Season 7 Finale Update – The Worst Case Scenario for ANW (spoilers included)
You can read my open letter to the creators of American Ninja Warrior below but I wanted to include this update here.
First off, congratulations to Isaac Caldiero, he won the show and deserves to get the grand prize. The reason this was the worst case scenario for the TV show is that after 7 years of build up, emotion, excitement and anticipation to see who would be the first to make it to the top of Mt. Midoriyama, finally someone did, and it was amazing real drama…and they got absolutely nothing for it. Then another competitor who had probably an extra 1-2 hours of rest if not more beat stage 4 and did it just 3 seconds faster and took home the prize. As a fan watching the show it felt as if a thief in the night came and stole the trophy and money from Mr. Britten right after he won it. It didn’t make sense.
Geoff Britten was the first American in 7 years to do what thousands had attempted and failed before. You CAN’T have him walk away empty handed.
The real problem with how this played out: I don’t mean any disrespect by this but Isaac Caldiero is just not that relateable to 90% of the people watching the show. He has spent almost his entire adult life living in a trailer out in the wilderness doing nothing but climb rocks. People sitting at home watching TV (read: ANW viewing audience) living a typical American life just have a really hard time relating to that.
We watched Geoff Britten give an amazing inspiring run on stage 3. We were pulling for him because he is a 36 year old family man, something that most of us can relate to. We can put ourselves mentally in his shoes and dream that we could do what he has done. Instead of being overwhelmed with joy and satisfaction, I watched the finale thinking, “that’s awesome that Britten was the first American to complete stage 4 but IC has had so much more rest he’s going to easily win so none of it means anything. And that is exactly how it played out. Isaac Caldiero seems like a really nice guy and he’s going to be able to buy a much nicer trailer now but I’d be lying if I said I was rooting for him to win.
This is why there HAS to be cash awards for finishing stages. At least do it on stage 4 so if you have a situation like you had in season 7 no matter who wins we can all leave happy.
The worst thing about how this all played out is that now the intrigue is gone. Mt. Midoriyama has been conquered, and it wasn’t by one of the crowd favorites. I’m not sure if the casual fans are willing make another emotional investment like they’ve made over the last few years just to have it end up in total disappointment. I love the sport but I worry that a lot of the casual fans of the show are going to drop off. The culmination of the finale was not rewarding enough for us. Contestants we actually relate to and care about can’t afford to climb rocks all day every day and so they will forever be at a disadvantage on the show.
An Open Letter To The Creators Of American Ninja Warrior
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a big fan of your reality obstacle course competition show American Ninja Warrior. So much so that although I have no dreams or aspirations of competing on the show I did start building different obstacles in my backyard during season 6.
It was only after building these obstacles and trying to actually complete them (and failing) that I gained a whole new respect for how amazing these athletes are.
I was a college athlete and consider myself to be in pretty good physical condition.
I was intrigued to find out during season 6 that Brian Arnold decided that in order to be able to achieve his goal of becoming the first American to complete all 4 stages of the fabled Mt. Midoriyama, he quit his job to train full time.
Makes sense, he was considered the favorite to be the first to complete the course. He had made it farther than any other American before him.
Only he didn’t.
In fact he didn’t even finish stage 2.
You fully understand that due to the level of difficulty of the obstacles and because you introduce new obstacles every year, any athlete, at anytime, no matter how amazing, can fail.
So what was Mr. Arnold’s reward for quitting his job and dedicating his life to train so that people like me and my kids could be entertained on Monday nights and your show would get higher ratings?
Zero. Zip. Nada.
Nothing but disappointment.
Too bad for him right? What about the guy that got first place? That would be Joe “The Ninja Weatherman” Moravsky. How did he fare?
He had one of the most inspiring finishes to a stage that I have ever seen. It made for some amazing TV.
Ultimately he fell on stage 3 on the upside down rock climb (see pic above). He went the farthest and was the hero of the show. What did he get for it?
You already know the answer. Absolutely nothing.
Because the way the show works only one person can win the grand prize and that is if they finish all 4 stages the fastest.
In 7 seasons no one has finished all 4 stages so you haven’t had to pay out a dime.
Can you imagine the NFL only paying the players that won the Super Bowl and every other player played for free?
Or how about only paying the winner of a golf tournament and everyone else goes home empty handed?
How long do you think those sports would attract the top talent?
I understand that I am comparing a reality show to professional sports leagues but I know how hard these ninja warrior athletes train. I know how hard it is to complete these obstacles. I have seen professional athletes come on the show and try and they have all quickly failed.
If you want the show to keep these amazing athletes then you need to reward them for entertaining millions of Americans each week.
Here is how you fix American Ninja Warrior
So here is what I am proposing. You need to implement is a tiered reward system for the 4 stages of Mt. Midoriyama.
Finish Stage 1 Get $1,500
Stage 1 is completed by the most contestants so the reward is obviously going to be smaller. But how do you think these athletes would feel if they finished stage 1 and got rewarded with $1,500?
Then to make the stakes a little higher you offer a $1000 bonus to the fastest finisher of stage 1.
Finish Stage 2 Get $5,000
As athletes move to stage 2 the course gets harder and so the reward should get better. You pay each athlete that finishes this stage $5,000. In season 6 this would have meant a payout of just $10,000 as only 2 athletes finished this stage.
You then offer a fastest finish time bonus of $2500 for this stage.
Finish Stage 3 Get $15,000
No American has successfully finished this stage yet (except in US vs The World) but again as difficulty rises so does the reward. $15,000 to finish stage 3.
Fastest finisher on this stage gets $5,000.
