INDIANAPOLIS — In 2016 and 2018, "American Ninja Warrior" filmed on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.
"We gotta give a shoutout, we've had a lot of IndyCar drivers out – Hélio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden, two-time Indy champ and two-time Ninja competitor – but that's just a testament to how far along we are," co-host Matt Iseman said.
Now in its 16th season, the reality competition show will feature ninjas between ages 15 and 70 years old competing in the world's most difficult obstacle courses.
"When I was a rookie, I remember rookies who were actually competing, and to see them four, five years later growing up, getting boyfriends, girlfriends, I'm like, 'my babies!'" co-host Zuri Hall said. "It's really special because I'm cheering them on, I'm rooting for them, I'm watching their evolution from the sidelines up close and personal."
As expected, people train for countless hours to try to become the next "American Ninja Warrior" — and the show's fourth million-dollar winner could be you!
"Keep pursuing your dream and have that ninja mentality," co-host Akbar Gbajabiamila said for aspiring ninjas. "So many of us have obstacles that we overcome, but the only way to get to overcome this obstacle is by standing up on the platform and attacking them one-by-one."
And with my final question – as a superfan of "RuPaul's Drag Race" – I couldn't pass up the chance to ask Iseman about his one-episode showcase on "RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race" with his new drag persona, Bette Bordeaux.
"She's big and bold and got more body than any of these boys can handle," Iseman said. "My ninja warrior course was walking in high heels on the runway."
"American Ninja Warrior" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.