ANW: Final Stage One Runs

(Mid-South Top Qualifier Paul Kasemir)

We are back to Mt. Midoriyama for the conclusion of Stage One. So far, eighteen ninjas have advanced to the second stage. Let's get straight to the recaps...

Andrew Karsen: A very likable competitor, this the single father and former Pistons cheerleader (DETROIT!) looked great until the Half Pipe Attack, where a bad approach on the ramp left him slipping into the water.

Luis Moco: The stuntman who lives out of his van is competing for his family. With a knee brace on his left leg, he quickly aggravated his injury but continued to fight through the pain all the way to the Warped Wall, where there was no hope. His fight was inspiring but he was clearly unable to climb the wall, he finally gave into the injury. Note: we learned after the run that he was running with a TORN meniscus. Ouch.

Drew Drechsel: Speaking of injuries, Drechsel has been battling back for the past year since he destroyed his knee in Japan. His remarkable comeback continued with a smooth run through the stage (outside of a slight scare on his dreaded Half Pipe Attack) and a finish with over twenty seconds on the clock.

Jesse La Flair: We learned that during the break, the notable "youtube sensation" failed on the Jumping Spider. A surprise, for sure.

Brandon Douglass: Also during the break, Douglass ran the course but, unlike La Flair, he was able to conquer Stage One and advance to the next one.

David Campbell: As Iseman said, no one comes into the competition with more expectations than Campbell. Not surprisingly, Campbell lives up to the hype through the first part of the course, but a stumble on the first ball of the Spinning Bridge doomed his run and sent him diving into the water. And just like that, the most experience ninja in the competition is out.

Now for the top finisher from each region:

ANW: Mt. Midoriyama Stage One

With all region finals completed, the top 100 (top 15 in 6 regions + 10 wildcard) ninja warriors in the country have convened in Las Vegas to take on Mt. Midoriyama which has been painstakingly relocated from Japan.   There are 8 obstacles in Stage One and a 2 minute, 10 second time limit.

• Step Slider
• Rolling Log
• Giant Swing
• Jumping Spider
• Half Pipe Attack
• Warped Wall
• Spinning Bridge
• Final Climb

With so many competitors trying to conquer Stage One, coverage of the runs was a bit choppy this week. We saw several runs through the course, while learning the fates of others during breaks throughout the episodes...

• Brent Steffensen: As expected, Brent destroyed the course finishing with plenty of time left on the clock
• Stephen Volcko: Perhaps a little caught up in the mental aspect of the course, Volcko made an error on the Jumping Spider as a terrible trampoline jump put him in the water below
• Bull Bullard: The Harlem Globetrotter was able to complete the course but not before time expired. Having just reached the cargo net on the Final Climb, the clock hit zero and his ANW dreams were dashed
• Kole Stephens: Focused throughout his run, 37-year old Stephens finished the course with over 25 seconds still on the clock.
• Jake Smith: Knowing endurance was a problem in the Region Finals, Smith worked tirelessly to try and improve his lasting strength. His hardwork did not pay off as fatigue left him unable to get to the top of the Warped Wall, an obstacle he has completed hundreds of times before.
• Ahmed Toure: Though we did not see his run, Toure put in a good effort as he finished the course in a timely manner.
• Danny Johnson: This lengthy ninja was not profiled this time around, but he turned in a great time, finishing just a second slower than Brent Steffensen.
• Elet Hall: The Maryland outdoorsman came to Las Vegas meaning business as he finished in 1:46.00
• Remi Bakkar: This acrobat quit his Cirque du Soleil job to compete. In perhaps the most stressful run to this point (his wife was shaking with nerves), Remi looked the part of American Ninja Warrior as he finished with just under 20 seconds left on the clock.
• Travis Rosen: The ANW veteran turned in a good time of 1:51.00, setting himself up for a chance to go far this year
• Nathaniel Spencer: The former pro golfer was the first to complete the course, finishing just as time expired with a time of 2:10.00

With some big names still to run (Flip Rodriguez, David Campbell, Tim Schieff) next week, we will surely add to our list of 18 finishers of Stage One.

Who disappointed you in Stage One? Who is your favorite to be the first American Ninja Warrior? Share your comments below.

Masterchef: Top 9 Compete

After eliminating two chefs last week (Tonya and Mike), the competition is narrowed down to the Top 9. To this point, the strongest chefs appear to be Frankie, Becky and (to everyone's surprise) Monti. Let's dive right into the recap of tonight's episode:

Mystery Box Challenge:

• Tonight's challenge is Sea Urchin.
• Tali, when looking at the moving sea urchin says, "It looks beautiful...it kinda represents me right now." What?
• Gordon Ramsay shows the contestants the proper way to kill, cut and empty the sea urchin.
• Sixty minutes on the clock.
• Josh's choice to under perform: David Martinez
• Christine's choice: Monti
• Becky wants to see Monti go home. She "questions her as a Masterchef" and once again mentions that "this isn't best home chef on a budget." Catty.
• After tasting throughout the challenge and judging presentation, the top 3 sea urchin dishes are:
• Felix (second time in top 3)
• Josh (first time in top 3)
• Stacy (second(?) time in top 3)
• The winner of the Sea Urchin Mystery Box Challenge: Felix

Elimination Challenge:

Masterchef: Top 12 Compete

The Round of 12 opens in Venice Beach where the chefs have been dropped off wondering what their next challenge will be. Next thing they know, the three judges roll up in three food trucks, horns blaring.

For the first time, the group will be divided into three teams. Because she won the previous challenge, Stacey gets the advantage of picking all three teams:

Stacey’s team – Tali (chosen surprisingly #1 because he is a team player and weak opponent in the event of a pressure test), Frank, Becky

Second Team – Monti, David, Anna, Tanya

Third Team – Christine, Mike, Josh and Felix.

Next, Stacey gets first choice of the different coloRed food trucks, not knowing what each color will mean. Stacey chooses the Red truck – Mexican cuisine. Monti’s team is given the Yellow truck – American cuisine. Josh’s team is given the third and final Blue truck – Indian cuisine.

Each team must elect a team captain. Obviously, Stacey is her own team’s captain. Josh decides to be captain of his team, as does Anna.

Each team must plan and prepare one $7 dish to serve the impending crowds, with 90 minutes before service.

Right off the bat, David and Monti butt heads with differing ideas on the side for their burger. In the end, David wins out with chips.

For the Blue team, Josh and his team decide to go with a Chicken Tikki Masala (though Michael has no idea what the dish is).