1
00:00:03,003 --> 00:00:05,038
[bright tones]

2
00:00:05,772 --> 00:00:08,174
- We're back at Universal
Studios Hollywood,

3
00:00:08,208 --> 00:00:10,910
ready for our closeup on
the second night of qualifying

4
00:00:10,944 --> 00:00:13,179
of "American Ninja Warrior."

5
00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:15,181
Hello, everyone, and welcome.
I'm Matt Iseman.

6
00:00:15,215 --> 00:00:17,017
- And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.

7
00:00:17,050 --> 00:00:18,718
We kicked off
the season last week

8
00:00:18,752 --> 00:00:20,854
with a double dose of "Ninja,"
and we're

9
00:00:20,887 --> 00:00:22,022
about to do it again.

10
00:00:22,055 --> 00:00:23,256
- Absolutely, big man.

11
00:00:23,289 --> 00:00:25,625
Tonight, we'll again
see two groups of ninjas

12
00:00:25,658 --> 00:00:27,360
on two different courses.

13
00:00:27,394 --> 00:00:29,896
For a preview of the first
one our ninjas will face,

14
00:00:29,929 --> 00:00:31,364
let's go down to Zuri Hall.

15
00:00:31,398 --> 00:00:32,699
- Here we go, guys.

16
00:00:32,732 --> 00:00:35,368
We kick things off here,
on our qualifying course,

17
00:00:35,402 --> 00:00:37,671
where we have some new
twists tonight.

18
00:00:37,704 --> 00:00:39,305
One of our fan favorite
obstacles,

19
00:00:39,339 --> 00:00:41,074
Ring Chaser, is back.

20
00:00:41,107 --> 00:00:42,676
- Got it!

21
00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:46,279
- Ninjas try to catch the
rolling ring any way they can.

22
00:00:46,312 --> 00:00:48,014
- What?
He caught that with his foot!

23
00:00:48,048 --> 00:00:52,018
- And use it or the smaller
ring to reach safety.

24
00:00:52,052 --> 00:00:53,753
[upbeat music]

25
00:00:53,787 --> 00:00:54,988
Another fan favorite--

26
00:00:55,021 --> 00:00:56,423
- Whoa!

27
00:00:56,456 --> 00:00:58,758
- Spinning Bridge, returns
as the balance obstacle

28
00:00:58,792 --> 00:01:00,360
in the number-three position.

29
00:01:00,393 --> 00:01:01,895
- No!

30
00:01:01,928 --> 00:01:04,497
- Then it's a brand-new one,
Heavy Metal,

31
00:01:04,531 --> 00:01:08,868
where Ninjas jump the heavy
bar forward, spin around,

32
00:01:08,902 --> 00:01:10,370
and jump it backwards.

33
00:01:10,403 --> 00:01:11,604
- Nice!

34
00:01:11,638 --> 00:01:14,107
- That's followed
by the Cubes.

35
00:01:14,140 --> 00:01:17,210
Hit the buzzer
in 1 minute 20 seconds,

36
00:01:17,243 --> 00:01:20,814
and you'll earn a shot
at the 18 1/2 foot Mega Wall.

37
00:01:20,847 --> 00:01:24,384
Conquer that and you'll
take home $20,000

38
00:01:24,417 --> 00:01:27,487
from the Wells Fargo
Active Cash Credit Card.

39
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,589
Let's fire it up, guys.

40
00:01:29,622 --> 00:01:32,192
- Our first competitor
tonight is coming in

41
00:01:32,225 --> 00:01:33,927
like a wrecking ball.

42
00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,262
- Let's go!

43
00:01:36,296 --> 00:01:39,232
- 26-year-old Tommy Rutter
is a demolition

44
00:01:39,265 --> 00:01:40,667
foreman in Des Moines.

45
00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:41,868
- Come on!

46
00:01:41,901 --> 00:01:43,636
- Oh, you can't tell me
he's not hyped.

47
00:01:43,670 --> 00:01:45,338
[all chanting]
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy!

48
00:01:45,372 --> 00:01:47,173
- His crew on the sideline
is definitely excited,

49
00:01:47,207 --> 00:01:48,942
led by his wife Paige.

50
00:01:48,975 --> 00:01:53,446
Tommy wears a hard hat, but
he's also got a soft side.

51
00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,449
[upbeat rock music]

52
00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:57,517
* *

53
00:01:57,550 --> 00:01:59,119
I'm just a big kid,
and my job

54
00:01:59,152 --> 00:02:00,387
is a giant playground.

55
00:02:00,420 --> 00:02:01,788
* *

56
00:02:01,821 --> 00:02:02,856
Make way!

57
00:02:02,889 --> 00:02:04,391
We're breaking concrete.

58
00:02:04,424 --> 00:02:06,359
We're cutting up steel.

59
00:02:06,393 --> 00:02:07,861
* *

60
00:02:07,894 --> 00:02:10,864
The power of the tools
is immense.

61
00:02:10,897 --> 00:02:13,366
* *

62
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,635
And, I mean, who doesn't
want to swing a sledge hammer

63
00:02:15,669 --> 00:02:18,471
and get paid for it?

64
00:02:18,505 --> 00:02:21,841
* *

65
00:02:21,875 --> 00:02:24,277
Ahh!

66
00:02:24,310 --> 00:02:26,613
* *

67
00:02:26,646 --> 00:02:28,314
Do you remember the last time
we were on this bridge?

68
00:02:28,348 --> 00:02:29,783
It was so peaceful.

69
00:02:29,816 --> 00:02:31,217
- Yeah.

70
00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,486
- Paige is the number-one
inspiration in my life,

71
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,455
and has been since
I've met her.

72
00:02:35,488 --> 00:02:37,090
[soft music]

73
00:02:37,090 --> 00:02:38,992
- When I was 16,
I was diagnosed

74
00:02:39,092 --> 00:02:42,095
with acute myeloid leukemia.

75
00:02:42,128 --> 00:02:44,764
It was a really rough time,
but when I met Thomas,

76
00:02:44,798 --> 00:02:47,100
he taught me a whole
new world of love,

77
00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:51,104
and compassion, and adventure,
and freedom, I guess.

78
00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:52,839
So it really helped
my heart heal

79
00:02:52,872 --> 00:02:54,507
in a lot of different ways.

80
00:02:54,541 --> 00:02:55,775
* *

81
00:02:55,809 --> 00:02:56,976
- Whoo!

82
00:02:57,010 --> 00:02:58,578
- To be standing
at the start line

83
00:02:58,611 --> 00:03:02,515
and to have Paige cheering
me on means everything to me.

84
00:03:02,549 --> 00:03:03,850
* *

85
00:03:03,883 --> 00:03:05,552
Paige is definitely
the real Ninja Warrior,

86
00:03:05,585 --> 00:03:08,588
and I wouldn't have
been here without her.

87
00:03:08,621 --> 00:03:11,224
* *

88
00:03:11,257 --> 00:03:12,559
[cheering]

89
00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:14,661
- You can tell he's
got a heart of gold.

90
00:03:14,694 --> 00:03:16,763
And there's Paige
on his sideline,

91
00:03:16,796 --> 00:03:18,665
along with his buddies
from Des Moines.

92
00:03:18,698 --> 00:03:19,899
- Ey, ey!

93
00:03:19,933 --> 00:03:20,967
[all chanting]
Tommy, Tommy!

94
00:03:21,067 --> 00:03:22,435
[countdown clock beeping]

95
00:03:22,469 --> 00:03:25,839
- Demolition man's gonna
get us going on Pole Vault.

96
00:03:25,872 --> 00:03:27,941
Climb up,
then kick those legs out.

97
00:03:27,974 --> 00:03:29,142
- Nice!
- Perfect!

98
00:03:29,175 --> 00:03:31,177
- Come on, you got it!

99
00:03:31,211 --> 00:03:35,115
- 6'4", 195 pounds,
good size for demolition.

100
00:03:35,148 --> 00:03:36,683
Pretty big for ninja.

101
00:03:36,716 --> 00:03:39,686
Should be able to use that
reach here on Ring Chaser.

102
00:03:39,719 --> 00:03:42,288
He's gotta monkey bar down
and catch the ring.

103
00:03:42,322 --> 00:03:44,324
Oh, nice!

104
00:03:44,357 --> 00:03:47,093
But still has to swing
over to the next hook.

105
00:03:47,093 --> 00:03:48,862
Little showoff,
look at that,

106
00:03:48,895 --> 00:03:50,163
getting the crowd into it!

107
00:03:50,196 --> 00:03:51,731
Can he launch this ring?

108
00:03:51,765 --> 00:03:53,700
Got it!
- Nice!

109
00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:55,802
[cheering]

110
00:03:55,835 --> 00:03:59,606
But now he's spinning in
circles, hanging by one arm!

111
00:03:59,639 --> 00:04:01,141
What is he doing?

112
00:04:01,174 --> 00:04:03,476
Not how you want
to do this obstacle,

113
00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:05,545
but he's hanging in there.

114
00:04:05,578 --> 00:04:07,447
- It can be very hard
to land it when you've

115
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,083
got that diagonal swing, Matt.

116
00:04:10,116 --> 00:04:12,052
- Says he learned
about overcoming

117
00:04:12,052 --> 00:04:14,054
obstacles
from his wife, Paige,

118
00:04:14,087 --> 00:04:16,156
and her fight with leukemia.

119
00:04:17,691 --> 00:04:19,125
And finally gets through!

120
00:04:19,159 --> 00:04:20,860
- Let's go!

121
00:04:20,894 --> 00:04:23,396
[cheering]

122
00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:25,432
- And he is pumped up!

123
00:04:25,465 --> 00:04:27,067
That gave him
a dose of adrenaline!

124
00:04:27,067 --> 00:04:28,735
- Let's go!

125
00:04:28,768 --> 00:04:31,471
[cheering]

126
00:04:31,504 --> 00:04:33,406
- But now it's tonight's
balance obstacle,

127
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:34,908
Spinning Bridge.

128
00:04:34,941 --> 00:04:36,343
- Let's go!

129
00:04:36,376 --> 00:04:38,311
- Needs to sprint
across these spinning balls.

130
00:04:38,345 --> 00:04:41,081
Watch the footwork here.

131
00:04:41,081 --> 00:04:42,649
- Whoa!

132
00:04:42,682 --> 00:04:45,719
[cheering]

133
00:04:46,753 --> 00:04:49,089
- Let's go!

134
00:04:49,122 --> 00:04:52,125
- Man, he is stumbling and
fumbling through this course,

135
00:04:52,158 --> 00:04:55,095
but somehow he's found himself
on the fourth obstacle!

136
00:04:55,095 --> 00:04:57,497
- Brand-new obstacle,
Heavy Metal.

137
00:04:57,530 --> 00:04:59,332
- Ooh, this one is awkward.

138
00:04:59,366 --> 00:05:01,935
You've got a 10-pound bar
with ring handles on it.

139
00:05:02,035 --> 00:05:04,704
You've gotta lache
5 feet across.

140
00:05:04,738 --> 00:05:06,272
Oh, that is Heavy Metal!

141
00:05:06,306 --> 00:05:07,640
OK!

142
00:05:07,674 --> 00:05:09,409
- Well, he is rocking
out and rotating it.

143
00:05:09,442 --> 00:05:12,045
Now a reverse lache.

144
00:05:12,045 --> 00:05:14,781
- Look looks like he
belongs on Heavy Metal!

145
00:05:14,814 --> 00:05:17,050
- Oh!
[air horn blares]

146
00:05:17,083 --> 00:05:19,352
[dramatic music]

147
00:05:19,386 --> 00:05:22,522
Can't hold on,
and I guess we could say

148
00:05:22,555 --> 00:05:25,625
that run was a smash.

149
00:05:25,658 --> 00:05:27,560
- Yes, it was!

150
00:05:27,594 --> 00:05:30,397
Tommy Rutter brought
the noise, and he

151
00:05:30,430 --> 00:05:33,066
bulldozed his way through
the first half of the course.

152
00:05:33,099 --> 00:05:35,335
The demo man couldn't
handle Heavy Metal,

153
00:05:35,368 --> 00:05:37,704
but he had a blast!

154
00:05:38,838 --> 00:05:40,874
- I love you.
- I love you too.

155
00:05:40,907 --> 00:05:42,075
Good job.

156
00:05:42,075 --> 00:05:43,276
- Thank you.

157
00:05:43,309 --> 00:05:45,745
- Up next is 16-year-old
Colorado high

158
00:05:45,779 --> 00:05:47,981
school student Emily Keener.

159
00:05:48,081 --> 00:05:50,116
She might look like
your typical teenager,

160
00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:52,852
but she sees things
a little differently.

161
00:05:52,886 --> 00:05:55,422
[soft music]

162
00:05:55,455 --> 00:05:57,590
- So I have something
called synesthesia,

163
00:05:57,624 --> 00:06:00,093
which is basically when
two or more of your senses

164
00:06:00,126 --> 00:06:02,395
mix together.

165
00:06:02,429 --> 00:06:05,298
* *

166
00:06:05,331 --> 00:06:07,534
When I hear a song,
instead of just hearing it,

167
00:06:07,567 --> 00:06:09,736
I see a bunch of colors
floating around the room

168
00:06:09,769 --> 00:06:11,671
in, like, patterns and stuff.

169
00:06:11,705 --> 00:06:13,306
* *

170
00:06:13,340 --> 00:06:14,941
For the longest time,
I thought that everybody

171
00:06:15,041 --> 00:06:17,677
saw colors when they read
and when they heard stuff.

172
00:06:17,711 --> 00:06:20,046
I started painting what I see.

173
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,850
For names or a certain sound,
it correlates to a color.

174
00:06:24,584 --> 00:06:26,953
And then,
the louder the sound is,

175
00:06:27,053 --> 00:06:29,622
the more, like, vibrant it is.

176
00:06:31,458 --> 00:06:33,827
- Her brain just works
a little bit differently

177
00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:36,062
than most people's.

178
00:06:36,096 --> 00:06:37,630
- It's just really
neat when you

179
00:06:37,664 --> 00:06:40,066
see your kid communicate
something that they've never

180
00:06:40,066 --> 00:06:41,401
been able to share before.

181
00:06:41,434 --> 00:06:43,870
- Hey, guys.
I've painted your names.

182
00:06:43,903 --> 00:06:45,271
- Wow!

183
00:06:45,305 --> 00:06:47,974
- I definitely see
synesthesia as a gift

184
00:06:48,074 --> 00:06:50,377
because I see some
things that nobody

185
00:06:50,410 --> 00:06:52,145
else will ever be able to see.

186
00:06:52,178 --> 00:06:54,347
The red is for the A's.

187
00:06:54,381 --> 00:06:56,116
It's time to show
my true colors.

188
00:06:56,149 --> 00:07:00,720
* *

189
00:07:00,754 --> 00:07:03,690
Emily wanted to help us
understand her condition,

190
00:07:03,723 --> 00:07:06,760
so she painted what our
names look like to her.

191
00:07:06,793 --> 00:07:07,794
- And I love it.
- This is "Matt."

192
00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:09,029
Yeah!
- Yeah, and this is me.

193
00:07:09,062 --> 00:07:11,731
When she sees the letter A,
red comes up.

194
00:07:11,765 --> 00:07:13,166
- Double T's get green.

195
00:07:13,199 --> 00:07:15,702
I love the look of this.
- This is pretty cool.

196
00:07:15,735 --> 00:07:18,338
- Emily's gonna be
cheered on by her mom

197
00:07:18,371 --> 00:07:21,074
and a bunch of the Colorado
ninjas she trains with,

198
00:07:21,107 --> 00:07:23,243
who are down on the sideline.

199
00:07:23,276 --> 00:07:26,046
[countdown clock beeping]

200
00:07:26,046 --> 00:07:27,514
[cheering]

201
00:07:27,547 --> 00:07:29,649
- Well, last season,
Emily Keener made it

202
00:07:29,683 --> 00:07:34,054
to the semifinals, was the top
woman in her qualifying round.

203
00:07:34,087 --> 00:07:36,489
- Now she's making her
way to Ring Chaser.

204
00:07:36,523 --> 00:07:38,358
You know, when she hears
that rumbling ring,

205
00:07:38,391 --> 00:07:41,327
I wonder what color
that creates for her.

206
00:07:41,361 --> 00:07:44,397
She catches it, no problem.

207
00:07:44,431 --> 00:07:47,100
Now ready for a little height.

208
00:07:47,133 --> 00:07:48,668
Nice!

209
00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:54,307
- She's been training hard
with Austin Gray, Nate Hanson,

210
00:07:54,341 --> 00:07:56,376
and of course,
one of the top women around,

211
00:07:56,409 --> 00:07:58,378
Taylor Greene,
and all of them say

212
00:07:58,411 --> 00:08:00,380
Emily has tremendous skills.

213
00:08:00,413 --> 00:08:03,183
Now facing Spinning Bridge.

214
00:08:04,384 --> 00:08:05,919
Great balance.
- Nice.

215
00:08:06,019 --> 00:08:09,089
- Her senses are
attuned to this course.

216
00:08:10,256 --> 00:08:12,125
On now to Heavy Metal.

217
00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,262
10-pound bar,
heaviest bar we've ever had

218
00:08:16,296 --> 00:08:17,864
in "Ninja Warrior,"
and you can see,

219
00:08:17,897 --> 00:08:20,734
a little more challenging
to get up with that big bar.

220
00:08:20,767 --> 00:08:24,070
- Gotta generate the power
in this reverse lache.

221
00:08:24,104 --> 00:08:25,372
- There's the blind one.

222
00:08:25,405 --> 00:08:28,108
She's just gotta
trust her senses.

223
00:08:28,141 --> 00:08:30,076
- Launch it in!
- Oh!

224
00:08:31,878 --> 00:08:34,047
- Try to control
the bar there.

225
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,583
That awkward shape
and that heavy metal

226
00:08:36,616 --> 00:08:39,119
is making it
extremely difficult.

227
00:08:39,152 --> 00:08:41,855
- Big lache here.

228
00:08:41,888 --> 00:08:43,590
That hook drops down.

229
00:08:43,623 --> 00:08:45,892
Nice break.

230
00:08:45,925 --> 00:08:48,428
I like this run
out of Emily Keener.

231
00:08:48,461 --> 00:08:51,698
She's the first tonight
to conquer Heavy Metal.

232
00:08:51,731 --> 00:08:53,867
Taylor Greene,
over there on the sideline,

233
00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:55,869
was the only woman
to hit a buzzer

234
00:08:55,902 --> 00:08:57,303
in qualifying last year.

235
00:08:57,337 --> 00:08:59,606
Emily Keener trying
to do it this season,

236
00:08:59,639 --> 00:09:02,142
but will have
to get past the Cubes.

237
00:09:02,175 --> 00:09:04,210
Last year, went out
on the fifth obstacle.

238
00:09:04,244 --> 00:09:06,246
Here's a chance for revenge,
and possibly

239
00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:07,914
her first-ever buzzer.

240
00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:09,616
- Gotta spin
this first one vertically.

241
00:09:09,649 --> 00:09:11,217
- Yeah, and it's so hard,
because you're holding

242
00:09:11,251 --> 00:09:12,752
your body weight with one arm.

243
00:09:12,786 --> 00:09:14,254
You can see,
she's trying to get it down.

244
00:09:14,287 --> 00:09:16,623
- 115 pounds, struggling
to find the purchase.

245
00:09:16,656 --> 00:09:18,124
Gets it around.
- Nice!

246
00:09:18,158 --> 00:09:19,626
- Now you can launch.

247
00:09:19,659 --> 00:09:22,328
Well, this is where
the grip strength is taxed.

248
00:09:22,362 --> 00:09:23,930
We'll see what
Emily has in reserve.

249
00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:27,300
- Nice.
- Makes it to the second cube.

250
00:09:29,069 --> 00:09:31,271
There you've gotta
rotate it 180 degrees.

251
00:09:31,304 --> 00:09:33,773
- Yeah, starting to fish
around, trying to find it.

252
00:09:33,807 --> 00:09:36,409
Now gotta really try to turn
that thing around.

253
00:09:36,443 --> 00:09:39,713
- And Keener fighting,

254
00:09:39,746 --> 00:09:41,881
use that lower body
to kick it around.

255
00:09:41,915 --> 00:09:43,850
And good job locking it in!

256
00:09:43,883 --> 00:09:45,952
Well, her senses are keen.

257
00:09:46,052 --> 00:09:47,654
Going to the final cube!

258
00:09:47,687 --> 00:09:49,456
Anticipate the moves here.

259
00:09:49,489 --> 00:09:50,557
- Well, she's throwing--

260
00:09:50,590 --> 00:09:51,825
- Oh!

261
00:09:51,858 --> 00:09:53,760
- Oh, boy!

262
00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:56,930
- She was closing in
on her first buzzer,

263
00:09:56,963 --> 00:10:00,600
but Emily Kenner comes up
just short on the Cubes.

264
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:01,935
- Good job, Em!

265
00:10:01,968 --> 00:10:04,004
- Only the top four women
from this group

266
00:10:04,037 --> 00:10:05,972
will move on
to the semifinals.

267
00:10:06,006 --> 00:10:08,108
There's a good chance
Keener will be one of them

268
00:10:08,141 --> 00:10:10,610
with that run.

269
00:10:10,643 --> 00:10:14,280
- Tonight, it's another
"Ninja" double feature,

270
00:10:14,314 --> 00:10:18,518
with two different courses and
two groups of fan favorites,

271
00:10:18,551 --> 00:10:22,522
including our newly crowned
Women's Champion Addy Herman.

272
00:10:22,555 --> 00:10:25,091
She's worked so hard
for this moment!

273
00:10:25,125 --> 00:10:27,994
- And it's the swan song
for the Phoenix.

274
00:10:28,028 --> 00:10:31,131
"Ninja" great
Najee Richardson is retiring.

275
00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:34,367
This might be his last
time on the course.

276
00:10:34,401 --> 00:10:36,903
Plus, the Green brothers
have been through a lot

277
00:10:36,936 --> 00:10:39,973
over the years, but they've
always got each other's back.

278
00:10:40,006 --> 00:10:42,575
- We both want to make it
to semis and finals together.

279
00:10:42,609 --> 00:10:44,511
- All that and more--

280
00:10:44,544 --> 00:10:46,012
- Let's go!

281
00:10:46,046 --> 00:10:49,182
- Coming up on
"American Ninja Warrior."

282
00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:55,522
- We're off to a good,
clean start

283
00:10:55,555 --> 00:10:57,190
here in our second night
of qualifying,

284
00:10:57,223 --> 00:11:00,093
and that's due in part
to ninja Tim Gallenbeck,

285
00:11:00,126 --> 00:11:03,263
who's a window washer back
in Iowa, and minutes ago,

286
00:11:03,296 --> 00:11:05,565
was ready to clean up
on the course.

