Could a Show like "Ninja Warrior" make it on one of the Big Four Networks?

[SirFozzie]

Discussion at work today was about the show "Ninja Warrior" on G4TV (Sasuke/Kunoichi from Japan).. what can I say we were bored.

Fun discussion.. to summarize

Positives
1) It has people you hardly know wiping out painfully, which is always humorous, and thus, good for ratings
2) It'd encourage people to exercise more.
3) It fills the niche of the American Gladiators type show.

Negatives
1) How'd you like to be the person insuring this? Insurance Premiums would be high.
2) Cost to build a whole course out of nothing for one or two contests
3) No guaranteed winner (out of 15 competitions, 2 have finished all four stages, there have been times when no one has even finished the third stage.


I thought it would work, it'd be a perfect midsummer, 4-6 week run (or a one shot, week long thing, like they're doing with the new AG).. others thought that the humor of it, was the over the top Japanese Announcers making it sound like life and death, and you couldn't get American Announcers to do it "right" without sounding silly.

[rkmsuf]

they already have variations of this I think. the extreme something challenge on one cable network with the dubbed american announcers

and there was some challenge thing on espn not too long ago where it was a huge obstacle course with climbing, balancing...all asian dudes I think.

don't know the specifics of this one but from what you wrote it sounds similar

[mauchow]

I like this show. LOL Watched it til 2 am one day last week.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

they already have variations of this I think. the extreme something challenge on one cable network with the dubbed american announcers

and there was some challenge thing on espn not too long ago where it was a huge obstacle course with climbing, balancing...all asian dudes I think.

don't know the specifics of this one but from what you wrote it sounds similar

Most Xtreme Elimination Challenge I think, and Viking or something.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Most Xtreme Elimination Challenge I think, and Viking or something.

score one for canada

[SirFozzie]

Yup, once again, both imported from Japan. Viking actually came in as a competitor to the Sasuke franchise.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

score one for canada

What's the score?

[Neon_Chaos]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Most Xtreme Elimination Challenge I think, and Viking or something.

MXC is Takeshi's Castle.

I love the original undubbed version, since they actually sound like it IS a matter of life and death to win the damn game.

[Mateo]

I frickin' love Ninja Warrior. Almost more than porn.


Almost. Not quite.

[SirFozzie]

Ninja Warrior is according to my friend Mike. "The Ultimate Stoner Show".

[PilotMan]

Mega thread necro!

Hot.

[gstelmack]

Yeah, second year it's been on NBC.

[thesloppy]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised how much "American Ninja Warrior" sucks compared to "Ninja Warrior", but it still seems worth noting....I mean the meat of the show, the athletic competition, is really exactly the same, so you wouldn't think it could be that different, yet they just somehow managed to suck the life and fun out of every other part of the show, by applying every tired "American" reality/competition cliche possible. And YE GODZ, those announcers....as if we needed more Akbar Gbaja-Biamila on TV. Worst decision of all, "American Ninja Warrior" has like 4000 regional qualifying phases, and seemingly runs for 8 consecutive hours for like 40 weeks in a row. Who is watching all of that crap?