American Ninja Warrior (2009–…): Season 14, Episode 7 - Semifinals 2 - full transcript

- It's take two in Hollywood

as we roll in
to Universal Studios

for our second night
of semifinals

on "American Ninja Warrior"!

Hello, everyone, and welcome.
I'm Matt Iseman.

- And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.

Matt, we love being
on this movie set.

It's a real Hollywood vibe.

You know, last week
was like a family film

since we had two teenagers
reach the Power Tower.

- Jay Lache edges out Pippel!



- But tonight
feels like a Western

since we'll see
Cowboy Ninja Lance Pekus.

Or it could be an action movie

since we got
stuntwoman Tiana Webberley.

And if you're looking
for something faith-based,

you'll love the Papal Ninja,
Sean Bryan.

So sit back and enjoy the show!

- Well, everyone
will be fighting

for a coveted spot
at the National Finals,

which kick off in just
a few weeks in Las Vegas,

but for a look
at the course tonight,

let's go down to Zuri Hall.

- Thank you, guys.

The semifinals course



is ten obstacles long,

including two brand-new ones.

One is called Hopscotch,

but unlike the playground game,

ninjas will have to use
their hands... not their feet...

To get across the small ledges.

Also new and perfect
for Hollywood is Box Office,

another one where
a strong grip is essential.

And the course ends right here
at the Spider Trap,

a 35-foot climb to the buzzer.

Guys.

- Thanks, Zuri.

And just like last week,
at the end of the night,

the top two competitors
face off on the Power Tower

with a Safety Pass on the line,

which gives them a second chance

if they fall
on stage one or two in Vegas.

Well, we may be
on New York Street,

but our first competitor
is transporting us

to the canals of Venice.

The gondolier, Jonah Bonner.

That's him on the screen,

piloting that 1,500-pound boat.

As my job, I row gondolas
in Newport Beach, California.

We take people out on dates,

for anniversaries,
for proposals.

Rowing a gondola is very calm,

peaceful, romantic.

It's one of those jobs

that doesn't feel
like a job at all.

Buona sera!

But gondoliering
isn't my only love.

I also do a lot
of rock climbing...

- Yeah!

- Trampoline...

And BMX riding.

Yeah!

I love the freedom
of riding BMX.

The whole world is
your course to ride.

It's wild.
It's ruckus.

It's very much unruly.

Yes!

I would definitely call it
an adrenalin rush.

These polar opposite
activities that I have

actually make me, as a whole,
very well-rounded.

And, you know,
if I bring those two together

on the "Ninja Warrior" course,
I'm bound to hit a buzzer.

- Jonah Bonner's got more fans
than anyone tonight.

His family is down
on the sidelines,

but he's also got dozens
of friends

wearing the striped shirts,
the straw hats,

the big heads.

And speaking of big heads,

that hat is too small
for your head.

- Are you saying my head is big?

- My head is big.
Yours is enormous!

- Aw, Venice.

Know any Italian songs, Akbar?

- Now let's see if he can
make the beautiful music

here on Lunatic Ledges.

- All right, he's got to
"figaro" figure this one out.

- Well, as a BMXer,

he's probably faced
a few lunatic ledges.

And he gets through.

Next up, Clockwork, which we
saw back in season 12.

And this, it's almost
like handling an oar

in his arms
right here on Clockwork.

Knows how to generate
that power.

It's a real challenge here

because they're linked
to three gears.

There's more mass
than you anticipate.

- A lot of time is ticking.

Whoa, nice!
- Wow!

- That was a last-minute
effort here, Matt.

He's spent a lot of time
swinging.

Nice.
- Absolutely.

- A big throw.
A big power move right there.

- There it is.

Now to the Spinning Bridge.

Watch the footwork here,

the gondolier looking
to stay dry.

- Here we go, let's take
this one out for a spin.

- Whoa!
- Whoa!

- Now the fingertips
are gonna be tested

right in front
of his cheering section

because now
it's this new one, Hopscotch.

Three 1/4-inch ledge
on the first few squares.

It's a five-foot leap
between them.

The small grips there,
the hinge.

- All right,
on this single one, Matt,

he's got to hit bullseye.

Got to grab it right there.

Great.
Two hands together on one.

Nice!
- Here we go.

The double side.

- Watch out here.
- Get those hips up.

- It's like a blind grab

because you got to just feel it.

Just like that!
- Absolutely.

- Let's go!
- Go, go, go!

- On now to the free spin.

- Whoo!

- Yes!
- Whoo!

- Didn't get
that left index finger on,

but saved it.
- Secure it with your thumb.

Nice.
- Oh!

To the Warped Wall!

- Did you see that spin
on that dismount?

Well, check this one out, Matt.

He makes that grab
on the seventh hold.

Oh, look at that index finger
coming off.

But he was able to save it

in a beautiful spin off
on that dismount.

Beat that wall!

Beat that wall!

- The seven-finger save.

And that in the bag!

Jonah Bonner's
buona sera run continues.

Got a buzzer in qualifying.

Hoping to make his first trip
to the National Finals.

You don't need to point out,
on the Strip,

there is a hotel called...

- Venetian.
- The Venetian.

Jonah! Jonah! Jonah!

Jonah! Jonah! Jonah! Jonah!
- Here we go.

On the back half of the course,

and it starts
with the Salmon Ladder.

- All right.
Come on, Jonah Bonner.

Let's go.

Ooh, Matt.

He's starting to gas out, Matt.

Ooh, you gotta
keep the metals, homey.

- Here we go.
- Nice.

- New obstacle, Box Office.

You can see there are boxes,
and they're on bungee cords.

And that drop is diabolical.

- Whoa-ho-ho!
- Holding on!

- This guy's an entertainer.
- Oh, my goodness.

It's an action movie
for Jonah Bonner.

It's a cliffhanger!

Got to get the blind grab here
front and back.

- Oh!
- Oh!

Jonah Bonner's entertaining run

ends on Box Office,
but he went fast.

Has a good chance
of moving on to Vegas,

and he gave his fans a show.

Our second competitor tonight

is gonna have a little help
at the start line.

This is Mike Beadle
and his daughter, Lindsey,

who's helping him get warmed up

with a little game
of patty cake.

- Matt, do you remember
doing that as a kid?

- I do not, but...

- Yeah, I don't remember
all the sayings.

- Aww.
- Aw, come on!

Well, Lindsey's gonna run off
to the sideline

while Daddy gets ready to run.

There's his wife
and other daughter

watching back in Arizona.

- Whoo!

- Lindsey'll be down
on the sidelines

with Mike's parents
and other family.

He's tied for the tallest
competitor tonight at 6'5"

and has a huge wingspan

that's earned him
the nickname the Albatross.

Watch his feet grazing
the water at 6'5".

- Yeah, he's got
to watch out for that.

He's a pretty long guy, Matt.

He's a big drink of water.

- Long and lean,
but a solid athlete.

Was a pro skateboarder
as a teen.

- And, Matt, he's so long,
he didn't even need to swing.

He just rolled right into it.

Breathe.

- Now taking on Clockwork.

Beadle works
as a parks and rec supervisor,

has two kids,

so he knows how to manage time.

- Move, Mike, move.
- Nice!

Matt, did you see him
use his long reach?

- Albatross just
stuck his wing out.

He can practically
go hand over hand.

- Whoo!

- He's through, and pumped
to get past that one.

Throws a wave down to Lindsey.

- Come on!
- You got this, Dad!

- Now, the skateboarder
should have good balance

for Spinning Bridge.

And he does.

Well, this 35-year-old dad
has looked good so far,

but this new obstacle,
Hopscotch,

could be a challenge.

- This right here, you wanna
land softly on these ledges.

- Makes the first move,

but now has to land both hands
on one ledge.

- Deep breath.
- Go!

- Oh!
- Oh!

- It started with patty cake
but ends on Hopscotch.

Still a good run
for devoted dad Mike Beadle.

- Honestly, I got to share
that moment with my daughter,

which is better
than any buzzer could be.

I'll get this next year.

- Tonight's gonna be the bomb.

- Dy-no-mite!

- Ninja favorites
like Mady Howard,

Lance Pekus,
and Tiana Webberley are here,

along with some fresh,
new faces.

- It's the Gritty.

- It's a night
full of surprises.

Oh, no! Oh, no!
- Oh, no, no, no, no!

- And some shocking exits.

- Whoa!
- Oh, no!

We're gonna let 'er rip

for the second night
of semifinals...

- Sheesh!

- On "American Ninja Warrior."

- Welcome back to Los Angeles.

Moments ago, four-time "Ninja"
veteran Casey Rothschild

was coming into the semifinals
on a roll.

Back in qualifying,

Rothschild hit
her second career buzzer...

- Reach for it! Nice!

- One of only five women
to do it this season.

- Oh, my God!

- Tonight, the 23-year-old

rolled through
the first three obstacles,

including Clockwork...

- Matt, you know she wants
to get to that wall again.

- But the former
college track star

didn't have the footwork
on Spinning Bridge.

- Oh, no!

I think I just missed a step.

- Our next athlete
calls Casey Rothschild

one of her inspirations.

This is 19-year-old "Ninja"
superfan Izabella Adkins.

