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Takeshi1 Profile
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ANW 14


ANW Nation has announced the season 14 taping locations (well, 2 of them but the clue for the other seems to blatantly suggest San Antonio, Texas: spinball wizard + only 1 clear)... and they've also announced pretty abruptly that today is ANW Nation's last day emoticon

ANW14 locations article

Edited by Takeshi1, 3/Jan/22, 9:15 pm
3/Jan/22, 9:13 pm Link to this post    PM Takeshi1
 
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Re: ANW 14


Thanks for posting that up. I’ve been checking my email periodically to see if they’ve messaged me but nothing so far - not that I expect anything given the circumstances and just the general improbability of me being chosen regardless.

I wish the show well as it’s meant a lot (sometimes a concerning amount…) to me, but I do think it’s time may be nearing a close - at least on NBC. I honestly think having only a few regions makes a huge difference and makes it less enjoyable. It’s also very sudden that they’ve closed the website, wonder why? Is it tied to the show in any way or is it just a (more frequently updated) fansite, like Keshi Heads?

Also, I think ANW is a great show in concept and I like that it can inspire any viewer and encourage anyone really to get some exercise. I also like that it basically allows a spot for everyone - doesn’t matter your age, job, even some disabilities, you can still get on there and compete. I think this new vaccine policy is a mistake and I don’t support that. As someone who has been advised multiple times by doctors (pediatrician and cardiologist) not to get the vaccine yet, I’m disappointed that they appear to be requiring it. I would take a covid test if they wanted that, but I can’t go against my feelings for (a small chance at) getting on TV. It hasn’t been used for the last two seasons (of course because in 2020 it didn’t exist and 2021 it was very early on); I don’t think it’s necessary now. And it’s polarizing.

Again, I hope the show will change that and if all the stars magically align I’d and I’m allowed in I’ll be beyond thrilled to compete. I also will be glad to have this thread to follow along with what’s happening as I’ll be curious even if I don’t watch it. Here’s to 2022 being an improvement for all.

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4/Jan/22, 4:35 am Link to this post    PM Messup434
 
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Re: ANW 14


Calls are supposedly going out today. I’ll be on top of it. And that’s just the fahx.

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Keshi Heads
21/Jan/22, 6:58 pm Link to this post    PM Messup434
 
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Re: ANW 14


Well, they”re now in the middle of filming. I believe it’s from the 20-24, so perhaps five Qualifiers again? I wonder if it was five days last year? I feel like it was fewer, so hopefully this means fully unique courses this time if it’s a longer schedule than last year.

Still think this year they reeeeeeally could’ve and should’ve moved around the country, but what do I know. Maybe it has nothing to do with covid and it’s all budget/convenience now.

They will definitely be missing some bigger names this year. While I am still very adamantly against the vax requirement, I respect them a tiny bit more for sticking to their guns and not backing down when some people didn’t apply. I wish they would, but I respect them more for not wavering now that they’ve put it out there.

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24/Mar/22, 4:44 am Link to this post    PM Messup434
 
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Re: ANW 14


We see it increasingly now with any show that used to audition nationwide that overtime as costs get cut they concentrate on often just one or two sites rather than taking advanatage of having a whole country to explore. 50 states, 5 locations a year - that should be enough to keep it interesting for at least a decade.


I'm guessing too that like Wipeout they either only cast in the vacinity of where they're filming or people have to fund their own travel and hotel arrangements for the first round at least.


I've not followed American Ninja Warrior at all really apart from dipping in here and there but it is certainly of an age where you'd expect it to be getting tired, and I actually think a show like this which does have regulars coming back time and time again can in it's later years find that more of a hindrance rather than a help. If you feel like you're watching the same series over and over again why bother.


That said though with shows seemingly revived really quickly after being axed I'm not sure it's worth NBC calling time yet - and in the current environment I suspect it might go to streaming on Peacock before going altogether, mainly as NBC know another streamer might pick it up. This is a series though where it could work as a combination of both - the initial rounds released on Peacock then the final stages broadcast on NBC as a special event.

