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After months of waiting, it was finally time for Celebrity Ninja Warrior! The special event was a benefit for Red Nose Day, a day of fundraising for children in need all over the globe.
For Celebrity Ninja Warrior, famous entertainers and athletes paired up with expert American Ninja Warrior trainers. For every obstacle they completed, M&M’s and the Rockefeller Foundation donated $5,000 to Red Nose Day.
The mission of Red Nose Day is to use warmth and humor to prove that everyone can change the lives of children. So while the course can be intimidating, the celebs tackled it with determination, knowing they were part of something greater.
Here’s how it all went down!
The Obstacles:
- Floating Steps
- Cannon Ball Drop
- Block Run
- Fly Wheels
- Battering Ram
- Warped Wall
Here. We. Go! @RedNoseDayUSA kicks off at 8 pm with #AmericanNinjaWarrior Celebrity edition! pic.twitter.com/0N8aWYRzaY
— Ninja Warrior Nation (@anwnation) May 25, 2017
Jennifer Garner kicked it off, reminding us that, while we’re all here to watch the fun, we have some important work to do.
#NosesOn, team! Are you ready to hit the #AmericanNinjaWarrior course? #RedNoseDay
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
: https://t.co/0mPYstT2R9 pic.twitter.com/JwqOFWwZIF
Akbar Gbajabiamila and Matt Iseman each visited a location in LA that would benefit from Red Nose Day’s donations.
Help #AmericanNinjaWarrior support an incredible cause.
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Donate for #RedNoseDay here: https://t.co/0mPYstT2R9 pic.twitter.com/kEAfVirs5s
THIS is why we're together tonight. Help those in need here: https://t.co/0mPYstBrsz#AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/C63E0nzbHu
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
We met all of our celebs and got the runs going!
Celebrity Ninja Warrior is taking things to a new level tonight for #RedNoseDay! Which team are you most excited for? #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/D0uXucruo5
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Natalie Morales and Grant McCartney
The journalist and news anchor was right at home with her fun loving coach.
Prepping for their run like champions.
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Let's go, @NMoralesNBC & @GrantMccartney_! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/5x4BY66dXl
Great run, team! @NMoralesNBC & @GrantMccartney_ kicked things off to a powerful start. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/witAv5LbPx
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
She earned $20K for four obstacles, even though Grant helped her out a little on the Fly Wheels.
Nikki Glaser and Jessie Graff
Nikki is a comedian and almost a dead ringer for her coach, Jessie Graff!
These two make for one dynamic duo! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/zamVEFZlQK
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
When Nikki faced some trouble on the course, she improvised, even grabbing a boat to help her across the Fly Wheels pool!
She earned $10,000.
Jeff Dye and Meagan Martin
.@JeffDye is conquering obstacles like a PRO! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/VcPxidWIeL
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Comedian Jeff was a little intimidated by the Fly Wheels, but his coach Meagan Martin made them look like a breeze.
Ninjas do it better. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/BnIv8KeHiw
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Together, they completed four obstacles to earn $20,000!
Nick Swisher and Drew Drechsel
Way to go @NickSwisher! Conquering the #AmericanNinjaWarrior course like a BOSS. See you on June 12 for the #Spartan Season 2 premiere! pic.twitter.com/81bW458g3u
— Spartan (@NBCSpartan) May 26, 2017
The major league baseball player was the first celeb to complete the Fly Wheels, earning a cool $25k!
Erika Christensen and Flip Rodriguez
Actor Erika had a stand out run that had the internet screaming. She wanted to show her 8 month old daughter that anything is possible with hard work, and boy, did she deliver!
The new mom doggedly went after every obstacle!
.@ERIKAjaneC is making this look EASY. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/hIGuXMy19A
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
BEAST MODE: ACTIVATED! @ERIKAjaneC & @YoungFlip7 #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/UPuVTQkyHt
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
When the Warped Wall looked a little tricky, her coach Flip and Grant McCartney cleared a path for her.
The unstoppable @ERIKAjaneC showed us who's boss! #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/SWMGc6rttV
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Congratulations to @ERIKAjaneC on an incredible run on #RedNoseDay’s special episode of #AmericanNinjaWarrior! pic.twitter.com/1SDJfH2sNH
— Parenthood (@nbcparenthood) May 26, 2017
Her genuine determination had Twitter’s heart swelling!