She's a college student
and a climber

who gets her strength
from her dad.

- I really like climbing

because
there's always a challenge.

Every route is different.

I love cliffhanger moves
and vertical limits

and anything
that's a small ledge.

Those moves translate
really well to Ninja.

- Well, Akbar,
consider us impressed

by this rookie, Izabella Adkins.

- Yeah!

- My dad has had
his fair share of obstacles.

When he was about my age,
he was in a car accident

that put him in a wheelchair.

- My girlfriend
was giving me a ride to work.

The car got caught
on some trolley tracks.

We got sent to the other lane,

and I got a severe
traumatic brain injury.

And without doubt,

the most difficult time period
of my life.

- Some people might fold
after an accident

like my dad went through,

but he's pushed
through every obstacle

that he's faced in his life,

and he has shown me
that I can do the same.

- She is showing confidence!
- Yeah, Matt.

She's got some type
of ninja swag.

- Oh!

- I love my daughter very much,

and I'm very happy
to see her be successful.

- Wow!

- As much as my dad
has inspired me,

I hope that
I can inspire him too.

- Izabella's thrilled her dad

made the trip to watch her run.

He's a therapist who's written
a book about his journey.

He's on the sideline with
Izabella's mom and sister.

- You got it, girl.
You got it.

- Yeah, she really
impressed us in qualifying.

Made it to the final obstacle,

but couldn't get up
the Warped Wall.

- Remember,
the top three women move on.

If she can get to the
Warped Wall again tonight,

she'll have a good shot
of getting to Vegas.

- Uh-oh. Here we go.

Now you gotta
make that transfer.

Nice.
- About to start

her sophomore year at
Northern Arizona University.

She's a quick study.

She's through Lunatic Ledges.

Hard at generating power here.
Really need to extend,

use the full body on Clockwork.

- You got this!
- Yeah.

- Uh-oh, she's got to generate
enough swing here, Matt.

A lot of time is ticking.

Get up there.

Got it.

- She grew up watching the show,

idolized all the women who
blazed the trail

on "Ninja Warrior,"

and now she's out here
competing alongside them.

There's one of her heroes,

Casey Rothschild, on the right.

We just saw her fall
minutes ago.

Let's see if Izabella
can learn from Casey.

- Speed, speed, speed,
speed, speed!

Ooh!
- Ooh, hard fall!

But she's smiling.

She's now reached
the fifth obstacle, Hopscotch.

- She's on this course like,
"Let me introduce myself.

My name is Izabella Adkins."

- Well, this should be
her playground.

With her climbing background,

should be familiar
with landing on small ledges.

- Oh, nice.

- This is gonna be
the test, Akbar.

- These handles get smaller.

Whoo, okay!
- Great job!

What grip strength these ninjas
have to have on this obstacle.

- Yeah... oh!
- Oh!

Found the grip.

- Oh, be careful.
It's spins on ya.

- Oh, my goodness.
Are you kidding me?

- She's doing her thing.

- How about
this 19-year-old rookie?

The first woman
to beat Hopscotch.

- What?
- Yeah! Way to go!

- Way to go, Izabella!

Remember, she couldn't get up
the Warped Wall in qualifying.

Hopefully, she's been
putting in that work.

Beat that wall!

Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!

- Get it, get it,
get it, get it!

Oh, buddy.

- Missed the first attempt.
Has two more.

- Izabella, take a second!

- Casey's telling her
to take a second,

but she's going right up
on her second attempt.

And still struggling
on the Warped Wall.

- Take a second and breathe.
I did the same thing.

I've gone third.
I was rushing through.

'Cause you're like,
"Oh, I gotta go."

You don't have to go, okay?

- Casey Rothschild
coaching her; I love it.

Just telling her,
"You don't have to rush."

- This is what I love
about the ninjas, Matt.

They are always
supporting each other.

- But this is her final attempt.

- Izabella!
- Can Izabella Adkins deliver?

- Get your arms up!
Reach out!

Aah! Oh!
- Oh!

Had her fingertips on it,
but can't conquer the wall.

Still a strong run
by the rookie,

and her family and Casey
are letting her know it.

- Izabella Adkins showed the
strength she gets from her dad

as she conquered
the first five obstacles.

But at the wall,
she did get a good push up,

and she came up just short.

- It's okay!

- And giving her hugs
to her dad.

You know he's gotta be proud.

Well, we'll have to wait
and see,

but that run may have earned her

a trip to Vegas.

- Coming up,
he's got a perfect record.

- That's big-time right there!

- Josh Levin's hit a qualifying

and semifinals buzzer
every season he's competed.

- I'm loving Levin!

- Can he keep his streak going?

And don't forget, the night ends

with a duel on the Power Tower.

The winner gets a Safety Pass
in Vegas.

- Welcome back to
Universal Studios, Hollywood.

California clothing designer
Brittney Durant

came into semifinals
with a ton of confidence.

A few weeks ago, at qualifying,

she got her first buzzer.

- Yeah!

- Tonight,
the 21-year-old was trying

to earn her second straight
trip to the National Finals,

but she hit the wall
at Lunatic Ledges...

- Oh!

- And was shockingly bounced out

on just the second obstacle.

- Oh, nightmare
on New York Street.

- Physician Steven Cen
showed off his physique

on the start line.

- Oh, my goodness!

Well, when this doctor tells
you to "take two of these

and call me in the morning,"
you're gonna listen.

- Dr. Cen helps save lives

at a trauma hospital
in New Mexico,

and he saved himself
on Spinning Bridge.

- Come on, come on, come on!
Oh, oh, oh!

Oh, wow!

Wow! That was so close.

- But moments later, the
doctor was DOA on Hopscotch.

- Oh!

- Super fun course, guys.

Thank you so much
for the opportunity.

- Up next is one of
the most impressive athletes

ever to hit our course.
This is Josh Levin.

Not only is he a top ninja,

he's a world-class rock climber

with an engineering degree,

and he just got his master's
from Harvard.

And he's using his skills

to help others
overcome obstacles.

- Over the past five years,

I've been working with a school
called Synapse School

in Menlo Park, California.

It's an obstacle design class,

so they design and construct

their own original
"Ninja Warrior" obstacles.

And those obstacles were some
of the coolest obstacles

I've ever been on in my life.

This year has been
truly incredible.

Synapse School takes this idea
of obstacles and imagines them

through the lens of disability
and accessibility.

Oh, nice.
- Great job.

- Most athletes
who have disabilities

can't necessarily compete
on the "Ninja Warrior" course

as it is right now.

- Josh Levin
back where he belongs!

- Whoo!

We should really be thinking
about ways

in which we can design obstacles

for people
with a variety of disabilities

to engage and enjoy.

This, to me, is, like,
the coolest application

of all the things
that I'm passionate about...

Technology, education,
and sports...

And how they're able
to be combined together

to have a positive impact
on the world.

- Josh Levin can do it all.

He's got a lot of fans,
and look...

Check out all the kids
from that school,

cheering him on, I love it.

Along with his parents, who
never miss any of his runs.

- He missed the last few seasons

while he was going to Harvard,
but he's back and ready

to be one of the elites
once again.

- He's very smart,
and he's very strong.

Those are two S's that
you want to wear on your chest

on "Ninja Warrior."

- This runs happens to be
sponsored by NerdWallet.

You might consider
Josh Levin a nerd

with those advanced degrees,

but he's also
an outstanding ninja.

Great control.

And there are some
of his Harvard classmates

watching back at Cambridge.

Now up on Clockwork.

- Josh Levin's like clockwork.

He hits a buzzer on
every qualifying, semifinals,

and stage-one course he's faced.

He's so incredibly consistent.

Let me just simplify it:

he's hitting that buzzer
today in the semifinals.

- Well, it would be a surprise
if he didn't.

Love watching Josh compete.

He's from the Bay Area

and has some Bay Area ninjas
down on the sideline

along with Lance Pekus.

Psyching himself up
for Spinning Bridge.

- He's huffing and puffing,

and he's about
to blow something down.

Oh!
- Just stays alive.

On to Hopscotch,

and this is where
that grip will be tested.

An engineer understands
the mechanics of it.

As a climber, this should be
in his wheelhouse.

- Ooh!
- Ooh!

- Whoo!
- You got it!

- These grips
are so challenging,

especially as they gets smaller.

- Single, double, single.

Nice!

- Now on
to the side double again.

The handles get smaller here.

Just a 1/2 inch,
and they're rounded.

- Taking his time.
Feeling it.

Nice. Making the adjustment.

- Well, he's a 19-time
national champion in climbing.

Just missed out on making
the U.S. Olympic team

in that sport.

So this obstacle plays
to his skills.

He is really locked in.

- You're there!
You're there!

- And he gets through.
- Nice!

- The Warped Wall is next.

Had no problem with this
a few weeks ago

in qualifying.

Beat that wall!

Beat that wall!

- This man just
sat out three seasons,

but he has not missed a beat
in his return.

And he is headed
to the back half.

- You're back! Yes!
- Hey, buddy!

- Go get it!

- Remember,
only the top 15 will move on.

Normally, you have to reach
that eighth or ninth obstacle

to have a shot, but Josh Levin
is aiming higher.

He wants the Power Tower.

