00:05:36,803 --> 00:05:39,072
They'll be watching back
home with Karen's family.

144
00:05:39,105 --> 00:05:40,073
- Hi, Mommy.

145
00:05:40,106 --> 00:05:41,374
- Hello.

146
00:05:41,408 --> 00:05:42,742
- Karen's husband
is on the sideline--

147
00:05:42,776 --> 00:05:43,743
- Come on now.
Let's go.

148
00:05:43,777 --> 00:05:44,778
- Come on.
Come on.

149
00:05:44,811 --> 00:05:46,146
- Lock it in, Karen.

150
00:05:46,179 --> 00:05:47,580
- --along with many
friends who know what

151
00:05:47,614 --> 00:05:49,082
it means for her to be back.

152
00:05:49,115 --> 00:05:50,483
[countdown clock beeping]

153
00:05:50,517 --> 00:05:51,718
- Let's go, Karen.

154
00:05:51,751 --> 00:05:53,119
- She couldn't walk
for months.

155
00:05:53,153 --> 00:05:55,155
So jumping on Pole Vault
already a victory.

156
00:05:55,188 --> 00:05:56,156
- Climb up.

157
00:05:56,189 --> 00:05:57,157
Climb up.

158
00:05:57,190 --> 00:05:59,159
And good ascent.

159
00:05:59,192 --> 00:06:00,393
Nice.

160
00:06:00,427 --> 00:06:02,028
- And she gets
through an obstacle.

161
00:06:02,028 --> 00:06:04,030
And that alone is
worth celebrating

162
00:06:04,064 --> 00:06:06,833
after what she's been through.

163
00:06:06,866 --> 00:06:08,401
- Let's go, Karen.

164
00:06:08,435 --> 00:06:10,503
- Reel to Reel has got to
be a little scary for her.

165
00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:13,740
You're 18-feet high, and
it's a big fall from there.

166
00:06:13,773 --> 00:06:15,342
And let's not forget.

167
00:06:15,375 --> 00:06:18,645
She's 44 years old and coming
back from a major injury.

168
00:06:18,678 --> 00:06:21,548
This is not an easy obstacle
even when you're healthy.

169
00:06:21,581 --> 00:06:23,116
- You've just got to
let it go. Trust it.

170
00:06:23,149 --> 00:06:24,117
- You can do it.

171
00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:25,385
- Nice!

172
00:06:25,418 --> 00:06:27,454
She did it.
She did it.

173
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She trusted the process.

174
00:06:28,788 --> 00:06:31,291
- A picture perfect
transfer here

175
00:06:31,324 --> 00:06:34,561
at Universal Studios,
Karen Wiltin,

176
00:06:34,594 --> 00:06:37,664
we're getting
a sequel, Akbar.

177
00:06:37,697 --> 00:06:39,065
[cheers and applause]

178
00:06:39,065 --> 00:06:41,801
- Spent months in a
wheelchair, has battled

179
00:06:41,835 --> 00:06:45,105
back and now ready
to face our balance

180
00:06:45,138 --> 00:06:46,740
obstacle, Dangerous Waters.

181
00:06:46,773 --> 00:06:50,443
What an inspiration she's
got to be for her daughters.

182
00:06:50,477 --> 00:06:51,444
- Just go.

183
00:06:51,478 --> 00:06:52,579
Don't overthink it.

184
00:06:52,612 --> 00:06:54,080
Nice, nice, nice-- keep going.

185
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,081
Nice!

186
00:06:55,115 --> 00:06:57,150
Nice.

187
00:06:57,183 --> 00:07:01,087
- And she is pumped.

188
00:07:01,121 --> 00:07:03,289
Now the 44-year-old
mother of two

189
00:07:03,323 --> 00:07:06,126
has reached this brand-new
obstacle, Duck Duck Goose.

190
00:07:06,159 --> 00:07:09,195
- Big jump, big jump,
you close it, elbows in.

191
00:07:09,229 --> 00:07:11,031
- You got it, Mom.

192
00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:13,900
- 5'4", needs a big jump
to get this thing started.

193
00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:15,301
- Good, good, good.

194
00:07:15,335 --> 00:07:16,302
- Oh!
- Oh, no.

195
00:07:16,336 --> 00:07:17,771
[air horn blares]

196
00:07:17,804 --> 00:07:20,707
Can't make the grab
on Duck Duck Goose,

197
00:07:20,740 --> 00:07:23,209
but what a comeback
for Karen Wiltin.

198
00:07:23,243 --> 00:07:25,211
And that could even get
her into the semifinals.

199
00:07:25,245 --> 00:07:27,047
- Yeah.

200
00:07:27,047 --> 00:07:28,314
- She was fearless.

201
00:07:28,348 --> 00:07:31,151
She made the big
moves on Reel to Reel

202
00:07:31,184 --> 00:07:33,787
and sprinted across
the balance obstacle.

203
00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:36,690
She couldn't get a handle
on Duck Duck Goose,

204
00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:40,160
but what a return
for Karen Wiltin.

205
00:07:40,193 --> 00:07:42,295
- Karen, awesome job out here.

206
00:07:42,328 --> 00:07:45,265
It is such a joy to see
you running this course.

207
00:07:45,298 --> 00:07:46,900
After everything
that you've been through,

208
00:07:46,933 --> 00:07:48,935
what did it mean to just get
to that starting line tonight?

209
00:07:48,968 --> 00:07:51,104
- You know, I'm just so
blessed to be out here.

210
00:07:51,137 --> 00:07:52,906
I wish I was a little
taller so I could have

211
00:07:52,939 --> 00:07:54,441
touched that fourth obstacle.

212
00:07:54,474 --> 00:07:58,144
But I'm just very happy
to be here with my friends

213
00:07:58,178 --> 00:07:59,546
and family and my teammates.

214
00:07:59,579 --> 00:08:01,214
- Well, like you said,
it was a victory just

215
00:08:01,247 --> 00:08:03,683
to see you at that start line,
let alone as far as you got.

216
00:08:03,717 --> 00:08:05,118
We'll know soon if it was
far enough, fast enough.

217
00:08:05,151 --> 00:08:06,419
Great work tonight.
- I sure hope so.

218
00:08:06,453 --> 00:08:07,520
Thanks so much.
Appreciate it.

219
00:08:07,554 --> 00:08:10,223
- Absolutely.
Guys, back to you.

220
00:08:10,256 --> 00:08:14,027
[cheers and applause]

221
00:08:14,027 --> 00:08:16,629
- Our next athlete
is ready to take off.

222
00:08:16,663 --> 00:08:19,632
This is 22-year-old
engineer Dillon Ruble.

223
00:08:19,666 --> 00:08:23,436
He's a Ninja rookie, but
he's a world-record holder

224
00:08:23,470 --> 00:08:26,373
in flying paper airplanes.

225
00:08:26,406 --> 00:08:30,577
[inspirational music]

226
00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:32,512
- The farthest I've ever
thrown a paper airplane

227
00:08:32,545 --> 00:08:34,647
is almost 290 feet.

228
00:08:34,681 --> 00:08:38,618
And that ended up setting a
new Guinness World Record.

229
00:08:38,651 --> 00:08:40,653
I was studying
aerospace engineering.

230
00:08:40,687 --> 00:08:44,791
And I figured I could design
a really good paper airplane.

231
00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:47,560
The key to a perfect
paper airplane

232
00:08:47,594 --> 00:08:51,498
would be strong leading edges,
a lot of weight at the front,

233
00:08:51,531 --> 00:08:55,368
and also really good
symmetry on each side.

234
00:08:55,402 --> 00:08:57,270
Do all those things,
and you can throw

235
00:08:57,303 --> 00:08:59,239
it like a world-record holder.

236
00:08:59,272 --> 00:09:02,809
* *

237
00:09:02,842 --> 00:09:04,444
If I can make
a paper airplane fly,

238
00:09:04,477 --> 00:09:07,113
surely I can make myself
fly through the course.

239
00:09:07,147 --> 00:09:10,350
* *

240
00:09:10,383 --> 00:09:11,818
[cheers and applause]

241
00:09:11,851 --> 00:09:14,621
- Dillon may have the
paper airplane record now,

242
00:09:14,654 --> 00:09:16,423
but we're going to challenge
that tonight while he runs.

243
00:09:16,456 --> 00:09:18,024
- Yep, let's do it.
All right.

244
00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:20,026
- We're going to
make our own planes.

245
00:09:20,026 --> 00:09:22,028
Dillon graduated from
Missouri University

246
00:09:22,062 --> 00:09:24,164
of Science and Technology.

247
00:09:24,197 --> 00:09:26,466
And some of his frat
brothers from Delta Sigma Phi

248
00:09:26,499 --> 00:09:28,034
are his wingmen tonight.

249
00:09:28,068 --> 00:09:30,670
[countdown clock beeping]

250
00:09:30,704 --> 00:09:32,939
Ruble is now working in
aerospace for Boeing.

251
00:09:33,039 --> 00:09:35,809
So he should know the
physics behind Pole Vault.

252
00:09:35,842 --> 00:09:38,678
5'7", 140, dude is
an endurance beast--

253
00:09:38,712 --> 00:09:41,047
ran a 50-mile ultra marathon.

254
00:09:41,081 --> 00:09:42,816
- Now, that's very
difficult to do.

255
00:09:42,849 --> 00:09:45,185
[all shouting]

256
00:09:45,218 --> 00:09:47,053
- We'll see if he
can take flight here.

257
00:09:47,087 --> 00:09:48,822
- That means he has
cardio endurance.

258
00:09:48,855 --> 00:09:50,790
But does he have
strength endurance?

259
00:09:50,824 --> 00:09:54,661
Whoa, OK, he's got timing
and strength endurance.

260
00:09:54,694 --> 00:09:58,098
- The aerospace engineer
showing how it's done--

261
00:09:58,131 --> 00:10:00,467
and the Ninja rookie
is through two.

262
00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:03,303
- Yeah, let's go.

263
00:10:03,336 --> 00:10:04,471
- I'm still working
on my plane.

264
00:10:04,504 --> 00:10:06,039
Akbar, how's yours looking?

265
00:10:06,072 --> 00:10:08,375
- Military-grade right there.

266
00:10:08,408 --> 00:10:10,510
- Dillon Ruble
facing the balance

267
00:10:10,543 --> 00:10:12,045
obstacle, Dangerous Waters.

268
00:10:12,078 --> 00:10:14,881
- And he's got to glide
through this one.

269
00:10:14,914 --> 00:10:17,484
- Oh!
- Nice!

270
00:10:17,517 --> 00:10:19,552
[cheers and applause]

271
00:10:19,586 --> 00:10:21,287
All right, baby, come on.
I got this.

272
00:10:21,321 --> 00:10:23,390
I got this paper
airplane for you, baby.

273
00:10:23,423 --> 00:10:26,593
- Now he's got to take
flight on Duck Duck Goose.

274
00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:28,895
He has to jump up and
grab the collapsing

275
00:10:28,928 --> 00:10:32,265
wings of the three birds,
starting with the brown duck.

276
00:10:32,298 --> 00:10:33,700
- Your airplane's got wings.

277
00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:35,035
These ducks got wings.

278
00:10:35,068 --> 00:10:36,236
Come on.

279
00:10:36,269 --> 00:10:37,570
Nice.

280
00:10:37,604 --> 00:10:39,239
- Makes it onto
the white duck,

281
00:10:39,272 --> 00:10:42,575
now has to fly up and over to
an even smaller set of handles

282
00:10:42,609 --> 00:10:46,212
on the final bird,
the black goose.

283
00:10:46,246 --> 00:10:48,381
Nice, talk to me, Goose.

284
00:10:48,415 --> 00:10:51,384
- OK, give this man his wings.

285
00:10:51,418 --> 00:10:53,887
I see you, Dillon Ruble.

286
00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,757
- And this paper plane pilot
proving to be a top gun.

287
00:10:57,791 --> 00:11:01,895
This rookie has reached
the fifth obstacle.

288
00:11:01,928 --> 00:11:03,563
- Let's go.

289
00:11:03,596 --> 00:11:05,398
- I'm launching
this one right now.

290
00:11:05,432 --> 00:11:06,966
I see you, Dillon.

291
00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:09,069
- Let's see it.

292
00:11:09,069 --> 00:11:11,071
Akbar, that landed on my desk.

293
00:11:11,071 --> 00:11:12,072
That--

294
00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:13,206
- Oh, my goodness.

295
00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:14,774
- --may be the worst
throw of all time.

296
00:11:14,808 --> 00:11:17,310
But hopefully Dillon Ruble
can fly better than that.

297
00:11:17,344 --> 00:11:18,712
He's going to get
us our first look

298
00:11:18,745 --> 00:11:21,147
this season at Jawbreakers.

299
00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:23,149
We saw it on Stage 2
in Vegas last year.

300
00:11:23,183 --> 00:11:26,586
Got to throw the bar
inside those steel jaws.

301
00:11:26,619 --> 00:11:27,721
- Let's go.
both: Oh!

302
00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:29,222
[air horn blares]

303
00:11:29,255 --> 00:11:31,825
- The paper plane
pilot finally

304
00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:34,427
brought down to Earth
but not before reaching

305
00:11:34,461 --> 00:11:37,964
the fifth obstacle.

306
00:11:37,997 --> 00:11:41,401
The aerospace engineer flew
through the early obstacles,

307
00:11:41,434 --> 00:11:44,170
but he couldn't land
the bar on Jawbreakers.

308
00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:46,406
We'll see if he went
far enough fast enough

309
00:11:46,439 --> 00:11:48,875
to move on.

310
00:11:48,908 --> 00:11:53,113
Tonight, our super-sized
season premiere has it all,

311
00:11:53,113 --> 00:11:57,283
including 6'7" Jonas
Harmer, husband of Olympic

312
00:11:57,317 --> 00:11:59,119
hero MyKayla Skinner.

313
00:11:59,119 --> 00:12:02,322
- Hitting a buzzer, that would
be like winning gold for me.

314
00:12:02,355 --> 00:12:05,392
- And he's had
disappointment on the course.

315
00:12:05,425 --> 00:12:07,060
- Oh!
[air horn blares]

316
00:12:07,093 --> 00:12:10,296
- But the Deaf Ninja
Kyle Schulze always delivers

317
00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:13,233
inspiration to his young fans.

318
00:12:13,266 --> 00:12:14,734
- Nice.
Great.

319
00:12:14,768 --> 00:12:19,439
- We'll see him next on
"American Ninja Warrior."

320
00:12:25,445 --> 00:12:26,413
- Welcome back to our
season premiere,

321
00:12:26,446 --> 00:12:27,847
where minutes ago,

322
00:12:27,881 --> 00:12:30,784
three more ninjas came out
hungry for success.

323
00:12:30,817 --> 00:12:33,420
Abby Bell is a waitress
at an Olive Garden restaurant.

324
00:12:33,453 --> 00:12:36,656
So of course,
she brought us bread sticks.

325
00:12:36,690 --> 00:12:38,958
both: Mmm.
- Still warm.

326
00:12:38,992 --> 00:12:42,095
The 19-year-old from
Oklahoma had no problem

327
00:12:42,095 --> 00:12:43,630
getting past Pole Vault.

328
00:12:43,663 --> 00:12:45,598
- Oh, it looks like she's
climbing up the bread stick.

329
00:12:45,632 --> 00:12:47,367
Nice.

330
00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,970
- But on Reel to Reel, she bit
off more than she could chew.

331
00:12:51,004 --> 00:12:53,106
both: Ohh!
[air horn blares]

332
00:12:53,139 --> 00:12:54,140
- Matt,
I didn't even get a chance

333
00:12:54,174 --> 00:12:55,575
to finish my bread stick.
- Ahh.

334
00:12:55,608 --> 00:12:57,510
Well, the bread
sticks are unlimited.

335
00:12:57,544 --> 00:13:01,314
But unfortunately, your run
on "Ninja Warrior" is not.

336
00:13:01,348 --> 00:13:03,083
- Aw, look at that.

337
00:13:03,116 --> 00:13:04,684
- [laughing]

338
00:13:04,718 --> 00:13:07,721
- Wes Meador said he had a
dad bod until training Ninja

339
00:13:07,754 --> 00:13:10,256
helped him lose 40 pounds.

340
00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:12,125
With his family
on the sidelines,

341
00:13:12,158 --> 00:13:14,427
the plant manager
from Louisiana was

342
00:13:14,461 --> 00:13:16,262
back to settle an old score.

343
00:13:16,296 --> 00:13:18,565
[cheers and applause]

344
00:13:18,598 --> 00:13:20,900
Both times he's
competed in the past,

345
00:13:20,934 --> 00:13:22,936
he's fallen on a
balance obstacle.

346
00:13:22,969 --> 00:13:24,170
- Oh.

347
00:13:24,204 --> 00:13:26,072
- So he really
wanted to conquer

348
00:13:26,072 --> 00:13:27,574
Dangerous Waters tonight.

349
00:13:27,607 --> 00:13:29,075
- All right,
and this is where he--

350
00:13:29,075 --> 00:13:30,443
- Oh!

351
00:13:30,477 --> 00:13:32,712
- Ooh.
Third time is not a charm.

352
00:13:32,746 --> 00:13:34,314
- Let's go.

353
00:13:34,347 --> 00:13:36,883
- 16-year-old Jonah Maningo
really turned up the heat,

354
00:13:36,916 --> 00:13:40,220
because he brought us his
mom's extra-spicy salsa.

355
00:13:40,253 --> 00:13:42,355
This is called muy caliente.

356
00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:45,091
- Muy caliente, OK, here we go.

357
00:13:45,125 --> 00:13:46,993
Ooh.

358
00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:49,095
- Maningo had a big group
from his high school

359
00:13:49,129 --> 00:13:51,664
in Chino Hills, California,
cheering him on.

360
00:13:51,698 --> 00:13:54,000
And as he started
burning up the course,

361
00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:56,636
the salsa started
burning up our mouths.

362
00:13:56,670 --> 00:13:57,804
I'm going to take a drink.

363
00:13:57,837 --> 00:13:58,805
- We're going to
take this water.

364
00:13:58,838 --> 00:14:00,306
- A drink of water.

365
00:14:00,340 --> 00:14:01,541
- I don't know if I'm going to
be able to finish this call.

366
00:14:01,574 --> 00:14:03,043
- Oh, my God.
- Because this thing is hot.

367
00:14:03,043 --> 00:14:06,479
- The only thing to cool
the kid off was Jawbreakers.

368
00:14:06,513 --> 00:14:07,747
- Oh.

369
00:14:07,781 --> 00:14:10,050
Oh, my goodness.
[air horn blares]

370
00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:11,317
Mrs. Maningo--

371
00:14:11,351 --> 00:14:12,318
- Maningo, that's hot.

372
00:14:12,352 --> 00:14:13,820
- What is the antidote?

373
00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:16,423
Ahh.

374
00:14:16,456 --> 00:14:18,058
Making their way
to the start line now

375
00:14:18,058 --> 00:14:20,493
a couple of silver foxes.

376
00:14:20,527 --> 00:14:23,730
It's 53-year-old Tim
Schnee and his good buddy,

377
00:14:23,763 --> 00:14:25,598
48-year-old Bobby Micks.

378
00:14:25,632 --> 00:14:28,702
Both are grandfathers, but
they love to have a good time.

379
00:14:28,735 --> 00:14:29,736
- Oh, they stuntin' now.

380
00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:31,404
Double handstands?

381
00:14:31,438 --> 00:14:35,308
- You can tell these two
have a zest for life.

382
00:14:35,342 --> 00:14:36,309
- I'm Tim.

383
00:14:36,343 --> 00:14:37,410
- And I'm Bobby.

384
00:14:37,444 --> 00:14:39,412
- And we're
the Silver Fox Squad.

385
00:14:39,446 --> 00:14:41,581
- We're both grandpa ninjas.

386
00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:44,284
Cumulative,
we're over 100 years of age.

387
00:14:44,317 --> 00:14:47,187
But we're both still
adrenaline junkies.

388
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:48,621
- Woo, hoo, hoo!

389
00:14:48,655 --> 00:14:53,960
In 2022, Bobby and I decided,
hey, let's go to Dubai.

390
00:14:53,993 --> 00:14:56,830
We did skydiving,
fly boarding.

391
00:14:56,863 --> 00:14:59,933
We sand-boarded
in the desert down the dunes.

392
00:15:00,033 --> 00:15:01,935
And while we're there,
Bobby says, "Hey, you want

393
00:15:02,035 --> 00:15:04,404
to go snowboarding in a mall?"

394
00:15:04,437 --> 00:15:06,039
And I was like,
"Bro, let's do it."

395
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:08,475
I've never skied in my life.
So what did I do?

396
00:15:08,508 --> 00:15:11,811
Come to Dubai
and ski in the desert.

397
00:15:11,845 --> 00:15:14,080
And then I sprained my ankle
walking out of the mall.

398
00:15:14,114 --> 00:15:17,417
- Another story.
[laughter]

399
00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:18,818
- This new
generation of ninjas,

400
00:15:18,852 --> 00:15:20,754
they're not made
like we were made.

401
00:15:20,787 --> 00:15:23,490
We were forged in the fires
of the '60s and the '70s.

402
00:15:23,523 --> 00:15:25,458
We have something
that they don't.

403
00:15:25,492 --> 00:15:26,893
- Old man strength.

404
00:15:26,926 --> 00:15:28,361
- Some people say it's a myth.

405
00:15:28,395 --> 00:15:29,963
But I think we're going
to kick some butt

406
00:15:30,063 --> 00:15:31,798
just based on that alone.

407
00:15:31,831 --> 00:15:34,801
[rock music]

408
00:15:34,834 --> 00:15:36,970
* *

409
00:15:37,070 --> 00:15:38,738
- Tim will be running first.