287
00:11:05,598 --> 00:11:07,467
- OK! I see you!

288
00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:10,236
- The 43-year-old father of
four stayed out of the water

289
00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:11,771
on Pole Vault.

290
00:11:11,805 --> 00:11:14,240
- Watch yourself,
watch yourself.

291
00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:15,675
- But the window washer got

292
00:11:15,709 --> 00:11:17,911
a little messy on Ring Chaser.

293
00:11:17,944 --> 00:11:19,813
- Oh, he lost it.

294
00:11:19,846 --> 00:11:22,248
- Oh, he hit it
with his elbow!

295
00:11:22,282 --> 00:11:26,486
- With both rings in the
water, he was hung out to dry.

296
00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:27,721
- Oh!

297
00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:29,356
[air horn blares]

298
00:11:29,389 --> 00:11:32,625
- But at least he
cleaned up after himself.

299
00:11:32,659 --> 00:11:35,929
Greenwood, Indiana's
17-year-old Jess Wombles just

300
00:11:35,962 --> 00:11:37,597
earned her pilot's license,

301
00:11:37,630 --> 00:11:40,000
and she's known
as the Sky Ninja.

302
00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:42,836
- All right, Jess Wombles
ready for takeoff!

303
00:11:42,869 --> 00:11:45,638
- The teenage aviator
soared through Pole Vault.

304
00:11:45,672 --> 00:11:46,740
- Ooh, she got some air time.

305
00:11:46,773 --> 00:11:47,941
Nice.

306
00:11:47,974 --> 00:11:49,509
- And aced the catch
on Ring Chaser.

307
00:11:49,542 --> 00:11:51,111
- Fasten your seatbelt
for this one.

308
00:11:51,111 --> 00:11:52,278
Nice!

309
00:11:52,312 --> 00:11:53,613
- She was cruising,

310
00:11:53,646 --> 00:11:55,215
until she reached
the balance obstacle.

311
00:11:55,248 --> 00:11:56,483
- Ground game!
Ground game!

312
00:11:56,516 --> 00:11:57,617
Keep your feet hot!

313
00:11:57,650 --> 00:11:59,119
No!

314
00:11:59,119 --> 00:12:01,654
- And it ended up
as a water landing.

315
00:12:01,688 --> 00:12:03,957
[upbeat music]

316
00:12:04,057 --> 00:12:07,961
19-year-old Anabella Heinrichs
has a hobby too.

317
00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:11,197
- Anabella and I share
a passion of scuba diving.

318
00:12:11,231 --> 00:12:13,867
She got her advanced
scuba certification.

319
00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:17,303
- Things were going swimmingly
for the second-year ninja vet.

320
00:12:17,337 --> 00:12:18,972
- OK!

321
00:12:19,072 --> 00:12:21,074
- And she had no problem
with the early obstacles--

322
00:12:21,107 --> 00:12:22,642
- Keep it running!
Keep it running!

323
00:12:22,676 --> 00:12:23,877
Nice!

324
00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:25,979
- Until she
reached Heavy Metal,

325
00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:27,380
which was a big headache.

326
00:12:27,414 --> 00:12:28,715
- Oh!

327
00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:30,784
- She hit her head
on the backward throw,

328
00:12:30,817 --> 00:12:34,421
and the scuba diver
ended up in the water.

329
00:12:36,690 --> 00:12:39,392
Get ready for twice the fun
because up next

330
00:12:39,426 --> 00:12:41,761
is Wisconsin's Nathan Green.

331
00:12:41,795 --> 00:12:44,764
He's the twin brother
of Marquez Green, who we'll

332
00:12:44,798 --> 00:12:46,900
see run in just a few minutes.

333
00:12:46,933 --> 00:12:48,768
These two are
incredibly close,

334
00:12:48,802 --> 00:12:52,839
and they love to try and best
each other on the course.

335
00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:56,009
- We started off the twin
rivalry back in 2019,

336
00:12:56,109 --> 00:12:57,110
on our first season.

337
00:12:57,110 --> 00:12:58,111
It went well for me.

338
00:12:58,144 --> 00:12:59,346
I hit a buzzer.

339
00:12:59,379 --> 00:13:00,947
- Marquez!

340
00:13:01,047 --> 00:13:02,048
Yes!

341
00:13:02,048 --> 00:13:03,183
- Not so much for me.

342
00:13:03,216 --> 00:13:04,718
I ended up falling
on obstacle two.

343
00:13:04,751 --> 00:13:07,253
- Oh!
Oh, my goodness!

344
00:13:07,287 --> 00:13:09,322
- Me and Nathan are
both super competitive,

345
00:13:09,356 --> 00:13:11,624
and we both want to be
better than the other person.

346
00:13:11,658 --> 00:13:13,360
- With twins,
there's that natural thing

347
00:13:13,393 --> 00:13:14,527
where people
compare you two, so,

348
00:13:14,561 --> 00:13:16,629
like, it's always competition.

349
00:13:16,663 --> 00:13:18,365
But it's friendly.

350
00:13:18,398 --> 00:13:19,699
- Got you!

351
00:13:19,733 --> 00:13:22,669
- I'll get it
next time, though.

352
00:13:22,702 --> 00:13:25,372
- Our mom has always been
a big motivator in our lives.

353
00:13:25,405 --> 00:13:27,407
She was diagnosed
with breast cancer

354
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,175
when we were four years old.

355
00:13:29,209 --> 00:13:32,112
I think her passing
really brought us closer.

356
00:13:32,145 --> 00:13:33,847
- You can see the emotion.

357
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,083
These twins have
a special bond.

358
00:13:37,083 --> 00:13:38,952
- This is our
fourth season now,

359
00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:42,288
and we both want to make it
to semis and finals together.

360
00:13:42,322 --> 00:13:45,925
- Season 16 is more
so buzzers over bros,

361
00:13:45,959 --> 00:13:47,761
or winning before twinning.

362
00:13:47,794 --> 00:13:49,162
- Oh, I like that one.

363
00:13:49,195 --> 00:13:50,430
I like that one more,
winning over twinning.

364
00:13:50,463 --> 00:13:51,831
- Yeah.

365
00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:55,201
- Come on, Nathan!
You got it!

366
00:13:55,235 --> 00:13:56,536
Let's go!

367
00:13:56,569 --> 00:13:58,438
- These two always
get emotional watching

368
00:13:58,471 --> 00:14:00,306
each other run.

369
00:14:00,340 --> 00:14:02,842
- Marquez leading
a big group of ninja friends

370
00:14:02,876 --> 00:14:04,744
the brothers train with.

371
00:14:04,778 --> 00:14:07,480
[countdown clock beeping]

372
00:14:07,514 --> 00:14:10,383
They wear different colors,
so we can tell them apart.

373
00:14:10,417 --> 00:14:13,286
Nathan's wearing red,
and Marquez is in blue.

374
00:14:13,319 --> 00:14:15,655
They've been back and forth
in their competition,

375
00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:18,425
but Marquez is the only one
who's ever hit a buzzer.

376
00:14:18,458 --> 00:14:21,294
- Come on, Nathan!
Come on!

377
00:14:21,327 --> 00:14:24,064
- Both of the brothers were
track athletes growing up.

378
00:14:24,064 --> 00:14:25,965
Started Ninja five years ago.

379
00:14:26,066 --> 00:14:27,300
- Nice!

380
00:14:27,334 --> 00:14:29,336
Good job getting that ring.

381
00:14:29,369 --> 00:14:32,405
[cheering]

382
00:14:34,074 --> 00:14:36,076
- Both of the Greens
are Badgers.

383
00:14:36,076 --> 00:14:38,578
They graduated from
the University of Wisconsin

384
00:14:38,611 --> 00:14:41,681
a couple of years ago.

385
00:14:41,715 --> 00:14:43,683
And he is through!

386
00:14:43,717 --> 00:14:46,853
[cheering]

387
00:14:46,886 --> 00:14:49,556
- He can use his track skills
here on Spinning Bridge.

388
00:14:49,589 --> 00:14:51,758
Da, da, da, da, got it!

389
00:14:51,791 --> 00:14:54,561
- And Nathan Green
rolling along,

390
00:14:54,594 --> 00:14:58,932
making a strong case to be
the top twin this season!

391
00:14:58,965 --> 00:15:02,035
[cheering]

392
00:15:02,869 --> 00:15:05,038
Now the upper body
test resumes

393
00:15:05,038 --> 00:15:06,206
right here with Heavy Metal.

394
00:15:06,239 --> 00:15:07,841
This 10-pound bar
with the ring

395
00:15:07,874 --> 00:15:10,510
handles just so
different than anything

396
00:15:10,543 --> 00:15:12,278
we've had on "Ninja Warrior."

397
00:15:12,312 --> 00:15:14,114
- Ooh, you've gotta get
up and out, up and out.

398
00:15:14,147 --> 00:15:16,249
Ooh!

399
00:15:17,617 --> 00:15:20,820
- Well, this one right here,
that blind lache,

400
00:15:20,854 --> 00:15:22,188
can be very difficult.

401
00:15:22,222 --> 00:15:23,857
Trust yourself.

402
00:15:23,890 --> 00:15:26,860
Feel the space, and that's
about a 5-foot lache.

403
00:15:26,893 --> 00:15:28,061
There it is!

404
00:15:28,061 --> 00:15:29,295
Just muscled it in there.

405
00:15:29,329 --> 00:15:31,364
Good job kipping it.

406
00:15:31,398 --> 00:15:33,333
- Well, this next one's
got greater distance.

407
00:15:33,366 --> 00:15:35,268
This is about
6 feet right here.

408
00:15:35,301 --> 00:15:36,870
- And there's a drop.

409
00:15:36,903 --> 00:15:39,339
That hook drops down.

410
00:15:39,372 --> 00:15:41,708
- So you've gotta
anticipate that drop,

411
00:15:41,741 --> 00:15:43,877
get a little bit more
energy to get that 6 feet.

412
00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:45,178
Nice!

413
00:15:45,211 --> 00:15:48,448
- Gotta get this dismount.

414
00:15:48,481 --> 00:15:50,583
- Got it!
- Wow!

415
00:15:52,385 --> 00:15:54,454
It is the Cubes
standing between him

416
00:15:54,487 --> 00:15:55,522
and his first buzzer.

417
00:15:55,555 --> 00:15:56,923
- Get your first buzzer!

418
00:15:56,956 --> 00:15:59,292
Come on!
Let's go!

419
00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:01,327
- Here we go.

420
00:16:01,361 --> 00:16:03,430
Everyone chanting his name.

421
00:16:03,463 --> 00:16:04,898
- Now this one right here,
you've gotta

422
00:16:04,931 --> 00:16:06,099
grow up real quick.

423
00:16:06,132 --> 00:16:07,367
You've gotta man up
on this one.

424
00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:08,835
- Right to the top.
Yup.

425
00:16:08,868 --> 00:16:10,403
Now pull it down,
with your left.

426
00:16:10,437 --> 00:16:11,671
Yeah.
Yeah.

427
00:16:11,705 --> 00:16:13,640
- And Marquez is
walking him through it.

428
00:16:13,673 --> 00:16:15,742
- You can see
him anticipating.

429
00:16:15,775 --> 00:16:18,578
The one-handed hold is
what makes it so hard.

430
00:16:18,611 --> 00:16:20,480
- He's trying to minimize
the amount of time

431
00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:22,048
that he's spent on one hand.

432
00:16:22,048 --> 00:16:25,051
- Holding his whole body up.

433
00:16:25,051 --> 00:16:27,620
- Whoo-hoo-hoo!

434
00:16:30,457 --> 00:16:31,558
- Rotate it!

435
00:16:31,591 --> 00:16:32,959
- Here we go.

436
00:16:33,059 --> 00:16:34,294
- Good power!

437
00:16:34,327 --> 00:16:35,295
- That looked fun.

438
00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:36,896
I'm not even gonna lie.

439
00:16:36,930 --> 00:16:40,100
As difficult as it is, Nathan
Green made that look fun.

440
00:16:40,133 --> 00:16:42,102
I want to try that!
- Now watch that right side.

441
00:16:42,135 --> 00:16:44,170
It moves down.
- Yes, it does.

442
00:16:44,204 --> 00:16:46,339
- Great job anticipating it!

443
00:16:46,373 --> 00:16:47,941
- Oh, my!

444
00:16:47,974 --> 00:16:50,710
- Getting so close
to that first buzzer.

445
00:16:50,744 --> 00:16:52,545
- Fight for it.
You came this far.

446
00:16:52,579 --> 00:16:54,080
You might as well
go get that buzzer.

447
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,715
Go get it.
Go get it!

448
00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:59,152
Stop playing.
Dig deep!

449
00:16:59,185 --> 00:17:00,487
Dig deep.

450
00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,489
You only--
- Can he get the dismount?

451
00:17:02,522 --> 00:17:04,524
- Man, you better
give it everything you got.

452
00:17:04,557 --> 00:17:07,160
Everything you got!
- Yes!

453
00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:08,628
[cheering]

454
00:17:08,661 --> 00:17:09,929
- Nathan Green--

455
00:17:10,030 --> 00:17:12,065
- 14 1/2 feet away
from his first buzzer!

456
00:17:12,098 --> 00:17:13,600
- Whoo-hoo-hoo!

457
00:17:13,633 --> 00:17:16,102
He had to fight for that one!

458
00:17:16,136 --> 00:17:21,141
- And Nathan Green delivers
a money performance!

459
00:17:21,174 --> 00:17:22,442
[upbeat music]

460
00:17:22,475 --> 00:17:25,612
And he's our first
finisher of the night!

461
00:17:25,645 --> 00:17:32,218
* *

462
00:17:32,252 --> 00:17:34,354
- He just hit his first buzzer!

463
00:17:34,387 --> 00:17:36,089
Let's go!

464
00:17:37,357 --> 00:17:38,658
- Oh, my God!

465
00:17:38,692 --> 00:17:40,894
- Nathan, how did
that feel, touching

466
00:17:40,927 --> 00:17:42,896
it for the first time?

467
00:17:42,929 --> 00:17:44,764
- I'm at a loss for words.

468
00:17:44,798 --> 00:17:46,633
I train with such
good competitors

469
00:17:46,666 --> 00:17:48,535
that sometimes I
start to doubt myself,

470
00:17:48,568 --> 00:17:50,337
but, tonight,
I came really confident,

471
00:17:50,370 --> 00:17:51,905
and I just knew
I could do this.

472
00:17:51,938 --> 00:17:52,906
- Congrats, man.

473
00:17:52,939 --> 00:17:54,240
- Nathan, it was
a family affair.

474
00:17:54,274 --> 00:17:56,776
Go celebrate
with your family, buddy!

475
00:17:56,810 --> 00:17:59,379
Well, a great moment
for Nathan Green.

476
00:17:59,412 --> 00:18:01,781
Beating your brother
is nice, but getting

477
00:18:01,815 --> 00:18:04,017
that buzzer is so sweet.

478
00:18:04,017 --> 00:18:05,885
* *

479
00:18:05,919 --> 00:18:09,422
Coming up, he's had us eat
some of the gnarliest insects

480
00:18:09,456 --> 00:18:10,423
on the planet.

481
00:18:10,457 --> 00:18:12,025
- Ah!

482
00:18:12,025 --> 00:18:15,295
- Now Bug Ninja Eric Middleton
serving up a new dish.

483
00:18:15,328 --> 00:18:17,030
- Oh, that looks disgusting!

484
00:18:17,063 --> 00:18:20,433
- When "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

485
00:18:26,106 --> 00:18:27,507
- Everything you've got!

486
00:18:27,540 --> 00:18:30,410
- Minutes ago,
Wisconsin's Nathan Green

487
00:18:30,443 --> 00:18:32,512
got his first career buzzer.

488
00:18:32,545 --> 00:18:35,515
And while we were away,
his twin brother Marquez

489
00:18:35,548 --> 00:18:37,517
got his shot at the course.

490
00:18:37,550 --> 00:18:39,919
With his bro leading
a big cheering section,

491
00:18:39,953 --> 00:18:42,756
the four-time "Ninja" veteran
raced through the first four

492
00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:46,159
obstacles, and looked like he
might get a buzzer of his own.

493
00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:48,461
- Yeah, he's trying to be
a rockstar ninja himself.

494
00:18:48,495 --> 00:18:51,264
- He was feeling so confident,
he even did burpees

495
00:18:51,297 --> 00:18:52,499
before the fifth obstacle.

496
00:18:52,532 --> 00:18:53,733
- Burpees?

497
00:18:53,767 --> 00:18:55,068
You're wasting
your energy, homie!

498
00:18:55,101 --> 00:18:57,203
- And that may not have
been smart because,

499
00:18:57,237 --> 00:18:58,838
seconds later--

500
00:18:58,872 --> 00:19:01,074
[air horn blares]

501
00:19:01,107 --> 00:19:04,344
But it may have been far
enough, fast enough--

502
00:19:05,345 --> 00:19:08,348
- We could see both brothers
in the semifinals.

503
00:19:08,381 --> 00:19:11,117
Christopher Kadima,
originally from France,

504
00:19:11,151 --> 00:19:13,186
is a personal trainer
to the stars,

505
00:19:13,219 --> 00:19:15,855
working with celebrities
like Gwen Stefani,

506
00:19:15,889 --> 00:19:19,426
along with pro athletes
and models.

507
00:19:19,459 --> 00:19:22,028
- Oh, there he's got
his model friends!

508
00:19:22,062 --> 00:19:25,365
- At 6'4", he's one of
our tallest athletes tonight,

509
00:19:25,398 --> 00:19:28,201
and used his long arms
on the first two obstacles.

510
00:19:28,234 --> 00:19:29,602
- I see you, big lanky!

511
00:19:29,636 --> 00:19:31,204
- Despite playing
professionally

512
00:19:31,237 --> 00:19:32,672
in French basketball leagues--

513
00:19:32,706 --> 00:19:34,874
- Oh!
Au revoir, monsieur!

514
00:19:34,908 --> 00:19:37,410
- He couldn't drive the lane
on Spinning Bridge.

515
00:19:37,444 --> 00:19:39,713
- C'est la vie, Christopher!

516
00:19:39,746 --> 00:19:42,949
Joliet, Illinois' Mike Maher
was making his "Ninja"

517
00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:45,218
debut at 58 years old.

518
00:19:45,251 --> 00:19:47,220
- He said, don't call
him an old guy, Matt!

519
00:19:47,253 --> 00:19:48,822
- The oldest competitor
of the night

520
00:19:48,855 --> 00:19:51,825
showed his age was no
obstacle on Pole Vault.

521
00:19:51,858 --> 00:19:54,427
- Oh, watch yourself!

522
00:19:54,461 --> 00:19:56,196
- Despite missing
the big ring,

523
00:19:56,229 --> 00:19:57,931
the construction company owner

524
00:19:57,964 --> 00:20:00,333
still nailed
the jump to the hook.

525
00:20:00,367 --> 00:20:01,434
- Oh!

526
00:20:01,468 --> 00:20:02,936
OK!

527
00:20:02,969 --> 00:20:05,405
- But then he couldn't
figure out how to dismount.

528
00:20:05,438 --> 00:20:07,340
- Ooh!

529
00:20:07,374 --> 00:20:09,509
He came out here
with just great grit.

530
00:20:09,542 --> 00:20:11,044
What a great run!

531
00:20:11,077 --> 00:20:13,279
- I'm still a winner!

532
00:20:13,313 --> 00:20:16,649
- Good job, old man!

533
00:20:16,683 --> 00:20:20,587
- Next up, out of Franktown,
Colorado, 16-year-old high

534
00:20:20,620 --> 00:20:22,655
school student Seth Lambert.

535
00:20:22,689 --> 00:20:25,592
The back of his shirt says,
"I wear purple for Caleb,"

536
00:20:25,625 --> 00:20:27,494
a tribute to his
brother, who faces

537
00:20:27,527 --> 00:20:29,462
his own obstacles,
as he battles

538
00:20:29,496 --> 00:20:32,198
an extreme form of epilepsy.

539
00:20:32,232 --> 00:20:36,603
[soft music]

540
00:20:36,636 --> 00:20:39,039
- Caleb is my older brother.

541
00:20:39,072 --> 00:20:40,840
His epilepsy is very severe.

542
00:20:40,874 --> 00:20:43,877
He was born with
a brain malformation.

543
00:20:43,910 --> 00:20:49,849
- * Say whatever you feel *

544
00:20:49,883 --> 00:20:52,752
- There are times where
he stops breathing.

545
00:20:52,786 --> 00:20:55,588
There's a fear that,
because of a seizure,

546
00:20:55,622 --> 00:20:59,659
something could happen
that might take his life.

547
00:20:59,693 --> 00:21:02,429
* *

548
00:21:02,462 --> 00:21:07,400
- * Be whoever you are *

549
00:21:07,434 --> 00:21:09,336
- There's very
little that Caleb

550
00:21:09,369 --> 00:21:12,072
is able to do on his own.

551
00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:14,774
Seth is a big help.

552
00:21:14,808 --> 00:21:17,477
He jumps in there anytime
something needs to be done.

553
00:21:17,510 --> 00:21:19,446
- Watch the ball.

554
00:21:20,947 --> 00:21:22,115
Nice catch!

555
00:21:22,148 --> 00:21:24,684
Caleb and I love to play
basketball, frisbee,

556
00:21:24,718 --> 00:21:27,087
disk golf, and we
like to ride our bikes

557
00:21:27,087 --> 00:21:28,288
up and down the street.

558
00:21:28,321 --> 00:21:29,622
He usually likes to race.

559
00:21:29,656 --> 00:21:30,890
A little further, Caleb.

560
00:21:30,924 --> 00:21:32,659
We're almost there.

561
00:21:32,692 --> 00:21:35,495
- * Never be left behind *

562
00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:38,965
- As a mom, when I see Seth
and Caleb playing together,

563
00:21:38,998 --> 00:21:42,268
it's such a delight
to see the two of them.

564
00:21:42,302 --> 00:21:44,237
- Caleb cheering me on,
that's gonna

565
00:21:44,270 --> 00:21:46,373
give me everything I need
to go out there

566
00:21:46,406 --> 00:21:49,142
and hit the buzzer.

567
00:21:49,175 --> 00:21:50,510
* *

568
00:21:50,543 --> 00:21:52,379
Caleb, this is for you.

569
00:21:52,412 --> 00:21:56,850
* *

570
00:21:56,883 --> 00:21:58,485
[cheering]

571
00:21:58,518 --> 00:22:01,421
- Caleb's on the sideline,
along with a big group

572
00:22:01,454 --> 00:22:02,822
of family and friends.

573
00:22:02,856 --> 00:22:04,824
He's also got
a lot of supporters

574
00:22:04,858 --> 00:22:07,060
watching back in Colorado.