All his falls
have been on stage two,

so he could really use
that Safety Pass.

- Come on, Josh!
- Let's go, Josh!

- Come on, Josh!

- He's got
four more obstacles to go,

starting here
with the Salmon Ladder.

Got to get up four rungs.

- Coming in super aggressive
on Salmon Ladder.

Very powerful.

Just showing off
his power there.

- Yeah!
- Yeah! Again!

- His climbing skills should
help here on Box Office,

but watch out for the big drop
on the bungee cord.

- Whoa! All right.

- And this one... even for a
climber, this is a test.

Those bungee drops...
You don't see that

on the mount.
- No, you don't.

You know, the movie prices

are really expensive.

It hurts.
It can hurt your pocket.

But this Box Office one here,
it can hurt your grip.

- Amazing!
Got those side handles.

On now to the 6-inch box.

- Whoa!
- Whoa, he's swinging around.

Come on, you only get
one shot on this one.

This could be
a blockbuster move.

- Got it!
- Yes!

He knows there's no sequel here

on Box Office.

Did he just use his chin
to adjust?

- Whatever it takes.
- My goodness!

- Josh Levin continuing to
fight, solving the problems.

- You can't tell me
those kids aren't elated.

Look at that,
they're going nuts for Josh!

- He's now gonna give us our
first look at Split Decision.

Will he choose the
dangerous balance obstacle,

Spin Zone, or will the climber

try the upper-body test
of Dragonback?

- There's no way
he's going down Spin Zone.

- I would be surprised.

Yep, he's headed to Dragonback.

Wants to keep his perfect
record on semifinals courses,

and he's betting
on the upper-body obstacle.

- You got this, Josh!

Keep pushing!
You got this!

- Last week,
seven people chose Dragonback,

but only three survived it.

Got to jump the bar up
the notches on the dragon,

then slide down and do it again.

- The hardest part about this
is keeping that bar centered.

- Come on, Josh.

- Watch those sides.
Watch those sides.

- And talk about reliance
on grip, Akbar.

He's comfortable hanging
for as long as he needs to

and checking
the sides of the bar.

- Well, hey, he can afford
to do that, Matt,

because he's a speed climber.

He's got grip strength for days.

- And here's the drop.
- Okay, feel it!

- Great job holding on.

He is legitimately a threat
to go all the way, Akbar.

- All he does is hit buzzers.

- Every qualifying course.
- Yeah.

Every qualifying course.
- Every extended course.

- Every stage one.
- Yes, that's exactly right.

- Josh Levin's staying calm.

You can see him checking
the sides, being very careful.

Just taking his time.

What a testament
to the grip strength.

- Oh, no!
- Oh, no!

- Oh, my gosh!

The record is broken!

- His perfect streak
comes to an end,

but it's the best run
of the night so far.

Good job, Josh!

- He got creative on Box Office.

Look... he used his chin and his
face to him get through,

but on Dragonback, his left
side got ahead of his right,

and he slipped right off.

But that should be good enough
to get him to Vegas.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

- Welcome back
to "American Ninja Warrior"

at Universal Studios, Hollywood,

where you can soar
over Hogwarts Castle,

journey into Jurassic World,

or let loose on Illumination's

Off the Leash.

- And let's not forget
the world-famous studio tour,

where you'll go
behind the scenes

on your favorite film sets.

Make it your best day in LA.

- Rapper Julius Ferguson
was hoping

his run would be
a day at the park,

but it quickly turned
into a nightmare.

- Oh, come on, my ninja.
You gotta go.

- The six-time veteran lost
momentum on the Lunatic Ledges

and then spent two minutes
fighting

with everything he had
to get it back.

- Climb up!

- Oh, he's floating.

He's trying to figure this out.

- Get up there!
Yeah, get up.

- Come on, you got this!
Come on!

- At this point, he is just
dancing with this ledge.

- As a last resort, he went high

and tried a Hail Mary jump
to the landing pad.

- Yeah, he's just
gotta go for it.

Boom!
Oh, my word!

- The Archery Ninja,
Anthony Porter,

was able to get past
the Lunatic Ledges.

- Just like that!

- The archery instructor
from Chino Hills, California,

was looking to earn his
second straight trip to Vegas.

- Anthony Porter looks like
he's on target. Nice!

- After conquering Hopscotch...

- Got it!

- The shirt came off

and the bow came out.

- Uh-oh. Oh, he's about
to shoot that buzzer.

- Watch out!
- You coming for us?

- Not us!
- You tripping, homey!

- Oh, heck no.

- Oh, no! Oh, no!
- Oh, no, no, no, no!

My man taking shots at me!

- The 25-year-old
then shot up the Warped Wall

and made his way
to the eighth obstacle,

but on Box Office,
he missed the mark.

No! Aw!

- Oh, awesome!
- Great, job, man.

Great job!
- Whoo, love you guys!

- Next up is one of the
coolest kids you'll ever meet.

This is
18-year-old Jeramiah Boyd.

His friends call him Jera,

and they also call him
a jokester.

He likes to have fun out here,

but he counts on his mom
to keep him grounded.

- Jera, come on!

- Jeramiah Boyd.
- Beat that wall!

- He's trained for this.

Beat that wall!

- Oh, my!

Explosive!

- This dream of being
an American ninja warrior

would definitely not be
possible without my mom.

- You did it.
Oh, my God!

- My mom's worked pretty hard
to provide a good life for me,

especially with her
being on her own.

- Raising Jera as a single mom,
it was hard.

When you are a single parent

and you have one income,

to be in this position,

to really support my son,

I feel very blessed.

Hey, Jera, will you
come in here and help me

make some breakfast, please?
- Yeah.

- I do have to remind him
to do his chores a lot,

but he eventually does them.

And he is very caring.

- One thing I could do
to make my mom's life easier

is doing the chores
that she asks me to do

around the house...

- You are doing really good.

- Thanks.
- You're welcome.

- And maybe winning
$1 million along the way.

Who knows?

- Already won ten grand on
the Mega Wall a few weeks ago.

Mom was there for that,

and she'll be on the sideline
again tonight.

- Go, Jera!

- Got other family watching
back in Minnesota.

- Shrinking Steps
should be no problem.

Was the captain
of the high school track team.

And just sprints through it.

And goes right
into Lunatic Ledges.

- Yeah, Matt,
and on top of track,

he hits the gym three times
a week to stay Ninja ready.

- Now, watch it
once you transfer

onto the second ledge.

- All right. Here we go.

- Once you lose momentum,
almost impossible

to build it up again.

- And you got to go now.

It's now or never.
- Right here.

- It really is.

- And he gets through.

And, again, no break.
Going right into Clockwork.

- You got it.

- We saw this two years ago,
and you can see

the handles move
all in conjunction

with one another.

The key is, tick-tock,
you don't stop on Clockwork.

Keep it moving.
- Yeah.

It's all about that timing,
getting it up and out.

Nice!
- Showing a lot of confidence.

Taking on Spinning Bridge.

Oh, survives!
- Whoa!

Well, it's a good thing
he's got that track speed.

He fell forward on that one.

- And he's laughing at himself.

I think
he can't believe he tripped.

- I like it. He's so loose.

- Better take this next one
seriously, though.

Hopscotch.

This is a tough one.

Already ended the runs
of a few ninjas tonight.

And these just
little cliffhanger ledges.

These fifth obstacles
in the semifinals

have been so challenging.

- Now we're going
to the side double.

Nice!
- Outside, and he's got it!

- There you go!

- Only half an inch deep

on this free spinner.
- Ooh!

- Locked in.
Can he get off?

- Come on. Here we go.

Sheesh!
- And out!

- He was giving
double peace signs.

- Sheesh!
- Right up the Warped Wall.

He was looking at us going up.

- Hey!
- Hey!

- Big time,
prime time, showtime?

- Yeah, big time,
prime time, showtime,

all time, good time.
You see that?

Look at this!
This teenager is so cool,

he does a double peace sign
as he dismounts.

- Well, he's created
TikTok videos

that have millions of views.

I think that peace sign move
may go viral.

Now starting
the back half of the course.

First up, the Salmon Ladder.

First time
on the semifinals course,

and he's making it look easy.
- Come on!

- But can he hold on for
these big drops on Box Office?

- Hold on!

- Yeah, Jera!
Come on, you got this!

- And here, the handles
are on the front and back.

A blind grab.

- Well, Jeramiah is starring

in Box Office right now
because he's crushing it.

Nice!

- The smaller box, though,
just a 6-inch box.

Got to launch up, try to get
your hands placed properly,

and then absorb the big fall
at the bungee cords.

- All right.
Here we go.

You only get one shot.
There is no sequel.

Oh!
- Oh!

Oh!

- Jeramiah Boyd
brought down to Earth

on Box Office,
but he got there fast.

And he did it with flair.

Jera Boyd was ready
for prime time.

The 18-year-old
showed big time skill,

he flashed his showtime smile,

and made an all-time dismount
after Hopscotch.

He couldn't make the grab
on Box Office,

but he had a good time
and could be headed to Vegas.

- Next up, we're headed
for Big Sky Country

where a Montana teenager

created his own slice
of Ninja heaven.

- Oh! No fear, dude.

