Video: Oklahoma City episodes of 'American Ninja Warrior' begin airing next week

The Oklahoma State Capitol Building will get its second closeup next week on the hit summer competition series "American Ninja Warrior." 

Now airing its 11th season, “American Ninja Warrior” will broadcast the Oklahoma City qualifiers at 7 p.m. Monday. The OKC finals will air Monday, Aug. 5, on NBC, according to a news release. 

As previously reported, the show, which utilized the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, completed principal photography on April 15, after constructing its set just outside the state Capitol. Although one night of filming was delayed due to heavy rains on the outdoor course, that wasn't enough to stop a show where toughness and determination are keys to success. 

“We’re bringing a show that’s better than ever this year. We’ve made lots of really exciting changes and we’re thrilled to be able to bring this thing back and have some fun summer programming,” executive producer Anthony Storm told me in a behind-the-scenes interview during the OKC filming. 

This season marks the second time NBC Universal and Canam Productions have brought “American Ninja Warrior” to film in Oklahoma since May 2016. Storm told me the state Capitol makes an ideal backdrop for the show's massive course, especially since each of the 10 obstacles in this year’s OKC course towered about 20 feet tall. 

“A lot of it has to do with scale. Our course, as you can see, is large, so it requires a backdrop that gives it the proper scale. If we put this in the parking lot, all you see is the course, and you don’t get any context of the size of it,” Storm said.

“If we put it in front of this magnificent building in all of its majesty, you get more of a sense not only of place … but also of the scope and the scale of the course itself.”

Earlier this year, Oklahoma City was announced as a host city along with Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Seattle. The show follows competitors as they traverse challenging obstacle courses in qualifying and finals rounds in various cities around the country. 

In each city, it takes about 10 days to set up, film on and break down the course. So, each city benefits from the economic impact of the show's traveling format, with the producers estimating nearly 900 hotel nights for their production team over a 10-day period.

“The return of ‘American Ninja Warrior’ to Oklahoma City speaks volumes to the great people of our state, including our state and city leadership, while also proving the value of the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program in attracting major television production such as this,” said Oklahoma Film + Music Office Director Tava Maloy Sofsky in a statement. “With more than 4.8 million viewers for the season premiere on May 29, the media exposure of ‘American Ninja Warrior’ to Oklahoma City and the state is valued in the millions of dollars. When the show filmed here in 2016, it generated media exposure estimated to be valued at over $4 million. Through high-profile productions like ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ Oklahoma is being showcased to audiences around the world.”

Top competitors in each of the city finals rounds move on to the national finals, where they compete on a four-stage course that includes multiple obstacles on each stage. The winner, who must complete all four stages, will earn the grand prize of $1 million.

“It’s a big national TV show, so it’s a bit of a spectacle. And we’re excited to be able to bring that spectacle,” Storm said. “It's very cool and we’re honored to be granted that opportunity. When we go to these places and the governor comes out and runs our course and then greets us and we get an opportunity to take advantage of this beautiful landscape, we feel really blessed and honored. We don’t take it for granted.”

Along with the contestants, Oklahomans just might see our governor on the OKC episodes of "American Ninja Warrior." Storm confirmed for me that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s run at the OKC course, which resulted in a bloodied elbow for the former CEO, is believed to be the first time a governor has attempted an “American Ninja Warrior” course.

“He’s certainly the first one to get through a few obstacles – spoiler alert,” Storm said with a grin. “He looked pretty darn good out there.”

-BAM