410
00:15:38,772 --> 00:15:40,473
His wife and three
of his five kids

411
00:15:40,507 --> 00:15:42,776
will be watching back
in the Seattle area.

412
00:15:42,809 --> 00:15:44,210
- I love you.

413
00:15:44,244 --> 00:15:45,812
- His buddy, Bobby,
will be leading

414
00:15:45,845 --> 00:15:46,813
the cheers on the sidelines.

415
00:15:46,846 --> 00:15:48,114
He'll run later.

416
00:15:48,148 --> 00:15:50,083
Tim Schnee's an army
veteran who became

417
00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:51,651
a bus driver in Seattle.

418
00:15:51,685 --> 00:15:53,586
Now he's a transit supervisor.

419
00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:56,823
[countdown clock beeping]

420
00:15:56,856 --> 00:15:59,426
53-year-old needs a big bounce
here for Pole Vault.

421
00:15:59,459 --> 00:16:00,427
- Come on.

422
00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:01,428
Come on.

423
00:16:01,461 --> 00:16:02,696
Get to that top.

424
00:16:02,729 --> 00:16:04,597
Ooh, boy,
that was very close.

425
00:16:04,631 --> 00:16:07,033
You see him scooting
away from that water.

426
00:16:07,033 --> 00:16:09,469
- He almost missed
his stop there.

427
00:16:09,502 --> 00:16:10,837
[cheers and applause]

428
00:16:10,870 --> 00:16:12,572
Stepping up to the
second obstacle--

429
00:16:12,605 --> 00:16:15,075
and this has been a roadblock
for him in the past.

430
00:16:15,108 --> 00:16:17,711
Three years ago,
it was Weight for It.

431
00:16:17,744 --> 00:16:20,280
In season 10,
it was Jumper Cables.

432
00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:22,849
And in season nine,
the bus driver skidded off

433
00:16:22,882 --> 00:16:24,851
the road here at Universal.

434
00:16:24,884 --> 00:16:26,920
- Oh, boom.

435
00:16:26,953 --> 00:16:29,556
- Now he's got to fly past
this new one,

436
00:16:29,589 --> 00:16:31,524
Reel to Reel.
- Let's see, Matt.

437
00:16:31,558 --> 00:16:34,227
He's to get that speed
and produce enough force

438
00:16:34,260 --> 00:16:35,495
to make that transition.

439
00:16:35,528 --> 00:16:36,496
Nice.

440
00:16:36,529 --> 00:16:37,764
[cheers and applause]

441
00:16:37,797 --> 00:16:39,132
- Let's go!

442
00:16:39,165 --> 00:16:42,535
- Incredible,
still needs to dismount,

443
00:16:42,569 --> 00:16:45,472
but he did the hard part,
swinging to that second reel.

444
00:16:45,505 --> 00:16:47,374
- That was an
excellent production

445
00:16:47,407 --> 00:16:50,477
there out of Tim Schnee.

446
00:16:50,510 --> 00:16:52,946
- And a superhero landing.

447
00:16:52,979 --> 00:16:54,614
- Yeah!

448
00:16:54,647 --> 00:16:55,615
Whoo.

449
00:16:55,648 --> 00:16:57,083
- Whoo!

450
00:16:57,083 --> 00:16:58,351
- Yeah.

451
00:16:58,385 --> 00:16:59,819
- And his five kids
and two grandkids

452
00:16:59,853 --> 00:17:01,721
got to be impressed
by those moves.

453
00:17:01,755 --> 00:17:04,691
But can the silver fox
dash across the tilting

454
00:17:04,724 --> 00:17:06,092
tanks of Dangerous Waters?

455
00:17:06,126 --> 00:17:07,093
- You see it.

456
00:17:07,127 --> 00:17:08,561
It's a little off.

457
00:17:08,595 --> 00:17:10,296
You can see perfect angle
here-- boom, boom, boom.

458
00:17:10,330 --> 00:17:11,364
Keep going.

459
00:17:11,398 --> 00:17:13,833
- Oh, yes!
- Nice, nice.

460
00:17:13,867 --> 00:17:14,901
[cheers and applause]

461
00:17:14,934 --> 00:17:16,036
- Yes!

462
00:17:19,072 --> 00:17:20,607
[cheers and applause]

463
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,343
- He's reached the fourth
obstacle, the farthest

464
00:17:23,376 --> 00:17:25,178
he's ever been on a course.

465
00:17:25,211 --> 00:17:26,179
- Go, babe.

466
00:17:26,212 --> 00:17:27,180
- Whoo, whoo.

467
00:17:27,213 --> 00:17:29,516
- Now facing Duck Duck Goose.

468
00:17:29,549 --> 00:17:31,851
You know a fox
likes to go bird hunting.

469
00:17:31,885 --> 00:17:35,155
But in the air, we'll see what
kind of powers this fox has.

470
00:17:35,188 --> 00:17:36,589
- All right, duck--

471
00:17:36,623 --> 00:17:38,525
- And you can see how
the wings collapse.

472
00:17:38,558 --> 00:17:39,659
- Come on.
Get this one.

473
00:17:39,693 --> 00:17:40,660
Get it.

474
00:17:40,694 --> 00:17:42,862
- 45-degree drop coming up.

475
00:17:42,896 --> 00:17:44,864
- Come on, duck, duck.

476
00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:47,600
Come on, duck, duck-- oh.

477
00:17:47,634 --> 00:17:50,904
[air horn blares]

478
00:17:50,937 --> 00:17:53,473
- Flapping his wings,
because the birds got him,

479
00:17:53,506 --> 00:17:56,142
but it matches
his best run ever.

480
00:17:56,176 --> 00:17:58,578
He represented
for the Silver Foxes.

481
00:17:58,611 --> 00:18:01,448
And the second fox
will get his chance later.

482
00:18:01,481 --> 00:18:04,818
The 53-year-old grandpa
was flying high.

483
00:18:04,851 --> 00:18:06,586
He had the run of his life.

484
00:18:06,619 --> 00:18:10,590
But the white duck was the
end for the silver fox.

485
00:18:10,623 --> 00:18:12,759
- Age is just a number.

486
00:18:12,792 --> 00:18:15,428
[cheers and applause]

487
00:18:15,462 --> 00:18:17,764
- Up next is one of the
most beloved athletes

488
00:18:17,797 --> 00:18:19,032
in this sport.

489
00:18:19,032 --> 00:18:21,167
This is 34-year-old
Kyle Schulze,

490
00:18:21,201 --> 00:18:23,370
who calls himself
the Deaf Ninja.

491
00:18:23,403 --> 00:18:25,538
As he always does,
starts his run by saying

492
00:18:25,572 --> 00:18:27,140
"ninja" in sign language.

493
00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:28,942
And though he's never
finished a course,

494
00:18:29,042 --> 00:18:32,045
he has always
inspired his fans.

495
00:18:32,045 --> 00:18:33,947
[gentle music]

496
00:18:34,047 --> 00:18:35,715
- I've been competing for
"American Ninja Warrior"

497
00:18:35,749 --> 00:18:37,951
for-- this is my
eighth year now.

498
00:18:38,051 --> 00:18:38,952
- Ooh.

499
00:18:39,052 --> 00:18:40,620
- Oh, no.
- Oh, my.

500
00:18:40,653 --> 00:18:42,322
It happened again.

501
00:18:42,355 --> 00:18:44,190
- Oh.

502
00:18:44,224 --> 00:18:48,928
- And still no
buzzer, pshew, still.

503
00:18:48,962 --> 00:18:50,563
* *

504
00:18:50,597 --> 00:18:55,068
It's been a long,
long journey.

505
00:18:55,101 --> 00:18:57,270
Sometimes it makes
me wonder, am I bad?

506
00:18:57,303 --> 00:19:00,006
Am I not good enough for this?

507
00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,342
But I decided I'm
going to keep doing it,

508
00:19:02,375 --> 00:19:04,411
because I am still,
in some way,

509
00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:07,747
helping lift up someone
out there in this world that

510
00:19:07,781 --> 00:19:08,882
has watched me run.

511
00:19:08,915 --> 00:19:12,152
* *

512
00:19:12,185 --> 00:19:15,588
My name is Kyle Schulze,
also known as the Deaf Ninja

513
00:19:15,622 --> 00:19:17,090
from "American Ninja Warrior."

514
00:19:17,123 --> 00:19:18,358
I do motivational speaking.

515
00:19:18,391 --> 00:19:21,161
I've toured around
the country to schools.

516
00:19:21,194 --> 00:19:22,529
Now, what I want to
do is, I want to teach

517
00:19:22,562 --> 00:19:25,031
you guys how to do a shape.

518
00:19:25,065 --> 00:19:27,600
I like to bring some
ninja obstacles for them

519
00:19:27,634 --> 00:19:28,635
to play around.

520
00:19:28,668 --> 00:19:30,036
Put both hands on it.

521
00:19:30,070 --> 00:19:31,538
Good.

522
00:19:31,571 --> 00:19:32,672
Nice, good.

523
00:19:32,706 --> 00:19:34,307
- We all live in
a hearing world.

524
00:19:34,341 --> 00:19:37,310
And we're oftentimes told
that deaf people can't.

525
00:19:37,344 --> 00:19:39,813
But he is living proof
that deaf people can

526
00:19:39,846 --> 00:19:43,149
and really proving all
of that stigma wrong.

527
00:19:43,183 --> 00:19:47,354
- I am proud to
be the Deaf Ninja.

528
00:19:47,387 --> 00:19:50,090
And I will continue to
succeed for all of you people

529
00:19:50,123 --> 00:19:52,759
and for myself too, because
I'm helping lift them up.

530
00:19:52,792 --> 00:19:54,794
And it's just like
they lift me up too.

531
00:19:54,828 --> 00:19:58,365
* *

532
00:19:58,398 --> 00:19:59,733
[cheers and applause]

533
00:19:59,766 --> 00:20:01,968
- You can't help but
root for Kyle Schulze.

534
00:20:02,002 --> 00:20:04,104
He is so positive.

535
00:20:04,137 --> 00:20:07,674
And his family will rooting
for him down in Florida.

536
00:20:07,707 --> 00:20:09,175
- Yeah.

537
00:20:09,209 --> 00:20:13,246
- And his sideline group
is led by girlfriend, Raquel.

538
00:20:13,279 --> 00:20:14,914
And the fans are
showing their support

539
00:20:14,948 --> 00:20:17,050
clapping in sign language.

540
00:20:17,083 --> 00:20:20,220
[countdown clock beeping]

541
00:20:20,253 --> 00:20:22,188
Kyle's had some good
runs on "Ninja Warrior,"

542
00:20:22,222 --> 00:20:24,858
but has been cursed
by the fifth obstacle.

543
00:20:24,891 --> 00:20:26,993
Has fallen there six times.

544
00:20:27,027 --> 00:20:29,929
- Yeah. He's been so close
so many times before.

545
00:20:29,963 --> 00:20:31,664
Maybe tonight
he'll finally break through.

546
00:20:31,698 --> 00:20:33,133
- Nice, Kyle, let's go.

547
00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:34,534
Come on.

548
00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:36,202
- He's definitely got
the skills to do it.

549
00:20:36,236 --> 00:20:38,538
He just needs to
link it all together.

550
00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:42,042
Real smooth transfer
right there.

551
00:20:42,075 --> 00:20:46,646
- And no problem on
Reel to Reel.

552
00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,549
On now to Dangerous Waters.

553
00:20:49,582 --> 00:20:51,484
- Keep that mass
right in the center.

554
00:20:51,518 --> 00:20:52,852
- Let's go.
Come on.

555
00:20:52,886 --> 00:20:54,354
- Let the feet dance.

556
00:20:54,387 --> 00:20:55,855
- I like that--
nice.

557
00:20:55,889 --> 00:20:57,190
- Perfect.
- Oh, he danced.

558
00:20:57,223 --> 00:21:00,260
He danced right across
Dangerous Waters.

559
00:21:00,293 --> 00:21:01,261
- Come on, buddy.
You got it.

560
00:21:01,294 --> 00:21:02,629
You got this.

561
00:21:02,662 --> 00:21:04,431
- He's got an
engineering degree.

562
00:21:04,464 --> 00:21:06,566
He can use those
problem-solving skills

563
00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:07,934
on Duck Duck Goose.

564
00:21:07,967 --> 00:21:10,437
- This is not only
taxing all your grip

565
00:21:10,470 --> 00:21:13,406
strength and your forearms
but also the last two.

566
00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,108
Nice.

567
00:21:15,141 --> 00:21:17,677
- You've really got to absorb
it and position your fingers,

568
00:21:17,711 --> 00:21:19,179
because those handles rotate.

569
00:21:19,212 --> 00:21:20,547
- Here it is right here.

570
00:21:20,580 --> 00:21:22,349
- You've got this, babe.

571
00:21:22,382 --> 00:21:23,350
- Yes.

572
00:21:23,383 --> 00:21:25,251
- Ah, amazing.

573
00:21:25,285 --> 00:21:26,319
- Oh, my goodness.

574
00:21:26,353 --> 00:21:27,487
- Oh, Schulze.

575
00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,422
- Schulze ain't messing
around.

576
00:21:29,456 --> 00:21:32,325
- And once again he's reached
the fifth obstacle.

577
00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:37,163
[cheers and applause]

578
00:21:37,197 --> 00:21:39,099
As we said,
he's been here six times.

579
00:21:39,099 --> 00:21:41,868
He's come achingly
close to getting past it

580
00:21:41,901 --> 00:21:43,436
but hasn't quite done it.

581
00:21:43,470 --> 00:21:44,904
- Yeah, you got it.

582
00:21:44,938 --> 00:21:47,140
- Everybody knows what
it would mean to him

583
00:21:47,173 --> 00:21:48,742
if he can get past this.

584
00:21:48,775 --> 00:21:50,777
Well, he's facing a difficult
fifth obstacle

585
00:21:50,810 --> 00:21:52,245
tonight in Jawbreakers.

586
00:21:52,278 --> 00:21:54,981
He'll have to make three
big moves slamming that bar

587
00:21:55,015 --> 00:21:56,616
into those metal jaws.

588
00:21:56,649 --> 00:21:57,851
All right.
Come on, Kyle Schulze.

589
00:21:57,884 --> 00:21:59,652
You got this.

590
00:21:59,686 --> 00:22:00,854
- One down.

591
00:22:00,887 --> 00:22:02,522
But the angles
on these draws get

592
00:22:02,555 --> 00:22:04,057
increasingly more difficult.

593
00:22:04,090 --> 00:22:08,128
Those cradles start
rotating downward.

594
00:22:09,963 --> 00:22:12,966
That's two,
getting ever closer.

595
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:14,901
- All right, this is where he
gassed out in the past.

596
00:22:14,934 --> 00:22:17,637
You've got to stay alive
to get past five.

597
00:22:17,671 --> 00:22:19,706
- Just needs
one more big move.

598
00:22:19,739 --> 00:22:21,107
This is a tough one.

599
00:22:21,141 --> 00:22:25,979
- Come on, Kyle.

600
00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:27,514
- Nice.

601
00:22:27,547 --> 00:22:29,983
Look at that.
- Just needs a dismount.

602
00:22:30,083 --> 00:22:32,986
and we're going
to see his first ever buzzer--

603
00:22:33,086 --> 00:22:35,088
the crowd on their feet.
- Wow.

604
00:22:35,088 --> 00:22:36,523
Wow.

605
00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:38,391
- Kyle Schulze has done it.

606
00:22:38,425 --> 00:22:39,793
[buzzer blares]

607
00:22:39,826 --> 00:22:42,228
[cheers and applause]

608
00:22:42,262 --> 00:22:45,198
Eight seasons in the making.

609
00:22:45,231 --> 00:22:46,566
- Oh, my goodness.

610
00:22:46,599 --> 00:22:48,101
Oh, my goodness.

611
00:22:48,101 --> 00:22:50,770
Take this one in right here.

612
00:22:50,804 --> 00:22:53,540
[cheers and applause]

613
00:22:53,573 --> 00:22:56,609
- And you can see the emotions.

614
00:22:56,643 --> 00:22:58,945
- Yes, babe.

615
00:22:58,978 --> 00:23:00,847
[cheers and applause]

616
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,417
- Everybody's celebrating.

617
00:23:08,254 --> 00:23:11,191
[laughter]

618
00:23:11,224 --> 00:23:13,860
- Yes!

619
00:23:13,893 --> 00:23:15,962
[cheers and applause]

620
00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:20,100
- Kyle, you've been waiting
eight seasons for this moment.

621
00:23:20,133 --> 00:23:23,803
What did it feel like to
finally get that buzzer?

622
00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,094
- Well...
- [laughs]

623
00:23:48,128 --> 00:23:49,362
[cheers and applause]

624
00:23:49,396 --> 00:23:52,532
- Well, Kyle Schulze,

625
00:23:52,565 --> 00:23:56,102
hit that buzzer again, buddy.

626
00:23:56,136 --> 00:24:00,774
- Ahh!
[buzzer blares]

627
00:24:00,807 --> 00:24:03,677
- Well, Akbar, we have
seen a lot of buzzers.

628
00:24:03,710 --> 00:24:06,079
But I don't know that one
spoke louder than the one

629
00:24:06,112 --> 00:24:07,080
Kyle Schulze just hit.

630
00:24:07,113 --> 00:24:08,314
- That's right, Matt.

631
00:24:08,348 --> 00:24:11,217
He shows everyone to
go after your dreams.

632
00:24:11,251 --> 00:24:12,752
And he did that tonight.

633
00:24:12,786 --> 00:24:16,056
- Just a spectacular moment.

634
00:24:16,089 --> 00:24:18,258
- And we've got two of
the best coming up,

635
00:24:18,291 --> 00:24:21,061
Isaiah Thomas and Daniel Gil.

636
00:24:25,532 --> 00:24:27,834
- Opening night
rolls on here at Universal

637
00:24:27,867 --> 00:24:29,369
Studios Hollywood.

638
00:24:29,402 --> 00:24:32,238
And minutes ago, Bobby
Micks, the other member

639
00:24:32,272 --> 00:24:36,976
of the Silver Fox Squad,
got ready for his close-up.

640
00:24:37,077 --> 00:24:40,280
The software engineer was
able to figure out Pole Vault.

641
00:24:40,313 --> 00:24:41,348
- All right, come on.

642
00:24:41,381 --> 00:24:42,549
Get up high.
Get up high.

643
00:24:42,582 --> 00:24:43,917
- [shouts]

644
00:24:43,950 --> 00:24:45,819
- But the 48-year-old
grandfather

645
00:24:45,852 --> 00:24:47,954
wasn't ready for Reel to Reel.

646
00:24:47,987 --> 00:24:50,523
- Oh!

647
00:24:50,557 --> 00:24:52,592
- I think I should have
shaved this off before I ran.

648
00:24:52,625 --> 00:24:54,661
It's too heavy.

649
00:24:54,694 --> 00:24:56,963
- College student
Ixchel Valentino

650
00:24:56,996 --> 00:24:59,599
came to the start line
with one of the robots

651
00:24:59,632 --> 00:25:00,800
she's built at home.

652
00:25:00,834 --> 00:25:02,268
- Oh.

653
00:25:02,302 --> 00:25:05,271
Oh, I've got to see
that go to work.

654
00:25:05,305 --> 00:25:07,407
- The 19-year-old
is studying nuclear

655
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,510
engineering at the
University of New Mexico.

656
00:25:10,543 --> 00:25:14,581
And she easily solved
the first two obstacles.

657
00:25:14,614 --> 00:25:16,049
- Nice.

658
00:25:16,049 --> 00:25:19,052
- But on Dangerous Waters,
it was a system failure.

659
00:25:19,052 --> 00:25:20,854
- Oh.
[air horn blares]

660
00:25:20,887 --> 00:25:24,257
And her run
just got terminated.

661
00:25:24,290 --> 00:25:26,559
- The Archery Ninja,
Anthony Porter,

662
00:25:26,593 --> 00:25:29,696
was on target from the start.

663
00:25:29,729 --> 00:25:31,531
- Are you kidding me?

664
00:25:31,564 --> 00:25:33,833
[cheers and applause]

665
00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:36,670
- Porter lives in a cabin
in the woods near Lake Tahoe

666
00:25:36,703 --> 00:25:39,272
and has a big following
on social media

667
00:25:39,305 --> 00:25:41,775
where he shows off
his nature adventures.

668
00:25:41,808 --> 00:25:44,644
So he was right at home
on Duck Duck Goose.

669
00:25:44,678 --> 00:25:47,113
- OK, shucky,
ducky, quack, quack.

670
00:25:47,147 --> 00:25:50,316
- The four-time "Ninja" vet
was looking good but missed

671
00:25:50,350 --> 00:25:51,584
the target on Jawbreakers.

672
00:25:51,618 --> 00:25:52,585
[air horn blares]

673
00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:54,788
- Ooh.

674
00:25:54,821 --> 00:25:56,690
- Now he'll have to
wait to see if that's

675
00:25:56,723 --> 00:25:59,092
good enough to move on.

676
00:25:59,092 --> 00:26:01,061
And flying through
the course right now

677
00:26:01,094 --> 00:26:03,396
is the Fly Boy, Isaiah Thomas.

678
00:26:03,430 --> 00:26:05,098
- Nice, nice.

679
00:26:05,131 --> 00:26:07,200
- He jumps right up
out of Duck Duck Goose.

680
00:26:07,233 --> 00:26:10,036
The 19-year-old from
Texas is starting

681
00:26:10,036 --> 00:26:13,606
his third season of "Ninja,"
always fun to watch this guy.

682
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,142
One thing he's never
lacked is confidence.

683
00:26:16,176 --> 00:26:17,811
- Yeah, oh, yeah,
he went from "I'm built

684
00:26:17,844 --> 00:26:19,312
different" to "I am him."

685
00:26:19,346 --> 00:26:22,282
And he's showing he is him.