575
00:22:07,060 --> 00:22:10,096
[countdown clock beeping]

576
00:22:10,930 --> 00:22:12,966
Seth says he's running
as much for Caleb

577
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:14,134
as he is for himself.

578
00:22:14,167 --> 00:22:15,835
- This is so cool.
I love this.

579
00:22:15,869 --> 00:22:18,672
At 16 years old,
having that ability

580
00:22:18,705 --> 00:22:21,207
to use his talent to bring
awareness to epilepsy.

581
00:22:21,241 --> 00:22:23,276
- This family has been
through the ringer.

582
00:22:23,309 --> 00:22:24,911
Nice to be out
here enjoying this.

583
00:22:24,944 --> 00:22:26,813
Great catch!
- Ooh, he caught the ring!

584
00:22:26,846 --> 00:22:29,182
Lambert!

585
00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:30,350
- Nice!
- Real smooth!

586
00:22:30,383 --> 00:22:31,651
- Oh, boy!

587
00:22:31,685 --> 00:22:33,086
You can tell he's
running with a purpose!

588
00:22:33,086 --> 00:22:35,422
Seth Lambert!

589
00:22:35,455 --> 00:22:39,092
- Started rock climbing
to improve his ninja training.

590
00:22:39,092 --> 00:22:40,093
- Nice!
Keep it up!

591
00:22:40,126 --> 00:22:41,294
Keep it up!
Keep it up!

592
00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:42,762
Nice!

593
00:22:43,563 --> 00:22:45,832
- He started training
four years ago,

594
00:22:45,865 --> 00:22:47,367
and this is his debut.

595
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,836
He looks ready
for the big stage!

596
00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:51,171
- Ooh!

597
00:22:51,204 --> 00:22:53,340
Putting Franktown on the map!

598
00:22:53,373 --> 00:22:55,709
- But this is a blind throw,
a new obstacle

599
00:22:55,742 --> 00:22:57,277
with that hanging bar.

600
00:22:57,310 --> 00:22:59,112
- Oh, no!

601
00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:02,916
- And it just ends so quickly!

602
00:23:02,949 --> 00:23:06,453
Seth Lambert couldn't
handle Heavy Metal!

603
00:23:06,486 --> 00:23:09,189
Seth looked good
on the first three obstacles,

604
00:23:09,222 --> 00:23:12,492
but that backward move on
Heavy Metal is a tough one.

605
00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:15,495
He landed the bar,
but just couldn't hang on.

606
00:23:15,528 --> 00:23:18,498
I bet you, Caleb loved
every bit of that one.

607
00:23:18,531 --> 00:23:20,567
He'll now have to wait
and see if that's good enough

608
00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,702
to move on to the semifinals.

609
00:23:22,736 --> 00:23:26,072
Well, Akbar and I have been
dreading our next athlete.

610
00:23:26,072 --> 00:23:28,575
It's the Bug Ninja,
31-year-old

611
00:23:28,608 --> 00:23:30,477
entomologist Eric Middleton.

612
00:23:30,510 --> 00:23:31,878
Over the years,
he's brought us

613
00:23:31,911 --> 00:23:34,781
lots of creepy,
crawly insects to eat,

614
00:23:34,814 --> 00:23:37,417
and he's gonna make
us squirm again tonight.

615
00:23:37,450 --> 00:23:40,086
Middleton says bugs
are the future of food,

616
00:23:40,086 --> 00:23:41,554
and he's been
trying to convince

617
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:44,090
us of this for a few years,
without much success.

618
00:23:44,124 --> 00:23:46,092
We tried spider sushi--

619
00:23:46,092 --> 00:23:47,360
- What kind of Spider is this?

620
00:23:47,394 --> 00:23:48,361
- Scorpions--

621
00:23:48,395 --> 00:23:49,462
- Ah!

622
00:23:49,496 --> 00:23:50,463
Oh!

623
00:23:50,497 --> 00:23:51,765
- Cricket cookies--

624
00:23:51,798 --> 00:23:53,099
- You should try some!
- Yeah?

625
00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:55,368
- Hornworms,
and Akbar's favorite,

626
00:23:55,402 --> 00:23:57,437
fried tarantula.

627
00:23:58,638 --> 00:24:00,073
- Ah! Ah!

628
00:24:00,106 --> 00:24:01,074
Oh, my goodness!

629
00:24:01,107 --> 00:24:02,308
- It's actually pretty good!

630
00:24:02,342 --> 00:24:03,410
- What do you mean it's good?

631
00:24:03,443 --> 00:24:05,345
It's a daggone spider!

632
00:24:05,378 --> 00:24:09,049
- But he says, tonight,
he's brought his chef's kiss.

633
00:24:09,049 --> 00:24:10,684
Zuri, what has he
sent along for us?

634
00:24:10,717 --> 00:24:12,419
- Oh, boy.
What is this?

635
00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:15,055
- So we've got a very
appetizing few bugs for you.

636
00:24:15,055 --> 00:24:17,190
For every obstacle
that Eric gets through,

637
00:24:17,223 --> 00:24:18,491
y'all need to eat another bug.

638
00:24:18,525 --> 00:24:19,492
- Whoa, hold on a second.

639
00:24:19,526 --> 00:24:21,061
Now, he's a pretty good ninja.

640
00:24:21,094 --> 00:24:23,229
He's gonna have to get
through a couple of obstacles

641
00:24:23,263 --> 00:24:24,597
before we even
think about that!

642
00:24:24,631 --> 00:24:25,832
What is that?

643
00:24:25,865 --> 00:24:27,300
- Oh, no, no, no,
each obstacle is a new bug.

644
00:24:27,334 --> 00:24:28,468
Bon appetit, buddy!

645
00:24:28,501 --> 00:24:30,070
- What is that?

646
00:24:30,070 --> 00:24:33,406
- We're getting informed it is
a South American palm weevil.

647
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,142
Eric, we love you,
buddy, but if you fall,

648
00:24:36,176 --> 00:24:37,344
we ain't gonna be crying!

649
00:24:37,377 --> 00:24:38,545
[laughter]

650
00:24:38,578 --> 00:24:40,547
[all chanting]
Eric, Eric, Eric, Eric!

651
00:24:40,580 --> 00:24:42,549
[countdown clock beeping]

652
00:24:42,582 --> 00:24:44,617
- I hope he falls right away.

653
00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:46,219
[laughter]

654
00:24:46,252 --> 00:24:48,588
- Unfortunately for us,
Eric's a very good ninja.

655
00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:51,191
He's been to national
finals four times,

656
00:24:51,224 --> 00:24:53,360
and he's already got
one obstacle down.

657
00:24:53,393 --> 00:24:54,594
- OK, you try the first one.

658
00:24:54,627 --> 00:24:56,162
- Oh, God.
- Oh, boy!

659
00:24:56,196 --> 00:24:57,764
You try the first one.

660
00:24:57,797 --> 00:24:58,765
- Eat it!

661
00:24:58,798 --> 00:25:00,066
Eat it!

662
00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:01,868
Oh, the crunch!

663
00:25:01,901 --> 00:25:03,236
How does it taste?

664
00:25:03,269 --> 00:25:05,338
- Oh, man, this is a hard
one here, Ring Chaser.

665
00:25:05,372 --> 00:25:06,473
- It's delicious!

666
00:25:06,506 --> 00:25:07,507
- Oh, my goodness!

667
00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:08,641
- Ooh, it's spicy!

668
00:25:08,675 --> 00:25:09,876
- Akbar--

669
00:25:09,909 --> 00:25:11,177
- Oh, we're
gonna switch off, OK?

670
00:25:11,211 --> 00:25:12,345
We're warming up.

671
00:25:12,379 --> 00:25:14,280
We're warming up, OK?

672
00:25:14,314 --> 00:25:16,649
- He can fall off the hook,
and then I'm off the hook

673
00:25:16,683 --> 00:25:18,051
for eating this, right?

674
00:25:18,051 --> 00:25:19,152
- There you go you.

675
00:25:19,185 --> 00:25:20,587
- And another one down!

676
00:25:20,620 --> 00:25:21,588
- Another obstacle!

677
00:25:21,621 --> 00:25:22,589
- Get in there, big man!

678
00:25:22,622 --> 00:25:24,057
- I've gotta say my grace.

679
00:25:24,057 --> 00:25:26,493
Lord, please protect me
and bless this food.

680
00:25:26,526 --> 00:25:28,261
Amen.
- Amen!

681
00:25:30,463 --> 00:25:33,266
- Eric is enjoying himself,
even if we're not.

682
00:25:33,299 --> 00:25:34,567
- Nice light feet.

683
00:25:34,601 --> 00:25:36,636
- Maybe he'll fall
on Spinning Bridge.

684
00:25:36,670 --> 00:25:37,871
No!

685
00:25:37,904 --> 00:25:39,305
- Oh, come on!

686
00:25:39,339 --> 00:25:42,509
- Weevils wobble,
but they don't go down easy.

687
00:25:42,542 --> 00:25:44,210
- Ooh, it's got an aftertaste.

688
00:25:44,244 --> 00:25:46,212
- Oh, my God!

689
00:25:46,246 --> 00:25:47,714
- I ain't trying
to throw no shade,

690
00:25:47,747 --> 00:25:49,082
but this might be a good place

691
00:25:49,082 --> 00:25:50,684
for him to fall,
here on Heavy Metal!

692
00:25:50,717 --> 00:25:54,721
- I'm hearing a lot of crunch
on both sides here, guys.

693
00:25:54,754 --> 00:25:57,490
- I can't even call
his run right now.

694
00:25:57,524 --> 00:25:58,858
This is so uncomfortable!

695
00:25:58,892 --> 00:26:00,360
- Well, let me
help you with it.

696
00:26:00,393 --> 00:26:02,729
He's making his way through
Heavy Metal, and as soon as he

697
00:26:02,762 --> 00:26:04,097
lands this dismount--

698
00:26:04,130 --> 00:26:05,198
- No, heck no!

699
00:26:05,231 --> 00:26:07,133
- It's another
bug for you, buddy!

700
00:26:07,167 --> 00:26:08,501
- Come on, Eric!

701
00:26:08,535 --> 00:26:09,769
This is Akbar!

702
00:26:09,803 --> 00:26:11,037
Yeah, buddy!
Way to go!

703
00:26:11,071 --> 00:26:12,038
- No!

704
00:26:12,072 --> 00:26:13,473
No, you've gotta
hit that buzzer

705
00:26:13,506 --> 00:26:14,708
before I take another bite!

706
00:26:14,741 --> 00:26:17,243
- Have another
South American palm weevil,

707
00:26:17,277 --> 00:26:18,845
courtesy of the Bug Doc!

708
00:26:18,878 --> 00:26:20,080
- I need some water.

709
00:26:20,113 --> 00:26:22,882
- Eric Middleton,
dung beetle strong!

710
00:26:22,916 --> 00:26:24,684
This guy is so powerful!

711
00:26:24,718 --> 00:26:27,320
- Yeah, he's powerful because
he's eating all this crap!

712
00:26:27,354 --> 00:26:29,055
- Well, it's been
a few years since he's

713
00:26:29,089 --> 00:26:31,191
hit a buzzer on
"Ninja Warrior,"

714
00:26:31,224 --> 00:26:33,226
and he is getting closer.

715
00:26:33,259 --> 00:26:34,828
- Ah!

716
00:26:34,861 --> 00:26:37,063
[laughter]

717
00:26:37,063 --> 00:26:39,599
- You don't want to touch it!

718
00:26:39,632 --> 00:26:40,867
Well, we're eating it.

719
00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:42,068
Zuri doesn't want to touch it.

720
00:26:42,102 --> 00:26:43,903
And right now,
Eric Middleton is stuck

721
00:26:43,937 --> 00:26:45,705
on this second cube, Matt.

722
00:26:45,739 --> 00:26:47,240
- Fighting to find his grip.

723
00:26:47,273 --> 00:26:48,742
- Yeah, you can see,
he's really

724
00:26:48,775 --> 00:26:51,745
trying to get that horizontal
spin, using his upper body.

725
00:26:51,778 --> 00:26:53,913
He really had
to wrestle with that one.

726
00:26:53,947 --> 00:26:57,117
- And no thanks to us,
he's closing in on his seventh

727
00:26:57,150 --> 00:26:59,085
career buzzer.

728
00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:00,587
- Squeeze hard!

729
00:27:00,620 --> 00:27:02,922
- Oh!
[air horn blares]

730
00:27:03,023 --> 00:27:04,257
He's down!

731
00:27:04,290 --> 00:27:06,393
What do we do with the
final two palm weevils?

732
00:27:06,426 --> 00:27:09,162
- I think you just eat
them for good measure.

733
00:27:09,195 --> 00:27:12,432
- Hey, hey, why don't
you eat one, bro?

734
00:27:12,465 --> 00:27:14,234
- I got one right--

735
00:27:14,267 --> 00:27:16,903
- Then all of us will have
eaten one except for Zuri.

736
00:27:16,936 --> 00:27:19,039
- And on this note, goodbye!

737
00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:20,273
Incredible run, Eric!

738
00:27:20,306 --> 00:27:21,841
I'll see you down
on the sidelines!

739
00:27:21,875 --> 00:27:24,477
- So, guys, remember,
hold the head, eat the body.

740
00:27:24,511 --> 00:27:26,079
- Oh, I ate the whole
thing last time!

741
00:27:26,112 --> 00:27:27,080
- Now you tell us!

742
00:27:27,113 --> 00:27:28,848
Let's get some protein,
big man!

743
00:27:28,882 --> 00:27:30,684
- One, two, three.

744
00:27:32,585 --> 00:27:34,054
- Ugh.

745
00:27:35,422 --> 00:27:36,656
Thanks, buddy!

746
00:27:36,690 --> 00:27:38,958
- Thank you, guys!

747
00:27:39,059 --> 00:27:42,829
- Coming up, she's a nurse,
she's a mom,

748
00:27:42,862 --> 00:27:45,799
she's a "Ninja" favorite.

749
00:27:45,832 --> 00:27:48,168
Utah's Mady Howard is up next

750
00:27:48,201 --> 00:27:51,237
on "American Ninja Warrior."

751
00:27:57,944 --> 00:28:00,680
- Welcome back to
Universal Studios Hollywood!

752
00:28:00,714 --> 00:28:04,150
Minutes ago, the flag
dropped for Colorado's

753
00:28:04,184 --> 00:28:08,688
Elizabeth Leslie, who comes
from a drag racing family.

754
00:28:08,722 --> 00:28:10,623
Though she's one
of our smallest competitors

755
00:28:10,657 --> 00:28:13,059
tonight, at just 5 feet,
Leslie scaled

756
00:28:13,093 --> 00:28:14,561
the Pole Vault with ease.

757
00:28:14,594 --> 00:28:16,296
- She did that with authority!

758
00:28:16,329 --> 00:28:19,432
- She then made a slick
backhanded grab of the ring--

759
00:28:19,466 --> 00:28:20,633
- Nice grab!

760
00:28:20,667 --> 00:28:22,769
- But then slid
right off the track.

761
00:28:22,802 --> 00:28:24,838
- Oh!

762
00:28:24,871 --> 00:28:28,475
- She peeled off
and took the ring with her!

763
00:28:28,508 --> 00:28:30,543
Then it was one of the
night's smallest male

764
00:28:30,577 --> 00:28:34,447
competitors, nine-time "Ninja"
veteran Tyler Yamauchi.

765
00:28:34,481 --> 00:28:38,084
With his three kids watching
from home in the Chicago area,

766
00:28:38,118 --> 00:28:41,221
the 38-year-old former gymnast
was sticking the landing

767
00:28:41,254 --> 00:28:42,489
on the early obstacles.

768
00:28:42,522 --> 00:28:43,890
- Yamauchi!

769
00:28:43,923 --> 00:28:45,759
- The ninja known
as the Muscle Ball looked

770
00:28:45,792 --> 00:28:48,695
like he was rolling towards
his eighth career buzzer.

771
00:28:48,728 --> 00:28:50,463
- Nice, nice, nice!

772
00:28:50,497 --> 00:28:53,133
- But then came Heavy Metal.

773
00:28:53,166 --> 00:28:54,467
- No!

774
00:28:54,501 --> 00:28:56,670
- He hit his head
on the backwards move,

775
00:28:56,703 --> 00:28:58,672
and that seemed
to throw him off.

776
00:28:58,705 --> 00:29:02,175
- Yamauchi, not so Gucci!

777
00:29:02,208 --> 00:29:05,679
- Another Windy City veteran,
Cam "The Bomb" Baumgartner,

778
00:29:05,712 --> 00:29:08,615
blasted through one
obstacle after another.

779
00:29:08,648 --> 00:29:11,451
- Here he goes!
Big bridge!

780
00:29:11,484 --> 00:29:15,021
- In his five previous seasons
on "American Ninja Warrior,"

781
00:29:15,055 --> 00:29:17,624
the gymnastics coach has
never failed to finish

782
00:29:17,657 --> 00:29:19,192
a qualifying course--

783
00:29:19,225 --> 00:29:21,027
- He's in mid-season form!

784
00:29:21,027 --> 00:29:23,797
- And he kept that
streak alive tonight.

785
00:29:23,830 --> 00:29:26,466
[buzzer blares]

786
00:29:26,499 --> 00:29:28,368
- You are the bomb, man!

787
00:29:29,536 --> 00:29:33,039
- Up next is "Ninja's"
favorite nurse, Mady Howard.

788
00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:34,641
- Whoo!

789
00:29:34,674 --> 00:29:37,444
- The former gymnast from Utah
is back for her fifth season

790
00:29:37,477 --> 00:29:38,812
of "Ninja."

791
00:29:38,845 --> 00:29:41,281
Mady hit a buzzer
back in season 12--

792
00:29:41,314 --> 00:29:42,816
- That's what I'm
talking about!

793
00:29:42,849 --> 00:29:44,951
- But then took some time
off for the birth of her

794
00:29:45,051 --> 00:29:46,553
son, Beckham.

795
00:29:46,586 --> 00:29:50,323
Since she returned, she's
been close to another buzzer--

796
00:29:50,357 --> 00:29:52,926
- And that one
scared baby Beckham!

797
00:29:52,959 --> 00:29:55,895
- But her runs have ended
on the fifth obstacle.

798
00:29:55,929 --> 00:29:57,897
- Oh!

799
00:29:57,931 --> 00:29:59,299
[all chanting]
Mady! Mady!

800
00:29:59,332 --> 00:30:00,800
- Last year, she actually
got her feet

801
00:30:00,834 --> 00:30:02,202
on the landing pad,

802
00:30:02,235 --> 00:30:03,837
but fell backwards.

803
00:30:03,870 --> 00:30:06,639
- Oh, no!

804
00:30:06,673 --> 00:30:08,708
- If she can finish
the course tonight,

805
00:30:08,742 --> 00:30:11,544
she'd be just the second
mom ever to hit a buzzer.

806
00:30:11,578 --> 00:30:15,148
Sandy Zimmerman the only
one to do it so far.

807
00:30:15,181 --> 00:30:16,750
Her son Beckham
is home in bed,

808
00:30:16,783 --> 00:30:18,251
but her husband Tyler

809
00:30:18,284 --> 00:30:20,687
is on the sideline, and she's
got a big group watching

810
00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,356
back in St. George, Utah.

811
00:30:23,390 --> 00:30:26,426
[countdown clock beeping]

812
00:30:28,461 --> 00:30:29,996
- Oh, missed the pole
with her hands

813
00:30:30,030 --> 00:30:34,501
there, but she stays calm,
climbs up, gets through it.

814
00:30:34,534 --> 00:30:37,837
- Mady, a high-level
gymnast through college.

815
00:30:39,372 --> 00:30:40,540
Used to dealing with pressure.

816
00:30:40,573 --> 00:30:42,809
Was an ICU nurse
for many years.

817
00:30:42,842 --> 00:30:44,210
Race out.

818
00:30:44,244 --> 00:30:45,645
- Nice, get out in front!
Get out in front!

819
00:30:45,679 --> 00:30:46,713
Grab it!

820
00:30:46,746 --> 00:30:48,381
- Nice hands!

821
00:30:49,616 --> 00:30:53,420
Mady Howard exploded onto
the scene back in season 11,

822
00:30:53,453 --> 00:30:56,256
and has established herself
as one of the top women.

823
00:30:56,289 --> 00:30:58,224
- Well, a five-time veteran.

824
00:30:59,392 --> 00:31:02,262
This ain't her first rodeo!

825
00:31:02,295 --> 00:31:03,963
[cheering]

826
00:31:04,064 --> 00:31:05,699
- Well, this is a rematch.

827
00:31:05,732 --> 00:31:08,068
Back in the semifinals
of season 14,

828
00:31:08,068 --> 00:31:10,470
she fell on Spinning Bridge.

829
00:31:12,305 --> 00:31:15,742
And believe me, no one's
more aware of that than Mady.

830
00:31:15,775 --> 00:31:17,477
- All right, here we go.
Keep your feet hot.

831
00:31:17,510 --> 00:31:18,845
Keep your feet hot.
Fast!

832
00:31:18,878 --> 00:31:20,714
Fast, fast, fast.

833
00:31:20,747 --> 00:31:23,183
Whoo!

834
00:31:23,216 --> 00:31:25,285
- A dose of adrenaline
for the nurse!

835
00:31:25,318 --> 00:31:27,687
Shoots right through it!

836
00:31:28,755 --> 00:31:32,759
- Heavy Metal,
it literally is heavy.

837
00:31:32,792 --> 00:31:35,795
And this is such an
awkwardly shaped bar here,

838
00:31:35,829 --> 00:31:38,832
with Heavy Metal, so you've
gotta be very careful,

839
00:31:38,865 --> 00:31:40,800
but also, too,
get great placement.

840
00:31:40,834 --> 00:31:43,103
You don't want
it to get uneven.

841
00:31:43,136 --> 00:31:45,905
- And you can see right there,
it is very difficult to keep

842
00:31:45,939 --> 00:31:47,507
that fulcrum in the center.

843
00:31:47,540 --> 00:31:49,376
- Yeah, and you can see, it's
right there in the corner.

844
00:31:49,409 --> 00:31:50,944
She wants to land it
right in the middle!

845
00:31:50,977 --> 00:31:52,979
Oh, she almost
got caught up!

846
00:31:53,013 --> 00:31:54,714
- And she is just
muscling this!

847
00:31:54,748 --> 00:31:58,985
You can see it, really
favoring the left side there!

848
00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,555
- Nice!
- That's impressive!

849
00:32:02,589 --> 00:32:06,259
Mady Howard muscling
her way through it!

850
00:32:06,292 --> 00:32:09,963
And she has reached
the fifth obstacle once again!

851
00:32:10,063 --> 00:32:12,465
[cheering]

852
00:32:12,499 --> 00:32:13,700
- I see you, Mady Howard!

853
00:32:13,733 --> 00:32:15,402
- She is staring it down.