Finish Stage 4 Get $25,000
This one would only come into play if more than one athlete made through and finished all 4 stages. The athlete(s) with the slower time would get $25,000 for finishing stage 4 but obviously not get the grand prize.
Fastest Of Stage 4 Gets $200,000 Grand Prize
This is the grand prize for the athlete that completes stage 4 of Mt. Midoriyama the fastest. This prize could then trump all previous earnings for the athlete and they just get the $200,000 prize. I promise no athlete is going to complain about that.
Go The Farthest But Fail – $40,000
This is a big change and probably the change I wish you would implement the most. We as audience viewers view these heroic feats and we feel pride and emotion and live vicariously through these athletes. It is such a let down (for us as the audience) in the end when they fail and walk away with nothing.
We want to see them rewarded. We want them to walk away feeling like they won the show instead of feeling like they failed along with everyone else. So whichever athlete makes it the farthest on the show without completing all 4 stages should receive a $40,000 prize to go along with previous earnings.
Let’s take a look at what this would have looked like if we had this tiered pay scale implemented during season 6.
Stage 1 Finishers:
Elet Hall $2,500
Lorin Ball $1,500
Paul Kasemir $1,500
Joe Moravsky $1,500
Ian Dory $1,500
Joshua Cook $1,500
Chris Wilczewski $1,500
Abel Gonzalez $1,500
Jo Jo Bynum $1,500
Travis Rosen $1,500
Isaac Caldiero $1,500
Andrew Lowes $1,500
Dan Galiczynski $1,500
Ryan Stratis $1,500
Noah Kaufman $1,500
Yen Chen $1,500
Brian Arnold $1,500
J.J. Woods $1,500
(via Wikipedia)
A total of 18 athletes finished stage 1 at $1,500 each and a $1,000 bonus to Elet Hall for getting the fastest time. Total payout for stage 1 – $28,000.
Stage 2 Finishers:
Elet Hall $7500
Joe Moravsky $5000
Of the 18 who tried only two athletes finished stage 2. Elet Hall again got the fastest time bonus this time of $2500. Total payout for stage 2 – $12,500.
Stage 3 Finishers:
No finishers.
Both athletes failed on stage 3. Joe Moravsky went the farthest so he would receive the $40,000 bonus. His total winnings for the show would be $46,500. Elet Hall would have taken home $10,000.
I promise you every athlete that got paid would have been thrilled.
Total Prize Money Awarded:
All told with this new tiered system the total payout would have been $70,500.
A pittance when you consider the enormous amount of publicity and ratings the show received this year with amazing performances by “the Mighty” Kacy Catanzaro, Kevin “The Bull” Bull and the aforementioned Joe Moravsky.
What I am suggesting is not insane. It’s not unheard of. It’s just the right thing to do.
A. Deign & Co, I’m pleading with you, begging you, give your raving fans and athletes exactly what they want and deserve, a true winner in season 7 and beyond.
Cordially,
A Concerned Citizen
About The Author
Adam White is the founder of Website Rocket, a web based software service that helps small businesses do their own SEO – get a Free SEO Analysis for your website. He is an avid fan of American Ninja Warrior and has also written and directed a feature film. He lives in Arizona with his wife and 6 children.
Amen brother.
Does anyone know the total time that it took Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero to finish ALL 4 stages? I understand that they just counted Stage 4 time to crown the winner. I would think that it would be fairer to look at the complete time for all 4 stages together.
I agree. I was so upset over Geoff getting
Nothing and to me he was the first and the winner.
This should be reposted – the show got even cheaper this lay time around – it’s sickening!
Yes!!!!! Great idea, great letter. Here’s hoping you get the right people’s attention!!
Yeah it really would make everything about the show better I think.
Enough with this “everyone gets a trophy” that goes on in this country. Failure is failure for a reason. It should not be rewarded, thats why its called failure.
Yes Popeye was more relatable & likable, but most importantly the only other finisher. So he is the ONLY other person deserving of a prize.
T, I’m not suggesting that people that fail on a stage get rewarded. Only those who successfully complete it.
Professional athletes still get paid for losing, so what’s the difference. This show calls its contestants athletes, and then put them on national television, so why not pay them like every other athlete on national television?
I love American ninja warrior too. And have built my own warped wall which I also failed to get up yet. LOL. But I’m not sure if I agree with you or not on this issue. I like the idea that you get the feeling that anyone can come and make a go of it. Examples the 50years olds running it (I’m 54). You start dishing out money and it becomes only an exclusive group thst ends up on the show. I feel I rather watch Joe Smoe run the course and fail then have some 24seven ninja warrior superstars dominating the course. Its been going on longer and Japan successfully and they only offer the one grand prize. Just my thoughts.
Larry, thanks for the comment. I promise you that anyone that makes it on the show is not a Joe Shmoe. You have to prove in your entry video that you can at least do most of the first level obstacles and as you and I both know that is no small feat.
Secondly, I like the guys coming out of nowhere to run the course as well but I’m only talking about the championship round in Vegas where the athletes get paid. And let’s be honest, the contestants that end up on the final stages of the show are an exclusive group already.
I disagree. You get a prize for finishing. Not partly, but completely. Giving out money for partials would cheapen the show. But a good article
Jonathan, I agree you should get a prize for winning but winning is relative. It is whatever the show defines as “winning”.
Going the farthest on the course could very easily be defined as winning. You did better than every other athlete. To me this makes more sense especially since they keep making the courses harder every year.
I totally agree with all of this. Very well thought out. I always wondered how these athletes could afford to quit their jobs and train all year. This would definitely make the show better.
No. Absolutely not. Because then it’s about the money.