686
00:26:22,315 --> 00:26:24,384
- His mom Jennie is on the
sidelines

687
00:26:24,417 --> 00:26:26,286
along with a big group
of training partners

688
00:26:26,319 --> 00:26:28,154
ready for Jawbreakers.

689
00:26:28,188 --> 00:26:30,156
We've only had one
buzzer tonight.

690
00:26:30,190 --> 00:26:32,892
I think Isaiah wants a
shot at the Mega Wall.

691
00:26:32,926 --> 00:26:34,794
He'll need to finish
in under 1:20.

692
00:26:34,828 --> 00:26:36,062
- Let's go.
- Come on.

693
00:26:36,096 --> 00:26:37,297
Come on.
Nice.

694
00:26:37,330 --> 00:26:39,065
- Had a great season
last year.

695
00:26:39,065 --> 00:26:40,400
He made it to Stage 2.

696
00:26:40,433 --> 00:26:41,768
And he is starting
out strong tonight.

697
00:26:41,801 --> 00:26:43,870
This is the most
challenging move.

698
00:26:43,903 --> 00:26:45,839
- He's 6'2".
Drive it in there.

699
00:26:45,872 --> 00:26:47,073
Take it.

700
00:26:47,073 --> 00:26:48,842
- Nice, Fly Boy.

701
00:26:48,875 --> 00:26:51,745
There's only few seconds left
if he wants that Mega Wall.

702
00:26:51,778 --> 00:26:53,313
Can he do it?

703
00:26:53,346 --> 00:26:54,481
- Go get it.

704
00:26:54,514 --> 00:26:55,882
[buzzer blares]

705
00:26:55,915 --> 00:26:57,117
- Gets a buzzer.

706
00:26:57,150 --> 00:26:58,985
And he's earned a
shot at the Mega Wall.

707
00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:00,653
[cheers and applause]

708
00:27:00,687 --> 00:27:01,855
- [shout]

709
00:27:01,888 --> 00:27:03,456
Let's go.

710
00:27:03,490 --> 00:27:04,791
I'm him.

711
00:27:04,824 --> 00:27:06,226
- I'm him.
- You are him.

712
00:27:06,259 --> 00:27:08,028
[cheers and applause]

713
00:27:08,028 --> 00:27:10,697
Well, the time to beat to
get a shot at the Mega Wall

714
00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:12,499
was 1:20.

715
00:27:12,532 --> 00:27:16,903
And by 0.4 of a second,
you made it, buddy.

716
00:27:16,936 --> 00:27:19,205
You get a shot at 20 grand.

717
00:27:19,239 --> 00:27:20,573
- You want it?

718
00:27:20,607 --> 00:27:21,574
- That's what I came here for.

719
00:27:21,608 --> 00:27:22,742
- All right, let's go then.

720
00:27:22,776 --> 00:27:27,213
[cheers and applause]

721
00:27:27,247 --> 00:27:29,716
- Something he's never
done is hit that

722
00:27:29,749 --> 00:27:32,052
Mega Wall, 18 and 1/2 feet.

723
00:27:32,085 --> 00:27:34,521
He could get this
season's first Mega Wall

724
00:27:34,554 --> 00:27:36,289
and earn 20 grand.

725
00:27:36,322 --> 00:27:38,725
- Here we go.

726
00:27:38,758 --> 00:27:39,859
both: Oh.

727
00:27:39,893 --> 00:27:41,327
- Oh, my goodness.

728
00:27:41,361 --> 00:27:45,932
- And $20,000 slips right
through his fingertips.

729
00:27:45,965 --> 00:27:47,600
Look how close he was.

730
00:27:47,634 --> 00:27:49,869
His right hand
reached the very top

731
00:27:49,903 --> 00:27:52,072
of that 18 and 1/2-foot wall.

732
00:27:52,072 --> 00:27:54,207
But he just couldn't hang on.

733
00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,676
Still the Fly Boy
put on a show.

734
00:27:56,710 --> 00:27:59,446
And we'll see him racing
in the semifinals.

735
00:27:59,479 --> 00:28:00,780
- That's tough.

736
00:28:00,814 --> 00:28:03,416
- It's tough.

737
00:28:03,450 --> 00:28:07,220
- Up next is the tallest
athlete we'll see all season.

738
00:28:07,253 --> 00:28:09,622
Back for his second try
at the course,

739
00:28:09,656 --> 00:28:12,292
it's Utah's 6'7"
Jonas Harmer.

740
00:28:12,325 --> 00:28:14,594
And if you really want
to make him look tall,

741
00:28:14,627 --> 00:28:17,931
just stand him next to his
wife, Olympic gymnast MyKayla

742
00:28:18,031 --> 00:28:21,201
Skinner, who's only 5 feet.

743
00:28:21,234 --> 00:28:24,037
Jonas and MyKayla competed
together in last year's

744
00:28:24,037 --> 00:28:25,105
couples championship--

745
00:28:25,138 --> 00:28:26,306
- Uh-oh, uh-oh.

746
00:28:26,339 --> 00:28:30,210
- Oh, no,
watch those long limbs.

747
00:28:30,243 --> 00:28:32,445
- --completing three
obstacles as a team.

748
00:28:32,479 --> 00:28:35,782
- OK, silver medalist.

749
00:28:35,815 --> 00:28:37,650
- Tonight,
Jonas is on his own,

750
00:28:37,684 --> 00:28:39,619
because MyKayla is pregnant.

751
00:28:39,652 --> 00:28:42,822
She's on the sideline with
Jonas's brother and Zuri.

752
00:28:42,856 --> 00:28:43,890
- How are you
feeling right now?

753
00:28:43,923 --> 00:28:45,358
He's taking the start line.

754
00:28:45,392 --> 00:28:47,127
- Sick to my stomach.

755
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:48,128
- He's got this.
He's got this.

756
00:28:48,161 --> 00:28:49,396
- Oh, my God, so bad.

757
00:28:49,429 --> 00:28:52,298
[countdown clock beeping]

758
00:28:52,332 --> 00:28:54,601
- Well, Matt, he's got his
first Olympic event here on

759
00:28:54,634 --> 00:28:56,870
"Ninja," the Pole Vault. Nice.

760
00:28:56,903 --> 00:28:58,338
OK.

761
00:28:58,371 --> 00:29:00,073
- Says he used to think
he was too tall for Ninja.

762
00:29:00,106 --> 00:29:02,075
Now he says
he's just too tall.

763
00:29:02,108 --> 00:29:03,443
He can handle Ninja.

764
00:29:03,476 --> 00:29:05,612
We'll see if the big man
handles Reel to Reel.

765
00:29:05,645 --> 00:29:08,181
- Well, Matt, he just showed
MyKayla he's an Olympian too.

766
00:29:08,214 --> 00:29:10,617
Look at him
on the Pole Vault.

767
00:29:10,650 --> 00:29:13,553
Big-time! Yeah!
- Easy transfer--

768
00:29:13,586 --> 00:29:16,623
Ooh, a little trouble
there finding his rhythm.

769
00:29:16,656 --> 00:29:17,657
- Come on.
- Swing for it.

770
00:29:17,691 --> 00:29:18,658
Come on.

771
00:29:18,692 --> 00:29:21,895
- Come on, babe.
- Come on.

772
00:29:21,928 --> 00:29:25,031
- He survived.

773
00:29:25,065 --> 00:29:29,035
Well, let's see how he
handles Dangerous Waters.

774
00:29:29,069 --> 00:29:31,738
It was a balance obstacle that
took him out the last time

775
00:29:31,771 --> 00:29:33,606
he ran the course.

776
00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,375
[air horn blares]

777
00:29:35,408 --> 00:29:36,710
- All right, now, he's 6' 7".

778
00:29:36,743 --> 00:29:37,844
Do you think that's going
to affect him on the

779
00:29:37,877 --> 00:29:39,045
course tonight?

780
00:29:39,079 --> 00:29:40,413
- It might a little bit.

781
00:29:40,447 --> 00:29:41,848
I mean, last time,
he hit his feet in the water,

782
00:29:41,881 --> 00:29:43,383
because he was too tall.
- Yeah.

783
00:29:43,416 --> 00:29:46,419
- But I think he knows to lift
those legs up high this time.

784
00:29:46,453 --> 00:29:48,621
- As a big man, it can
be easy to over-stride.

785
00:29:48,655 --> 00:29:49,622
Nice.

786
00:29:49,656 --> 00:29:50,724
- Ooh.

787
00:29:50,757 --> 00:29:51,791
- OK.
- And he's alive.

788
00:29:51,825 --> 00:29:53,159
And he is pumped.

789
00:29:53,193 --> 00:29:55,895
- Oh, he's talking trash
to Dangerous Waters.

790
00:29:55,929 --> 00:29:58,064
MyKayla, she breathes
a sigh of relief

791
00:29:58,064 --> 00:30:01,534
for Jonas, who's now going to
go flying on Duck Duck Goose.

792
00:30:01,568 --> 00:30:05,739
But at 220, that goose is
really going to be a challenge

793
00:30:05,772 --> 00:30:07,140
to absorb the drop.

794
00:30:07,173 --> 00:30:08,775
- All right, you got to
anticipate the--

795
00:30:08,808 --> 00:30:10,710
- Aw.
[air horn blares]

796
00:30:10,744 --> 00:30:12,512
- Come on.
- Oh, my goodness.

797
00:30:12,545 --> 00:30:14,047
He just flopped.

798
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:15,648
- It's OK, babe.

799
00:30:15,682 --> 00:30:17,984
- For his size, though,
that's a good run.

800
00:30:18,018 --> 00:30:20,353
Jonas Harmer makes it
to the fourth obstacle.

801
00:30:20,387 --> 00:30:22,122
- You're proud of him.
- I'm so proud of him.

802
00:30:22,155 --> 00:30:24,024
He went out there and did the
best that he could tonight.

803
00:30:24,057 --> 00:30:25,558
And I was his
biggest cheerleader, so--

804
00:30:25,592 --> 00:30:26,926
- I love it.

805
00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:28,428
I love it, a lot
to be proud of.

806
00:30:28,461 --> 00:30:29,996
And don't forget.

807
00:30:30,030 --> 00:30:34,067
Tune in to the Olympics on NBC
and Peacock starting July 26th.

808
00:30:36,336 --> 00:30:38,471
- Up next,
she and her boyfriend won

809
00:30:38,505 --> 00:30:41,975
our 2024 Couples Championship
last week.

810
00:30:42,008 --> 00:30:44,411
- Now, Isabella Wakeham
rides that momentum

811
00:30:44,444 --> 00:30:46,079
into the regular season.

812
00:30:46,112 --> 00:30:49,816
when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

813
00:30:53,286 --> 00:30:54,487
- It's "Ninja's"
opening night.

814
00:30:54,521 --> 00:30:56,589
And we're keeping
things moving.

815
00:30:56,623 --> 00:30:57,590
- Boom.

816
00:30:57,624 --> 00:30:58,858
Oh.

817
00:30:58,892 --> 00:31:00,760
- Professional
mover Milton Nkunku

818
00:31:00,794 --> 00:31:04,297
burst onto the stage minutes
ago like a man on a mission.

819
00:31:04,330 --> 00:31:06,332
The 30-year-old
from Phoenix has

820
00:31:06,366 --> 00:31:09,069
fallen on the first
obstacle the last two times

821
00:31:09,069 --> 00:31:10,337
he's run the course.

822
00:31:10,370 --> 00:31:11,971
- No.

823
00:31:12,072 --> 00:31:14,841
- So he was determined to get
past obstacle one tonight.

824
00:31:14,874 --> 00:31:15,842
- Look at him.

825
00:31:15,875 --> 00:31:17,444
That's how you do it.

826
00:31:17,477 --> 00:31:18,678
[cheers and applause]

827
00:31:18,712 --> 00:31:20,413
- But seconds later,
Milton the mover

828
00:31:20,447 --> 00:31:22,849
didn't have the moves
for Reel to Reel.

829
00:31:22,882 --> 00:31:25,785
- Oh.
[air horn blares]

830
00:31:25,819 --> 00:31:28,922
- Jesus Capote is another
hardworking ninja.

831
00:31:28,955 --> 00:31:31,725
He's a tree trimmer
from Marrero, Louisiana,

832
00:31:31,758 --> 00:31:34,461
and goes by the name
the Who Dat Ninja.

833
00:31:34,494 --> 00:31:37,497
And this 30-year-old rookie
ripped through this course

834
00:31:37,530 --> 00:31:38,498
like a buzzsaw.

835
00:31:38,531 --> 00:31:40,433
- Boy, this Cajun is raging.

836
00:31:40,467 --> 00:31:43,003
- His kids were in
tears watching him as he

837
00:31:43,103 --> 00:31:44,971
flew across Duck Duck Goose.

838
00:31:45,005 --> 00:31:46,840
- Who is this ninja?

839
00:31:46,873 --> 00:31:48,508
Who Dat, Matt?

840
00:31:48,541 --> 00:31:50,910
- And the tree trimmer made
it all the way to Jawbreakers

841
00:31:50,944 --> 00:31:52,479
before he was cut down.

842
00:31:52,512 --> 00:31:54,214
- Ahh!
[air horn blares]

843
00:31:54,247 --> 00:31:55,782
What a debut.

844
00:31:55,815 --> 00:31:59,285
- And that run secured him
a spot in the semifinals.

845
00:31:59,319 --> 00:32:02,055
Sam Folsom had a unique
thrill for a ninja.

846
00:32:02,088 --> 00:32:05,158
He had the chance to compete
on an obstacle he designed.

847
00:32:05,191 --> 00:32:08,161
He's built dozens of
obstacles in his barn

848
00:32:08,194 --> 00:32:11,064
in Illinois, including a
version of Duck Duck Goose,

849
00:32:11,097 --> 00:32:12,966
tonight's fourth obstacle.

850
00:32:13,066 --> 00:32:15,402
- From the barn
to the big course.

851
00:32:15,435 --> 00:32:17,704
- With girlfriend,
Isabella Wakeham,

852
00:32:17,737 --> 00:32:20,774
Folsom won our couples
championship last week.

853
00:32:20,807 --> 00:32:23,810
And he had no problem
with Duck Duck Goose then,

854
00:32:23,843 --> 00:32:25,178
but tonight...

855
00:32:25,211 --> 00:32:27,180
both: Oh!
[air horn blares]

856
00:32:27,213 --> 00:32:29,382
- Oh, he's in complete shock.

857
00:32:29,416 --> 00:32:31,918
- Despite falling
on his own obstacle,

858
00:32:31,951 --> 00:32:36,156
his fast time means he still
has a chance to move on.

859
00:32:36,189 --> 00:32:38,291
So now, his girlfriend,
Isabella Wakeham,

860
00:32:38,324 --> 00:32:40,293
gets her shot at the course.

861
00:32:40,326 --> 00:32:42,595
The college student
starts the season

862
00:32:42,629 --> 00:32:44,564
with a lot of confidence.

863
00:32:44,597 --> 00:32:46,499
As we mentioned,
she and Sam

864
00:32:46,533 --> 00:32:49,102
won our couples championship
last week.

865
00:32:49,102 --> 00:32:51,604
Isabella's also competed
in our last two

866
00:32:51,638 --> 00:32:53,540
Women's Championships.

867
00:32:53,573 --> 00:32:55,342
She was on Sam's sideline.

868
00:32:55,375 --> 00:32:57,410
Now he'll be cheering
for her along

869
00:32:57,444 --> 00:32:59,312
with her parents and brother.
- Let's go, Bell.

870
00:32:59,346 --> 00:33:00,747
[countdown clock beeping]

871
00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:03,416
- We first saw Isabella
Wakeham on "Ninja Junior"

872
00:33:03,450 --> 00:33:04,784
when she was 14.

873
00:33:04,818 --> 00:33:06,553
And knew then she
was going to be good.

874
00:33:06,586 --> 00:33:08,054
And in our Women's
Championship,

875
00:33:08,054 --> 00:33:10,423
she's finished
the Stage 1 course twice

876
00:33:10,457 --> 00:33:13,226
but hasn't hit a buzzer
in the regular season.

877
00:33:13,259 --> 00:33:14,327
- We know she's plenty
capable.

878
00:33:14,361 --> 00:33:16,062
Just has to put
it all together.

879
00:33:16,096 --> 00:33:17,764
- Studying kinesiology
at Texas A&M,

880
00:33:17,797 --> 00:33:20,734
learning how the body moves--

881
00:33:20,767 --> 00:33:21,768
- Nice.

882
00:33:21,801 --> 00:33:24,070
- Got that transfer.

883
00:33:24,070 --> 00:33:28,208
She's figured out how to
get through Reel to Reel.

884
00:33:28,241 --> 00:33:29,676
Been training for "Ninja"
since she

885
00:33:29,709 --> 00:33:34,748
was 10 years old, ready
to take on Dangerous Waters.

886
00:33:34,781 --> 00:33:35,749
- Nice.

887
00:33:35,782 --> 00:33:37,250
- Great balance.
- Yes.

888
00:33:37,283 --> 00:33:40,487
- Now she gets to face
the obstacle her boyfriend

889
00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:42,188
designed, Duck Duck Goose.

890
00:33:42,222 --> 00:33:44,290
- And Matt, you can see her
taking a look at Sam like,

891
00:33:44,324 --> 00:33:45,425
"Sam, watch me."

892
00:33:45,458 --> 00:33:46,559
- Sam designed it.

893
00:33:46,593 --> 00:33:47,594
It took him out.

894
00:33:47,627 --> 00:33:49,662
Isabella going for revenge.

895
00:33:49,696 --> 00:33:50,663
- Here we go.

896
00:33:50,697 --> 00:33:52,098
Nice.

897
00:33:52,098 --> 00:33:53,900
- And you can just see
the drop of those wings

898
00:33:53,933 --> 00:33:56,002
makes it so
difficult to hold on.

899
00:33:56,102 --> 00:33:57,470
- She's got such
great grip strength.

900
00:33:57,504 --> 00:33:58,905
Nice.
- Lock it in.

901
00:33:58,938 --> 00:34:00,306
- She is for real.

902
00:34:00,340 --> 00:34:02,809
Now, this last one
here, you got to commit

903
00:34:02,842 --> 00:34:04,210
to it all the way through.

904
00:34:04,244 --> 00:34:05,879
You got to come in tight.

905
00:34:05,912 --> 00:34:06,946
Nice.

906
00:34:07,047 --> 00:34:10,183
- And Isabella Wakeham.
- Whoo.

907
00:34:10,216 --> 00:34:12,052
- She does what
her boyfriend couldn't,

908
00:34:12,052 --> 00:34:14,054
gets through Duck Duck Goose.

909
00:34:14,054 --> 00:34:15,488
- Let's go.

910
00:34:15,522 --> 00:34:16,923
- I see you, Isabella.

911
00:34:16,956 --> 00:34:18,958
- One obstacle
standing between her

912
00:34:19,059 --> 00:34:20,393
and a shot at that
Warped Wall.

913
00:34:20,427 --> 00:34:23,363
She's made it to the fifth
obstacle three times

914
00:34:23,396 --> 00:34:27,300
before in qualifying but
never gotten past it.

915
00:34:27,334 --> 00:34:30,470
Only one woman hit a buzzer in
qualifying last season--

916
00:34:30,503 --> 00:34:33,840
Isabella Wakeham trying
to do it on opening night.

917
00:34:33,873 --> 00:34:35,208
- Nice, good power.

918
00:34:35,241 --> 00:34:37,644
- You got to really slam
that bar into the jaw.

919
00:34:37,677 --> 00:34:40,347
- But this is all about
the angles as well--

920
00:34:40,380 --> 00:34:42,282
so the upper-body strength,
but also the precision.

921
00:34:42,315 --> 00:34:43,616
Nice.

922
00:34:43,650 --> 00:34:46,186
- Wow, great move,
really using the hips,

923
00:34:46,219 --> 00:34:47,987
bringing that bar
down and around.

924
00:34:48,088 --> 00:34:49,356
- All right, this
is where you got

925
00:34:49,389 --> 00:34:51,091
to use the boxing
move here-- uppercut,

926
00:34:51,091 --> 00:34:52,792
uppercut, uppercut-- nice.

927
00:34:52,826 --> 00:34:53,793
- Yes.

928
00:34:53,827 --> 00:34:56,096
Isabella Wakeham does it.

929
00:34:56,096 --> 00:34:57,430
- Nice.

930
00:34:57,464 --> 00:35:00,233
- 14 1/2 feet away
from her first ever buzzer.

931
00:35:00,266 --> 00:35:01,401
- Go get it.

932
00:35:01,434 --> 00:35:04,337
- And look at the
smile on her face.

933
00:35:04,371 --> 00:35:06,039
- She got it.
- Yes.

934
00:35:06,039 --> 00:35:07,040
- She's got it.

935
00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:08,208
[buzzer blares]

936
00:35:08,241 --> 00:35:11,945
Yes, there it is.

937
00:35:12,045 --> 00:35:14,848
Isabella Wakeham gets it.

938
00:35:14,881 --> 00:35:18,385
- Her first buzzer.

939
00:35:18,418 --> 00:35:21,821
- Isabella, I just got to
ask you a simple question.

940
00:35:21,855 --> 00:35:23,490
What does that
buzzer feel like?

941
00:35:23,523 --> 00:35:24,624
That's your first one.

942
00:35:24,657 --> 00:35:26,192
What does it feel like?

943
00:35:26,226 --> 00:35:29,829
- Oh, my gosh, I mean,
I've been training for this

944
00:35:29,863 --> 00:35:31,164
for a really long time.

945
00:35:31,197 --> 00:35:33,600
And just all my
training partners--

946
00:35:33,633 --> 00:35:35,535
[cheers and applause]

947
00:35:35,568 --> 00:35:36,536
- --and my parents--

948
00:35:36,569 --> 00:35:37,971
- Let's go.

