American Ninja Warrior (season 12)
The twelfth season of the reality/sports competition series "American Ninja Warrior" premiered on September 7, 2020 and wrapped up on November 6, 2020 on NBC. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States all eight episodes were filmed in St. Louis, Missouri from June 29 to July 25, 2020, behind closed doors in the America's Center convention center and stadium. The course returns with the Mega Wall and Power Tower, and the fifty most popular athletes from previous seasons returned with two other ninjas (mostly rookies) of their choosing, like their ninja  training partners or someone they have a special connection with. The top twelve competitors moved on to the semifinals after each qualifying episode, as well as the top three women. In this season, the player who won the Power Tower would get to bring their chosen rookies with them to the semifinals, even if the rookies had not made it into the top twelve finishers (or top three women). With the knockout tournament format, There were changed to the semifinal courses as well — unlike the past seasons, a competitor that completed the course would not automatically move on; they would  have to be in the top 12 or have made it up the Mega Wall. One contestant, Nick Hanson, did not move on to the semifinals because of COVID contact tracing despite making it up the Mega Wall. Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila returned for their respective eleventh and eighth seasons, while Zuri Hall returned for her second season on the show. Season eleven winner Drew Drechsel competed on the season during the duration of its taping. On July 31, 2020, just six days after taping concluded, the United States Department of Justice formally charged Drechsel with four felonies  for various crimes in regards to criminal sexual conduct in regards to a complaint filed by a 19-year old woman to the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police Department, thereby making this season the last season he competed on. Following an August 4 press release by the Department of Justice, NBC cut ties with him and did not air his runs on the season, though they did air the rookies he chose to compete off-screen. In addition, because Drechsel competed on the Power Tower in episode one (and lost to "Big Dog Ninja" Jody Avila), the Power Tower competition  was not aired, though Avila was credited with a win by forfeit. Also, fellow ninja Joe Moravsky stated on a Twitch stream that Drechsel didn’t make it to the Power Tower Playoffs. Because of the format change to a knockout tournament and a team format instead of the traditional Sasuke format, the winner's prize has been decreased to only $100,000 and there is no "Last Man Standing" prize for the season. Qualifiers. Qualifiers #1. The first qualifying round featured three new obstacles, Weight for It, Ring Chaser, and Rib Run. Notable ninjas running the course were school  teachers, medical professionals, and ICU nurses who are all making a difference on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, former NFL linebacker Kamerion Wimbley returned after his record-setting season in 2012, being the biggest man (240 pounds) to complete a course. The Power Tower round featured Drew Drechsel against Jody Avila. Since the "United States v. Dreschel" case was announced in post production, the round was edited out. Jake Murray (see Qualifiers #2) stated Avila won the round. Qualifiers #2. Ashley McConville became the twentieth woman in "ANW" history to make it up the Warped Wall and move  on to the semifinals, and Jake Murray's teammates, former AHL hockey player Barry Goers of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Glenn Albright moved on to the semifinals due to Murray's win on the Power Tower. Also, the "Eskimo Ninja" Nick Hanson completed the course and made it up the Mega Wall but did not have a fast enough time to make it into the top 12 competitors. Also of note, second-place finisher Ethan "The Swan" Swanson did not compete in the semifinals after he came in close contact with another competitor who had tested positive for  COVID-19. Qualifiers #3. Stuntwoman Jessie Graff once again completed the course, making it to the end to tie Jesse "Flex" Labreck for the most buzzers among women ninjas with five. Meanwhile, the teammates of drummer R.J. Roman of metal band Emuness, Ben Melick and Jessica Helmer moved on to the semifinals even though they did not complete the course because Roman won the Power Tower. Despite finishing among the top three women, Rachael Goldstein was unable to compete in the semifinals due to a broken finger which she suffered while filming a special episode of "American Ninja Warrior" in St.  Louis. Qualifiers #4. "The Weatherman" Joe Moravsky just edged out Michael Torres, who had the fastest time on Stage One, and brought his teammates, Will Schlageter and Jeshuah Lewis back in the competition. Notable ninjas featured "Big Cat" Karsten Williams rookie former MLB player of the San Francisco Giants Gary Brown who ran the course, making it to the fifth obstacle. Also, six-time "ANW" veteran Tiana "Sweet T" Webberley made it up the Warped Wall for the first time, as well as ICU nurse Mady Howard who completed the course with the fastest time for the women. Semifinals. Semifinals  #1. Some notable competitors like Grant McCartney, Kevin Bull, Abel Gonzalez and Mathis "Kid" Owhadi failed on Corkscrew, an obstacle new to this season, and did not advance to the finals. Semifinals #2. "NOTE: Devin Harrelson actually finished 13th, as he was eliminated on the Corkscrew with a faster time exiting the Salmon Ladder than Graff. As the "United States of America v. Drechsel" investigation was ongoing at time of post production, the disqualified contestant had a time in the top 12 when the event occurred. As the legal situation was ongoing in post production, Graff, the top woman who  actually finished outside of the top twelve, was upgraded to 12th in post production. (The competition had finished taping when the case was announced.) Finals. Finals. The finals of the show spanned two nights—episode seven, and the beginning of episode eight. Twenty-eight contestants advanced to the finals, but only 27 officially were included as a result of an ongoing investigation. Power Tower Playoff Bracket. The Final 8 competed in a single-elimination tournament format with the top 8 seeded based on the performance in the final. The result are as follows: