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- Hello everyone, and thanks
for joining us once again.
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00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,076
I'm Matt Iseman.
- And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.
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Matt, it's our third night
of the semifinals.
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Last week,
we only one finisher,
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but we've got a lot
of strong ninjas tonight.
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- And we're gonna jump right
into a run with one of them,
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one of my favorite stories
from the past few years.
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- This guy's an under-the-
radar superstar, Matt.
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- Absolutely, big man.
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We're talking about
the Stallion, Mike Silenzi.
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At 35, the nine-time veteran
has turned back the clock,
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and he's now a run
everyone looks forward to.
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- And the Stallion's
gonna give us
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our first look
at this brand-new obstacle,
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Over-Under.
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- You can go over like
the Stallion just did.
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Now has to do it one more time
on the second run.
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- Boom. That's the quick way.
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We'll see some take the
slower under approach later.
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- But the Stallion's galloping
through the second obstacle.
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[cheers and applause]
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And it's always a stampede
on his sidelines.
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Those are his friends
and fellow ninjas
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from the Chicago area.
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Silenzi's gonna
keep it rolling,
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jumping up to our third
obstacle, Clockwork.
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Stallion generating
some good power.
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This guy loves Ninja.
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He's had a great career
as a physical therapist
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but gave it all up,
opened a gym, be a manager,
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and really pursue
Ninja full-time.
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Talk about following
your passion.
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- Look out, ladies--
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the Stallion is looking
for a filly.
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- Yeah, he is one of Ninja's
most eligible bachelors.
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- Girls,
if you're listening,
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it's the full package
right here.
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We can go on my boat...
[all cheering]
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You know, I can put, like,
ten people on it.
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It is so much fun.
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Also, I love water skiing
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and I got a trampoline
in the living room.
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You got to be cool with that.
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Now we're trying
to break the trampoline!
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And if you are,
slide into those DMs.
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- Whew!
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His DMs are gonna be
on fire tonight.
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- Giddy-up! Let's see if
he can handle Diamond Dash.
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- Come on, Mike.
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[cheers and applause]
- [chuckling] Ooh!
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- He's going to roll
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right into the fifth obstacle,
Hopscotch.
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Got to jump between
those numbered boxes
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with small ledges
to grab onto.
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- Oh, look at that--
the nickname the Stallion
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is short for the
Italian Stallion, like Rocky.
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- Well, Silenzi means silence
in Italian,
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but this guy's been making
a lot of noise
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the past two seasons.
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He started in Ninja
ten years ago.
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That's him in the box.
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But he's had his best success
the past two seasons.
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Last year, hit three buzzers
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and made it to stage two.
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- He is getting better
with age!
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- And he's on
to the Warped Wall.
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- Yeah, he's gotta love
all the support.
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His boys are ride or die.
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[cheers and applause]
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- Gotta giddy up that wall!
Giddy up that wall!
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- Giddy up that wall.
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That's what they're saying
on the sidelines.
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- The Stallion's
gonna run right
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up this wall just like that.
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[cheers and applause]
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Yee-haw!
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- Nice.
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- This dude's a ton of fun,
and you can see why
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his students love training
with him.
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Got a big group of them
watching back in Chicago.
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- They're genuine--look.
They're riding the ponies.
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- Well, he's got
the crowd fired up.
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They'll be going nuts
if he hits a buzzer.
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Four obstacles away.
First up, Salmon Ladder.
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It is a taxing course.
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- And you know,
Silenzi's got a little bit
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of a narrow grip there.
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That's an
interesting approach.
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You know, maybe perhaps using
a little bit more back muscle,
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trying to save the forearms.
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- He'll definitely need
a little extra for Box Office.
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This ended a lot
of runs last week.
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- Yeah.
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- These boxes are attached
to bungee cords.
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Great job absorbing it.
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- Yeah, he had
his chin over the box.
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Now this is the 14-inch box
here with a blind hold.
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Nice, nice.
- Got it.
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Mike Silenzi really
getting this night
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started with a bang.
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Going deep on this very
difficult semifinals course.
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Getting a little
spun around.
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- Yeah, this one
looks scary, Matt.
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- Wow!
- But he's got it.
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- Yeah, Stallion! Get 'em!
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- Uh-oh.
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Get out of there,
get out of there.
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His hand's starting to slip.
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Oh, wow.
[cheers and applause]
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- Wow!
Well, the Italian Stallion
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always delivers
at the Box Office.
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[cheers and applause]
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Another great ride
for the Stallion.
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- Hold up, did he just do a
point to the ladies out there?
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- Well, this guy's
riding high,
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but now facing Split Decision.
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Diving boards are back.
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One of the most treacherous
balance obstacles we've had,
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and the other choice is a
brand-new one, Flipped Around.
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- He's looking at it.
Oh, I don't know.
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This is a hard one, Matt.
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- The safe play,
probably Flipped Around.
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But he may have
to go Diving Board.
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- I'm telling you, Matt.
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I think the easiest path here
is going Diving Board.
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You got to just
trust yourself.
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- Well, let's face it,
there's no easy way out,
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there's no shortcut home.
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And he thinks he has
enough left in those arms.
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He's going
with Flipped Around.
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Got to climb up these boards
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and flip them
before you can make the leap.
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Well, you can tell
his heart's on fire,
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burning desire
to get through this.
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But we've never had
our first athlete
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complete a semifinals course.
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This would be a first.
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- Matt, he is blazing a trail
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for all the other athletes
tonight.
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- Got to flip
this final board.
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What does he have left?
[overlapping chatter]
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This crowd behind him.
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- My goodness, he is
hanging on for dear life.
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He's literally hugging
and loving Flipped Around.
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- He's giving it
everything he's got
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to finish this obstacle.
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- Come on, come on.
Get out of there!
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- Can he survive the drop?
- Hang on!
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- Yes!
[cheers and applause]
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- Oh, boy.
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He's got to throw himself.
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I don't know if he has
enough grip strength
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to hold on to the bars, Matt.
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- Is he going to
throw in the towel?
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[cheers and applause]
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- No, don't
throw in the towel!
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- Are you kidding me?
- Let's go!
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- 35 feet away from another
buzzer for the Stallion!
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- I told you you don't want
to miss a run by the Stallion!
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[cheers and applause]
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- Just needs to climb the
35 feet up the Spider Trap
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to hit that buzzer.
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Only had one ninja hit a
semifinals buzzer last week.
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Now Mike Silenzi's
about to do it
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in our very first run.
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[cheers and applause]
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- And this is so hard.
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Some ninjas never hit
a semifinals buzzer
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in their career.
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- But he is hurting right now.
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Two more sets of doors.
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- Let's go.
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- Watch the traction in that
lower body, locking it in.
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Here we go, almost safe.
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- Oh yeah, get that in!
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Put the buzz on it!
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Nice!
- Yo, Stallion, you did it!
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[cheers and applause]
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- Wow.
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[buzzer blares]
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- The Stallion delivers
a knockout blow
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on this semifinals course!
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- Whoo!
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- Amazing for our
first run of the night.
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Stallion,
I've got to say, man,
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with every passing year,
you seem to get stronger.
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This course looked brutal.
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How did you survive,
my friend?
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- Oh man, I'm like a fine wine,
you know?
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- Oh.
- [laughs]
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- Get better with time, huh?
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- On top of the world.
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Well, Stallion,
hit that buzzer one more time.
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[buzzer blares]
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[cheers and applause]
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Everybody's riding the
Stallion, galloping to Vegas.
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- Oh, he's gonna have
a lot of folks sliding up
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00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,590
in the DMs tonight.
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00:07:03,623 --> 00:07:06,259
- And what a way
to get things started.
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00:07:06,292 --> 00:07:07,927
And that's just
a preview of what
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we're going to see tonight at
Universal Studios, Hollywood.
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- I will say I'm excited
for tonight's feature
203
00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:17,037
because it's in 3-D.
- Ooh.
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- We're going
to have doctors, dogs,
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and some dudes
that you don't want to miss.
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00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:25,045
Like the wild
and crazy ninjas
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00:07:25,078 --> 00:07:27,213
from Iowa, Chris Behrends...
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00:07:27,247 --> 00:07:28,782
- Noggin!
209
00:07:28,815 --> 00:07:30,483
- Levi Enright...
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00:07:30,517 --> 00:07:31,851
- Protein shake!
211
00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:34,587
- And the Cat Daddy,
Jackson Twait.
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00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:36,056
- Meow!
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00:07:36,056 --> 00:07:37,624
- And that's
just for starters.
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00:07:37,657 --> 00:07:39,726
We're also going
to see the rock and roll
215
00:07:39,759 --> 00:07:42,896
speed demon from Orlando,
RJ Roman.
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00:07:42,929 --> 00:07:44,698
Fastest time of the night!
217
00:07:44,731 --> 00:07:46,733
Along with the reigning
Women's Champion,
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00:07:46,766 --> 00:07:48,702
Jesse "Flex" Labreck.
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00:07:48,735 --> 00:07:51,504
- One of the best who's
ever done it!
220
00:07:51,538 --> 00:07:53,239
- And the ninja
that went farther
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00:07:53,273 --> 00:07:58,178
than anyone last season,
16-year-old Kaden Lebsack.
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00:07:58,211 --> 00:08:00,714
- Just made history!
223
00:08:00,747 --> 00:08:02,148
- And at the end
of the night,
224
00:08:02,182 --> 00:08:05,485
our top two ninjas race up
there on the Power Tower.
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00:08:05,518 --> 00:08:08,922
It's been redesigned this year
with some brand-new elements,
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00:08:09,022 --> 00:08:11,558
and we've already seen
some amazing finishes.
227
00:08:11,591 --> 00:08:14,027
[buzzer blares]
228
00:08:14,027 --> 00:08:16,429
The winner takes
a Safety Pass to Vegas,
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00:08:16,463 --> 00:08:19,299
so get your popcorn ready
for a big night.
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00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:20,400
- Oh!
- Whoo!
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- We're swinging
for the fences
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00:08:22,035 --> 00:08:24,037
on "American Ninja Warrior."
233
00:08:28,274 --> 00:08:30,143
- Welcome back
to Universal Studios.
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00:08:30,176 --> 00:08:31,745
Minutes ago,
235
00:08:31,778 --> 00:08:34,247
Connecticut teenager
Devan Alexander hit the course
236
00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,216
with his mom, Pow,
leading the cheers.
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00:08:36,249 --> 00:08:37,817
- Come on, Devan!
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00:08:37,851 --> 00:08:40,820
- You can hear her
from anywhere, Matt.
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- The 17-year-old was
impressive last year,
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making it to Vegas
as a rookie.
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And he came out hot tonight,
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blazing through
the early obstacles.
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00:08:49,095 --> 00:08:51,464
- Matt,
this kid is on a mission.
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00:08:51,498 --> 00:08:53,366
- But then he hit
Diamond Dash.
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00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,969
- Oh, my God!
Oh, my goodness!
246
00:08:56,069 --> 00:08:59,706
- A shocking exit for one
of last year's top teens.
247
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- You tried your best.
I'm so proud of you.
248
00:09:02,475 --> 00:09:05,145
- Colorado's Brandon Varner
dresses to impress.
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00:09:05,178 --> 00:09:06,579
Whoa!
250
00:09:06,613 --> 00:09:09,149
He hit the course
in a onesie he made himself,
251
00:09:09,182 --> 00:09:11,418
along with custom
made shoes and shin guards.
252
00:09:11,451 --> 00:09:14,521
- The ostentatious attire
gives him superpowers.
253
00:09:14,554 --> 00:09:16,389
- And the colorful
outfits seemed to work...
254
00:09:16,423 --> 00:09:18,024
There you go, nice.
255
00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:21,194
As the 41-year-old dad had
the best run of his career,
256
00:09:21,227 --> 00:09:23,363
rolling through
the first five obstacles.
257
00:09:23,396 --> 00:09:25,131
- He didn't stick the landing,
but that's all right.
258
00:09:25,165 --> 00:09:28,034
- But his special shoes were
no help on the Warped Wall...
259
00:09:28,034 --> 00:09:29,803
Oh!
260
00:09:29,836 --> 00:09:31,404
- He needs some new shoes.
261
00:09:31,438 --> 00:09:32,672
Oh, my goodness.
262
00:09:32,706 --> 00:09:34,808
- As he failed
on all three attempts.
263
00:09:34,841 --> 00:09:39,446
- Oh, that has got
to be devastating!
264
00:09:39,479 --> 00:09:41,281
- Bouncing
to the start line next
265
00:09:41,314 --> 00:09:44,517
is the bundle of energy
known as Megan Rowe.
266
00:09:44,551 --> 00:09:46,686
She had a breakout season
last year
267
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,655
when she was known
as the Axe-Throwing Ninja
268
00:09:48,688 --> 00:09:52,592
from Wisconsin, but now she's
on a Rocky Mountain high.
269
00:09:52,625 --> 00:09:55,462
[twangy music]
270
00:09:55,495 --> 00:09:56,796
- I'm still the
Axe-Throwing Ninja.
271
00:09:56,830 --> 00:09:58,398
[laughs]
272
00:09:58,431 --> 00:10:01,468
But we got a lot going
on this year.
273
00:10:01,501 --> 00:10:04,437
I recently moved all the way
from Green Bay, Wisconsin,
274
00:10:04,471 --> 00:10:08,174
with my boyfriend Dalton,
and now we are in Colorado.
275
00:10:08,208 --> 00:10:10,543
* *
276
00:10:10,577 --> 00:10:14,581
It's just--oh my gosh,
it's so gorgeous.
277
00:10:14,614 --> 00:10:17,684
We love to be outdoors,
we love to rock climb,
278
00:10:17,717 --> 00:10:19,052
we love to disc golf.
279
00:10:19,085 --> 00:10:22,856
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
280
00:10:22,889 --> 00:10:24,691
- I just don't like to fish,
281
00:10:24,724 --> 00:10:26,860
but, like, I'll sit there
while you fish, so--
282
00:10:26,893 --> 00:10:28,028
[laughs]
283
00:10:28,061 --> 00:10:29,729
* *
284
00:10:29,763 --> 00:10:31,698
Colorado is just
a hub for ninjas,
285
00:10:31,731 --> 00:10:33,700
so I have lots of ninja
friends around here.
286
00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:35,101
[overlapping chatter]
287
00:10:35,135 --> 00:10:36,569
Not bad, not bad.
288
00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:40,674
So we're constantly pushing
each other and growing.
289
00:10:40,707 --> 00:10:42,942
And training
with them has definitely
290
00:10:42,976 --> 00:10:44,944
boosted my confidence
to go out there
291
00:10:44,978 --> 00:10:48,415
and just dominate the course
tonight.
292
00:10:50,984 --> 00:10:52,452
- I don't care what happens,
293
00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:53,987
you know she's going
to have fun out there.
294
00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:55,722
- Let's go, Megan!
[cheers and applause]
295
00:10:55,755 --> 00:10:57,524
- Boyfriend and
fellow ninja Dalton Knapp
296
00:10:57,557 --> 00:11:00,927
is on the sideline
with family members.
297
00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,829
Her mom and brother
watching back in the Midwest.
298
00:11:02,862 --> 00:11:04,464
- Let's go, Megan!
299
00:11:04,497 --> 00:11:07,400
[countdown clock beeping]
300
00:11:07,434 --> 00:11:09,569
- She's become one
of the elite women.
301
00:11:09,602 --> 00:11:11,938
Made it to the
National Finals last year,
302
00:11:11,971 --> 00:11:14,207
and was in the Final Four
of our women's championship
303
00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:15,208
earlier this year.
304
00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:17,944
[cheers and applause]
305
00:11:17,977 --> 00:11:19,679
Ready for Over-Under.
306
00:11:19,713 --> 00:11:22,916
The axe thrower,
she can generate some power.
307
00:11:22,949 --> 00:11:26,086
- And don't underestimate
this obstacle.
308
00:11:26,086 --> 00:11:28,955
- Well, at 5'3",
may have trouble getting up.
309
00:11:28,988 --> 00:11:31,124
- Oh, whoa.
- Going under.
310
00:11:31,157 --> 00:11:33,193
- And when you have
to go the under route,
311
00:11:33,226 --> 00:11:36,162
it takes more time,
and it eats up more energy.
312
00:11:36,196 --> 00:11:38,665
- 5'3", grew up as a gymnast.
313
00:11:38,698 --> 00:11:40,433
Used to swinging on bars,
314
00:11:40,467 --> 00:11:43,336
but this is more work
than she wanted.
315
00:11:43,370 --> 00:11:45,305
Now she's got to do it all
over again on the second,
316
00:11:45,338 --> 00:11:47,507
trying to go up and over.
317
00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:49,943
- But if she stays calm,
stays within her game,
318
00:11:49,976 --> 00:11:52,112
trusts the process,
she'll do it.
319
00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:54,748
Whoa.
- Once again goes under.
320
00:11:54,781 --> 00:11:56,383
She may get through this,
321
00:11:56,416 --> 00:11:59,152
but she's using up a lot of
energy on the second obstacle.
322
00:11:59,185 --> 00:12:00,754
- And that could
catch up to her, Matt.
323
00:12:00,787 --> 00:12:03,056
You can see her grip strength
starting to peel off.
324
00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:04,624
- Made it
to the eighth obstacle
325
00:12:04,657 --> 00:12:06,292
in last year's semifinals.
326
00:12:06,326 --> 00:12:07,961
We know she can go far.
327
00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:11,865
Has shown such strength
and such resilience.
328
00:12:11,898 --> 00:12:14,634
- Matt, she spent almost
a minute on this obstacle.
329
00:12:14,668 --> 00:12:16,336
At this point,
she just wants to get off.
330
00:12:16,369 --> 00:12:18,405
- And she does it
with a flourish.
331
00:12:18,438 --> 00:12:19,873
And you can tell
she's frustrated
332
00:12:19,906 --> 00:12:22,175
she spent so much time
on that obstacle.
333
00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:24,077
[cheers and applause]
- Breathe, breathe, breathe.
334
00:12:24,110 --> 00:12:25,512
- You got it, you got it!
335
00:12:25,545 --> 00:12:28,148
- The next one, Clockwork,
can also wear you down.
336
00:12:28,181 --> 00:12:30,083
She's got that
upper-body strength.
337
00:12:30,083 --> 00:12:33,720
It's this first throw, this is
the make-or-break right here.
338
00:12:33,753 --> 00:12:35,121
It's such a challenge.
339
00:12:35,155 --> 00:12:37,457
You can just see it--
hard to find a rhythm.
340
00:12:37,490 --> 00:12:40,393
Megan Rowe is struggling.
- She's got to make it now.
341
00:12:40,427 --> 00:12:42,228
Oh!
- Oh, what a save!
342
00:12:42,262 --> 00:12:43,430
- Wow!
- Unbelievable.
343
00:12:43,463 --> 00:12:45,165
- She threw her
whole body up there
344
00:12:45,198 --> 00:12:47,100
to get that second handle.
345
00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:49,302
- Can she make the grab
on the third gear?
346
00:12:49,336 --> 00:12:50,303
- Nice.
347
00:12:50,337 --> 00:12:51,738
- She's had to fight for it,
348
00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:54,407
but Megan Rowe is going
to get through once again.
349
00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:56,609
It has not been pretty,
but she survived.
350
00:12:56,643 --> 00:12:58,478
- Come on, let's go!
351
00:12:58,511 --> 00:13:00,647
- Now her arms will get
a break on Diamond Dash.
352
00:13:03,183 --> 00:13:04,484
There it is.
353
00:13:04,517 --> 00:13:06,619
- She keeps going.
She's rolling through.
354
00:13:06,653 --> 00:13:08,088
- It's been an adventure,
355
00:13:08,121 --> 00:13:10,590
but the Axe-Throwing Ninja
is still in the game.
356
00:13:10,623 --> 00:13:12,692
- Okay, Megan Rowe, I see you.
357
00:13:12,726 --> 00:13:14,127
all: Megan! Megan!
358
00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,162
- This crowd
chanting her name.
359
00:13:16,196 --> 00:13:18,698
They appreciate this
never-say-die run.
360
00:13:18,732 --> 00:13:20,133
all: Megan! Megan!
361
00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:21,835
- Well, wielding those axes--
362
00:13:21,868 --> 00:13:23,536
has the strength
in her forearms.
363
00:13:23,570 --> 00:13:25,705
It'll be tested here
on Hopscotch.
364
00:13:25,739 --> 00:13:27,941
- You can see her kind of
sizing up two and three here.
365
00:13:27,974 --> 00:13:29,509
Nice. Great.
366
00:13:29,542 --> 00:13:31,311
- Testing the wingspan.
367
00:13:31,344 --> 00:13:33,213
- It's the single one
here on four.
368
00:13:33,246 --> 00:13:34,414
Nice.
369
00:13:34,447 --> 00:13:37,083
- And this double blind grab
at 5'3".
370
00:13:37,083 --> 00:13:38,351
- All right,
get those hips up.
371
00:13:38,385 --> 00:13:40,086
- Grab it, feel it.
372
00:13:40,086 --> 00:13:41,821
This is it, you got
to make the move now.
373
00:13:41,855 --> 00:13:44,524
Oh, she missed it
with her left hand!
374
00:13:44,557 --> 00:13:46,192
- What a battle,
375
00:13:46,226 --> 00:13:48,528
fought her way
to the fifth obstacle.
376
00:13:48,561 --> 00:13:52,699
We'll have to wait to see
if that gets her to Vegas.
377
00:13:52,732 --> 00:13:56,503
- She had some close calls
and big falls,
378
00:13:56,536 --> 00:13:58,838
but she survived
until Hopscotch,
379
00:13:58,872 --> 00:14:01,641
where she just missed
with that left hand.
380
00:14:03,243 --> 00:14:06,112
- Coming up, we're gonna
let the dogs out...
381
00:14:06,146 --> 00:14:07,547
- [shouts]
382
00:14:07,580 --> 00:14:10,483
- When the Canine Ninja
Roo Yori hits the course.
383
00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:14,054
Plus, this superhero's
toughest battle.
384
00:14:14,054 --> 00:14:16,322
- Our chance of it happening
actually was like 2%.
385
00:14:16,356 --> 00:14:18,324
- Jamie Rahn and his wife Kim
386
00:14:18,358 --> 00:14:21,461
share their emotional efforts
to start a family
387
00:14:21,494 --> 00:14:23,663
on "American Ninja Warrior."
388
00:14:28,068 --> 00:14:29,369
- While we were away,
389
00:14:29,402 --> 00:14:31,471
Huntsville, Alabama's
Lindsay Eskildson
390
00:14:31,504 --> 00:14:33,707
had her biggest fans
on the sideline:
391
00:14:33,740 --> 00:14:35,642
her husband
and two young kids.