854
00:32:15,435 --> 00:32:17,404
She wants this badly.

855
00:32:17,437 --> 00:32:18,772
- You got this, Mady!

856
00:32:18,805 --> 00:32:21,341
- Well, she's put herself
in very good position

857
00:32:21,374 --> 00:32:23,443
to go back to the semis,
but this

858
00:32:23,476 --> 00:32:25,412
is a tough fifth obstacle.

859
00:32:25,445 --> 00:32:27,514
Can she survive Cubes?

860
00:32:27,547 --> 00:32:30,450
- Matt, she's going
for that buzzer.

861
00:32:30,483 --> 00:32:33,620
- Would be her first
buzzer as a mom.

862
00:32:35,088 --> 00:32:38,091
It was Sandy Zimmerman
breaking that barrier.

863
00:32:38,124 --> 00:32:40,493
- We've had many moms run
the course since then.

864
00:32:40,527 --> 00:32:42,328
None have hit a buzzer,
so it would mean

865
00:32:42,362 --> 00:32:45,098
a lot if Mady can do it here.

866
00:32:45,131 --> 00:32:46,332
- There you go.

867
00:32:46,366 --> 00:32:49,235
You can see her abs right
there, her obliques.

868
00:32:49,269 --> 00:32:51,338
- That was impressive!

869
00:32:51,371 --> 00:32:52,539
- Nice core strength!

870
00:32:52,572 --> 00:32:53,673
- Now gotta rotate around.

871
00:32:53,707 --> 00:32:56,609
A little awkward
with the hands there.

872
00:32:56,643 --> 00:32:59,379
Does she have it left,
any grip strength left?

873
00:32:59,412 --> 00:33:01,247
- Oh, you can see
that left hand!

874
00:33:01,281 --> 00:33:03,416
- Oh!
[air horn blares]

875
00:33:04,351 --> 00:33:08,388
- Mady Howard
comes up just short on

876
00:33:08,421 --> 00:33:10,357
the fifth obstacle once again.

877
00:33:10,390 --> 00:33:13,193
- She looked strong
on the first four obstacles,

878
00:33:13,226 --> 00:33:16,563
but as she went to that last
cube, Mady got both hands

879
00:33:16,596 --> 00:33:20,834
on it, but couldn't
hang on as it rotated.

880
00:33:20,867 --> 00:33:24,571
But the good news, that assures
her a spot in the semifinals.

881
00:33:24,604 --> 00:33:26,639
She's moving on.

882
00:33:26,673 --> 00:33:28,975
In earlier runs tonight,
Chicago pastor

883
00:33:29,075 --> 00:33:31,811
David Womelsdorf was trying
to get to the semifinals

884
00:33:31,845 --> 00:33:34,814
for the third time
in his "Ninja" career.

885
00:33:34,848 --> 00:33:37,350
With his wife and five
kids watching at home,

886
00:33:37,384 --> 00:33:39,586
the 38-year-old made it
to the fourth obstacle.

887
00:33:39,619 --> 00:33:40,620
- Nice!

888
00:33:40,653 --> 00:33:42,789
- Oh!

889
00:33:42,822 --> 00:33:46,092
- Utah's Rysann Clark is
a cadet at the Air Force

890
00:33:46,092 --> 00:33:48,128
Academy, and the
19-year-old was

891
00:33:48,161 --> 00:33:50,330
flying through the
course, until she

892
00:33:50,363 --> 00:33:51,965
reached the Spinning Bridge.

893
00:33:51,998 --> 00:33:53,600
- No!

894
00:33:53,633 --> 00:33:55,335
- An artist
and contortionist,

895
00:33:55,368 --> 00:33:57,337
Briana Fitzpatrick
tied herself

896
00:33:57,370 --> 00:33:59,606
into knots at the start line.

897
00:33:59,639 --> 00:34:01,708
- Twisting and moving
like a Twizzler!

898
00:34:01,741 --> 00:34:04,878
- But the 21-year-old was
not ready for Pole Vault.

899
00:34:04,911 --> 00:34:06,079
- That's not good.

900
00:34:06,112 --> 00:34:07,881
That's not good, Matt.

901
00:34:07,914 --> 00:34:09,582
[air horn blares]

902
00:34:09,616 --> 00:34:10,817
- Coming up--

903
00:34:10,850 --> 00:34:12,519
- [screaming]

904
00:34:12,552 --> 00:34:15,255
- They're two of "Ninja's"
biggest characters,

905
00:34:15,288 --> 00:34:18,091
but both were knocked out
by the same obstacle.

906
00:34:18,124 --> 00:34:20,160
- To the people that
invented Dipping Birds,

907
00:34:20,193 --> 00:34:22,696
I don't enjoy that obstacle.

908
00:34:22,729 --> 00:34:24,264
- It's haunting me.

909
00:34:24,297 --> 00:34:27,734
- Relive their "Ninja"
nightmare when "American

910
00:34:27,767 --> 00:34:30,136
Ninja Warrior" returns.

911
00:34:30,170 --> 00:34:32,439
[ominous laughter]

912
00:34:36,543 --> 00:34:38,144
- Last season,
Scott and Ben Behrends became

913
00:34:38,178 --> 00:34:40,847
the first father-son
duo to qualify

914
00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:42,649
for the national finals.

915
00:34:42,682 --> 00:34:45,151
And minutes ago,
17-year-old Ben

916
00:34:45,185 --> 00:34:48,121
tried to get the family off
to a good start this season.

917
00:34:48,154 --> 00:34:49,589
- He's the hype guy.

918
00:34:49,622 --> 00:34:50,957
He's got his hype crowd!

919
00:34:50,990 --> 00:34:52,726
- Though one of the
smallest ninjas,

920
00:34:52,759 --> 00:34:55,595
at just 5'1",
the high-schooler had no

921
00:34:55,628 --> 00:34:57,130
problem handling the course.

922
00:34:57,163 --> 00:35:00,433
- He might be little,
but he's Big Ben tonight!

923
00:35:00,467 --> 00:35:03,536
- Behrends made it all the
way to stage two last season,

924
00:35:03,570 --> 00:35:06,806
but he had never hit
a buzzer until tonight.

925
00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:09,342
- Yes!
- No problem!

926
00:35:10,410 --> 00:35:13,346
[cheering]

927
00:35:13,380 --> 00:35:16,116
The hype guy is
living up to the hype!

928
00:35:16,149 --> 00:35:17,584
- Let's go!

929
00:35:17,617 --> 00:35:19,719
Yeah!

930
00:35:19,753 --> 00:35:21,688
- Then his dad,
Scott Behrends,

931
00:35:21,721 --> 00:35:23,056
tried to match him.

932
00:35:23,056 --> 00:35:25,058
- They've got the
hype crew over there!

933
00:35:25,058 --> 00:35:27,127
- And despite being
25 years older--

934
00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:28,728
- Nice!
Get it, get it, get it.

935
00:35:28,762 --> 00:35:30,397
Nice!

936
00:35:30,430 --> 00:35:33,166
- The Iowa father of three got
through the Cubes even faster

937
00:35:33,199 --> 00:35:34,601
than his teenage son.

938
00:35:34,634 --> 00:35:36,569
- Use that oblique muscle.
Use the hips.

939
00:35:36,603 --> 00:35:37,737
Nice!

940
00:35:37,771 --> 00:35:39,072
- It looked like
he was headed for

941
00:35:39,072 --> 00:35:41,074
his third qualifying buzzer.

942
00:35:41,074 --> 00:35:42,642
- No!

943
00:35:42,676 --> 00:35:46,246
- Despite coming up short, his
fast pace means he's joining

944
00:35:46,279 --> 00:35:49,082
his son in the semifinals.

945
00:35:49,115 --> 00:35:51,584
College student Max Feinberg
has never

946
00:35:51,618 --> 00:35:53,953
failed to finish
a qualifying course,

947
00:35:53,987 --> 00:35:56,756
and he didn't let a small
stumble slow him down tonight.

948
00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:58,458
- Whoa!

949
00:35:58,491 --> 00:36:01,428
- The 19-year-old wears a pink
ribbon on his shirt to raise

950
00:36:01,461 --> 00:36:02,829
awareness for breast cancer.

951
00:36:02,862 --> 00:36:04,731
His mom's a breast
cancer survivor.

952
00:36:04,764 --> 00:36:06,800
- You can hear them.
Let's go, Max!

953
00:36:06,833 --> 00:36:09,569
- There were plenty of pink,
proud fans cheering him on,

954
00:36:09,602 --> 00:36:12,672
as he kept his perfect streak
alive in qualifying,

955
00:36:12,706 --> 00:36:15,809
and got to spread his message
about breast cancer.

956
00:36:15,842 --> 00:36:18,712
- To be on TV, doing this
in front of a whole crowd,

957
00:36:18,745 --> 00:36:21,648
I'm gonna be out here doing
this until we can beat it.

958
00:36:21,681 --> 00:36:23,116
[cheering]

959
00:36:23,149 --> 00:36:24,684
Then it was Max's
good friend,

960
00:36:24,718 --> 00:36:27,554
Kaden Lebsack,
who's also never failed

961
00:36:27,587 --> 00:36:29,122
to finish a qualifying course.

962
00:36:29,155 --> 00:36:30,523
- Look at that!

963
00:36:30,557 --> 00:36:32,058
I mean, that's as good
as we've seen anyone!

964
00:36:32,092 --> 00:36:33,593
- The 18-year-old
from Colorado

965
00:36:33,626 --> 00:36:35,195
was the last ninja standing

966
00:36:35,228 --> 00:36:38,064
in seasons 13 and 14,
but shockingly

967
00:36:38,098 --> 00:36:40,433
fell on stage two last year.

968
00:36:40,467 --> 00:36:42,235
- He's got something
to prove here!

969
00:36:42,268 --> 00:36:45,605
- Tonight, Lebsack was moving
like a man on a mission,

970
00:36:45,638 --> 00:36:48,575
and he had a chance to beat
the 1 minute 20 second clock

971
00:36:48,608 --> 00:36:50,210
for the Mega Wall.

972
00:36:50,243 --> 00:36:51,711
- Yeah, he's gonna
have to go real quick.

973
00:36:51,745 --> 00:36:53,446
- Oh, it's gonna be close!
- He's got three seconds!

974
00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:55,515
Two! One!

975
00:36:55,548 --> 00:36:57,784
- Oh, my goodness!

976
00:36:57,817 --> 00:37:01,921
- He hit his 14th buzzer,
but even Super K wasn't fast

977
00:37:02,022 --> 00:37:05,291
enough for a shot at the 20K
from the Mega Wall, coming up

978
00:37:05,325 --> 00:37:07,360
just 3/10 of a second short.

979
00:37:07,394 --> 00:37:09,329
- I can't wait to see you
go racing in the semis, man.

980
00:37:09,362 --> 00:37:10,463
Congratulations.
- Thanks.

981
00:37:10,497 --> 00:37:11,798
Me too.

982
00:37:11,831 --> 00:37:14,234
- Next up are two
of the craziest ninjas

983
00:37:14,267 --> 00:37:15,635
to take the course.

984
00:37:15,669 --> 00:37:17,737
But, tonight, Levi Enright
and Chris Behrends

985
00:37:17,771 --> 00:37:19,706
have some serious business.

986
00:37:19,739 --> 00:37:22,509
They've got a score to settle
with the Dipping Birds.

987
00:37:22,542 --> 00:37:23,576
- Oh, yeah, look.

988
00:37:23,610 --> 00:37:24,744
There you go.

989
00:37:24,778 --> 00:37:25,945
They're not trying
to have a repeat.

990
00:37:26,046 --> 00:37:28,148
- They really don't
like these things.

991
00:37:28,181 --> 00:37:31,051
In fact, they're throwing
their birds into the water,

992
00:37:31,051 --> 00:37:33,319
and there's good reason
for it.

993
00:37:33,353 --> 00:37:34,521
[upbeat music]

994
00:37:34,554 --> 00:37:36,723
- Season 14,
we made it to Vegas.

995
00:37:36,756 --> 00:37:38,925
There was a certain
balance obstacle

996
00:37:38,958 --> 00:37:40,460
that shall not be named.

997
00:37:40,493 --> 00:37:42,462
- It's the Dipping Birds.

998
00:37:43,596 --> 00:37:45,632
And I fell on it once.

999
00:37:45,665 --> 00:37:47,067
- Keep your feet hot!
Keep your feet hot!

1000
00:37:47,067 --> 00:37:48,535
Keep your feet hot!
- Oh, no!

1001
00:37:48,568 --> 00:37:50,303
- No!

1002
00:37:51,104 --> 00:37:52,439
- At least I got
to try it twice.

1003
00:37:52,472 --> 00:37:53,940
- On to the Dipping Birds.

1004
00:37:53,973 --> 00:37:55,542
- No!
- No!

1005
00:37:55,575 --> 00:37:58,078
- But he does have
that Safety Pass!

1006
00:37:58,078 --> 00:38:00,013
- Guess we're going back at it!

1007
00:38:00,046 --> 00:38:01,247
- A little spooked.

1008
00:38:01,281 --> 00:38:02,682
He said, I'm not
going out this time!

1009
00:38:02,716 --> 00:38:04,284
- Oh, no!

1010
00:38:04,317 --> 00:38:08,388
- Levi Enright overthunk
and got dunked!

1011
00:38:08,421 --> 00:38:11,191
- It's been a struggle,
in Iowa, with all the farms,

1012
00:38:11,224 --> 00:38:14,561
seeing all the birds, and
chickens, and stuff like that.

1013
00:38:14,594 --> 00:38:16,162
It really it gives
us flashbacks.

1014
00:38:16,196 --> 00:38:18,031
- It's haunting us, yeah.

1015
00:38:18,064 --> 00:38:21,134
[ominous gobbling]

1016
00:38:21,167 --> 00:38:25,071
[dramatic music]

1017
00:38:25,105 --> 00:38:27,307
There's been a lot
of late nights doing

1018
00:38:27,340 --> 00:38:30,744
balance training, agility
training, stuff to try

1019
00:38:30,777 --> 00:38:32,779
and mock up Dipping Birds.

1020
00:38:32,812 --> 00:38:34,381
- Yeah, any sort
of bird product, we've

1021
00:38:34,414 --> 00:38:35,915
just been throwing
in there, just

1022
00:38:35,949 --> 00:38:37,650
to make sure that we're ready
for any sort of dipping,

1023
00:38:37,684 --> 00:38:39,419
or flipping, whatever
type of birds there are,

1024
00:38:39,452 --> 00:38:41,755
just so we're ready
for it this year.

1025
00:38:41,788 --> 00:38:42,856
- Ca-caw!

1026
00:38:42,889 --> 00:38:44,624
Ca-caw!
Ca-caw!

1027
00:38:44,657 --> 00:38:46,826
- To the people that
invented Dipping Birds,

1028
00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:49,829
I don't enjoy that obstacle.

1029
00:38:49,863 --> 00:38:51,331
- It's haunting me.

1030
00:38:52,599 --> 00:38:55,068
- You made our lives tough.

1031
00:38:55,068 --> 00:38:58,672
* *

1032
00:38:58,705 --> 00:39:01,107
- You know it's gonna
be fun with these guys,

1033
00:39:01,141 --> 00:39:04,077
and Levi will have plenty
of support back in Iowa.

1034
00:39:04,110 --> 00:39:06,112
That's his fiancée Bailey
in the pink.

1035
00:39:06,146 --> 00:39:08,348
She's Chris' first cousin.

1036
00:39:08,381 --> 00:39:11,518
Chris is also cousins
with Scott and Ben Behrends.

1037
00:39:11,551 --> 00:39:14,487
All four of our ninjas
tonight are gonna be related.

1038
00:39:14,521 --> 00:39:18,625
Levi Enright marrying
into the Behrends family.

1039
00:39:18,658 --> 00:39:21,127
- He and Chris hit
the buzzer with their head.

1040
00:39:21,161 --> 00:39:23,163
They call them
"noggin buzzers."

1041
00:39:23,196 --> 00:39:25,765
He did it when he got
the Mega Wall two years ago.

1042
00:39:25,799 --> 00:39:28,034
- I bet he's going for
another Mega Wall tonight!

1043
00:39:28,068 --> 00:39:29,069
- Let's go!

1044
00:39:29,102 --> 00:39:30,337
Come on!

1045
00:39:30,370 --> 00:39:31,504
- If he wants a shot,
he has to hit

1046
00:39:31,538 --> 00:39:33,406
that buzzer faster
than 1:20.

1047
00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:34,708
- There you go.

1048
00:39:34,741 --> 00:39:35,842
Get out in front.
Get out in front.

1049
00:39:35,875 --> 00:39:36,843
Wait for it.
Yeah, nice.

1050
00:39:36,876 --> 00:39:38,411
- Oh!
Dropped it!

1051
00:39:38,445 --> 00:39:39,679
- Fumble!

1052
00:39:39,713 --> 00:39:42,148
- Had the ring and dropped it.

1053
00:39:42,182 --> 00:39:43,750
Not using his noggin there.

1054
00:39:43,783 --> 00:39:45,685
- Don't rush this.

1055
00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:47,487
Nice!

1056
00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:48,488
- That cost some time.

1057
00:39:48,521 --> 00:39:50,223
Now if he wants the Mega Wall,

1058
00:39:50,256 --> 00:39:52,392
he's gonna have to turn up
on the turn up.

1059
00:39:52,425 --> 00:39:55,528
- And he runs right
onto the next obstacle.

1060
00:39:55,562 --> 00:39:58,665
Survives Spinning Bridge,
going right into it

1061
00:39:58,698 --> 00:40:00,066
on Heavy Metal.

1062
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,769
- And he just put
his pedal to the metal!

1063
00:40:02,802 --> 00:40:05,372
- As you can see,
he just loves that bar!

1064
00:40:05,405 --> 00:40:06,673
- He's trying
to make up for time,

1065
00:40:06,706 --> 00:40:08,308
but make sure,
in the process of trying

1066
00:40:08,341 --> 00:40:12,645
to make up for some lost time,
do not make a mistake!

1067
00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:17,417
- And right through, on now
to Cubes, with a fast pace

1068
00:40:17,450 --> 00:40:18,618
to this point.

1069
00:40:18,651 --> 00:40:20,120
- Oh, yeah,
he is going for it.

1070
00:40:20,153 --> 00:40:21,488
He's competitive.

1071
00:40:21,521 --> 00:40:23,423
You can tell,
Levi Enright is competitive.

1072
00:40:23,456 --> 00:40:25,191
He wants to trash talk!

1073
00:40:25,225 --> 00:40:27,460
- The Cubes just
absorbs a lot of time,

1074
00:40:27,494 --> 00:40:30,363
and will test what grip
strength you have left.

1075
00:40:30,397 --> 00:40:31,898
Great power by Levi!

1076
00:40:31,931 --> 00:40:35,568
- Boy, he was twirling like
the tie dye on his shirt!

1077
00:40:35,602 --> 00:40:37,037
- And gets to the last cube.

1078
00:40:37,070 --> 00:40:39,005
- He's still got a great
opportunity, Matt!

1079
00:40:39,039 --> 00:40:40,707
- And landed!

1080
00:40:40,740 --> 00:40:42,776
- He's got an opportunity
for the Mega Wall!

1081
00:40:42,809 --> 00:40:45,378
- Looking to get
another noggin buzzer!

1082
00:40:45,412 --> 00:40:46,913
Boom!

1083
00:40:46,946 --> 00:40:49,949
[cheering]

1084
00:40:49,983 --> 00:40:52,118
- Let's go!

1085
00:40:52,152 --> 00:40:53,386
- Hey!

1086
00:40:53,420 --> 00:40:55,155
- You like that?

1087
00:40:55,188 --> 00:40:56,289
- Yeah, you like that?

1088
00:40:56,322 --> 00:40:57,590
I like that!

1089
00:40:57,624 --> 00:40:59,726
- You just got the
fastest time of the night!

1090
00:40:59,759 --> 00:41:02,128
You get another shot
at that Mega Wall!

1091
00:41:02,162 --> 00:41:04,664
- Let's go, baby!

1092
00:41:04,698 --> 00:41:08,068
- Well, go on down and get
ready to take your shot.

1093
00:41:08,068 --> 00:41:11,371
Two years ago, he made it
up the wall, won 10 grand,

1094
00:41:11,404 --> 00:41:13,573
and bought himself a new car.

1095
00:41:13,606 --> 00:41:15,942
But the Mega Wall is
now 6 inches taller,

1096
00:41:15,975 --> 00:41:19,479
and this year,
the payout's up to 20 grand.

1097
00:41:19,512 --> 00:41:21,214
- Matt, he's about
to get married.

1098
00:41:21,247 --> 00:41:23,616
I'm sure his fiancée
would love 20 grand

1099
00:41:23,650 --> 00:41:25,085
to put towards the wedding.

1100
00:41:25,118 --> 00:41:27,454
- Caleb Bergstrom got
the Mega Wall last week.

1101
00:41:27,487 --> 00:41:29,556
Can Levi be the second?

1102
00:41:29,589 --> 00:41:31,558
- He's all tied up.

1103
00:41:31,591 --> 00:41:33,793
- Oh!

1104
00:41:33,827 --> 00:41:35,995
Can't cash in on the 20K!

1105
00:41:36,096 --> 00:41:39,165
But as always,
he had fun, and we'll see

1106
00:41:39,199 --> 00:41:42,268
him racing in the semifinals.

1107
00:41:42,302 --> 00:41:45,138
When we come back,
we're off to the races.

1108
00:41:45,171 --> 00:41:49,242
It's the Runoffs, side by side
for the final spots

1109
00:41:49,275 --> 00:41:51,845
in the semifinals,
and it's next

1110
00:41:51,878 --> 00:41:54,347
on "American Ninja Warrior."

1111
00:41:54,381 --> 00:41:57,817
[dramatic music]

1112
00:42:01,388 --> 00:42:02,889
- Minutes ago,
Utah software developer

1113
00:42:02,922 --> 00:42:05,058
Mark Farrell put on
one of the best

1114
00:42:05,058 --> 00:42:06,726
performances of the night.

1115
00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:09,129
- Ooh, look at that!

1116
00:42:09,162 --> 00:42:12,499
Well, he can barely move
in those tight jorts!

1117
00:42:12,532 --> 00:42:16,569
- Despite being 41,
and almost 200 pounds,

1118
00:42:16,603 --> 00:42:19,739
the former competitive dancer,
had all the right moves

1119
00:42:19,773 --> 00:42:21,708
for Pole Vault.
Sort of.

1120
00:42:21,741 --> 00:42:23,910
He made the grab
on Ring Chaser...

1121
00:42:23,943 --> 00:42:25,445
- That's fly right there.

1122
00:42:25,478 --> 00:42:26,913
- But that's where
it ended.