People don’t compete on ninja warrior for dollars good sir. Look at the original sasuke. It’s already been going for over 30 years and it has nothing to do with money.
Personally I am training to try and get on the show. I have no expectations to succeed the first year. But I may beat stage 1. I can do most obstacles that have been on stage 1 over the years.
But I don’t want a dime. I just want to show myself I can do it.
The reason midoriyama exists isn’t so a bunch of people dedicate themselves to making money. It’s for the people who see a course like that and just want to prove themselves.
I’d be just as happy if they would let me play on it so i can test myself without any broadcast or potential reward.
It’s there to be the hardest physical challenge in the world, but it’s also the most fun.
Once your athletes can be called professionals you lose the fun and it’s a sport rather than a test.
I don’t want that.
I’m not sure many competitors do.
Dennis, thanks for your point of view. You are right in that it shouldn’t be about the money, at least for the athletes. What I am saying is that it needs to be about the money for the fans watching. It truly is anti-climactic to watch a competitor go through the drama of finishing an impossible stage, and then go farther than anyone else only to walk away with nothing. There is no satisfaction in that as a viewer. Paying a contestant $10k-$50k isn’t going to make them rich. It simply rewards amazing accomplishment. That is what is missing.
We may never have a finisher of Mt Midoriyama in America. If athletes continue to “fail” and there is no “winner” on the show it will lose its luster real quick. The reason why the ratings and popularity grew so much during season 6 is because people like Kacy Catanzaro had success and finished the qualifying courses. That is what people want to see. Since we can’t make the course easier then let’s reward the people who do the best.
As a competitor on season 6 and an applicant for season 7 waiting on another chance, it’s never been about the money. Don’t get me wrong, money is nice and it’s expensive to travel and take time from work to compete. To me, that’s part of the beauty of the show. It’s primarily made up of working women and men who juggle life, overcome obstacles, and do absolutely amazing things that most people only dream of. I mean no disrespect to the author of this, and consider it very reasonable as well. But at the same time, I know exactly what I’m signing up for…the chance to be the first American Ninja Warrior.
Thanks for the comment. I can appreciate that for the athletes it isn’t about the money and that is awesome but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t pay you. It would make for much more exciting television to have stakes on the line if they can finish. That way as a fan if you have a favorite competitor like many of us do there is some satisfaction even if they don’t win the show. It’s more for the fans even though the athletes get the money. And what Im suggesting would probably barely cover expenses for most of these athere’s except for the top few guys.
Correction, Sasuke 1 was in 1997. Until 2011, they averaged 2 tournaments per year. Sasuke 31 will take place this year.
As a fan since before ANW came to the USA…I do not agree they need compensation either for their personal satisfaction or for the fans. I would rather the show become smaller and less publicized due to lack of interest by the American public of it means keeping it’s soul. I fully understand your point and I don’t fully disagree but if you look at the shows origins the top competitors are always hard-working individuals with full time jobs that do it for pride not money…I think if we make it about money it just becomes another American gameshow/joke and cheapens the competition
Thanks for the write up and being concerned about the show and us as competitors. I’ve been with the show since it started and think the extra money would be nice just to help cushion the blow for the amount of time we all put in. I think the grand prize for winning should be more than what you suggest at 200k. By now it should just roll over from season to season or get bumped up to 1 million. I don’t think money will detract from the honor of competing because we’ll still be doing it one way or the other. Sasuke was only shown twice a year for a few hours per show. Anw is ran over an entire season with multiple episodes so I’m sure they can afford to give out some more prize money. I am glad that the show has finally gained more momentum and made the jump to NBC to give it a little more legitamcy. Just hope it stays around for years to come much like Japan’s Sasuke has managed to last for 30 tournaments. I don’t like that we are locked in a yearly contract that prevents us from being on other shows without their permission though. They bill us as athletes but we are more categorized as “talent” in the world of Hollywood. Its been a long and bumpy road since its G4 days but I still have faith that it will continue to improve from year to year and I will keep coming back for more if they let me lol.
Ryan, thanks for commenting. My boys and I are big fans and my boys love to “Stratis” for the camera.
It’s great to get the perspective of a high profile contestant. The show has enough popularity now that it seems like the logical next step to take this to a mainstream sport.
Let me start with an apology in case i offend anyone. I always laugh how everyone forgets it’s the same with the original sasuke. If u don’t win u don’t get anything and their prize is a fraction of what could come from here. They do it for the love of competing like a lot of the veterans here. What the casual fan doesn’t understand is what every competitor GAINS every year. This is a strong community that forges new friendships to help us out our journeys to conquer ourselves and the mountain. Having only ever been a walk on I truly understand the sacrifice that comes with this journey. Can the show be improved yes. For me it comes down to consistency and rebranding. The consistency part is one that outside fans won’t understand exactly so I’ll go into my other point. I believe as most the competition needs to be more important than the show. To the athletes it is but not to the producers for obvious reasons. I believe they could do anw with a 30 minute preview episode that goes over back stories and hypes the runs for the night leaving the actual competition to take the spot light. And as far as money goes there is prize money that has gone out in the past for the fastest finisher in the qualifiers and city finals not sure about this season because I wasn’t lucky enough to compete. I don’t believe in money given out to anyone that doesn’t win but I’m afraid for what will happen if 2 people win at the same time right now it worded as only 1 can win the prize which is a shame because we all cheer for the other. I apologize for the rambling but these articles that point out this fact in my opinion always feel like they don’t understand y we actually do this and it Pisces me off. And again I apologize for the rant and if I offended anyone.