392
00:14:35,675 --> 00:14:38,745
- Oh, look at Houston and Ava.
Aw!
393
00:14:38,778 --> 00:14:41,548
- Even with two young kids,
the 40-year-old mom
394
00:14:41,581 --> 00:14:44,451
has made it to the semifinals
the past two seasons.
395
00:14:44,484 --> 00:14:46,820
- Lindsay can go.
She's a beast, Matt.
396
00:14:46,853 --> 00:14:49,155
- The four-time Ninja veteran
had to work overtime
397
00:14:49,189 --> 00:14:50,957
to get through Over-Under.
398
00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:52,692
- Come on, mama.
You got this.
399
00:14:52,726 --> 00:14:54,594
- And that may have
caught up to her,
400
00:14:54,627 --> 00:14:56,363
as she struggled on Clockwork.
401
00:14:56,396 --> 00:14:57,964
- Uh-oh, she's starting
to doubt herself.
402
00:14:57,997 --> 00:14:59,499
Come on mama, you got this.
403
00:14:59,532 --> 00:15:02,736
- And ended her run by falling
back onto the platform.
404
00:15:02,769 --> 00:15:03,870
Oh!
405
00:15:03,903 --> 00:15:05,372
Though disappointed,
406
00:15:05,405 --> 00:15:07,741
it still earned her
some big hugs from the family.
407
00:15:07,774 --> 00:15:10,076
- Aw!
- Mommy!
408
00:15:10,110 --> 00:15:12,312
- Then it was high-octane
teenager
409
00:15:12,345 --> 00:15:14,581
Enzo DeFerrari Wilson.
410
00:15:14,614 --> 00:15:17,083
- Hey, this kid can go.
[cheers and applause]
411
00:15:17,117 --> 00:15:19,786
- Electric Enzo
turned it on early,
412
00:15:19,819 --> 00:15:21,921
driving through the
first half of the course
413
00:15:21,955 --> 00:15:24,591
and giving his legion of fans
plenty to cheer about.
414
00:15:24,624 --> 00:15:26,326
[cheers and applause]
415
00:15:26,359 --> 00:15:29,429
The 16-year-old made it
to stage two last year...
416
00:15:29,462 --> 00:15:31,765
- So focused, dialed in.
Nice.
417
00:15:31,798 --> 00:15:34,934
- And he was cruising as he
made his way to the back half.
418
00:15:34,968 --> 00:15:36,169
- All right.
Come on, DeFerrari.
419
00:15:36,202 --> 00:15:38,071
Oh!
[air horn blares]
420
00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,106
- Now he'll have
to wait and see if his run
421
00:15:40,140 --> 00:15:43,076
keeps him in the top 15.
422
00:15:43,076 --> 00:15:44,177
[cheers and applause]
423
00:15:44,210 --> 00:15:45,945
On the course right now
424
00:15:45,979 --> 00:15:48,848
and just flying through it,
army medic Drew Nester.
425
00:15:48,882 --> 00:15:51,084
- Matt,
I love this guy's energy.
426
00:15:51,117 --> 00:15:53,086
He is so happy to be here.
427
00:15:53,086 --> 00:15:54,454
- And he's headed
to the Warped Wall.
428
00:15:54,487 --> 00:15:56,456
And he is pumped.
429
00:15:56,489 --> 00:15:59,225
There are his parents.
They're as excited as he is.
430
00:15:59,259 --> 00:16:01,127
He's from Sioux Falls,
South Dakota,
431
00:16:01,161 --> 00:16:02,796
in the Army National Guard.
432
00:16:02,829 --> 00:16:04,464
There's some of his
fellow soldiers
433
00:16:04,497 --> 00:16:06,733
leading the
"beat that wall" chant.
434
00:16:06,766 --> 00:16:09,803
all: [chanting]
Beat that wall! Beat that wall!
435
00:16:12,839 --> 00:16:13,807
[cheers and applause]
436
00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:15,275
- Gets up that Warped Wall.
437
00:16:15,308 --> 00:16:17,277
- Okay! Check your pulse.
438
00:16:17,310 --> 00:16:18,878
Check your pulse.
You good?
439
00:16:18,912 --> 00:16:20,180
All right.
440
00:16:20,213 --> 00:16:21,614
- Checking the carotid pulse
up there.
441
00:16:21,648 --> 00:16:22,949
[cheers and applause]
442
00:16:23,049 --> 00:16:24,250
- Come on, look at that.
443
00:16:24,284 --> 00:16:27,387
You doing flips
on the semifinals course?
444
00:16:27,420 --> 00:16:29,756
- His army buddies like that.
445
00:16:29,789 --> 00:16:32,125
Made it to the fifth obstacle
in qualifying,
446
00:16:32,158 --> 00:16:34,194
but this back half,
all new to him.
447
00:16:34,227 --> 00:16:36,096
- Well, Matt,
he just checked his pulse,
448
00:16:36,129 --> 00:16:39,265
now he just got to make sure
he's got the beat on this one.
449
00:16:39,299 --> 00:16:41,234
There's a beat to it, nice.
450
00:16:41,267 --> 00:16:42,902
- You can see him, though.
451
00:16:42,936 --> 00:16:45,071
The emotion
is stacking, Akbar.
452
00:16:45,071 --> 00:16:46,439
He's been breathing heavily.
453
00:16:46,473 --> 00:16:48,241
- Matt, what we saw last week
454
00:16:48,274 --> 00:16:50,343
based on the way he did that
Salmon Ladder,
455
00:16:50,377 --> 00:16:52,379
the Box Office
could be a little struggle.
456
00:16:52,412 --> 00:16:55,081
Well, army movies tend
to do well at the box office.
457
00:16:55,081 --> 00:16:56,249
Let's see how he does.
458
00:16:56,282 --> 00:16:58,418
- Yeah, he better GI Joe
this Box Office.
459
00:16:58,451 --> 00:17:00,253
- Will he be calling
for a medic?
460
00:17:00,286 --> 00:17:03,323
- Oh, no.
It's more like "Call of Duty."
461
00:17:03,356 --> 00:17:06,226
- This rookie
continues to impress.
462
00:17:06,259 --> 00:17:08,628
It's early, but if
he can survive Box Office,
463
00:17:08,661 --> 00:17:10,430
he'll have a good shot
at Vegas.
464
00:17:10,463 --> 00:17:12,232
Now go going to that
8-inch box there,
465
00:17:12,265 --> 00:17:13,500
getting a little spun around.
466
00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:14,901
[overlapping chatter]
467
00:17:14,934 --> 00:17:17,137
- Hang on, hang on! What?
468
00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:19,205
- What a save.
- Wow.
469
00:17:19,239 --> 00:17:21,141
- It is a battlefield
out there,
470
00:17:21,174 --> 00:17:23,076
but he is staying alive.
471
00:17:23,109 --> 00:17:25,945
[cheers and applause]
472
00:17:26,046 --> 00:17:29,149
And he's through!
[cheers and applause]
473
00:17:29,182 --> 00:17:31,418
What a moment for him.
474
00:17:31,451 --> 00:17:33,920
He was selected last year,
but couldn't compete
475
00:17:33,953 --> 00:17:36,623
because he was in the Middle
East serving his country.
476
00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:38,191
So to be
at the ninth obstacle,
477
00:17:38,224 --> 00:17:40,060
gotta be a dream come true.
478
00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:41,695
- Are you kidding me now?
479
00:17:41,728 --> 00:17:43,563
[cheers and applause]
480
00:17:43,596 --> 00:17:46,066
- Now has to make the choice
at Split Decision.
481
00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:47,867
Flipped Around
or Diving Boards?
482
00:17:47,901 --> 00:17:49,936
- He's looking at it.
Oh, I don't know.
483
00:17:49,969 --> 00:17:51,404
This is a hard one, Matt.
484
00:17:51,438 --> 00:17:53,606
- It looks like he's gonna
try the Diving Boards.
485
00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:54,607
He'll be the first tonight.
486
00:17:54,641 --> 00:17:55,909
- You got it!
- Let's go!
487
00:17:55,942 --> 00:17:57,610
- You can do this, man!
- You got it, you got it!
488
00:17:57,644 --> 00:18:00,513
- Looking it over,
trying to see where to step.
489
00:18:00,547 --> 00:18:03,116
You land precisely,
or it's over.
490
00:18:03,149 --> 00:18:04,718
Almost impossible.
491
00:18:04,751 --> 00:18:07,721
Only four people got
through it last season.
492
00:18:07,754 --> 00:18:09,522
- Well he just made it
through Diamond Dash.
493
00:18:09,556 --> 00:18:10,757
Oh!
494
00:18:10,790 --> 00:18:13,326
[air horn blares]
495
00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:17,464
- Doesn't survive, but what
a run by the army medic!
496
00:18:17,497 --> 00:18:18,832
- Take a look.
497
00:18:18,865 --> 00:18:20,800
He came really close
to making it through.
498
00:18:20,834 --> 00:18:22,769
He got one hand
on top of the pad
499
00:18:22,802 --> 00:18:24,204
and couldn't hang on.
500
00:18:24,237 --> 00:18:27,107
But he's likely going
to Vegas.
501
00:18:27,140 --> 00:18:29,576
- Up next from
Madison, Wisconsin,
502
00:18:29,609 --> 00:18:32,045
24-year-old Nathan Green.
503
00:18:32,045 --> 00:18:34,047
And he's carrying
the Best Twin trophy
504
00:18:34,047 --> 00:18:36,583
he earned back in qualifying
when he went further
505
00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:38,051
than his twin brother,
Marquez,
506
00:18:38,051 --> 00:18:40,754
who's bowing down
on the sidelines.
507
00:18:40,787 --> 00:18:44,557
These two are incredibly
close, even for twins.
508
00:18:44,591 --> 00:18:46,159
[upbeat music]
509
00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:48,194
Nathan and Marquez have
been inseparable
510
00:18:48,228 --> 00:18:51,664
since losing their mother
to cancer when they were 14.
511
00:18:51,698 --> 00:18:53,433
- We spend so much
time together.
512
00:18:53,466 --> 00:18:56,469
We live together,
we train together every day.
513
00:18:56,503 --> 00:18:58,071
We'll compete together.
514
00:18:58,071 --> 00:18:59,172
- Nice!
515
00:18:59,205 --> 00:19:00,740
The twins even placed bets
516
00:19:00,774 --> 00:19:02,542
on who will perform better
on the course.
517
00:19:02,575 --> 00:19:05,378
- Oh, Nathan lost the bet!
518
00:19:05,412 --> 00:19:07,313
[clippers buzzing]
Time for a haircut.
519
00:19:07,347 --> 00:19:09,282
[laughter]
- Oh, my God.
520
00:19:09,315 --> 00:19:11,818
- This year, only Nathan
made it to the semis,
521
00:19:11,851 --> 00:19:14,220
but it's Marquez who's
feeling the pressure.
522
00:19:14,254 --> 00:19:16,156
- I'm going to be
cheering him on so loud.
523
00:19:16,189 --> 00:19:17,557
I'm going to be super nervous.
524
00:19:17,590 --> 00:19:20,126
I get more nervous watching him
than when I'm competing.
525
00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,494
- [chuckles]
526
00:19:21,528 --> 00:19:22,896
Getting to share this
experience with Marquez
527
00:19:22,929 --> 00:19:24,831
means absolutely, like,
the world to me.
528
00:19:24,864 --> 00:19:27,701
So I'm really, really, really
hoping to make Marquez proud.
529
00:19:29,669 --> 00:19:32,038
- Look at that,
he's more than nervous.
530
00:19:32,038 --> 00:19:33,840
You can see the emotion.
531
00:19:33,873 --> 00:19:36,042
These twins have
a special bond.
532
00:19:36,042 --> 00:19:39,045
- Marquez on the sideline
with some of the Iowa ninjas
533
00:19:39,045 --> 00:19:40,847
the twins have
been training with.
534
00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,917
[countdown clock beeping]
- Let's go, Nathan!
535
00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:46,519
- Nathan's never made it
past the fifth obstacle
536
00:19:46,553 --> 00:19:49,289
but has been training hard
before these semifinals.
537
00:19:49,322 --> 00:19:51,157
- Come on, Nathan, come on.
538
00:19:51,191 --> 00:19:52,859
- I've got twins
of my own at home,
539
00:19:52,892 --> 00:19:55,261
and I can tell you
there's a special bond.
540
00:19:55,295 --> 00:19:57,130
You can't break that.
That's for real.
541
00:19:57,163 --> 00:19:58,798
- Can he generate
the power to go over?
542
00:19:58,832 --> 00:20:00,800
- Yep, look at this. Nice.
543
00:20:00,834 --> 00:20:02,068
- Well done.
- Ooh!
544
00:20:02,102 --> 00:20:03,470
- Both brothers graduated
545
00:20:03,503 --> 00:20:05,905
from the University
of Wisconsin last year.
546
00:20:05,939 --> 00:20:08,808
- Go Badgers!
547
00:20:08,842 --> 00:20:10,610
- Caught it again.
548
00:20:10,643 --> 00:20:13,947
Got good power, and that
makes it more efficient too.
549
00:20:13,980 --> 00:20:15,648
Saving some extra moves there.
550
00:20:15,682 --> 00:20:18,718
Onto Clockwork.
[cheers and applause]
551
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,288
150 pounds.
552
00:20:22,322 --> 00:20:24,324
Not a lot of weight,
but hopefully enough
553
00:20:24,357 --> 00:20:25,725
to get all three gears moving.
554
00:20:25,759 --> 00:20:27,961
- Bigger kicks!
Bigger thrusts when you go!
555
00:20:27,994 --> 00:20:32,032
- There it is, there it is!
Right there!
556
00:20:32,065 --> 00:20:33,867
- Here we go!
557
00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:34,901
- Yes!
[cheers and applause]
558
00:20:34,934 --> 00:20:36,136
- And he's got it.
559
00:20:36,169 --> 00:20:37,704
Okay, Nathan.
- Did a good job.
560
00:20:37,737 --> 00:20:40,040
Wasn't bending at the arms,
was driving with the hips.
561
00:20:40,073 --> 00:20:42,642
Doing it again, you can
see getting that power.
562
00:20:42,676 --> 00:20:44,544
Comes from the lower body.
563
00:20:44,577 --> 00:20:47,981
That work with the Iowa ninjas
clearly paying off.
564
00:20:48,014 --> 00:20:49,916
Nathan Green looking strong.
565
00:20:49,949 --> 00:20:53,386
[cheers and applause]
566
00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:55,588
And showing some love
to that cheering section.
567
00:20:55,622 --> 00:20:56,790
- Man, those Iowa boys
568
00:20:56,823 --> 00:20:58,525
can make some noise,
now, can't they?
569
00:20:58,558 --> 00:21:01,761
- Let's go, let's go.
Come on, come on, Nathan!
570
00:21:01,795 --> 00:21:03,129
- The former track athlete
571
00:21:03,163 --> 00:21:05,365
needs to sprint
across Diamond Dash.
572
00:21:05,398 --> 00:21:06,533
- Nice.
- Perfect.
573
00:21:06,566 --> 00:21:08,435
- Great athleticism.
All right.
574
00:21:08,468 --> 00:21:10,303
[cheers and applause]
575
00:21:10,337 --> 00:21:13,873
- And he's reached
the fifth obstacle, Hopscotch.
576
00:21:13,907 --> 00:21:17,977
In his three seasons,
never made it past the fifth.
577
00:21:18,078 --> 00:21:19,479
This really is
a test of the grip strength
578
00:21:19,512 --> 00:21:21,715
and hand placement,
and it's a challenge.
579
00:21:21,748 --> 00:21:23,183
As you start having
to split the hands,
580
00:21:23,216 --> 00:21:24,918
you can only focus on one.
581
00:21:24,951 --> 00:21:26,953
- Nice. Ooh, okay.
582
00:21:26,986 --> 00:21:29,856
- Nathan Green having
the run of his life,
583
00:21:29,889 --> 00:21:32,692
trying to make it into the
top 15, earn a trip to Vegas.
584
00:21:32,726 --> 00:21:34,194
[cheers and applause]
585
00:21:34,227 --> 00:21:37,797
That's real challenging,
a double outside grip.
586
00:21:37,831 --> 00:21:40,000
Blind grabs, you can't see
what your hands are going.
587
00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:41,167
- Use peripheral vision.
588
00:21:41,201 --> 00:21:42,736
[cheers and applause]
589
00:21:42,769 --> 00:21:46,506
- And his brother, Marquez,
is in tears watching this.
590
00:21:46,539 --> 00:21:49,809
- Well, here we go, another one
for the free spinner.
591
00:21:49,843 --> 00:21:51,277
- Locked in.
592
00:21:51,311 --> 00:21:54,247
Get out of there,
get out of there, Nathan.
593
00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:55,515
- And he's done it!
594
00:21:55,548 --> 00:21:58,585
What a great moment
for the Green brothers.
595
00:21:58,618 --> 00:22:01,054
- You can see Marquez
is just overcome
596
00:22:01,087 --> 00:22:02,589
watching his brother succeed.
597
00:22:02,622 --> 00:22:04,657
It's a victory
for both of them.
598
00:22:04,691 --> 00:22:06,393
Now this is the first time
599
00:22:06,426 --> 00:22:08,661
Nathan has faced
the Warped Wall.
600
00:22:08,695 --> 00:22:10,196
And he's got it.
601
00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:12,599
[cheers and applause]
- I've never got past five.
602
00:22:12,632 --> 00:22:15,568
- Yeah!
- I know, I know!
603
00:22:15,602 --> 00:22:18,338
- Well, it means as much
to Marquez as Nathan.
604
00:22:18,371 --> 00:22:20,940
They've gone through
some tough times together.
605
00:22:20,974 --> 00:22:22,609
You can see
just how connected they are.
606
00:22:22,642 --> 00:22:24,611
[cheers and applause]
607
00:22:24,644 --> 00:22:26,079
Some other
family members watching
608
00:22:26,112 --> 00:22:28,181
back in Wisconsin as well.
609
00:22:28,214 --> 00:22:30,583
- This will be Nathan's
first time in competition
610
00:22:30,617 --> 00:22:32,085
on the Salmon Ladder.
611
00:22:32,085 --> 00:22:33,086
All right.
612
00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:34,454
Come on,
get your popcorn ready.
613
00:22:34,487 --> 00:22:35,822
Let's go.
614
00:22:35,855 --> 00:22:37,590
Pop.
615
00:22:37,624 --> 00:22:40,093
Pop--that's slow--that's
slow popcorn right there.
616
00:22:40,093 --> 00:22:41,094
- Slow pace.
617
00:22:41,094 --> 00:22:42,228
- You got it! Here we go!
618
00:22:42,262 --> 00:22:43,930
- You got it! One more!
Come on! Get it!
619
00:22:43,963 --> 00:22:45,098
- Come on, put some
butter on that.
620
00:22:45,131 --> 00:22:46,132
Nice.
621
00:22:46,166 --> 00:22:47,467
- Well, he gets through,
622
00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:49,002
but looks like
he is starting to strain.
623
00:22:49,102 --> 00:22:51,404
What does he have left
for Box Office?
624
00:22:53,606 --> 00:22:54,708
- Come on. Nice.
625
00:22:54,741 --> 00:22:57,410
Ooh, hold on, hold on.
626
00:22:57,444 --> 00:23:00,647
All right, you got to move
to this next one here, Matt.
627
00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:02,916
- The lead hand
is a blind grab.
628
00:23:02,949 --> 00:23:05,385
[cheers and applause]
- Nathan, let's go!
629
00:23:05,418 --> 00:23:06,786
- 14-inch box on this one.
630
00:23:06,820 --> 00:23:09,055
Oh!
631
00:23:09,055 --> 00:23:10,390
- I am so proud.
632
00:23:10,423 --> 00:23:12,258
- The grip just gave out.
633
00:23:12,292 --> 00:23:13,927
His best performance,
634
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,629
but not enough
to take down the Box Office.
635
00:23:16,663 --> 00:23:18,465
- Good job, Nathan!
636
00:23:18,498 --> 00:23:20,433
- Well, only one
was on the course,
637
00:23:20,467 --> 00:23:24,371
but this was a gut-wrenching
run for both Green brothers.
638
00:23:24,404 --> 00:23:27,440
Nathan finally made it
past the fifth obstacle,
639
00:23:27,474 --> 00:23:29,342
and with his brother in tears,
640
00:23:29,376 --> 00:23:32,078
he made it all the way
to the eighth obstacle
641
00:23:32,112 --> 00:23:34,314
before running out of gas.
642
00:23:36,082 --> 00:23:37,817
- Oh, my goodness.
I know.
643
00:23:37,851 --> 00:23:39,419
Oh!
[cheers and applause]
644
00:23:39,452 --> 00:23:41,154
- I love the brotherly love.
645
00:23:41,187 --> 00:23:42,689
What's going on, you two?
646
00:23:42,722 --> 00:23:45,725
Marquez, you were
tearing up at the start line,
647
00:23:45,759 --> 00:23:46,926
you're tearing up now.
648
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:48,495
What are you feeling?
649
00:23:48,528 --> 00:23:50,230
- I've just been
a nervous wreck, like,
650
00:23:50,263 --> 00:23:51,765
just waiting for him to run.
651
00:23:51,798 --> 00:23:54,367
I know how hard it is
for us not to be together.
652
00:23:54,401 --> 00:23:57,470
We do everything together,
and to not compete with him,
653
00:23:57,504 --> 00:23:59,139
I was like, he's doing it
for the both of us.
654
00:23:59,172 --> 00:24:01,608
And he absolutely killed it,
got further than I have.
655
00:24:01,641 --> 00:24:03,043
[chuckles]
656
00:24:03,043 --> 00:24:04,644
I'm just so proud of him.
657
00:24:04,678 --> 00:24:07,080
- Well I can't wait to see
what's next for both of you.
658
00:24:07,113 --> 00:24:08,815
Good job out there tonight.
659
00:24:08,848 --> 00:24:11,918
Guys, take it away.
Back to you.
660
00:24:11,951 --> 00:24:14,287
- Still to come,
Jesse "Flex" Labreck
661
00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,756
goes for another
semifinals buzzer
662
00:24:16,790 --> 00:24:19,092
on "American Ninja Warrior."
663
00:24:23,897 --> 00:24:25,932
- Moments ago, two ninjas
with Chicago roots
664
00:24:25,965 --> 00:24:28,768
tried to rip through
this semifinals course.