1123
00:42:26,946 --> 00:42:28,782
- No!
[air horn blares]

1124
00:42:30,383 --> 00:42:32,519
- To honor his
Filipino heritage,

1125
00:42:32,552 --> 00:42:35,655
Glenn Albright calls
himself the Carabao Ninja,

1126
00:42:35,689 --> 00:42:37,357
the water buffalo
that is the national animal

1127
00:42:37,390 --> 00:42:38,958
of the Philippines.

1128
00:42:38,992 --> 00:42:41,928
- Well, you gotta carabao
getting it right there. Nice!

1129
00:42:41,961 --> 00:42:44,130
- And the five-time
"Ninja" veteran

1130
00:42:44,164 --> 00:42:45,999
was stampeding
through the course.

1131
00:42:46,099 --> 00:42:48,101
- Well, they don't have
this one in Manila,

1132
00:42:48,101 --> 00:42:49,803
but this one is
a thriller and a killer!

1133
00:42:49,836 --> 00:42:51,638
Nice!

1134
00:42:51,671 --> 00:42:53,306
[together]
Let's go Glenn!

1135
00:42:53,340 --> 00:42:55,241
- He made the big moves
on Heavy Metal.

1136
00:42:55,275 --> 00:42:56,743
- OK, get it!

1137
00:42:56,776 --> 00:42:59,546
- But The Carabao Ninja
couldn't figure out The Cubes.

1138
00:42:59,579 --> 00:43:01,481
- Ooh!
[air horn blares]

1139
00:43:01,514 --> 00:43:03,483
- Despite the fall,
it was far enough,

1140
00:43:03,516 --> 00:43:05,251
fast enough to move on.

1141
00:43:07,620 --> 00:43:11,324
Then it was the last of the
Iowa ninjas, Chris Behrends.

1142
00:43:11,358 --> 00:43:13,660
- That's a corn-fed Ninja
right there!

1143
00:43:13,693 --> 00:43:16,463
- With a rowdy bunch
on the sideline,

1144
00:43:16,496 --> 00:43:18,365
including his buddy
Levi Enright,

1145
00:43:18,398 --> 00:43:21,301
the three-time "Ninja" veteran
came out hot.

1146
00:43:21,334 --> 00:43:24,371
- He said, "I can be corn-fed,
but I'm still fast!"

1147
00:43:24,404 --> 00:43:27,107
- He wasn't quite
as fast as his buddy Levi,

1148
00:43:27,140 --> 00:43:30,210
but he still put up one of
the top times of the night,

1149
00:43:30,243 --> 00:43:33,246
and of course, capped it off
with a noggin buzzer.

1150
00:43:33,279 --> 00:43:36,416
[buzzer blares]
- Noggin!

1151
00:43:36,449 --> 00:43:38,752
- Let's go!

1152
00:43:38,785 --> 00:43:42,122
- So Chris joins
his buddy Levi Enright

1153
00:43:42,155 --> 00:43:44,424
and cousin Ben Behrends
to make it

1154
00:43:44,457 --> 00:43:46,626
three Iowa ninjas
in the top four,

1155
00:43:46,659 --> 00:43:48,828
and dad Scott Behrends
makes it four

1156
00:43:48,862 --> 00:43:52,098
from that family who will be
racing in the semifinal.

1157
00:43:52,132 --> 00:43:55,101
For the Green twins,
both Nathan, who finished,

1158
00:43:55,135 --> 00:43:57,704
and his brother Marquez,
who landed in 11th,

1159
00:43:57,737 --> 00:43:59,706
will be moving on.

1160
00:43:59,739 --> 00:44:01,508
But our 12th and 13th
placed men

1161
00:44:01,541 --> 00:44:04,310
will now compete for
the final spot in semis

1162
00:44:04,344 --> 00:44:08,815
in the head-to-head races
we call the Runoffs.

1163
00:44:08,848 --> 00:44:11,351
It'll be Colorado teenager
Seth Lambert,

1164
00:44:11,384 --> 00:44:13,620
who's raising awareness
for epilepsy,

1165
00:44:13,653 --> 00:44:15,889
taking on a nine-time veteran,

1166
00:44:15,922 --> 00:44:20,060
the Muscle Ball,
Tyler Yamauchi, who's in 13th.

1167
00:44:20,060 --> 00:44:22,162
- Yeah, some big differences
for these two.

1168
00:44:22,195 --> 00:44:25,098
Seth is 22 years younger
and 8 inches taller

1169
00:44:25,131 --> 00:44:27,600
than Tyler, who's 5'1".

1170
00:44:27,634 --> 00:44:29,235
The Muscle Ball
is gonna have to rely

1171
00:44:29,269 --> 00:44:30,804
on his Ninja experience.

1172
00:44:32,472 --> 00:44:34,874
- Tyler's wife and kids
will be watching

1173
00:44:34,908 --> 00:44:37,711
back in the Chicago area,
and Seth's family,

1174
00:44:37,744 --> 00:44:41,314
including his brother Caleb,
is on the sideline.

1175
00:44:41,348 --> 00:44:43,383
And the Muscle Ball
better get rolling,

1176
00:44:43,416 --> 00:44:46,219
because we saw,
Seth has speed.

1177
00:44:46,252 --> 00:44:48,955
[countdown clock beeping]

1178
00:44:48,988 --> 00:44:50,256
First up is Home Run.

1179
00:44:50,290 --> 00:44:51,458
Boom!
Boom! Boom!

1180
00:44:51,491 --> 00:44:52,959
- Good footwork from Lambert!

1181
00:44:52,992 --> 00:44:55,362
And right into
Flying Shelf Grab.

1182
00:44:55,395 --> 00:44:57,731
Yamauchi should have
some power--Lambert!

1183
00:44:57,764 --> 00:44:59,599
- And I think Lambert knows
that he's a gymnast,

1184
00:44:59,632 --> 00:45:02,268
so he wants to make sure
that he gets out in front.

1185
00:45:02,302 --> 00:45:04,104
- And Yamauchi closing
the gap,

1186
00:45:04,137 --> 00:45:06,873
but Lambert first off!
- Now we go Wing Nuts.

1187
00:45:06,906 --> 00:45:10,877
Yamauchi's gotta catch up,
and now Yamauchi is out ahead!

1188
00:45:10,910 --> 00:45:14,214
- Well, Yamauchi has some
experience on the Wing Nuts.

1189
00:45:14,247 --> 00:45:16,316
- Oh!
The veteran!

1190
00:45:16,349 --> 00:45:19,953
- And he's on to
the final obstacle, Sideways.

1191
00:45:20,053 --> 00:45:21,755
- He's starting
to get faster as he's

1192
00:45:21,788 --> 00:45:23,523
getting further on the course!

1193
00:45:23,556 --> 00:45:25,125
Oh, no, Matt!
Look at this!

1194
00:45:25,158 --> 00:45:27,660
- Here's Seth Lambert!
Gotta show out!

1195
00:45:27,694 --> 00:45:29,829
- It was
the rope-a-dope by Yamauchi!

1196
00:45:29,863 --> 00:45:32,298
- Oh, it's a race!
- Oh, oh, my goodness!

1197
00:45:32,332 --> 00:45:37,070
- One of the closest finishes
we have seen in a Runoff!

1198
00:45:37,070 --> 00:45:40,073
Tyler Yamauchi
narrows him out

1199
00:45:40,073 --> 00:45:43,376
by 2/10 of a second!
- Wow!

1200
00:45:43,410 --> 00:45:45,712
- What a race.
- Wow.

1201
00:45:45,745 --> 00:45:48,682
Oh, my goodness!

1202
00:45:48,715 --> 00:45:50,583
You can see Tyler Yamauchi
looking back

1203
00:45:50,617 --> 00:45:52,485
to see where Lambert is.

1204
00:45:52,519 --> 00:45:54,120
He says,
"I gotta get out of there."

1205
00:45:54,154 --> 00:45:56,356
And it's a dead sprint
to the buzzer!

1206
00:45:56,389 --> 00:45:59,726
Oh, my goodness!
Tyler Yamauchi!

1207
00:45:59,759 --> 00:46:03,263
You can tell
he is relieved!

1208
00:46:03,296 --> 00:46:05,865
- They don't get
much closer than that!

1209
00:46:05,899 --> 00:46:07,334
Credit to Seth Lambert.

1210
00:46:07,367 --> 00:46:10,270
Gave the Muscle Ball
all he could handle!

1211
00:46:10,303 --> 00:46:14,107
But Tyler Yamauchi
is heading back to the semis!

1212
00:46:15,342 --> 00:46:18,044
Our top three women
in this group are set,

1213
00:46:18,078 --> 00:46:21,047
Emily Keener, Mady Howard,
and Anabella Heinrichs

1214
00:46:21,081 --> 00:46:22,682
are moving on.

1215
00:46:22,716 --> 00:46:24,050
So in our second Runoff,

1216
00:46:24,084 --> 00:46:25,852
it'll be our fourth
and fifth-place women

1217
00:46:25,885 --> 00:46:27,654
racing for the final spot.

1218
00:46:27,687 --> 00:46:29,489
It features a couple
of good friends

1219
00:46:29,522 --> 00:46:32,525
from Utah
who are playing rock paper.

1220
00:46:32,559 --> 00:46:35,128
It's Rysann Clark,
an Air Force cadet,

1221
00:46:35,161 --> 00:46:37,063
going against
another Utah teen,

1222
00:46:37,063 --> 00:46:40,066
Violet Kepo'o
whose debut run last season

1223
00:46:40,066 --> 00:46:43,169
was a real tear jerker.

1224
00:46:43,203 --> 00:46:45,972
At just 95 pounds,
Kepo'o is one of

1225
00:46:46,072 --> 00:46:48,808
our lightest competitors ever,
and she memorably

1226
00:46:48,842 --> 00:46:52,379
got emotional her first time
on the course last season.

1227
00:46:52,412 --> 00:46:54,681
- Oh, and she's crying!

1228
00:46:54,714 --> 00:46:57,417
- Sometimes having
all the pressure

1229
00:46:57,450 --> 00:46:59,486
can be a little hard for me.

1230
00:46:59,519 --> 00:47:00,887
- Kepo'o, let's go!

1231
00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:02,789
- Doing "Ninja Warrior"
has really helped

1232
00:47:02,822 --> 00:47:04,891
build my confidence.
- Nice!

1233
00:47:04,924 --> 00:47:06,693
You can cry if you want to!
- Got it!

1234
00:47:06,726 --> 00:47:08,028
- It's your party!

1235
00:47:08,028 --> 00:47:11,164
- When I get on that course,
I'm a monster.

1236
00:47:11,197 --> 00:47:12,899
- Oh!
- Wow!

1237
00:47:12,932 --> 00:47:14,100
- Oh, shoot!

1238
00:47:14,134 --> 00:47:15,935
I thought she was done!

1239
00:47:17,570 --> 00:47:20,640
- Rysann Clark
was a student body president,

1240
00:47:20,674 --> 00:47:23,176
commander of her
high school's ROTC unit,

1241
00:47:23,209 --> 00:47:26,046
and is now a cadet
at the Air Force Academy.

1242
00:47:26,046 --> 00:47:29,582
She's hoping to add "Ninja"
semifinalist to her résumé.

1243
00:47:29,616 --> 00:47:31,518
- The Air Force Academy
has taught me a lot about

1244
00:47:31,551 --> 00:47:33,153
how to become a better ninja.

1245
00:47:33,186 --> 00:47:35,055
It puts you
out of your comfort zone,

1246
00:47:35,055 --> 00:47:36,923
and it builds character.

1247
00:47:36,956 --> 00:47:38,458
I can't wait to start
my career

1248
00:47:38,491 --> 00:47:40,360
as an Air Force pilot.

1249
00:47:40,393 --> 00:47:42,062
Tonight, though,
I am just focusing

1250
00:47:42,062 --> 00:47:44,764
on flying to that buzzer.

1251
00:47:44,798 --> 00:47:46,366
[cheering]

1252
00:47:46,399 --> 00:47:48,234
- Well, the Clark family
and the Kepo'os

1253
00:47:48,268 --> 00:47:50,904
know each other
from local competitions.

1254
00:47:50,937 --> 00:47:52,238
- Yeah, last year,
we saw Violet

1255
00:47:52,272 --> 00:47:54,341
had tears in her eyes
on the start line,

1256
00:47:54,374 --> 00:47:56,676
but she looks a lot
more confident tonight.

1257
00:47:56,710 --> 00:47:58,945
Let's go racing, then!

1258
00:47:58,978 --> 00:48:00,580
- Who will be the hero
of the Beehive State?

1259
00:48:00,613 --> 00:48:01,915
- Nice!
Ooh, Kepo'o!

1260
00:48:02,015 --> 00:48:03,917
Uh-oh!
Look at that!

1261
00:48:04,017 --> 00:48:05,685
- Bounding right out to it,

1262
00:48:05,719 --> 00:48:08,054
putting the pressure
on Rysann Clark.

1263
00:48:08,088 --> 00:48:10,357
- Yeah, and the secret here
is to get out in front,

1264
00:48:10,390 --> 00:48:12,092
put the pressure on
the person behind.

1265
00:48:12,125 --> 00:48:13,927
- Oh, there goes Rysann!

1266
00:48:15,729 --> 00:48:18,898
Oh, this is a good matchup!

1267
00:48:18,932 --> 00:48:21,101
Rysann,
the Air Force cadet,

1268
00:48:21,134 --> 00:48:22,902
is first off
the Flying Shelf Grab.

1269
00:48:22,936 --> 00:48:25,405
Can she earn her wings
on Wing Nuts?

1270
00:48:25,438 --> 00:48:27,841
- This right here
is air-to-air combat!

1271
00:48:27,874 --> 00:48:29,809
Good,
generating big power.

1272
00:48:29,843 --> 00:48:31,911
You generate enough power,
it gives you enough time

1273
00:48:31,945 --> 00:48:35,048
to react and respond.

1274
00:48:35,081 --> 00:48:39,052
- Violet and Rysann
both flying through the air!

1275
00:48:39,052 --> 00:48:40,720
And Rysann is off first,

1276
00:48:40,754 --> 00:48:43,256
so Violet
must finish Sideways.

1277
00:48:43,289 --> 00:48:45,291
- This is a testament
to their training here,

1278
00:48:45,325 --> 00:48:46,893
especially
when you're racing.

1279
00:48:46,926 --> 00:48:49,829
And you see Kepo'o
looking right towards Rysann,

1280
00:48:49,863 --> 00:48:51,564
seeing the competition.

1281
00:48:51,598 --> 00:48:53,733
Look now!
Look now!

1282
00:48:53,767 --> 00:48:56,770
Violet is catching up!
- Kepo'o!

1283
00:48:58,672 --> 00:49:01,174
Oh, and Rysann Clark is down,

1284
00:49:01,207 --> 00:49:02,909
but it's not over yet.

1285
00:49:03,009 --> 00:49:05,578
Since she completed
the previous obstacle first,

1286
00:49:05,612 --> 00:49:08,014
Kepo'o has to make it through.

1287
00:49:08,048 --> 00:49:11,451
But this is a beast,
Sideways!

1288
00:49:11,484 --> 00:49:13,019
Two more moves.

1289
00:49:13,053 --> 00:49:15,855
- And this is where
the arms start to get tired.

1290
00:49:15,889 --> 00:49:18,058
Get it there!

1291
00:49:19,292 --> 00:49:22,462
- And Kepo'o
makes it to the buzzer!

1292
00:49:22,495 --> 00:49:25,465
- I see you, Kepo'o!
I see you!

1293
00:49:25,498 --> 00:49:27,567
- Ultra Violet delivers!

1294
00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:31,037
She said she's a monster
when she gets on the course,

1295
00:49:31,037 --> 00:49:32,572
and she proved that tonight.

1296
00:49:32,605 --> 00:49:33,907
Well, don't go anywhere.

1297
00:49:33,940 --> 00:49:35,408
We're gonna change up
the course

1298
00:49:35,442 --> 00:49:37,477
and bring out
a whole new group of ninjas.

1299
00:49:37,510 --> 00:49:39,913
- And take a look
at who's coming up.

1300
00:49:39,946 --> 00:49:42,182
- We've got
our new Women's champion,

1301
00:49:42,215 --> 00:49:44,851
Massachusetts teenager
Addy Herman.

1302
00:49:44,884 --> 00:49:47,654
Plus, he's one heck
of a salesman.

1303
00:49:47,687 --> 00:49:50,890
- I'm Ben Kooper,
AKA the Sharp Ninja.

1304
00:49:50,924 --> 00:49:53,393
- But can he slice his way
through the "Ninja" course?

1305
00:49:53,426 --> 00:49:54,894
- Oh, yeah!

1306
00:49:54,928 --> 00:49:58,064
- And "Ninja" great
Najee Richardson is retiring.

1307
00:49:58,098 --> 00:49:59,566
This could be
the last run ever

1308
00:49:59,599 --> 00:50:00,967
for the Phoenix.

1309
00:50:01,001 --> 00:50:03,436
- That's coming up
on our second hour

1310
00:50:03,470 --> 00:50:05,772
of "American Ninja Warrior!"

1311
00:50:10,610 --> 00:50:12,545
- Welcome back to
our second hour of qualifying

1312
00:50:12,579 --> 00:50:14,347
on "American Ninja Warrior."

1313
00:50:14,381 --> 00:50:16,349
We've got a new group
of ninjas lined up,

1314
00:50:16,383 --> 00:50:17,784
ready to start their season.

1315
00:50:17,817 --> 00:50:20,153
- But the course they'll face
is different than the one

1316
00:50:20,186 --> 00:50:21,654
we just saw.
- That's right.

1317
00:50:21,688 --> 00:50:23,289
For the details,
let's go down to Zuri.

1318
00:50:23,323 --> 00:50:25,158
- Yeah, guys,
our crew got busy.

1319
00:50:25,191 --> 00:50:27,027
They changed out
some obstacles.

1320
00:50:27,060 --> 00:50:28,795
Take a look
at this revamped course.

1321
00:50:28,828 --> 00:50:32,065
- Reel to Reel is now
in the number-two position.

1322
00:50:32,098 --> 00:50:34,167
Ninjas need to slide down
using one reel

1323
00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:36,069
and swing to the second.
- Nice!

1324
00:50:36,102 --> 00:50:37,404
- Ooh!

1325
00:50:37,437 --> 00:50:40,473
- And the fifth obstacle
is now Jawbreakers.

1326
00:50:40,507 --> 00:50:43,109
They'll have And throw the bar
into three metal jaws.

1327
00:50:43,143 --> 00:50:45,445
- Yes!
- Guys.

1328
00:50:45,478 --> 00:50:46,680
- Thanks, Zuri.

1329
00:50:46,713 --> 00:50:48,148
Well, just like
the earlier group,

1330
00:50:48,181 --> 00:50:49,249
only the top 12 men

1331
00:50:49,282 --> 00:50:50,984
and top four women
will move on.

1332
00:50:51,017 --> 00:50:52,819
And leading off
this second group

1333
00:50:52,852 --> 00:50:55,321
is the night's
best-dressed athlete.

1334
00:50:55,355 --> 00:50:58,058
This is Ace Goodson,
heading to the start line

1335
00:50:58,091 --> 00:50:59,492
in a three-piece suit.

1336
00:50:59,526 --> 00:51:01,061
- But it's sleeveless.

1337
00:51:01,061 --> 00:51:03,863
I bet he couldn't fit
those arms inside his sleeves.

1338
00:51:03,897 --> 00:51:05,231
- [screams]

1339
00:51:05,265 --> 00:51:07,567
- Oh, no, it's coming off!

1340
00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:09,602
- Well, if it's anything
like his last run,

1341
00:51:09,636 --> 00:51:12,672
this entrance may go viral.

1342
00:51:12,706 --> 00:51:15,942
- Yeah, season 14,
I came out huge.

1343
00:51:15,975 --> 00:51:18,411
- Oh, look, OK!

1344
00:51:18,445 --> 00:51:20,280
- Dude is shredded!

1345
00:51:20,313 --> 00:51:21,748
- My flex went viral.

1346
00:51:21,781 --> 00:51:22,882
I'm seeing it in memes.

1347
00:51:22,916 --> 00:51:24,818
I'm seeing it on social media.

1348
00:51:24,851 --> 00:51:27,387
And it's funny, because
people always critique me

1349
00:51:27,420 --> 00:51:29,089
a little bit
for flexing too much,

1350
00:51:29,122 --> 00:51:30,824
and now my flex
is the biggest GIF

1351
00:51:30,857 --> 00:51:33,626
all over the world,
so I can't be mad at that.

1352
00:51:33,660 --> 00:51:35,762
So after I got
finished flexing,

1353
00:51:35,795 --> 00:51:36,963
I got to Domino Effect.

1354
00:51:36,996 --> 00:51:38,965
I blink, and I'm underwater.

1355
00:51:38,998 --> 00:51:40,967
- Nice! Nice!
Stay on top! Stay on top!

1356
00:51:41,001 --> 00:51:42,335
Oh, my goodness!

1357
00:51:42,369 --> 00:51:44,771
- And it's like, "Oh, man,"
my pick is floating,

1358
00:51:44,804 --> 00:51:46,539
and I've gotta go get that.

1359
00:51:46,573 --> 00:51:48,241
- Uh-oh.
And there's the pick.

1360
00:51:48,274 --> 00:51:50,243
Hey, Matt, get that pick.
I need that pick.

1361
00:51:50,276 --> 00:51:52,445
- But this year,
I gotta take it up a notch.

1362
00:51:52,479 --> 00:51:54,014
The expectations
are even higher,

1363
00:51:54,114 --> 00:51:56,516
so my run
has to be even better.

1364
00:51:56,549 --> 00:51:59,519
[upbeat music]

1365
00:51:59,552 --> 00:52:01,121
- Ah, check it out!

1366
00:52:01,154 --> 00:52:02,555
The pick is back!

1367
00:52:02,589 --> 00:52:03,556
- Well, this year,
he's going to try

1368
00:52:03,590 --> 00:52:05,525
not to lose it.

1369
00:52:05,558 --> 00:52:07,594
And Ace will have
his wife and kids

1370
00:52:07,627 --> 00:52:09,095
watching from back home.

1371
00:52:09,129 --> 00:52:11,097
[countdown clock beeping]

1372
00:52:11,131 --> 00:52:12,298
He may look
like a bodybuilder,

1373
00:52:12,332 --> 00:52:14,100
but he actually
has an office job,

1374
00:52:14,134 --> 00:52:16,403
working for
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

1375
00:52:16,436 --> 00:52:19,305
in Washington, DC.
- Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!

1376
00:52:19,339 --> 00:52:21,908
- Keep that foot up.
- Yeah.

1377
00:52:21,941 --> 00:52:25,245
[cheering]

1378
00:52:25,278 --> 00:52:27,414
- Ace lives to fight
another obstacle.