- Evan Andrews' run
when we come back

on "American Ninja Warrior."

- The last few minutes
have been wild here

at Universal Studios.

Energetic teenager
Lilah Nathison,

AKA LGrizz,

danced her way
to the start line.

- It's not the Grizzy.
It's the Gritty.

- The high school student
from North Carolina

got her nickname because

of her grizzly bear-like
ferocity.

- All right, come on.
Bear down.

- And she's not afraid
to growl on the course.

- Let me hear it!
Let me hear it!

- Okay, she is screaming
at the top of her lungs.

- At 15, she's one
of our youngest competitors,

but time wasn't on her side
at Clockwork.

- Oh!
- Oh!

- I love you!

Six, five, four...

- Ronald Washington's
nickname is Dynamite,

and he came out ready to blow
the doors off this course.

- Dy-no-mite!

- The five-time veteran
looked like

he was shot out of a cannon

as he sprinted
through the early obstacles.

- Whoa!

- The Florida Fish
and Wildlife officer

was living dangerously...
- Ooh!

- And the speed seemed to
catch up to him on Hopscotch.

- He's got to be explosive
on this one.

Oh, my gosh!
- Oh!

Got a little too amped up.

- Dynamite's from South Florida,

but our next athlete's
from all the way up

in Butte, Montana.

This is
17-year-old Evan Andrews.

- And he's got
the energy of a teenager!

- He's a self-made ninja.

Lives a long way
from any Ninja gym,

but he's ready to represent
for Big Sky Country.

- Montana,
it's a beautiful place.

There's a lot
of wide, open spaces,

rivers, mountains.

It's really a place
where you can go

to get away from everything.

But in spite
of all this coolness,

Butte does not have
a single Ninja gym.

No parkour,

no rock-climbing gyms
whatsoever.

And so I decided
to build my own in my garage.

- So we're gonna install
the flying bar?

- Yeah, so I got
these cradles built.

So what I'm thinking is,
I'm gonna make

some pretty big gaps,

like a foot further
than the show.

- Okay.

- My dad and my grandpa
helped me.

They showed me how to cut wood

and measure out things
and track studs.

- Evan is the most determined

and disciplined person
that we know.

For years now, he has
trained in that gym alone,

hours a day.

- I'm amazingly proud of Evan,

watching the success
that he's had

doing "American Ninja Warrior."

- He is absolutely flying.

- It's just fun.
It's just a playground to him.

- Let's go!

Coming off of qualifiers,

I'm known in Butte, Montana
as the Ninja Kid.

What's up, guys?
We're gonna train today.

The first is the Warped Wall.

Sprint, sprint,
sprint, sprint, sprint!

Nice!

Oh, oh, oh!
Good job, Caspian!

A summer camp took me on
as a counselor

so that I could teach
the kids about "Ninja Warrior"

and how to do it.
Oh, oh, oh, oh!

No fear, dude.

Hey!

It started with just
a couple of kids,

and now, it's about, like, over
100 that get to experience it.

My goal this season was
to put Montana on the map

"Ninja Warrior" -wise,

and I really hope that
my performance on the show

can help manifest
more ninjas in Montana.

I'm gonna
make Montana proud tonight.

- His parents will be watching
from the sidelines,

along with some
of the other young ninjas.

- Whoo!

- Watching back in Montana
are his siblings

and some of the kids
he trains with.

- This one's for Montana!

- And he's got more family
watching from Hawaii.

Nobody wants to miss this.

- What's up, guys?

- Pretty amazing
this teenager built

an entire Ninja community
back in his hometown.

Other than his garage,

the closest Ninja gym
is seven hours away.

Got to love
the passion and dedication

in some of these ninjas.

- He's probably only
the fourth or fifth ninja

from Montana
we've ever had on this show.

- About to start start his
senior year of high school.

A member of the National Honor
Society and the debate team.

This kid is impressive.

Just 17 years old,
and here he is on Clockwork.

Should generate some power here.

- He's gotta have finesse.

Don't want to use a lot
of grip strength here.

If you get the timing right,
Matt, it's like clockwork.

It just works.

- Well, you know, they don't
have this in the garage,

no matter how good
Dad and Grandpa are.

- How do you even
build this, Matt?

- Whoo!
Yes, you're doing great!

- Spinning Bridge.

So easy to misstep here.
- Yeah.

- But not for Evan.

- 17 years old, I'm sure
he's heard of hopscotch.

- I don't know, do 17-year-olds,

did they grow up playing hop...
Maybe in Montana.

- No, I think they played
video games, but watch here.

- Well, he seems to know
how to play

this version of Hopscotch.

Working his way through it
with ease.

Same here on the sides.
- Nice!

- Now, this last one
is free-spinning.

1/2-inch handles.
- Oh, my God, there he goes.

- And look at him,
he is really actively

using that spin
to build up momentum.

And he is pumped.

Beat that wall!

Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!

- He's about to get up
his first Warped Wall.

- Don't ball up.

- Oh, you can just see
the joy on his face.

Imagine all the time
he was in that garage,

just dreaming of being
right here where he is,

staring at the back half
of a semifinals course.

- You got it!
- You got it!

You got it!

- It starts right here
with the Salmon Ladder.

Four obstacles to go.

First, you got to get
these four rungs.

And... ooh, wow!

Explosive move there
on the Salmon Ladder, Matt.

All right, now he's gonna see.

All right, get your popcorn
here at the Box Office.

This one is tricky.

- Come on, Evan, here we go.
Quick hands, quick hands.

- Got to grab on the sides here.

Oh, my!

Here we go.

This last box
only 6 inches by 6 inches.

- Yeah, that's a hard one
right there, Matt.

- Come on!
- He made that look easy.

This kid is movie-hopping.

- Montana making a splash
at the Box Office.

And he's through!

- Okay!
- Come on!

- That's how they do it
in Butte, Montana.

- Whoo!
- Let's go!

- What will he do here
at Split Decision?

He's staring down Spin Zone.

- Yeah, this looks
like that little...

Whoa!

- No, no, no!
- He backflipped out of it!

- Amazing he's still got
that kind of energy

after eight obstacles.

Now he's gonna try Dragonback.

And we saw him
on the Salmon Ladder.

The kid's got power
with a bar in his hands,

but you need control.

- Are you kidding me? Wow!

This is crazy!

Matt, he might be a rookie,

but he doesn't move
like a rookie.

- And he's through.

35 feet away

from punching his ticket
from Montana to Las Vegas.

- All right, get that
thing out; it's heavy.

I hope you been
in the weight room.

50 pounds each.

Two more sets.

Will Evan Andrews be
the first buzzer of the night?

The teen invasion.
- This is incredible!

- He's slowing down
a little bit here,

but barely paused
to take a breath on this run.

May be catching up to him.

- Come on!
Come on!

- He's been doing
a lot of Ninja work,

but this right here
will work on the deltoids,

the shoulder muscle.

- And watch the traction.

You can see those feet slipping.

- He is gassing out now.
- Got to dig in.

- He's got to really...
- 50 pounds!

- Oh, boy!
- And 50 pounds!

- Put your back into it!
- That foot is slipping!

- Put your back into it!

- Evan Andrews delivers!

- He can feel it, he see it.

Let's go!

- Next up, he'll be in Vegas!

What a run for Evan Andrews!

Hey, Evan, I got to ask.

Your dad and your grandpa

helped build those obstacles
in your garage.

Did you ever dream
that you would be standing

atop a semifinals course
headed to Vegas?

- I just thought
it'd take more years.

But we got here.
It feels amazing.

- Congratulations!
We'll see you in Vegas!

- Let's go!

- Well, the rise
of the teens continues.

Evan Andrews standing atop
the semifinals course,

first buzzer of the night.

When a Texas mom
was battling leukemia,

the Cowboy Ninja
came to the rescue.

- It has saved my life.

- Lance Pekus'
life-saving journey,

when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

- Welcome back
to "American Ninja Warrior,"

coming to you from
Universal Studios, Hollywood.

- Matt, it's the semifinals,
so the courses are tougher,

and we are seeing that tonight.

- Minutes ago, San Diego
photographer Alex Nye,

who hit a buzzer back
in qualifying,

was looking picture-perfect

until he reached
Spinning Bridge.

- Oh, no!
- Oh!

- Oh!
- Oh!

- Oregon's Caiden Madzelan

was one of last year's
top teenagers.

And things were going swimmingly

for the Troutdale Ninja

as he reached the eighth
obstacle, Box Office...

- Oh, no!
- Oh!

But he couldn't finish.

The night's youngest competitor,

15-year-old Jackson Erdos,
came out hot.

- Running with an urgency,
Akbar.

- Erdos was last year champion
of "Ninja Warrior Junior,"

and though he's a rookie,
there are big expectations

for this Pennsylvania
high schooler.

- Watch the balance. Wow!

- Erdos hit a buzzer
back in qualifying,

and he was cruising
through the course tonight

until he reached the
fifth obstacle, Hopscotch.

No!
- No!

- Erdos. A shocking miss.

- And his chances
of moving on are in doubt.

Then it was
the night's oldest competitor,

44-year-old David Campbell,
the Godfather.

Two years ago, Campbell got
hung up on Lunatic Ledges

and had to climb up
and make an epic dismount.