949
00:35:38,071 --> 00:35:39,439
- --I couldn't do
it without them.

950
00:35:39,472 --> 00:35:41,941
- Why don't you go celebrate
with your crew, Isabella?

951
00:35:41,975 --> 00:35:45,111
What a moment
for that young woman.

952
00:35:45,145 --> 00:35:47,280
She beat her
boyfriend's obstacle

953
00:35:47,313 --> 00:35:50,216
and then slammed her
way past Jawbreakers.

954
00:35:50,250 --> 00:35:53,119
No ninja ever forgets
their first buzzer.

955
00:35:53,153 --> 00:35:56,089
This is a big moment for her.

956
00:35:56,089 --> 00:35:58,158
And her crew is going
to help her celebrate.

957
00:35:58,191 --> 00:36:00,794
They may carry her all the
way down New York Street.

958
00:36:00,827 --> 00:36:03,897
She's our first woman to
hit a buzzer this season.

959
00:36:03,930 --> 00:36:05,465
- Coming up,

960
00:36:05,498 --> 00:36:08,868
he climbed the rope for a
million dollars last year--

961
00:36:08,902 --> 00:36:10,036
- He's about to do it.
Get it.

962
00:36:10,036 --> 00:36:11,137
[buzzer blares]

963
00:36:11,171 --> 00:36:13,106
Oh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!
- Yes!

964
00:36:13,139 --> 00:36:15,709
But then lost out
to Vance Walker.

965
00:36:15,742 --> 00:36:16,710
- Oh, my goodness.

966
00:36:16,743 --> 00:36:20,513
[buzzer blares]

967
00:36:20,547 --> 00:36:23,049
- Now, Daniel Gil
starts a new quest

968
00:36:23,083 --> 00:36:27,587
to win it all when "American
Ninja Warrior" returns.

969
00:36:32,792 --> 00:36:35,929
- A trio of Texans hit the
course while we were away.

970
00:36:35,962 --> 00:36:38,531
Teenager Madelyn Madaras
was one of last season's

971
00:36:38,565 --> 00:36:39,532
breakout stars.

972
00:36:39,566 --> 00:36:40,767
- Let's go, Madelyn.

973
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,135
- She hit a buzzer
in semifinals

974
00:36:42,168 --> 00:36:45,071
and made it to the Vegas
finals as a rookie.

975
00:36:45,105 --> 00:36:47,707
And tonight, she picked up
right where she left off.

976
00:36:47,741 --> 00:36:50,877
- Reel to Reel,
and she's keeping it real.

977
00:36:50,910 --> 00:36:54,514
- The Houston high-schooler
aced the first four obstacles.

978
00:36:54,547 --> 00:36:55,782
- All right, here we go.

979
00:36:55,815 --> 00:36:57,150
Duck Duck Goose, you're it.

980
00:36:57,183 --> 00:36:58,518
Nice.

981
00:36:58,551 --> 00:37:01,287
- And she almost
finished Jawbreakers.

982
00:37:01,321 --> 00:37:02,522
- Nice-- oh.

983
00:37:02,555 --> 00:37:04,758
- No!

984
00:37:04,791 --> 00:37:07,527
- So Zuri gave her
some good news.

985
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,295
- You went far
enough, fast enough

986
00:37:09,329 --> 00:37:10,797
to get you to the semifinals.

987
00:37:10,830 --> 00:37:12,298
Congratulations
on an awesome run.

988
00:37:12,332 --> 00:37:13,299
- Thank you so much.

989
00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:15,201
I'm so excited.

990
00:37:15,235 --> 00:37:19,039
- Then it was the Big Dog,
6'6" Jody Avila.

991
00:37:19,072 --> 00:37:20,573
- Yeah, let's go.
- Come on, babe.

992
00:37:20,607 --> 00:37:22,709
- With his family
on the sidelines,

993
00:37:22,742 --> 00:37:25,745
the 38-year-old heating and
air-conditioning technician

994
00:37:25,779 --> 00:37:30,050
from Sugar Land, Texas, looked
sweet on the balance obstacle.

995
00:37:30,083 --> 00:37:34,054
And despite being 210
pounds, the Big Dog stayed

996
00:37:34,054 --> 00:37:35,789
light on Duck Duck Goose--

997
00:37:35,822 --> 00:37:37,190
- Come in tight.

998
00:37:37,223 --> 00:37:40,126
Nice, that's what I'm
talking about, Big Dog.

999
00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,762
- --then made quick
work of Jawbreakers--

1000
00:37:42,796 --> 00:37:43,930
- Oh, nice.

1001
00:37:43,963 --> 00:37:46,066
He's on fire.

1002
00:37:46,066 --> 00:37:48,868
- --to snag his fifth
straight qualifying buzzer

1003
00:37:48,902 --> 00:37:50,370
and secure a spot
in the semis.

1004
00:37:50,403 --> 00:37:53,840
- Let's go.
[buzzer blares]

1005
00:37:53,873 --> 00:37:56,876
- Houston's Grant Kiningham
is an ice sculptor,

1006
00:37:56,910 --> 00:38:00,146
creating works of art like the
one he made for his housemate,

1007
00:38:00,180 --> 00:38:01,581
"Ninja" great Daniel Gil.

1008
00:38:01,614 --> 00:38:03,249
[cheers and applause]

1009
00:38:03,283 --> 00:38:07,520
Gil was cheering as Kiningham
played it cool on Reel to Reel

1010
00:38:07,554 --> 00:38:10,156
and then had a close call
in the balance obstacle.

1011
00:38:10,190 --> 00:38:14,027
- Oh, he almost melted
on Dangerous Waters.

1012
00:38:14,027 --> 00:38:16,629
- Kiningham earned a trip
to the National Finals last

1013
00:38:16,663 --> 00:38:19,766
year but had never hit
a buzzer in qualifying--

1014
00:38:19,799 --> 00:38:21,101
until tonight.

1015
00:38:21,134 --> 00:38:23,069
[buzzer blares]

1016
00:38:23,103 --> 00:38:24,070
- Yeah!

1017
00:38:24,104 --> 00:38:26,306
- I just finished the course.

1018
00:38:26,339 --> 00:38:28,041
[cheers and applause]

1019
00:38:28,074 --> 00:38:31,277
- Last year, Daniel Gil
started off his season

1020
00:38:31,311 --> 00:38:33,179
with the fastest
time in qualifying

1021
00:38:33,213 --> 00:38:36,416
and followed it up by
taking down the Mega Wall.

1022
00:38:36,449 --> 00:38:38,785
And the worship
leader from Houston

1023
00:38:38,818 --> 00:38:41,054
put together another
impressive season,

1024
00:38:41,054 --> 00:38:43,456
going all the way
to Stage 4 in Vegas,

1025
00:38:43,490 --> 00:38:48,194
where he just missed out
on a million dollars.

1026
00:38:48,228 --> 00:38:50,296
[inspirational music]

1027
00:38:50,330 --> 00:38:52,832
- Last season was a
little bittersweet.

1028
00:38:52,866 --> 00:38:54,134
[countdown clock beeping]

1029
00:38:54,167 --> 00:38:55,935
- Oh, my goodness,
he's so close, Matt.

1030
00:38:55,969 --> 00:38:56,936
He's about to do it.

1031
00:38:56,970 --> 00:38:57,937
Oh, he's lost his footing.

1032
00:38:57,971 --> 00:39:00,407
- So close.

1033
00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:01,675
Yes!
- Oh! Oh, my gosh!

1034
00:39:01,708 --> 00:39:03,043
Oh, my gosh!
- Yes!

1035
00:39:03,076 --> 00:39:04,511
Daniel Gil has done it!
- Oh, my goodness.

1036
00:39:04,544 --> 00:39:06,780
Oh, my goodness.

1037
00:39:06,813 --> 00:39:11,151
- I had the million dollars
in my hands basically.

1038
00:39:11,184 --> 00:39:15,689
And then my boy, Vance
Walker, came and had a better

1039
00:39:15,722 --> 00:39:17,457
rope climb than I did.

1040
00:39:17,490 --> 00:39:18,692
[buzzer blares]

1041
00:39:18,725 --> 00:39:22,762
- Vance Walker has
done it a full second

1042
00:39:22,796 --> 00:39:27,300
faster than Daniel Gil.

1043
00:39:27,334 --> 00:39:30,603
- Coming into a new season,
losing a million dollars,

1044
00:39:30,637 --> 00:39:33,940
getting my rematch and my
revenge on Mount Midoriyama

1045
00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:36,209
is a huge motivator for me.

1046
00:39:36,242 --> 00:39:38,878
* *

1047
00:39:38,912 --> 00:39:41,581
I have a spark,
a fire in my belly.

1048
00:39:41,614 --> 00:39:44,050
I want that million dollars.

1049
00:39:44,084 --> 00:39:45,452
I want to be crowned champion.

1050
00:39:45,485 --> 00:39:48,455
* *

1051
00:39:48,488 --> 00:39:51,458
- Last season had to be
heartbreaking for Daniel Gil.

1052
00:39:51,491 --> 00:39:53,193
But he handled it with class.

1053
00:39:53,226 --> 00:39:55,195
Don't let that smile
on his face fool you.

1054
00:39:55,228 --> 00:39:56,930
He wants it badly.
- Whoo-whoo!

1055
00:39:56,963 --> 00:40:00,066
- Daniel's wife, Abby,
on the sideline along

1056
00:40:00,066 --> 00:40:01,301
with some Texas ninja friends.

1057
00:40:01,334 --> 00:40:03,069
- Let's go, Daniel.

1058
00:40:03,103 --> 00:40:05,438
[countdown clock beeping]

1059
00:40:05,472 --> 00:40:08,308
- To think he came so close
to that million dollars

1060
00:40:08,341 --> 00:40:09,576
and winning it all,

1061
00:40:09,609 --> 00:40:11,945
you know Daniel Gil
is on a mission.

1062
00:40:11,978 --> 00:40:14,014
- He's been an elite ninja
since he started

1063
00:40:14,047 --> 00:40:15,448
nine years ago.

1064
00:40:15,482 --> 00:40:17,083
He was as the Last
Ninja Standing one year

1065
00:40:17,117 --> 00:40:18,218
and has been the
runner-up twice.

1066
00:40:18,251 --> 00:40:19,886
- Nice.

1067
00:40:19,919 --> 00:40:23,456
- Just smooth in Reel to Reel
and always has a fast pace.

1068
00:40:23,490 --> 00:40:25,525
You know he wants a
shot at the Mega Wall.

1069
00:40:25,558 --> 00:40:27,827
Because with him, it's pretty
much money in the bank.

1070
00:40:27,861 --> 00:40:30,030
- Yeah, he's moving fast.

1071
00:40:30,063 --> 00:40:32,832
- The Fly Boy Isaiah Thomas
has the fastest time so far.

1072
00:40:32,866 --> 00:40:35,602
But Gil is moving
like he wants to beat it.

1073
00:40:35,635 --> 00:40:37,537
He's been the
fastest in qualifying

1074
00:40:37,570 --> 00:40:38,872
five times in his career.

1075
00:40:38,905 --> 00:40:40,940
- Big close here, big close.

1076
00:40:40,974 --> 00:40:42,575
- All right,
you see him locking

1077
00:40:42,609 --> 00:40:45,311
in, eyeballing exactly where
he needs to have his hands--

1078
00:40:45,345 --> 00:40:46,813
great.

1079
00:40:46,846 --> 00:40:48,548
[cheers and applause]

1080
00:40:48,581 --> 00:40:51,718
- Daniel Gil lands
the dismount.

1081
00:40:51,751 --> 00:40:54,054
Now has under 35
seconds to finish if he

1082
00:40:54,087 --> 00:40:56,222
wants a shot at the Mega Wall.

1083
00:40:56,256 --> 00:40:58,758
And right into it on
Jawbreakers, Akbar.

1084
00:40:58,792 --> 00:41:00,794
- Yeah, 165 pounds,
make sure you

1085
00:41:00,827 --> 00:41:03,697
throw enough power in
there so on the Jawbreaker

1086
00:41:03,730 --> 00:41:05,598
you actually break
through the teeth.

1087
00:41:05,632 --> 00:41:06,900
- With his speed
up to this point,

1088
00:41:06,933 --> 00:41:08,368
he's guaranteed to move on.

1089
00:41:08,401 --> 00:41:11,738
But it's going to be
close to finish under 1:20

1090
00:41:11,771 --> 00:41:13,239
and earn a shot
at the Mega Wall.

1091
00:41:13,273 --> 00:41:15,275
- I like that he's moving
fast but making sure he

1092
00:41:15,308 --> 00:41:17,711
doesn't make any mistakes.
Nice.

1093
00:41:17,744 --> 00:41:20,080
- Locks it in,
10 seconds left.

1094
00:41:20,113 --> 00:41:21,414
- All right, he's got a chance.
- Oh, yeah,

1095
00:41:21,448 --> 00:41:22,649
with the hair flowing.

1096
00:41:22,682 --> 00:41:24,551
- He's got a shot.
He's getting so close.

1097
00:41:24,584 --> 00:41:27,420
[buzzer blares]
- And he's got it.

1098
00:41:27,454 --> 00:41:29,089
[cheers and applause]

1099
00:41:29,122 --> 00:41:31,524
- The fastest time
of the night, and he's

1100
00:41:31,558 --> 00:41:35,261
going to get a shot at
20 grand on the Mega Wall.

1101
00:41:35,295 --> 00:41:37,163
[cheers and applause]

1102
00:41:37,197 --> 00:41:39,165
Yo, you ready for this
20 thousand?

1103
00:41:39,199 --> 00:41:40,367
- I think so.

1104
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:42,469
- Go get it.
- [laughs]

1105
00:41:42,502 --> 00:41:44,938
[tense music]

1106
00:41:44,971 --> 00:41:47,307
- He took down the
Mega Wall last year.

1107
00:41:47,340 --> 00:41:50,110
Right now, he's tied
with Joe Moravsky for most

1108
00:41:50,110 --> 00:41:52,412
Mega Wall buzzers with three.

1109
00:41:52,445 --> 00:41:56,016
Can he get a record-breaking
fourth right now,

1110
00:41:56,116 --> 00:41:57,450
trying to be the
first this season

1111
00:41:57,484 --> 00:42:00,854
to take down the
18 and 1/2 foot wall?

1112
00:42:00,887 --> 00:42:02,055
* *

1113
00:42:02,055 --> 00:42:05,725
Daniel Gil.
both: Oh!

1114
00:42:05,759 --> 00:42:08,261
- Just runs out of
traction on the Mega Wall

1115
00:42:08,294 --> 00:42:11,431
but did put up the
fastest time of the night.

1116
00:42:11,464 --> 00:42:16,136
- He's going to be a top
seed in the semifinals.

1117
00:42:16,169 --> 00:42:20,407
Up next, it's The Runoffs,
our side-by-side races

1118
00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,510
to earn the final spots
in the semifinals.

1119
00:42:23,543 --> 00:42:26,112
It's a sprint across
four obstacles,

1120
00:42:26,146 --> 00:42:30,083
Home Run, Spring Forward,

1121
00:42:30,116 --> 00:42:33,987
Wingnuts, and Hopscotch.

1122
00:42:34,087 --> 00:42:35,321
Winners move on.

1123
00:42:35,355 --> 00:42:38,391
For the losers,
the season is over--

1124
00:42:38,425 --> 00:42:41,961
when "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

1125
00:42:46,666 --> 00:42:49,336
- "Ninja's" opening night
is full of surprises.

1126
00:42:49,369 --> 00:42:51,104
One of them came moments ago,

1127
00:42:51,137 --> 00:42:53,873
when 19-year-old Jonah Brown
hit the course.

1128
00:42:53,907 --> 00:42:56,109
- Ooh.
Jonah ain't messing around.

1129
00:42:56,109 --> 00:42:59,346
- In his first time competing,
the welder from Tennessee

1130
00:42:59,379 --> 00:43:00,814
was a revelation.

1131
00:43:00,847 --> 00:43:02,882
- It's his rookie campaign,
but he's running it

1132
00:43:02,916 --> 00:43:05,385
like he's been waiting
for this moment for so long.

1133
00:43:05,418 --> 00:43:06,920
[cheering]

1134
00:43:06,953 --> 00:43:09,556
- The rookie put up
the fastest time of the night.

1135
00:43:09,589 --> 00:43:11,324
[buzzer blares]

1136
00:43:11,358 --> 00:43:14,060
And earned a shot
at the Mega Wall.

1137
00:43:14,060 --> 00:43:16,062
- Where the heck
did you come from, man?

1138
00:43:16,096 --> 00:43:17,530
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

1139
00:43:17,564 --> 00:43:19,699
- Though his run
at the 18 1/2 foot wall

1140
00:43:19,733 --> 00:43:20,967
came up short...

1141
00:43:21,067 --> 00:43:24,137
- Oh!
- It was still quite a debut.

1142
00:43:25,572 --> 00:43:28,608
So the rookie sits atop
our men's leaderboard

1143
00:43:28,641 --> 00:43:31,077
just ahead of Daniel Gil.

1144
00:43:31,077 --> 00:43:33,346
We had six finishers
in this group,

1145
00:43:33,380 --> 00:43:36,349
including the inspirational
Kyle Schulze.

1146
00:43:36,383 --> 00:43:37,851
The top 11 are guaranteed

1147
00:43:37,884 --> 00:43:39,519
to move on, but our 12th

1148
00:43:39,552 --> 00:43:41,187
and 13th place men will now

1149
00:43:41,221 --> 00:43:43,089
face each other in the first

1150
00:43:43,123 --> 00:43:45,592
of our runoffs,
our head-to-head races

1151
00:43:45,625 --> 00:43:47,994
for the final spot
in the semifinals.

1152
00:43:48,094 --> 00:43:50,230
And one competitor
is a surprise,

1153
00:43:50,263 --> 00:43:53,967
Utah's Jonas Harmer,
the 6'7" husband

1154
00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:55,769
of Olympic medalist
MyKayla Skinner.

1155
00:43:55,802 --> 00:43:57,337
- Let's go, babe!

1156
00:43:57,370 --> 00:43:58,905
- Harmer's got a tough
test ahead of him.

1157
00:43:58,938 --> 00:44:01,107
He's facing a top
Ninja competitor,

1158
00:44:01,141 --> 00:44:03,209
Oregon's Caiden Madzelan.

1159
00:44:03,243 --> 00:44:04,944
Besides being much taller,

1160
00:44:05,045 --> 00:44:06,746
Jonas is 50 pounds heavier

1161
00:44:06,780 --> 00:44:07,781
than the teenager.

1162
00:44:07,814 --> 00:44:09,282
It's going to be tough to

1163
00:44:09,315 --> 00:44:11,051
outrun anyone with his size.

1164
00:44:11,051 --> 00:44:12,352
Jonas also has

1165
00:44:12,385 --> 00:44:14,421
less experience.

1166
00:44:14,454 --> 00:44:16,523
Now, Caiden's made it
to the National Finals

1167
00:44:16,556 --> 00:44:19,059
every season he's competed.

1168
00:44:19,059 --> 00:44:21,428
Madzelan's done so well,
he was given the key

1169
00:44:21,461 --> 00:44:24,764
to the city in his hometown
of Troutdale, Oregon.

1170
00:44:26,833 --> 00:44:29,502
Caiden's got his family
on the sideline.

1171
00:44:29,536 --> 00:44:32,572
Jonas' wife, MyKayla,
won a silver medal in Tokyo.

1172
00:44:32,605 --> 00:44:36,076
He's going to need a big-time
performance like that tonight,

1173
00:44:36,109 --> 00:44:38,078
first race of the season.

1174
00:44:38,111 --> 00:44:40,280
[countdown clock beeping]

1175
00:44:40,313 --> 00:44:42,749
Starts with a sprint
across Home Run.

1176
00:44:42,782 --> 00:44:44,551
- Oh!

1177
00:44:44,584 --> 00:44:46,886
- A huge upset
in our very first race

1178
00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:48,988
as Caiden Madzelan
falls early.

1179
00:44:49,089 --> 00:44:51,224
And that means
Jonas Harmer is the winner.

1180
00:44:51,257 --> 00:44:52,759
- Yeah, babe!

1181
00:44:52,792 --> 00:44:56,229
- MyKayla's happy, a great
moment for this couple.

1182
00:44:56,262 --> 00:44:57,364
That baby
they're expecting has

1183
00:44:57,397 --> 00:44:59,499
two great athletes as parents.

1184
00:44:59,532 --> 00:45:02,335
And now Jonas is headed
to the semifinals.

1185
00:45:02,369 --> 00:45:06,039
And Caiden Madzelan
is absolutely heartbroken.

1186
00:45:06,039 --> 00:45:07,340
Let's look at it.

1187
00:45:07,374 --> 00:45:09,409
He was one-stepping it
on Home Run

1188
00:45:09,442 --> 00:45:12,045
and just came up short
on the third one.

1189
00:45:12,078 --> 00:45:15,181
And just like that,
his season is over.

1190
00:45:15,215 --> 00:45:17,717
Now for the women,
those moving on

1191
00:45:17,751 --> 00:45:19,319
include Isabella Wakeham,

1192
00:45:19,352 --> 00:45:22,722
who got her first buzzer,
plus teenager Madelyn Madaras

1193
00:45:22,756 --> 00:45:26,059
and Karen Wiltin, who's
going to the semifinals

1194
00:45:26,092 --> 00:45:30,196
in her comeback after
that devastating injury.

1195
00:45:30,230 --> 00:45:32,399
The final spot will
be decided by our fourth

1196
00:45:32,432 --> 00:45:33,933
and fifth place women.