I didn't think I'd get so emotional watching #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior. @nbcninjawarrior Best episode ever!
— Hugger Andrea (@acferrell1976) May 26, 2017
She earned $25k!
Derek Hough and Daniel Gil
There was a lot of pressure on the dancer to do well on the course.
We. Are. So. READY. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/wtY6pMDoUK
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
The Fly Wheels are a tough obstacle for any athlete, so there was no shame when he fell there.
A little water never hurt anyone... #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/TUY3Pt9FPe
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
But Derek wasn’t about to leave the job half done. He tried again, completed the Fly Wheels and made it to the buzzer!
.@derekhough: Dancer, Singer, Actor, and #AmericanNinjaWarrior! #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/r1YdmuzW1G
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
BOOM. @derekhough and @KingdomNinja_ showed us ALL THE RIGHT MOVES tonight. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/1LRJGO9wOj
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
That gave Red Nose Day another $30K from Derek!
Ashton Eaton and Kevin Bull
As an incredible Olympic Decathlete, this course didn’t stand much of a chance against Ashton.
Some fun behind the scenes with @AshtonJEaton what an amazing athlete! pic.twitter.com/durbzWGRWg
— Kevin Bull (@kevin_the_bull) May 26, 2017
He got one day of coaching from Kevin Bull and seemed to stroll through the obstacles.
Of course @AshtonJEaton didn't even break a sweat! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay
— Ninja Warrior Nation (@anwnation) May 26, 2017
Mena Suvari and Natalie Duran
Mena let us in on something not talked about much on American Ninja Warrior: The course is flipping scary! The actor had to really push through her fears to earn that money.
.@mena13suvari bringing the honesty to what it's like on #AmericanNinjaWarrior! #RedNoseDay
— Ninja Warrior Nation (@anwnation) May 26, 2017
But her incredibly relatable run earned her a legion of supporters.
Mena Savari is basically me on here. Terrified. She's doing it tho! #RedNoseDay2017 #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/Z7Xg9DTbMD
— Shelita (@SMTVAddict) May 26, 2017
The Ninjas were there to make sure she had all the support she needed.
You've got this, @mena13suvari. We're all rooting for you! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/mwKdpK3Ufk
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
They even invented the “Ninja Ladder” to get her to the top of the Warped Wall!
We get by with a little help from our friends. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/TquDXrwBa1
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
GET IT, GIRL! Awesome work, @mena13suvari and @NinjaNatalieD. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
: https://t.co/0mPYstBrsz pic.twitter.com/HzMpI8sO7d
Congrats on conquering your fears, Mena!
Thank you EVERYONE for all your love, support, and kind words my way regarding my @RedNoseDayUSA @ninjawarrior run! #GREATLYAPPRECIATED
— Mena (@mena13suvari) May 26, 2017
Stephen Amell and Kacy Catanzaro
Ah, the run the world had been waiting for!
@StephenAmell is next! #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/9KTfB4QoTR
— Alaina Wright (@GBmom82) May 26, 2017
The star of “Arrow” is in peak physical shape, which, along with his training, helped him beast the first part of the course.
Natural. Athletic. Ability. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/Vzg2X2ZiDh
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Not all superheroes wear capes! Hang in there, @StephenAmell. #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/EvcIKWTpmi
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
When he reached the top of the Warped Wall, he had TECHNICALLY finished the whole course. But then he spotted the back half of the course saved for the City Finals...
ONE MORE. GO, @StephenAmell! #AmericanNinjaWarrior #RedNoseDay pic.twitter.com/3oMvv3bx51
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
There was no way he was letting a Salmon Ladder slip by!
BRING HOME AN ADDITIONAL $5K! #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior pic.twitter.com/NsbN1nngMX
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
Once he jumped on the Peg Board, he realized he’d given it his all. He bid the crowd a lovely adieu and hit the water!
Thank YOU, @StephenAmell! You showed us what a real hero can do. #RedNoseDay #AmericanNinjaWarrior
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) May 26, 2017
: https://t.co/0mPYstT2R9 pic.twitter.com/d0GIaNicUJ
But that still meant he earned $35,000 for Red Nose Day!
In the end, the Rockefeller Foundation kicked in an additional $100,000. Meaning Celebrity Ninja Warrior raised serious money for incredible charities around the world! What an awesome first special like this! Here’s to hoping for many more!