665
00:24:28,802 --> 00:24:31,171
The Deaf Ninja, Kyle Schulze,
666
00:24:31,204 --> 00:24:33,640
got one of the biggest
receptions of the night,
667
00:24:33,673 --> 00:24:35,508
with fans
signing their support
668
00:24:35,542 --> 00:24:37,477
for the hearing-impaired
ninja veteran.
669
00:24:37,510 --> 00:24:39,412
- You can see the audience
waving their hands.
670
00:24:39,446 --> 00:24:41,448
- And the crowd
had plenty to cheer about
671
00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:44,351
as Schulze worked his way
through the early obstacles.
672
00:24:44,384 --> 00:24:46,920
- Oh, oh, come on, come on.
Nice.
673
00:24:46,953 --> 00:24:48,755
- The grad student
has had success,
674
00:24:48,788 --> 00:24:51,558
but in six seasons,
he's never hit a buzzer.
675
00:24:51,591 --> 00:24:54,627
[cheers and applause]
676
00:24:59,499 --> 00:25:02,502
- No I didn't, I didn't.
[laughs]
677
00:25:02,535 --> 00:25:04,704
- The 32-year-old
made it to Box Office...
678
00:25:04,738 --> 00:25:05,705
- Nice.
679
00:25:05,739 --> 00:25:07,173
- Before running out of gas.
680
00:25:07,207 --> 00:25:08,541
[air horn blares]
- Oh!
681
00:25:08,575 --> 00:25:11,044
- But it's one of his
best runs in years.
682
00:25:13,780 --> 00:25:16,416
Another ninja from the
Windy City, Joe Brown,
683
00:25:16,449 --> 00:25:18,385
came in with high hopes.
684
00:25:18,418 --> 00:25:20,820
- That dude's got way
too much boosties.
685
00:25:20,854 --> 00:25:23,556
- Last year, he showed off
his impressive skills
686
00:25:23,590 --> 00:25:25,392
by jumping over Zuri.
- Wow!
687
00:25:25,425 --> 00:25:29,062
- And in qualifying, he jumped
over Akbar, who's 6'6".
688
00:25:29,095 --> 00:25:32,065
[cheers and applause]
689
00:25:32,065 --> 00:25:33,466
Earlier tonight,
690
00:25:33,500 --> 00:25:35,669
he tried to vault
over three ninjas at once...
691
00:25:35,702 --> 00:25:37,270
- Ooh!
692
00:25:37,303 --> 00:25:39,406
- But didn't quite clear
fellow ninja Derrick Pavoni.
693
00:25:39,439 --> 00:25:40,807
- Oh, boom!
694
00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:42,809
- Still, the leasing agent
came into tonight
695
00:25:42,842 --> 00:25:44,611
with a lot of confidence
696
00:25:44,644 --> 00:25:47,080
after hitting a buzzer
in qualifying,
697
00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,582
but he couldn't make the leap
on the second obstacle.
698
00:25:49,616 --> 00:25:51,584
- Whoa!
699
00:25:51,618 --> 00:25:52,986
Did he just break?
700
00:25:53,086 --> 00:25:55,221
- No!
701
00:25:55,255 --> 00:25:57,757
I do this all the time, bro.
702
00:25:58,892 --> 00:26:00,660
- And another Chicago-area
ninja,
703
00:26:00,694 --> 00:26:02,762
the guy who
just got bonked in the head,
704
00:26:02,796 --> 00:26:05,331
Derrick Pavoni,
is on the course right now.
705
00:26:05,365 --> 00:26:07,033
- Nice!
[cheers and applause]
706
00:26:07,033 --> 00:26:08,468
- Got his fiancée
707
00:26:08,501 --> 00:26:11,471
and all of those Windy City
ninjas on the sideline.
708
00:26:11,504 --> 00:26:13,540
Pavoni's known as
the Pizza Ninja.
709
00:26:13,573 --> 00:26:16,276
His family owns a pizza joint
back in Illinois,
710
00:26:16,309 --> 00:26:17,477
and he brought us a pie.
711
00:26:17,510 --> 00:26:20,814
- Oh yes, we got
Pavoni and cheese.
712
00:26:20,847 --> 00:26:23,850
[laughter]
- Eat it! Eat!
713
00:26:23,883 --> 00:26:26,052
- Hey, this is for you, homie.
714
00:26:26,853 --> 00:26:28,922
- Up on Hopscotch.
715
00:26:28,955 --> 00:26:31,358
Again, the handles
on one, two, and three.
716
00:26:31,391 --> 00:26:33,259
3/4 of an inch and squared.
717
00:26:33,293 --> 00:26:36,596
Now down to half an inch around
and difficulty goes up.
718
00:26:36,629 --> 00:26:37,931
- There we go.
719
00:26:37,964 --> 00:26:40,066
Derrick Pavoni trying
to get to Las Vegas, Matt,
720
00:26:40,066 --> 00:26:41,868
and win that cheese.
721
00:26:41,901 --> 00:26:43,236
Here we go.
722
00:26:43,269 --> 00:26:45,271
- Oh, almost missed it
with the left hand.
723
00:26:45,305 --> 00:26:46,773
Good save.
724
00:26:46,806 --> 00:26:49,442
We saw a bunch of top ninjas
fall on this one last week.
725
00:26:49,476 --> 00:26:50,610
- Come on.
726
00:26:50,643 --> 00:26:53,380
[cheers and applause]
727
00:26:53,413 --> 00:26:57,283
But Pavoni continues the run.
[cheers and applause]
728
00:26:57,317 --> 00:26:59,519
- Yeah, baby, yeah!
729
00:26:59,552 --> 00:27:01,688
- I've waited
so long for this.
730
00:27:01,721 --> 00:27:03,757
- Four seasons
of "Ninja Warrior,"
731
00:27:03,790 --> 00:27:06,426
his first time
at the Warped Wall.
732
00:27:06,459 --> 00:27:09,129
They're watching back at
the family pizza restaurant
733
00:27:09,162 --> 00:27:10,663
and loving this run.
734
00:27:10,697 --> 00:27:11,898
- This is big.
735
00:27:11,931 --> 00:27:14,701
Every ninja remembers
their first Warped Wall.
736
00:27:14,734 --> 00:27:19,039
- And he's got it!
A great moment for Pavoni.
737
00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:20,740
It's up there!
You got it!
738
00:27:20,774 --> 00:27:21,841
- Come on, man, come on!
739
00:27:21,875 --> 00:27:22,942
- Okay, okay!
740
00:27:23,043 --> 00:27:24,177
- Love this guy.
741
00:27:24,210 --> 00:27:27,147
Always positive,
despite a tough year.
742
00:27:27,180 --> 00:27:30,383
His gym in Chicago burned
to the ground in February,
743
00:27:30,417 --> 00:27:32,786
a huge loss for him
and the kids he coaches.
744
00:27:32,819 --> 00:27:35,055
And there are some of
those students.
745
00:27:35,055 --> 00:27:37,223
- You can tell he is running
for them this season.
746
00:27:37,257 --> 00:27:38,825
- Well, getting his
first buzzer would be
747
00:27:38,858 --> 00:27:42,095
a great end to that story,
but he's got a ways to go.
748
00:27:42,128 --> 00:27:43,897
[cheers and applause]
749
00:27:43,930 --> 00:27:45,231
First time on
the Salmon Ladder.
750
00:27:45,265 --> 00:27:47,067
- Ooh.
751
00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:48,601
All right, come on now.
752
00:27:48,635 --> 00:27:49,936
- Gets through
the Salmon Ladder.
753
00:27:49,969 --> 00:27:53,773
The Pizza Ninja's
still rolling.
754
00:27:53,807 --> 00:27:56,176
- Box Office,
get your popcorn ready.
755
00:27:56,209 --> 00:27:57,377
[cheers and applause]
756
00:27:57,410 --> 00:27:59,079
While you might have
popcorn at home,
757
00:27:59,079 --> 00:28:01,214
I've got pizza right here
in the host tower.
758
00:28:03,049 --> 00:28:05,285
- This is the front and back,
that front grab blind.
759
00:28:05,318 --> 00:28:06,786
Locks it in.
760
00:28:06,820 --> 00:28:10,390
Pavoni making the most
of this semifinals run.
761
00:28:10,423 --> 00:28:12,392
- Matt, this is a
nice movie right now.
762
00:28:12,425 --> 00:28:13,760
I'm enjoying myself.
763
00:28:13,793 --> 00:28:15,161
- Well, this pizza
has everything.
764
00:28:15,195 --> 00:28:16,930
[cheers and applause]
Oh, my!
765
00:28:17,030 --> 00:28:18,198
- Come on, come on.
766
00:28:18,231 --> 00:28:19,733
- Are you kidding me?
767
00:28:19,766 --> 00:28:21,334
- Let's go, baby.
768
00:28:21,368 --> 00:28:24,437
- Derrick Pavoni never made it
past the fifth obstacle.
769
00:28:24,471 --> 00:28:27,040
Here he is in Split Decision.
770
00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:28,608
- Tell me
you're not entertained.
771
00:28:28,641 --> 00:28:30,276
Tell me you're not entertained
772
00:28:30,310 --> 00:28:32,379
by that performance
on Box Office.
773
00:28:32,412 --> 00:28:34,047
[cheers and applause]
774
00:28:34,047 --> 00:28:36,049
- He can barely
believe it himself,
775
00:28:36,082 --> 00:28:38,051
but he's reached
the ninth obstacle.
776
00:28:38,051 --> 00:28:40,653
Has to make the choice
at Split Decision.
777
00:28:40,687 --> 00:28:42,622
[cheers and applause]
778
00:28:42,655 --> 00:28:44,290
Will he try Diving Boards
779
00:28:44,324 --> 00:28:46,326
or the upper-body test
of Flipped Around?
780
00:28:46,359 --> 00:28:47,861
- I feel it.
781
00:28:47,894 --> 00:28:49,763
- He says his arms are spent,
782
00:28:49,796 --> 00:28:51,631
so maybe he'll try
Diving Board.
783
00:28:51,664 --> 00:28:53,366
- Come on!
- Breathe!
784
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,568
- Feel it out!
- Do it?
785
00:28:55,602 --> 00:28:56,903
Let's freaking do it.
786
00:28:56,936 --> 00:28:58,071
[cheers and applause]
787
00:28:58,104 --> 00:28:59,372
- No, he's going
to Flipped Around.
788
00:28:59,406 --> 00:29:01,808
Diving Boards
just looks too risky.
789
00:29:01,841 --> 00:29:05,045
Even with tired arms, gonna
try the upper-body obstacle.
790
00:29:09,616 --> 00:29:11,518
- There you go!
791
00:29:11,551 --> 00:29:13,586
- Now you got to get it
completely inverted,
792
00:29:13,620 --> 00:29:15,355
go up to the top,
grab that handle.
793
00:29:15,388 --> 00:29:17,023
- And you see him
wrapping his legs
794
00:29:17,023 --> 00:29:18,758
around towards the bottom.
795
00:29:18,792 --> 00:29:20,627
Now he's got
to grab the bar on top.
796
00:29:20,660 --> 00:29:22,362
- Well, it's like you've got
to start with the crust.
797
00:29:22,395 --> 00:29:23,496
Pull the handle,
798
00:29:23,530 --> 00:29:24,597
lock--oh!
- Oh!
799
00:29:24,631 --> 00:29:26,366
[air horn blares]
800
00:29:26,399 --> 00:29:29,736
- Ironically taken out
by a pizza-shaped obstacle,
801
00:29:29,769 --> 00:29:33,139
but still the best run
of Pavoni's career.
802
00:29:33,173 --> 00:29:35,041
- He's going to
remember this one.
803
00:29:35,041 --> 00:29:36,843
Got up his first Warped Wall
804
00:29:36,876 --> 00:29:39,112
and made it
to the ninth obstacle.
805
00:29:39,145 --> 00:29:40,847
But with those tired arms,
806
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:44,551
couldn't grab the handle
on Flipped Around.
807
00:29:44,584 --> 00:29:47,687
- It's early, but that run may
have earned Derrick Pavoni
808
00:29:47,721 --> 00:29:49,055
his first trip to Vegas.
809
00:29:49,055 --> 00:29:50,223
[cheers and applause]
810
00:29:50,256 --> 00:29:52,592
[dog barking]
The dogs are barking
811
00:29:52,625 --> 00:29:56,963
because our next athlete
is the K9 Ninja, Roo Yori.
812
00:29:57,063 --> 00:29:59,566
- The 45-year-old
from Rochester, Minnesota,
813
00:29:59,599 --> 00:30:01,601
has competed seven seasons,
814
00:30:01,634 --> 00:30:03,703
spreading the message
you can see on his shirt:
815
00:30:03,737 --> 00:30:05,005
dog adoption.
816
00:30:05,038 --> 00:30:07,607
Roo started a foundation
that rescues dogs.
817
00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,142
He even bought a van
818
00:30:09,175 --> 00:30:11,911
to transport unwanted dogs
from all over the Midwest
819
00:30:11,945 --> 00:30:14,614
to Minnesota
to find forever homes.
820
00:30:14,647 --> 00:30:16,549
Roo's got rescue dogs
of his own at home,
821
00:30:16,583 --> 00:30:19,786
and he's got a special guest
on the sideline with Zuri.
822
00:30:19,819 --> 00:30:22,122
- I'm here with Amy
of Angel City Pitbulls,
823
00:30:22,155 --> 00:30:23,590
and we have the
cutest little thing
824
00:30:23,623 --> 00:30:25,125
here to help us cheer on Roo.
825
00:30:25,158 --> 00:30:26,259
Who is this?
826
00:30:26,292 --> 00:30:28,361
- This is Weasel.
He's about ten weeks old.
827
00:30:28,395 --> 00:30:29,896
He's getting ready
for adoption.
828
00:30:29,929 --> 00:30:30,930
- Okay.
829
00:30:30,964 --> 00:30:32,232
Are you ready to cheer on Roo?
830
00:30:32,265 --> 00:30:33,800
I think he is.
831
00:30:33,833 --> 00:30:35,001
Okay, let's go.
832
00:30:35,035 --> 00:30:37,470
all: Roo, Roo, Roo, Roo,
Roo, Roo, Roo, Roo!
833
00:30:37,504 --> 00:30:39,739
- Roo invited Weasel
as an example
834
00:30:39,773 --> 00:30:42,942
of the great dogs you can
adopt at your local shelter.
835
00:30:42,976 --> 00:30:46,112
And Roo looks cat-like
going across the steps.
836
00:30:46,146 --> 00:30:49,049
There's Roo's wife, Clara,
watching back in Minnesota
837
00:30:49,082 --> 00:30:50,984
with their dogs,
Johnny and JuJu.
838
00:30:51,017 --> 00:30:53,019
- Roo's the old dog out here.
839
00:30:53,053 --> 00:30:56,056
At 45, he's the night's
oldest competitor.
840
00:30:56,089 --> 00:30:58,658
- But he's still been getting
it done on the Ninja course.
841
00:30:58,692 --> 00:31:01,461
Hit a buzzer in qualifying
a few weeks ago.
842
00:31:01,494 --> 00:31:03,163
Continues to compete
because he wants
843
00:31:03,196 --> 00:31:05,398
to keep the spotlight
on dogs like Weasel
844
00:31:05,432 --> 00:31:07,734
who are looking
for a new home.
845
00:31:07,767 --> 00:31:10,603
He's making short work
of Over-Under.
846
00:31:10,637 --> 00:31:13,473
[cheers and applause]
847
00:31:13,506 --> 00:31:15,508
all: Roo! Roo! Roo! Roo! Roo!
848
00:31:15,542 --> 00:31:16,976
- Points over at Weasel.
849
00:31:17,077 --> 00:31:19,079
How can you
not love that face?
850
00:31:19,079 --> 00:31:21,414
- [chuckles]
Oh, man.
851
00:31:21,448 --> 00:31:23,583
All right,
jump into this one, Clockwork.
852
00:31:23,616 --> 00:31:24,951
- 5'8", 155.
853
00:31:24,984 --> 00:31:26,786
Should be able
to generate that power.
854
00:31:26,820 --> 00:31:28,488
When Roo is not saving dogs,
855
00:31:28,521 --> 00:31:30,757
he's working at the
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota
856
00:31:30,790 --> 00:31:32,258
helping to save humans.
857
00:31:32,292 --> 00:31:34,294
- Throw yourself up.
- There you go.
858
00:31:34,327 --> 00:31:36,896
[air horn blares]
- Oh, no.
859
00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:38,465
- Ruh-roh.
860
00:31:38,498 --> 00:31:43,403
- Oh man, this has got to be
rough, rough for Roo Yori.
861
00:31:43,436 --> 00:31:45,605
Clockwork is a tough one
to figure out.
862
00:31:45,638 --> 00:31:49,009
He got both hands on the bar
but couldn't hold on.
863
00:31:49,109 --> 00:31:52,278
No trip to Vegas for Roo Yori.
864
00:31:52,312 --> 00:31:54,414
- But Roo got
to spread his message,
865
00:31:54,447 --> 00:31:57,917
so get out there
and adopt a dog like Weasel.
866
00:31:57,951 --> 00:32:02,288
He went further than anyone
last season at just 15.
867
00:32:02,322 --> 00:32:03,823
[buzzer blares]
- Yeah!
868
00:32:03,857 --> 00:32:07,060
Kaden Lebsack tries to
punch his ticket back to Vegas
869
00:32:07,093 --> 00:32:09,729
when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.
870
00:32:14,501 --> 00:32:16,636
- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior"
871
00:32:16,670 --> 00:32:18,705
at Universal Studios
Hollywood,
872
00:32:18,738 --> 00:32:21,574
where you can
soar over Hogwarts Castle,
873
00:32:21,608 --> 00:32:23,076
journey into Jurassic World,
874
00:32:23,109 --> 00:32:24,978
or let loose on Illumination's
875
00:32:25,078 --> 00:32:27,480
The Secret Life of Pets:
Off the Leash.
876
00:32:27,514 --> 00:32:30,517
- And let's not forget
the world-famous studio tour
877
00:32:30,550 --> 00:32:31,985
where you'll
go behind the scenes
878
00:32:32,085 --> 00:32:33,887
on your favorite film sets.
879
00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:37,357
Make it your best day in LA.
880
00:32:37,390 --> 00:32:40,427
- Teenager Max Feinberg
went to Universal today,
881
00:32:40,460 --> 00:32:42,896
and he was still wearing
his souvenir sweatshirt when
882
00:32:42,929 --> 00:32:44,564
he hit the course minutes ago.
883
00:32:44,597 --> 00:32:47,233
- Boy, he's going to need that
Hogwarts magic tonight, Matt,
884
00:32:47,267 --> 00:32:49,669
because the semifinals,
it is brutal.
885
00:32:49,703 --> 00:32:52,105
- The 17-year-old wears
a pink ribbon on his shirt
886
00:32:52,105 --> 00:32:54,607
to raise awareness
for breast cancer.
887
00:32:54,641 --> 00:32:56,443
But despite
the serious message,
888
00:32:56,476 --> 00:32:58,578
he was having fun
on the course.
889
00:32:58,611 --> 00:33:00,180
- How sweet is that?
890
00:33:00,213 --> 00:33:03,316
- Feinberg rolled
to the back half...
891
00:33:03,350 --> 00:33:06,152
looking confident as he
swung through Box Office.
892
00:33:06,186 --> 00:33:08,121
- Whoa!
893
00:33:08,154 --> 00:33:10,490
Oh, wow.
894
00:33:10,523 --> 00:33:13,393
- Box Office will likely be
the cutoff for the top 15,
895
00:33:13,426 --> 00:33:15,328
so Feinberg will
have to wait and see
896
00:33:15,362 --> 00:33:17,864
if that gets him to Vegas.
897
00:33:17,897 --> 00:33:21,501
Well, Max's trip to Universal
was with our next competitor,
898
00:33:21,534 --> 00:33:23,203
his good friend,
Kaden Lebsack,
899
00:33:23,236 --> 00:33:26,439
who, oh yeah, went further
than anyone last season.
900
00:33:26,473 --> 00:33:29,376
He and Max had a wager
on last year's competition,
901
00:33:29,409 --> 00:33:31,878
and today, Kaden paid it off.
902
00:33:32,812 --> 00:33:34,080
[both cheer]
903
00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:35,815
- A couple of years ago,
me and Max made a bet.
904
00:33:35,849 --> 00:33:37,083
- I would buy him
a smoothie,
905
00:33:37,083 --> 00:33:38,685
he would buy me
a ticket to Universal
906
00:33:38,718 --> 00:33:40,320
if he won
"American Ninja Warrior."
907
00:33:40,353 --> 00:33:42,088
And Kaden won.
908
00:33:42,122 --> 00:33:43,823
[cheers and applause]
909
00:33:43,857 --> 00:33:45,191
- Yeah!
910
00:33:45,225 --> 00:33:48,328
- Kaden Lebsack is the
Last Ninja Standing!
911
00:33:48,361 --> 00:33:52,298
At 15, he's just made history!
912
00:33:52,332 --> 00:33:54,267
[dramatic music]
913
00:33:54,300 --> 00:33:56,102
- I've been wanting
to go to Universal Studios
914
00:33:56,102 --> 00:33:57,604
for a super long time.
915
00:33:57,637 --> 00:33:59,606
[doorbell chimes]
916
00:33:59,639 --> 00:34:01,541
And it was just amazing
with all its sets,
917
00:34:01,574 --> 00:34:03,510
all its cool food.
918
00:34:03,543 --> 00:34:06,212
- Max was definitely
a tourist at Universal.
919
00:34:06,246 --> 00:34:08,615
He bought a whole bunch of
stuff, took a lot of pictures,
920
00:34:08,648 --> 00:34:10,550
and I think we went
on every single ride.
921
00:34:10,583 --> 00:34:12,686
- Me and Kaden
may be an odd couple,
922
00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:14,788
but when we're together,
we're just having a ton of fun.
923
00:34:14,821 --> 00:34:18,124
- Both me and Max hit buzzers
in semifinals last year,
924
00:34:18,158 --> 00:34:20,493
so hopefully we can keep
hitting buzzers together.
925
00:34:20,527 --> 00:34:22,195
[upbeat music]
926
00:34:22,228 --> 00:34:24,364
- Come on, Kaden!
Let's go!
927
00:34:24,397 --> 00:34:27,334
- Max is on the sidelines
with a bunch of other ninjas.
928
00:34:27,367 --> 00:34:29,469
Kaden's parents
also over there.
929
00:34:29,502 --> 00:34:30,970
Mom's always nervous,
930
00:34:31,071 --> 00:34:33,206
even though he's never fallen
in the water.