1379
00:52:27,447 --> 00:52:29,616
Gonna head up
to take on Reel to Reel.

1380
00:52:29,649 --> 00:52:31,518
- Well, Matt,
Reel to Reel got folks

1381
00:52:31,551 --> 00:52:34,254
thinking like an action hero.
He looks like an action hero.

1382
00:52:34,287 --> 00:52:35,955
Let's see if he's got
some action to it.

1383
00:52:35,989 --> 00:52:37,924
- [laughs]
Oh!

1384
00:52:37,957 --> 00:52:39,392
- You flex mania.

1385
00:52:39,426 --> 00:52:41,761
He's going flex mania on us!

1386
00:52:41,795 --> 00:52:44,097
- The crowd loves it!

1387
00:52:44,130 --> 00:52:45,832
But he's doing
the sign of the cross,

1388
00:52:45,865 --> 00:52:48,702
looking for a little help
from above on Reel to Reel.

1389
00:52:48,735 --> 00:52:50,470
[people chanting]
Let's go Ace!

1390
00:52:50,503 --> 00:52:51,938
- 39 nine years old.

1391
00:52:51,971 --> 00:52:54,174
Can he muscle his way across?

1392
00:52:55,775 --> 00:52:57,444
Oh!
- No! Oh, my goodness!

1393
00:52:57,477 --> 00:52:59,012
Oh, my goodness!
- Wow!

1394
00:52:59,112 --> 00:53:01,281
- That's a Hollywood ending
right there!

1395
00:53:01,314 --> 00:53:04,517
- That looked like
special effects!

1396
00:53:04,551 --> 00:53:07,187
- Can we please
see this again?

1397
00:53:07,220 --> 00:53:09,756
He got both hands
on that second reel,

1398
00:53:09,789 --> 00:53:12,125
but his right one
started to peel off,

1399
00:53:12,158 --> 00:53:14,828
and he just barely made it
to the landing pad.

1400
00:53:14,861 --> 00:53:17,697
He had to use his ab muscles
to stay out of the water.

1401
00:53:17,731 --> 00:53:20,934
But look closely.
His pick came out again!

1402
00:53:22,569 --> 00:53:24,304
- But his run is still alive,

1403
00:53:24,337 --> 00:53:26,539
and now facing
Spinning Bridge.

1404
00:53:26,573 --> 00:53:27,807
Went out on
a balance obstacle

1405
00:53:27,841 --> 00:53:30,076
in season 14.
- Oh, oh, oh.

1406
00:53:30,110 --> 00:53:32,479
Oh, Matt,
he is having so much fun!

1407
00:53:32,512 --> 00:53:34,914
This is what "Ninja"
is all about, right here!

1408
00:53:34,948 --> 00:53:36,983
Hot feet! Hot feet!
Hot feet! Hot feet!

1409
00:53:37,083 --> 00:53:38,385
- Oh, no!
- Ooh!

1410
00:53:38,418 --> 00:53:39,753
He fell right on his abs!

1411
00:53:39,786 --> 00:53:41,187
[air horn blares]

1412
00:53:41,221 --> 00:53:45,091
- And a balance obstacle
takes Ace out once again.

1413
00:53:45,091 --> 00:53:47,627
- Somebody find
this man's pick.

1414
00:53:47,660 --> 00:53:49,362
- Again!

1415
00:53:49,396 --> 00:53:52,432
- He just stumbled over that
third ball on Spinning Bridge

1416
00:53:52,465 --> 00:53:54,567
and landed right on them abs.

1417
00:53:54,601 --> 00:53:58,605
Ooh, his muscles
couldn't save him that time.

1418
00:53:58,638 --> 00:54:00,840
- It never goes too far away.

1419
00:54:00,874 --> 00:54:02,776
Let's do this.
Let's go.

1420
00:54:04,244 --> 00:54:07,047
- Our next athlete would love
to carve up the course

1421
00:54:07,047 --> 00:54:09,816
because he is one of the most
energetic knife salesmen

1422
00:54:09,849 --> 00:54:11,051
you'll ever meet.

1423
00:54:11,051 --> 00:54:13,353
This is 23-year-old
Ben Kooper.

1424
00:54:13,386 --> 00:54:15,388
He calls himself
the Sharp Ninja,

1425
00:54:15,422 --> 00:54:18,158
and he knows
how to close a deal.

1426
00:54:18,191 --> 00:54:21,561
- Are your meals
feeling a little dull?

1427
00:54:21,594 --> 00:54:25,699
Time to sharpen things up,
with my professional-grade,

1428
00:54:25,732 --> 00:54:28,134
cutting-edge kitchen knives.

1429
00:54:28,168 --> 00:54:32,939
Hi, I'm Ben Kooper,
AKA the Sharp Ninja,

1430
00:54:32,972 --> 00:54:36,443
and over the last five years,
I've sold over $1 million

1431
00:54:36,476 --> 00:54:39,446
of these high-carbon
stainless steel blades,

1432
00:54:39,479 --> 00:54:41,348
so I know the key to cutlery

1433
00:54:41,381 --> 00:54:44,517
is staying sharper
than the competition.

1434
00:54:44,551 --> 00:54:46,820
Look at this!

1435
00:54:46,853 --> 00:54:49,522
One chop,
and the fun don't stop!

1436
00:54:49,556 --> 00:54:52,392
We've got it all,
paring knives,

1437
00:54:52,425 --> 00:54:55,095
chopping knives,
and our one-of-a-kind

1438
00:54:55,095 --> 00:54:56,730
spatula spreader.

1439
00:54:56,763 --> 00:54:58,865
Oh, yeah!

1440
00:54:58,898 --> 00:55:01,668
It's time to slice and dice!

1441
00:55:01,701 --> 00:55:03,903
- Well, I'm sold.

1442
00:55:03,937 --> 00:55:05,772
- He's got his parents
on the sideline,

1443
00:55:05,805 --> 00:55:07,774
and that's his boss
back behind them.

1444
00:55:07,807 --> 00:55:09,309
- You know, you gotta be
a good salesman

1445
00:55:09,342 --> 00:55:11,044
when your boss shows up!

1446
00:55:11,044 --> 00:55:13,146
[countdown clock beeping]

1447
00:55:13,179 --> 00:55:15,615
- 5'8", 144 pounds.

1448
00:55:15,648 --> 00:55:18,418
- Ooh!
- Gotta get up!

1449
00:55:19,285 --> 00:55:20,754
- Wow!

1450
00:55:20,787 --> 00:55:22,389
That was a sharp response!

1451
00:55:22,422 --> 00:55:24,824
Living on
the knife's edge there.

1452
00:55:24,858 --> 00:55:26,760
- All right!

1453
00:55:26,793 --> 00:55:29,162
- All right, here we go.
Reel to Reel.

1454
00:55:29,195 --> 00:55:31,297
He better cut up on this one!

1455
00:55:32,665 --> 00:55:34,668
Nice!
Ooh!

1456
00:55:34,701 --> 00:55:36,670
- The jagged edge.

1457
00:55:36,703 --> 00:55:38,905
And he's able to slice
his way through it.

1458
00:55:38,938 --> 00:55:40,874
- Yeah!
- Yeah! Come on, Ben!

1459
00:55:40,907 --> 00:55:42,208
- But Spinning Bridge
has cut down

1460
00:55:42,242 --> 00:55:44,110
many runs over the years.

1461
00:55:44,144 --> 00:55:46,546
- Matt, he's gotta hone
his skills on this one.

1462
00:55:46,579 --> 00:55:48,882
This is like running through
a serrated knife.

1463
00:55:48,915 --> 00:55:49,949
Nice!

1464
00:55:49,983 --> 00:55:52,552
[cheering]

1465
00:55:52,585 --> 00:55:54,254
- Now it's Heavy Metal.

1466
00:55:54,287 --> 00:55:56,956
Tempered steel,
just like his knives.

1467
00:55:56,990 --> 00:55:59,526
He sold more
than $1 million of them

1468
00:55:59,559 --> 00:56:01,394
in just five years,
paid his way

1469
00:56:01,428 --> 00:56:05,031
through college with it.
Good power out of Kooper!

1470
00:56:07,534 --> 00:56:09,936
He's a marathoner,
runs 40 miles a week

1471
00:56:10,036 --> 00:56:12,872
for training, trying to go
the distance tonight.

1472
00:56:15,075 --> 00:56:17,043
Good job there
on that reverse throw.

1473
00:56:19,245 --> 00:56:21,881
Yeah, he cuts pennies
as a part of his sales pitch,

1474
00:56:21,915 --> 00:56:24,150
and he's cutting down
this course as well.

1475
00:56:27,153 --> 00:56:28,521
All right, let's get real.

1476
00:56:28,555 --> 00:56:30,557
Ben Kooper is making his move.

1477
00:56:32,192 --> 00:56:33,727
Uh-oh!

1478
00:56:33,760 --> 00:56:36,429
- Watching, making sure
that bar didn't want to roll.

1479
00:56:36,463 --> 00:56:39,299
Did not want to snag that!

1480
00:56:39,332 --> 00:56:41,534
And his heart is pounding!

1481
00:56:41,568 --> 00:56:44,804
[cheering]

1482
00:56:44,838 --> 00:56:48,274
He'll give us our first look
tonight at Jawbreakers.

1483
00:56:48,308 --> 00:56:50,276
- He's gotta slice
and dice here.

1484
00:56:52,746 --> 00:56:54,814
- Slams the bar into the jaws.

1485
00:56:54,848 --> 00:56:56,549
Now has to do it
two more times.

1486
00:56:56,583 --> 00:56:57,917
- So close to being able
to get

1487
00:56:57,951 --> 00:57:00,020
his very first "Ninja" buzzer.

1488
00:57:00,020 --> 00:57:03,023
- This next set of jaws
is at a 45-degree angle.

1489
00:57:03,023 --> 00:57:06,760
Needs to really get up here.
- Coop!

1490
00:57:06,793 --> 00:57:09,295
- Cut down on Jawbreakers!
- Oh!

1491
00:57:09,329 --> 00:57:13,166
Coop got duped
by that second jawbreaker!

1492
00:57:13,199 --> 00:57:16,069
- He cut it close
on Heavy Metal,

1493
00:57:16,102 --> 00:57:19,205
just barely got through,
but he couldn't close the deal

1494
00:57:19,239 --> 00:57:21,041
on that second jawbreaker.

1495
00:57:21,041 --> 00:57:23,209
He'll have to wait and see,
but that may

1496
00:57:23,243 --> 00:57:25,645
get him into the semifinals.

1497
00:57:25,679 --> 00:57:29,182
- Coming up, our second hour
at Universal Studios

1498
00:57:29,215 --> 00:57:31,651
has got action...
- No!

1499
00:57:31,685 --> 00:57:33,553
- Adventure...
- Whoa!

1500
00:57:33,586 --> 00:57:37,724
- And "Ninja" favorites,
including Najee Richardson,

1501
00:57:37,757 --> 00:57:40,060
who's had a legendary career.

1502
00:57:40,093 --> 00:57:41,261
- Oh!

1503
00:57:41,294 --> 00:57:44,931
- The Phoenix can fly!
- Oh, my goodness!

1504
00:57:44,964 --> 00:57:47,867
- But this is the final season
for the Phoenix,

1505
00:57:47,901 --> 00:57:50,670
so there's a lot riding
on tonight's run.

1506
00:57:50,704 --> 00:57:54,574
We'll see him next
on "American Ninja Warrior."

1507
00:58:00,447 --> 00:58:02,582
- We're on the backlot
at Universal Studios,

1508
00:58:02,615 --> 00:58:05,251
and our film-themed obstacle,
Reel to Reel,

1509
00:58:05,285 --> 00:58:08,021
has been a blockbuster.

1510
00:58:08,021 --> 00:58:11,324
Minutes ago,
Pennsylvania's Melia Ochsner,

1511
00:58:11,358 --> 00:58:13,526
who likes to do
fantasy cosplay,

1512
00:58:13,560 --> 00:58:15,795
came out ready
to work some magic.

1513
00:58:15,829 --> 00:58:18,865
- Oh, man, she looking
like a movie character.

1514
00:58:18,898 --> 00:58:21,234
- But the healthcare worker
didn't release

1515
00:58:21,267 --> 00:58:23,436
her first time down
on Reel to Reel...

1516
00:58:23,470 --> 00:58:27,040
- Oh!
Uh-oh! Ooh!

1517
00:58:27,040 --> 00:58:29,776
- And her quest ended early.

1518
00:58:29,809 --> 00:58:31,644
- That was a bad cut!

1519
00:58:31,678 --> 00:58:34,114
- California's
Maverick McMurtry

1520
00:58:34,147 --> 00:58:37,083
has a name that sounds
like a movie star,

1521
00:58:37,117 --> 00:58:40,553
and he's also a member of the
U.S. National Handball Team.

1522
00:58:40,587 --> 00:58:42,455
- Let's go Maverick!
Whoo!

1523
00:58:42,489 --> 00:58:45,058
- With lots of fans
screaming his name,

1524
00:58:45,058 --> 00:58:48,261
the 6'2" athlete looked good
on the first obstacle,

1525
00:58:48,294 --> 00:58:51,498
but this Maverick
was shot down on the second.

1526
00:58:51,531 --> 00:58:53,833
- No!

1527
00:58:53,867 --> 00:58:57,537
He didn't have
the hand-eye coordination!

1528
00:58:57,570 --> 00:58:59,406
Parker Hewes is known as

1529
00:58:59,439 --> 00:59:01,775
the Backcountry Ninja,
since he lives

1530
00:59:01,808 --> 00:59:03,510
in the mountains of Wyoming.

1531
00:59:03,543 --> 00:59:06,012
- My man looking like
Bear Grylls out here!

1532
00:59:06,012 --> 00:59:07,681
[cheering]

1533
00:59:07,714 --> 00:59:09,783
- The chiropractor
flexed his muscles

1534
00:59:09,816 --> 00:59:11,418
and made it
to the second reel,

1535
00:59:11,451 --> 00:59:15,288
but his story
did not have a happy ending.

1536
00:59:15,321 --> 00:59:18,425
- Ooh, and the chiropractor
couldn't make the adjustment!

1537
00:59:18,458 --> 00:59:20,760
[soft country music]

1538
00:59:20,794 --> 00:59:22,729
[cheering]

1539
00:59:22,762 --> 00:59:25,699
- Up next, it's one of
the top women competitors.

1540
00:59:25,732 --> 00:59:28,735
This is Massachusetts'
Casey Rothschild,

1541
00:59:28,768 --> 00:59:30,670
carrying the rainbow flag.

1542
00:59:30,704 --> 00:59:33,540
She's a proud LGBTQ advocate,

1543
00:59:33,573 --> 00:59:36,042
started the group
Queer Ninjas Unite.

1544
00:59:36,042 --> 00:59:38,511
Casey's hit buzzers
twice in qualifying,

1545
00:59:38,545 --> 00:59:41,448
and has appeared in two
of our women's championships.

1546
00:59:41,481 --> 00:59:43,450
- She was a college
track athlete.

1547
00:59:43,483 --> 00:59:45,051
She likes to move fast.

1548
00:59:45,051 --> 00:59:48,054
[countdown clock beeping]

1549
00:59:48,054 --> 00:59:50,623
- Did the long jump
at Wesleyan University.

1550
00:59:52,792 --> 00:59:55,729
And has no problem
with Pole Vault.

1551
00:59:55,762 --> 00:59:57,564
- Let's go, Casey!
- Let's go, Casey!

1552
00:59:57,597 --> 01:00:00,867
- Got some of her Northeast
ninja friends on the sideline.

1553
01:00:00,900 --> 01:00:03,403
- Yeah, she's going right into
Reel to Reel!

1554
01:00:03,436 --> 01:00:05,138
There it is.

1555
01:00:05,171 --> 01:00:07,173
- 5'8",
one of the taller women.

1556
01:00:07,207 --> 01:00:09,509
Can generate swing
with those long limbs.

1557
01:00:09,542 --> 01:00:11,244
And she is through!

1558
01:00:12,912 --> 01:00:15,849
No hesitation as she takes off
across Spinning Bridge.

1559
01:00:15,882 --> 01:00:20,553
Rothschild rolling
right into Heavy Metal!

1560
01:00:20,587 --> 01:00:22,088
The top four women
in this group

1561
01:00:22,122 --> 01:00:24,090
will move on
to the semifinals.

1562
01:00:24,124 --> 01:00:26,026
With this speed,
Casey Rothschild

1563
01:00:26,059 --> 01:00:27,260
may be one of them.

1564
01:00:27,293 --> 01:00:29,029
- All right,
this backwards throw

1565
01:00:29,062 --> 01:00:31,898
is a tough one
here on Heavy Metal,

1566
01:00:31,931 --> 01:00:33,733
- Ooh, no!

1567
01:00:33,767 --> 01:00:36,870
She came out fast,
but Casey Rothschild

1568
01:00:36,903 --> 01:00:38,705
can't conquer Heavy Metal.

1569
01:00:38,738 --> 01:00:41,107
- She looked strong
on the early obstacles,

1570
01:00:41,141 --> 01:00:43,176
but just couldn't hold on
to the bar

1571
01:00:43,209 --> 01:00:46,746
when she went backwards,
but with that fast pace,

1572
01:00:46,780 --> 01:00:48,982
she's got a good chance
of moving on.

1573
01:00:49,015 --> 01:00:52,585
- Najee Richardson has given us
a lot of great memories

1574
01:00:52,619 --> 01:00:55,221
in the past nine years,
but the Phoenix says

1575
01:00:55,255 --> 01:00:57,757
this season will be his last.

1576
01:00:57,791 --> 01:00:59,726
So depending on
how he does tonight,

1577
01:00:59,759 --> 01:01:02,595
this might be
his final "Ninja" run,

1578
01:01:02,629 --> 01:01:04,831
and he's taking it all in
at the start line.

1579
01:01:04,864 --> 01:01:06,700
What a career he's had.

1580
01:01:06,733 --> 01:01:08,902
[cheering]

1581
01:01:08,935 --> 01:01:13,073
- This is Philadelphia native
Najee Richardson!

1582
01:01:13,073 --> 01:01:15,475
- Yeah!

1583
01:01:15,508 --> 01:01:18,578
- Ninja has become
such a huge part of my life.

1584
01:01:18,611 --> 01:01:20,947
- Oh!

1585
01:01:20,980 --> 01:01:23,450
This guy's going crazy!

1586
01:01:23,483 --> 01:01:26,219
- But after a decade
in this sport,

1587
01:01:26,252 --> 01:01:30,657
I've decided to transition
from athlete to fan.

1588
01:01:30,690 --> 01:01:33,159
There's a lot of plans
after Ninja.

1589
01:01:33,193 --> 01:01:34,928
Right now, it's acting.

1590
01:01:34,961 --> 01:01:37,530
I love being able
to read a script

1591
01:01:37,564 --> 01:01:39,733
and bring a character
to life off of the page.

1592
01:01:39,766 --> 01:01:41,001
It's something
that I've become

1593
01:01:41,101 --> 01:01:43,136
very, very passionate about.

1594
01:01:43,169 --> 01:01:45,772
So hopefully this will not be
the last time

1595
01:01:45,805 --> 01:01:47,674
that you guys
see me on television.

1596
01:01:47,707 --> 01:01:51,244
- Oh!
- The Phoenix can fly!

1597
01:01:51,277 --> 01:01:53,513
- Oh, my goodness!
He flew up there!

1598
01:01:53,546 --> 01:01:56,216
- It's cool just to look back
at your career,

1599
01:01:56,249 --> 01:02:00,620
and just be happy
and be satisfied,

1600
01:02:00,653 --> 01:02:03,423
and that's where I'm at.
I'm satisfied.

1601
01:02:03,456 --> 01:02:06,426
[soft dramatic music]

1602
01:02:06,459 --> 01:02:07,627
* *

1603
01:02:07,660 --> 01:02:09,129
[cheering]

1604
01:02:09,162 --> 01:02:11,364
- He's always been
a fan favorite,

1605
01:02:11,398 --> 01:02:13,867
and many of his Ninja friends
are on the sideline

1606
01:02:13,900 --> 01:02:16,236
here to celebrate his career,

1607
01:02:16,269 --> 01:02:18,071
along with
Najee's wife McKenzie.

1608
01:02:18,071 --> 01:02:19,639
- You got it!

1609
01:02:19,673 --> 01:02:21,941
- And his parents watching
back in Philly.

1610
01:02:21,975 --> 01:02:24,544
- They've been a big part
of his "Ninja" journey.

1611
01:02:24,577 --> 01:02:26,079
- Love you!

1612
01:02:26,079 --> 01:02:27,514
[countdown clock beeping]

1613
01:02:27,547 --> 01:02:29,482
- Last year, in Vegas,
we saw Najee have

1614
01:02:29,516 --> 01:02:32,152
a bad asthma attack
on stage one.

1615
01:02:32,185 --> 01:02:34,354
He didn't want to go out
with that as his final run.

1616
01:02:34,387 --> 01:02:37,123
- Now he's gonna devote more
time to his acting career,

1617
01:02:37,157 --> 01:02:39,225
so he should love
Reel to Reel.

1618
01:02:39,259 --> 01:02:40,427
This dude is a star!

1619
01:02:40,460 --> 01:02:42,095
He's a movie star,
a "Ninja" star!

1620
01:02:42,095 --> 01:02:43,296
- He can fly!

1621
01:02:43,329 --> 01:02:44,564
- I see you, baby!
He's a star!

1622
01:02:44,597 --> 01:02:45,665
- He wants a shot
at the Mega Wall!

1623
01:02:45,699 --> 01:02:46,933
- Yes, he does.

1624
01:02:46,966 --> 01:02:48,535
- He'll have to finish
in under 1:20

1625
01:02:48,568 --> 01:02:50,337
if he wants to take
a run at it.

1626
01:02:50,370 --> 01:02:53,006
- Taking home that 20 grand
would be a great ending

1627
01:02:53,106 --> 01:02:55,342
to his final qualifying run.

1628
01:02:55,375 --> 01:02:56,810
- Well, let's see.

1629
01:02:56,843 --> 01:02:59,746
He's gotta get through
Heavy Metal first.

1630
01:02:59,779 --> 01:03:02,048
- Power generated
from the hips. Nice!

1631
01:03:02,082 --> 01:03:04,250
He's a former gymnast.
He knows what's up.

1632
01:03:06,052 --> 01:03:08,321
- Najee Richardson is flying!

1633
01:03:08,355 --> 01:03:10,790
- This is it.
You have nothing to lose.

1634
01:03:10,824 --> 01:03:12,225
- Well, whether he gets
the Mega Wall or not,

1635
01:03:12,258 --> 01:03:14,260
by reaching
the fifth obstacle

1636
01:03:14,294 --> 01:03:16,629
this quickly, he's put himself
in good position

1637
01:03:16,663 --> 01:03:19,265
to move on,
so we should get to see him

1638
01:03:19,299 --> 01:03:21,634
at least one more time
in the semifinals.

