Season Premiere: Venice Qualifying 1 on G4/Esquire

At long last, American Ninja Warrior has returned! Tonight's premiere episode took place in Venice Beach, California. Former NFL player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Jenn Brown join the crew along with Matt Iseman, the only returning host. The first six obstacles we saw in Season 5 were:

• Quintuple Steps
• Frame Slider*
• Domino Hill*
• Floating Chains*
• Flying Nunchucks*
• Warped Wall

*new to American Ninja Warrior

On to the contestants:

• Travis S. - the first competitor to see the new obstacles is defeated by the frame slider.
• Brian Orosco - The man. The myth. The legend. Brian has a lot to prove after a disappointing showing last season in qualifying. Unfortunately, he is the first competitor to ever face the flying nunchucks, which send him into the water below. This obstacle looks to be a tough one to tackle. They made one of the most decorated Ninja Warriors look like an unseasoned rookie.
• Jordan Babineaux - Another NFL player trying to transfer his skill set to the ninja warrior course, Babineaux is trying to find the success that Kamerion Wimbley found last season. It was not meant to be as he just couldn't hang onto the floating chains.
• Erika Schwarz - the first woman of season 5 to take the course, Erika is extremely athletic and supported by the one and only Mr. Belding. Schwarz used her Cirque du Soleil expertise to dominate the first 4 obstacles, but a bad grip on the flying nunchucks sent her tumbling into the water.
• Dan Mast - The tux speedo from last year was traded in for a throwback sky blue tuxedo speedo. Although he appears to take the course lightly, this stuntman is all business. A strong showing ends, once again, at the flying nunchucks. 
• Travis Brewer - Last year, Brewer fought illness to battle the course but came up short on the warped wall. This year he wouldn't be denied - the first to complete the flying nunchucks AND the warped wall!
• James McGrath - Mt. Midoriyama veteran McGrath completed the course during a commercial break. No surprise there.
• James Sclar. - A Venice finalist last year, he was a bit arrogant on the course but apparently the attitude was justified as he completed the course in impressive fashion.
• Jonathan Roberson - Another unseen run that resulted in victory over the warped wall.
• Derek Nakamoto - A breakout rookie last year, Derek has very high hopes and expectations going into season 5. Ultimately, Nakamoto succumbs to the pressure as he loses his grip on the floating chains and splashes into the water.
• Brian Kretsch - Defeats the course during a commercial break
• David Campbell - Over the last four years, Campbell has emerged as one of the top american ninja warrior hopefuls. The veteran is well on his way to his fifth Mt. Midoriyama trip after flying through the course and finishing with the best time of the day: 1:21.07

Only 6 competitors finished the course in this round of qualifying.In order of completion: Campbell, McGrath, Roberson, Kretsch, Sclar, and Brewer. 

Two more hours of Venice Beach qualifying go down tomorrow on NBC. Looking forward to seeing Brent Steffensen, as well as the yet-to-be-found breakout rookies.

Who's your favorite from the inital 6? Think any can go all the way to Japan?