931
00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,975
[countdown clock beeping]
932
00:34:36,076 --> 00:34:39,713
Five buzzers last year,
already got one this year.
933
00:34:39,746 --> 00:34:43,249
The goal, of course, is six,
total victory.
934
00:34:43,283 --> 00:34:46,119
- 16 years old and
has a really good shot
935
00:34:46,152 --> 00:34:47,754
at hitting all six buzzers.
936
00:34:47,787 --> 00:34:49,456
- Kid has a lot of power,
937
00:34:49,489 --> 00:34:51,458
can really
fly through the air.
938
00:34:53,660 --> 00:34:58,098
Trains up to eight hours
a day, and it shows.
939
00:34:58,098 --> 00:34:59,432
Right through Over-Under.
940
00:34:59,466 --> 00:35:02,102
[cheers and applause]
941
00:35:02,135 --> 00:35:03,303
Clockwork.
942
00:35:03,336 --> 00:35:05,171
Don't think he'll
be tardy here.
943
00:35:05,205 --> 00:35:09,175
- He gets it. Early's on time.
On time is late.
944
00:35:09,209 --> 00:35:11,111
Wow. Great timing.
945
00:35:11,144 --> 00:35:13,179
- Just launched himself there.
946
00:35:13,213 --> 00:35:15,281
Good kick with those hips.
947
00:35:15,315 --> 00:35:17,050
- He's a great student
in school,
948
00:35:17,050 --> 00:35:18,418
great student of Ninja.
949
00:35:18,451 --> 00:35:21,121
This kid does nothing
but study the game.
950
00:35:21,154 --> 00:35:23,723
[cheers and applause]
951
00:35:23,757 --> 00:35:27,193
- Ol' balance obstacle,
Diamond Dash.
952
00:35:27,227 --> 00:35:29,262
And flies through it.
953
00:35:29,295 --> 00:35:32,065
Mom's relieved he got
past the balance obstacle
954
00:35:32,065 --> 00:35:35,802
as Lebsack glides
right into Hopscotch.
955
00:35:35,835 --> 00:35:38,471
- Kaden Lebsack makes it
look so effortless.
956
00:35:38,505 --> 00:35:41,641
Trust me,
these courses are not easy,
957
00:35:41,675 --> 00:35:44,310
but this kid
is in a class by himself.
958
00:35:44,344 --> 00:35:47,414
One of the best ninjas ever,
and he's only 16.
959
00:35:47,447 --> 00:35:48,581
Nice.
960
00:35:48,615 --> 00:35:50,283
- And he's handled
the expectations
961
00:35:50,316 --> 00:35:52,986
and pressure of being the
defending Last Ninja Standing.
962
00:35:53,086 --> 00:35:54,954
- You can see
how calm he looks.
963
00:35:54,988 --> 00:35:57,390
Like, that right there
is the strength of a ninja.
964
00:35:57,424 --> 00:35:59,092
Look at that, nice adjustment.
965
00:35:59,125 --> 00:36:00,360
- I think that's
what's impressed us
966
00:36:00,393 --> 00:36:01,895
so much about these
young athletes
967
00:36:01,928 --> 00:36:03,329
and Kaden in particular
968
00:36:03,363 --> 00:36:05,231
is that they have measured up
to the moment.
969
00:36:05,265 --> 00:36:07,901
[cheers and applause]
970
00:36:08,902 --> 00:36:10,837
- On now to the back half
of the course.
971
00:36:10,870 --> 00:36:12,639
Only the Stallion,
Mike Silenzi,
972
00:36:12,672 --> 00:36:14,040
has finished so far.
973
00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,242
Could Kaden be the
second buzzer tonight?
974
00:36:16,276 --> 00:36:18,445
- Hey, don't bet
against Kaden Lebsack,
975
00:36:18,478 --> 00:36:20,347
because he's about
to get it done.
976
00:36:22,482 --> 00:36:24,351
- Not even stopping
to take a rest,
977
00:36:24,384 --> 00:36:26,753
going right up
to Salmon Ladder.
978
00:36:26,786 --> 00:36:28,121
- Come on, Kaden.
- Let's go, let's go!
979
00:36:28,154 --> 00:36:29,656
[loud clacking]
980
00:36:29,689 --> 00:36:31,057
[cheers and applause]
981
00:36:31,057 --> 00:36:32,959
- Did you hear that?
Just listen.
982
00:36:33,059 --> 00:36:34,461
That right there tells you
983
00:36:34,494 --> 00:36:36,429
he's got enough to make it
through Box Office.
984
00:36:36,463 --> 00:36:38,631
[cheers and applause]
985
00:36:38,665 --> 00:36:41,401
- You can see that front hand
is going to be a blind grab.
986
00:36:41,434 --> 00:36:43,136
- Nice.
Ooh!
987
00:36:43,169 --> 00:36:44,804
Yeah, he saw that,
caught the corner,
988
00:36:44,838 --> 00:36:46,773
made the adjustment on the go.
989
00:36:48,408 --> 00:36:50,977
[cheers and applause]
- And another good transfer.
990
00:36:51,077 --> 00:36:54,080
- Mama is sweating through
every move out there.
991
00:36:54,114 --> 00:36:57,817
- Come on!
[indistinct]
992
00:36:57,851 --> 00:37:00,020
- And he is through.
- Yeah!
993
00:37:01,421 --> 00:37:04,391
And he looks like
he's taking a casual stroll
994
00:37:04,424 --> 00:37:06,026
as he walks to Split Decision.
995
00:37:06,026 --> 00:37:07,560
Does this kid ever get tired?
996
00:37:07,594 --> 00:37:10,030
- And didn't even look
at the Diving Boards.
997
00:37:10,030 --> 00:37:11,398
Going for Flipped Around.
998
00:37:11,431 --> 00:37:13,400
Mike Silenzi
got through it earlier,
999
00:37:13,433 --> 00:37:15,101
but this will test tired arms.
1000
00:37:15,135 --> 00:37:18,571
- Come on, buddy.
- Let's go, man! Come on!
1001
00:37:18,605 --> 00:37:20,106
- Come on.
Catch high.
1002
00:37:20,140 --> 00:37:22,575
- Balancing here, you have
to ascend your way up top,
1003
00:37:22,609 --> 00:37:24,477
try to get that board
locked in.
1004
00:37:24,511 --> 00:37:25,879
- Good!
[applause]
1005
00:37:25,912 --> 00:37:28,114
- Oh, look--look at.
Oh, Mom can't watch.
1006
00:37:28,148 --> 00:37:30,250
[cheers and applause]
1007
00:37:31,918 --> 00:37:33,420
- Now it's locked in,
gotta lache.
1008
00:37:33,453 --> 00:37:34,654
- Nice.
1009
00:37:34,688 --> 00:37:35,922
- And repeat the process.
1010
00:37:35,955 --> 00:37:37,691
- Oh, rinse and repeat.
1011
00:37:37,724 --> 00:37:39,859
- Lache to another one.
1012
00:37:39,893 --> 00:37:41,094
- Nice.
1013
00:37:41,127 --> 00:37:42,262
- You could just see
the challenge
1014
00:37:42,295 --> 00:37:43,630
locking onto
this moving board.
1015
00:37:43,663 --> 00:37:45,065
- Well, he's bear hugging it,
1016
00:37:45,065 --> 00:37:47,267
and he's using his legs
for point of contact.
1017
00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:49,602
- My goodness.
- Absorbed the drop, nice.
1018
00:37:50,970 --> 00:37:52,772
- He's making it look easy.
1019
00:37:52,806 --> 00:37:53,807
[cheers and applause]
1020
00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:55,742
And right on the catwalk.
1021
00:37:55,775 --> 00:37:57,143
Kaden Lebsack,
1022
00:37:57,177 --> 00:37:59,646
35 feet away from being
our second finisher.
1023
00:37:59,679 --> 00:38:02,716
[cheers and applause]
1024
00:38:04,484 --> 00:38:06,353
Here we go, the Spider Trap.
1025
00:38:06,386 --> 00:38:09,556
Has to get through
three sets of trap doors.
1026
00:38:09,589 --> 00:38:14,461
100 pounds, 50 on one side,
50 on the other,
1027
00:38:14,494 --> 00:38:18,732
and 35 feet straight up
after an exhausting gauntlet
1028
00:38:18,765 --> 00:38:21,301
of nine obstacles,
still looking strong!
1029
00:38:21,334 --> 00:38:23,570
[cheers and applause]
1030
00:38:23,603 --> 00:38:25,605
- Yes he is, look at this.
1031
00:38:25,638 --> 00:38:29,142
- Well, there is no sophomore
slump for Kaden Lebsack.
1032
00:38:30,944 --> 00:38:32,846
- Get it.
1033
00:38:32,879 --> 00:38:36,816
- 16 years old!
1034
00:38:36,850 --> 00:38:38,184
[buzzer blares]
1035
00:38:38,218 --> 00:38:41,454
[cheers and applause]
1036
00:38:41,488 --> 00:38:46,426
- And he's standing atop a
semifinals course once again.
1037
00:38:46,459 --> 00:38:49,929
[upbeat music]
1038
00:38:49,963 --> 00:38:52,432
* *
1039
00:38:52,465 --> 00:38:54,801
Kaden Lebsack!
- What's up?
1040
00:38:54,834 --> 00:38:57,237
- our Last Ninja Standing
from last year.
1041
00:38:57,270 --> 00:38:58,938
You haven't missed a beat.
1042
00:38:58,972 --> 00:39:02,008
How'd it feel?
- I'm so tired.
1043
00:39:02,042 --> 00:39:03,476
- I didn't think
you get tired.
1044
00:39:03,510 --> 00:39:05,011
Let me ask you straight up.
1045
00:39:05,011 --> 00:39:06,613
You getting six buzzers
this year?
1046
00:39:06,646 --> 00:39:08,348
- That's the goal.
- That's the goal.
1047
00:39:08,381 --> 00:39:09,349
- That's the goal.
1048
00:39:09,382 --> 00:39:11,051
- Kaden, man, so proud of you.
1049
00:39:11,084 --> 00:39:13,019
You ready to go back to Vegas?
1050
00:39:13,019 --> 00:39:14,354
- Oh, yeah.
1051
00:39:14,387 --> 00:39:15,522
- Hit that buzzer
one more time, my friend.
1052
00:39:15,555 --> 00:39:17,524
[buzzer blares]
[cheers and applause]
1053
00:39:17,557 --> 00:39:20,493
* *
1054
00:39:20,527 --> 00:39:21,861
Here they come.
1055
00:39:21,895 --> 00:39:24,631
The high-flying veteran
Ethan Swanson,
1056
00:39:24,664 --> 00:39:26,566
the defending
women's champion,
1057
00:39:26,599 --> 00:39:28,401
Jesse "Flex" Labreck,
1058
00:39:28,435 --> 00:39:30,937
the rock and roller
from Orlando, RJ Roman,
1059
00:39:31,037 --> 00:39:34,107
and Captain NBC, Jamie Rahn.
1060
00:39:34,140 --> 00:39:36,276
All ready to battle our course
1061
00:39:36,309 --> 00:39:38,745
when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.
1062
00:39:43,583 --> 00:39:44,951
- Welcome back to Universal
Studios Hollywood.
1063
00:39:45,051 --> 00:39:47,220
It's night three
of the semifinals
1064
00:39:47,253 --> 00:39:49,389
on "American Ninja Warrior."
1065
00:39:49,422 --> 00:39:52,625
- And it's been another
night of surprises.
1066
00:39:52,659 --> 00:39:55,328
Florida's Jason Kotzin
is an avid surfer,
1067
00:39:55,362 --> 00:39:58,264
and he was riding the wave
in his first semifinals.
1068
00:39:58,298 --> 00:39:59,566
- Great balance.
1069
00:39:59,599 --> 00:40:01,701
- That two-time
Ninja veteran from Orlando
1070
00:40:01,735 --> 00:40:05,105
had never been past the
fifth obstacle until tonight.
1071
00:40:05,138 --> 00:40:07,841
Little pump as he's up
at the Warped Wall.
1072
00:40:07,874 --> 00:40:10,577
- The dreadlocked 24-year-old
was hanging loose.
1073
00:40:10,610 --> 00:40:12,645
He even stopped
for a moment of zen.
1074
00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:14,114
[gong rings]
1075
00:40:14,147 --> 00:40:15,648
- Talk about being LA.
1076
00:40:15,682 --> 00:40:18,218
Meditating on a course.
1077
00:40:18,251 --> 00:40:20,153
- And it seemed to work
1078
00:40:20,186 --> 00:40:22,455
as Kotzin bounced
his way through Box Office...
1079
00:40:22,489 --> 00:40:24,591
- Fitting in right
in Hollywood.
1080
00:40:24,624 --> 00:40:26,693
- And made it
to Split Decision,
1081
00:40:26,726 --> 00:40:29,963
where he went with the upper-
body test, Flipped Around,
1082
00:40:29,996 --> 00:40:32,799
and made it to the very end.
1083
00:40:32,832 --> 00:40:36,369
- The grip is giving out,
digging for it, fighting.
1084
00:40:36,403 --> 00:40:37,637
No!
1085
00:40:37,671 --> 00:40:39,239
- Oh, my God!
I can't take it!
1086
00:40:39,272 --> 00:40:40,340
[all groaning]
1087
00:40:40,373 --> 00:40:42,242
But it's his best run ever.
1088
00:40:42,275 --> 00:40:44,544
He's almost assured
of moving on to Vegas.
1089
00:40:44,577 --> 00:40:46,046
[cheers and applause]
1090
00:40:46,079 --> 00:40:48,148
The Swan, Ethan Swanson,
1091
00:40:48,181 --> 00:40:50,050
flew through
the first part of the course
1092
00:40:50,083 --> 00:40:52,719
and had everybody
flapping their wings.
1093
00:40:52,752 --> 00:40:55,522
- The Swan is about
to take flight!
1094
00:40:55,555 --> 00:40:56,956
- The nine-time veteran
was looking
1095
00:40:56,990 --> 00:40:59,159
to get back
to the National Finals
1096
00:40:59,192 --> 00:41:01,327
after missing out
the past two years.
1097
00:41:01,361 --> 00:41:03,630
- And he just cut the
Box Office down to size.
1098
00:41:03,663 --> 00:41:05,432
- When he reached
Split Decision,
1099
00:41:05,465 --> 00:41:07,901
he took the opposite
approach from Kotzin
1100
00:41:07,934 --> 00:41:11,071
and tried the balance
obstacle, Diving Board.
1101
00:41:11,071 --> 00:41:12,472
- Oh, my goodness!
1102
00:41:12,505 --> 00:41:15,375
- But he, too, is likely
to make it to Vegas.
1103
00:41:15,408 --> 00:41:19,412
- I thought I could get it.
I was a little wrong, you know?
1104
00:41:19,446 --> 00:41:22,082
- There's a two-legged cat
at the start line,
1105
00:41:22,082 --> 00:41:23,883
and that can only mean
one thing.
1106
00:41:23,917 --> 00:41:25,352
- Oh, boy.
1107
00:41:25,385 --> 00:41:27,487
- It's time for the
cat-loving ninja from Iowa,
1108
00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:29,456
Jackson Twait.
1109
00:41:29,489 --> 00:41:31,091
Though he's only 24,
1110
00:41:31,091 --> 00:41:35,462
he's the elder statesman
among that crazy Iowa crew.
1111
00:41:35,495 --> 00:41:36,896
[twangy country music]
1112
00:41:36,930 --> 00:41:40,100
- Iowa has definitely been
expanding as a Ninja hotbed.
1113
00:41:40,133 --> 00:41:42,202
I might even say
theNinja hotbed.
1114
00:41:42,235 --> 00:41:44,204
- Wow, big kick.
1115
00:41:44,237 --> 00:41:46,840
- These ninjas from Iowa
have dominated tonight.
1116
00:41:46,873 --> 00:41:49,175
- And this year
I'm back in semifinals,
1117
00:41:49,209 --> 00:41:50,877
competing
with my best friends,
1118
00:41:50,910 --> 00:41:52,645
the Ninja Teens
Chris and Levi.
1119
00:41:52,679 --> 00:41:54,280
- Yeah, he wants
that Mega Wall.
1120
00:41:54,314 --> 00:41:55,315
- Yeah!
1121
00:41:55,348 --> 00:41:57,584
- He's pumped up,
he's pumped up!
1122
00:41:57,617 --> 00:41:59,853
- San Antonio went
pretty good for the bros.
1123
00:41:59,886 --> 00:42:02,455
- Jackson Twait,
full speed ahead.
1124
00:42:02,489 --> 00:42:03,790
- We crushed it.
1125
00:42:03,823 --> 00:42:05,258
You can't get much better.
- Can't get better. Yeah.
1126
00:42:05,291 --> 00:42:09,262
- Double noggin buzzer!
- Oh, oh, oh, go!
1127
00:42:09,295 --> 00:42:11,865
[buzzer blares]
1128
00:42:11,898 --> 00:42:14,668
- The Iowa boys are definitely
ones to look out for.
1129
00:42:14,701 --> 00:42:17,137
- [yelping comedically]
1130
00:42:17,170 --> 00:42:18,905
- It's 'cause we're corn-fed.
1131
00:42:18,938 --> 00:42:20,607
[all grunt]
1132
00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:22,075
But we've never actually
made it to Vegas,
1133
00:42:22,108 --> 00:42:24,778
so we've been putting in
the work, training hard,
1134
00:42:24,811 --> 00:42:26,946
and we're going to be
hitting buzzers all day.
1135
00:42:26,980 --> 00:42:29,215
Noggin!
- Noggin!
1136
00:42:31,751 --> 00:42:33,920
- Well, you know the Iowa boys
are going to make some noise
1137
00:42:33,953 --> 00:42:35,522
on the sideline.
1138
00:42:35,555 --> 00:42:38,558
They're over with the Green
brothers and Jackson's mom.
1139
00:42:38,591 --> 00:42:41,361
[countdown clock beeping]
1140
00:42:41,394 --> 00:42:44,798
- Jackson Twait is too good
to have never been to Vegas.
1141
00:42:44,831 --> 00:42:46,599
I think that's going
to change tonight.
1142
00:42:46,633 --> 00:42:49,536
- Jackson Twait has shown
flashes of brilliance.
1143
00:42:49,569 --> 00:42:51,171
He got the Mega Wall
last year
1144
00:42:51,204 --> 00:42:54,174
and is almost always among
the fastest in qualifying.
1145
00:42:54,207 --> 00:42:55,542
- Let's go, Jackson!
1146
00:42:55,575 --> 00:42:57,711
- Ooh!
- Ooh, went under.
1147
00:42:57,744 --> 00:43:00,246
- He can climb below
or fly across the eight feet,
1148
00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:02,115
and that's what he does.
1149
00:43:02,148 --> 00:43:05,218
- Nice little glide,
lands on his feet again.
1150
00:43:05,251 --> 00:43:08,488
More of those Iowa ninjas
watching back in Cedar Falls.
1151
00:43:08,521 --> 00:43:11,558
[cheers and applause]
1152
00:43:12,325 --> 00:43:14,327
As well as he's done
in qualifying,
1153
00:43:14,361 --> 00:43:17,197
he's had some early falls
on the longer courses.
1154
00:43:17,230 --> 00:43:18,565
- Yeah, that's right, Matt.
1155
00:43:18,598 --> 00:43:20,133
And we've seen
some inconsistency
1156
00:43:20,166 --> 00:43:22,202
with Jackson Twait
over the years,
1157
00:43:22,235 --> 00:43:24,104
but Matt, he's a
legitimate ninja, Matt.
1158
00:43:24,137 --> 00:43:26,139
He can go now.
1159
00:43:26,172 --> 00:43:29,676
- Got great speed, but we'll
see what endurance he has,
1160
00:43:29,709 --> 00:43:32,412
'cause this course is taxing.
1161
00:43:32,445 --> 00:43:35,749
[cheers and applause]
1162
00:43:35,782 --> 00:43:38,184
- Could this be the year
for Jackson Twait?
1163
00:43:38,218 --> 00:43:39,986
- He got onto the
Power Tower back
1164
00:43:40,086 --> 00:43:43,390
when we had it in qualifying
in the six-obstacle course,
1165
00:43:43,423 --> 00:43:44,958
would love to get
there tonight.
1166
00:43:46,993 --> 00:43:48,328
That Safety Pass,
1167
00:43:48,361 --> 00:43:51,097
can't be overstated
how valuable that is in Vegas.
1168
00:43:51,097 --> 00:43:54,334
- Yeah, he's got
a lot of swinging there.
1169
00:43:54,367 --> 00:43:56,736
- Oh, almost slips
with that right hand,
1170
00:43:56,770 --> 00:43:57,937
but he recovers.
1171
00:43:59,539 --> 00:44:01,207
- Nice.
- Good control.
1172
00:44:01,241 --> 00:44:03,309
- Great. I love the way
he came into that.
1173
00:44:03,343 --> 00:44:05,879
He came in pretty tight, now
he's trying to kick the board.
1174
00:44:05,912 --> 00:44:07,547
Don't waste that.
1175
00:44:07,580 --> 00:44:09,082
- Fidgety cat.
- Nice.
1176
00:44:09,115 --> 00:44:10,417
[cheers and applause]
1177
00:44:10,450 --> 00:44:13,153
- See if he can claw
his way up the Warped Wall.
1178
00:44:13,186 --> 00:44:14,287
- He's not taking any breaks.
1179
00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:16,256
Going straight up
the Warped Wall.
1180
00:44:16,289 --> 00:44:18,892
- And no problem.
1181
00:44:18,925 --> 00:44:21,695
both: Meow.
1182
00:44:21,728 --> 00:44:23,830
- Did we just do that
at the same time?
1183
00:44:23,863 --> 00:44:25,565
- Meow. We did.
- Yeah, we did.
1184
00:44:25,598 --> 00:44:28,802
- Team Twait eliciting dual
meows from Matt and Akbar.
1185
00:44:28,835 --> 00:44:29,803
- Jinx.
1186
00:44:29,836 --> 00:44:32,572
- Beautiful job.
Come on, Jackson.
1187
00:44:32,605 --> 00:44:34,407
- Four more obstacles to go,
1188
00:44:34,441 --> 00:44:36,142
starting
with the Salmon Ladder.
1189
00:44:37,210 --> 00:44:39,546
- Jumps right into it
with the switch grip.
1190
00:44:39,579 --> 00:44:40,747
Nice.
1191
00:44:40,780 --> 00:44:43,116
Yep, right up.
1192
00:44:43,149 --> 00:44:45,919
All right, I think he's got
enough left in the tank
1193
00:44:45,952 --> 00:44:48,488
to get through Box Office.