- He's gonna go for a long leap!

Oh, my!

- And tonight
turned out to be a sequel.

- What is he thinking?

And he's going up again.

Oh, my!

He survives!

- Shake it off.
Shake it off.

- The 14-time veteran
looked winded,

but he somehow rallied.

- Yes!

- And despite being almost
30 years older than Erdos,

he did get through Hopscotch.

- And there he is, breathing
a little more easily.

- Yes!
- Yes!

- And it was only fitting

that the Godfather would
make it to the Box Office,

but that's
where his gutsy run ended.

- Oh, no!

- And the Godfather
is sleeping with the fishes.

- But he's got a good shot
at going to Vegas

for the tenth time
in his career.

- They have made hundreds
of Westerns here

at Universal Studios,

but our favorite cowboy star

is still the rancher
from Idaho, Lance Pekus.

He may wear a black hat,

but he is definitely
one of the good guys.

You want to know
why "Ninja" fans love him?

He's literally out saving lives.

- I'm about to meet a woman

who I donated
my blood stem cells to.

Be The Match is
a bone marrow registry

where they can match you up
with people who have leukemia

or bone marrow cancer.

I've definitely have had
a lot of medical issues

in my own family,

with my wife who suffers
from multiple sclerosis,

and I would know that
if somebody could step in

and be able to save
someone that I know,

that I'd be eternally grateful.

I just had
to take that opportunity.

I was able to help Ashley.

When Be The Match contacted me,

they told me
that things lined up

and we happened to match.

- She had leukemia.

Be The Match told me we have
to do this within three months

or she could die.

It is super rare to match.

- Hi, Ashley.
- Hey.

- So good to see you.
- Good to see you.

- Aw.

- When I found out
that I had a match,

I knew I could live
and finish raising my kids,

because I have a second chance.

I appreciate you a lot
donating to me.

It has saved my life.

- Well, I just... I just
really do feel honored,

and I would love
to give you another hug.

- I'm running the course tonight

for all the people out there
that are in need of donation.

Hopefully, I can get more
people to get on that registry

and go out and help save a life.

- He helped save her life...
- Hi, Lance!

- And Ashley
is showing her thanks

by supporting him tonight.

She's back in Texas
with her son.

- Go, Daddy!
- Love you!

- And Lance's family... his
wife, Heather, and two kids...

Are watching back at in Idaho.

- Go, Dada!

- Let's go, Lance!
Let's go, Lance!

- You got this!
- Come on, Lance!

- Let me tell you,
Lance Pekus is a hero

on the course and off.
He's always doing good things.

- Nice!
- Good job, Daddy! Go!

- He's taking off the hat
for Lunatic Ledges.

Besides being a good person,
he's a pretty good ninja too.

Made it to the
national finals six times.

- Okay.
- Go ahead, Lance.

Come on.
- Lance, come on.

- On this one!
- Come on, Daddy!

- Giddyap! Nice!

- Cutting it close,
but he's gonna survive.

- Ooh!

- There's his young friend,
Elijah Browning.

They train together
in the off-season.

One of the things
they worked on was laches.

Lance can use that training
here on Clockwork.

- He may not be able to
turn back the hands of time,

but he is moving forward
on Clockwork.

- 35 years old.

Been competing here
since he was a younger man.

- What, are you calling him old?

- Come on, Daddy!
You got this!

- Oh, the shirt's coming off!

- Oh, he...
- Oh, come on!

- Aw!
"I am a Be The Match donor."

I like that.

- Using his platform

to raise awareness.

- Ooh, nice little sprint.

- So many of our ninjas
are involved

with projects
that help their communities.

Right now, Lance has got
to keep this run going

if he wants
to get back to Vegas.

And he kicked that handle
there on Hopscotch,

but good recovery.

- Oh, look at this.
Here we go now.

Oh!
- Oh, no!

Dang it.

- Hopscotch
has been trouble tonight,

and it gets the cowboy.

- Good job, Daddy!

- This man is a lifesaver,

and he got
his message out tonight.

On Hopscotch, he kicked
the number two panel

and was still able to catch it.

But on the next one, he got
his fingers on that ledge

but couldn't hang on.

- Let's go to Zuri.

- Lance, it's always good

to see you out here
on the course.

Talk to me a little bit
about what went wrong here.

- You know,
the game's getting tougher.

The grabs are getting tougher,

the ledges are getting smaller.

Missed it, and down I go.

- Well, you have
a really beautiful shirt on

with a really important message.

Talk to me a little bit
about what we're seeing here

right now.

- So if everyone can read it,
it says,

"I am a Be The Match donor."

Several years ago,
I signed up to Be The Match,

and I was able
to help save someone's life

and very fortunate

that she was able to tune in
tonight and watch my run.

- Well, it's a beautiful cause.

Hello again to Ashley,
who's watching over there.

- Hi.
- Hello to the family too.

They're looking good over there.

At the end of the day,
you get to go home to that.

It's so good to see you
out here again, Lance.

Thank you.
Guys, back to you.

- Coming up, here they come.

Many of your favorite ninjas

are about
to hit New York Street.

And at the end of the night,

we'll head
to the end of the course

for the Power Tower,

a battle 40 feet in the air
for the Safety Pass.

It's all coming up
on "American Ninja Warrior."

- Welcome back to Los Angeles.

Moments ago,
Utah's Tyler Kurtzhals

took our semifinals course
for a spin.

- Ooh, a nice, little flip.

- The energetic
18-year-old rookie

rolled
through the early obstacles,

cheered on by his girlfriend,
fellow ninja Ava Colasanti.

- He's got a lot of potential
here as a rookie.

- But the third obstacle,
Clockwork,

was more than he could handle.

No!

Wow! That was a great spin.

I'm flipping out about that one.

- Before his run, the Reach,
6'5" John Mack,

pointed to the sky
as a tribute to his late dad.

The Utah college student
had a memorable run

in qualifying a few weeks ago,

taking down the Mega Wall
and getting the fastest time.

- Let's go!

- So tonight,
the big man had high hopes

of earning his first trip
to the National Finals,

and he went barreling
through the course.

- Whoa, don't get thrown out!

- But at Hopscotch,
his big hands

couldn't get a grip
on the tiny ledges.

- Aah!
- Oh!

- You did great.

- And up next
is another Utah ninja,

26-year-old nurse Mady Howard.

She's been a tough competitor

since she debuted
a few years ago,

but she's had
to adjust her training

because she's not just
a ninja anymore;

she's also a new mom.

I had my baby
seven months ago now.

It's been quite
the journey this year

getting back into ninja shape,

but when I'm on the course
and I look down

and see Beckham there
cheering me on...

Let's go, Mady!

- It gives me all
the motivation in the world.

- Go, go, go, go!
- Go, go, go!

- Oh!

Mama strong!

- Never underestimate
the power of a mother.

- Yes! Yes!
- Got it!

I just hope he's not crying.

Aw!

It's okay, Beckham.
Aww!

- I'm feeling a lot stronger.

My season isn't
gonna just end here.

And I hope that
other new and expecting moms

would know that there is life
after having kids,

and you can get back to doing
the things that you love.

- Whoo!
Let's go, Mady!

- Mady's blowing kisses
to Beckham.

He's back home in Utah
with her husband, Tyler.

Mady's mom is on the sideline.

Some Mady fans in the stands.

Well, she impressed us
a few weeks ago in qualifying.

Made it to the fifth obstacle

just six months
after giving birth.

Balances her life with
a newborn, her job as a nurse,

and still finds time
to Ninja train.

- And as we know, just being
a mom is a full-time job.

- Mady Howard,
just so impressive.

Was a high-level gymnast
in college too.

She has shown us
so much potential.

- She's made it as far as the
eighth obstacle in the past,

and you know she would love
to get a buzzer tonight.

- Well, that would be
impressive.

Only a handful of women
ever completed

that extended
ten-obstacle course,

but Mady Howard,

she's shown promise.

- Yeah, I think
she has what it takes.

- 5'6", 125.

Got to generate some power
here on Clockwork.

The three gears
make that momentum

a little more challenging
to build up.

- Yeah, you can see it.
Nice!

Great transfer right there.

Whoo!

- Good job extending the body,

using the full body
to build up that power.

- Well, she's making some
really good transfers, Matt.

Nice!

- Well, let's test the balance
here on Spinning Bridge.

- All right, let's go!
Look at Beckham!

Working on his balance.
He's almost standing now.

- Uh-oh! Oh!
Oh, my goodness!

- Gives the thumbs up!
- Safe!

- Spins out, stays dry,
but is disqualified.

- Good job, Mady!
I love you!

- I felt good,
and then all of a sudden,

my face was hitting a mat,

so I just must've gone crooked.

- Look at this.

On her third step,
she came up a little short,

and the ball spins backwards.

That tripped her up and sent
her flying off the obstacle.

A hard landing right on the pad.

- Well, that's how quickly
it can end, Big Man,

but Beckham says,
"That's okay, Mom.

I'm still proud of you."

Well, our next competitor has
traveled more than 7,000 miles

to compete here tonight.

From Israel, this is Asaf Goren.

He's wearing a prayer shawl
and playing the shofar,

which is sounded during
the Jewish high holidays.