Yeah, it’s a great idea and I agree with it (I would have made $1500!!) but I also see the counter-argument that it’s not about money. But that doesn’t make any sense either… Why don’t we not pay NFL players? Ninjas spend a ton of their time training and should be rewarded financially so they can continue to do so (many ninjas live out of a car and are very very poor; dedicating all their time to training and being role-models…) another option would be to let Ninjas have sponsors and wear sponsor’s clothes on TV. But NBC has a great thing going and a brilliant business model; you can’t fault them for that. At the end of the day there is one undeniable truth and that is that American Ninja Warrior is awesome either way.
Noah thanks for posting. I know a lot of athletes don’t care about the money but for all of the time and effort to make the show awesome there should be some kind of reward. The numbers I threw out there are actually way too low honestly but I am hoping for baby steps. Best of luck on season 7!
It is an all or nothing course and everyone who runs it understands this. Brian Arnold also got an entire year to do what he loves to do TRAIN that in itself is a reward the admiration from his fans and fellow ninja’s are what they strive for ask any of them whats more important they will all say the satisfaction of beating the mountain. Please do not try and water down the satisfaction of success by making everyone a winner that’s not what an obstacle course is about.
Thanks for the comment. I’m not suggesting that everyone be a winner. how much of the field field failed on stage 1 of Mt Midoriyama? 83%. So you are rewarding the top guys for finishing an obviously very difficult stage.
What’s more is the show should have incentive to reward those that finish stages because it makes the show way more exciting.
Another way to fix this show: on top of all this, bring back G4, take all this away from NBC, let the ones who actually care for this competition run it and organize it, STOP MAKING ATHLETES RUN THE COURSE AT NIGHT IN THE FREEZING COLD AND CONDENSATION SOAKED OBSTACLES, NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR EXPENSIVE SPOT LIGHTS, TAKE BETTER CARE OF THE COMPETITORS.
The network doesn’t want the top athletes. They want to take ordinary every day people (garbage collectors, ice cream scoopers, retail employees) and make them look above average. They have their set of 30 or so “veterans” and the other 500 they could care less if they’re good or not.
They’re not running out of talent any time soon. With tens of thousands of applications sent in every year they have no reason to pay us. It’s not a sport, no matter how much you want it to be. It’s a TV show.
Tim, I agree with you that they love the underdog story but with continued success we get to know all of these athletes and they are no longer nobodies.
The reality is during season 6 the fans had their favorites going into the Vegas finals and it wasn’t people that were first timers. It was guys like Arnold, or Moravsky with maybe the one exception being Kevin Bull because of the awesome feat he pulled off in the city finals.
This is absolutely disgusting and is why the Japanese version will always be better. Turning this show into a quest for money over glory. Gross.
Matthew, I respectfully disagree. I tried watching the Japanese version and had a hard time getting into it. It wasn’t until they started in America that I became a real fan.
Matthew, see Ryan Stratis and Drew Dresel’s comments, also since you don’t want these people to get paid for their accomplishments not to mention sacrifice tell the producers not take home millions, Try doing that with golf where contestants get paid all the way to the 30th position. Geez. I like that Geoff Britain went back to being a family and camera man. He should have receive at least 100k for completing a near impossible course in all stages straight for the competition! I won’t watch the show much anymore after this season 8 and I feel sorry for Drew. The finals course this year is ever more impossible on one try. To the author Adam White I thank you for such an insightful post.
Nope.
It’s pulled right from the Japanese show. They even made it easier because in the preliminary stages, you can still advance if you fail. The thing that draws contestants is as much the final lump of cash as it is the challenge. The challenge to be the one that did what no one else could. That’s what drives most of these competitors. That drive will guarantee a thousand new contestants every year. And they’ll do it with no qualms about it because they want to know if they can.
Every one of these athletes knows going in about the payout. If someone quits their job, it’s not the show’s responsibility to fund him.
In the Japanese show, 100 people go for it. If they fail, they fail. End of story. It’s just as brutal, but the same payout. You fail, you get nothing. They throw 100 people at a brick wall and the ones that bounce off are done. Don’t care. The few that get over are the only ones important. That’s the way it should be.
“It’s hard!”
“Yes, it is. but it’s not impossible. Someone can do it. If you’re not that someone, then you aren’t them. We’ll find that someone eventually. Go throw yourself at that wall. If you make it over, come talk to us again.”
I still prefer the Japanese version, although they’ve done a decent job with the American version.
I’m sorry, but I have to whole-heartedly disagree with you. I could go on and state the points that have already been made, but let me put it to you in another context: looking at other popular television competitions (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance?, America’s Got Talent) The first runner up gets nothing, let alone the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. It’s the last person left standing, and that’s it. Now granted, the difference between these shows and Ninja Warrior (note not just the American version) is that it’s exceedingly difficult to get to Mt. Midoryama.
Now, do I think if someone actually completes the course they should get a sizable prize? Absolutely, however not at large as I believe you’re thinking. And here is where the differences come in. These talent shows are usually used as a launching pad to a career in the entertainment industry, be in music, dance, comedy, etc… Ninja Warrior is for the common person who yearns to achieve something more, but doesn’t want to make a career from it. The truth is the people who really want to be singers, dancers, and, yes, athletes, are not using these shows as the only vehicle. Someone who auditions for SYTYCD is not doing this one competition once a year. They’re working as dance teachers to make money as a living so they can go audition for companies. Real musicians are booking shows constantly so they can perform and hope to make a living and hopefully a career. As athletes, it’s difficult to make a living if you’re not professional, especially if it’s not as popular a sport. But those that don’t make it might become a coach, or physical therapist that caters to the specific sport they fell in love with.
