American Ninja Warrior How Season 13 Will Be Back to Normal (& How It Wont)
American Ninja Warrior: How Season 13 Will Be Back to Normal (& How It Won’t)
Contents
In 2020, Mount Midoriyama was missed by fans and ninjas. In 2021, the infamous obstacle (and the $1 million dollar prize) will be back.
You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]
The upcoming season of American Ninja Warrior has begun casting. Many of the top ninjas have already announced their returns on social media. A lot of fans were relieved when they learned that the next season is in pre-production. However, there are plenty of questions about how the pandemic will change season 13 of the popular obstacle course competition.
The current plan is that the series will return to its original format as much as possible. Season 12 saw multiple changes due to the pandemic and these changes were made in order to keep everyone involved safe and healthy. Safety precautions included completely scrapping the infamous Mount Midoriyama. The final course was replaced by the “Power Tower,” where two competitors faced off at a time, with the winner continuing on to a second round, and the final two winners competing against each other.
Casting announcements have started to roll out. Also, some filming locations have been made official. It now seems like the 2021 season will resemble older seasons more than the unusual 2020 season. The focus will still be on keeping everyone involved safe. This is something that competitors and fans appreciate.
Other shows have not shown as much concern for participants. For example, the WWE reportedly told wrestlers that it would not be providing the COVID-19 vaccine, despite many positive cases among the wrestlers. American Ninja Warrior seems to have found a good balance in terms of protecting competitors and crew, while also giving fans most of what they want.
The Veteran Ninjas
If nothing else, fans can look forward to seeing many familiar faces. After producers were able to prove their safety methods were effective during 2020’s American Ninja Warrior season 12, more ninjas may feel safer competing again. Flip Rodriquez, Joe Moravsky, Meagan Martin, Jesse Labreck, Najee Richardson, and other seasoned ninjas have already announced on social media that they have been invited back. The full roster has not been revealed yet, but some people won’t be returning.
The stuntwoman Jesse Graff has revealed that, despite her desire to compete, she will be sitting out season 13. She was seriously injured during season 12 and is still trying to fully recover. Not wanting to exacerbate her injuries, she made the difficult choice to continue healing. Longtime ninja Ryan Stratis (who appeared on the first 11 seasons of the show, before deciding to take a year off in 2020) is still waiting for his call from the casting department, which he has joked about in a series of memes on his Instagram.
A post shared by Ryan Stratis (@ryan_strat)
No Walk-Ons
Kevin Bull is now a well-known ninja and ranks among the top fan-favorites. In 2014, he was an unknown, walk-on competitor. No one expected him to get past Cannonball Alley, the obstacle that had taken out even experienced ninjas. When the newbie found a creative way to become the first person to finish the course that night, it was a memorable TV moment. This moment surprised and delighted fans, and made him one of the most beloved contestants.
Walk-on contestants are the underdogs everyone loves to cheer for. Several popular ninjas started out as walk-ons. Then, they amazed with their skills, despite their lack of experience. Without walk-ons, an aspect of the show is missing and the fans will notice.
Returning Hosts
No change of the hosts has been announced, so fans can most likely count on seeing the team returning. Matt Iseman took over as host back in the second season and was joined by former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila in season seven. This duo has been embraced by fans. This is a team that could not easily be replaced.
Zuri Hall is a relatively new addition. She joined American Ninja Warrior in 2019, replacing Kristine Leahy, who had taken the place of the original reporter, Jenn Brown. She was able to host one normal season of the show, and then handled the unexpected changes that came in 2020 with a lot of professionalism. Zuri is expected to be back as the on-the-course reporter for her third year this year, regardless of any format changes.
A post shared by Zuri Hall (@zurihall)
No Audience
Crowds are still not safe, so fans are not allowed at most sporting events or TV tapings, including late-night shows. Normally, the American Ninja Warrior set is an intimate venue, and the fans in the stands are part of the course. There is emotional cheering as competitors struggle past difficult obstacles, fans wave signs for their favorite ninjas, and the encouraging rhythmic chant of “Beat the wall!” is heard. These elements of the experience are irreplaceable.
Even the ninjas’ families and friends will have to cheer them on virtually. Since 2020, the sidelines now include a large screen where a ninja’s family members are projected. These family members watch from the safety of their homes. While it’s hard on the ninjas to not have their loved ones there in person, their teammates do a good job of cheering them on from the sidelines.
Las Vegas & Mount Midoriyama Are Back
The national finals are returning to their longtime home, Las Vegas, despite other Vegas events being canceled, such as the NFL Pro Bowl. While 2020 saw a modified American Ninja Warrior finale, with a shorter course and less prize money, 2021 will restore the grandeur of the full course, including Mount Midoriyama. That also means the hefty prize awaiting any ninjas who make it to the top of the mountain is back to its full amount. While the winner of season 12’s “Power Tower” took home $100,000, the winner of season 13 will be taking home $1 million (if anyone can make it to the end of the ridiculously difficult course).
No Cross-Country Qualifiers
Shows like American Idol have done away with live performances. They have switched to virtual and even used augmented reality and/or virtual reality to add pizzazz. Obviously, American Ninja Warrior contestants have to be physically present to compete, which makes the logistics more complicated. The first part of the competition will be held in Tacoma, Washington, and the competition may be limited to a single city during pre-finale rounds.
The good news is that the single location also came with a timeframe to begin filming, which is the week of March 26th. Though 2021 won’t see American Ninja Warrior completely back to its original format, this year is a step closer to the familiar show that has captivated fans for 13 seasons now. Hopefully, there will be many more seasons to come.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/american-ninja-warrior-season-13-ways-back-normal/
Reviews -Animal Crossing BuildABear Isabelle & Tom Nook Plushes Revealed
90 Day Fiancé Geoffrey Claims That Mary Was More of a Rekindling Than Rebound
Aquaman Jason Momoa Researching New 52 DC Comics
American Horror Story Renewed Through Season 13 By FX
10 Best Romantic Christmas Movies Perfect For A Night In
Animal Crossing Holiday Gift Guide 2021
90 Day Fiancé Fans Not Thrilled About Brandon & Julia Joining Pillow Talk
