MovieChat Forums > American Ninja Warrior (2009) Discussion > #NBCFail

#NBCFail

posted 8 years ago by KCCharles
21 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone enjoy the Finals tonight? I was really annoyed with how the episode went, here's why:

- They didn't show all of the runs; there were only 17 people they could have shown everyone in their entirety.

- They didn't show Flip's run, nor did they explain his disqualification clearly. Given that Flip was a fan favorite, they should have had more.

- They made Stage 2 too hard. We've been on this journey with these athletes and actually want to see them do well and not just see people fail.

- They showed backstories in the Finals.

What annoyed you?

[–] doktorf 8 years ago

I disagree about stage 2 being too hard. It's tough to be sure, but it is there to separate the dross from the gold.

I do agree that they should have shown all runs completely.

[–] weemidge 8 years ago

I agree that with only 17 people running the course they should've showed everyone's run from start to finish, wherever the finish was....

And they did explain Flip's disqualification...he didn't touch the 2nd board on the waverunner, he went from the first directly to the dismount, without ever latching on to that 2nd board...Drew was close to being disqualified for the same reason, but they showed that his left hand actually clamped onto the 2nd board, whereas Flip's did not...Flip even admitted that he need to make sure he knew the rules better...

They have to make the stage harder, because you keep getting the "professionals" like Dreschel et al who are like on their 7, 8th year of competition who know the courses and the obstacles...you have to keep it fresh, because unlike Britten who was a complete rookie last year (which makes his feat even more admirable) these guys are repeats who are there every single year...I'd like for them to limit the number of years you can compete and get some fresh new faces, but that's just me....

"Life is like a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."

[–] woodpusher 8 years ago

He did touch the board but did not close his grip - one of the others closed his grip, did not advance on the board, just did a dismount - and was not disqualified.

However when they explained it, they said the rules said "make use of" the board. If the rules really did say that, I think that's too vague.

[–] rec26 8 years ago

Britten was not a rookie in Season 7.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

1) They didn't show all of the runs; there were only 17 people they could have shown everyone in their entirety.

2) They didn't show Flip's run, nor did they explain his disqualification clearly. Given that Flip was a fan favorite, they should have had more.

3) They made Stage 2 too hard. We've been on this journey with these athletes and actually want to see them do well and not just see people fail.

4) They showed backstories in the Finals.

1) Agree completely.
2) In conjunction with #1, he was glossed over. I disagree on the DQ, it was clear he violated the rules.
3) I was thinking that, but since two people made it, then it was not too difficult.
4) They did? I FF through every single one of them. 

What annoyed you?

As always, the discrimination. Since it is a performance-based show, they should either:
1) Have the run order the opposite of the finishing- the better you do, the later you run, OR
2) Sequester ALL contestants so they do not have an advantage by running later.

In conjunction with your point #3 above, doing the latter would allow them to relax the level somewhat so there would be more finishers. I think this would make for a more entertaining show.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] al_lund1306 8 years ago

Definitely agree with less back stories and showing all the runs.

I would add that the the competitions be live, at least the finals. It was pretty clear at the start of stage 3 that no one would complete it based on the time remaining in the show. It kind of takes the suspense out of the competition.

[–] doktorf 8 years ago

I agree. During the second hour I was able to pretty accurately call how thing would break down. For instance given the amount of time left by the the time she ran, it was pretty clear that Graff wouldn't finish the second stage because there wouldn't be enough time for three stage 3 runs.

[–] italianpride17 8 years ago

It was clear she wasn't going to finish it period.

[–] doktorf 8 years ago

Clear because she was the last runner and there wasn't time, yes, as I pointed out.

[–] Woody739 8 years ago

I don't know about being live. We actually don't know how long it takes to do all of the competitions. Remember they also have to reset the course. Last year I remember seeing dawn starting to break on the horizon, so it must take all night to film everything, and just like Survivor, they edit together a show.

The suspense for me was blown when they kept announcing before the show that this was the season finale. Well, duh, then of course no one would go on.

[–] GrematikalHeiror 8 years ago

Enjoy? Not really.

When they introduced stage 2 and all its craziness I was like wtf?! Then one by one they started failing. I started to think if anybody made it to stage 3 it would consist of the contestant having to wrestle 5 adamantium cybernetic robot android bears who were on fire.

