Ninja Warrior Is Campy TV At It's Finest!

Have you seen an episode of Ninja Warrior or American Ninja Warrior on the G4 network yet? If you haven't, you are missing out on some great campy TV! This from someone who doesn't care a whole lot for television, Ninja Warrior is pulling me in.

Contemporary Japanese Pop Culture roars to life when you turn on an episode of Ninja Warrior. Bright colors and loud narrators put the fun back in fundamentally campy programing. I recommend watching the original Ninja Warrior first before indulging in American Ninja Warrior to get the real sentiment of what it's all about.

Expect to see lots of brightly colored costumes worn by a wide array of physiques ranging from completely muscular and fit to ordinary bordering on flabby. Which brings me to another highlight of the show, regular people compete alongside of athletes! Plumbers, union painters, school teachers, salespeople just to name a few. They all come out in the begining and you'll be surprised who makes it to the final rounds!

Each contestant runs a gauntlet of obstacles ranging from swinging ropes to mountain climbing grips. I was surprised at how engaging the show became when seemingly none of the potential Ninjas were able to get past the dreaded "cliffhanger". Basically, it is several bars laid horizontally that the athlete grabs onto, where the last one is spaced far enough that they have to jump and reach to grab it. One after another we watched as men and woman plunged to the water below after missing the last rail. Finally, we watched one of the experienced Ninja warriors grab on with both hands, then on to the next obstacle! Whew whoooo!

The show is a lot of fun in a strangley ironic way. You partly feel as though you are watching a group of individuals that are part athlete, part nerd and no where near as threatening as what you'd expect a Ninja to be. You do see "Freestyle Runners" which if you don't know already, is where people run around various concrete and metal structures in their cities then jump, flip and climb over them in a gymnastic way. I felt I would be frightened to meet one of these types of Ninjas in a dark alley, but mainly because you wonder where they get the inspiration?

Ultimately Ninja Warrior is a great show to watch with your family or buddies. It's a lot of laughs mixed with sincere engaging athletism. You can't help but root for a guy dressed up as a Supernerd who was formerly an army Sergeant! Just as you can't help but laugh when someone is overly ambitiouis as they run the course then slip and fall as they bang their crotch on a rubber wall and fall with a large splash into a pool below. Good times. Tune into Ninja Warrior on G4 next time you get the chance, and see who will struggle to win! They are the NINJA WARRIOR!!!