And that’s the thing. This is not a mainstream sport to really make a living off of. To clarify: NFL players, as well as MLB, NBA/WNBA make quite a bit of money to play regular nationally televised games that are generally played in stadiums or areas, where people will pay $160 to see them. Mainstream artists such as Beyonce, Billy Joel, and Bruno Mars play sold out concerts where tickets might start at $80 for the nosebleeds of Madison Square Garden. There’s t-shirts, jerseys, posters, and all sorts of merchandise that fly off the shelves for these people, and all that money goes back into the franchise for that specific team/artist. Ninja Warrior’s audience likely pays nothing and I really don’t know, but how much Ninja Warrior merchandise is sold? NBC has so many other programs to foot the bill for that are far more popular than ANW, and cost far more to produce.
I can go on and on with this, but to wrap it up in a nice TL:DR
Ninja Warrior is not about the money, never has been, never will be.
Kris, the thing your forgetting about the other TV shows (American Idol, Americas Got Talent etc) is that they always have a winner who wins money. ANW doesn’t do that. So as a viewing audience we are happy with those other shows because we have a clear winner. How can we be satisfied with the show ending season after season with everyone falling in the water?
This was a great article. I would lovr for this to take effect. My whole life now revolves around this show and the ninja lifestyle. I travel around the world, competing, teaching and inspiring everyone I meet to try new things and neve give up. Unfortunately I cannot afford to keep this lifestyle at this pace for much longer. Being a personal trainer in this specific sport is all I want to do anymore and hope something like this takes effect or I’ll be forced to just win the while thing =p
Drew, thanks for commenting. It’s athletes just like you that inspired this article. The fans want the best athletes on the show and I’m sure the producers do too but if they don’t compensate the athletes the show will fizzle out. But seriously best of luck this season.
Yes and no. Maybe just a payout on who goes the furthest and the finisher. It probably would cheapen it paying by stage. Then you’ll have athletes not ninjas complacent with just winning Stage 1 & 2. Atleast with paying the ninja who goes furthest you get a measuring stick. It is a competition about pride and who wants to be king of the hill and you should be rewarded for being the king. Not 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on.
I love the show and agree with most of the views. A modest pay out would be fine for people who complete each stage, but I feel as an American – high dollar payouts should go to our true warriors such as our military, vets, police, fireman, etc. and peoples talents should rate way below what these true warriors are paid. So please remember – entertainment is only that and a privilege afforded because of the courageous people endlessly training and protecting us daily!!!!!!
As a longtime fan, I agree with this blog post. I don’t know if they still do this now, but I know that a couple years ago they were giving some compensation bonuses to the fastest regional finishers, just unfortunately not publicizing it… this should be expanded: http://www.g4tv.com/articles/71668/american-ninja-warrior-faq/#WillThereBePrize about the 2013 season: “The competitor who conquers Mt. Midoriyama will win the Grand Prize of $500,000. The fastest competitor for each City Qualifying Round will win $2,500 and the fastest competitor for each City Final Round will win $5,000.”
I’d also like to know that on the rare occasions where a competitor gets badly injured, NBC would cover their medical bills.
I am partially in agreement with some compensation, just not sure if it should be that much or publicized unless it’s the big finale. My only concern is the amount of money NBC is making off the show…how are they spreading the wealth around? Are they helping to fund Ninja warrior gyms? training camps programs for kids etc. This is what I would ask them to do with the money instead of giving it to just one person for each round.
The athletes are the ones running the ninja warrior gyms so instead of funding the gyms give the money to the athletes (stars of the show) like they should.
I totally agree with your comments, Adam. It is ridiculous that NBC gives no money to the contestants and especially the winner (the person that gets furthest or fastest). It is beyond cheap and shortsighted. I love the show and almost want to stop watching other NBC programming as a form of protest. PAY THE ATHLETES. $500,000 is a drop in the bucket for a hit television show….that should be the minimum paid out to all the athletes in some form or another even without completing the entire course. Keep the million on the table if they do! Ratings will actually go up as will the level of competitors.
On S7 episode 9…Kansas City finals, Brian Arnold made it to the the Body Drop faster than Michael Stanger however he barely started the trip across when he fell. Michael Stanger made it a lot further than Brian did. Why is Brian advancing to Vegas when Michael clearly went further into the obstacle. Still wondering on this one since they say whoever goes the farthest the faster gets to move on.
Yeah its a strange rule but the rule is if you don’t finish an obstacle then it doesn’t matter how far you got on it. It’s the fastest to start that obstacle that gets to move on.
Several of you have mentioned it is not about the money. However, if you look at the opportunity cost of what these guys are going through to train, take time off work, travel, boost ratings for a major television network, then a small cash prize is not anywhere near a stretch.
The proposed amounts by Adam White are absolutely within reason. For instance, some of these rookies spend 10+ days waiting in line, that is 10+ days they must take off of work, and this is just for the city qualifier, then they have to travel back for the city final. Once at the final, that is another day off of work, if it is not within reasonable distance to their home. Why shouldn’t the best AMW receive a cash prize that totals less than the median national salary, $52,800?
To the poster who commented on cash prizes would bring out “24seven ninjas”, newsflash, these guys already are those people. They may be normal people, but so are super star athletes before they start training for their respective sport. The show has attracted many professional athletes, it does not mean they are accomplishing as much as these other warrior ninja enthusiasts. There are a few who are world class climbers and gymnasts that make it far, but that is only because their sport was more catered to helping them succeed in ANW. I am totally on board with Adam White, I hope you sent this declaration to NBC.
