American Ninja Warrior (season 3)

The third season of American Ninja Warrior began airing on July 31, 2011, on G4. Tryouts took place in May 2011 at Venice Beach, California. After the tryouts, the top 15 competitors competed in Ninja Warrior Boot Camp with the top 10 moving on to Japan for the finals of the competition as a part of Sasuke 27 and a chance at becoming the first American to conquer the course and win a $500,000 endorsement deal with K-Swiss. No competitors made it beyond stage 3.

American Ninja Warrior
Season 3
Hosted by	Matt Iseman Jimmy Smith Alison Haislip
No. of contestants	300+
Release
Original network	G4 NBC
Original release	June 11 – July 22, 2011
Season chronology

The final episode aired on August 22, 2011, as a two-hour primetime special on NBC.[1][2]

This season was once again hosted by Matt Iseman and Jimmy Smith, with Alison Haislip as a sideline reporter.

Qualifying

Over 300 competitors took part in the tryouts in Venice Beach, CA on May 16, 2011, and May 17, 2011. Those who made it past qualifying, city finals, and boot-camp in the California Mountains advanced to Stage 1 at Sasuke 27.

Boot Camp

15 competitors from the semi-finals tried ninja Boot Camp. The ninjas were divided into three teams of five: the red dragons, blue monkeys, and white tigers. Ten would make it at the end, and five would be sent home. Every week there would be challenges the ninjas would have to face. The losing teams would send two of their members to the heavenly ropes. Two people would be sent up the rope, and the person that hit the buzzer at the top first would move on and continue the boot camp until they either were sent home or made it to "Sasuke 27". The losing person would be sent home, failing to make it to Japan. The five that were eliminated in boot camp were Dustin Rocho, Chris Wilczewski, Brandon Douglass, Alan Conneally, and Brian Orosco.

Notable competitors

• Denver Broncos wide receiver, Matt Willis
• 2009 World Champion freerunner, Tim "Livewire" Shieff
• Professional freerunner and Survivor: China contestant, Michael "Frosti" Zernow

Mount Midoriyama

Stage 1

Order #	Finalist	Result	Notes
1	James "The Beast" McGrath	Finish (22.24 seconds left)
2	Drew Drechsel	6. Warped Wall	Injured right knee on Half Pipe Attack landing.
3	Travis Rosen	Finish (21.70 seconds left)
4	Ryan Stratis	Finish (13.97 seconds left)
5	Brent Steffensen	Finish (32.92 seconds left)
6	Jake Smith	Finish (7.35 seconds left)	Digest.
7	David "Flip" Rodriguez	Finish (17.73 seconds left)	Digest.
8	Travis Furlanic	Finish (43.90 seconds left)	Digest.
9	Paul Kasemir	Finish (26.55 seconds left)
10	David Campbell	Finish (44.32 seconds left)	Sasuke First Stage speed record.

Stage 2

Order #	Finalist	Result	Notes
1	Jake Smith	2. Double Salmon Ladder	Seventh level.
2	James "The Beast" McGrath	Finish (18.84 seconds left)
3	David "Flip" Rodriguez	1. Slider Drop	Derailed bar on drop.
4	Travis Rosen	5. Metal Spin
5	Ryan Stratis	Finish (18.10 seconds left)
6	Travis Furlanic	5. Metal Spin
7	Brent Steffensen	5. Metal Spin
8	Paul Kasemir	Finish (4.98 seconds left)
9	David Campbell	Finish (15.28 seconds left)

Stage 3

Order #	Finalist	Result	Notes
1	James McGrath	3. Ultimate Cliffhanger	Transition to fifth ledge.
2	Ryan Stratis	3. Ultimate Cliffhanger	Transition to fourth ledge.
3	Paul Kasemir	3. Ultimate Cliffhanger	Transition to fifth ledge.
4	David Campbell	3. Ultimate Cliffhanger	Lost grip on sixth ledge. Best performance of the season.

Ratings

Network	Episode		Air date	Timeslot	18–49 rating	Viewers (millions)	Ref.
G4	1	"Part 1 of 10"	July 31, 2011	Sunday 9:00 p.m.	0.2	0.384	[3]
	2	"Part 2 of 10"		Sunday 10:00 p.m.	0.1	0.350
	3	"Part 3 of 10"	August 7, 2011	Sunday 9:00 p.m.	0.1	0.292	[4]
	4	"Part 4 of 10"		Sunday 10:00 p.m.	0.1	0.329
	5	"Part 5 of 10"	August 14, 2011	Sunday 9:00 p.m.	0.1	0.216	[5]
	6	"Part 6 of 10"		Sunday 10:00 p.m.	0.1	0.244
	7	"Part 7 of 10"	August 21, 2011	Sunday 9:00 p.m.	0.1	0.296	[6]
	8	"Part 8 of 10"		Sunday 10:00 p.m.	0.1	0.251
NBC	9	"Part 9 of 10"	August 22, 2011	Monday 9:00 p.m.	1.7	4.103	[7]
	10	"Part 10 of 10"

References

1. O'Hare, Kate (2011). "'American Ninja Warrior' storms Japan's Mount Midoriyama". Zap2it. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
2. Hale, Mike (2011). "A 'Ninja Warrior' Upgrade Into Network Prime Time". New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
3. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "True Blood" Still on Top for HBO". The Futon Critic. August 4, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
4. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: Big Finish for TNT's "Falling Skies"". The Futon Critic. August 9, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
5. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "Next Food Network Star" Wraps With Season High". The Futon Critic. August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
6. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: Season Highs for "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," "True Blood"". The Futon Critic. August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
7. "NBC Weekly Ratings - "America's Got Talent" and "American Ninja Warrior" Lead Network's Primetime Week of May 21-27". The Futon Critic. May 30, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2018.