The higher ups were mighty upset somebody won last year after years of making sh!tloads of money without having to shell out a dime, so they had to make everything much harder.

Not a very enjoyable season, aside from the watching the royal ex-couple fail and Jessie Graff kicking Kacy's ass.

What am I gonna do... with a gun rack?

[–] BellT 8 years ago

These networks are so greedy. They make billions of dollars and then don't want to give anything back thanks to the talent that allows them to make that money. I still can't get over shows like America's Got Talent who pay out their million over a 4 decade annuity. So the winner really isn't getting a million. And they're not even getting half a million after taxes. 500k over 40 years is not that great.

M is fearless, she's the original honey badger, she doesn't give a sh!t! - Nekojita

[–] keziadwts 8 years ago

There is something disheartening about following these athletes for the whole summer to have no winner, especially because the producers changed the course to make it near impossible.

As opposed to other years, I feel less like: 'I'll be rooting for you next year' and more like: 'Sorry guys and gals, they will do all that they can to make sure that no one makes it to the end ever again, so they can keep that money'.

There should be a prize, albeit a smaller amount to the people who made it the farthest the fastest. So the athletes and the viewers don't feel like all the preparation and time spent for this year were wasted.

If Jeopardy, which is a syndicated show, can give out $250,000 in the Tournament of Champions, American Ninja Warrior which is on NBC, can give something to the top finishers.

[–] BellT 8 years ago

I guess for me it's not too bad because I'm used to the Sasuke format where there's no money on the line, only glory. But since the show loves to push the idea of someone winning the money, it's more disheartening for the general viewer.

M is fearless, she's the original honey badger, she doesn't give a sh!t! - Nekojita

[–] doktorf 8 years ago

Really I think they should drop the cash prize. Sasuke never had one. I don't even think it is a big draw for the participants.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

There should be a prize, albeit a smaller amount to the people who made it the farthest the fastest. So the athletes and the viewers don't feel like all the preparation and time spent for this year were wasted.

I think that is reasonable. Along those lines, why not award those that qualify/finish like $1K for doing so? Since you referenced Jeopardy! (1984), it's sister show Wheel of Fortune (1983) has a minimum prize of $1K. If you win nothing you get the minimum just for showing up.

I know it costs money to attend & compete if you are from out of town, so this would cover some of that expense. I don't know how some of these folks compete- it's not cheap to travel.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] KCCharles 8 years ago

I like this idea. A small cash prize to everyone that hits a buzzer, that increases at every stage in the competition.

[–] Huge_Ack_Man 8 years ago

They did need to edit to fit the show into 2 hrs you know.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do...you are misinformed---Mark Twain

[–] rushmoore16 8 years ago

I thought it was annoying when Akbar "called it early" and gave the run of the night to that Dreschel dude. By doing that, there's no need to watch anymore, because you know:

1. Nobody finishes stage 3.
2. There will be very few finishers in stage 2.
3. The girl will fail.

That allowed me to watch it in fast forward until the end so perhaps it wasn't that annoying after all. I did stop to see the girl, which brings me to something else that annoyed me: they showed that Catanzaro person more than the girl actually competing, and they even had "National Finalist" under her name. She wasn't a "National Finalist," she was a poodle being allowed onto the track to run with the big dogs...and she failed...again.

[–] pretty_eyez007 8 years ago

Same thoughts. When they gave out the Run Of The Night to Drew, before Jesse ran, I a ready knew she was going to fail. Realistically if she'd have hit the buzzer, she'd have gotten Run of the Night, hands down.

I wish they'd get rid of the Run of the Night altogether. It's so spoilerish. It takes away the suspense of seeing the runners go after someone is awarded. Because the final runners are always the most known/popular. So if someone gets it before them, that already tells me that they're either not going to finish, or maybe they'll finish but they had a he'll of a lot of mishaps and/or sloppy run. Either way, it takes away the surprise.

[–] eel2178 8 years ago

Because the final runners are always the most known/popular.

They actually run in the order of their finishing times from Stage I, slowest first to fastest last. The producers then manipulate the order in which theirs runs are shown for dramatic effect.