Agree with small cash prizes, you are exactly right. The reality is, these athletes make the course look so easy. They make you sit at home and think, I could do that. That’s what I thought too until I actually tried a few of them. The point is, the guys on this show train for thousands of hours every year. Many of them are broke because in order to compete on this level you simply have to train too much to be able to have a normal job. The show makes millions of dollars because we want to watch our favorites and these athletes need to get paid.
I too agree, these athletes, albeit some amateurs, should be awarded, the skills they possess are truly commendable. If not for them, there wouldn’t be such a growing following and NBC wouldn’t be pulling in the rating’s. I think this would be a great incentive for all of the athletes and for their hard work.
AGREED….THESE ARE SOME AWESOME, BAD BUTT ATHLETES THAT NEED TO BE REWARDED FOR THIER VERY, VERY, VERY HARD WORK!!
SHAME ON YOU A. Deign & Co FOR NEVER PAYING A DIME TO THOSE THAT COMPLETE ANY ROUND/FASTEST!!! GREEDY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!!
Shows like America’s Got Talent at least pay travel and hotel expenses for all the finalists. I see no reason why a show like ANW which rakes in millions in ad revenue can’t compensate its contestants, or rather its entertainers. It’s exploitative. Last I looked, the United States isn’t a communist country!
So in other words the announcers, cameramen and set builders get paid but the true crowd pleasers get nothing? That’s not right.
So two made it to the top first time ever. And the other guy gets nothing but a crummy title. I think if you finish all the phases (only 2 in 7 seasons) should receive a cash prize
I just finished watching two Americans finish for the first time ever and was researching what they each and the other great athletes get when I came across this letter.
It is a shame to find out the answer because my whole family (my young kids included) has became a huge fan of the show.
Pay the athletes when they make you money whether or not they make it through the end!
It won’t take anything away from the competition and will make many us happier to watch a show fair to those that make it ….
I totally agree, I believe the athletes should be compensated for finishing courses. I don’t think I will watch it anymore, until they are compensated. It just irks me that Geoff Britton got absolutely nothing and he was the first person to finish all 4 courses. In the Superbowl or WorldSeries the losers make money., why not American Ninja Warrior!
I agree with you 100%. I felt so bad for Geoff because he got nothing for being the FIRST to ever beat the mountain but the other guy did it faster so he got the million dollars. Somehow, to me, that didn’t seem fair. I love this show and even watch the re-runs when they’re on TV because I love it so much but after tonight, I don’t think I really want to watch it anymore. I felt like Geoff Britten was cheated. The camera crew, and all the other workers got paid, the network made millions in advertising dollars and yet, the one who was the first to ever do it walked away without so much as a dime store medal. So sad about that.
The reason they don’t pay is a way to prevent the undesirables from participating. As a 5’9″ white guy, I enjoy the competition, but I find the lack of diversity in the competition to be pronounced. If they truly wanted to crown the greatest ninja warrior, they would include cash prizes. Some people enjoy performing merely for the challenge, while most do not choose to perform unless there is a monetary reward. The suggested pay scale should attract additional players if they truly want the greatest American ninja warrior and not just the best white guy that has a lot of free time to improve his skills.
I just watched the 2015 finale and we have two American Ninja Warriors for the first time in history, Goeff Britten and Issac. The winner got 1 mil and the other did not receive anything being slower by 3 SECS ??? I was wondering the same question about prize money and found this, and had to completely agree with Adam. I am a total rewards consultant myself but it is not hard for everyone who watches the show that it is NOT right. Where is the incentive for people like Geoff who become one of the first two American Ninja Warriors and get treated so differently! (Not to mention that his run was so much more sensational as the win was less than a second, including his fight to complete stage 3, which would definitely have thrilled viewers more IMO). i’ve read some of the comments above, I agree it’s not all about the money, but people still have to make a living, and it’s amazing how hard these athletes have sacrificed their time and effort to prove themselves and to inspire so many generations to come. I actually love the show until the final two competed for 1 mil dollar. Before that all competitors were super supportive of themselves, and I take that as if ANW has opened a new generation of sport, after that it was just a competition for the grand prize :(. If it was me to design the incentive plan for the show, i would allocate 1 mil to each of the final stages with a fixed amount for each stage, which means the more people who complete the stage, the smaller amount that each person gets, and of course the winner (fastest) for each stage will get a bonus or a bit more. It is not hard to figure out the proportional value to allocate for each of the stage given the stats on the no. of people reaching each stage for the past 7 seasons (for ex stage 1:2:3:4 and the no. Of people who complete are 32:16:8:2 respectively, so the ratio could be 100k:150K:250k:500K, by this way it still provides a big chunk of award to the winner as he or she gets the reward for each of the stage). Just my 2 cents, but congrats to our first 2 ANWs. Btw, Im in Canada.
I agree that the payouts should be higher than what I have suggested, Im just trying to get these guys something.
NBC makes a ton of money from these shows and they don’t pay anybody? It’s a total sham! They could find a way to pay out $500,000 an episode and still make money! They should pay these athletes, it’s crazy that they don’t!
I was shocked to learn that these guys are not being paid! I am a 77 year old great grandmother and I can’t wait for the show to start each week. It brings a lot of good clean family tv into the home. There’s so much garbage on TV so I don’t watch much but this show, I never miss. Since those people on Dancing With the Stars all get paid, why aren’t these ninja warriors being paid? Look at all the advertising dollars the show is raking in! They are making big bucks off these athletes and need to share the wealth.