1639
01:03:21,668 --> 01:03:24,504
The Phoenix seems to be
at the height of his powers.

1640
01:03:24,537 --> 01:03:26,740
He says, though,
his body is feeling it.

1641
01:03:26,773 --> 01:03:29,743
Really, two athletic careers,
gymnastics, then Ninja.

1642
01:03:29,776 --> 01:03:32,412
- Yeah, 32 years old,
it's a great age.

1643
01:03:32,445 --> 01:03:34,447
- He wants to get
into entertainment.

1644
01:03:34,481 --> 01:03:36,750
It's gotta be nice being here
at Universal Studios,

1645
01:03:36,783 --> 01:03:38,485
and he is putting on a show.

1646
01:03:38,518 --> 01:03:42,622
- This is vintage
Najee Richardson!

1647
01:03:42,655 --> 01:03:44,791
Nice!

1648
01:03:44,824 --> 01:03:47,260
- Go for that Mega Wall!
Come on, buddy!

1649
01:03:47,293 --> 01:03:48,728
Five seconds!
- Got it!

1650
01:03:48,762 --> 01:03:50,764
Come on!
You got it! Go! Sprint!

1651
01:03:50,797 --> 01:03:52,365
Sprint!
Sprint!

1652
01:03:52,399 --> 01:03:53,933
- Oh, my goodness!

1653
01:03:53,967 --> 01:03:55,268
- Ah, he was rushing!

1654
01:03:55,301 --> 01:03:56,670
But you know he'll get
the Warped Wall this time.

1655
01:03:56,703 --> 01:03:58,438
- That's all right.
That's OK.

1656
01:03:58,471 --> 01:04:02,242
- But that miss could affect
his seeding in the semifinals.

1657
01:04:02,275 --> 01:04:06,179
And the Phoenix
back where he belongs!

1658
01:04:06,212 --> 01:04:08,081
[buzzer blares]

1659
01:04:08,114 --> 01:04:10,550
[cheering]

1660
01:04:10,583 --> 01:04:13,787
- Najee Richardson
is not done yet.

1661
01:04:13,820 --> 01:04:16,256
- You did it, though, man!
You got that buzzer!

1662
01:04:16,289 --> 01:04:17,824
I know you wanted that Mega,
didn't you?

1663
01:04:17,857 --> 01:04:20,093
- I did.
- You came so close, man!

1664
01:04:20,126 --> 01:04:23,096
- Najee, this is
the final go around for you.

1665
01:04:23,129 --> 01:04:25,665
What's it like
getting another buzzer?

1666
01:04:25,699 --> 01:04:27,100
- Just to hit this,
it feels great.

1667
01:04:27,133 --> 01:04:28,468
This is the last one,
last qualifier,

1668
01:04:28,501 --> 01:04:30,837
so it feels good.
- Well, look here, man.

1669
01:04:30,870 --> 01:04:32,505
You've had an amazing career.

1670
01:04:32,539 --> 01:04:35,075
I can't wait to see
what you do in the semifinals.

1671
01:04:35,075 --> 01:04:37,077
Congratulations, man.
Yeah.

1672
01:04:37,077 --> 01:04:40,080
[cheering]

1673
01:04:41,247 --> 01:04:44,584
- Najee, The Phoenix!

1674
01:04:44,617 --> 01:04:46,653
* *

1675
01:04:46,686 --> 01:04:50,824
Coming up, born in
an orphanage in Guatemala,

1676
01:04:50,857 --> 01:04:52,625
this ninja is giving back.

1677
01:04:52,659 --> 01:04:54,627
- Every single dollar
goes down to the orphanage.

1678
01:04:54,661 --> 01:04:57,764
- Jacob Arnstein's story
is up next

1679
01:04:57,797 --> 01:05:00,166
on "American Ninja Warrior."

1680
01:05:06,473 --> 01:05:08,641
- We've had lots of drama
here at Universal Studios

1681
01:05:08,675 --> 01:05:11,211
in the last few minutes.

1682
01:05:11,244 --> 01:05:14,414
Daniella Blanchard
had the entrance to die for.

1683
01:05:14,447 --> 01:05:17,183
- Oh, my.
Is that Wednesday Addams?

1684
01:05:17,217 --> 01:05:20,153
- The 22-year-old
from Sleepy Hollow, New York

1685
01:05:20,186 --> 01:05:21,621
works at a funeral home.

1686
01:05:21,654 --> 01:05:23,857
But, unfortunately,
her rookie run

1687
01:05:23,890 --> 01:05:26,926
was dead on arrival.
- Ooh!

1688
01:05:26,960 --> 01:05:29,863
That first obstacle could be
the death of any ninja!

1689
01:05:29,896 --> 01:05:31,731
- Connecticut's
Devan Alexander

1690
01:05:31,765 --> 01:05:35,702
made it to the national finals
as a rookie three years ago.

1691
01:05:35,735 --> 01:05:37,704
- He made that look easy!

1692
01:05:37,737 --> 01:05:39,606
- And he came out
fast tonight,

1693
01:05:39,639 --> 01:05:42,509
aiming for his second
straight qualifying buzzer,

1694
01:05:42,542 --> 01:05:44,177
until he reached
Spinning Bridge.

1695
01:05:44,210 --> 01:05:45,512
- No! No!

1696
01:05:45,545 --> 01:05:47,313
That was not what
you're supposed to do!

1697
01:05:47,347 --> 01:05:50,817
- His early exit was one of
the night's biggest surprises.

1698
01:05:50,850 --> 01:05:52,719
- Body slammed into the water!

1699
01:05:52,752 --> 01:05:54,988
- The Godfather,
David Campbell,

1700
01:05:55,088 --> 01:05:57,090
is the only athlete
to compete on every season

1701
01:05:57,123 --> 01:05:58,992
of "American Ninja Warrior."

1702
01:05:59,092 --> 01:06:01,127
- He's the one
that everybody remembers.

1703
01:06:01,161 --> 01:06:02,462
They grew up watching him.

1704
01:06:02,495 --> 01:06:04,831
- Though now 46 years old,
he was rocking

1705
01:06:04,864 --> 01:06:07,033
and rolling on Heavy Metal.

1706
01:06:07,033 --> 01:06:09,569
Campbell's finished
five out of the last six

1707
01:06:09,602 --> 01:06:12,839
qualifying courses,
but he didn't do it tonight.

1708
01:06:12,872 --> 01:06:14,240
- Oh!

1709
01:06:14,274 --> 01:06:16,242
- His shocking fall
on Jawbreakers

1710
01:06:16,276 --> 01:06:18,645
means he'll have to wait
and see if he went far enough,

1711
01:06:18,678 --> 01:06:20,580
fast enough to move on.

1712
01:06:20,613 --> 01:06:22,282
- Wow.

1713
01:06:22,315 --> 01:06:23,383
[cheering]

1714
01:06:23,416 --> 01:06:24,718
- Let's go!

1715
01:06:24,751 --> 01:06:26,052
- Our next ninja is waving

1716
01:06:26,052 --> 01:06:28,455
the national flag
of Guatemala.

1717
01:06:28,488 --> 01:06:31,291
Jacob Arnstein was adopted
from an orphanage there,

1718
01:06:31,324 --> 01:06:33,660
and though he lives
in Massachusetts now,

1719
01:06:33,693 --> 01:06:36,162
he never forgets
where he came from.

1720
01:06:37,130 --> 01:06:40,166
- [speaking Spanish]

1721
01:06:41,234 --> 01:06:43,069
- I was born
in Guatemala,

1722
01:06:43,069 --> 01:06:44,671
and I was adopted
at 15 months old.

1723
01:06:44,704 --> 01:06:46,306
That's adorable.

1724
01:06:46,339 --> 01:06:48,541
My first-ever home was
the Luz de Maria Orphanage.

1725
01:06:52,178 --> 01:06:55,148
I went back to Guatemala
when I was 12 years old.

1726
01:06:55,181 --> 01:06:58,151
[bright acoustic music]

1727
01:06:58,184 --> 01:07:00,253
I got to visit the orphanage,

1728
01:07:00,286 --> 01:07:01,654
and I thought
it was really cool

1729
01:07:01,688 --> 01:07:02,756
seeing where I was from.

1730
01:07:02,789 --> 01:07:05,291
* *

1731
01:07:05,325 --> 01:07:07,660
But I could tell that they
were struggling financially,

1732
01:07:07,694 --> 01:07:10,096
so I got the idea
to start a fundraiser.

1733
01:07:10,130 --> 01:07:11,498
Big thanks
to everybody who donated.

1734
01:07:11,531 --> 01:07:13,333
It's all going
to a great cause,

1735
01:07:13,366 --> 01:07:14,834
Luz de Maria fundraiser.

1736
01:07:14,868 --> 01:07:16,236
So, yeah, let's get started,
do some Ninja.

1737
01:07:16,269 --> 01:07:18,104
Whoo!

1738
01:07:18,138 --> 01:07:21,174
[soft dramatic music]

1739
01:07:21,207 --> 01:07:23,943
The fundraiser was
a Ninja-style course,

1740
01:07:24,044 --> 01:07:25,512
and I ended up
judging the course,

1741
01:07:25,545 --> 01:07:27,280
and then I was actually
the final person

1742
01:07:27,313 --> 01:07:30,050
to run it at the end,
so that was pretty fun.

1743
01:07:30,050 --> 01:07:32,052
* *

1744
01:07:32,052 --> 01:07:33,753
In addition to running
the fundraiser,

1745
01:07:33,787 --> 01:07:35,822
we also sell these t-shirts.

1746
01:07:35,855 --> 01:07:37,824
* *

1747
01:07:37,857 --> 01:07:40,126
The t-shirts cost $25 each,
and every single dollar

1748
01:07:40,160 --> 01:07:41,594
goes down to the orphanage.

1749
01:07:41,628 --> 01:07:42,862
We almost raised $10,000,

1750
01:07:42,896 --> 01:07:45,065
and I was
really proud of myself

1751
01:07:45,065 --> 01:07:47,334
that I could do
something like that.

1752
01:07:47,367 --> 01:07:49,336
Thank you guys
for all the support.

1753
01:07:49,369 --> 01:07:50,370
And it just made me realize

1754
01:07:50,403 --> 01:07:53,073
that I can also
do so much more.

1755
01:07:53,073 --> 01:07:55,308
* *

1756
01:07:55,342 --> 01:07:57,243
My goal
for this year's competition

1757
01:07:57,277 --> 01:08:00,547
is to make it
as far as possible

1758
01:08:00,580 --> 01:08:03,149
and to raise
a lot of money and awareness

1759
01:08:03,183 --> 01:08:04,484
for the orphanage.

1760
01:08:04,517 --> 01:08:08,355
* *

1761
01:08:08,388 --> 01:08:10,123
[cheering]

1762
01:08:10,156 --> 01:08:11,758
- And the kids
are gonna be watching

1763
01:08:11,791 --> 01:08:13,693
back in Guatemala.

1764
01:08:13,727 --> 01:08:18,064
He's raised over $10,000
for this orphanage.

1765
01:08:18,098 --> 01:08:20,033
- You got this!
Let's go!

1766
01:08:20,066 --> 01:08:21,534
- His parents
are on the sideline,

1767
01:08:21,568 --> 01:08:25,538
along with his brother Sam,
who is also adopted.

1768
01:08:25,572 --> 01:08:27,774
- A little prayer
right there before the run.

1769
01:08:27,807 --> 01:08:29,776
All right!
Amen! Let's go!

1770
01:08:31,244 --> 01:08:33,046
Oh, boom,
he just flipped a switch.

1771
01:08:33,046 --> 01:08:34,781
All right, he's fired up!

1772
01:08:34,814 --> 01:08:37,350
[countdown clock beeping]

1773
01:08:37,384 --> 01:08:40,820
- He's on the small side,
just 5'3" and 120 pounds,

1774
01:08:40,854 --> 01:08:43,056
but gets a big bounce
for Pole Vault.

1775
01:08:43,089 --> 01:08:45,058
Love the competitive fire.

1776
01:08:45,058 --> 01:08:47,060
Made it to Vegas
in his first season,

1777
01:08:47,060 --> 01:08:49,396
season 14.
- All right, here we go.

1778
01:08:49,429 --> 01:08:51,598
Let's go. Nice!

1779
01:08:51,631 --> 01:08:53,133
Ooh, making big movies!

1780
01:08:53,166 --> 01:08:56,736
- Well, he's got a story
that's made for the movies.

1781
01:08:58,304 --> 01:08:59,673
On to Spinning Bridge.

1782
01:08:59,706 --> 01:09:01,641
He needs big strides here.

1783
01:09:01,675 --> 01:09:04,811
Takes a tumble,
but pops right up.

1784
01:09:04,844 --> 01:09:07,280
And goes right up
onto Heavy Metal.

1785
01:09:07,313 --> 01:09:09,883
Jacob's a junior at Blue Hills
Technical High School,

1786
01:09:09,916 --> 01:09:12,686
and he's showing a quick study
of these obstacles.

1787
01:09:15,655 --> 01:09:19,726
- Reverse throw here.
Blind throw.

1788
01:09:21,361 --> 01:09:24,330
- Oh, explosive move!
- Make it happen!

1789
01:09:24,364 --> 01:09:25,932
I see you!

1790
01:09:26,032 --> 01:09:28,668
- The kid has power.
- He has power, yeah.

1791
01:09:28,702 --> 01:09:30,570
He prayed about it,
and here it is!

1792
01:09:30,603 --> 01:09:32,806
It's happening!

1793
01:09:32,839 --> 01:09:37,177
- Showing amazing strength
for only being 120 pounds.

1794
01:09:39,179 --> 01:09:41,481
And he gets through.

1795
01:09:41,514 --> 01:09:43,083
- How will he
handle Jawbreakers?

1796
01:09:43,116 --> 01:09:45,051
- Oh! Oh!
- Good power.

1797
01:09:45,051 --> 01:09:46,619
- Boy, it's like
he's literally trying

1798
01:09:46,653 --> 01:09:48,054
to break somebody's jaw!

1799
01:09:48,054 --> 01:09:50,123
- And you can see,
you transfer three bars,

1800
01:09:50,156 --> 01:09:52,559
lock them into the cradles,
get them in those jaws.

1801
01:09:52,592 --> 01:09:54,361
- Nice!
And it's that movement.

1802
01:09:54,394 --> 01:09:55,895
It's, like,
that little hesi move

1803
01:09:55,929 --> 01:09:57,364
in the air
that you've gotta make.

1804
01:09:57,397 --> 01:09:58,798
Watch this.

1805
01:09:58,832 --> 01:10:01,201
It's a little hesi move.
You go up, up and under.

1806
01:10:01,234 --> 01:10:03,937
- Pop it up.
- Boom! Nice!

1807
01:10:03,970 --> 01:10:05,305
- That is impressive!

1808
01:10:05,338 --> 01:10:07,407
- He's not gonna be fast enough
for the Mega Wall,

1809
01:10:07,440 --> 01:10:10,210
but a very strong run
for Jacob Arnstein.

1810
01:10:10,243 --> 01:10:13,580
And he gets the buzzer!

1811
01:10:13,613 --> 01:10:16,383
- Let's go!
Let's go!

1812
01:10:16,416 --> 01:10:19,886
Let's go!
Let's go!

1813
01:10:19,919 --> 01:10:21,621
[cheering]

1814
01:10:21,654 --> 01:10:23,923
Let's go!

1815
01:10:23,957 --> 01:10:27,127
- Yeah!
- Oh, I love you guys!

1816
01:10:27,160 --> 01:10:28,762
- Jacob, what a boost
of confidence

1817
01:10:28,795 --> 01:10:30,764
that has to be for you,
but what do you think

1818
01:10:30,797 --> 01:10:33,033
it's like for those kids
back at the orphanage,

1819
01:10:33,066 --> 01:10:36,536
who knew you started there,
and to see how far you've come?

1820
01:10:36,569 --> 01:10:38,238
What message do you want
to share to them?

1821
01:10:38,271 --> 01:10:39,939
- That, even if you
start out rough,

1822
01:10:39,973 --> 01:10:42,208
you can always
make it count at the end.

1823
01:10:42,242 --> 01:10:43,910
- Well done, man.
Well done. Well done.

1824
01:10:43,943 --> 01:10:46,146
- Jacob, go celebrate, bud!

1825
01:10:46,179 --> 01:10:48,515
We'll see him racing
in the semifinals,

1826
01:10:48,548 --> 01:10:51,718
and he joins a growing list
of finishers.

1827
01:10:51,751 --> 01:10:54,120
In earlier runs,
New Jersey waiter

1828
01:10:54,154 --> 01:10:55,722
Brandon Singletary

1829
01:10:55,755 --> 01:10:57,924
got his first-ever buzzer,
and celebrated

1830
01:10:57,957 --> 01:11:00,760
with a happy dance.
- Do your dance, baby!

1831
01:11:00,794 --> 01:11:03,196
Do your dance, baby!
Yeah!

1832
01:11:03,229 --> 01:11:05,598
- Stuntman Ramcis Valdez,
from the Bronx

1833
01:11:05,632 --> 01:11:09,336
in New York City
also got his first finish.

1834
01:11:11,237 --> 01:11:13,773
Syracuse college student
Jay Lewis

1835
01:11:13,807 --> 01:11:17,510
finished with the fastest time
of the night so far.

1836
01:11:17,544 --> 01:11:19,079
- We expect nothing
but a buzzer from Jay Lache.

1837
01:11:19,079 --> 01:11:21,448
- His tenth career buzzer
earned him a shot

1838
01:11:21,481 --> 01:11:24,951
at the Mega Wall,
but he came up short.

1839
01:11:24,984 --> 01:11:26,419
And we've got more to come,

1840
01:11:26,453 --> 01:11:29,189
including
the Papal Ninja, Sean Bryan,

1841
01:11:29,222 --> 01:11:31,958
and our Women's Champ,
Addy Herman.

1842
01:11:36,696 --> 01:11:41,167
The Paris Olympics start
July 26th on NBC and Peacock,

1843
01:11:41,201 --> 01:11:43,169
and while we were away,
Elly Hart,

1844
01:11:43,203 --> 01:11:45,972
a physician assistant
who works with Olympians

1845
01:11:46,006 --> 01:11:48,708
got a shoutout
from two legendary gymnasts

1846
01:11:48,742 --> 01:11:51,311
who are former patients,
Chellsie Memmel...

1847
01:11:51,344 --> 01:11:52,846
- Go crush the course.

1848
01:11:52,879 --> 01:11:54,314
- And Amanda Borden.

1849
01:11:54,347 --> 01:11:56,449
- I know you're gonna do great,
because you've got heart.

1850
01:11:56,483 --> 01:11:58,418
- Hart,
a former gymnast herself,

1851
01:11:58,451 --> 01:12:02,088
was able to vault
her way across Reel to Reel.

1852
01:12:02,122 --> 01:12:03,957
But the 35-year-old
went belly up

1853
01:12:04,057 --> 01:12:06,526
on Spinning Bridge.
- Oh!

1854
01:12:06,559 --> 01:12:08,061
[air horn blares]

1855
01:12:08,061 --> 01:12:10,730
- Guang Cui
works on Wall Street,

1856
01:12:10,764 --> 01:12:13,800
but he's also a rapper who
goes by the name of "Gueezy."

1857
01:12:13,833 --> 01:12:15,068
- * From the East to LA *

1858
01:12:15,068 --> 01:12:16,269
* I cross them up
with the ball *

1859
01:12:16,302 --> 01:12:17,604
* And go coast to coast *

1860
01:12:17,637 --> 01:12:19,506
* Catch me at the top
of the wall *

1861
01:12:19,539 --> 01:12:21,841
- The rapper then got it
rolling on the course.

1862
01:12:21,875 --> 01:12:22,909
- Oh, boy!

1863
01:12:22,942 --> 01:12:24,444
He almost ate it!

1864
01:12:24,477 --> 01:12:26,746
- Though he had some stumbles
along the way,

1865
01:12:26,780 --> 01:12:28,581
he made it
to the fifth obstacle.

1866
01:12:28,615 --> 01:12:30,917
- I see you, baby!
I see you!

1867
01:12:30,950 --> 01:12:32,752
- The three-time
"Ninja" veteran was closing in

1868
01:12:32,786 --> 01:12:34,521
on his first-ever buzzer.

1869
01:12:34,554 --> 01:12:37,090
- Gotta go up,
and then tuck it in.

1870
01:12:37,090 --> 01:12:38,692
Oh!

1871
01:12:38,725 --> 01:12:41,161
- Now we'll have to wait
and see if that's good enough

1872
01:12:41,194 --> 01:12:43,997
to get into the semifinal.

1873
01:12:44,097 --> 01:12:45,932
Noah Meunier
made it all the way

1874
01:12:45,965 --> 01:12:48,101
to stage four
as a rookie last season,

1875
01:12:48,134 --> 01:12:50,570
and he started out hot
this year.

1876
01:12:50,603 --> 01:12:52,405
- Oh, yeah,
he's not messing around.

1877
01:12:52,439 --> 01:12:56,376
- With his dad his girlfriend
Addy Herman on the sideline,

1878
01:12:56,409 --> 01:12:59,112
the Massachusetts teenager
kept up his fast pace

1879
01:12:59,145 --> 01:13:01,648
all through the course.
- Oh!

1880
01:13:01,681 --> 01:13:04,284
Boy, he is focused, dialed in!

1881
01:13:04,317 --> 01:13:08,521
- And he put up the best time
of the night to that point.

1882
01:13:08,555 --> 01:13:10,590
- Let's go!

1883
01:13:10,623 --> 01:13:12,459
- That earned him
a chance to grab

1884
01:13:12,492 --> 01:13:14,527
20 grand on the Mega Wall.

1885
01:13:14,561 --> 01:13:17,497
- If you ever wanted
to see a man fly, here it is.

1886
01:13:17,530 --> 01:13:20,333
Let it fly!
Let it fly!

1887
01:13:20,367 --> 01:13:23,269
- Comes up short,
but he's going to semis.

1888
01:13:23,303 --> 01:13:25,205
And if Meunier
seemed like a blur,

1889
01:13:25,238 --> 01:13:27,874
Matt Bradley
came out even faster.

1890
01:13:27,907 --> 01:13:29,609
- Oh, he's going
for that Mega Wall!

1891
01:13:29,642 --> 01:13:31,845
He is not messing around!

1892
01:13:31,878 --> 01:13:33,680
- Bradley likes to have
his friends wear

1893
01:13:33,713 --> 01:13:35,749
silly hats on the sidelines

1894
01:13:35,782 --> 01:13:38,084
to ease his anxiety
during runs,

1895
01:13:38,118 --> 01:13:39,886
but he didn't need
any help tonight.