1197
00:45:33,967 --> 00:45:37,737
Will it be robot-building
teenager Ixchel Valentino,

1198
00:45:37,771 --> 00:45:40,140
or her opponent,
former college basketball

1199
00:45:40,173 --> 00:45:42,442
player Liv Hackmann?

1200
00:45:42,475 --> 00:45:45,512
Liv was a three-year starter
on the Southeast Missouri

1201
00:45:45,545 --> 00:45:47,247
State basketball team
and played

1202
00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:49,182
professionally in Australia.

1203
00:45:50,083 --> 00:45:53,086
Earlier tonight, her
athleticism was on display--

1204
00:45:53,086 --> 00:45:54,821
- Oh, come on. Come on.

1205
00:45:54,854 --> 00:45:57,490
Oh, nice, went down
hard in the paint.

1206
00:45:57,524 --> 00:46:00,827
- Until her hoop dreams
ended on Duck Duck Goose.

1207
00:46:00,860 --> 00:46:04,297
- Oh, she airballed.

1208
00:46:04,330 --> 00:46:06,232
- Ixchel doesn't
play basketball.

1209
00:46:06,266 --> 00:46:09,736
But she did build a robot
that can chuck one 50 feet.

1210
00:46:09,769 --> 00:46:13,173
[dramatic music]

1211
00:46:13,206 --> 00:46:15,642
Now these two are
playing one-on-one.

1212
00:46:15,675 --> 00:46:19,245
And while the hoopster has the
edge in size and experience,

1213
00:46:19,279 --> 00:46:22,749
the engineering student has
a blueprint for victory.

1214
00:46:22,782 --> 00:46:26,686
- Going up against Liv, I know
her muscles are really big.

1215
00:46:26,720 --> 00:46:29,556
But I feel like
with my robotics background,

1216
00:46:29,589 --> 00:46:32,392
I have this way
of analyzing the obstacles

1217
00:46:32,425 --> 00:46:36,062
that I might be able
to see something she doesn't.

1218
00:46:36,096 --> 00:46:38,131
Liv, you're an awesome
athlete, but I'm

1219
00:46:38,164 --> 00:46:40,066
programmed for victory.

1220
00:46:42,402 --> 00:46:43,603
- Winner moves on.

1221
00:46:43,636 --> 00:46:46,072
For the loser,
the season is over.

1222
00:46:46,072 --> 00:46:47,507
[countdown clock beeping]

1223
00:46:47,540 --> 00:46:48,742
All right, got to ball out
if you want to get in.

1224
00:46:48,775 --> 00:46:50,210
Win and you're in.

1225
00:46:50,243 --> 00:46:52,645
Hackmann the basketball
player makes the fast break.

1226
00:46:52,679 --> 00:46:54,547
She's first up
onto Spring Forward.

1227
00:46:54,581 --> 00:46:56,249
[cheering]

1228
00:46:56,282 --> 00:46:58,351
- Let's go!
- Go, Ixchel!

1229
00:46:58,385 --> 00:46:59,886
- Oh, nice,
you know, Liv Hackmann,

1230
00:46:59,919 --> 00:47:01,921
she knows how to get big air.

1231
00:47:02,922 --> 00:47:06,126
- Ixchel Valentino just
matching her--who will

1232
00:47:06,159 --> 00:47:08,428
be the first one to dismount?

1233
00:47:08,461 --> 00:47:10,530
It's Hackmann,
and that's important.

1234
00:47:10,563 --> 00:47:13,533
If they both fall in the next
obstacle, she'd be the winner.

1235
00:47:13,566 --> 00:47:15,301
- Two more obstacles to go.

1236
00:47:15,335 --> 00:47:17,103
- Hackmann has
the height advantage.

1237
00:47:17,137 --> 00:47:18,438
She's 5'9".

1238
00:47:18,471 --> 00:47:20,507
We'll see if that
helps her on Wingnuts.

1239
00:47:20,540 --> 00:47:22,242
- Oh!

1240
00:47:22,275 --> 00:47:25,478
- Oh, and Liv Hackmann
gets bumped.

1241
00:47:25,512 --> 00:47:30,250
- But Valentino still has to
complete this obstacle to win.

1242
00:47:30,283 --> 00:47:31,851
Can the New Mexico
teenager pull off

1243
00:47:31,885 --> 00:47:34,054
the come-from-behind victory?

1244
00:47:34,054 --> 00:47:36,189
- You got to see it.
Make the grab.

1245
00:47:36,222 --> 00:47:38,425
Oh, my goodness.

1246
00:47:38,458 --> 00:47:41,494
You talk about a save.

1247
00:47:41,528 --> 00:47:43,797
- Now just needs
the dismount--

1248
00:47:43,830 --> 00:47:46,599
and she'll be going
to the semifinals.

1249
00:47:46,633 --> 00:47:48,902
What a moment for her!

1250
00:47:48,935 --> 00:47:50,837
Let's look at that save again.

1251
00:47:50,870 --> 00:47:54,607
She went down to one hand,
but was able to hang on.

1252
00:47:54,641 --> 00:47:56,176
And that got her the win.

1253
00:47:56,209 --> 00:47:57,444
Well, we're not done.

1254
00:47:57,477 --> 00:47:59,079
We're going to back
it up and start over

1255
00:47:59,112 --> 00:48:00,613
with the new group of ninjas.

1256
00:48:00,647 --> 00:48:02,382
- We're going to see
some fan favorites

1257
00:48:02,415 --> 00:48:04,384
taking on some new obstacles.

1258
00:48:04,417 --> 00:48:07,153
- That includes two
competitors who just missed

1259
00:48:07,187 --> 00:48:09,255
out on winning
it all last year.

1260
00:48:09,289 --> 00:48:10,757
- Time runs out!

1261
00:48:10,790 --> 00:48:14,260
- And ninja Kyle McCreight's
making a difference,

1262
00:48:14,294 --> 00:48:17,030
along with
his three-legged dog, Tre.

1263
00:48:17,063 --> 00:48:20,033
Plus, no shoes, no problem--

1264
00:48:20,033 --> 00:48:22,335
this guy does
everything barefoot.

1265
00:48:22,369 --> 00:48:24,804
And that includes
running our course.

1266
00:48:24,838 --> 00:48:26,606
It's all coming up
on the second hour

1267
00:48:26,639 --> 00:48:29,409
of "American Ninja Warrior."

1268
00:48:33,480 --> 00:48:34,647
- Welcome back
for the second half

1269
00:48:34,681 --> 00:48:36,082
of our special
two-hour premiere.

1270
00:48:36,116 --> 00:48:38,184
We've got a new group
of ninjas lined up

1271
00:48:38,218 --> 00:48:39,586
ready to start their season.

1272
00:48:39,619 --> 00:48:41,821
- But the course they'll face
is different than the one

1273
00:48:41,855 --> 00:48:42,889
we just saw.

1274
00:48:42,922 --> 00:48:45,191
- Yeah, guys,
our crew got busy.

1275
00:48:45,225 --> 00:48:46,726
They changed out
some obstacles.

1276
00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,362
And take a look
at this revamped course.

1277
00:48:49,396 --> 00:48:52,265
The ninjas will be flying,
because Double Twister

1278
00:48:52,298 --> 00:48:54,167
is our new second obstacle.

1279
00:48:54,200 --> 00:48:55,702
- Nice.

1280
00:48:55,735 --> 00:48:58,672
- Plus, one of last year's
favorites, Ring the Bells,

1281
00:48:58,705 --> 00:49:01,041
is back in the number
five position.

1282
00:49:01,074 --> 00:49:02,409
And don't forget,

1283
00:49:02,442 --> 00:49:03,910
Wells Fargo has doubled

1284
00:49:04,010 --> 00:49:07,447
our Mega Wall payoff
to $20,000.

1285
00:49:07,480 --> 00:49:09,082
Can anyone take
it down tonight?

1286
00:49:09,115 --> 00:49:10,617
Guys.

1287
00:49:10,650 --> 00:49:13,687
- Get ready for a first on
"American Ninja Warrior."

1288
00:49:13,720 --> 00:49:15,488
Our next athlete
is going to run

1289
00:49:15,522 --> 00:49:18,758
the course from the very start
with no shoes.

1290
00:49:18,792 --> 00:49:20,927
This is Florida's
Langdon Dinsdale.

1291
00:49:21,027 --> 00:49:24,197
And he likes to walk
on the wild side.

1292
00:49:24,230 --> 00:49:27,701
[upbeat music]

1293
00:49:27,734 --> 00:49:29,636
- I basically haven't
worn any shoes

1294
00:49:29,669 --> 00:49:31,137
for the last seven years.

1295
00:49:31,171 --> 00:49:35,608
Not only do I run triathlons,
marathons barefoot,

1296
00:49:35,642 --> 00:49:38,044
I work barefoot...

1297
00:49:38,078 --> 00:49:39,579
* *

1298
00:49:39,612 --> 00:49:42,782
I go to stores barefoot,
weddings barefoot,

1299
00:49:42,816 --> 00:49:44,150
funerals barefoot.

1300
00:49:44,184 --> 00:49:45,952
I try to do everything
possible barefoot.

1301
00:49:46,052 --> 00:49:47,420
Now spread your toes.

1302
00:49:47,454 --> 00:49:48,722
And then I want you
to try to just lift

1303
00:49:48,755 --> 00:49:50,223
your big toes up and down.

1304
00:49:50,256 --> 00:49:52,392
As a biomechanics specialist,
I would recommend

1305
00:49:52,425 --> 00:49:54,894
that people spend
some time barefoot.

1306
00:49:54,928 --> 00:49:56,830
The best exercise
you can do for your feet

1307
00:49:56,863 --> 00:49:58,465
is walking barefoot.

1308
00:49:58,498 --> 00:50:00,567
Shoes do a lot
of the stability

1309
00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:02,736
and the cushioning
for the foot.

1310
00:50:02,769 --> 00:50:04,104
And so then the foot
doesn't have to.

1311
00:50:04,137 --> 00:50:06,072
And then your feet
get weaker and weaker.

1312
00:50:09,309 --> 00:50:11,511
I'm very confident that I
won't have any trouble

1313
00:50:11,544 --> 00:50:13,413
on any
of the obstacles at all.

1314
00:50:13,446 --> 00:50:15,915
I'm making it all the way
up the Warped Wall.

1315
00:50:15,949 --> 00:50:17,717
And I'm doing it barefoot.

1316
00:50:20,153 --> 00:50:21,554
[cheering]

1317
00:50:21,588 --> 00:50:22,889
- It's hard enough to get
through this course

1318
00:50:22,922 --> 00:50:24,157
with shoes on.

1319
00:50:24,190 --> 00:50:25,525
This is a little
bit much for me.

1320
00:50:25,558 --> 00:50:27,627
Langdon will have support
from his family

1321
00:50:27,660 --> 00:50:30,563
on the sideline, along with
one of his clients, sprinter

1322
00:50:30,597 --> 00:50:33,600
Kenny Bednarek, who we hope
to see in the Olympics

1323
00:50:33,633 --> 00:50:34,934
in just a few weeks.

1324
00:50:34,968 --> 00:50:37,137
[countdown clock beeping]

1325
00:50:37,170 --> 00:50:39,205
First has to jump
onto the trampoline--

1326
00:50:39,239 --> 00:50:40,340
- Let's see if he's
got any traction.

1327
00:50:40,373 --> 00:50:41,708
- Don't miss that pole.
Get up.

1328
00:50:41,741 --> 00:50:42,976
Ascend.
- Get up, get up.

1329
00:50:43,009 --> 00:50:44,544
Don't--watch your feet.
- Nicely done.

1330
00:50:45,812 --> 00:50:46,880
- Come on, babe!

1331
00:50:46,913 --> 00:50:48,615
- You got this!

1332
00:50:48,648 --> 00:50:51,151
- Once he jumps up onto Double
Twister, he won't need shoes.

1333
00:50:51,184 --> 00:50:53,053
It's all up in the air.

1334
00:50:53,086 --> 00:50:55,221
He needs to swing across
those spinning handlebars.

1335
00:50:55,255 --> 00:50:56,856
- You've got this, Dad!

1336
00:50:56,890 --> 00:51:00,760
- Matt, I can't imagine not
wearing shoes for seven years.

1337
00:51:00,794 --> 00:51:03,396
I mean, a penny
can't cure that.

1338
00:51:03,430 --> 00:51:05,532
- Makes it to the second
handle, coming out

1339
00:51:05,565 --> 00:51:07,267
here as a 38-year-old rookie.

1340
00:51:07,300 --> 00:51:08,768
- Nice, Matt.

1341
00:51:08,802 --> 00:51:10,403
You know, he talks about
the benefit of going barefoot.

1342
00:51:10,437 --> 00:51:12,372
He said it increases
his flexibility

1343
00:51:12,405 --> 00:51:13,773
in his heels and his toes.

1344
00:51:13,807 --> 00:51:15,241
And it's working so far.

1345
00:51:15,275 --> 00:51:16,443
He's through two.

1346
00:51:16,476 --> 00:51:19,479
[cheering]

1347
00:51:20,447 --> 00:51:22,082
- Well, let's see
how the traction

1348
00:51:22,082 --> 00:51:24,184
is on Dangerous Waters.

1349
00:51:24,217 --> 00:51:26,219
- Oh, boy, I hope he
doesn't have hyperhidrosis,

1350
00:51:26,252 --> 00:51:28,455
which means sweaty feet.

1351
00:51:28,488 --> 00:51:30,790
Nice, nice--
oh, gets through it.

1352
00:51:30,824 --> 00:51:32,425
- Who needs shoes?

1353
00:51:32,459 --> 00:51:33,827
- Oh, my goodness.

1354
00:51:33,860 --> 00:51:35,729
- The Olympic
sprinter is impressed.

1355
00:51:35,762 --> 00:51:37,897
And I think even
Dinsdale is surprised he's

1356
00:51:37,931 --> 00:51:40,000
made it this far on bare feet.

1357
00:51:40,100 --> 00:51:42,702
- Well, now going to take
flight on Duck Duck Goose.

1358
00:51:42,736 --> 00:51:44,337
Even without shoes,
gets a good launch

1359
00:51:44,371 --> 00:51:45,672
off the trampoline.

1360
00:51:45,705 --> 00:51:47,173
- I'm still looking
at his dogs, man.

1361
00:51:47,207 --> 00:51:48,908
You would think his feet would
be covered with calluses

1362
00:51:48,942 --> 00:51:50,243
with all that walking.

1363
00:51:50,276 --> 00:51:52,178
- His feet look in good
shape though, Akbar.

1364
00:51:52,212 --> 00:51:53,680
He's walking the walk.

1365
00:51:53,713 --> 00:51:55,715
- Ooh!
[air horn blares]

1366
00:51:55,749 --> 00:51:59,252
- Splashes down
on Duck Duck Goose.

1367
00:51:59,285 --> 00:52:03,490
- Well, Matt, at least
he got to clean his feet.

1368
00:52:03,523 --> 00:52:06,493
His footwork on Dangerous
Waters was impressive.

1369
00:52:06,526 --> 00:52:10,363
But on Duck Duck Goose, it was
his hands that let him down.

1370
00:52:10,397 --> 00:52:14,534
His fingers slid right off,
and he was defeated.

1371
00:52:14,567 --> 00:52:15,802
- We'll have
to wait and see if that

1372
00:52:15,835 --> 00:52:17,570
gets him to the semifinals.

1373
00:52:17,604 --> 00:52:20,840
He might be racing
on those bare feet.

1374
00:52:20,874 --> 00:52:24,411
Up next is one of the breakout
stars from last season.

1375
00:52:24,444 --> 00:52:27,080
It's Florida teenager
Nacssa Garemore.

1376
00:52:27,080 --> 00:52:29,716
He came out here as a rookie
and just blew us away.

1377
00:52:29,749 --> 00:52:32,152
He hit five buzzers and became

1378
00:52:32,185 --> 00:52:33,453
the youngest ninja ever

1379
00:52:33,486 --> 00:52:34,654
to climb stage 4

1380
00:52:34,688 --> 00:52:36,589
for a million dollars.

1381
00:52:37,757 --> 00:52:38,925
- There he is,
flipping out, Matt.

1382
00:52:38,958 --> 00:52:40,326
He's ready.

1383
00:52:40,360 --> 00:52:42,429
- He's got his coaches
and training partners

1384
00:52:42,462 --> 00:52:45,298
on the sideline, along
with his mom and his brother

1385
00:52:45,331 --> 00:52:47,701
Roberto, who will run next.

1386
00:52:47,734 --> 00:52:50,136
[countdown clock beeping]

1387
00:52:50,170 --> 00:52:52,605
- Nacssa had such
a journey to get here.

1388
00:52:52,639 --> 00:52:54,107
He and his brother
were adopted

1389
00:52:54,107 --> 00:52:55,942
from an orphanage in Africa.

1390
00:52:55,975 --> 00:52:58,945
Ninja really helped him
adjust to life in America.

1391
00:52:58,978 --> 00:53:01,548
He likes to go fast,
makes it look effortless.

1392
00:53:01,581 --> 00:53:03,483
5'8", 150.

1393
00:53:03,516 --> 00:53:06,619
And these young athletes
just--they don't pause.

1394
00:53:06,653 --> 00:53:08,888
- No regard
for personal safety.

1395
00:53:08,922 --> 00:53:11,057
When you're a young kid,
you just go.

1396
00:53:11,057 --> 00:53:13,393
You just--
whatever it is, it is.

1397
00:53:13,426 --> 00:53:14,494
All right. Here we go.

1398
00:53:14,527 --> 00:53:15,762
- That was so great.

1399
00:53:15,795 --> 00:53:17,097
Dangerous Waters.
- Nice.

1400
00:53:17,130 --> 00:53:18,598
- No problem.

1401
00:53:18,631 --> 00:53:20,200
- All right, now, will
he speed through this one,

1402
00:53:20,233 --> 00:53:21,601
Duck Duck Goose?

1403
00:53:21,634 --> 00:53:23,203
Not so fast.

1404
00:53:23,236 --> 00:53:24,738
- You've got
to be very careful.

1405
00:53:24,771 --> 00:53:26,239
You've got to see it,
commit to it.

1406
00:53:26,272 --> 00:53:27,607
Nice.

1407
00:53:27,640 --> 00:53:30,543
- Kip up, get your hands
placed, and absorb it--

1408
00:53:30,577 --> 00:53:33,446
bigger challenge
here on the Goose.

1409
00:53:33,480 --> 00:53:34,647
Got it.

1410
00:53:34,681 --> 00:53:35,849
The Spruce Goose--

1411
00:53:35,882 --> 00:53:37,250
- Can't blame it on the goose.

1412
00:53:37,283 --> 00:53:39,219
- Bringing it in
for a landing.

1413
00:53:39,252 --> 00:53:42,489
- And a blazing pace
to this point.

1414
00:53:42,522 --> 00:53:44,357
Could have a shot
at the Mega Wall,

1415
00:53:44,391 --> 00:53:46,626
but has to get through
this new fifth obstacle

1416
00:53:46,659 --> 00:53:49,529
for this group, Ring the Bells.

1417
00:53:49,562 --> 00:53:50,930
- Oh!

1418
00:53:50,964 --> 00:53:53,166
- Good confidence,
just launching

1419
00:53:53,199 --> 00:53:54,734
on that move as the bar

1420
00:53:54,768 --> 00:53:56,202
was moving away from him.

1421
00:53:56,236 --> 00:53:58,338
- Got about 15 seconds left
if he wants

1422
00:53:58,371 --> 00:53:59,873
a chance at that 20 grand.

1423
00:53:59,906 --> 00:54:02,042
- Oh, and he timed
that so well.

1424
00:54:02,075 --> 00:54:03,843
The final bell was
coming towards him.

1425
00:54:03,877 --> 00:54:05,278
And Nacssa--

1426
00:54:05,311 --> 00:54:06,913
- He's going to
get another buzzer.

1427
00:54:06,946 --> 00:54:08,848
And he'll get a run
at the Mega Wall.

1428
00:54:08,882 --> 00:54:10,083
[buzzer blares]

1429
00:54:10,116 --> 00:54:12,419
- Let's go!

1430
00:54:12,452 --> 00:54:15,422
[dramatic music]

1431
00:54:15,455 --> 00:54:17,657
* *

1432
00:54:17,691 --> 00:54:19,292
- Nacssa!
- Tell him!

1433
00:54:19,325 --> 00:54:21,661
- Well, Nacssa, you
had to beat 1 minute 20

1434
00:54:21,695 --> 00:54:24,330
to get a shot at $20,000.

1435
00:54:24,364 --> 00:54:25,699
And you did it, buddy.

1436
00:54:25,732 --> 00:54:27,600
[cheering]

1437
00:54:27,634 --> 00:54:30,103
- Let's see you on
the Mega Wall, Nacssa.

1438
00:54:30,136 --> 00:54:31,805
Go take your shot, buddy.

1439
00:54:31,838 --> 00:54:34,841
[all chanting]
Mega Wall, Mega Wall,

1440
00:54:34,874 --> 00:54:36,609
Mega Wall!

1441
00:54:36,643 --> 00:54:39,479
- We had a few tries at the
Mega Wall in our first hour.

1442
00:54:39,512 --> 00:54:42,949
But no one could conquer it.

1443
00:54:42,982 --> 00:54:48,722
18 1/2 feet, that's well
over three times his height.

1444
00:54:48,755 --> 00:54:51,424
$20,000 on the line.

1445
00:54:52,892 --> 00:54:55,095
- Oh!

1446
00:54:55,829 --> 00:54:58,498
- No Mega Wall,
but he's moving on

1447
00:54:58,531 --> 00:55:00,834
to our
Ninja vs. Ninja semifinals

1448
00:55:00,867 --> 00:55:02,402
where every run's a race.

1449
00:55:02,435 --> 00:55:06,339
And we'll soon see if
his brother can join him.

