G4 & NBC to Premiere New Season of AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, 5/20

AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, the heart-racing and action-packed obstacle course competition series, returns this May to G4 on Sunday, May 20 (9-11 p.m. ET) and to NBC on Monday, May 21 (9-11 p.m. ET). The two networks have teamed up to search across country for the ultimate athlete to be crowned the first, true "American Ninja Warrior." From schoolteachers to firemen to police officers to social workers, this competition gives everyday men and women the chance to transform into fearless acrobatic competitors at the six regional qualifying competitions held throughout the U.S. 100 finalists will have a shot at a $500,000 cash prize and the chance to win the coveted "American Ninja Warrior" title at the national finals in Las Vegas.

Comedian Matt Iseman ("Dumbest Stuff on Wheels," "Clean House") returns with his energetic, charismatic style as host and is joined this season by Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley, whose experience as an extreme sports athlete brings a unique and colorful perspective to the show. Angela Sun ("Yahoo! Sports Minute," NBC's "1st Look") will serve as the sideline reporter giving fans an up-close look at the course and its competitors.

New episodes will air Sundays on G4 (9-11 p.m. ET) and Mondays (9-11 p.m. ET) on NBC (except on July 2) throughout the run of the series. A full broadcast schedule is listed below.

Each qualifying round begins with roughly 125 aspiring ninjas taking a stab at a first-round, preliminary course. As each of the obstacles get tougher, the 30 fastest competitors from the first round will move on to the regional finals. From there, the top 15 will then be deemed worthy enough to head to Las Vegas to take on the infamous final obstacle course, which is modeled after the original "insurmountable" course in Japan. The brand-new final obstacle course structure is located on the Las Vegas strip and presents the same near-impossible challenges as the Japanese original. G4 and NBC collaborated with the original Japanese broadcaster, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS), to bring the course and its diabolical designs to the U.S.

The competition kicks off in Southern California's historic Venice Beach boardwalk, where athletes from the Southwest and Northwest regions test themselves on the arduous course. From there, the action shifts to Dallas as the South-Central and Midwest competitors get their shot at fame and fortune. The nationwide-ninja tour concludes in Miami as the Northeast and Southeast regions get their chance to compete in the grand finale in Las Vegas, as the top 100 ninjas square off against the world's hardest obstacle course.

"American Ninja Warrior" is executive-produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions' founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed ("Hell's Kitchen," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "Pros vs. Joes") along with Lake Paradise Entertainment's Holly Wofford and Viki Cacciatore.

Watch as America's top athletes take on the world's toughest obstacle course beginning Sunday May 20 only on G4.

For additional information on the new "American Ninja Warrior," please visit the http://www.g4tv.com/anw/home/ and the NBC media website at www.nbcumv.com and www.facebook.com/ninjawarrior and follow on Twitter @ninjawarrior.

Complete airdates follow:

Sunday, May 20: 9 p.m.-11pm ET on G4

Monday, May 21: 9 p.m.-11p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, May 27 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on G4

Monday, May 28: 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, June 3: 9 p.m.-11p.m. ET on G4

Monday, June 4: 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, June 10: 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on G4

Monday, June 11: 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, June 17: 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on G4

Monday, June 18: 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, June 24: 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on G4

Monday, June 25: 10 p.m. -11p.m. ET on NBC *Please note different airtime for this night only

Sunday, July 8: 9 p.m. -12 a.m. ET on G4

Monday, July 9: 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET on NBC

Monday, July 16 9 p.m. -10 p.m. ET on NBC

Monday, July 23 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET on NBC

About G4

G4 offers the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and "geek culture" for the male 18-34 demo. The network, which is available in 59 million cable and satellite homes nationwide, has given young guys of today's digital generation a television home. G4tv.com is a top web destination for video game news and information. The network's popular original programming includes "Attack of the Show!," "X-Play," "American Ninja Warrior" and "Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan." G4 also continues to expand its live event coverage at CES, Comic-Con, E3, Tokyo Game Show and more. G4's digital platforms include G4tv.com, G4 Mobile, G4 Podcasts, G4 on Demand, G4 Video Player, G4 Wii Portal and G4 PS3 Portal. G4 is a network of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.