A shofar is not easy to play.

It happens sometimes.

- You can see he's a performer.

Not only
is he a professional dancer,

he's a big reality star
in Israel.

- Shalom!
What's up, y'all?

- Asaf has appeared
on everything

from "Big Brother" to
"So You Think You Can Dance."

He won the celebrity version
of "Ninja Warrior: Israel"...

- And now he wants
to test himself on our course.

- I would truly love
to challenge myself.

I love to do things
that makes me scared.

I really want
to press on the buzzer.

My girlfriend,
she's nine months pregnant,

and we're expecting
our first child.

It's a boy.

I want him to look at me one day

and be proud of me for this.

- And he throws a kiss
to his girlfriend,

watching back in Israel.

- She's nine months pregnant.

It can happen any moment.

- Oh, wow!

- Exciting times for them.

On the sidelines,
Asaf's dad, Amir,

is about to be
a new grandpa as well...

but hopefully, not tonight.

- Well, he's a rookie
on our course,

but he won the celebrity Version

Israel."

It'll be interesting
to see how he does.

- 6'1", 180.

On the bigger side of the ninjas

we'll see tonight.

Those fringes you see
hanging off his shorts

are the tzitzit,

a traditional garment worn
by religious Jewish men.

- And he's taking a lot
of extra swings here.

- Oh!
- Oh, whoa, whoa!

- Hangs in there
and makes that grab.

- Yeah, say a prayer
to that wall.

- Yes!

- On to Clockwork.
A bigger guy.

Should be able to generate
the power to move these gears.

- You can see him
starting to get

that pendulum of motion going.

Ni... oh!
- Oh, no!

- Asaf Goren started strong

but didn't have the technique
for Clockwork.

- They probably
didn't have Clockwork

on the celebrity edition
of Israel "Ninja Warrior."

Asaf just didn't
generate enough swing

and only got one hand
on the bar.

- But he's still a showman.

Coming up, ninja training
is a little different

down on the farm.

Country boy Josiah Singleton
swings into the semifinals

next on
"American Ninja Warrior."

- Welcome back to LA,

where three more athletes

just took their shot
at the course.

Concord, California's
Verdale Benson

was back in the semifinals
and ready to flex

after a devastating injury
last year.

The 41-year-old
physician assistant

ruptured his Achille's
on the Mega Wall

in last season's qualifying.

- Oh, sh... na, na, na.
Ooh.

- Tonight,
that ankle looked strong

as the former army captain

marched to the third obstacle,
Clockwork.

- This is impressive.

- But he couldn't come to
grips with the second gear.

- Oh! Oh!

- Look at it again.

He was down to three fingers
and almost saved it.

- Moments later,
college student Grant Nguyen

tried to earn
his first trip to Vegas.

- Okay, Grant.

- The 23 year old
from Freemont, California,

hit a buzzer in qualifying
a few weeks ago,

and he was looking
confident tonight.

- I think he wants
a second buzzer.

- His background
in rock climbing

was helpful on Hopscotch.

- Oh, oh, oh!

It pays off to be a climber.

- And the rookie made it
all the way to Box Office.

- Oh, boy,
keep the film rolling.

And watch that left hand!

Oh!

- His fast time means
he's got a shot at moving on.

Then it was
the 34-year-old rookie

from Florida, Kyle McCreight.

Back in qualifying, he had
a good luck charm with him,

his three-legged dog, Tray.

As McCreight reached
the fifth obstacle...

- Oh, no!

- Tonight, Tray was watching
from back in Florida,

and McCreight didn't have
the same good luck.

- Nice... oh.
- Oh, no!

- Oh, stay up! No!

- Oh!

- No!

- Oh, my goodness!

He almost saved himself.

- Back in qualifying,
we introduced you

to the Lynchburg Loonies,
the energetic ninjas

from Lynchburg, Virginia.

But only one of them
made it to the semi-finals.

It's Josiah Singleton,
the 25-year-old grad student

who lives up to his nickname,
the Country Boy Ninja.

- I'm from Brookneal, Virginia
and it's a super small town.

Oh, my God, one stoplight.
Everything is real small.

Whoo!

So living out here,
we don't have

proper Ninja training equipment,

and so we had to get pretty
creative with what we had.

Josiah! Josiah!

- So on one side of my family,
we have a farm,

but on my other side
of my family,

there's actually a golf course.

I also grew up,
you know, playing golf.

Out in the country, we have
a little bit more leeway

with what we do sometimes.

Whoo!

Me and my friends,
we'll take golf carts out,

and we'll go racing
around the golf course.

We'll have speed golf.

Never made it to Vegas,
and it's my third time,

so I'm swinging
for a buzzer tonight.

Whoo!

- And you know Josiah's crew,
the Lynchburg Loonies,

are gonna be making some noise.

- Let's go!

Go! Go!

- And some of his
fellow students

are having a watch party
back in Lynchburg.

- Dude has a ton of strength.

5'8", 155.

Got a buzzer back in qualifying.

Feels he's stronger
than ever before.

Plans to get another
buzzer tonight, Akbar.

I like the confidence.
- Yeah, I do.

Matt, let me tell you something.

Over there
at Liberty University,

those students get hyped up
about "Ninja Warrior."

- Well, there's nothing free
about the trip to Vegas.

You got to earn it.
- All right.

He's gotta go now.

- Go, go, go, go, go!

- The Country Boy
is feeding off the energy.

- Well, you know the Loonies
are gonna keep him hyped up.

- Come on!

- He's put on
ten pounds of muscle

since we first saw him
in season 11.

- Yeah,
he's country strong, Matt.

Oh!
- Good launches.

- Easy, easy, easy.

- You can see the three gears
spinning in conjunction.

Just like clockwork,
out of time.

And he's got everyone hyped!

Including his sideline
full of fellow ninjas.

Spinning Bridge is next.

- It's just like running
across those hay bales.

Just like that. Wow.

- Real smooth.
- Very athletic.

- The Country Boy can survive.

He's pumped.

Let's go!

- Now facing Hopscotch.

This has ended the runs
of many good ninjas tonight.

- These handles getting smaller,

starting with
this fourth square.

Fingertips.
- Oh, boy.

I love how he came into it
very softly.

Now you gotta go
to the double side.

Ooh, that... he's starting
to grimace here.

- You could see him...
He's keeping his hips up,

giving himself time
to get the hands in place.

Josiah Singleton
looking country strong.

And the Loonies are loving it!

- He's not only country strong.

He is ninja strong.

Beat that wall!

- The crowd is into it,
chanting "Beat that wall."

- Beat that wall!

- And he's up.
- Nice! Whoo!

I see you.
Okay, Country Boy.

- That one's for you!
- Hey!

Put some gravy on it.
Put some gravy on it.

- The Loonies are pumped up.

- Oh my God!
- They're loving this run.

From here in Hollywood,
all the way back to Virginia.

And Josiah Singleton
is now staring down

the back half of the course.

- All right, here he goes
on the Salmon Ladder.

- Come on.
- You got this!

- Next one!

Two, three, whoa!
- Right up it.

- All right, now to the
big screen, let's go.

- And Josiah Singleton
continues to impress,

facing Box Office,
which only two ninjas

have gotten past tonight.
Good job!

- And that's a great technique.

He came in there
with the L and absorbed

the drop there on the bungie.

- Now, this handle right here...

You gotta go out there
on the side.

- Front and back.

- Matt, it's about
to get real right now.

- Only the climber Josh Levin
and the teenager Evan Andrews

have survived this obstacle.

Can the Country Boy Ninja
be the third?

Yes!
- Nice!

- And the Country Boy
is still alive.

- Matt, this crowd's gonna
go nuts if he can hang on.

- Giddyap, Josiah!

Yes! He did it!

- Come on!

- And he's
at the ninth obstacle.

- Yeehaw!

- And he's looking at Spin Zone.

No one has tried it tonight.

- He's like,
"Nah, not this country boy.

Not me."

He's going back over
to Dragonback.

- Loonies telling him
to shake out the arms.

He got here faster
than Josh Levin.

Some good ninjas to come,

but right now,
Singleton's in line

to go to the Power Tower.
- Here we go on Dragonback.

- This is farther
than he's ever been,

The Country Boy Ninja
is opening up

some eyes with this run.
- Slide into it.

Just like that.

- Ooh, if he can finish,
the Loonies are gonna lose it,

but he's slowing down.

- Matt, Matt, I think Josiah...
I think Josiah's in trouble.

- Country Boy's never
battled the Dragon before.

- Ooh. Matt, with this drop.

- That grip seems to be
giving up, the lats.

Does he have anything left
to generate power?

Oh no!
- No!

- The Country Boy Ninja
with the run of his life

makes it to the ninth obstacle
before he just ran out of gas.

- Hey, that's the farthest
I've ever made it.

And my arms are tired.

- Well, Josiah had
everyone hooting

and hollering on this run.

He's just the third ninja
to get past Box Office,

but those arms finally
gave out on Dragonback.

And he's down with Zuri.

- The Country Boy Ninja
back on the course.

Josiah, you were doing
your thing out there.

Talk to me a little bit
about Split Decision.

What made you choose Dragonback?

- The balance
looked really scary.