1194
00:44:48,521 --> 00:44:50,090
- Well,
if he can survive this,
1195
00:44:50,090 --> 00:44:51,358
he'll be in good position
1196
00:44:51,391 --> 00:44:53,226
to move on to the
National Finals,
1197
00:44:53,259 --> 00:44:55,862
which start two weeks
from tonight in Las Vegas.
1198
00:44:55,895 --> 00:44:57,864
- Here we go. Right here.
Come on, Jackson.
1199
00:44:57,897 --> 00:44:59,532
[cheers and applause]
1200
00:44:59,566 --> 00:45:01,167
- Just barely hanging on.
1201
00:45:01,201 --> 00:45:04,938
Jackson Twait spending a lot
of time spinning around here.
1202
00:45:05,038 --> 00:45:08,074
Let's see if the Cat Daddy
of here can right the ship.
1203
00:45:08,108 --> 00:45:11,244
Spinning around, he's using up
some of his nine lives.
1204
00:45:11,277 --> 00:45:13,079
- Uh-oh. Yes, he is.
1205
00:45:13,113 --> 00:45:14,781
- Meow, meow, meow, meow.
1206
00:45:14,814 --> 00:45:16,616
- Let's go!
1207
00:45:16,649 --> 00:45:17,784
- Cat Daddy avoiding
the litter box.
1208
00:45:17,817 --> 00:45:19,052
- Uh-oh, uh-oh.
1209
00:45:20,487 --> 00:45:22,088
- And he gets through.
1210
00:45:22,122 --> 00:45:25,291
[cheers and applause]
1211
00:45:25,325 --> 00:45:26,793
Headed for Split Decision.
1212
00:45:26,826 --> 00:45:29,696
And don't look now, but he's
got a fast time going.
1213
00:45:29,729 --> 00:45:32,265
He could be thinking
about the Power Tower.
1214
00:45:32,298 --> 00:45:34,501
- And he's going straight
to Diving Boards,
1215
00:45:34,534 --> 00:45:37,303
which is quicker,
but a lot more dangerous.
1216
00:45:37,337 --> 00:45:39,539
- Well, cats do not
like getting wet.
1217
00:45:39,572 --> 00:45:40,840
What's going to happen here?
1218
00:45:40,874 --> 00:45:42,976
- Matt, he can't
pussyfoot through this.
1219
00:45:43,076 --> 00:45:45,278
Oh!
- But he's still on!
1220
00:45:45,311 --> 00:45:46,546
- Oh, my goodness!
He's got nine lives!
1221
00:45:46,579 --> 00:45:47,947
- What a save!
1222
00:45:47,981 --> 00:45:50,517
- He's got nine lives
on the ninth obstacle!
1223
00:45:50,550 --> 00:45:54,087
What? What?
1224
00:45:54,087 --> 00:45:56,189
- He's riding the horse.
1225
00:45:56,222 --> 00:45:58,124
What a save!
- Come on.
1226
00:45:58,158 --> 00:45:59,559
That's a lucky cat
right there.
1227
00:45:59,592 --> 00:46:01,494
- He just used eight
of his lives right there.
1228
00:46:01,528 --> 00:46:03,196
[cheers and applause]
1229
00:46:03,229 --> 00:46:05,899
The first to get
through Diving Boards,
1230
00:46:05,932 --> 00:46:07,801
and now he's got
more than a minute left
1231
00:46:07,834 --> 00:46:10,503
to get the fastest time.
1232
00:46:10,537 --> 00:46:12,906
- That's crazy.
What a lucky cat.
1233
00:46:12,939 --> 00:46:16,042
- Making the most
of those nine lives,
1234
00:46:16,042 --> 00:46:18,478
Cat Daddy 35 feet away
1235
00:46:18,511 --> 00:46:21,314
from his first
extended course buzzer.
1236
00:46:21,348 --> 00:46:23,950
- Are you kidding me?
I'm going to go adopt a cat.
1237
00:46:24,050 --> 00:46:27,187
- Well, sometimes you need
a little bit of luck.
1238
00:46:27,220 --> 00:46:29,389
[cheers and applause]
1239
00:46:29,422 --> 00:46:31,591
But don't take the
Spider Trap for granted.
1240
00:46:31,624 --> 00:46:33,760
He fell on this obstacle
two years ago.
1241
00:46:36,463 --> 00:46:37,764
- Matt, I'm not going to lie.
1242
00:46:37,797 --> 00:46:40,900
This has been a purrfect run.
1243
00:46:40,934 --> 00:46:43,970
[cheers and applause]
1244
00:46:44,070 --> 00:46:46,072
- And look, here it is.
1245
00:46:46,072 --> 00:46:49,275
Jackson Twait's going to
do it with the fastest
1246
00:46:49,309 --> 00:46:50,777
time of the night.
1247
00:46:50,810 --> 00:46:51,845
- Come on! Nice!
1248
00:46:51,878 --> 00:46:53,380
- Are you kidding me?
1249
00:46:53,413 --> 00:46:55,315
- Okay,
he wants the Power Tower.
1250
00:46:55,348 --> 00:46:56,416
[buzzer blares]
1251
00:46:56,449 --> 00:46:59,219
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
1252
00:46:59,252 --> 00:47:03,623
- It's the year
of the Cat Daddy!
1253
00:47:03,656 --> 00:47:06,559
Jackson Twait,
a miraculous save.
1254
00:47:06,593 --> 00:47:09,896
Makes the most of it.
- Yes!
1255
00:47:09,929 --> 00:47:12,832
- I don't know how
he survived Diving Boards.
1256
00:47:12,866 --> 00:47:15,168
He tried to two-step
the second board,
1257
00:47:15,201 --> 00:47:17,404
but his right foot
missed completely,
1258
00:47:17,437 --> 00:47:19,339
landed right
on that last board,
1259
00:47:19,372 --> 00:47:23,143
and held on for dear life,
and he was able to save it.
1260
00:47:23,176 --> 00:47:25,578
Even he couldn't believe it.
1261
00:47:25,612 --> 00:47:27,113
All right, Jackson,
did you think
1262
00:47:27,147 --> 00:47:29,249
you were going in that water?
1263
00:47:29,282 --> 00:47:30,817
- 100%, yeah.
1264
00:47:30,850 --> 00:47:33,620
- Jackson, you used up
eight of your lives.
1265
00:47:33,653 --> 00:47:34,921
You stayed alive, though.
1266
00:47:34,954 --> 00:47:36,856
Right now,
you've got the fastest time
1267
00:47:36,890 --> 00:47:38,792
and you're in line
to go to the Power Tower.
1268
00:47:38,825 --> 00:47:41,861
[cheers and applause]
1269
00:47:43,797 --> 00:47:45,832
RJ Roman's rocking out.
1270
00:47:45,865 --> 00:47:49,069
Soon, he'll be doing
the same thing on the course.
1271
00:47:49,069 --> 00:47:51,404
The Orlando musician
is coming up.
1272
00:47:51,438 --> 00:47:53,840
And you know he wants
to end up on that Power Tower.
1273
00:47:53,873 --> 00:47:57,077
Our two fastest will be there
at the end of the night.
1274
00:47:57,110 --> 00:48:00,146
It's all coming up on
"American Ninja Warrior."
1275
00:48:04,417 --> 00:48:06,286
- Welcome back
to Universal Studios,
1276
00:48:06,319 --> 00:48:09,823
where a couple of Chicago-area
ninjas just got their shot.
1277
00:48:09,856 --> 00:48:13,460
Pediatrician Dr. Steven Bachta
hit the course
1278
00:48:13,493 --> 00:48:15,428
with his wife
and two daughters watching,
1279
00:48:15,462 --> 00:48:17,530
plus his coach, Mike Silenzi.
1280
00:48:17,564 --> 00:48:19,833
Doctah Bachta made it
to the semifinals
1281
00:48:19,866 --> 00:48:21,801
as a 40-year-old rookie.
1282
00:48:21,835 --> 00:48:23,403
- Oh, he goes under.
1283
00:48:23,436 --> 00:48:24,704
That's the hard way.
1284
00:48:24,738 --> 00:48:25,705
Oh!
1285
00:48:25,739 --> 00:48:27,240
[air horn blares]
1286
00:48:27,273 --> 00:48:29,676
- But tonight, the Doctah
didn't survive Over-Under.
1287
00:48:29,709 --> 00:48:32,645
- Girls, it's time for bed.
Love you guys.
1288
00:48:32,679 --> 00:48:36,149
- 17-year-old Maggie Owen was
making her first appearance
1289
00:48:36,182 --> 00:48:38,318
in the semifinals,
and her coach,
1290
00:48:38,351 --> 00:48:40,320
Jesse "Flex" Labreck,
was leading the cheers.
1291
00:48:40,353 --> 00:48:42,055
- Let's go, Maggie!
1292
00:48:42,088 --> 00:48:44,958
- Though only 5 feet tall
and 105 pounds,
1293
00:48:45,058 --> 00:48:48,061
Owen quickly powered her way
through the early obstacles.
1294
00:48:48,061 --> 00:48:50,430
- Oh, look at this.
1295
00:48:50,463 --> 00:48:52,232
- But Clockwork
turned into a struggle.
1296
00:48:52,265 --> 00:48:54,701
- Everything you've
got here, Maggie.
1297
00:48:54,734 --> 00:48:57,170
Oh!
[air horn blares]
1298
00:48:57,203 --> 00:48:59,372
- Good job, Mags!
1299
00:48:59,406 --> 00:49:01,608
- Up next is another teenager.
1300
00:49:01,641 --> 00:49:04,711
16-year-old high school
student Karen Potts.
1301
00:49:04,744 --> 00:49:07,013
And she's calling
her shot, Akbar.
1302
00:49:07,013 --> 00:49:09,549
She's a star athlete
on the softball field,
1303
00:49:09,582 --> 00:49:13,319
and now, she's bringing
her talents to "Ninja."
1304
00:49:13,353 --> 00:49:16,322
[organ music playing]
1305
00:49:16,356 --> 00:49:18,425
* *
1306
00:49:18,458 --> 00:49:20,193
[cheers and applause]
1307
00:49:20,226 --> 00:49:23,763
- I started playing softball
when I was nine years old.
1308
00:49:23,797 --> 00:49:25,031
It's so much fun.
1309
00:49:26,366 --> 00:49:28,935
[cheers and applause]
1310
00:49:29,035 --> 00:49:31,938
[upbeat music]
1311
00:49:32,038 --> 00:49:33,573
* *
1312
00:49:33,606 --> 00:49:34,941
I like to play shortstop
1313
00:49:35,041 --> 00:49:37,344
'cause a lot of the time,
I'm involved in the action.
1314
00:49:39,045 --> 00:49:40,146
[cheers and applause]
1315
00:49:40,180 --> 00:49:41,748
I got it, I got it.
1316
00:49:41,781 --> 00:49:44,617
- Way to work!
1317
00:49:44,651 --> 00:49:48,355
- Karen is one of the
most athletic kids,
1318
00:49:48,388 --> 00:49:50,156
really, in the county.
1319
00:49:50,190 --> 00:49:51,725
She is naturally gifted,
1320
00:49:51,758 --> 00:49:53,293
just a college-level
athlete...
1321
00:49:55,362 --> 00:49:56,396
Playing in a high school.
1322
00:49:58,565 --> 00:50:02,302
- "American Ninja Warrior" is
a lot different from softball.
1323
00:50:02,335 --> 00:50:04,871
But the two sports
really translate
1324
00:50:04,904 --> 00:50:06,072
well into each other.
1325
00:50:08,174 --> 00:50:10,410
- Karen's Ninja training
has really paid off
1326
00:50:10,443 --> 00:50:12,946
with her softball
and improved her game.
1327
00:50:12,979 --> 00:50:14,547
She throws harder,
1328
00:50:14,581 --> 00:50:18,218
and she hits for power that
she didn't used to hit for.
1329
00:50:18,251 --> 00:50:21,421
- Last season,
I hit about .500,
1330
00:50:21,454 --> 00:50:23,890
and I'm batting
about .700 this year.
1331
00:50:23,923 --> 00:50:25,291
[cheers and applause]
1332
00:50:25,325 --> 00:50:26,693
- I'm really proud
of what she's accomplished
1333
00:50:26,726 --> 00:50:27,694
in all of her endeavors.
1334
00:50:27,727 --> 00:50:29,462
School, softball, Ninja.
1335
00:50:29,496 --> 00:50:31,531
Whatever it is,
she attacks it with gusto.
1336
00:50:31,564 --> 00:50:34,200
- Really athletic.
Look at her go, Matt.
1337
00:50:34,234 --> 00:50:35,835
- Coach gave her
the steal signal.
1338
00:50:35,869 --> 00:50:37,303
She can run.
1339
00:50:37,337 --> 00:50:38,805
- It would mean so much
to me to advance
1340
00:50:38,838 --> 00:50:40,874
to the National Finals
in Vegas.
1341
00:50:40,907 --> 00:50:44,010
I would prove to myself that
I can compete with the pros,
1342
00:50:44,044 --> 00:50:47,414
so I'm ready to swing
for the fences on this course.
1343
00:50:47,447 --> 00:50:50,483
[cheers and applause]
1344
00:50:53,787 --> 00:50:55,655
- Karen's mom will be
on the sidelines...
1345
00:50:55,689 --> 00:50:57,257
- Let's go, Karen!
1346
00:50:57,290 --> 00:50:59,859
- While her Dad and her uncle
watching back in Maryland,
1347
00:50:59,893 --> 00:51:02,095
along with some
of her softball teammates.
1348
00:51:02,128 --> 00:51:05,432
[countdown clock beeping]
1349
00:51:05,465 --> 00:51:08,368
5'11", tallest female
competitor running tonight.
1350
00:51:08,401 --> 00:51:11,604
In addition to softball,
also a top soccer player.
1351
00:51:11,638 --> 00:51:13,106
[cheers and applause]
1352
00:51:13,139 --> 00:51:15,942
See if she can generate
the power here on Over-Under.
1353
00:51:15,975 --> 00:51:17,177
Take that bar up and over.
1354
00:51:17,210 --> 00:51:19,145
- Nice.
- Just got it.
1355
00:51:19,179 --> 00:51:20,513
- All right, okay.
1356
00:51:20,547 --> 00:51:22,449
Using a long reach.
If you got it, use it.
1357
00:51:22,482 --> 00:51:24,117
- Well, look at her
generating a lot of power
1358
00:51:24,150 --> 00:51:25,251
with those hips.
1359
00:51:25,285 --> 00:51:27,187
- Ooh! Okay.
1360
00:51:27,220 --> 00:51:29,856
- A batter's power
comes from those hips.
1361
00:51:29,889 --> 00:51:31,991
[cheers and applause]
1362
00:51:32,092 --> 00:51:33,960
Now onto Clockwork.
1363
00:51:33,993 --> 00:51:36,096
We saw Maggie Owen
fall here moments ago.
1364
00:51:36,129 --> 00:51:39,699
You can really struggle here
if you can't generate swing.
1365
00:51:39,733 --> 00:51:41,401
Seems to be getting
these gears moving.
1366
00:51:41,434 --> 00:51:42,836
That's been a challenge
tonight.
1367
00:51:42,869 --> 00:51:44,104
- Yeah.
1368
00:51:44,104 --> 00:51:46,272
- Especially for
the lighter competitors.
1369
00:51:46,306 --> 00:51:47,574
Has a lot of length.
1370
00:51:47,607 --> 00:51:49,309
both: Oh!
- Okay, she swung for it.
1371
00:51:49,342 --> 00:51:50,510
I like it.
1372
00:51:50,543 --> 00:51:52,278
- She relies
on those long arms.
1373
00:51:52,312 --> 00:51:53,279
- It was a little
on the short.
1374
00:51:53,313 --> 00:51:54,481
She said, "You know what?
1375
00:51:54,514 --> 00:51:56,983
I'm just going
to swing for it."
1376
00:51:57,017 --> 00:51:59,252
Nice!
- Got it. Wow.
1377
00:52:01,121 --> 00:52:02,589
And she gets through.
1378
00:52:02,622 --> 00:52:05,825
That's going to give the
rookie some confidence.
1379
00:52:05,859 --> 00:52:07,961
Now facing Diamond Dash.
1380
00:52:08,061 --> 00:52:09,496
- She's a base-stealer, Matt.
1381
00:52:09,529 --> 00:52:11,364
She can go.
1382
00:52:11,398 --> 00:52:12,599
- Nice.
- Oh!
1383
00:52:12,632 --> 00:52:14,234
- And right through
Diamond Dash.
1384
00:52:14,267 --> 00:52:16,603
Of course the softball player
comfortable on the Diamond.
1385
00:52:16,636 --> 00:52:19,139
- Of course.
- Now it's Hopscotch.
1386
00:52:19,172 --> 00:52:21,341
- I see you, I see you.
1387
00:52:21,374 --> 00:52:23,076
Yeah!
1388
00:52:23,076 --> 00:52:24,611
- There it is.
1389
00:52:24,644 --> 00:52:26,079
- Knock this one out the park.
1390
00:52:26,079 --> 00:52:28,682
- She's got her initials,
KJP, on her shirt,
1391
00:52:28,715 --> 00:52:32,986
but she's going for MVP right
now, taking on Hopscotch.
1392
00:52:33,086 --> 00:52:34,688
Megan Rowe is the
only other woman
1393
00:52:34,721 --> 00:52:36,389
to reach this point tonight.
1394
00:52:36,423 --> 00:52:39,092
- KJP is the boss.
1395
00:52:39,092 --> 00:52:40,794
Three, nice.
1396
00:52:40,827 --> 00:52:44,531
- Now for the double wide
blind grab.
1397
00:52:44,564 --> 00:52:46,666
- KJP is not messing around.
1398
00:52:46,700 --> 00:52:48,134
- Oh, how did she save that?
1399
00:52:48,168 --> 00:52:49,469
- Okay.
1400
00:52:49,502 --> 00:52:53,106
- Had the left hand,
got the right hand.
1401
00:52:53,139 --> 00:52:55,108
Into the free spin.
- Nice!
1402
00:52:55,108 --> 00:52:57,477
- Oh, my goodness!
1403
00:52:57,510 --> 00:52:59,579
- Okay, KJP.
1404
00:53:01,881 --> 00:53:04,117
- Only one woman
bested it last week.
1405
00:53:04,150 --> 00:53:07,153
KJP at 16 beats Hopscotch.
1406
00:53:07,187 --> 00:53:09,556
It is child's play for her.
1407
00:53:09,589 --> 00:53:12,158
Now her first attempt
at the Warped Wall.
1408
00:53:12,192 --> 00:53:14,694
This is like the Green Monster
in Fenway.
1409
00:53:14,728 --> 00:53:16,129
Can she go yard?
1410
00:53:16,162 --> 00:53:18,131
- Nice! Okay!
- Yes, she can.
1411
00:53:18,164 --> 00:53:21,768
[cheers and applause]
1412
00:53:21,801 --> 00:53:25,772
- KJP, call your shot!
1413
00:53:25,805 --> 00:53:29,309
[cheers and applause]
1414
00:53:29,342 --> 00:53:32,078
- She's already getting
recruited by college coaches,
1415
00:53:32,112 --> 00:53:33,079
and you can see why.
1416
00:53:33,113 --> 00:53:34,681
She is a natural athlete.
1417
00:53:34,714 --> 00:53:37,117
Let's see what she does
on the Salmon Ladder.
1418
00:53:37,150 --> 00:53:39,152
- Go, Karen!
1419
00:53:39,185 --> 00:53:40,787
- What a run.
1420
00:53:40,820 --> 00:53:42,489
- We lowered
the age limit last year,
1421
00:53:42,522 --> 00:53:44,624
and she's now
the second teenage girl
1422
00:53:44,657 --> 00:53:47,460
to reach the back half
of the semifinals course.
1423
00:53:47,494 --> 00:53:50,263
Isabella Wakeham was
the first to do it last year.
1424
00:53:50,296 --> 00:53:52,565
- Come on. Nice.
1425
00:53:52,599 --> 00:53:54,401
- It's like pots
and pans banging away,
1426
00:53:54,434 --> 00:53:55,702
those arms getting extended.
1427
00:53:55,735 --> 00:53:57,203
- Ooh, okay.
- What does she have left?
1428
00:53:57,237 --> 00:53:59,472
- She's cooking up something.
Come on!
1429
00:53:59,506 --> 00:54:01,041
Nice!
- Well, let's see it.
1430
00:54:01,041 --> 00:54:03,476
[cheers and applause]
1431
00:54:03,510 --> 00:54:04,477
Got it!
1432
00:54:04,511 --> 00:54:06,046
- She's doing a great job.
1433
00:54:06,046 --> 00:54:07,847
- Well, let's see
if she can be the natural
1434
00:54:07,881 --> 00:54:09,215
at the Box Office.
1435
00:54:09,249 --> 00:54:12,052
- Oh!
- Splashes down.
1436
00:54:12,085 --> 00:54:14,788
But that's the best run
by a woman tonight.
1437
00:54:14,821 --> 00:54:17,891
Makes it to the
eighth obstacle as a rookie!
1438
00:54:17,924 --> 00:54:20,827
- Matt, that was great.
Look at this.
1439
00:54:20,860 --> 00:54:24,531
The softball player showed off
a strong arm on Clockwork,
1440
00:54:24,564 --> 00:54:27,100
was safe running
across Diamond Dash,
1441
00:54:27,133 --> 00:54:30,403
and displayed power
going up Salmon Ladder.
1442
00:54:30,437 --> 00:54:32,672
Her only error was at the end.
1443
00:54:32,706 --> 00:54:35,075
She got her right hand
hung up on the bar,
1444
00:54:35,075 --> 00:54:37,811
and that caused
an awkward fall.
1445
00:54:37,844 --> 00:54:41,348
And this 16-year-old is going
to the National Finals.
1446
00:54:41,381 --> 00:54:44,617
KJP may be in the running
for Rookie of the Year.
1447
00:54:44,651 --> 00:54:45,885
[cheers and applause]
1448
00:54:45,919 --> 00:54:48,088
- Well, Captain NBC's
ready to fly,
1449
00:54:48,088 --> 00:54:50,990
and Jamie Rahn's got
some big news to share.
1450
00:54:51,091 --> 00:54:54,094
His run is coming up next
on "American Ninja Warrior."
1451
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,669
- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior,"
1452
00:55:02,702 --> 00:55:04,871
where it has been
non-stop action.
1453
00:55:04,904 --> 00:55:07,140
- Yeah, check out
what just happened.