I just finished watching the last show of this season and two guys made it all the way to the top of Mt. Midoriyama but only one won the million dollar prize. I thought that was so unfair! He won because he had the fastest time but the other guy completed the entire course and should have gotten something other than a title. They didn’t even get a medal or a belt like they get in other sports. These guys spend big bucks to get those bodies and to compete on those courses and they should indeed be paid for their performances when they are winners. The winners of any other show get a prize.. even the no-talent people on America’s Got Talent! Let’s be fair about it and give these guys and their families a break. The network is getting wealthy of the backs of these guys!!
I agree. Watched this year and two completed the final stage. Although I was happy for the winner, I felt bad for second place who didn’t get anything. I also think it would help bring in athletes. I’m athletic and would love to be on the show. I have a family and can’t afford to miss work. I’m sure I’m not the only one in that position.
I completely agree with you, I’ve actually stopped watching the past 2 years because it disappoints more than entertains. I do think they should get rewarded for their talents, probably larger amounts than you mentioned, but the worst thing about the show is competitor profiles and them adding new obstacles. The competitor profiles are way too long and are shown every episode, even with veterans. Just because one guy has a kid we have to hear his whole life story, and whoops he falls on the first obstacle and he might not even be back next year…it just takes up the entire show. And they add these new obstacles thinking its not a problem but it totally is! These guys/girls are training their asses off on obstacles they know just to get to a new one they know nothing about and they mess up and its over, that must be very depressing cause next year there will be another new one so there’s no point in training for the one they failed on. It’s crazy how they get away with that…But yes prize money needs to be involved because they probably train more than football players and get absolutely nothing for their amazing talents. It’s not right and Im surprised these competitors even come back…
Put that letter up on a petition site, and I’ll sign it.
DWTS pays everyone. These shows are on TV. The networks must pay something unless waivers are agreed to by the contestants….right?
Cheered for Geoff Britten. His is and always will be the FIRST American Ninja Warrior. But all he gets is bragging rights. A family man who gives it his all (and probably at some cost to his family life) and walks away without even a trophy.
Didn’t cheer for Caldiero. A professional climber who lives in a trailer and doesn’t seem to have sacrificed much of anything (living a life he loves) and who may have had more chance to rest, came in second yet still walks away with a million dollars.
Doesn’t seem right. Yes, all the contestants knew the rules and they knew how it worked and there’s only one winner. But it still doesn’t seem right.
But I probably won’t be watching ANW next season..
And if he comes back to defend his title next year, the obstacles are geared toward rock climbers and most of the athletes know they will never reach his level of climbing so unless he falls early all of the drama is gone.
This proposal sounds fantastic.
However, the issue right now is what is currently happening. All these years and not one person finished the course. A course that requires focus, dedication. I’ve seen this show since the days of Japan and the one thing I love about this show – you are competing against the course, not each other.
I cheer for anyone who finishes each stage. We all come together, all of us hoping together one would win. We all work together to achieve such an amazing feat. People give their life to finishing the course.
It may sound ridiculous, but I’m working hard myself to compete one day. I who had to battle near fatal debilitating conditions is totally motivated to train and compete.
Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero both deserve a million. Consider how many millions professional sports players get each year, two million is really not a big deal. Especially since they both clearly deserve it.
I support anyone competing. From what I see, American Ninja Warrior brings everyone together. Don’t make it a competition between players. The true nature is to compete against the course.
My two cents.
Someone who will compete,
Sean Rush
I am disappointed to find out that NO ONE gets any compensation for the enjoyment that they provide me on Monday nights on ANW. That is SAD! I EXPECTED that a prize list would be available to show how each contestant finished monetarily. What a let down to find out that after putting their all out there gets them nothing but maybe bragging rights. Shame on ANW productions. Hummm……perhaps I will skip next years production. I don’t want to support such callousness.
Great article. I’m one of those fans that will not be watching anymore after this. Rooted for Geoff from the beginning. As a fan of 7 years I never expected to see two winners in one season and was absolutely shocked that they didn’t both win $1mil. My understanding after 7 seasons was “finish stage 4, win $1mil.” Bad move by the show.
All that said, Geoff and his family are handling it with real class and character.
Absolutely agree 100%…we were left in awe that the runner up received nothing….maybe not prizes for all stages, but something should be different, and yes something will have to change with the courses now to keep people interested! Be very interesting to see what they do!
I am so pissed Jeff gets nothing. I will boycott Mazda, pom, little Ceasars and everything else if he doesn’t get $500,000. I agree they should all get payed for being successful. I am writing down every advertiser on the commercials. I’m not buying anything from them till I hear Jeff got paid. I can’t believe that they did not announce that there will be a second prize in that look like a bunch of shady cheap bastard after all these years and now that they’re actually making profit. MBC you suck if you don’t give him money. I will send him $20 .
ANW is a disappointment compared to the Japanese version though I wonder what the Sasuke version would do if there was more than one winner. Would they celebrate multiple winners or have just one winner. Unless changes are made we will drop off and not watch next season. Maybe they need to have some kind of monetary incentive to complete the stages. Maybe have the top 10 USA go conquer the real Mt Madoriyama course. Maybe…
If ANW is not going to do the right thing, and give Geoff some kind of an award, we can start a Go Fund Geoff account. I’m ready to donate but don’t know how to get it started.
I agree the athletes should be conpensated after the first stage . NBC pays winners and losers on game shows. If warriors reach stage 2 and finish it. a monetary prize on the scale mentioned in the above post . Everyone who feels this way, should send a petition to NBC . Put your words to action . These athletes from all over the world, SHOULD GET PAID!!!! From a grandmother.