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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
27/Mar/22, 9:29 pm Link to this post    PM Brekkie
 
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Re: ANW 14


I absolutely agree with Brekkie here that moving from 6 different qualifying locations to one was going to happen with time. We already saw them plan to reduce it to three before the pandemic, and now they had an easy excuse to film in one location. Definitely much easier to film this way in every regard - filming during daytime in controlled lighting but no weather disruption and all heats getting filmed in a week without moving the course to multiple locations.

With regards to the competitors, they still come from all over the country and the network now actually pays for a night in a hotel, which they never used to do before the new approach to filming.
28/Mar/22, 4:37 pm Link to this post    PM Takeshi1
 
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Re: ANW 14


Yeah, I think it’s on its way out as we know it, but it probably won’t be gone for long, if at all. It’s not quite as “cool” as it was about six years ago, but I think if it was dropped a lot of channels would scramble to pick it up still. Or maybe not, I dunno!

Well they definitely have regulars coming back, but they often skip the older people and focus on the newer stories. I actually criticize them for skipping the older people who did really well in the prior year. Also, how they treated Kaden last season - it made his success more of a surprise, but they should’ve only skipped one run if anything IMO. Still, better than being predictable.

The Peacock thing is a good idea, but it will make me a bit sad as I want regular TV to succeed. I miss the good old days of watching everything live (although most of the shows here still are I guess lol). It makes for better forum discussion too.

I’m not a fan of the show paying for travel. I’m not avidly against it, but it seems like they should be putting that toward other things instead to make the show itself more interesting. I’ve always been of the position that competing on/training for this show is a essentially a hobby (or basically something you do voluntarily). You reap the benefits of exercise, having fun, exposure and (possibly) the prize! What I really don’t like is the ninjas who were arguing that they should be paid - so the hotel thing just irks me a bit as it feels like a step toward that.

In some ways it feels like it’s gone from a fun lighthearted thing to a job for some people. The wanting money, having to be vaxxed now. I miss the days where a random father of three on the beach could walk up and decide to give it a go. Of course, that wasn’t going to last forever and I don’t blame the show for its own success, but it’s almost like people have gotten “too good” now that they’ve dedicated their life ti training. Some of these kids present a new issue for the show as they are a lot lighter so the show will have ti introduce crazy stuff to make it adequately difficult for them, which’ll make it nearly impossible for larger adults. Or just leave it as it is and accept more winners - I would not be shocked if they go for a yearly “Total Victory” now to garner more interest.

I’m still not supporting this season, but if they do come back for a 15th, I really hope they can come back strong and make it FUN! I read somewhere that NBC shows still operate on some covid rules so I think the travel issue may at least be attributable in part to that. Though probably not fully attributable since we saw in January 2020 they were going to eliminate regions anyway. Same being said for the vax requirement. I just want it to be normal.

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28/Mar/22, 8:46 pm Link to this post    PM Messup434
 
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Re: ANW 14


May as well just post here to say this season has started. Haven't watched it yet - just finished watching the women's championship, which was for the most part actually decent. Going to watch All Stars next, honestly not usually a big fan of skill challenge type things, liked the mega wall when they used to do that and the flying shelf, maybe the first year of super salmon ladder too, but other than that I don't care for them. I guess I'll find out soon enough if this year's special will change anything about that.

Regarding the main season, I know a lot less about the courses this year from trying to avoid most spoilers. I know a little about the heats, less about the semis and nothing about Vegas - and that's how I want it. I feel the surprise of the courses might help me to enjoy it a bit more than 13, where I hated the heats and felt the semis got stale quickly. Admittedly because the course structure is very rigid I'm not sure how much it'll help, plus I'd imagine the problem of half the course being upper-body (usually lache) obstacles will absolutely still be a thing.

I feel genuinely more excited for AuNW which starts on the 27th, and that's the show that
last year had only 6 people complete obstacle 4 in most semis, made stages 1 and 2 both stage 3s, put salmon ladders on every finals stage and made an obstacle's dismount deliberately impossible to prevent back-to-back wins.

Maybe I should be more positive but ANW only ever changes through gimmicks so I'm simply not expecting much from yet another new season that's likely to merge in with the rest.

Edited by Takeshi1, 10/Jun/22, 5:34 pm
10/Jun/22, 5:33 pm Link to this post    PM Takeshi1
 
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Re: ANW 14


Yeah, the fact that I’ve really had no urge to watch what was once one of my favorite shows says a lot.