1896
01:13:39,919 --> 01:13:41,454
- Look how fast he's moving!

1897
01:13:41,488 --> 01:13:42,956
Oh, he's going for that time!

1898
01:13:42,989 --> 01:13:45,492
- The three-time "Ninja"
veteran beat Meunier's time

1899
01:13:45,525 --> 01:13:48,194
by more than four seconds...

1900
01:13:48,228 --> 01:13:50,697
[cheering]

1901
01:13:50,730 --> 01:13:52,499
So he too got a shot
at the Mega Wall.

1902
01:13:52,532 --> 01:13:54,100
- Ooh!

1903
01:13:54,134 --> 01:13:56,169
- Though he missed,
he'll be a top seed

1904
01:13:56,202 --> 01:13:57,837
in the semifinals.

1905
01:13:58,838 --> 01:14:00,940
Well, next up,
one of the most recognized

1906
01:14:01,041 --> 01:14:02,942
athletes in the sport.

1907
01:14:03,043 --> 01:14:06,046
It's the Papal Ninja,
Sean Bryan.

1908
01:14:06,046 --> 01:14:08,248
The Catholic Church
worker from the Bay Area

1909
01:14:08,281 --> 01:14:11,217
is 39, one of the older
elite ninjas,

1910
01:14:11,251 --> 01:14:13,453
and he's done something
only a few ninjas

1911
01:14:13,486 --> 01:14:14,954
have ever accomplished,

1912
01:14:15,055 --> 01:14:17,957
hit eight straight
qualifying buzzers.

1913
01:14:18,058 --> 01:14:20,794
Sean Bryan always
has a huge fan following,

1914
01:14:20,827 --> 01:14:24,698
and, tonight, Zuri's down
with his dad and his father.

1915
01:14:24,731 --> 01:14:26,266
- Do you get nervous
watching him?

1916
01:14:26,299 --> 01:14:28,068
- Of course, every time.
Every time.

1917
01:14:28,101 --> 01:14:29,569
- But he always
gets the job done.

1918
01:14:29,602 --> 01:14:31,171
- Let's hope he does it again.

1919
01:14:31,204 --> 01:14:33,940
[countdown clock beeping]

1920
01:14:33,973 --> 01:14:37,177
- 5'10", 165.
High-level gymnast.

1921
01:14:37,210 --> 01:14:39,412
- Look at
the precision on that!

1922
01:14:39,446 --> 01:14:41,681
To be able to balance
himself on Pole Vault?

1923
01:14:41,715 --> 01:14:43,516
I couldn't do that
if I tried 100 times!

1924
01:14:43,550 --> 01:14:44,984
- In the name of the Father,

1925
01:14:45,085 --> 01:14:46,419
can he get through
Reel to Reel?

1926
01:14:46,453 --> 01:14:48,321
He's got the Holy Spirit now!

1927
01:14:48,355 --> 01:14:50,824
He may be pushing 40,
but he's showing

1928
01:14:50,857 --> 01:14:53,159
he can keep pace
with these teenagers.

1929
01:14:53,193 --> 01:14:55,929
Goes right across
Spinning Bridge!

1930
01:14:57,230 --> 01:14:59,265
- I'm not quite sure
how much heavy metal...

1931
01:14:59,299 --> 01:15:00,700
- Wow.

1932
01:15:00,734 --> 01:15:02,769
- He listens to, but you
can hear the Heavy Metal

1933
01:15:02,802 --> 01:15:05,205
click clacking here
on these hooks!

1934
01:15:05,238 --> 01:15:08,675
- And he is just making such
precise moves, every rotation,

1935
01:15:08,708 --> 01:15:10,243
locking it into place.

1936
01:15:10,276 --> 01:15:12,679
On now to Jawbreakers.

1937
01:15:12,712 --> 01:15:14,047
Sean Bryan is flying.

1938
01:15:14,080 --> 01:15:15,749
He's gonna have
a shot at that top time.

1939
01:15:15,782 --> 01:15:18,284
- Still has almost 40 seconds
left to earn

1940
01:15:18,318 --> 01:15:19,753
a shot at the Mega Wall.

1941
01:15:19,786 --> 01:15:21,955
He's attempted the big wall
three times in the past,

1942
01:15:22,055 --> 01:15:24,124
but never conquered it.

1943
01:15:24,157 --> 01:15:26,826
- Nice!
- Looking real strong!

1944
01:15:28,628 --> 01:15:31,865
One more jawbreaker,
and that's it!

1945
01:15:31,898 --> 01:15:33,299
- Oh, he made that look easy!

1946
01:15:33,333 --> 01:15:34,668
- It's gonna be close!

1947
01:15:34,701 --> 01:15:38,972
Sean Bryan,
a little regrouping.

1948
01:15:40,740 --> 01:15:43,576
And he is gonna get
a shot at the Mega Wall!

1949
01:15:43,610 --> 01:15:45,745
- Oh!

1950
01:15:45,779 --> 01:15:47,514
[cheering]

1951
01:15:47,547 --> 01:15:49,849
- Did I do it?
- Yeah, you did it!

1952
01:15:49,883 --> 01:15:52,419
Hit a buzzer in a minute,
seven seconds,

1953
01:15:52,452 --> 01:15:54,387
earned a shot
at the Mega Wall.

1954
01:15:54,421 --> 01:15:56,923
- Go get it!
Right now.

1955
01:15:56,956 --> 01:15:59,592
[people chanting]
Mega Wall! Mega Wall!

1956
01:15:59,626 --> 01:16:02,028
- Sean Bryan,
18 1/2 feet.

1957
01:16:02,062 --> 01:16:03,763
As we mentioned,
he's tried it

1958
01:16:03,797 --> 01:16:08,835
three previous times,
came up empty each time.

1959
01:16:08,868 --> 01:16:10,704
Will this finally be the year?

1960
01:16:10,737 --> 01:16:12,205
- Oh.

1961
01:16:12,238 --> 01:16:15,108
[people chanting]
Mega Wall! Mega Wall!

1962
01:16:15,141 --> 01:16:19,145
Mega Wall!
Mega Wall!

1963
01:16:19,179 --> 01:16:21,047
- Here we go.
Watch what happens.

1964
01:16:21,081 --> 01:16:23,049
Oh!

1965
01:16:23,049 --> 01:16:27,153
- Doesn't get it, but still
a great run by Sean Bryan,

1966
01:16:27,187 --> 01:16:30,523
and we'll see him
in the semifinals.

1967
01:16:30,557 --> 01:16:34,728
The 39-year-old ends up
fourth in this group.

1968
01:16:34,761 --> 01:16:38,231
We had nine finishers overall,
including Najee Richardson.

1969
01:16:38,264 --> 01:16:41,267
The top 11
are guaranteed to move on.

1970
01:16:41,301 --> 01:16:43,136
Our 12th
and 13th-place men

1971
01:16:43,169 --> 01:16:45,638
will race in the Runoff
for that final spot

1972
01:16:45,672 --> 01:16:48,842
in just a few minutes.

1973
01:16:48,875 --> 01:16:50,610
But we've still got
more women to run,

1974
01:16:50,643 --> 01:16:52,979
including the reigning
queen of "Ninja,"

1975
01:16:53,079 --> 01:16:55,782
Massachusetts teenager
Addy Herman.

1976
01:16:55,815 --> 01:16:57,517
She's been one
of the top female athletes

1977
01:16:57,550 --> 01:16:58,918
the past few years.

1978
01:16:58,952 --> 01:17:02,288
Now she's got
the hardware to prove it.

1979
01:17:02,322 --> 01:17:05,091
[soft dramatic music]

1980
01:17:05,125 --> 01:17:08,461
- This year, I competed
in the Women's Championship...

1981
01:17:08,495 --> 01:17:10,263
[cheering]

1982
01:17:10,296 --> 01:17:12,766
And I actually ended up
winning the whole thing.

1983
01:17:12,799 --> 01:17:15,635
- Addy Herman does it!

1984
01:17:15,669 --> 01:17:17,203
[cheering]

1985
01:17:17,237 --> 01:17:20,173
Our new Women's Champion!

1986
01:17:20,206 --> 01:17:22,275
- I won $50,000.

1987
01:17:22,308 --> 01:17:24,044
With the prize money,
I'm gonna take

1988
01:17:24,044 --> 01:17:25,779
a huge cross-country trip.

1989
01:17:25,812 --> 01:17:27,647
I'll be going to places
like New York City,

1990
01:17:27,681 --> 01:17:29,849
North Carolina,
Colorado,

1991
01:17:29,883 --> 01:17:32,085
where I get to train,
do internships,

1992
01:17:32,118 --> 01:17:34,954
and, honestly, just adventure.

1993
01:17:35,055 --> 01:17:38,124
Knowing how it felt to be
the one looking up to legends

1994
01:17:38,158 --> 01:17:39,592
like Jessie Graff,

1995
01:17:39,626 --> 01:17:42,262
Jesse Labreck,
Barclay Stockett,

1996
01:17:42,295 --> 01:17:44,364
it makes me really realize
the importance

1997
01:17:44,397 --> 01:17:46,399
of the role model
that I am now

1998
01:17:46,433 --> 01:17:48,168
to little girls
looking up to me,

1999
01:17:48,201 --> 01:17:50,470
and I'm forever grateful
for that.

2000
01:17:50,503 --> 01:17:52,238
Winning
the Women's Championship

2001
01:17:52,272 --> 01:17:54,941
definitely gives me confidence
coming into this season.

2002
01:17:54,974 --> 01:17:57,077
I have high expectations
for myself,

2003
01:17:57,077 --> 01:17:59,546
and I really want to leave it
all out there on the course.

2004
01:17:59,579 --> 01:18:01,848
* *

2005
01:18:01,881 --> 01:18:03,616
[cheering]

2006
01:18:03,650 --> 01:18:06,152
- Addy's got her family
on the sideline,

2007
01:18:06,186 --> 01:18:08,288
along with boyfriend
Noah Muenier,

2008
01:18:08,321 --> 01:18:10,390
who hit a buzzer minutes ago.

2009
01:18:10,423 --> 01:18:13,226
[countdown clock beeping]

2010
01:18:13,259 --> 01:18:16,029
She was so impressive
in that Women's Championship,

2011
01:18:16,029 --> 01:18:18,365
and gives a lot of credit
to training with Noah,

2012
01:18:18,398 --> 01:18:20,500
says he really pushes her.

2013
01:18:20,533 --> 01:18:23,069
[cheering]

2014
01:18:23,103 --> 01:18:25,739
- It's so cool, too, when
you have a partner like that

2015
01:18:25,772 --> 01:18:27,440
that you guys
can work together,

2016
01:18:27,474 --> 01:18:29,042
sharpen each other's
Ninja skills.

2017
01:18:29,042 --> 01:18:31,044
- Addy is just looking slick!
I like it.

2018
01:18:31,044 --> 01:18:33,446
Very efficient movements.
- Yeah, that's what's up.

2019
01:18:33,480 --> 01:18:36,850
[cheering]

2020
01:18:36,883 --> 01:18:38,785
- Coming up
to Spinning Bridge.

2021
01:18:40,387 --> 01:18:41,588
- Here it is.
Nice, nice.

2022
01:18:41,621 --> 01:18:42,922
Hot feet!
Hot feet! Nice!

2023
01:18:42,956 --> 01:18:44,290
It's so scary.

2024
01:18:44,324 --> 01:18:45,792
I don't care how many times
you've done it

2025
01:18:45,825 --> 01:18:47,293
or you've practiced it.

2026
01:18:47,327 --> 01:18:48,495
You just never know
how each one of those

2027
01:18:48,528 --> 01:18:49,896
are gonna respond.

2028
01:18:49,929 --> 01:18:52,232
- And here she is
on Heavy Metal.

2029
01:18:52,265 --> 01:18:54,401
That bar, 10 pounds,
and you can see,

2030
01:18:54,434 --> 01:18:56,169
it sits on the fulcrum,
very easy

2031
01:18:56,202 --> 01:18:59,139
to get that bar slanted
one way or the other.

2032
01:18:59,172 --> 01:19:01,574
- Addy Herman looks like
she's been in the weight room.

2033
01:19:01,608 --> 01:19:04,110
- Oh!
- Oh, no!

2034
01:19:04,144 --> 01:19:07,013
- Just didn't generate
enough height!

2035
01:19:07,047 --> 01:19:09,916
Heavy Metal takes out
Addy Herman.

2036
01:19:10,016 --> 01:19:12,519
- That backwards throw
is tough.

2037
01:19:12,552 --> 01:19:14,187
Watch her adjust her head.

2038
01:19:14,220 --> 01:19:16,489
That caused her
to come up short with the bar,

2039
01:19:16,523 --> 01:19:19,759
but we should still see Addy
in the semifinals.

2040
01:19:22,495 --> 01:19:24,597
- When we come back,
we're heading

2041
01:19:24,631 --> 01:19:26,266
back to the race course.

2042
01:19:26,299 --> 01:19:29,769
It's The Runoffs,
our side-by-side sprints

2043
01:19:29,803 --> 01:19:32,172
for the final spots
in the semifinals,

2044
01:19:32,205 --> 01:19:35,475
when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

2045
01:19:42,716 --> 01:19:43,750
- Experience
the new Minion Land

2046
01:19:43,783 --> 01:19:45,418
on Illumination Avenue,

2047
01:19:45,452 --> 01:19:48,355
now open at
Universal Orlando Resort.

2048
01:19:48,388 --> 01:19:50,824
Dine at Illumination's
Minion Cafe,

2049
01:19:50,857 --> 01:19:53,560
meet your favorite characters,

2050
01:19:53,593 --> 01:19:56,596
and blast your way
to supervillain stardom

2051
01:19:56,629 --> 01:20:00,333
on the new Illumination's
Villain-Con Minion Blast.

2052
01:20:00,367 --> 01:20:02,702
- It's so much fun,
it's a crime!

2053
01:20:02,736 --> 01:20:04,704
- Our final women competitors
hit the qualifying course

2054
01:20:04,738 --> 01:20:07,607
minutes ago,
and "Ninja" veteran

2055
01:20:07,640 --> 01:20:09,876
Rachel Degutz
let out her signature scream

2056
01:20:09,909 --> 01:20:13,146
at the start line.
- Whoo!

2057
01:20:13,179 --> 01:20:14,514
- Come on, Rachel!

2058
01:20:14,547 --> 01:20:15,815
- The middle school
science teacher

2059
01:20:15,849 --> 01:20:17,684
is one of
the top female competitors,

2060
01:20:17,717 --> 01:20:19,252
and is the only woman
who's made it

2061
01:20:19,285 --> 01:20:22,355
to the national finals
each of the past three years,

2062
01:20:22,389 --> 01:20:24,891
so her run tonight
was a shock...

2063
01:20:24,924 --> 01:20:26,993
- Oh!
[air horn blares]

2064
01:20:27,027 --> 01:20:29,529
- As she failed to get past
the qualifying round

2065
01:20:29,562 --> 01:20:31,231
for the first time ever.

2066
01:20:31,264 --> 01:20:33,867
- Oops!
That wasn't supposed to happen!

2067
01:20:33,900 --> 01:20:35,502
- The night's
shortest competitor,

2068
01:20:35,535 --> 01:20:37,637
4'11" Taylor Johnson,

2069
01:20:37,671 --> 01:20:40,106
did make the big leap
on Reel to Reel.

2070
01:20:40,140 --> 01:20:41,508
- Man, she is doing it big!

2071
01:20:41,541 --> 01:20:43,643
- Teej, as she's known,
earned her first trip

2072
01:20:43,677 --> 01:20:46,246
to Vegas last year,
and she was pumped

2073
01:20:46,279 --> 01:20:47,914
to be back on the course.

2074
01:20:47,947 --> 01:20:49,816
- Let's go!
Let's go!

2075
01:20:49,849 --> 01:20:51,718
- The financial analyst
from the Boston area

2076
01:20:51,751 --> 01:20:54,688
reached the fourth obstacle
in a fast time.

2077
01:20:54,721 --> 01:20:56,089
- No!

2078
01:20:56,122 --> 01:20:57,590
- Though she didn't finish,

2079
01:20:57,624 --> 01:20:59,893
Zuri had
some good news for her.

2080
01:20:59,926 --> 01:21:01,594
- Second-fastest woman
of the night.

2081
01:21:01,628 --> 01:21:03,063
Congratulations.

2082
01:21:03,063 --> 01:21:04,230
We will see you
in the semifinals.

2083
01:21:04,264 --> 01:21:06,066
- Thank you so much!
Let's go!

2084
01:21:06,099 --> 01:21:08,301
[cheering]

2085
01:21:08,335 --> 01:21:11,771
- So Taylor Johnson
joins Casey Rothschild

2086
01:21:11,805 --> 01:21:14,240
and Addy Herrmann
in the women's top three.

2087
01:21:14,274 --> 01:21:16,676
They're moving on
to the semifinals.

2088
01:21:16,710 --> 01:21:19,179
The final spot was determined
by a Runoff race

2089
01:21:19,212 --> 01:21:21,848
between our fourth
and fifth-place women,

2090
01:21:21,881 --> 01:21:24,117
35-year-old
physical therapist Elly Hart

2091
01:21:24,150 --> 01:21:27,854
and a 16-year-old rookie
JoJo Grubesic.

2092
01:21:27,887 --> 01:21:30,824
Hart, the former gymnast
who now works with Olympians,

2093
01:21:30,857 --> 01:21:34,160
jumped out to an early lead,
but Grubesic caught up.

2094
01:21:34,194 --> 01:21:36,663
- JoJo showing up now!
She's catching her groove!

2095
01:21:36,696 --> 01:21:38,365
Ooh!

2096
01:21:38,398 --> 01:21:41,201
- Hart's fall meant Grubesic
just had to finish,

2097
01:21:41,234 --> 01:21:43,269
which she did,
and this teenager

2098
01:21:43,303 --> 01:21:46,106
is going to the semifinals!

2099
01:21:46,106 --> 01:21:48,608
So now it's time
for the men's Runoff,

2100
01:21:48,641 --> 01:21:51,111
between the rapper
who works on Wall Street,

2101
01:21:51,111 --> 01:21:55,148
Guang Cui,
and knife salesman Ben Kooper.

2102
01:21:55,181 --> 01:21:58,718
- Rip 'em out the plastic.
They ready to go.

2103
01:21:58,752 --> 01:22:00,787
They're almost identical,
Matt.

2104
01:22:00,820 --> 01:22:05,191
23 years old, 5'8",
both about 150 pounds.

2105
01:22:05,225 --> 01:22:06,960
- Guang's on Wall Street,

2106
01:22:07,060 --> 01:22:09,829
and Ben Kooper's
the super salesman.

2107
01:22:09,863 --> 01:22:12,098
Ben has his parents
on the sideline.

2108
01:22:12,132 --> 01:22:14,868
Guang has his dad
and some training partners.

2109
01:22:14,901 --> 01:22:17,771
[countdown clock beeping]

2110
01:22:17,804 --> 01:22:20,874
- Here we go!
- Wow!

2111
01:22:20,907 --> 01:22:22,308
Gueezy!

2112
01:22:24,711 --> 01:22:26,246
I love this kid!

2113
01:22:26,279 --> 01:22:28,281
Here comes Coop!

2114
01:22:28,314 --> 01:22:30,717
Guang's gonna have
to write some new bars!

2115
01:22:32,352 --> 01:22:33,653
- Nice!

2116
01:22:33,687 --> 01:22:35,689
- Oh, this is a great race!

2117
01:22:35,722 --> 01:22:37,724
- I mean, there's still
opportunity for Ben Kooper

2118
01:22:37,757 --> 01:22:39,125
to catch up here.

2119
01:22:39,159 --> 01:22:41,828
Guang Cui a little hesitant.

2120
01:22:41,861 --> 01:22:45,098
- It's easy to make
a mistake on the Wing Nuts.

2121
01:22:45,098 --> 01:22:49,502
- Oh, this is
such a good race!

2122
01:22:49,536 --> 01:22:50,870
- Oh, nice!

2123
01:22:50,904 --> 01:22:52,939
- Just about in sync here!

2124
01:22:52,972 --> 01:22:56,743
- They're racing
to get to the semis!

2125
01:22:56,776 --> 01:22:58,912
- Guang's got
a little better rhythm,

2126
01:22:58,945 --> 01:23:00,880
but Coop is matching it!

2127
01:23:00,914 --> 01:23:02,882
Guang's first off!
That's huge!

2128
01:23:02,916 --> 01:23:04,617
- That means,
if they both fall,

2129
01:23:04,651 --> 01:23:07,921
Guang would win.
On now to Sideways.

2130
01:23:07,954 --> 01:23:09,889
- What do they have left?

2131
01:23:09,923 --> 01:23:11,091
- And you can see Guang Cui

2132
01:23:11,124 --> 01:23:12,926
looking at Ben Kooper
sideways!

2133
01:23:12,959 --> 01:23:14,294
Gotta run your race!

2134
01:23:14,327 --> 01:23:16,830
- You could cut
the tension with a knife!

2135
01:23:16,863 --> 01:23:19,199
- Ooh!
Uh-oh!

2136
01:23:19,232 --> 01:23:22,268
Oh! What a one-handed save
by Ben Coop!

2137
01:23:22,302 --> 01:23:23,770
- Incredible race!

2138
01:23:23,803 --> 01:23:25,805
- They are pushing themselves!

2139
01:23:25,839 --> 01:23:28,375
- Ben Kooper looking for
his first shot at the semis,

2140
01:23:28,408 --> 01:23:29,809
but Guang ahead!

2141
01:23:29,843 --> 01:23:31,344
- Ben looking
a little fatigued!

2142
01:23:31,378 --> 01:23:33,513
- Oh!
Kooper is down!

2143
01:23:33,546 --> 01:23:35,548
- It was so close!

2144
01:23:35,582 --> 01:23:39,552
- It's the Guang Show
going on to the semis!

2145
01:23:39,586 --> 01:23:43,423
And finishes
a great race with a buzzer!

2146
01:23:43,456 --> 01:23:45,959
- Oh, my goodness!

2147
01:23:45,992 --> 01:23:49,829
Are you not entertained?

2148
01:23:49,863 --> 01:23:52,165
- Go party
with your folks, man!

2149
01:23:52,198 --> 01:23:54,968
[cheering]

2150
01:23:55,001 --> 01:23:58,104
- That's gonna wrap up
another action-packed

2151
01:23:58,104 --> 01:23:59,706
night of qualifying.

2152
01:23:59,739 --> 01:24:01,541
- For Akbar Gbajabiamila
and Zuri Hall,

2153
01:24:01,574 --> 01:24:02,942
I'm Matt Iseman.

2154
01:24:03,043 --> 01:24:07,147
We'll see you next time
on "American Ninja Warrior."