1454
00:55:07,173 --> 00:55:09,676
- Cam "The Baum"
Baumgartner was looking
1455
00:55:09,709 --> 00:55:12,212
for his second straight finish
in the semifinals.
1456
00:55:12,245 --> 00:55:14,781
- He wants that buzzer, Matt.
1457
00:55:14,814 --> 00:55:18,118
- The 24-year-old gymnastics
coach from the Chicago area
1458
00:55:18,151 --> 00:55:20,687
is one of the
sport's top talents,
1459
00:55:20,720 --> 00:55:23,623
and he had no problem on the
front half of the course.
1460
00:55:23,656 --> 00:55:25,191
- Go get what's yours.
Go get it.
1461
00:55:25,225 --> 00:55:28,395
All right, Cam "The Baum"
has got to be explosive.
1462
00:55:28,428 --> 00:55:30,964
- At Split Decision,
he went with Flipped Around
1463
00:55:31,064 --> 00:55:33,066
and had to wrestle
his way through.
1464
00:55:33,066 --> 00:55:35,902
- Uh-oh, oh, oh!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
1465
00:55:35,935 --> 00:55:37,303
Okay.
1466
00:55:37,337 --> 00:55:39,606
- But he survived,
and the four-time veteran
1467
00:55:39,639 --> 00:55:41,374
is going back to Vegas.
1468
00:55:41,408 --> 00:55:43,076
Our fourth finisher
of the night.
1469
00:55:43,076 --> 00:55:44,577
[buzzer blares]
1470
00:55:44,611 --> 00:55:46,079
- Let's go!
1471
00:55:46,112 --> 00:55:48,815
- 15-year-old Ethan Gardulski
was one of the great
1472
00:55:48,848 --> 00:55:50,750
stories from qualifying.
1473
00:55:50,784 --> 00:55:52,585
Though he suffers
from anxiety,
1474
00:55:52,619 --> 00:55:55,522
the Michigan teenager motored
his way through the course
1475
00:55:55,555 --> 00:55:57,791
and got a buzzer
on his very first run.
1476
00:55:57,824 --> 00:56:00,260
[buzzer blares]
- Yeah!
1477
00:56:00,293 --> 00:56:02,796
- Tonight, though he
only weighs 100 pounds,
1478
00:56:02,829 --> 00:56:04,731
Gardulski was able
to power his way
1479
00:56:04,764 --> 00:56:06,866
past the early obstacles.
1480
00:56:06,900 --> 00:56:08,501
- This dude can go.
1481
00:56:08,535 --> 00:56:10,804
- And he was looking strong
as he swung through Clockwork.
1482
00:56:10,837 --> 00:56:12,839
- Sha-ba-ba-ba!
- No!
1483
00:56:12,872 --> 00:56:15,608
- But just couldn't hang on.
- So close!
1484
00:56:15,642 --> 00:56:16,876
[cheers and applause]
1485
00:56:16,910 --> 00:56:18,578
- Pro handball
player Gary Hines
1486
00:56:18,611 --> 00:56:20,847
brought his impressive
physique all the way
1487
00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:22,415
from Germany to compete.
1488
00:56:22,449 --> 00:56:25,285
- You can see everything,
oblique muscles.
1489
00:56:25,318 --> 00:56:26,619
He's putting on a show.
1490
00:56:26,653 --> 00:56:28,688
- The muscled-up 38-year-old
1491
00:56:28,722 --> 00:56:30,657
nicknamed Hangtime
was impressive.
1492
00:56:30,690 --> 00:56:32,192
- Okay, Hangtime Hines.
1493
00:56:32,225 --> 00:56:33,393
- Yeah!
1494
00:56:33,426 --> 00:56:34,728
- And the handball
player showed
1495
00:56:34,761 --> 00:56:38,264
good hands on Hopscotch
with a two-finger save.
1496
00:56:38,298 --> 00:56:39,799
- Come on, man.
1497
00:56:39,833 --> 00:56:41,868
I'm telling you right now,
my index and middle finger
1498
00:56:41,901 --> 00:56:43,103
can't do that.
1499
00:56:43,136 --> 00:56:44,838
- Hines got a buzzer
in qualifying
1500
00:56:44,871 --> 00:56:46,840
and had another
strong run tonight.
1501
00:56:46,873 --> 00:56:48,141
- Oh!
1502
00:56:48,174 --> 00:56:50,744
- Before he was
bounced on Box Office.
1503
00:56:50,777 --> 00:56:53,313
We'll have to wait and see
if that gets him to Vegas.
1504
00:56:54,848 --> 00:56:57,684
Iron Man, Spider-Man,
and Captain America
1505
00:56:57,717 --> 00:57:00,520
have all filmed scenes
right here on New York Street,
1506
00:57:00,553 --> 00:57:03,590
but up next is Ninja's
favorite superhero,
1507
00:57:03,623 --> 00:57:06,459
Captain NBC, Jamie Rahn.
1508
00:57:06,493 --> 00:57:08,695
First competed 12 years ago.
1509
00:57:08,728 --> 00:57:10,063
We've seen this man grow up,
1510
00:57:10,096 --> 00:57:13,533
and now, he's working
on an origin story.
1511
00:57:13,566 --> 00:57:16,102
[soft dramatic music]
1512
00:57:16,136 --> 00:57:17,537
- We have been
trying to, you know,
1513
00:57:17,570 --> 00:57:19,406
have a kid
for three years now.
1514
00:57:21,107 --> 00:57:22,676
So we got testing done
1515
00:57:22,709 --> 00:57:25,378
and found out that our chances
of it happening naturally
1516
00:57:25,412 --> 00:57:27,313
was like 2%.
1517
00:57:27,347 --> 00:57:30,583
And so we decided to try IVF.
1518
00:57:30,617 --> 00:57:33,119
- Going through so many shots
and procedures
1519
00:57:33,153 --> 00:57:36,222
and everything else
to hopefully become pregnant
1520
00:57:36,256 --> 00:57:39,693
and find out that you're not,
it was very hard.
1521
00:57:39,726 --> 00:57:44,130
- * And run with me,
run with me, run *
1522
00:57:44,164 --> 00:57:47,434
* Jump with me,
jump with me, jump *
1523
00:57:47,467 --> 00:57:50,170
* *
1524
00:57:50,203 --> 00:57:53,473
- [voice breaking]
But I have him.
1525
00:57:53,506 --> 00:57:57,143
And I have lots of family
and lots of friends.
1526
00:57:57,177 --> 00:57:58,645
They were just there
to hug me
1527
00:57:58,678 --> 00:58:01,281
or just let me
sit there and cry.
1528
00:58:01,314 --> 00:58:04,651
- * The world
ain't got nothing on us *
1529
00:58:04,684 --> 00:58:07,854
- After two years
of trying IVF, you know,
1530
00:58:07,887 --> 00:58:10,623
we decided to take
a little break.
1531
00:58:10,657 --> 00:58:14,160
And then, that's actually
when we got lucky.
1532
00:58:14,194 --> 00:58:16,629
- I was getting ready for the
winter, closing up the pool,
1533
00:58:16,663 --> 00:58:18,832
and dropped an umbrella
weight on my foot.
1534
00:58:18,865 --> 00:58:21,368
Knowing that I needed
to get an X-ray done,
1535
00:58:21,401 --> 00:58:23,370
they made me take
a pregnancy test.
1536
00:58:23,403 --> 00:58:27,307
In addition to a broken toe,
I was also pregnant.
1537
00:58:27,340 --> 00:58:28,775
Look at that cute,
little button nose.
1538
00:58:28,808 --> 00:58:30,210
- Yeah.
1539
00:58:30,243 --> 00:58:32,712
- So we're having a boy.
Couldn't be more excited.
1540
00:58:32,746 --> 00:58:34,347
Right above where his
head is going to be.
1541
00:58:34,381 --> 00:58:35,815
- Yeah.
1542
00:58:35,849 --> 00:58:38,218
- Jamie has just been
standing right beside me.
1543
00:58:38,251 --> 00:58:39,652
- Hey.
1544
00:58:39,686 --> 00:58:41,921
- He's been bringing me
apples and ice cream,
1545
00:58:41,955 --> 00:58:43,523
holding my hand,
telling me he loves me,
1546
00:58:43,556 --> 00:58:45,759
telling me I'm pretty.
1547
00:58:45,792 --> 00:58:48,061
You know, our whole lives
are about to change.
1548
00:58:48,061 --> 00:58:50,497
We're ready for it, though.
1549
00:58:50,530 --> 00:58:52,732
- Kim's been amazing
through this process.
1550
00:58:52,766 --> 00:58:54,200
I'd love to hit
a buzzer for her
1551
00:58:54,234 --> 00:58:56,369
with little baby Jay
on the sideline.
1552
00:58:56,403 --> 00:58:58,338
It just means the world to me.
1553
00:58:58,371 --> 00:59:00,840
- * Run with me, run *
1554
00:59:03,443 --> 00:59:06,780
[cheers and applause]
1555
00:59:06,813 --> 00:59:08,882
- And Jamie's got
Kim on his sideline
1556
00:59:08,915 --> 00:59:10,183
wearing the green wig.
1557
00:59:10,216 --> 00:59:11,651
She's due very soon.
1558
00:59:11,685 --> 00:59:13,887
- Let's go, babe!
Look at your baby!
1559
00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:15,555
- Oh, buzzer for baby!
1560
00:59:15,588 --> 00:59:19,025
- Buzzers for baby.
That's great.
1561
00:59:19,059 --> 00:59:21,561
But also wearing the green
wigs are Jamie's parents
1562
00:59:21,594 --> 00:59:23,063
and other family members.
1563
00:59:23,096 --> 00:59:24,764
They never miss one
of his runs.
1564
00:59:24,798 --> 00:59:28,702
[countdown clock beeping]
- Boop, boop, boop, boop!
1565
00:59:28,735 --> 00:59:31,504
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, hey!
1566
00:59:31,538 --> 00:59:33,340
- Did he make his own sound?
1567
00:59:33,373 --> 00:59:37,711
This superhero doing
his own sound effects!
1568
00:59:37,744 --> 00:59:39,045
- Come on, Jamie!
- You got it, Jamie!
1569
00:59:39,045 --> 00:59:40,347
- Come on, Jamie!
1570
00:59:40,380 --> 00:59:41,781
- You know this guy
can generate power,
1571
00:59:41,815 --> 00:59:43,083
great at laches.
1572
00:59:43,116 --> 00:59:44,250
- Well, yeah, of course,
he's a superhero.
1573
00:59:44,284 --> 00:59:46,419
Of course he can
generate power.
1574
00:59:46,453 --> 00:59:48,321
Oh, what's your power?
- There you go.
1575
00:59:48,355 --> 00:59:50,890
You can see, no capes, though.
1576
00:59:50,924 --> 00:59:53,059
- Real superheroes
don't need capes.
1577
00:59:53,093 --> 00:59:56,062
[cheers and applause]
1578
00:59:56,062 --> 00:59:58,331
- 5'10", 170,
should have no problem
1579
00:59:58,365 --> 01:00:00,567
moving the gears here
on Clockwork.
1580
01:00:00,600 --> 01:00:02,669
[cheers and applause]
1581
01:00:02,702 --> 01:00:04,738
What a journey
it's been for him.
1582
01:00:04,771 --> 01:00:07,207
When we first saw him
back in season two,
1583
01:00:07,240 --> 01:00:09,976
he was a kind of nerdy
cosplay kid from New Jersey.
1584
01:00:10,010 --> 01:00:13,480
But he worked at it and became
one of the very best ninjas.
1585
01:00:13,513 --> 01:00:16,016
Now this guy's married,
having a baby,
1586
01:00:16,049 --> 01:00:18,685
runs a successful gym
in St. Louis.
1587
01:00:18,718 --> 01:00:20,220
And there's some
of his students
1588
01:00:20,253 --> 01:00:21,888
watching back in Missouri.
1589
01:00:21,921 --> 01:00:23,723
Now the Diamond Dash.
1590
01:00:23,757 --> 01:00:24,791
- All right.
Come on.
1591
01:00:24,824 --> 01:00:27,127
Nice.
- Great footwork.
1592
01:00:27,160 --> 01:00:29,195
[cheers and applause]
1593
01:00:29,229 --> 01:00:31,097
- He's going to be doing a lot
of this with his baby.
1594
01:00:31,131 --> 01:00:32,599
[chuckles]
Playing hopscotch.
1595
01:00:32,632 --> 01:00:34,234
- There's a good look
at his left thumb.
1596
01:00:34,267 --> 01:00:36,569
He cut part of it off
with a table saw
1597
01:00:36,603 --> 01:00:38,304
a couple of years ago.
1598
01:00:38,338 --> 01:00:40,440
His grip had been
a little impacted.
1599
01:00:40,473 --> 01:00:42,375
So anytime you're on
something like this,
1600
01:00:42,409 --> 01:00:44,611
this may be his vulnerability.
1601
01:00:44,644 --> 01:00:46,913
Hasn't slowed him down much,
though.
1602
01:00:46,946 --> 01:00:48,748
Made it past semifinals
the past two years.
1603
01:00:48,782 --> 01:00:51,818
[cheers and applause]
1604
01:00:56,356 --> 01:00:58,458
And he's through
five obstacles tonight.
1605
01:01:00,593 --> 01:01:01,728
Looking over at Kim.
1606
01:01:01,761 --> 01:01:03,196
- You're doing awesome, babe!
1607
01:01:03,229 --> 01:01:06,266
all: [chanting]
Beat that wall! Beat that wall!
1608
01:01:10,270 --> 01:01:13,139
- Taking a breath
before the Warped Wall.
1609
01:01:13,173 --> 01:01:15,075
- There he goes. Nice.
1610
01:01:15,075 --> 01:01:17,811
- Now, and his son is
someday going to be
1611
01:01:17,844 --> 01:01:19,179
able to watch this video.
1612
01:01:19,212 --> 01:01:21,247
Jamie will say,
"You were there, kid."
1613
01:01:21,281 --> 01:01:23,249
- Nice. There you go.
1614
01:01:23,283 --> 01:01:25,719
Just rolling around here
like a little roly poly.
1615
01:01:25,752 --> 01:01:27,320
- [laughs]
Why not have fun?
1616
01:01:27,354 --> 01:01:29,589
- And with a baby on the way,
that's a lot of expenses.
1617
01:01:29,622 --> 01:01:32,592
He'd love to win that
million dollars in Vegas.
1618
01:01:32,625 --> 01:01:35,595
- Been to the National Finals
seven times in his career.
1619
01:01:35,628 --> 01:01:37,297
If he wants
to guarantee another trip,
1620
01:01:37,330 --> 01:01:39,265
they'll need to get
past Box Office.
1621
01:01:39,299 --> 01:01:40,734
- The way he did that, Matt,
1622
01:01:40,767 --> 01:01:42,402
I think he's going
to make it through Box Office.
1623
01:01:42,435 --> 01:01:44,771
- Box Office
could be a challenge.
1624
01:01:44,804 --> 01:01:46,573
Although superhero movies
traditionally
1625
01:01:46,606 --> 01:01:48,508
do well at the Box Office.
1626
01:01:48,541 --> 01:01:49,843
- You got it!
1627
01:01:49,876 --> 01:01:50,877
- Really got to get
that grip locked in.
1628
01:01:50,910 --> 01:01:52,245
- Nice.
- He did it.
1629
01:01:52,278 --> 01:01:53,680
- And you saw the way
he came in, compact,
1630
01:01:53,713 --> 01:01:56,116
so he could absorb the drop.
1631
01:01:56,116 --> 01:01:58,952
- And the blind grab here with
that lead hand blind grab.
1632
01:01:58,985 --> 01:02:00,053
Got it!
[cheers and applause]
1633
01:02:00,053 --> 01:02:01,354
That's impressive.
1634
01:02:01,388 --> 01:02:03,490
- Well, it's not a blind grab
for Captain NBC.
1635
01:02:03,523 --> 01:02:04,858
He can see right through it.
1636
01:02:04,891 --> 01:02:06,659
- I believe X-ray vision
is one of his powers.
1637
01:02:06,693 --> 01:02:08,628
Now, the smaller cube here--
1638
01:02:08,661 --> 01:02:10,063
- All right,
keep the film rolling!
1639
01:02:10,063 --> 01:02:13,199
Keep it rolling. Nice!
- Wow!
1640
01:02:13,233 --> 01:02:16,136
A boffo Box Office move.
1641
01:02:16,169 --> 01:02:19,806
And it means
he's going back to Vegas.
1642
01:02:19,839 --> 01:02:21,741
Now has to tackle
Split Decision,
1643
01:02:21,775 --> 01:02:23,209
and he's got a dilemma.
1644
01:02:23,243 --> 01:02:24,744
Last season in the semifinals,
1645
01:02:24,778 --> 01:02:27,180
was taken out
by the Diving Boards.
1646
01:02:27,213 --> 01:02:28,715
Will he try them again?
1647
01:02:33,286 --> 01:02:34,788
- How's everything feeling?
1648
01:02:36,389 --> 01:02:37,891
- But it's fun.
- Yeah.
1649
01:02:37,924 --> 01:02:38,892
- Well, you heard him.
1650
01:02:38,925 --> 01:02:40,560
Talked it over with his wife,
1651
01:02:40,593 --> 01:02:42,328
and he's going to go with the
fun option, Flipped Around.
1652
01:02:42,362 --> 01:02:44,097
Though I don't think
it's going to be fun.
1653
01:02:44,097 --> 01:02:46,099
- Well, Matt,
Flipped Around is a beast,
1654
01:02:46,099 --> 01:02:48,935
especially after
the eight other obstacles.
1655
01:02:48,968 --> 01:02:50,103
- You can see him sliding.
- Oh, he's sliding.
1656
01:02:50,136 --> 01:02:51,271
He's sliding.
1657
01:02:51,304 --> 01:02:52,639
He's got to find
his foot placing.
1658
01:02:52,672 --> 01:02:55,108
He's using a lot
of grip strength there, Matt.
1659
01:02:56,643 --> 01:02:57,844
- Oh, the arms are fatigued.
1660
01:02:57,877 --> 01:02:59,479
You can see he's
wrapping his legs
1661
01:02:59,512 --> 01:03:01,448
to take some pressure off.
1662
01:03:01,481 --> 01:03:04,317
- Oh, boy.
He's struggling to get up top.
1663
01:03:04,351 --> 01:03:06,519
- Well, this is just
a grip gone--
1664
01:03:06,553 --> 01:03:08,388
- Oh, wow!
[air horn blares]
1665
01:03:08,421 --> 01:03:11,124
- Well, a strong run
by the father-to-be,
1666
01:03:11,157 --> 01:03:13,660
but just didn't have anything
left on Flipped Around.
1667
01:03:13,693 --> 01:03:14,894
- I don't know.
1668
01:03:14,928 --> 01:03:16,096
This looked more fun
than the Diving Board,
1669
01:03:16,129 --> 01:03:18,064
so I had to give it a go.
1670
01:03:18,064 --> 01:03:20,367
- The superhero came through
once again,
1671
01:03:20,400 --> 01:03:22,602
earned a trip back to Vegas.
1672
01:03:22,635 --> 01:03:25,472
But on the ninth obstacle,
his arms were dead,
1673
01:03:25,505 --> 01:03:28,508
and he couldn't hang on
as he got flipped around.
1674
01:03:28,541 --> 01:03:29,843
- And Zuri's with Jamie
1675
01:03:29,876 --> 01:03:32,746
for the NerdWallet
post-run interview.
1676
01:03:32,779 --> 01:03:34,147
- How we doing?
1677
01:03:34,180 --> 01:03:36,082
- Wetter than I'd like to be,
but I'm all right.
1678
01:03:36,116 --> 01:03:37,384
- Understandable.
1679
01:03:37,417 --> 01:03:39,285
And of course, you've got
your beautiful wife, Kim,
1680
01:03:39,319 --> 01:03:40,720
we've got a bun in the oven.
1681
01:03:40,754 --> 01:03:43,690
How special is it for you
to have them cheering you on
1682
01:03:43,723 --> 01:03:44,824
on the sidelines tonight?
1683
01:03:44,858 --> 01:03:45,892
- I don't know
if he can hear it yet,
1684
01:03:45,925 --> 01:03:47,560
but I'm excited they're here.
1685
01:03:47,594 --> 01:03:50,330
- Wait, wait, wait, hold on.
I just realized.
1686
01:03:50,363 --> 01:03:53,099
We've got a little onesie
for him ready to go.
1687
01:03:53,099 --> 01:03:55,201
- That was for the buzzer,
but we didn't get there.
1688
01:03:55,235 --> 01:03:57,103
- Well,
I've got some good news.
1689
01:03:57,137 --> 01:03:58,638
Redemption is near, okay?
1690
01:03:58,672 --> 01:04:01,041
We've got buzzers in Vegas,
and that's where you're headed.
1691
01:04:01,041 --> 01:04:03,410
We will see you
in the National Finals.
1692
01:04:03,443 --> 01:04:04,678
Congratulations, Jamie.
- Thank you.
1693
01:04:04,711 --> 01:04:07,480
- And congratulations
to you guys.
1694
01:04:07,514 --> 01:04:09,683
Take it away, Matt and Akbar.
[chuckles]
1695
01:04:09,716 --> 01:04:13,186
- This post-run interview
brought to you by NerdWallet,
1696
01:04:13,219 --> 01:04:17,524
the smartest decision for
all your financial decisions.
1697
01:04:17,557 --> 01:04:20,860
- She's the reigning queen
of "American Ninja Warrior"...
1698
01:04:20,894 --> 01:04:22,862
- She will not give up!
1699
01:04:22,896 --> 01:04:25,065
- With more buzzers
than any other woman.
1700
01:04:25,098 --> 01:04:26,933
- Again? For a third time?
1701
01:04:26,966 --> 01:04:29,536
- Jesse "Flex" Labreck
runs next
1702
01:04:29,569 --> 01:04:32,272
on "American Ninja Warrior."
1703
01:04:36,676 --> 01:04:37,844
- Welcome back to night three
of semifinals
1704
01:04:37,877 --> 01:04:40,380
on "American Ninja Warrior."
1705
01:04:40,413 --> 01:04:42,816
- Minutes ago,
40-year-old Nebraska mom
1706
01:04:42,849 --> 01:04:44,784
Maggie Thorn
hit the start line
1707
01:04:44,818 --> 01:04:46,553
in her trademark pink bow.
1708
01:04:46,586 --> 01:04:48,521
- "Moms make the best ninjas."
1709
01:04:48,555 --> 01:04:50,657
- With her three kids
watching from home
1710
01:04:50,690 --> 01:04:52,625
and friend Jessie Graff
on the sideline,
1711
01:04:52,659 --> 01:04:55,495
the former track star sprinted
through the first obstacle.