The obstacles are repetitive now (not just formulaic as always, but recycled every week), the location never changes, the teen gimmick is no longer novel but means half the show is kids which is honestly meh.

My Dad turned it on during the premiere for some reason and I saw about five minutes of it that just annoyed me. There are some cool obstacles ideas, but it’ll get old and the stories were really grating. It’s just like with sports (which I don’t watch, but emoticon ), I don’t care about your opinions/whatever as much as I want to see people run rhe course. Ugh.

But as you said, it also just looked like a collection of now stale gimmicks that they think it’d be lame to remove. The Power Tower, Mega Wall, Split Decision and teens twists are all just there now and make it feel needlessly complicated to oblivion.

Well, I’m sorry to say it but the rating tell the whole story.

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17/Jun/22, 8:39 am Link to this post    PM Messup434
 
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Re: ANW 14


Yeah we definitely share some common opinions here! I'm going to continue reviewing the episodes on here considering I'm behind so don't want to get episodes spoiled by discussing in ninja-dedicated servers etc. Going to review All Stars here (briefly) then do another review of episodes 1 & 2, probably combined.

All-Star Special Review

All Stars this year got rid of the team relay event so we didn't get to see the ordinary Vegas course again this year. This also cut the run time from the usual 3 hours to a more manageable 2. I absolutely can see why they did that - I wouldn't say the team event was ever very memorable or an integral part of All-stars despite being years. Admittedly I kind of liked it as you got to see the course be run again and I prefer courses to skill events but oh well that's just me.

Event was was a new one: Spring Forward Tag
Definitely more entertaining than the equivalent events from previous years (doorknobs, ferris wheels etc.) - competitors had to lache around a circle of spring forwards trying to tag their opponent, or hang on longest if their opponent fell without being tagged. I felt like the draw for this was stronger on one side than the other, so the Lebsack vs Soderman semi-final felt closer to a final than the actual one. Soderman won the event overall (ps give the guy more airtime, he's really good). Interestingly the event was split in two so the semis and finals came near the end of the episode to break it up. I feel we only needed 4 competitors rather than 8 because the head-to-heads got old quite quickly though. Wouldn't be surprised if it came back again but I'd prefer it as a somewhat good one-and-done because it'll get old next year I'm sure.

Event two was the new Spider Flip Gauntlet
Think it was called that at least, I've been wanting a lumberjack climb with a spider flip on the final stage for a while so I liked this a lot. The design for this round actually came from I think Brett Sims as well (it was certainly a competitor, think it was him). Worked really well I thought and was the perfect length of time. Josiah Pippel won after storming his way up in the final round. Definitely an event to come back next year I feel.

Event three was Big Dipper Freestyle
This one has definitely lost it's charm. The first two years were fine, but not anymore. I feel it really drags on now - should've definitely been one dive each rather than two. Best dive of the night was the very first, Tyler Yamauchi stole the show with a stunner miles better than any other dive that night, how he still only got 29 I do not know. One thing that was clear though is the event was rigged so they could have narrative of Najee Richardson winning his first skill event: they forced Tyler to dive-bomb on attempt two and made Sean Bryan pretend to be some unhinged character that did an awful first dive and "stole" a dive from him. So Najee "won" and once I clocked onto what was happening I hated it. Get rid of this one.

Final event was Striding Steps
Of all the original events I did not think the one designed just to have a lower-body skill challenge would be the last survivor, but here we are I guess. Honestly though I feel like this is the event that gets better every year and I don't know why. One thing that wasn't a brilliant look for the show was the producers did three man vs woman heats and a one with two women, and the only advancing woman came from the two women heat, all the others were beaten by men. Jessie Graff had a very good comeback performance despite wearing a knee-brace - by having a controlled landing from the rope she could generally get away on the second half whilst her opponents were regaining their balance. Ultimately Flip Rodriguez dominated and won out in the final against Jessie. Quite a fun way to end the episode, would like to see a new lower body challenge next time though, we've had this one a long time.

Overall I enjoyed this probably more than average for a skills comp but it still is exactly that so meh overall. The good thing about skills comps tho: reduced fluff pieces!

S14 E1/2 review on the way.
26/Jun/22, 1:47 pm Link to this post    PM Takeshi1
 


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