I mean, honestly,
I wouldn't take anything back.

That was a lot of fun.

I had always wanted
to try that obstacle.

It looked really fun.

So I wish I had
a little bit more in the tank,

but you know, it was cool.

- Well, I know
you love your Loonies.

I can't wait for y'all
to have a good time

in Vegas, because that's
where all of you

are headed.
Congratulations.

We'll see you
at the National Finals.

- Thank you.

- Coming up, it's time
for some sweet tea.

- Yes!

- Tiana Webberley tries to book

a return trip to Vegas

when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

- More surprises here
at Universal Studios

while we were away.

College student
Brett Hernandez Strong

had a to-do list
of things he wanted

to accomplish this season.

He won ten grand in cash
when he conquered

the Mega Wall
back in qualifying.

- Yes!
- Are you kidding me?

- Let's go!

- That checked off one box.

Tonight, he wanted to get
the next item on his list,

punching his ticket to Vegas.

The 20-year-old was going
all out to make it happen.

- Oh, but still made it!
He barely made that one, Matt.

- But to guarantee
his spot in Vegas,

he needed to have at least
get past Hopscotch.

- Oh!

- And that didn't happen.

So that item will have
to wait until next year.

- Love you guys!

- Francisco Barajas
calls himself

the 1% Ninja, representing
the 1% of Americans like him

who stutter.
- He made that look easy.

- And the three-time veteran
was smooth on the course,

and he did have the hands
for Hopscotch.

- He's hopscotching along, nice.

- The 25-year-old raced
to the back half...

What's up, Francisco?

Where the swimming
pool technician

splashed down in our pool.

- He's gassing out here, Matt.

Uh-oh. No!

- Ah!
- But his fast pace

guaranteed him a spot in Vegas.

- Our next athlete knows
her way around a movie set.

Sweet T Tiana Webberley
is a busy stuntwoman

working on blockbuster movies
and TV shows.

She's been one
of the leading ladies

of "Ninja" for the
past eight years.

She's one of seven women
who've reached

the back half
of our extended course

three times.

- Go, T!

- Lots of love for Sweet T.

Her parents and sister

are watching up
in Santa Clarita, California,

and some ninja friends
are on the sideline.

5'4", 125.

- Oh no!
- No, no, no, no!

- Oh, my goodness!
- Wow.

- That was a heck of a recovery.

- Incredible recovery.

- Come on, T!
Whoo!

- If anybody could do that
on the first obstacle,

it is Sweet T.

- Breathe! Breathe!

Let that go. Let that go.

- Great job keeping her cool,
wiping the sweat off her brow.

She knows she dodged a bullet.

- Matt, she's not
the only one wiping the sweat

off her brow.
Me too.

- Generating some power
here on Lunatic Ledges.

Was a pole vaulter.

Talk about the skill set
there, got to fly.

- She's probably still in
shock over that almost fall.

Now she's starting
to collect herself.

There we go.

- Yes! Whoo!

- Now on to Clockwork.

This is the obstacle
that ended her run

in season 12.

As a pole vaulter, can move,

but struggled to generate power

which she first faced it
in St. Louis.

- And this is one
of the obstacles

that is very difficult
to try to replicate

in these home gyms.

So it's not really something
you can practice.

- There you go, keep going.
Feet behind you.

- Oh, boy.

- And you can see this is just

what happened in St. Louis.

No!
- No!

- And Clockwork gets
Tiana Webberley

for the second time.

And this crowd can't believe it.

Another big-name ninja
bites the dust early.

- Matt, I can't remember
a night like this

with so many shocking falls.

- She slipped on Shrinking Steps

but was able to save it...
Whew, that was a scare...

And on Clockwork, was only able

to get one hand on the bar.

A short night for Sweet T.

- Ah. Happens.

You know?
It is what it is.

Got to keep working
and go for it next time.

- Well, enough with these falls.

We need someone to turn
it around on the course,

and our next athlete
may be the guy to do it.

It's Kyle Soderman.

The 27-year-old was one
of our final four

in last year's competition,

but he uses his ninja skills
to chase more

than just buzzers.

- Athletes, ready.

- Kyle Soderman, the sports
record for most evasions

in a row with six.

- World Chase Tag is
such an incredible sport.

It's not the type of tag
that you used to play

on the playground as kids.

You compete on a 40-foot
by 40-foot arena,

it has all different types
of obstacles,

and I love these obstacles
because they're not meant

to make you fall like they do
on "Ninja Warrior."

Out of the 16 times
that I've had

the opportunity to be a chaser,

I've actually made 15 tags.

- Crashing through,
making the tag.

- Soderman got the shoelace.

- Soderman closes it out
and makes the tag.

- The last two
USA National Championships,

I've actually won the MVP award.

- Soderman is
soaring and scoring.

- Doing chase tag really only
makes me a better ninja

because there's a lot
of quick movements,

a ton of speed,
a lot of conditioning.

Catch me if you can,
but tonight, the only thing

I'm gonna tag is the buzzer.

- Matt, the only person
that can catch Kyle Soderman

this year is his girlfriend,
Megan Johnson.

- She competed in San Antonio.

Megan also just graduated
from med school.

She's now Dr. Johnson.

Kyle's mom and brother
are watching

from back in Minnesota.
- Kyle, you got this!

- Well, at this point,
we've only had one buzzer,

Evan Andrews.

Josiah Singleton currently
in that second spot.

But Soderman wants to have
something to say about it.

- Well, Soderman can move.

He was the second fastest
on stage one last year.

- And won ten grand
on the Mega Wall

a few weeks ago in qualifying.

Has never been
on the Power Tower,

would love to get
that experience

and would love to get
that Safety Pass.

Soderman's buddy,
Hunter Guerard, is coming up.

Those two would love to face
each other on the Power Tower.

Still a long way to go,
though, and right now,

just needs to get
through Clockwork,

which has been a tough one
tonight.

6'0", 180, a bigger guy,
but so much power.

- And don't forget he's
got that grown man beard.

You rarely see Kyle Soderman
rocking the grown man beard,

but he means business.

- Now the Spinning Bridge.

- Whoa, he came in real fast.

- Yes! Whoo!

- Well, we know he can play tag.

Let's see
if he can play Hopscotch.

And, again, 180, Akbar,
on the bigger side

for the ninjas
we're seeing tonight.

- You don't have
to move very fast.

You just gotta be efficient.

- You can see him
using that upper body

as a shock absorber.

- All right, smaller hold...
- Whoa, whoa!

- He is fighting.
- Yes, he is, Matt.

Oh, boy. Yes.

That was a cuticle save
right there, Matt.

- On now to the free spin.

- Nice.

Secure it with them thumbs.

- Yes!
- He is through!

On now to the Warped Wall.

Hey, buddy.
- I didn't like that.

- You survived it.

He just said,
"I didn't like that."

Well, we'll see if he likes
the back half.

He completed the
semifinals course last year,

but we've only had one finisher

so far tonight.

Four more obstacles
if he wants a buzzer,

starting with the Salmon Ladder.

Well, listen,
we know he's a stuntman,

he loves the movies,

but Box Office has
to be intimidating.

Only three ninjas all night
have gotten past it,

and as he finishes
the Salmon Ladder,

Kyle Soderman's now
gonna get his shot at it.

- Kyle Soderman is hungry.
He's got plenty of power

to get through Box Office.

Whoa!

I stand corrected.

- The stuntman taken out
on the Box Office.

But his speed
to that point guarantees him

a spot in the top 15.

Kyle Soderman is going to Vegas.

Did what he had to do.
- Yeah!

- Oh!

- Oh.
- Oh!

- Sorry I'm all wet.

- So who's going to be
on the Power Tower tonight?

Could the boss Elijah Browning
grab one of the spots?

We'll see him next
on "American Ninja Warrior."

- This is one of the most
unusual nights we've ever had.

Right now,
the Power Tower matchup

would feature two big surprises:

17-year-old rookie Evan Andrews,

who's our only finisher,

and he'd go
against Josiah Singleton,

who's never made it to Vegas
in three seasons.

Minutes ago, a couple veterans
tried to run

their way into the conversation,

including Hunter Guerard, who
had the second fastest time

in his night of qualifying.

- Hunter looking
to hunt this course down.

- The 32-year-old
nicknamed the Lizard

had sticky fingers on Hopscotch.

- Yeah, the Lizard is
a cold-blooded ninja, Matt.

This dude can go now.

- Just like his buddy
Kyle Soderman,

Guerard made it to the
eighth obstacle, Box Office.

But he couldn't get past it.

- Ooh!

- Still, he's assured
a spot in the top 15.

He's going to Vegas.

- There you go, Hunter!

- Then it was
another top competitor,

seven-time veteran Adam Rayl.

- As a contender,
he's the guy to watch.

- The 28-year-old from Phoenix
has made it to stage two

every season he's competed

and is always considered
a threat

to win the $1 million.

- Show them guns. Nice.

That was perfect.

- The concrete worker
was cruising

through Hopscotch...

- What?
- No!

- Until he shockingly missed
on the final move

and will not be going
to Vegas for the first time

in his career.

- I'm stunned.
That's Adam Rayl.