1450
00:55:06,373 --> 00:55:08,908
Still to come--
a crippling condition

1451
00:55:08,942 --> 00:55:12,112
didn't keep her from
delivering a miracle baby.

1452
00:55:12,145 --> 00:55:14,581
And it won't keep her
off the course.

1453
00:55:14,614 --> 00:55:18,418
- I'm absolutely doing what
is medically impossible.

1454
00:55:18,451 --> 00:55:22,055
And up next, some special
kids learning life lessons

1455
00:55:22,055 --> 00:55:24,557
from a three-legged Ninja dog.

1456
00:55:24,591 --> 00:55:27,060
- Their spirit and their
attitude towards life

1457
00:55:27,060 --> 00:55:29,262
in general is very inspiring.

1458
00:55:29,295 --> 00:55:32,098
- It's all coming up
on the season premiere

1459
00:55:32,132 --> 00:55:35,368
of "American Ninja Warrior."

1460
00:55:39,472 --> 00:55:41,107
- While we were away,
Roberto Garemore

1461
00:55:41,141 --> 00:55:43,810
hit the course trying
to follow in the footsteps

1462
00:55:43,843 --> 00:55:44,844
of his brother, Nacssa--

1463
00:55:44,878 --> 00:55:46,279
- Come on, Roberto.

1464
00:55:46,312 --> 00:55:48,081
- Who hit a buzzer
minutes ago.

1465
00:55:48,081 --> 00:55:51,217
Just like his brother, the
high-schooler came out hot.

1466
00:55:51,251 --> 00:55:52,786
- Watch the speed.
Watch the speed.

1467
00:55:52,819 --> 00:55:54,387
Watch--nice.

1468
00:55:54,421 --> 00:55:57,323
- He was on his way
to the family's second buzzer

1469
00:55:57,357 --> 00:55:59,893
until Duck Duck Goose.

1470
00:55:59,926 --> 00:56:01,795
No!
[air horn blares]

1471
00:56:01,828 --> 00:56:03,296
Now we'll then have
to wait and see if that's

1472
00:56:03,329 --> 00:56:05,532
good enough to move on.

1473
00:56:05,565 --> 00:56:06,733
- [screaming]

1474
00:56:06,766 --> 00:56:08,935
- Another teenager,
Lilah Nathison,

1475
00:56:09,035 --> 00:56:11,905
came to the start line
with a ton of energy.

1476
00:56:11,938 --> 00:56:14,207
She had everyone fired up.

1477
00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:15,508
- Oh, my gosh.

1478
00:56:15,542 --> 00:56:17,110
- The North Carolina
high-schooler

1479
00:56:17,143 --> 00:56:19,346
was feeling confident
as she sailed

1480
00:56:19,379 --> 00:56:21,481
through the early obstacles.

1481
00:56:22,615 --> 00:56:24,751
And she carried
that enthusiasm

1482
00:56:24,784 --> 00:56:26,653
into the balance obstacle.

1483
00:56:26,686 --> 00:56:28,088
- Ooh!

1484
00:56:28,121 --> 00:56:32,058
- And that's why they call
it Dangerous Waters.

1485
00:56:32,058 --> 00:56:34,828
Our next athlete made
a big impression when we

1486
00:56:34,861 --> 00:56:36,663
first met him two years ago.

1487
00:56:36,696 --> 00:56:38,264
- Let's go!

1488
00:56:38,298 --> 00:56:40,700
- Florida's Kyle McCreight
made it to the fifth obstacle

1489
00:56:40,734 --> 00:56:42,402
in his debut.

1490
00:56:42,435 --> 00:56:45,605
But the star that night was
his three-legged dog, Tre.

1491
00:56:46,773 --> 00:56:48,375
[dog barking]

1492
00:56:48,408 --> 00:56:50,643
- Tre, you're a good boy.

1493
00:56:50,677 --> 00:56:53,380
The Never Say Never Foundation
reached out to me

1494
00:56:53,413 --> 00:56:55,915
after they saw Tre and I
on "American Ninja Warrior"

1495
00:56:55,949 --> 00:56:57,517
in season 14.

1496
00:56:57,550 --> 00:57:00,020
- Aw, man,
you've got to love dogs.

1497
00:57:00,053 --> 00:57:02,856
- They put on events for kids
who are limb-different.

1498
00:57:02,889 --> 00:57:04,357
- You be you!

1499
00:57:04,391 --> 00:57:06,393
Go, go, go!

1500
00:57:06,426 --> 00:57:08,228
- So we had
an opportunity to visit

1501
00:57:08,261 --> 00:57:11,598
some kids at a summer camp
who are all limb-different.

1502
00:57:11,631 --> 00:57:15,201
And just seeing them interact
with Tre was really special.

1503
00:57:15,235 --> 00:57:17,370
Good boy.

1504
00:57:17,404 --> 00:57:19,305
We set up an obstacle
course for the kids,

1505
00:57:19,339 --> 00:57:21,274
and they just crushed it.

1506
00:57:21,307 --> 00:57:22,475
- Gotta get the buzzer.

1507
00:57:22,509 --> 00:57:23,576
- Press the buzzer!

1508
00:57:23,610 --> 00:57:24,778
- Whoo!

1509
00:57:24,811 --> 00:57:27,847
One little girl
in particular who we met,

1510
00:57:27,881 --> 00:57:29,649
her name is Nevaeh.

1511
00:57:29,683 --> 00:57:32,052
Her and Tre just
connected instantly.

1512
00:57:32,085 --> 00:57:33,520
- Hi, Tre.
- Tre.

1513
00:57:33,553 --> 00:57:34,721
- Aw.

1514
00:57:34,754 --> 00:57:36,456
- She actually wanted
to try some Ninja.

1515
00:57:36,489 --> 00:57:39,359
So she met me at the gym
where I trained.

1516
00:57:39,392 --> 00:57:42,395
She blows me away with
the things that she can do.

1517
00:57:42,429 --> 00:57:44,064
There you go.

1518
00:57:44,097 --> 00:57:46,833
She never lets her limb
difference dictate how

1519
00:57:46,866 --> 00:57:48,068
she's going to live her life.

1520
00:57:48,101 --> 00:57:49,769
- [laughing]
- You got me.

1521
00:57:49,803 --> 00:57:53,073
- Yeah, I caught a big fish.

1522
00:57:53,073 --> 00:57:54,574
- Maybe one day
when she's older,

1523
00:57:54,607 --> 00:57:56,476
we'll see her on
"American Ninja Warrior."

1524
00:57:56,509 --> 00:57:59,312
And I'd be right
there on her sideline.

1525
00:58:01,815 --> 00:58:03,450
[cheers and applause]

1526
00:58:03,483 --> 00:58:05,085
- Whoo!

1527
00:58:05,118 --> 00:58:07,654
- And Nevaeh and Tre will be
watching from back in Florida.

1528
00:58:07,687 --> 00:58:11,257
Kyle's girlfriend Amber is
cheering him on from Chicago.

1529
00:58:11,291 --> 00:58:12,926
- I love you guys!

1530
00:58:13,026 --> 00:58:14,761
- He's got his dad
and other Florida

1531
00:58:14,794 --> 00:58:16,663
ninjas on the sideline.

1532
00:58:16,696 --> 00:58:20,734
- Tre's chilling, but Kyle's
ready to come out and play.

1533
00:58:20,767 --> 00:58:23,770
[countdown clock beeping]

1534
00:58:24,404 --> 00:58:27,440
- Kyle adopted Tre from
an animal shelter in 2019

1535
00:58:27,474 --> 00:58:30,677
and helped train the dog
to walk on three legs.

1536
00:58:30,710 --> 00:58:32,946
- Videos posted
online about Tre

1537
00:58:33,046 --> 00:58:35,648
have over 31 million views.

1538
00:58:35,682 --> 00:58:37,817
- Well, Kyle McCreight owes
a lot to "Ninja Warrior."

1539
00:58:37,851 --> 00:58:40,520
Not only did he get to spread
his message with the Never Say

1540
00:58:40,553 --> 00:58:43,123
Never Foundation, his
girlfriend, Amber Mitchell,

1541
00:58:43,156 --> 00:58:47,293
slid into his DMs after she
saw his run two years ago.

1542
00:58:47,327 --> 00:58:49,596
And he's through
the second obstacle tonight.

1543
00:58:49,629 --> 00:58:52,432
[cheering]

1544
00:58:52,465 --> 00:58:54,501
He was a star sprinter
in high school.

1545
00:58:54,534 --> 00:58:56,169
- Watch the speed.
Watch the speed.

1546
00:58:56,202 --> 00:58:58,805
Watch--nice.
- And good balance.

1547
00:58:58,838 --> 00:59:00,840
Didn't make it look pretty,
but he got through it.

1548
00:59:00,874 --> 00:59:03,076
Going up on Duck Duck Goose.

1549
00:59:03,109 --> 00:59:05,445
He made it to the semifinals
two years ago.

1550
00:59:05,478 --> 00:59:07,047
If he can get
through this tonight,

1551
00:59:07,080 --> 00:59:09,849
he'll have a good chance
of getting back there again.

1552
00:59:10,650 --> 00:59:12,018
- Nice.
- Good transfer.

1553
00:59:12,018 --> 00:59:13,186
This goose,
though, you can see

1554
00:59:13,219 --> 00:59:16,022
those wings, a 90-degree drop.

1555
00:59:16,022 --> 00:59:19,025
You really have to
anticipate and absorb it.

1556
00:59:19,025 --> 00:59:20,560
- Come in tight--nice.
- Got it.

1557
00:59:20,593 --> 00:59:21,895
- Oh, yes, he's ready.

1558
00:59:21,928 --> 00:59:23,496
Kyle McCreight,
he's been training.

1559
00:59:23,530 --> 00:59:25,031
You can tell.

1560
00:59:25,031 --> 00:59:28,101
- Can he get through
the fourth obstacle?

1561
00:59:28,134 --> 00:59:32,539
And he's giving Nevaeh, Tre,
and all his fans a great run.

1562
00:59:33,640 --> 00:59:35,875
- You've got it, Kyle!
- Let's go!

1563
00:59:35,909 --> 00:59:37,811
- He's hyping himself up now.

1564
00:59:37,844 --> 00:59:41,047
Can he get
through Ring the Bells?

1565
00:59:43,383 --> 00:59:45,852
- When the bells ring,
that means Ninja's in session.

1566
00:59:45,885 --> 00:59:47,787
Time to get to work.

1567
00:59:47,821 --> 00:59:50,357
- And you can see those bells
bang into each other.

1568
00:59:50,390 --> 00:59:52,859
And those handles start
moving away from you.

1569
00:59:52,892 --> 00:59:54,561
- Come on.
[bell clangs]

1570
00:59:54,594 --> 00:59:56,062
- Oh!

1571
00:59:56,062 --> 00:59:57,197
[air horn blares]

1572
00:59:57,230 --> 00:59:59,399
- The bell tolls
for Kyle McCreight.

1573
00:59:59,432 --> 01:00:02,002
But he's still got a chance
of being in the top 12

1574
01:00:02,035 --> 01:00:04,371
and moving on to the semis.

1575
01:00:07,240 --> 01:00:10,577
Still to come--
it's going to be fun,

1576
01:00:10,610 --> 01:00:12,545
and it's going to be funky.

1577
01:00:12,579 --> 01:00:14,814
- They look like
Sonny and Cher.

1578
01:00:14,848 --> 01:00:17,650
- Plus, we've got
a dire situation

1579
01:00:17,684 --> 01:00:21,287
when the Flamingo Kid flies in
with his secret weapon,

1580
01:00:21,321 --> 01:00:22,689
his kid brother--

1581
01:00:22,722 --> 01:00:24,457
- He's going to be super
excited to watch me tonight.

1582
01:00:24,491 --> 01:00:27,727
- When "American
Ninja Warrior" returns.

1583
01:00:33,299 --> 01:00:34,868
- It's our season premiere.

1584
01:00:34,901 --> 01:00:38,538
And it felt like
the 1970s minutes ago--

1585
01:00:38,571 --> 01:00:40,273
- Ohm.

1586
01:00:40,306 --> 01:00:43,543
- As Berkeley, California's
Zoey Tizon and her brother,

1587
01:00:43,576 --> 01:00:46,746
Chano, brought some peace
and love to the start line.

1588
01:00:46,780 --> 01:00:48,715
- They look like
Sonny and Cher.

1589
01:00:48,748 --> 01:00:51,051
Zoey may have come
in peace, but she

1590
01:00:51,084 --> 01:00:52,719
was a warrior on the course.

1591
01:00:52,752 --> 01:00:53,987
- Whoa, OK, wow.

1592
01:00:54,020 --> 01:00:55,555
She did that really nice.

1593
01:00:55,588 --> 01:00:58,091
- At just 5'1",
Double Twister may

1594
01:00:58,124 --> 01:00:59,893
have seemed a little far out.

1595
01:00:59,926 --> 01:01:00,894
- Whoa.

1596
01:01:00,927 --> 01:01:02,328
- Come on!

1597
01:01:02,362 --> 01:01:03,763
- I thought she wasn't
going to get that one.

1598
01:01:03,797 --> 01:01:07,467
- But this free spirit was
able to fly through it.

1599
01:01:07,500 --> 01:01:09,069
- Nice!

1600
01:01:09,069 --> 01:01:10,637
OK, Zoey.

1601
01:01:10,670 --> 01:01:11,938
- Come on, right here.

1602
01:01:11,971 --> 01:01:13,173
- However,
on Dangerous Waters,

1603
01:01:13,206 --> 01:01:14,974
things weren't so groovy.

1604
01:01:15,075 --> 01:01:16,676
- Ooh!

1605
01:01:16,710 --> 01:01:18,845
Oh, that's a bummer, man.

1606
01:01:20,680 --> 01:01:21,915
- Then it was the Boss,

1607
01:01:21,948 --> 01:01:24,484
Elijah Browning,
back for his fourth time

1608
01:01:24,517 --> 01:01:25,819
on "Ninja Warrior."

1609
01:01:25,852 --> 01:01:27,487
- Time for the Boss
to check in to work.

1610
01:01:27,520 --> 01:01:28,722
- Yeah!

1611
01:01:28,755 --> 01:01:30,323
- The Tennessee teenager
is coming off

1612
01:01:30,357 --> 01:01:31,825
his best season ever,

1613
01:01:31,858 --> 01:01:34,327
having made it
all the way to stage 3.

1614
01:01:35,462 --> 01:01:38,832
He's hit a buzzer every time
he's run a qualifying course--

1615
01:01:38,865 --> 01:01:40,100
- Oh!

1616
01:01:40,100 --> 01:01:41,735
- Until tonight.

1617
01:01:41,768 --> 01:01:44,504
His shocking fall means he'll
have to wait and see if that

1618
01:01:44,537 --> 01:01:47,007
gets him to the semifinals.

1619
01:01:47,974 --> 01:01:51,711
Ohio's Jenn Sanders deals
with anxiety when she runs.

1620
01:01:51,745 --> 01:01:54,614
But she chased away
the butterflies tonight.

1621
01:01:55,582 --> 01:01:59,219
The thrift store owner's
motto is find your wings.

1622
01:01:59,252 --> 01:02:00,720
And she lived up to that.

1623
01:02:00,754 --> 01:02:03,289
- She's floating through
this course like a butterfly.

1624
01:02:03,323 --> 01:02:05,325
- With her husband,
Ryan, cheering her on,

1625
01:02:05,358 --> 01:02:07,627
the four-time veteran
had one of the most

1626
01:02:07,660 --> 01:02:10,063
energetic runs of the night.

1627
01:02:10,063 --> 01:02:12,599
- Wow, she's pumped.
- Let's go!

1628
01:02:13,867 --> 01:02:16,503
- She reached the fifth
obstacle for the second time

1629
01:02:16,536 --> 01:02:17,704
in her career.

1630
01:02:19,172 --> 01:02:20,507
- You go, girl!

1631
01:02:20,540 --> 01:02:23,843
- Though her run ended
on Ring the Bells,

1632
01:02:23,877 --> 01:02:26,746
she's in a good
position to move on.

1633
01:02:27,881 --> 01:02:29,315
And coming to the
start line next,

1634
01:02:29,349 --> 01:02:32,085
in his trademark flamingo hat
and pink shades,

1635
01:02:32,085 --> 01:02:34,888
this is Owen Dyer,
the fun-loving kid

1636
01:02:34,921 --> 01:02:37,957
from Bentonville, Arkansas,
back for his third season

1637
01:02:37,991 --> 01:02:40,226
of "American Ninja Warrior."

1638
01:02:41,361 --> 01:02:43,663
- Everybody knows me
as the Flamingo Kid.

1639
01:02:43,697 --> 01:02:46,299
But now I'm the Flamingo Man.

1640
01:02:46,332 --> 01:02:49,969
I have a girlfriend now,
my own business.

1641
01:02:50,003 --> 01:02:53,106
I buy things at thrift stores,
yard sales, estate sales,

1642
01:02:53,106 --> 01:02:55,108
and I'll flip it
online for a profit.

1643
01:02:55,775 --> 01:02:58,144
And with that business, I was
able to buy my dream car--

1644
01:02:58,178 --> 01:03:01,881
[upbeat music]

1645
01:03:01,915 --> 01:03:03,850
A 1986 Corvette.

1646
01:03:03,883 --> 01:03:05,585
We are on the road, folks.

1647
01:03:05,618 --> 01:03:07,153
- Let's go.

1648
01:03:07,187 --> 01:03:09,656
- Cruising around Bentonville
is just a blast.

1649
01:03:09,689 --> 01:03:11,091
This season is
very special to me.

1650
01:03:11,124 --> 01:03:13,059
My younger brother,
Hayes, is actually going

1651
01:03:13,059 --> 01:03:14,361
to be on the sideline tonight.

1652
01:03:14,394 --> 01:03:15,962
This is going to be
the first time he sees

1653
01:03:16,062 --> 01:03:17,964
me hit the course in person.

1654
01:03:18,064 --> 01:03:20,200
Without Hayes, I wouldn't
even be doing Ninja.

1655
01:03:20,233 --> 01:03:22,068
He's the one
that got me into it.

1656
01:03:22,068 --> 01:03:24,104
- It's fun being the one
that got him into the sport

1657
01:03:24,137 --> 01:03:25,939
and seeing how
good he's gotten.

1658
01:03:25,972 --> 01:03:27,841
- My death grip
engaged on that one.

1659
01:03:27,874 --> 01:03:29,075
I thought I was peeling off.

1660
01:03:29,109 --> 01:03:31,277
- This kid is flying!

1661
01:03:31,311 --> 01:03:32,746
[cheering]

1662
01:03:32,779 --> 01:03:34,614
- Yeah, you were hyped up too.
Look at that.

1663
01:03:34,647 --> 01:03:36,883
- I'm very proud of him.

1664
01:03:36,916 --> 01:03:38,385
- I love Hayes so much.

1665
01:03:38,418 --> 01:03:40,286
It would mean
the world to me to be

1666
01:03:40,320 --> 01:03:41,721
able to hit a buzzer
tonight and be

1667
01:03:41,755 --> 01:03:43,256
able to look down
from that wall

1668
01:03:43,289 --> 01:03:44,624
and see him down
there cheering.

1669
01:03:44,657 --> 01:03:46,893
And keep your hips right
underneath you to absorb it.

1670
01:03:46,926 --> 01:03:48,294
Nice, dude.

1671
01:03:48,328 --> 01:03:50,363
One day when he's old
enough, I cannot wait

1672
01:03:50,397 --> 01:03:52,298
to hit the course with him.

1673
01:03:52,332 --> 01:03:53,733
- I'm a few years away.

1674
01:03:53,767 --> 01:03:55,969
But hopefully I get to be
on that big course too.

1675
01:03:58,738 --> 01:04:01,941
- And there's Hayes down on
the sideline with their dad.

1676
01:04:02,042 --> 01:04:04,077
Owen's got others
watching from home--

1677
01:04:04,110 --> 01:04:05,412
- Let's go!

1678
01:04:05,445 --> 01:04:07,547
- Including his girlfriend
and her family

1679
01:04:07,580 --> 01:04:09,049
and his Ninja buddies,

1680
01:04:09,082 --> 01:04:11,685
Kaden Lebsack
and Max Feinberg.

1681
01:04:11,718 --> 01:04:13,453
- They ain't playing around.
Check out their flamingo.

1682
01:04:13,486 --> 01:04:16,156
[countdown clock beeping]

1683
01:04:16,189 --> 01:04:19,225
- Owen driving
an '86 Chevy Corvette,

1684
01:04:19,259 --> 01:04:21,461
what a sophomore
in high school Matt Iseman

1685
01:04:21,494 --> 01:04:22,896
wouldn't have given
for that car.

1686
01:04:22,929 --> 01:04:24,364
- Oh, wow.

1687
01:04:24,397 --> 01:04:26,299
- Well, it's been fun
watching this kid grow up.

1688
01:04:26,332 --> 01:04:28,234
He's always entertaining
on the course.

1689
01:04:28,268 --> 01:04:29,936
And he gets results.

1690
01:04:29,969 --> 01:04:32,072
- He has been perfect
on qualifying courses--

1691
01:04:32,072 --> 01:04:35,275
hit buzzers on the two
previous ones he's faced.

1692
01:04:36,276 --> 01:04:37,243
- Whoo!

1693
01:04:37,277 --> 01:04:39,279
- All right, get it--nice.

1694
01:04:39,312 --> 01:04:40,914
- Ooh!
- Ooh, my goodness.

1695
01:04:40,947 --> 01:04:42,382
- Oh, my.

1696
01:04:42,415 --> 01:04:44,884
- Wow, he almost dislocated
his hip on that one.

1697
01:04:44,918 --> 01:04:46,920
- But he survives it.

1698
01:04:46,953 --> 01:04:49,356
Up into Duck Duck Goose,
can the Flamingo

1699
01:04:49,389 --> 01:04:51,991
fly through this obstacle?