1712
01:04:55,528 --> 01:04:57,697
- All right, here we go.
Oh!
1713
01:04:57,731 --> 01:05:00,467
- The seven-time veteran
bounced back from injuries
1714
01:05:00,500 --> 01:05:03,169
and had a strong run
to qualify for semifinals.
1715
01:05:03,203 --> 01:05:04,170
- Got to put some power.
1716
01:05:04,204 --> 01:05:06,072
Put some--oh no!
- Oh.
1717
01:05:06,106 --> 01:05:10,410
But she couldn't make the
grab tonight on Over-Under.
1718
01:05:10,443 --> 01:05:12,479
Heavy metal musician Josh Wagg
1719
01:05:12,512 --> 01:05:14,848
came out, as usual,
ready to rock.
1720
01:05:14,881 --> 01:05:16,116
- Whoo!
1721
01:05:16,149 --> 01:05:18,051
- That is a very intense look,
Matt.
1722
01:05:18,051 --> 01:05:21,054
- The Orlando metalhead
loves to wear scary face paint
1723
01:05:21,087 --> 01:05:22,522
during his runs.
1724
01:05:22,555 --> 01:05:24,758
And he had a scary
moment early.
1725
01:05:24,791 --> 01:05:26,059
- Oh!
1726
01:05:26,059 --> 01:05:27,861
Oh, wow.
- Yeah!
1727
01:05:27,894 --> 01:05:29,429
- Yeah, John!
1728
01:05:29,462 --> 01:05:31,765
- With his training partner
RJ Roman cheering him on,
1729
01:05:31,798 --> 01:05:34,401
the two-time veteran
kept rocking and rolling.
1730
01:05:34,434 --> 01:05:36,069
- Oh, boy.
1731
01:05:36,069 --> 01:05:38,338
Hold on for dear life, like
you're holding onto a guitar!
1732
01:05:38,371 --> 01:05:40,106
Hold onto your guitar!
1733
01:05:40,140 --> 01:05:41,508
Nice.
1734
01:05:41,541 --> 01:05:43,076
- What a save!
1735
01:05:43,076 --> 01:05:45,412
[cheers and applause]
1736
01:05:45,445 --> 01:05:48,081
- Ah!
1737
01:05:48,081 --> 01:05:50,884
- He made it to the back half
for the first time ever
1738
01:05:50,917 --> 01:05:53,119
before his run ended
on Box Office.
1739
01:05:53,153 --> 01:05:55,989
both: No!
[air horn blares]
1740
01:05:56,089 --> 01:05:58,725
- Pretty freaking impressive,
bro.
1741
01:05:58,758 --> 01:06:00,160
Yeah!
1742
01:06:00,193 --> 01:06:03,697
[cheers and applause]
1743
01:06:03,730 --> 01:06:05,532
And Wagg's training partner,
1744
01:06:05,565 --> 01:06:08,501
RJ Roman,
has just started his run.
1745
01:06:08,535 --> 01:06:10,670
25-year-old musician
has quickly made
1746
01:06:10,704 --> 01:06:12,138
his way to the fifth obstacle.
1747
01:06:12,172 --> 01:06:13,873
- All right, Matt.
I think he's going for speed.
1748
01:06:13,907 --> 01:06:15,642
In qualifying,
he had the fastest time.
1749
01:06:15,675 --> 01:06:18,278
Last year in qualifying,
he had the fastest time,
1750
01:06:18,311 --> 01:06:19,612
so we know he can go.
1751
01:06:19,646 --> 01:06:23,850
5'6, 145. He does.
He absolutely shreds.
1752
01:06:23,883 --> 01:06:25,285
- He got a big jump here.
1753
01:06:25,318 --> 01:06:26,753
- And there it is.
1754
01:06:26,786 --> 01:06:29,456
Got a big group of friends
on the sidelines,
1755
01:06:29,489 --> 01:06:31,291
including Flip Rodriguez.
1756
01:06:31,324 --> 01:06:35,095
Warped Wall
should be no problem.
1757
01:06:35,128 --> 01:06:36,830
And up and on to the
back half of the course.
1758
01:06:36,863 --> 01:06:39,132
- Matt, he's not stopping
to talk.
1759
01:06:39,165 --> 01:06:40,567
No stopping to rest.
1760
01:06:40,600 --> 01:06:42,469
He wants to get
to that Power Tower.
1761
01:06:42,502 --> 01:06:45,205
- That Safety Pass
is so valuable.
1762
01:06:45,238 --> 01:06:46,639
- Yeah. Critical.
1763
01:06:46,673 --> 01:06:48,074
- And right now,
he's got a chance
1764
01:06:48,074 --> 01:06:50,443
to beat Jackson Twait
for the fastest time.
1765
01:06:50,477 --> 01:06:51,978
- Come on, RJ!
Finish strong!
1766
01:06:52,078 --> 01:06:54,547
- A lot of people think
RJ Roman can win it all.
1767
01:06:54,581 --> 01:06:56,816
If he has a Safety Pass
in Vegas,
1768
01:06:56,850 --> 01:07:00,920
that would improve his chances
exponentially.
1769
01:07:01,021 --> 01:07:02,622
- Makes quick work
of the Salmon Ladder.
1770
01:07:02,655 --> 01:07:04,858
Now on to Box Office.
1771
01:07:06,659 --> 01:07:09,095
- This is the one that
can slow you down here,
1772
01:07:09,129 --> 01:07:11,531
so you got to be very,
very intentional too.
1773
01:07:11,564 --> 01:07:14,067
Knowing the timing here,
get that timing,
1774
01:07:14,100 --> 01:07:16,603
get enough up to give yourself
the time to make that grab.
1775
01:07:16,636 --> 01:07:17,604
Just like that.
1776
01:07:17,637 --> 01:07:19,906
[cheers and applause]
1777
01:07:19,939 --> 01:07:22,342
- Well, RJ Roman's going to
have a big decision to make
1778
01:07:22,375 --> 01:07:23,877
if he gets off Box Office.
1779
01:07:23,910 --> 01:07:25,712
- Well, Matt, he is a
Box Office hit right now,
1780
01:07:25,745 --> 01:07:30,050
because he is running this
course, I mean, perfectly.
1781
01:07:30,050 --> 01:07:32,385
- And looks like he's going
to survive Box Office,
1782
01:07:32,419 --> 01:07:33,820
and he does.
1783
01:07:33,853 --> 01:07:36,289
On now to Split Decision.
1784
01:07:36,322 --> 01:07:39,125
So last year
in a similar position,
1785
01:07:39,159 --> 01:07:43,063
he chose Diving Boards,
and he fell.
1786
01:07:43,063 --> 01:07:44,364
- He ain't going back
that way.
1787
01:07:44,397 --> 01:07:46,299
- He could get through
Flipped Around,
1788
01:07:46,332 --> 01:07:47,867
but he's going to
think about it,
1789
01:07:47,901 --> 01:07:49,469
looking to the sidelines
for advice.
1790
01:07:49,502 --> 01:07:51,604
- You got it, you got it.
1791
01:07:53,139 --> 01:07:54,941
- Yeah, you heard that he just
said he's kinda pumped,
1792
01:07:54,974 --> 01:07:56,976
so maybe he'll go
Diving Boards.
1793
01:07:57,077 --> 01:07:59,512
Still got a shot
at the top time.
1794
01:07:59,546 --> 01:08:01,414
- Nope, took one look,
1795
01:08:01,448 --> 01:08:03,316
and he's going back
to Flipped Around,
1796
01:08:03,350 --> 01:08:05,352
even if the arms are tired.
1797
01:08:05,385 --> 01:08:06,586
Oh, here we go.
1798
01:08:06,619 --> 01:08:08,822
- Nice. All right.
1799
01:08:08,855 --> 01:08:10,623
- This will definitely
take more time
1800
01:08:10,657 --> 01:08:12,025
than if he'd gone
with the Diving Boards.
1801
01:08:17,864 --> 01:08:19,232
Locked it in.
1802
01:08:21,201 --> 01:08:22,902
[cheers and applause]
1803
01:08:22,936 --> 01:08:24,404
RJ Roman making
good progress here.
1804
01:08:24,437 --> 01:08:25,638
- All right, here we go.
1805
01:08:25,672 --> 01:08:27,874
- We've had four finishers
so far.
1806
01:08:27,907 --> 01:08:30,076
- Oh, he's got to fly now.
1807
01:08:30,110 --> 01:08:33,113
Uh-oh.
- Shaking out those forearms.
1808
01:08:33,146 --> 01:08:34,514
Said his arms were tired.
1809
01:08:34,547 --> 01:08:36,649
Can they hold out
a little longer?
1810
01:08:38,752 --> 01:08:40,854
Get that power
and trying to lock it in.
1811
01:08:43,123 --> 01:08:44,824
Almost there.
1812
01:08:44,858 --> 01:08:48,094
But as we've seen,
this dismount is no gimmie.
1813
01:08:48,128 --> 01:08:49,863
Makes the grab.
1814
01:08:49,896 --> 01:08:51,598
RJ Roman looks like
he's getting through.
1815
01:08:51,631 --> 01:08:54,067
- Oh, boy! Uh-oh!
We got something here!
1816
01:08:54,067 --> 01:08:55,468
We got action!
1817
01:08:55,502 --> 01:08:57,570
[cheers and applause]
1818
01:08:57,604 --> 01:08:59,072
- Well, he's not going
to beat Jackson Twait
1819
01:08:59,105 --> 01:09:00,607
for the fastest time,
1820
01:09:00,640 --> 01:09:03,076
but he can move ahead
of Kaden Lebsack for second.
1821
01:09:03,109 --> 01:09:04,678
That would still put him
on the Power Tower.
1822
01:09:04,711 --> 01:09:06,446
all: RJ! RJ! RJ! RJ!
1823
01:09:06,479 --> 01:09:07,881
- Flashes the
rock and roll horns
1824
01:09:07,914 --> 01:09:09,382
as the crowd chants his name.
1825
01:09:09,416 --> 01:09:10,850
all: RJ! RJ! RJ!
1826
01:09:10,884 --> 01:09:13,720
- This is like being
on stage at a rock concert.
1827
01:09:13,753 --> 01:09:15,689
- He's got to hustle,
he's got to hustle.
1828
01:09:15,722 --> 01:09:17,490
It's going to be close.
1829
01:09:17,524 --> 01:09:20,326
Oh, boy. Here we go.
1830
01:09:20,360 --> 01:09:23,430
- Got about 20 seconds left
to beat Lebsack.
1831
01:09:23,463 --> 01:09:25,031
Through the second set
of doors.
1832
01:09:25,065 --> 01:09:27,434
Just needs a final push.
1833
01:09:30,403 --> 01:09:31,938
- Oh, he's gonna do it, Matt!
1834
01:09:32,038 --> 01:09:34,607
- He'll be our fifth
finisher tonight.
1835
01:09:34,641 --> 01:09:37,477
[buzzer blares]
RJ Roman has done it!
1836
01:09:37,510 --> 01:09:39,179
Moves ahead of Lebsack.
1837
01:09:39,212 --> 01:09:41,715
Now he's in line
for the Power Tower
1838
01:09:41,748 --> 01:09:44,050
with only a few runners left.
1839
01:09:44,050 --> 01:09:47,320
A great performance
by RJ Roman,
1840
01:09:47,354 --> 01:09:48,788
shredding that course.
1841
01:09:51,791 --> 01:09:55,228
- RJ, RJ, boy,
I know you spent, man.
1842
01:09:55,261 --> 01:09:57,364
You left everything out there
on the court.
1843
01:09:57,397 --> 01:09:58,965
- But you got that buzzer,
1844
01:09:59,065 --> 01:10:01,668
and right now, you're in line
to go to the Power Tower.
1845
01:10:01,701 --> 01:10:04,070
- Yeah!
[cheers and applause]
1846
01:10:04,104 --> 01:10:06,673
[rock music]
1847
01:10:06,706 --> 01:10:08,942
[buzzer blares]
1848
01:10:08,975 --> 01:10:11,111
- After just
one finisher last week,
1849
01:10:11,144 --> 01:10:13,313
we've got five
already tonight.
1850
01:10:13,346 --> 01:10:15,815
And one of the best ever
is up next.
1851
01:10:15,849 --> 01:10:17,550
Zuri, get her going.
1852
01:10:17,584 --> 01:10:19,586
- Guys, it is time to flex,
1853
01:10:19,619 --> 01:10:22,022
because the baddest woman
in Ninja
1854
01:10:22,055 --> 01:10:23,757
is headed to the start line.
1855
01:10:23,790 --> 01:10:27,127
It's the reigning women's
champ, Jessie "Flex" Labreck.
1856
01:10:27,160 --> 01:10:29,062
She's got ten career buzzers,
1857
01:10:29,095 --> 01:10:31,498
more than any woman
in Ninja history.
1858
01:10:31,531 --> 01:10:33,600
That includes three finishes
1859
01:10:33,633 --> 01:10:35,568
on the ten-obstacle
extended course.
1860
01:10:35,602 --> 01:10:38,104
No other woman has
done it more than once.
1861
01:10:38,138 --> 01:10:39,873
- Can she do it again tonight?
1862
01:10:39,906 --> 01:10:42,142
She's breaking
her own record every time.
1863
01:10:42,175 --> 01:10:43,877
- Yeah, Jesse!
1864
01:10:43,910 --> 01:10:45,412
- Fiancé Chris DiGangi.
1865
01:10:45,445 --> 01:10:47,480
He'll be running
in just a few minutes.
1866
01:10:47,514 --> 01:10:50,550
[countdown clock beeping]
1867
01:10:50,583 --> 01:10:52,719
Made it to stage two
in Vegas last year,
1868
01:10:52,752 --> 01:10:55,989
only the third woman
ever to get to stage two.
1869
01:10:56,022 --> 01:10:58,425
- It's not been a good night
for the women.
1870
01:10:58,458 --> 01:11:00,894
If Flex can reach
the fourth obstacle,
1871
01:11:00,927 --> 01:11:04,197
she'll guarantee
a return to Vegas.
1872
01:11:04,230 --> 01:11:06,399
- Though she is one of
the most consistent ninjas
1873
01:11:06,433 --> 01:11:07,767
we've ever had.
1874
01:11:07,801 --> 01:11:09,336
Was the only woman to finish
1875
01:11:09,369 --> 01:11:12,405
the difficult semifinals
course last year.
1876
01:11:12,439 --> 01:11:14,507
- Nice.
- And such good power.
1877
01:11:14,541 --> 01:11:19,379
5'7", 145, just taking charge
on Over-Under.
1878
01:11:19,412 --> 01:11:21,281
- She wants that buzzer, Matt.
1879
01:11:21,314 --> 01:11:24,250
- Hall of Fame heptathlete
at the University of Maine.
1880
01:11:24,284 --> 01:11:26,219
Should be able
to handle Clockwork.
1881
01:11:27,887 --> 01:11:29,989
These three gears,
get them moving,
1882
01:11:30,090 --> 01:11:31,591
got to generate power.
1883
01:11:31,624 --> 01:11:33,426
Flex,
never a shortage of power.
1884
01:11:33,460 --> 01:11:35,328
- She's a boss.
Come on.
1885
01:11:35,362 --> 01:11:37,230
- Come on, come on!
- Come on!
1886
01:11:37,263 --> 01:11:38,865
- All right.
1887
01:11:38,898 --> 01:11:41,001
Will need
a major kick up here.
1888
01:11:41,101 --> 01:11:42,569
No!
- Oh, no!
1889
01:11:42,602 --> 01:11:45,772
- No, no, no!
- Oh, my goodness.
1890
01:11:45,805 --> 01:11:48,675
A shocking early exit.
1891
01:11:48,708 --> 01:11:51,745
[soft dramatic music]
1892
01:11:51,778 --> 01:11:56,483
Flex Labreck taken out
by Clockwork.
1893
01:11:56,516 --> 01:11:59,285
- No, no, no, no.
That didn't just happen.
1894
01:11:59,319 --> 01:12:02,589
- We love you, Jesse!
- Jesse!
1895
01:12:02,622 --> 01:12:03,923
- Just goes to remind you
1896
01:12:03,957 --> 01:12:06,493
any ninja,
any obstacle, any time,
1897
01:12:06,526 --> 01:12:09,896
even the great Flex Labreck.
1898
01:12:09,929 --> 01:12:12,732
- She didn't look comfortable
on this first gear,
1899
01:12:12,766 --> 01:12:14,868
couldn't generate
a good swing,
1900
01:12:14,901 --> 01:12:17,404
but just decided
to go for it anyway
1901
01:12:17,437 --> 01:12:19,739
and only got one hand
on the bar.
1902
01:12:19,773 --> 01:12:21,875
And she will not be in Vegas
1903
01:12:21,908 --> 01:12:25,311
for the first time
in her career.
1904
01:12:25,345 --> 01:12:27,981
- Just so silly.
1905
01:12:28,081 --> 01:12:29,449
It's all right.
1906
01:12:29,482 --> 01:12:33,186
- Wow, it is gonna be weird
not having her in Vegas.
1907
01:12:33,219 --> 01:12:35,855
- [sighing] Oh.
Bummer.
1908
01:12:35,889 --> 01:12:36,923
That sucks.
1909
01:12:41,461 --> 01:12:42,429
- We're down
to the final runners
1910
01:12:42,462 --> 01:12:44,497
in tonight's semifinals.
1911
01:12:44,531 --> 01:12:46,966
While we were away,
it was Chris DiGangi,
1912
01:12:47,000 --> 01:12:49,936
who had to shake off the
shocking fall of his fiancée,
1913
01:12:49,969 --> 01:12:51,204
Flex Labreck, minutes ago.
1914
01:12:51,237 --> 01:12:53,106
- You got this, babe!
1915
01:12:53,106 --> 01:12:54,507
- Unlike Flex,
1916
01:12:54,541 --> 01:12:57,444
Chris was able to figure out
the timing on Clockwork.
1917
01:12:57,477 --> 01:12:59,512
- He said, "It's easy.
I'm Chris DiGangi."
1918
01:12:59,546 --> 01:13:02,215
- The ten-time veteran
was gunning for his third
1919
01:13:02,248 --> 01:13:04,751
semifinals buzzer
and looked under control
1920
01:13:04,784 --> 01:13:06,219
as he took on Hopscotch.
1921
01:13:06,252 --> 01:13:09,055
- Oh, oh!
[air horn blares]
1922
01:13:09,055 --> 01:13:10,590
- Oh, no!
1923
01:13:10,623 --> 01:13:14,361
- Meaning he and Flex will
both miss the National Finals.
1924
01:13:14,394 --> 01:13:17,163
- Are you kidding me?
1925
01:13:17,197 --> 01:13:21,067
- Then it was one of the crazy
Iowa ninjas, Chris Behrends,
1926
01:13:21,101 --> 01:13:23,136
who was cheered on
by his Iowa bros,
1927
01:13:23,169 --> 01:13:26,172
Levi Enright
and Jackson Twait.
1928
01:13:26,206 --> 01:13:27,974
Behrends had the
night's fastest time
1929
01:13:28,074 --> 01:13:29,376
back in qualifying,
1930
01:13:29,409 --> 01:13:31,811
and he was running wild
again tonight.
1931
01:13:31,845 --> 01:13:34,247
- Oh! Whoo-hoo-hoo!
1932
01:13:34,280 --> 01:13:36,649
- The college student was
trying to earn his first trip
1933
01:13:36,683 --> 01:13:37,717
to the National Finals.
1934
01:13:37,751 --> 01:13:38,885
- Nice!
1935
01:13:38,918 --> 01:13:41,121
I think he's going
for the Power Tower.
1936
01:13:41,154 --> 01:13:44,290
- And raced to the eighth
obstacle, Box Office, quickly.
1937
01:13:44,324 --> 01:13:45,925
- Ooh.
[air horn blares]
1938
01:13:45,959 --> 01:13:49,162
- And it was fast enough for
Zuri to share some good news.
1939
01:13:49,195 --> 01:13:50,363
- Congratulations.
1940
01:13:50,397 --> 01:13:52,432
We'll see you
at the National Finals.
1941
01:13:52,465 --> 01:13:55,402
[all cheering]
1942
01:13:55,435 --> 01:13:58,138
- So right now, this is
our Power Tower matchup.
1943
01:13:58,171 --> 01:14:00,674
The speedster
from Orlando, RJ Roman,
1944
01:14:00,707 --> 01:14:04,044
would be racing against Iowa's
Cat Daddy Jackson Twait,
1945
01:14:04,077 --> 01:14:05,812
who has
the night's fastest finish.
1946
01:14:05,845 --> 01:14:08,048
But there's one more athlete
to run,
1947
01:14:08,081 --> 01:14:09,849
and he's headed
to the start line.
1948
01:14:09,883 --> 01:14:11,685
It's Levi Enright,
1949
01:14:11,718 --> 01:14:14,087
who's coming up with
his Iowa bro, Chris Behrends,
1950
01:14:14,120 --> 01:14:15,555
who we just saw run.
1951
01:14:15,588 --> 01:14:17,957
They're normally
drinking protein shakes,
1952
01:14:18,058 --> 01:14:19,225
but not tonight.
1953
01:14:19,259 --> 01:14:20,727
- They brought some Iowa corn!
1954
01:14:20,760 --> 01:14:23,063
What in Sam Hill
is going on out here?
1955
01:14:23,063 --> 01:14:24,364
- They're having a race.
1956
01:14:24,397 --> 01:14:26,433
Who can eat their corn
on the cob the fastest.
1957
01:14:27,901 --> 01:14:29,469
Looks like Levi has
a big lead.
1958
01:14:29,502 --> 01:14:31,604
Oh, an easy win over Chris.
1959
01:14:31,638 --> 01:14:33,239
- Matt, he's going in
for seconds.
1960
01:14:33,273 --> 01:14:34,741
Eating the other one too.
1961
01:14:34,774 --> 01:14:36,843
- Well, not a traditional
pre-game meal,
1962
01:14:36,876 --> 01:14:39,746
but these guys are
anything but traditional.
1963
01:14:39,779 --> 01:14:42,115
Iowa has been well-represented
tonight.
1964
01:14:42,148 --> 01:14:43,483
- Whoo!
1965
01:14:43,516 --> 01:14:45,352
- That group watching
back in Cedar Falls
1966
01:14:45,385 --> 01:14:47,354
has had plenty to cheer about.
1967
01:14:47,387 --> 01:14:48,521
- Let's go!