- So there are only two
runners left, and one of them

is Rayl's friend
and training partner,

Sean Bryan, the Papal Ninja.

The Catholic Church worker
has been moving very quickly,

already halfway
through Hopscotch.

- Nice.
- On now to the free spin.

- We saw Adam Rayl
miss on this one.

Whoa!

- Not gonna fall
on the same spot

as his buddy tonight.

- There he is!

- I don't think anyone's got
more fans out here tonight.

A couple priests and nuns.

A lot of hands up
for Sean Bryan,

including his dad.

His mom and other family
watching back in New Jersey.

This guy is still
one of the elites.

37 years old,
reaching new heights.

- Nice.
- On to the back half.

- You got this one, Sean.

- Hey, a little smile
out of Sean Bryan.

With this pace, he's got
a shot at the Power Tower.

And he knows how important
getting there can be.

Remember, last year,
he fell on stage two.

- Oh!

- If he had a Safety Pass,
would've had another chance

and kept his season alive.

If he reaches
the ninth obstacle faster

than Josiah Singleton,
he'll move into second

and be in good shape
to be on the Power Tower.

- I think back to when he won

our Super Salmon Ladder
Skills Event,

so you know he's not
gonna fall here.

It's all gonna come down
to the Box Office.

- Wow, skipping a rung.

- He's got time, Matt.

He just needs
to avoid a mistake.

- But this is a blind grab here.

- Nice! Got it!
- Ooh!

Again, if he completes
this obstacle,

he'll be in line
for the Power Tower

with only one more runner to go.

- Nice!

- Oh!
- Oh!

- The grip gives out.

The Power Tower looked like
it might be within reach.

He's still going to Vegas,

but it's gotta be disappointing

to be that close and miss out.

- The Safety Pass is so
valuable to have in Vegas,

but Sean Bryan let
his chances of winning one

slip right through his hands.

- Now there's only athlete left.

He's one of last year's
breakout teenagers.

From Thompson's Station,
Tennessee,

it's Elijah Browning.

His nickname is
the Boss because he

takes care of business
on the course and off.

- We're getting to the end
of my high school career,

and I'm taking a little bit
of a different approach.

I'm actually
planning on not going

to college my first year.

- I'm just gonna run
all my businesses,

such as Boss Sports Cards.

- If he hits
the buzzer on stage one,

I will increase the value
of my trading card.

I got you.
Here you go.

- I appreciate it so much.
Let's go!

- There you go, man.

- Boss Sports Cards in 2021
had its best year by far.

And we actually 10-X'ed
from the year before.

- And then we have
my ninja coaching business...

A little higher.
Let's go.

Nice.
Good catch.

Which... before last year,
I was only coaching three kids.

Fast speed, fast speed.

All right, we're gonna have
to move that bar up.

After "American Ninja Warrior"
aired...

- And he's done it!
- Yeah!

Let's go!

I now coach over 20 kids,

and I have "American Ninja
Warrior" to thank for that.

I'm the Boss,
and buzzers are my business.

- Is this kid the Boss?
Well, let's just say

he's got collectible cards
already, Akbar.

- Yes, he's got his own card,

and he better sign this one
for me.

- He's got a huge cheering
section over on the sidelines,

including his mom, Renée,
and Lance Pekus,

who he trained with
this off season.

17 years old, 6'1", 165.

- And remember last year,
in his rookie year,

made it to Vegas.

Matt, I know we're not in Vegas,

and I'm not a gambling man,

but I bet you he hits
a buzzer tonight.

- I'm not taking
that bet because I agree.

He made it
all the way to stage two

of the final obstacle,
Falling Shelves.

He really could go
all the way, Akbar.

- That's because
he puts in the work.

He travels
all around the country

to train with the best ninjas,

including going up
to Salmon, Idaho,

to work with Lance Pekus.

- You can see on Clockwork,

it's a little disruptive
with those three gears.

Momentum.

- If you don't have
enough power,

that gear won't come,

but because he's 6'1",
165 pounds,

you see he was able
to reach out and get it.

- And you can see him now.

He's calm and using
the whole body.

Staying on, now.
Watch the balance obstacle.

Right through it.

Lance had
that early frustrating exit

here on Hopscotch.

The Boss running
for both of them now.

And here it comes
on this fourth one now,

1/2 inch rounded handle
on this single.

- Oh, boy. Whoa!

- Oh, no!
- No!

- A shocking exit!

The Boss is knocked out
at Hopscotch.

And he is looking up
in disbelief.

Everyone in this crowd
just stunned.

- The Boss went down
in the same spot as Pekus.

But while Lance missed
with his right hand,

Elijah got both hands on it

and ended up
just peeling right off.

- So think about all
the great ninjas

who ran the course tonight.

Some of the best ever,
from David Campbell

down to Josh Levin,
and none of them could finish.

The only one who did,
an unheralded 17-year-old

from Montana, Evan Andrews.

Now Evan's moving on
to the Power Tower

to take on the Country Boy
Ninja, Josiah Singleton,

in a matchup
no one was expecting.

We'll see them next
on "American Ninja Warrior."

- Our second night of semifinals

is down to one race,
40 feet in the air.

It's the Power Tower.

- And, Matt, this
is definitely not

the matchup we were expecting.

- Well, it's our only finisher,

17-year-old Evan Andrews,

taking on the Country Boy Ninja,

25-year-old Josiah Singleton.

They were the two best
on the course,

and they have two
of the best cheering sections.

Josiah's got his Loonies
back in Virginia.

- You got this.
Go!

- And Evan Andrews
has his classmates

watching from Butte, Montana.

- Whoo!

- And honestly, I have
no idea what to expect.

Both these ninjas are newbies
on the Power Tower.

- The Power Tower... this year,

I think it's the craziest
it's ever been.

- And I'm terrified of heights.

We're 40 feet in the air?

I'm thinking it's durn scary.

- This is Montana
versus Virginia,

and we both had to be
really creative

in our Ninja training.

- Got to love
the passion and dedication

in some of these ninjas.

- We'll see what happens.

- Evan Andrews...
He'll be in Vegas.

- Oh, boy!

- I was the only one to hit
a buzzer

on the course tonight.

That gives me
the confidence boost,

and I plan to hit another one
on the Power Tower.

- Whoo!

- Go big time, prime time!

He's pumped now.

- Country Boy to the big city.

Country Boy's gotta rep
for Virginia,

and we got to take
that Safety Pass

all the way to Las Vegas,
come on.

- They're going to move
into position.

Power Tower has been
redesigned from last year.

Evan Andrews
will be on the right,

Josiah Singleton on the left.

- Go! Go!

- He can probably hear
the Loonies

all the way from Virginia.

- And the Montana folks
making some noise too.

A Safety Pass to use
in Vegas is on the line.

Who wants it more?

And here we go.

Those sleds are 100 pounds.

Now the Switchbacks.

Watch the hips.

Josiah Singleton moving quickly.

- Uh-oh, here he is.

- And you see Josiah
getting that edge.

Gets to the rope swing first.

Oh, Andrews misses
the second rope.

Gonna need extra swings.

Huge advantage
for Josiah Singleton.

He's starting to climb
the column

while Andrews is still
on the ropes.

- But you can make up
ground on this course.

He's just gotta keep pushing.

If Josiah falls, Evan Andrews
could still come back.

It's not over yet.

- Anything can happen here.

Now, if I'm Josiah,
I'm sitting here,

it's like, take your time,

but make sure you're effective.

- But this is where
it gets dangerous

on the Dropping Shelves.

- Looking good, Evan Andrews
has made up ground.

- But these shelves...
It's a jarring drop.

Can Singleton hold on?

Because here comes Andrews.

- Oh! Okay, here we go.

- One more shelf.

And Andrews is closing the gap.

- Uh-oh, here he is!

But Josiah did it!

That early miss on the rope
cost Evan Andrews.

He made up ground,
but it wasn't enough.

Josiah Singleton
got that Safety Pass.

He's gonna have
an insurance policy in Vegas

if he needs it.

- Whoo!

- Josiah was country strong
from the start.

He took an early lead
and never looked back.

Evan Andrews didn't make
a clean grab

on the second rope

and had to do it again.

Josiah looked strong

in his first time
on the Power Tower.

Evan never gave up,
but no way he could catch

Josiah Singleton tonight.

- The Country Boy is gonna
make his first trip to Vegas.

- Vegas has no idea
what is about to happen.

- What? What?

- I love you, Loonies!

Whoo!

- So Josiah Singleton
will have a Safety Pass,

but young Evan Andrews
will be in Vegas as well.

The only other ninja to reach
the ninth obstacle tonight

was the veteran Josh Levin.

Others moving on include
Minnesota teenager

Jeramiah Boyd

and the Papal Ninja, Sean Bryan.

Stuntman Kyle Soderman
will also be in Vegas,

along with the gondolier
Jonah Bonner.

Izabella Adkins' strong run
landed her in the top 15.

She'll be making her debut
at the National Finals.

Joining her in the top three
among the women

are Casey Rothschild
and Mady Howard.

So that's a wrap on night two

of the semifinals
here in Hollywood.

For Akbar Gbajabiamila
and Zuri Hall, I'm Matt Iseman.

We'll see you next time
on "American Ninja Warrior"!

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.