1700
01:04:52,092 --> 01:04:53,626
- Come on, now.

1701
01:04:53,660 --> 01:04:55,095
Fly with the ducks--

1702
01:04:55,095 --> 01:04:56,262
nice.

1703
01:04:56,296 --> 01:04:57,597
- And you can see
the long wings.

1704
01:04:57,630 --> 01:05:00,767
But only 135 pounds,
he's meant to soar.

1705
01:05:00,800 --> 01:05:03,403
- The Flamingo better
hang on to this goose.

1706
01:05:04,738 --> 01:05:06,039
Ooh.
- Great job.

1707
01:05:06,072 --> 01:05:07,674
Matt, did you peek that?

1708
01:05:07,707 --> 01:05:09,843
He gave a winning look
over to his brother, Hayes,

1709
01:05:09,876 --> 01:05:11,745
on the sideline.

1710
01:05:11,778 --> 01:05:14,547
- Owen Dyer.
- I see you, baby.

1711
01:05:14,581 --> 01:05:16,082
I see you.

1712
01:05:16,116 --> 01:05:17,550
- Yeah!
- Let's go.

1713
01:05:17,584 --> 01:05:19,819
- Let's go!

1714
01:05:19,853 --> 01:05:21,354
- And he is up
on Ring the Bells.

1715
01:05:21,388 --> 01:05:22,589
- Nice.
- Oh, right into it.

1716
01:05:22,622 --> 01:05:23,890
- Oh, come on.
He made that look easy.

1717
01:05:23,923 --> 01:05:25,158
But you know what?

1718
01:05:25,191 --> 01:05:26,326
That's exactly how
you got to do it.

1719
01:05:26,359 --> 01:05:28,428
You got to just
link it quickly.

1720
01:05:28,461 --> 01:05:30,063
- About five seconds to go

1721
01:05:30,096 --> 01:05:32,065
if he wants a shot
at the Mega Wall.

1722
01:05:32,098 --> 01:05:34,401
He's going
to come up just short,

1723
01:05:34,434 --> 01:05:38,938
but Owen Dyer getting his third
straight qualifying buzzer.

1724
01:05:38,972 --> 01:05:41,074
[buzzer blares]
- Let's go!

1725
01:05:41,074 --> 01:05:43,443
Let's go!

1726
01:05:43,476 --> 01:05:46,446
[dramatic music]

1727
01:05:46,479 --> 01:05:52,352
* *

1728
01:05:52,385 --> 01:05:54,754
- Yeah! Whoo!

1729
01:05:54,788 --> 01:05:56,089
- Love you, bro!

1730
01:05:56,089 --> 01:05:59,192
- Hey, well, you were
flying like a flamingo

1731
01:05:59,225 --> 01:06:00,193
through that course.

1732
01:06:00,226 --> 01:06:01,628
- Thank you, Matt.

1733
01:06:01,661 --> 01:06:03,196
This is my brother's
first time.

1734
01:06:03,229 --> 01:06:04,764
Can he get up here
and hit this buzzer with me?

1735
01:06:04,798 --> 01:06:06,332
- Oh, brother's
going to do what?

1736
01:06:06,366 --> 01:06:07,334
- Hayes!

1737
01:06:07,367 --> 01:06:08,501
- Come on, Hayes.

1738
01:06:08,535 --> 01:06:10,437
Come on, Hayes.

1739
01:06:10,470 --> 01:06:13,440
- Hayes Dyer!

1740
01:06:13,473 --> 01:06:15,608
Oh!

1741
01:06:15,642 --> 01:06:17,577
- Come on!
- Oh, my goodness.

1742
01:06:17,610 --> 01:06:19,546
- Hit that buzzer!

1743
01:06:19,579 --> 01:06:21,281
- Whoo!

1744
01:06:21,314 --> 01:06:23,316
- What a moment.

1745
01:06:23,350 --> 01:06:25,518
* *

1746
01:06:25,552 --> 01:06:29,689
In earlier runs,
the Cowboy Ninja Lance Pekus

1747
01:06:29,723 --> 01:06:32,726
was back for his
13th season and went

1748
01:06:32,759 --> 01:06:34,527
stampeding through the course.

1749
01:06:34,561 --> 01:06:35,795
- Nice!

1750
01:06:35,829 --> 01:06:37,664
- Though he fell
on the fifth obstacle,

1751
01:06:37,697 --> 01:06:41,167
his fast time guarantees him
a spot in the semifinals.

1752
01:06:41,201 --> 01:06:42,802
- Ah!

1753
01:06:42,836 --> 01:06:46,339
- San Diego's Alex Nye was
back for his fourth season.

1754
01:06:46,373 --> 01:06:48,541
And he was picture-perfect.

1755
01:06:48,575 --> 01:06:50,677
The photographer
picked up his third straight

1756
01:06:50,710 --> 01:06:52,078
qualifying buzzer--

1757
01:06:52,078 --> 01:06:54,347
[buzzer blares]

1758
01:06:54,381 --> 01:06:56,549
And celebrated
with a selfie atop

1759
01:06:56,583 --> 01:06:58,485
the Warped Wall.

1760
01:06:58,518 --> 01:07:01,588
- What an amazing
run right there.

1761
01:07:01,621 --> 01:07:04,591
- Ashley Bergstrom was part
of the first husband and wife

1762
01:07:04,624 --> 01:07:07,093
team to make it
to Vegas last year.

1763
01:07:07,127 --> 01:07:11,264
After a fall
on Dangerous Waters,

1764
01:07:11,297 --> 01:07:13,600
she's in danger
of not moving on.

1765
01:07:13,633 --> 01:07:15,702
Now her husband,
Caleb Bergstrom,

1766
01:07:15,735 --> 01:07:17,504
will get his chance
at the course

1767
01:07:17,537 --> 01:07:20,940
when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

1768
01:07:24,544 --> 01:07:26,179
- Welcome back
to opening night,

1769
01:07:26,212 --> 01:07:29,482
where three more ninjas kicked
off their season minutes ago.

1770
01:07:29,516 --> 01:07:31,317
Personal trainer
Zhanique Lovett

1771
01:07:31,351 --> 01:07:34,054
tossed out her homemade
Z-Fit energy bars.

1772
01:07:34,087 --> 01:07:36,122
- Yeah, you can
tell she is fit.

1773
01:07:36,156 --> 01:07:38,425
She is a walking billboard.

1774
01:07:38,458 --> 01:07:39,893
- With her family
on the sideline,

1775
01:07:39,926 --> 01:07:42,462
the 37-year-old mother
of three made quick

1776
01:07:42,495 --> 01:07:44,364
work of the early obstacles.

1777
01:07:44,397 --> 01:07:47,400
- OK, Zhanique, magnifique.

1778
01:07:47,434 --> 01:07:49,436
- The six-time "Ninja"
veteran from Visalia,

1779
01:07:49,469 --> 01:07:52,772
California, almost got
through Duck Duck Goose.

1780
01:07:52,806 --> 01:07:54,374
- Ooh!
[air horn blares]

1781
01:07:54,407 --> 01:07:56,743
- But she's still got
a good chance of moving on.

1782
01:07:56,776 --> 01:07:57,744
- Dang it!

1783
01:07:57,777 --> 01:07:59,579
Ugh, I'm mad at myself.

1784
01:07:59,612 --> 01:08:02,549
- Teenager Anna McArthur
made it to the semifinals

1785
01:08:02,582 --> 01:08:03,683
last year.

1786
01:08:03,717 --> 01:08:05,485
And she came out
strong tonight.

1787
01:08:05,518 --> 01:08:06,920
- Nice.

1788
01:08:07,020 --> 01:08:09,122
- The high-schooler works
at the family's RV park

1789
01:08:09,155 --> 01:08:10,857
in Saint George, Utah.

1790
01:08:10,890 --> 01:08:12,625
And she was a happy camper

1791
01:08:12,659 --> 01:08:14,661
after crossing
Dangerous Waters.

1792
01:08:14,694 --> 01:08:16,896
- Nice.
She executed on that one.

1793
01:08:16,930 --> 01:08:18,665
- Though only 5 feet tall,

1794
01:08:18,698 --> 01:08:20,934
she got big air
on Duck Duck Goose.

1795
01:08:21,034 --> 01:08:22,268
- Nice!

1796
01:08:22,302 --> 01:08:24,371
You saw how she came up high.

1797
01:08:24,404 --> 01:08:28,274
- And though her run ended
at the fifth obstacle,

1798
01:08:28,308 --> 01:08:30,643
it guaranteed her a spot
in the next round.

1799
01:08:30,677 --> 01:08:32,278
- We'll see you
in the semifinals.

1800
01:08:32,312 --> 01:08:33,413
You did your thing.

1801
01:08:33,446 --> 01:08:35,382
Congratulations, Anna.

1802
01:08:35,415 --> 01:08:37,450
- Flip Rodriguez
is not only one

1803
01:08:37,484 --> 01:08:39,285
of the most
experienced ninjas,

1804
01:08:39,319 --> 01:08:41,054
he's also a crowd favorite.

1805
01:08:41,054 --> 01:08:44,124
- This is a guy that you can
depend on to go very far.

1806
01:08:44,157 --> 01:08:46,726
- And tonight,
starting his 14th season,

1807
01:08:46,760 --> 01:08:50,563
the 35-year-old stunt man came
out running like a teenager.

1808
01:08:50,597 --> 01:08:54,501
- Oh, on the fingertips, wow!

1809
01:08:54,534 --> 01:08:57,570
- And he made it to the buzzer
in under 1 minute 20,

1810
01:08:57,604 --> 01:08:59,639
becoming the fifth ninja
tonight to earn

1811
01:08:59,673 --> 01:09:00,674
a shot at the Mega Wall.

1812
01:09:00,707 --> 01:09:03,109
- You got it, baby.
Let's go!

1813
01:09:03,143 --> 01:09:06,913
- With $20K up for grabs,
the 18 1/2 foot wall

1814
01:09:07,013 --> 01:09:08,682
was too much.

1815
01:09:08,715 --> 01:09:11,651
But he'll still be
racing in the semifinals.

1816
01:09:12,619 --> 01:09:15,121
Well, many ninjas have
to overcome obstacles

1817
01:09:15,155 --> 01:09:17,357
before they reach the course,
and that includes

1818
01:09:17,390 --> 01:09:19,459
our next athlete, Lisa Hair.

1819
01:09:19,492 --> 01:09:22,362
This young mom battles
a rare crippling condition,

1820
01:09:22,395 --> 01:09:26,299
but she pushes her body to
compete, even when it hurts.

1821
01:09:26,332 --> 01:09:29,669
- Life with AS,
there is my car.

1822
01:09:29,703 --> 01:09:31,671
I've only made it this far.

1823
01:09:31,705 --> 01:09:33,239
And I can't walk.

1824
01:09:33,273 --> 01:09:35,041
[somber music]

1825
01:09:35,041 --> 01:09:38,345
When I was 17,
I developed this really

1826
01:09:38,378 --> 01:09:40,080
terrible pain in my joints.

1827
01:09:40,113 --> 01:09:42,349
It just came on one morning.

1828
01:09:42,382 --> 01:09:44,117
And I couldn't walk.

1829
01:09:44,150 --> 01:09:47,120
I have to make it
all the way upstairs.

1830
01:09:47,153 --> 01:09:49,422
* *

1831
01:09:49,456 --> 01:09:51,358
[sighs]

1832
01:09:51,391 --> 01:09:52,692
I thought it was
just an injury.

1833
01:09:52,726 --> 01:09:54,561
I thought it would go away.

1834
01:09:54,594 --> 01:09:57,831
It took nine years
before I got a diagnosis.

1835
01:09:57,864 --> 01:09:59,499
* *

1836
01:09:59,532 --> 01:10:02,435
- Ankylosing Spondylitis is
an autoimmune disease where

1837
01:10:02,469 --> 01:10:04,938
the spine fuses together
and causes arching

1838
01:10:04,971 --> 01:10:07,607
and really a lot
of significant pain.

1839
01:10:07,640 --> 01:10:09,676
- I still have a ways to go.

1840
01:10:09,709 --> 01:10:13,446
But I think I will
make it inside.

1841
01:10:14,180 --> 01:10:15,849
- Go, Mommy, go.

1842
01:10:15,882 --> 01:10:17,717
[laughter]

1843
01:10:17,751 --> 01:10:20,453
- I think a lot of new moms

1844
01:10:20,487 --> 01:10:21,921
put ourselves
on the back burner,

1845
01:10:21,955 --> 01:10:23,256
which is natural.

1846
01:10:23,289 --> 01:10:25,992
But you can't be
the best mom to your baby

1847
01:10:26,026 --> 01:10:29,062
unless you're being
the best to yourself as well.

1848
01:10:30,263 --> 01:10:31,931
Ninja is self-care for me.

1849
01:10:31,965 --> 01:10:33,833
I'm prioritizing movement.

1850
01:10:33,867 --> 01:10:37,437
I'm trying to regain
movement in my spine.

1851
01:10:37,470 --> 01:10:38,905
- Nice.

1852
01:10:38,938 --> 01:10:42,242
- I want my daughter to learn
that nothing can stop you.

1853
01:10:42,275 --> 01:10:44,744
- Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.

1854
01:10:44,778 --> 01:10:46,646
- Pain is unfortunate.

1855
01:10:46,680 --> 01:10:49,082
And everybody experiences it
in one way or another.

1856
01:10:49,115 --> 01:10:50,884
But it does not define you.

1857
01:10:50,917 --> 01:10:52,952
- Yeah!
- Whoo!

1858
01:10:52,986 --> 01:10:54,721
Whoo-hoo!

1859
01:10:54,754 --> 01:10:56,322
Being here is my victory.

1860
01:10:56,356 --> 01:10:58,725
And running the course
is my victory lap.

1861
01:11:01,928 --> 01:11:04,831
- Well, Lena Rose
and Lisa's husband, Austin,

1862
01:11:04,864 --> 01:11:06,332
will be watching
on the sideline.

1863
01:11:06,366 --> 01:11:08,468
- All right, Lena Rose,
I'm coming for you.

1864
01:11:08,501 --> 01:11:11,571
- Aww, you know she's got
to be proud of her mommy.

1865
01:11:11,604 --> 01:11:13,873
[countdown clock beeping]

1866
01:11:13,907 --> 01:11:15,608
- Let's go, Mama.

1867
01:11:15,642 --> 01:11:18,345
- Lisa and Austin competed
in our couple championship

1868
01:11:18,378 --> 01:11:20,080
last week and did very well.

1869
01:11:20,080 --> 01:11:21,481
[all chanting]
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!

1870
01:11:21,514 --> 01:11:23,316
- Some of the Florida
ninjas she trains with are

1871
01:11:23,350 --> 01:11:24,784
showing their support.

1872
01:11:24,818 --> 01:11:26,653
They know what it
means to her as she

1873
01:11:26,686 --> 01:11:28,321
takes on Double Twister.

1874
01:11:28,355 --> 01:11:30,757
- Whoo, great job holding on.

1875
01:11:30,790 --> 01:11:33,360
- She looks very confident.

1876
01:11:33,393 --> 01:11:34,994
- Oh, my.

1877
01:11:35,095 --> 01:11:37,297
- Uh-huh, Mama's strong.

1878
01:11:37,330 --> 01:11:39,099
- She's about
to complete the second.

1879
01:11:39,099 --> 01:11:41,735
And generating good power--

1880
01:11:41,768 --> 01:11:43,136
and she's done it.

1881
01:11:43,169 --> 01:11:44,404
[cheering]

1882
01:11:44,437 --> 01:11:46,706
- Aww, that one scared
Lena Rose.

1883
01:11:46,740 --> 01:11:50,510
- Before her AS diagnosis, she
was a college track athlete.

1884
01:11:50,543 --> 01:11:53,013
She can use those skills
here on Dangerous Waters.

1885
01:11:53,113 --> 01:11:54,881
- Go, hot feet, nice, nice--

1886
01:11:54,914 --> 01:11:56,016
- Gets through.

1887
01:11:56,116 --> 01:11:57,450
- And look at that.

1888
01:11:57,484 --> 01:12:00,520
[cheers and applause]

1889
01:12:01,521 --> 01:12:03,556
- She is savoring this moment.

1890
01:12:03,590 --> 01:12:05,825
After all the pain
she's been through,

1891
01:12:05,859 --> 01:12:08,061
it's got to feel great.

1892
01:12:09,796 --> 01:12:13,333
On now
to the fourth obstacle--

1893
01:12:13,366 --> 01:12:14,601
- Aw, look at--aww.

1894
01:12:14,634 --> 01:12:16,436
- Baby Lena
a little bit nervous.

1895
01:12:16,469 --> 01:12:18,071
That's OK, Lena!

1896
01:12:18,071 --> 01:12:20,740
Mama going to show you how
to play Duck Duck Goose.

1897
01:12:20,774 --> 01:12:22,676
- Good leap up.

1898
01:12:22,709 --> 01:12:25,211
- She's only 5'1"
and 102 pounds.

1899
01:12:25,245 --> 01:12:27,914
So has to really work
to generate some swing.

1900
01:12:27,947 --> 01:12:30,216
[all chanting]
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!

1901
01:12:30,250 --> 01:12:32,185
- Goes all the way, nice.

1902
01:12:32,218 --> 01:12:33,486
- What?

1903
01:12:33,520 --> 01:12:35,422
- You go, girl!

1904
01:12:35,455 --> 01:12:37,090
[all chanting]
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!

1905
01:12:37,123 --> 01:12:40,260
- But a very narrow handle
here on the goose.

1906
01:12:40,293 --> 01:12:41,861
- Hold on tight now.

1907
01:12:41,895 --> 01:12:43,329
Hold on tight, Lisa.

1908
01:12:43,363 --> 01:12:44,564
- Oh!

1909
01:12:44,597 --> 01:12:46,566
- Oh, couldn't hang
on to the goose.

1910
01:12:46,599 --> 01:12:49,102
But Mommy did good, Lena Rose.

1911
01:12:49,102 --> 01:12:52,739
And now she's got a chance
to move on to the semifinals.

1912
01:12:52,772 --> 01:12:56,309
After all the physical issues
she had to overcome,

1913
01:12:56,343 --> 01:12:59,346
this was an impressive run
by Lisa Hair.

1914
01:12:59,379 --> 01:13:01,514
She almost got
through Duck Duck Goose,

1915
01:13:01,548 --> 01:13:05,552
but just missed
with her left hand.

1916
01:13:05,585 --> 01:13:07,454
- Congratulations on your run.

1917
01:13:07,487 --> 01:13:09,055
After everything you
have been through,

1918
01:13:09,055 --> 01:13:11,291
what did it mean to just
be out here tonight?

1919
01:13:11,324 --> 01:13:13,059
- Oh, my goodness,
yes, just being

1920
01:13:13,059 --> 01:13:15,261
out here was the biggest gift.

1921
01:13:15,295 --> 01:13:17,364
You know, I don't
even expect to be

1922
01:13:17,397 --> 01:13:18,932
able to walk so many days.

1923
01:13:18,965 --> 01:13:21,368
But over the past year,
I've had

1924
01:13:21,401 --> 01:13:22,736
so many changes in my life.

1925
01:13:22,769 --> 01:13:25,905
And ah, it's just such
a gift and such a blessing.

1926
01:13:25,939 --> 01:13:27,273
I say I'm doing it--

1927
01:13:27,307 --> 01:13:28,808
- Mama's wet.
- Mama's wet.

1928
01:13:28,842 --> 01:13:31,277
Mama's wet.
- Mama is very wet, yeah.

1929
01:13:31,311 --> 01:13:34,647
- Sorry, I tried to be
dry for you, sweetheart.

1930
01:13:34,681 --> 01:13:36,182
- Incredible work
out there tonight.

1931
01:13:36,216 --> 01:13:38,852
We'll see you soon.
Guys, back to you.

1932
01:13:38,885 --> 01:13:41,287
- Our next competitor is one
of the real contenders

1933
01:13:41,321 --> 01:13:42,956
to win it all this year.

1934
01:13:42,989 --> 01:13:44,991
Flipping his way
to the start line,

1935
01:13:45,091 --> 01:13:47,127
this is Florida's
Caleb Bergstrom,

1936
01:13:47,160 --> 01:13:50,397
AKA Baby Bergie.

1937
01:13:50,430 --> 01:13:53,099
Last season, Caleb competed
alongside his sister,

1938
01:13:53,099 --> 01:13:57,470
Caitlyn, his brother-in-law,
David, and wife, Ashley.

1939
01:13:57,504 --> 01:14:01,808
He hit a buzzer in qualifying
and took home $10,000

1940
01:14:01,841 --> 01:14:03,410
for scaling the Mega Wall.

1941
01:14:03,443 --> 01:14:05,345
[buzzer blares]

1942
01:14:05,378 --> 01:14:08,048
Then he hit four more
buzzers and earned

1943
01:14:08,081 --> 01:14:09,883
his first trip to stage 4.

1944
01:14:09,916 --> 01:14:11,351
- Come on.
You got this.

1945
01:14:11,384 --> 01:14:13,153
- Halfway there--

1946
01:14:13,186 --> 01:14:15,655
- Oh, he's slowing down.

1947
01:14:17,957 --> 01:14:21,227
- He's ready to start another
run at the million dollars.

1948
01:14:21,261 --> 01:14:23,963
He'll have the whole Bergstrom
family on the sideline,

1949
01:14:24,064 --> 01:14:25,632
including his wife, Ashley.

1950
01:14:25,665 --> 01:14:28,435
[countdown clock beeping]

1951
01:14:28,468 --> 01:14:30,103
We expect great things
out of Caleb.

1952
01:14:30,136 --> 01:14:32,472
He is an explosive athlete.