Here we are in 2016. All these athletes have to pay their travel expenses? No pay at all? That is disgusting. They put their lives on the line and get nothing except perhaps a “Well done”? I expect more and I for one will stop watching these terrific athletes being taken advantage of!
everyone of these people gets paid, And I am sure producers know that , In endorsements for products the more time on screen the more and endorce ment is worth, And not only national endrosements but local endorsesments like for either the gym where they work out and they get to endorse the gyms the own or partner into. then the value as a trainer goes very high. Basiscally Iam am satiyiny they are paid in advertising for their personal brand. It could go farther like an edorsement of a national gym net worrk the way music companies produce a artist talent brand.
Can you show me one endorsement these guys have received? Go ask them how it has affected them financially. Almost all of them will tell you that although they love competing, it has only cost them money.
People should get something when they complete a stage but not to the extent you’ve suggested, and they shouldn’t have to pay their own travel fees if they get to Vegas because that’s ridiculous. Arnold, and all those favourites that get ‘nothing’ as you have pointed out, get exposure. They get a chance to be on tv, inspiring millions of other athletes who wouldn’t have known their name it if wasn’t for the show. And they enjoy it. As soon as I heard Arnold quit his job for the show I deeply saddened because I knew it would be another Yamada. If you don’t know who that is, he was in Sasuke Japan (the original NW) and took it so seriously that he quit his job. Long story short, he was screwed over a few times, never won the title and is now banned from competing. It’s a sad story, but that was his choice to train full-time as was it Arnold’s. So, that’s on them because the show didn’t make them quit their jobs, they volunteered.
Onto my other point, I prefer Sasake over ANW, just because NBC has made it so gimmicky. The wild cards, the weird fastest time, pitting competitors against each other, the shoddy editing over ppl that actually completed the course in favour of failures…no. That’s not what NW was about. Yes, the contestants have some camaraderie with each other, but it’s not on Japan’s level. That show is heartbreaking. The spirit of NW wasn’t to beat everyone else. It wasn’t made to be competitive, it was to test the human spirit. Our strength, our will against an impossible course. The other ninjas aren’t supposed to be viewed as competition or a threat because you’re all striving for the same thing. That’s what ANW lacks. You conquer midoriyama, you win. Simple as that. What happened with Geoff Britton was sickening. He conquered, he won. He deserves the reward just as much as the other dude. He wasn’t racing against the other dude, he was racing against the clock/course because what’s the point of having a timer there if it’s just for show? The show screwed him over. He deserves the title and the money along with the other dude. In Sasuke, apparently if two ppl conquer the mountain together they both win the prize. Idk if NBC is being cheap, but they should’ve either given a million each competitor that won, or split the million if they’re cheap. They sholdn’t have glossed over Britton’s achievement. Competitors vs the course, not competitors vs the course vs each other. Ppl might say 2nd placers get nothing, but he didn’t get second place, but this isn’t a competitive sport. You beat the course, you win. The end. NBC cheapens everything…
Unicorn, you have made some good points. Although for those athletes that have families to take care of there is real financial hardship that comes from participating on the show. But I totally agree with you that if they would have had both guys that finished the course take home a prize everyone would have been happy.
I hope the USA versus the world contest at least pays the athletes something. This is a good show, but the fact they can not pay 99.999 percent of people who participate anything at all is horrible.
Every single contestant who gets air time should be compensated. Although a tiered system would be better, “Prizes” are different.
Never forget there is a giant corporation profiting. They’re only too happy to keep as much $ for themselves as possible. Never forget that, for the corporation, it IS 100% about the money.
Shortsightedness and acquiescence to the powers-that-be are making life tougher and tougher for the average person.
Agreed. You can see my comment I posted in reply to Matt’s.
They absolutely need to be paid. COntribute it to corporate greed! These athletes put everything they have into training and are treated like garbage!!!! pay up corporate America. you are making millions off the backs of slave labor!
I agree completely with you Adam!
Totally agree with you regarding these athletes getting paid. C’mon people. All that money the station is making with viewers and commercials??? and these people who travel from city to city to compete and draw in these viewers should at least be compensated for expenses. Without these athletes there would be no show. I also like the breakdown of payouts. Love the comparison to other professional athletes and, again, fully agree
It is interesting to read both sides of this debate. But since the show makes money, why not at least pay expenses for those making it past the first qualifier?
and some small financial reward is due all competitors who place in the upper tier of competition
Just finished watching the 2016 season and my wife and I could not wait for it to start…This was THE most disappointing season, very disappointing…Not that we are disappointed at the contestants, certainly NOT..
My theory is that the Network was so aggravated, upset and/or angry at having to actually pay out the million dollars that they made the 2016 course SO HARD that no one could come close to finishing it..At the beginning of the show when they went over the course, my wife and I turned to each other and said: ARE YOU JOKING ??..
These contestants train all year for this one moment and then to not even have a chance is ridiculous..While I have read that the Network say they have many athletes have practice runs at the course, I have my doubts as then I would have to believe that some of the practice runs were made to completion..
We will watch next year, as we love the camaraderie and the feeling that hard work will persevere….But if the 2017 course is once again made so that no one can finish – we will quit the show..
Let’s always have the final stage really hard – but POSSIBLE !!
I completely agree with round winnings, and was just talking about this with my wife the other day.
It would be much more enjoyable for everyone if it was run more like a game show, and less like a money hungry, reality show.
I don’t have the data, but my guess is that most game shows have given away far more prize money than American Ninja Warrior. Not to mention, a number of them have to pay the celebrities appearing on the show ($100,000 Pyramid and Match Game for example). Makes me wonder how much a certain former NFL player and former HGTV host are making.
I like the show, and it is very inspiring! The fact that it is based on slave labor, makes me very upset… Does anyone know the average profit, per season for NBC?