[cheers and applause]
1968
01:14:48,555 --> 01:14:50,090
- Let's go, Levi!
- Come on, Levi!
1969
01:14:50,123 --> 01:14:52,092
- Levi's fiancée
down on the sideline.
1970
01:14:52,125 --> 01:14:54,661
She's the cousin
of Chris Behrends.
1971
01:14:54,694 --> 01:14:57,497
This is a very tight-knit
group from the Hawkeye State.
1972
01:14:57,530 --> 01:15:00,200
[countdown clock beeping]
1973
01:15:00,233 --> 01:15:03,069
Can Levi continue
the stellar performances
1974
01:15:03,103 --> 01:15:04,871
out of Iowa tonight?
1975
01:15:04,904 --> 01:15:08,041
We'll see if this is
his field of dreams.
1976
01:15:08,041 --> 01:15:09,509
- We know we're going
to have one Iowan
1977
01:15:09,542 --> 01:15:11,911
on the Power Tower,
Jackson Twait.
1978
01:15:11,945 --> 01:15:14,748
Levi Enright would love
to be right there with him.
1979
01:15:14,781 --> 01:15:16,683
- Well, these guys
are goofy off the course,
1980
01:15:16,716 --> 01:15:18,618
but they deliver on it.
1981
01:15:18,651 --> 01:15:21,454
Levi got a buzzer and
Mega Wall back in qualifying.
1982
01:15:21,488 --> 01:15:24,591
[cheers and applause]
1983
01:15:24,624 --> 01:15:26,593
- He's got some serious
upper-body strength, Matt.
1984
01:15:26,626 --> 01:15:30,697
Levi tried to break the
24-hour pull-up world record.
1985
01:15:30,730 --> 01:15:33,099
He did almost 7,000 pull-ups.
1986
01:15:33,133 --> 01:15:36,302
They had to take him to the
hospital for exhaustion.
1987
01:15:36,336 --> 01:15:38,972
Could you imagine
doing 7,000 pull-ups?
1988
01:15:39,072 --> 01:15:40,073
- That's a lot.
1989
01:15:40,073 --> 01:15:41,107
- That's a lot.
- That's a lot.
1990
01:15:41,141 --> 01:15:42,342
- You got this!
- Yes!
1991
01:15:42,375 --> 01:15:43,643
- Come on, Levi!
1992
01:15:43,677 --> 01:15:45,912
- We know he's got
that back strength,
1993
01:15:45,945 --> 01:15:47,180
got that grip strength,
1994
01:15:47,213 --> 01:15:49,215
and he's moving it
here on Clockwork.
1995
01:15:49,249 --> 01:15:50,383
- Nice.
1996
01:15:50,417 --> 01:15:52,652
[cheers and applause]
1997
01:15:52,686 --> 01:15:56,122
- Trying to earn his first
trip to the National Finals.
1998
01:15:56,156 --> 01:15:58,558
- Whoa!
- Oh!
1999
01:15:58,591 --> 01:15:59,726
- Whoa! Okay.
2000
01:15:59,759 --> 01:16:03,029
[cheers and applause]
2001
01:16:03,029 --> 01:16:05,031
- It's only the second season
for Levi Enright
2002
01:16:05,031 --> 01:16:06,733
and Chris Behrends,
and it has been
2003
01:16:06,766 --> 01:16:08,601
a breakout year
for both of them.
2004
01:16:08,635 --> 01:16:11,204
- They've put Iowa
on the Ninja map.
2005
01:16:11,237 --> 01:16:13,340
- Jackson Twait's the elder
statesman of the group.
2006
01:16:13,373 --> 01:16:15,041
It's his fourth season.
2007
01:16:15,041 --> 01:16:16,609
He will be on the Power Tower.
2008
01:16:16,643 --> 01:16:19,212
Levi Enright trying
to join him there.
2009
01:16:19,245 --> 01:16:21,948
Oh, and he is looking
locked in here.
2010
01:16:22,048 --> 01:16:24,951
These dudes have fun,
but they are serious ninjas.
2011
01:16:25,051 --> 01:16:26,419
They have worked for it.
2012
01:16:26,453 --> 01:16:28,521
They put in so many hours
at their Ninja gym
2013
01:16:28,555 --> 01:16:30,357
back in Cedar Falls.
2014
01:16:30,390 --> 01:16:31,424
- Nice.
[cheers and applause]
2015
01:16:31,458 --> 01:16:32,692
- I like it.
2016
01:16:32,726 --> 01:16:36,062
- I got my bro-tein, Matt.
I got my bro-tein.
2017
01:16:38,198 --> 01:16:40,066
- Where's my bro-tein shake?
2018
01:16:40,100 --> 01:16:41,801
- Hey, I got it right here!
I got the bro-tein!
2019
01:16:41,835 --> 01:16:44,671
Mmm, mmm, mmm!
- [laughs]
2020
01:16:44,704 --> 01:16:46,406
Oh, there we go.
2021
01:16:46,439 --> 01:16:48,842
Well, Levi's got no time
for a bro-tein shake tonight.
2022
01:16:48,875 --> 01:16:51,644
He's laser-focused on
getting to that Power Tower.
2023
01:16:51,678 --> 01:16:55,281
[cheers and applause]
2024
01:16:55,315 --> 01:16:57,717
Got a shot to beat
Jackson Twait for fastest time
2025
01:16:57,751 --> 01:17:01,021
but still some
tough obstacles to go.
2026
01:17:03,089 --> 01:17:04,791
Gets through
the Salmon Ladder,
2027
01:17:04,824 --> 01:17:07,260
but this is the obstacle
that's taken out more than
2028
01:17:07,293 --> 01:17:09,796
any other tonight, Box Office.
2029
01:17:09,829 --> 01:17:11,131
[cheers and applause]
2030
01:17:11,164 --> 01:17:12,832
- "Field of Dreams"
was a box office smash.
2031
01:17:12,866 --> 01:17:14,100
How will this kid
from Iowa do?
2032
01:17:16,036 --> 01:17:17,704
Blind grab
with that lead hand.
2033
01:17:17,737 --> 01:17:18,772
- Here we go.
2034
01:17:18,805 --> 01:17:21,141
Nice. Nice.
- Great job.
2035
01:17:21,174 --> 01:17:23,510
You can see with that bungee,
that box twisting around.
2036
01:17:23,543 --> 01:17:26,046
Got to really fight
to control your momentum.
2037
01:17:26,079 --> 01:17:28,048
- Nice. And he just got--
I told you, Matt.
2038
01:17:28,048 --> 01:17:30,183
He's not going to go out
on an upper-body obstacle
2039
01:17:30,216 --> 01:17:33,820
when you can do over 6,700
pull-ups in 20 hours?
2040
01:17:33,853 --> 01:17:35,288
That's impressive.
2041
01:17:35,321 --> 01:17:38,625
[cheers and applause]
2042
01:17:38,658 --> 01:17:41,327
- Now guaranteed a spot
in the top 15.
2043
01:17:41,361 --> 01:17:42,929
He's moving on.
2044
01:17:42,962 --> 01:17:44,964
But will he do
at Split Decision?
2045
01:17:45,065 --> 01:17:47,367
He's marching straight
to the Diving Boards.
2046
01:17:47,400 --> 01:17:49,536
- What? What?
2047
01:17:49,569 --> 01:17:51,071
- We talked about his
upper-body strength,
2048
01:17:51,071 --> 01:17:52,639
and he's got plenty of time,
2049
01:17:52,672 --> 01:17:54,507
but he's going to risk
it all on Diving Boards.
2050
01:17:54,541 --> 01:17:55,942
- What are you doing?
2051
01:17:55,975 --> 01:17:58,778
[cheers and applause]
Oh, pardon me!
2052
01:17:58,812 --> 01:18:01,181
- A risky move,
but it paid off.
2053
01:18:01,214 --> 01:18:04,517
Now he's got over a minute
to beat Jackson Twait's time.
2054
01:18:04,551 --> 01:18:06,219
- Are you serious?
2055
01:18:06,252 --> 01:18:09,022
- He showed us his strength in
qualifying, got the Mega Wall,
2056
01:18:09,055 --> 01:18:13,360
now 25 feet away from
his first semifinals buzzer
2057
01:18:13,393 --> 01:18:15,929
and a trip to the Power Tower.
2058
01:18:16,029 --> 01:18:18,531
- Matt, this dude
looks like Hulk Bro-gan.
2059
01:18:18,565 --> 01:18:20,700
Rocky Bal-bro-a.
2060
01:18:20,734 --> 01:18:23,203
All right, here we go.
Bro, bro, bro your boat.
2061
01:18:23,236 --> 01:18:26,339
- I love what we're seeing
out of Levi Enright.
2062
01:18:26,373 --> 01:18:28,041
Bro-digious strength.
2063
01:18:28,041 --> 01:18:31,444
What a breakout year this is
for Levi Enright.
2064
01:18:31,478 --> 01:18:34,180
- Matt, I know this is corny,
but I cannot believe it.
2065
01:18:34,214 --> 01:18:38,284
It's going to be corn versus
corn on the Power Tower.
2066
01:18:38,318 --> 01:18:41,121
- Jackson Twait
will be battling this man,
2067
01:18:41,154 --> 01:18:44,457
the new fastest time
of the night!
2068
01:18:44,491 --> 01:18:48,128
- The Professor,
the Ninja Professor.
2069
01:18:48,161 --> 01:18:50,163
- Noggin!
[buzzer blares]
2070
01:18:50,196 --> 01:18:52,098
both: Noggin!
2071
01:18:52,132 --> 01:18:54,567
- Whoo!
[cheers and applause]
2072
01:18:54,601 --> 01:18:55,735
Let's go!
2073
01:18:55,769 --> 01:18:58,505
[upbeat music]
2074
01:18:58,538 --> 01:19:01,074
- Come on, Matt,
we got to do a noggin!
2075
01:19:01,107 --> 01:19:03,877
- [laughs]
- Noggin!
2076
01:19:03,910 --> 01:19:05,912
- Whoo!
2077
01:19:06,012 --> 01:19:09,015
- He took a huge risk
by choosing the Diving Boards.
2078
01:19:09,015 --> 01:19:12,419
He barely paused
and then stumbled across.
2079
01:19:12,452 --> 01:19:14,521
But that saved him
a ton of time,
2080
01:19:14,554 --> 01:19:17,223
allowing him to cruise
to the fastest finish
2081
01:19:17,257 --> 01:19:20,694
and earn a spot
on the Power Tower.
2082
01:19:20,727 --> 01:19:21,928
- Levi, let me ask you.
2083
01:19:22,028 --> 01:19:24,464
Your bro, the Cat Daddy,
Jackson Twait,
2084
01:19:24,497 --> 01:19:27,033
nearly lost his life there
on the Diving Boards,
2085
01:19:27,033 --> 01:19:29,035
yet you choose to do it again.
2086
01:19:29,035 --> 01:19:30,837
What was your
thought process there, man?
2087
01:19:30,870 --> 01:19:34,040
- I mean, I just wanted
to see an Iowa boy showdown
2088
01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:35,442
on that Power Tower.
2089
01:19:35,475 --> 01:19:37,310
And I knew going there would
be the fastest way through.
2090
01:19:37,344 --> 01:19:38,778
- Well, it worked.
2091
01:19:38,812 --> 01:19:40,046
You're going to be racing
your boy Jackson Twait.
2092
01:19:40,046 --> 01:19:43,450
- Yo! Come on!
2093
01:19:43,483 --> 01:19:45,285
- Noggin!
- Whoo!
2094
01:19:45,318 --> 01:19:46,953
Noggin!
[buzzer blares]
2095
01:19:47,053 --> 01:19:49,723
[cheers and applause]
Let's go! Come on!
2096
01:19:49,756 --> 01:19:51,324
- Well, you better
get down from there
2097
01:19:51,358 --> 01:19:53,693
'cause you've got to head over
to the Power Tower.
2098
01:19:53,727 --> 01:19:55,929
It'll be the battle for Iowa,
2099
01:19:55,962 --> 01:19:57,664
Enright versus Twait,
2100
01:19:57,697 --> 01:20:01,267
and we'll see it next
on "American Ninja Warrior."
2101
01:20:05,872 --> 01:20:08,008
- We're going to end our night
at the end of the course,
2102
01:20:08,041 --> 01:20:11,044
40 feet in the air
on the Power Tower.
2103
01:20:11,077 --> 01:20:13,980
And in a field with elite
ninjas like Kaden Lebsack
2104
01:20:14,014 --> 01:20:16,883
and RJ Roman,
our match-up features
2105
01:20:16,916 --> 01:20:18,685
two friends from Iowa,
2106
01:20:18,718 --> 01:20:21,154
Jackson Twait
and Levi Enright.
2107
01:20:21,187 --> 01:20:22,522
- What is this?
2108
01:20:22,555 --> 01:20:24,157
Are they putting flowers
in each other's hair?
2109
01:20:24,190 --> 01:20:26,493
- You'd think they might
be serious right now,
2110
01:20:26,526 --> 01:20:27,894
but not these guys.
2111
01:20:27,927 --> 01:20:29,362
- Well, take a look.
2112
01:20:29,396 --> 01:20:31,798
They're very similar in age,
weight, and height,
2113
01:20:31,831 --> 01:20:34,267
and they train together
almost every day.
2114
01:20:34,300 --> 01:20:35,835
But no matter who wins,
2115
01:20:35,869 --> 01:20:38,171
it's already a big night
in Iowa.
2116
01:20:38,204 --> 01:20:40,974
[cheers and applause]
2117
01:20:41,007 --> 01:20:42,676
- Power Tower,
bigger than anything
2118
01:20:42,709 --> 01:20:43,743
I've ever seen in Iowa.
2119
01:20:43,777 --> 01:20:44,878
[dramatic music]
2120
01:20:44,911 --> 01:20:46,012
- And Twait's slightly ahead!
2121
01:20:46,046 --> 01:20:47,514
Look at this!
- Oh, my God!
2122
01:20:47,547 --> 01:20:49,749
- Incredible climbing ability
out of this rookie!
2123
01:20:49,783 --> 01:20:52,686
- I've been on the
Power Tower before.
2124
01:20:52,719 --> 01:20:55,689
- Ooh, ooh!
- No!
2125
01:20:55,722 --> 01:20:58,958
- But this one's even bigger
and scarier.
2126
01:20:58,992 --> 01:21:00,694
- Jackson, he's a
really great friend.
2127
01:21:00,727 --> 01:21:02,128
We've been training together
for a long time.
2128
01:21:02,162 --> 01:21:03,863
I know his strengths
and I know his weaknesses,
2129
01:21:03,897 --> 01:21:05,098
and there's not
a lot of those.
2130
01:21:05,131 --> 01:21:07,267
- Wow. Good power.
2131
01:21:07,300 --> 01:21:09,135
- A little scary
going up against Levi.
2132
01:21:09,169 --> 01:21:11,738
He's hungry for buzzers,
Mega Wall.
2133
01:21:11,771 --> 01:21:15,642
- Yes!
He's going to noggin it!
2134
01:21:15,675 --> 01:21:18,211
- Semifinals buzzer.
- Noggin!
2135
01:21:18,244 --> 01:21:20,513
- So this is the
ultimate Iowa battle.
2136
01:21:20,547 --> 01:21:22,215
- But there's only
one corn-fed Iowan
2137
01:21:22,248 --> 01:21:24,284
that's walking out of here
with a Safety Pass tonight.
2138
01:21:24,317 --> 01:21:27,220
- Iowa is really delivering
here in Hollywood.
2139
01:21:27,253 --> 01:21:28,655
- We gotta put that
friendship aside.
2140
01:21:28,688 --> 01:21:30,957
I want to be the one
to win this thing.
2141
01:21:30,990 --> 01:21:34,527
[cheers and applause]
2142
01:21:34,561 --> 01:21:37,297
- The entire state of Iowa
will be watching,
2143
01:21:37,330 --> 01:21:39,299
and their allegiances
are split.
2144
01:21:39,332 --> 01:21:42,102
Back in Cedar Falls, they're
wearing blue shirts for Levi
2145
01:21:42,102 --> 01:21:44,104
and yellow for Jackson.
2146
01:21:44,104 --> 01:21:46,506
- On the sidelines,
that's Levi's fiancée
2147
01:21:46,539 --> 01:21:48,108
and Jackson's mom.
2148
01:21:48,108 --> 01:21:49,642
And even they're
cheering for both.
2149
01:21:49,676 --> 01:21:53,680
That's how close this
Iowa Ninja community is.
2150
01:21:53,713 --> 01:21:55,181
- This one's going to be good.
2151
01:21:55,215 --> 01:21:58,618
- This is their field
of dreams, our Power Tower.
2152
01:21:58,651 --> 01:22:02,055
Two boys from Iowa
battling for a Safety Pass.
2153
01:22:02,088 --> 01:22:05,125
[countdown clock beeping]
2154
01:22:05,158 --> 01:22:06,459
[cheers and applause]
2155
01:22:06,493 --> 01:22:08,328
- Ooh, look at them
pushing that wall,
2156
01:22:08,361 --> 01:22:09,529
like they running through
a cornfield.
2157
01:22:09,562 --> 01:22:11,231
Whoa, nice.
- Very ably started.
2158
01:22:11,264 --> 01:22:13,733
- Oh, this looks like it can
be a difference-maker, Matt.
2159
01:22:13,767 --> 01:22:16,202
Cat Daddy with the
cat-like reflexes.
2160
01:22:16,236 --> 01:22:18,571
- And he takes the lead
as they jump to the rope.
2161
01:22:18,605 --> 01:22:20,607
- Oh, look at that.
You got to be a high--
2162
01:22:20,640 --> 01:22:22,208
- Wow.
2163
01:22:22,242 --> 01:22:23,710
- High and tight and efficient
here on the rope swing.
2164
01:22:23,743 --> 01:22:27,147
- And you can see just a
slight edge for Jackson Twait.
2165
01:22:27,180 --> 01:22:29,683
- But Levi's got great
upper-body strength.
2166
01:22:29,716 --> 01:22:32,485
He can make up some ground
as they climb the column.
2167
01:22:32,519 --> 01:22:34,954
- Jackson with a small lead
as they start the Cliffhanger.
2168
01:22:34,988 --> 01:22:37,924
But this is getting tight.
Both moving quickly.
2169
01:22:37,957 --> 01:22:40,593
It is so close!
2170
01:22:40,627 --> 01:22:44,097
Oh, Jackson stumbles a little,
and here comes Levi!
2171
01:22:44,097 --> 01:22:45,665
Now they're neck and neck!
2172
01:22:45,699 --> 01:22:48,468
It's going to come down to
the Dropping Shelves, big man!
2173
01:22:48,501 --> 01:22:50,103
- Who can lache faster?
2174
01:22:50,136 --> 01:22:52,339
Oh, boy, here we go!
2175
01:22:52,372 --> 01:22:54,107
- The Iowans are dead even!
2176
01:22:54,140 --> 01:22:57,644
Oh, what a finish!
2177
01:22:57,677 --> 01:22:59,446
- Look at this!
- And down to the buzzer!
2178
01:22:59,479 --> 01:23:00,914
[air horn blares]
2179
01:23:00,947 --> 01:23:05,085
Levi Enright keeps
the perfect season going!
2180
01:23:05,118 --> 01:23:06,486
[cheers and applause]
2181
01:23:06,519 --> 01:23:08,922
- Yeah!
- Whoo!
2182
01:23:08,955 --> 01:23:10,924
[all cheering]
2183
01:23:10,957 --> 01:23:13,960
- He edged out
the Cat Daddy by a whisker.
2184
01:23:14,060 --> 01:23:16,062
- Oh, man.
2185
01:23:16,096 --> 01:23:20,500
- Another unbelievable finish
on the Power Tower!
2186
01:23:20,533 --> 01:23:22,268
I love this thing!
2187
01:23:22,302 --> 01:23:24,471
- Jackson Twait
had a decent lead
2188
01:23:24,504 --> 01:23:26,206
as he jumped off
on the rope swing,
2189
01:23:26,239 --> 01:23:28,775
but Levi Enright
used his upper body strength
2190
01:23:28,808 --> 01:23:29,909
to climb quicker.
2191
01:23:29,943 --> 01:23:32,112
He didn't even use his legs.
2192
01:23:32,145 --> 01:23:34,714
And when Jackson stumbled
coming off Cliffhanger,
2193
01:23:34,748 --> 01:23:37,083
that allowed Levi
to pull even.
2194
01:23:37,083 --> 01:23:40,253
And it was a side-by-side duel
down the stretch,
2195
01:23:40,286 --> 01:23:42,188
with Levi's hand just barely
hitting the buzzer first.
2196
01:23:42,222 --> 01:23:44,157
[air horn blares]
2197
01:23:44,190 --> 01:23:46,926
[cheers and applause]
2198
01:23:46,960 --> 01:23:50,630
- Two Iowa boys making a go,
both going to Vegas,
2199
01:23:50,663 --> 01:23:54,200
but Levi Enright going to
have that coveted Safety Pass
2200
01:23:54,234 --> 01:23:55,602
in his back pocket.
2201
01:23:55,635 --> 01:23:59,105
Other finishers moving on
include RJ Roman,
2202
01:23:59,139 --> 01:24:01,241
and our defending
Last Ninja Standing,
2203
01:24:01,274 --> 01:24:04,277
Kaden Lebsack, who'll be
going back for another shot
2204
01:24:04,310 --> 01:24:05,679
at the million dollars.
2205
01:24:05,712 --> 01:24:07,247
Non-finishers moving on
2206
01:24:07,280 --> 01:24:11,084
include veterans Ethan Swanson
and Jamie Rahn.
2207
01:24:11,117 --> 01:24:13,053
The Pizza Ninja,
Derrick Pavoni
2208
01:24:13,053 --> 01:24:15,355
will be making
his first trip to Vegas.
2209
01:24:15,388 --> 01:24:18,925
And teenagers Enzo DeFerrari
Wilson and Max Feinberg
2210
01:24:18,958 --> 01:24:21,461
just made it into the top 15.
2211
01:24:21,494 --> 01:24:24,330
The top three women were
led by another teenager,
2212
01:24:24,364 --> 01:24:26,332
16-year-old Karen Potts.
2213
01:24:26,366 --> 01:24:29,069
For Akbar Gbajabiamila
and Zuri Hall, I'm Matt Iseman.
2214
01:24:29,102 --> 01:24:33,440
We'll see you next time
on "American Ninja Warrior."
2215
01:24:33,473 --> 01:24:35,075
[cheers and applause]
2216
01:24:35,075 --> 01:24:38,078
[dramatic music]
2217
01:24:38,078 --> 01:24:45,085
* *