1953
01:14:32,505 --> 01:14:34,741
The two times he's completed
a qualifying course,

1954
01:14:34,774 --> 01:14:36,576
he's hit the Mega Wall.

1955
01:14:36,609 --> 01:14:38,812
"Ninja" greats Joe Moravsky
and Daniel Gil

1956
01:14:38,845 --> 01:14:40,847
are the only athletes
to have taken

1957
01:14:40,880 --> 01:14:43,616
on the Mega Wall three times,
Caleb right behind them

1958
01:14:43,650 --> 01:14:45,085
at two.

1959
01:14:45,118 --> 01:14:47,454
With the top time in his
qualifying group last year,

1960
01:14:47,487 --> 01:14:49,589
quickly through the first two.

1961
01:14:49,622 --> 01:14:53,593
This is where his wife,
Ashley, fell, but not Caleb.

1962
01:14:53,626 --> 01:14:57,097
He's through the fourth
obstacle in under 25 seconds.

1963
01:14:57,097 --> 01:14:58,698
- Yeah, he ain't
messing around.

1964
01:14:58,732 --> 01:15:02,402
- He has about 45 seconds left
if he wants the fastest time.

1965
01:15:02,435 --> 01:15:04,437
He wants another shot
at that Mega Wall.

1966
01:15:04,471 --> 01:15:06,106
- You've got it, Caleb.

1967
01:15:06,139 --> 01:15:09,609
- Well, the goose has that
big wing drop, 90 degrees.

1968
01:15:09,642 --> 01:15:10,677
- Nice.

1969
01:15:10,710 --> 01:15:12,312
- No problem for Caleb,

1970
01:15:12,345 --> 01:15:15,081
that was textbook technique.

1971
01:15:15,115 --> 01:15:16,783
[cheering]

1972
01:15:16,816 --> 01:15:19,152
- Into Ring the Bells,
let's see if he can launch

1973
01:15:19,185 --> 01:15:21,121
right into the first obstacle,
good job.

1974
01:15:21,154 --> 01:15:23,857
- That's it, that's the way
you got to link it.

1975
01:15:23,890 --> 01:15:26,493
- And look at that,
using those middle two bells

1976
01:15:26,526 --> 01:15:27,794
to make that jump.

1977
01:15:27,827 --> 01:15:29,162
- Nice.

1978
01:15:29,195 --> 01:15:31,398
- Just a perfect run.

1979
01:15:31,431 --> 01:15:34,300
Caleb, going to have
the fastest time of the night.

1980
01:15:34,334 --> 01:15:35,869
- Ooh, wow!

1981
01:15:35,902 --> 01:15:37,937
[buzzer blares]
- Ahh!

1982
01:15:37,971 --> 01:15:40,940
[dramatic music]

1983
01:15:40,974 --> 01:15:45,645
* *

1984
01:15:45,679 --> 01:15:49,382
- No surprise, you just had
the fastest time of the night.

1985
01:15:49,416 --> 01:15:50,684
- Whoo!

1986
01:15:50,717 --> 01:15:53,853
- Go down and take
your shot at the Mega Wall.

1987
01:15:53,887 --> 01:15:56,556
RJ Roman's trying
to psych Caleb up.

1988
01:15:56,589 --> 01:15:59,125
We've seen five others
try the Mega Wall tonight.

1989
01:15:59,159 --> 01:16:00,727
None have succeeded.

1990
01:16:00,760 --> 01:16:01,828
[all chanting]
Mega Wall, Mega Wall!

1991
01:16:01,861 --> 01:16:04,364
- A year ago,
he did this for $10,000.

1992
01:16:04,397 --> 01:16:06,633
This year, he's going
for double that.

1993
01:16:06,666 --> 01:16:09,803
Baby Bergie, 18 1/2 feet.

1994
01:16:09,836 --> 01:16:12,672
- Clear this big, bad wall,
you clear a lot of debt too.

1995
01:16:12,706 --> 01:16:16,042
- Nice!
- Caleb Bergstrom delivers!

1996
01:16:16,076 --> 01:16:17,444
[buzzer blares]

1997
01:16:17,477 --> 01:16:19,779
And he just earned $20,000

1998
01:16:19,813 --> 01:16:23,583
from the Wells Fargo Active
Cash credit card.

1999
01:16:23,616 --> 01:16:27,320
- He had a good run up
and got one hand on the top

2000
01:16:27,354 --> 01:16:29,055
and pulled himself up.

2001
01:16:29,089 --> 01:16:33,593
- My man is kicking his season
off with a bang and 20 Gs.

2002
01:16:33,626 --> 01:16:36,463
He has the skills to go
all the way, big man.

2003
01:16:36,496 --> 01:16:38,098
- Yes, he does.

2004
01:16:38,131 --> 01:16:40,734
[upbeat music]

2005
01:16:40,767 --> 01:16:43,269
- So he leads the pack
in this second group.

2006
01:16:43,303 --> 01:16:44,971
We had six finishers in all.

2007
01:16:45,071 --> 01:16:46,906
And all those
in the top 11 will

2008
01:16:46,940 --> 01:16:49,142
move on to the semifinals.

2009
01:16:49,175 --> 01:16:53,279
But our 12th and 13th will
now race in our runoff.

2010
01:16:53,313 --> 01:16:55,715
And what a showdown
that's going to be.

2011
01:16:55,749 --> 01:16:58,585
It's a rematch
from last year's semifinals,

2012
01:16:58,618 --> 01:17:02,188
Elijah "Boss" Browning
versus Roberto Garemore.

2013
01:17:02,222 --> 01:17:04,657
It was one of the best races
of the season.

2014
01:17:04,691 --> 01:17:06,026
- Oh, man!

2015
01:17:06,026 --> 01:17:07,627
Now we'll see
them go at it again

2016
01:17:07,660 --> 01:17:10,263
on "American Ninja Warrior."

2017
01:17:14,701 --> 01:17:16,369
- While we were away,
54-year-old farmer

2018
01:17:16,403 --> 01:17:20,907
Jen Van Deren tried
to make hay on the course.

2019
01:17:20,940 --> 01:17:23,276
With her three kids
watching, Van Deren

2020
01:17:23,309 --> 01:17:25,578
survived the first obstacle.

2021
01:17:25,612 --> 01:17:26,680
- OK.

2022
01:17:26,713 --> 01:17:28,448
- And she celebrated.

2023
01:17:30,116 --> 01:17:31,618
Then came Double Twister.

2024
01:17:31,651 --> 01:17:33,153
- Nice, she made it.

2025
01:17:33,186 --> 01:17:34,554
All right.

2026
01:17:34,587 --> 01:17:36,389
- Then Deren,
the oldest female competitor,

2027
01:17:36,423 --> 01:17:38,324
made the leap
to the first handle,

2028
01:17:38,358 --> 01:17:42,128
but then just kept
swinging and swinging.

2029
01:17:42,162 --> 01:17:45,699
- I'm afraid she's running out
of that farmer grip strength.

2030
01:17:45,732 --> 01:17:47,133
- Whoo!
- You can do it.

2031
01:17:47,167 --> 01:17:49,969
- For more than a minute,
she went back and forth,

2032
01:17:50,070 --> 01:17:51,805
fighting to build up momentum.

2033
01:17:51,838 --> 01:17:53,306
- Oh, my goodness.

2034
01:17:53,340 --> 01:17:55,742
- The sun finally set
on the farmer.

2035
01:17:55,775 --> 01:17:57,243
- Whoa!

2036
01:17:57,277 --> 01:18:00,313
- But the crowd appreciated
the gutty performance.

2037
01:18:00,347 --> 01:18:03,016
She was our final runner,
so our top three women

2038
01:18:03,016 --> 01:18:04,250
are now set.

2039
01:18:04,284 --> 01:18:06,353
It's Utah teenager
Anna McArthur,

2040
01:18:06,386 --> 01:18:10,023
Ohio's Jenn Sanders, and
California personal trainer

2041
01:18:10,023 --> 01:18:11,257
Zhanique Lovett.

2042
01:18:11,291 --> 01:18:14,160
They're moving on
to the semifinals.

2043
01:18:14,194 --> 01:18:15,729
The fourth
and fifth place women

2044
01:18:15,762 --> 01:18:19,366
will now fight for the final
spot in our runoff races.

2045
01:18:19,399 --> 01:18:21,668
It'll be new mom Lisa Hair,
who had

2046
01:18:21,701 --> 01:18:23,703
to overcome crippling
health issues

2047
01:18:23,737 --> 01:18:25,305
to be here tonight.

2048
01:18:25,338 --> 01:18:27,040
Lisa will be racing
our fourth place

2049
01:18:27,040 --> 01:18:29,676
competitor, Nikki Zink,
who earlier had

2050
01:18:29,709 --> 01:18:32,379
a memorable run of her own.

2051
01:18:32,412 --> 01:18:34,447
She had a big group
of nuns watching,

2052
01:18:34,481 --> 01:18:35,849
including her sister,

2053
01:18:35,882 --> 01:18:37,450
who's also a sister.

2054
01:18:37,484 --> 01:18:39,819
- We love you, Nicole.

2055
01:18:39,853 --> 01:18:42,088
- And the physical therapist
from Missouri

2056
01:18:42,122 --> 01:18:43,957
gave them a blessed run

2057
01:18:44,057 --> 01:18:46,893
as she dashed through
the first three obstacles.

2058
01:18:46,926 --> 01:18:48,862
- Keep going.
Keep going. Keep going.

2059
01:18:48,895 --> 01:18:54,067
Yes, oh, my goodness,
prayer answered.

2060
01:18:54,067 --> 01:18:56,636
- Though she got
baptized seconds later--

2061
01:18:56,670 --> 01:18:58,071
- Ooh!

2062
01:18:58,071 --> 01:19:02,642
- That run still landed her
in fourth place.

2063
01:19:02,676 --> 01:19:05,178
On paper, you've got
to give the edge in this one

2064
01:19:05,211 --> 01:19:06,312
to Nikki Zink.

2065
01:19:06,346 --> 01:19:07,814
She's four years younger.

2066
01:19:07,847 --> 01:19:12,652
And at 5'8", she's much taller
than the 5'1" Lisa Hair.

2067
01:19:12,686 --> 01:19:15,021
- Oh, Daddy,
we've got daughters

2068
01:19:15,021 --> 01:19:18,224
and sisters watching
this one, final spot

2069
01:19:18,258 --> 01:19:19,893
in the semis up for grabs.

2070
01:19:19,926 --> 01:19:22,395
[countdown clock beeping]

2071
01:19:22,429 --> 01:19:24,698
- Well, Nikki Zink
is 7-inch height advantage.

2072
01:19:24,731 --> 01:19:25,899
- If you got it, use it.

2073
01:19:25,932 --> 01:19:27,600
5'8", use it--nice.

2074
01:19:27,634 --> 01:19:31,438
- Nikki Zink, a good run
there through Home Run.

2075
01:19:31,471 --> 01:19:33,940
You can see Nikki
a little hesitant.

2076
01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:35,775
- Ooh, nice.

2077
01:19:35,809 --> 01:19:37,577
- And they are up.

2078
01:19:37,610 --> 01:19:40,046
- All right, now it's
time to Spring Forward.

2079
01:19:40,046 --> 01:19:41,381
You don't want
to take extra swings.

2080
01:19:41,414 --> 01:19:42,716
You want to get it.

2081
01:19:42,749 --> 01:19:44,584
Get that back swing
and then throw yourself.

2082
01:19:44,617 --> 01:19:45,919
- Well, this is
a test of that grip

2083
01:19:45,952 --> 01:19:48,355
as though you're
riding behind a boat.

2084
01:19:48,388 --> 01:19:49,856
- Nice.

2085
01:19:49,889 --> 01:19:52,959
- And you saw that Lisa Hair
was the first one off.

2086
01:19:53,059 --> 01:19:54,361
That's important

2087
01:19:54,394 --> 01:19:56,162
because if they both fall
here on Wingnuts,

2088
01:19:56,196 --> 01:19:58,198
Lisa would be the winner.

2089
01:19:58,231 --> 01:20:00,166
- All right, here we go now.

2090
01:20:01,568 --> 01:20:02,535
Ooh!

2091
01:20:02,569 --> 01:20:03,837
- Got it.

2092
01:20:03,870 --> 01:20:06,573
Nikki Zink on a Wingnut
and a prayer

2093
01:20:06,606 --> 01:20:09,376
with Lisa just a hair behind.

2094
01:20:09,409 --> 01:20:12,812
Oh, this is a good one,
back and forth.

2095
01:20:12,846 --> 01:20:14,280
Right here, look at this.

2096
01:20:14,314 --> 01:20:15,749
- Nikki Zink ain't
messing around though.

2097
01:20:15,782 --> 01:20:18,084
And then all of a sudden,
here comes Lisa Hair.

2098
01:20:18,118 --> 01:20:21,688
- Lisa, yet again,
off another obstacle first.

2099
01:20:21,721 --> 01:20:23,957
As they head into Hopscotch--

2100
01:20:23,990 --> 01:20:25,759
- OK, here we go.

2101
01:20:25,792 --> 01:20:28,595
- This is a great race,
big man.

2102
01:20:28,628 --> 01:20:30,463
- This Hopscotch
ain't playing around.

2103
01:20:30,497 --> 01:20:32,532
OK, Lisa.

2104
01:20:32,565 --> 01:20:35,969
- Well, the only way Nikki
Zink wins is with a buzzer.

2105
01:20:36,002 --> 01:20:39,172
And she is making Hopscotch
look like child's play.

2106
01:20:39,205 --> 01:20:40,907
- And Nikki's getting
out ahead now.

2107
01:20:40,940 --> 01:20:42,876
Here we go.
- Look at that though, Lisa.

2108
01:20:42,909 --> 01:20:45,545
- And here comes Hair,
one more move.

2109
01:20:45,578 --> 01:20:46,913
- Oh!

2110
01:20:46,946 --> 01:20:49,049
Right at the landing!

2111
01:20:49,082 --> 01:20:50,550
And Lisa Hair wins.

2112
01:20:50,583 --> 01:20:52,585
But she wants a buzzer.

2113
01:20:52,619 --> 01:20:54,954
[buzzer blares]
- And she's got it.

2114
01:20:54,988 --> 01:20:56,690
Oh, my goodness.

2115
01:20:56,723 --> 01:20:57,957
[upbeat music]

2116
01:20:57,991 --> 01:21:00,927
- Lisa Hair,
what a night for her,

2117
01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:04,264
an unbelievable back-and-forth
race, and she prevails,

2118
01:21:04,297 --> 01:21:06,366
earning a trip
to the semifinals

2119
01:21:06,399 --> 01:21:10,303
and is going to celebrate
with her daughter, Lena Rose.

2120
01:21:10,337 --> 01:21:12,672
Nikki Zink put up
a tremendous fight,

2121
01:21:12,706 --> 01:21:17,077
but it's Lisa Hair, the mom
who overcame chronic pain that

2122
01:21:17,110 --> 01:21:21,081
makes it hard to walk who came
up with two good runs tonight.

2123
01:21:21,081 --> 01:21:23,817
She's going to let Lena Rose
hit a buzzer with her.

2124
01:21:23,850 --> 01:21:25,518
[buzzer blares]
- Aw, look at that.

2125
01:21:25,552 --> 01:21:28,488
What a night
it's been for Lisa Hair.

2126
01:21:28,521 --> 01:21:29,723
[cheering]

2127
01:21:29,756 --> 01:21:31,624
If you thought
that race was something,

2128
01:21:31,658 --> 01:21:33,960
fasten your seat belts
for this one.

2129
01:21:33,993 --> 01:21:37,530
We've got two speed demons,
Florida teenager

2130
01:21:37,564 --> 01:21:40,333
Roberto Garemore
taking on the Boss,

2131
01:21:40,367 --> 01:21:42,335
Tennessee's Elijah Browning.

2132
01:21:42,369 --> 01:21:44,804
They faced each other
in semifinals last year,

2133
01:21:44,838 --> 01:21:47,140
and it was a classic.

2134
01:21:47,173 --> 01:21:48,475
- You can see--

2135
01:21:48,508 --> 01:21:50,110
boom, look at the quickness
out of Garemore.

2136
01:21:50,110 --> 01:21:53,246
- We raced last season
in semifinals.

2137
01:21:53,279 --> 01:21:54,481
And I ended up beating Roberto.

2138
01:21:54,514 --> 01:21:55,982
- Oh, they're going
back and forth.

2139
01:21:56,016 --> 01:21:57,150
Oh, my goodness.

2140
01:21:57,183 --> 01:21:58,518
Matt, we got a race.

2141
01:21:58,551 --> 01:22:01,054
- Onto Slingshot, oh, my.

2142
01:22:01,087 --> 01:22:03,957
And Roberto's going
to have to start slowing up.

2143
01:22:04,057 --> 01:22:06,926
- And Roberto felt
the pressure of the Boss Man.

2144
01:22:06,960 --> 01:22:09,062
- So here we go.
We're doing it again.

2145
01:22:09,062 --> 01:22:10,964
- Having a rematch
against Elijah

2146
01:22:11,064 --> 01:22:13,333
is good because
I want redemption.

2147
01:22:13,366 --> 01:22:16,069
[dramatic music]

2148
01:22:16,069 --> 01:22:18,471
I do feel like I'm
more ready this season.

2149
01:22:18,505 --> 01:22:19,839
- He is so fast.

2150
01:22:19,873 --> 01:22:21,841
And he's willing
to put it all on the line.

2151
01:22:21,875 --> 01:22:24,477
And that's really scary running
up against someone like that.

2152
01:22:24,511 --> 01:22:26,746
But I beat him once.
I know I can do it again.

2153
01:22:26,780 --> 01:22:28,581
* *

2154
01:22:28,615 --> 01:22:31,418
- This runoff reads like
a heavyweight match-up.

2155
01:22:31,451 --> 01:22:33,219
Matt, I'm on the edge
right now.

2156
01:22:33,253 --> 01:22:34,921
- Go, Roberto!

2157
01:22:34,954 --> 01:22:38,291
- The families of both these
ninjas are on the sidelines.

2158
01:22:38,324 --> 01:22:40,493
Nobody wants to miss this.

2159
01:22:40,527 --> 01:22:44,164
Whoever loses, his season
will end right here.

2160
01:22:44,197 --> 01:22:46,833
[countdown clock beeping]

2161
01:22:46,866 --> 01:22:49,135
Wow, long limbs
there for Elijah.

2162
01:22:49,169 --> 01:22:51,604
- Both these ninjas capable
of going very, very fast

2163
01:22:51,638 --> 01:22:54,107
and linking it, wow.

2164
01:22:54,140 --> 01:22:56,609
Nice.
They are selling out, Akbar.

2165
01:22:56,643 --> 01:22:58,011
- You can't make a mistake.

2166
01:22:58,111 --> 01:22:59,479
You got to go in here
and just commit to it.

2167
01:22:59,512 --> 01:23:01,881
- And look at this,
load and throw,

2168
01:23:01,915 --> 01:23:03,616
virtually no hesitation.

2169
01:23:03,650 --> 01:23:05,452
- You want to get
to the semifinals.

2170
01:23:05,485 --> 01:23:07,120
You've got to bring
your A-game

2171
01:23:07,153 --> 01:23:08,655
and the entire alphabet.

2172
01:23:08,688 --> 01:23:11,224
Oh, boy, Hopscotch
can be very dangerous.

2173
01:23:11,257 --> 01:23:13,093
- And a hesitation
out of Elijah,

2174
01:23:13,126 --> 01:23:15,061
an extra swing--got it.

2175
01:23:15,061 --> 01:23:16,363
Oh, my.

2176
01:23:16,396 --> 01:23:17,597
- If you mess up
on this Hopscotch,

2177
01:23:17,630 --> 01:23:18,665
you might end up
in the nurse's office.

2178
01:23:18,698 --> 01:23:19,966
- It's going to
be the dismount.

2179
01:23:20,066 --> 01:23:21,368
- Oh, my goodness.
- Oh!

2180
01:23:21,401 --> 01:23:22,736
[buzzer blares]
Oh, my gosh!

2181
01:23:22,769 --> 01:23:23,903
- Oh.

2182
01:23:23,937 --> 01:23:27,107
[cheering]

2183
01:23:27,140 --> 01:23:31,077
Roberto, the first
one off, Elijah,

2184
01:23:31,077 --> 01:23:33,346
the first one to the buzzer.

2185
01:23:33,380 --> 01:23:35,081
- Oh, my word.
- What a finish.

2186
01:23:35,081 --> 01:23:37,751
That's maybe the best
runoff we've ever seen.

2187
01:23:37,784 --> 01:23:40,120
The Boss wins the rematch,
and he's

2188
01:23:40,153 --> 01:23:42,222
headed back to the semifinals.

2189
01:23:42,255 --> 01:23:44,190
Look at this ending again.

2190
01:23:44,224 --> 01:23:46,793
Roberto had the edge
but stumbled

2191
01:23:46,826 --> 01:23:48,828
over the spinning wall,
while Elijah

2192
01:23:48,862 --> 01:23:51,698
landed cleanly
and was able to just

2193
01:23:51,731 --> 01:23:54,501
beat Roberto to the buzzer.

2194
01:23:54,534 --> 01:23:57,103
- A great start to the season,
but that's going to do it

2195
01:23:57,103 --> 01:23:58,838
for "Ninja's" opening night.

2196
01:23:58,872 --> 01:24:01,474
For Akbar Gbajabiamila and
Zuri Hall, I'm Matt Iseman.

2197
01:24:01,508 --> 01:24:04,844
We'll see you next time
on "American Ninja Warrior."

2198
01:24:04,878 --> 01:24:07,280
[cheering]

2199
01:24:07,313 --> 01:24:10,283
[dramatic music]

2200
01:24:10,316 --> 01:24:17,357
* *