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Sunday, March 30, 2008

Sasuke Maniac - March 30/31st



Sasuke Maniac - A 1/2 hour show that runs every Sunday night (into Monday) on TBS in Japan featuring Monster 9 events. TBS changed their site and showed they were going to give a new Sasuke Mania including not used footage from Sasuke 20. I returned to my trusty program to watch Japanese TV and enjoyed 2 hours of news and documentaries I can’t understand. :)


(Toshihiro Takeda and Makoto Nagano feeling the pain of Levi falling off the Cliff Hanger at the end of Sasuke 20 - shot shown to start Sasuke Maniac)

Either way. As 11:20 am my time came around I contemplated what was going to be shown. Most likely people I’ve never seen or would recognize before but still.. it’s Sasuke. With the crappy week of G4 going completely overboard and threatening people for even MENTIONING the names of the ANC competition in Sasuke it’s been a trying time. With the demise of our own Sasuke Fan site I was wondering if I would even like Sasuke again. I took a break from G4 for a while and figured I didn’t miss it. After all I’m a Sasuke fan.. not a G4 fan. I felt better after a couple days rest and am still resolved to enjoy Sasuke despite G4’s constant intervention to suppress the results already shown to the world. I still mourn the loss of our old site and it’s wonderful webmaster. I’ll never forgive G4 ever for that.


(Toshihiro Takeda and Makoto Nagano enjoying the mayhem of the early competitors)

Well it started at 11:20 my time in the East coast.. Did the prerequisite OMFG moments of Sasuke 20 and then started with the people I don’t know :p 3 people were shown.. all getting pwned by the Log grip. Great some guy in a thong.. I know people that would prefer watching it.. I’m not one of them :p Jumpingu Spidah didn’t care so it ate him. Baseball player got eaten by Log grip as well.. Another baseball player – this time with a Giant’s uniform (Brett shown in the background) – didn’t matter.. the Log Grip was hungry and demanded another human sacrifice. Ah there were girls on the course.. Girl in white Karate suit was eaten by the sextuple step.. Next girl also had same fate.. last girl.. great.. she took off her shirt and flashed crowd with her miracle bra.. Yamada loved that… Yay she passed the sextuple step.. She passed the log grip and Takeda and Nagano adored that..


(Makoto Nagano and Toshihiro Takeda enjoying the females dumpage into the Midoriyama septic sludge..)

Why am I not surprised.. down she goes on the log grip.. Yamamoto, Takeda and Nagano adored that too…


(Toshihiro Takeda and Shingo Yamamoto (both married btw..) enjoying the wet bra spectacle..)

Nothing like a wet bra to raise the … spirits of the men in the audience..


(Makoto Nagano still enjoying the girls runs... friggin' sailor ahahahahha)

Some guy from Sportsman #1.. I’m sure Ube knows who he is! The half pipe attack had lunch sportsman #1 style. Nagano and Takeda thought that was a thing of beauty..



(Makoto Nagano having kittens over the guy falling over the landing of the Half Pike Attack)

Little did they know that many more that day would see the same fate.. so.. what was it.. 15 people that missed that stupid landing?


(Toshihiro Takeda still smiling about the Half Pike Attack wipeout..)

Andy’s run finished on the log grip. Brian and Levi were most displeased.


(Brian and Levi (ANC Champions) watching the action from the sidelines)

Basketball guy now.. so how does he drink of Midoriyama’s sludge? Yamamoto and Nagano seem to be fans.. Any guesses? I say log grip.. and the verdict is…. Yep.. sticky spray didn’t save him.. Now for a Football player (as it American Football .. what a shock..) he goes down on .. oh yeah.. commercials.. almost forgot about them.. NOT..


(Shingo Yamamoto (all intense.. must be close to his start) and Makoto Nagano during the Basketball guy's run)

Again.. more Daisuke Miyazaki love from the camera guy.. I shouldn’t be surprised with how much they showed him in the audience during Sasuke 20.


(Daisuke Miyazaki - Handball guy - cheering from the stands)

Buy 24 and Bones on DVD.. (channeling my inner Ube).. Hmm.. In Japan penguins sell cell phones you can dance with.. God these things are wacked.. Speaking of cell phone.. there’s a game you can play of Sasuke for your cell phone..


(Daisuke Miyazaki - Handball guy - cheering from the stands.. again.. trust me.. they showed him A LOT during Sasuke 20's airing)

Oh yeah… back to the Football player.. down on the Jumpingu Spidah.. Some Olympic hurdle runner. His fate was death by Commercial again? Good lord.. I think the Master Control dude hit the button too fast.. More cell phone commercials.. Okay we are back.. Death by .. Snu snu.. no wait.. wrong show.. death by Jumpingu Spidah.. not even close.. that just looked painful.. and awkward..

Well that's the end of the show.. odd to see it in this format but nice to see more people ;) Looking forward to Sasuke 21.. in 6 months.. /sigh..

Saturday, March 29, 2008

So you think you can dance?

I'm never really into reality TV.. I hate Survivor.. hate Fear Factor.. hate American Idol.. so.. why was it a couple years ago when I went to my best friend's house and saw something on TV.. I LIKED? Because you can't FAKE dancing.. you either can.. or you can't.. no amount of musical masturbation is going to save you if you can't dance.. you can fake singing, you can fake being "real" in a reality show but you can't fake dancing.. So.. I started watching in the middle/end of Season 2. First I loved the parting song of whenever they booted one of the girls..


(Music - "Suddenly I See" - KT Tunstall)

I actually came in to see Dmitry booted off.. but before he was.. he treated me to this...


(Music - "Pump it" - Black Eyed Peas)

Then.. I saw Travis and Heidi do THIS dance...


(Music - "Calling you" - Celine Dion)

Oh I was hooked.. then another Heidi and Travis routine..


(Music - "Plaza of Execution" from the soundtrack of The Mask of Zorro)

And then the clincher..


(Music - "Black Mambo" - Angel and the Mambokats)

All in all I much prefered season 2 over season 1 and 3 so far.. not a clue what season 4 is going to turn up..

Friday, March 28, 2008

Post mortum



"Fruits Basket" is one of my favorite Anime's of all time (right next to Azumanga Daioh). English version of what Momiji says "I prefer to live my life carrying my memories with me. Even if they do nothing but hurt me... some day, I will be strong enough where they don't hurt anymore." (I prefer the English dub on this specific scene - especially the song but this will suffice).

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Sasuke 20 Spoilerific review!


Sasuke spoilerific review ;) Warning.. incoming blog of Sasuke 20.. if you don’t want to know.. you have been warned :D Sorry for the misspellings.. I was exhausted when I wrote this!

I woke up this morning thinking of Sasuke 20 :) Checked my boards and sure enough there was a live link to television viewing from Japan. Picked my TBS link and watched what was basically a PowerPoint presentation of what was airing live in Japan. That said I enjoyed watching it! I got flashbacks from of my watching Figure Skating competitions through Russian, Turkish, British and Italian TV (2008 World Figure Skating Championships from Sweden I watched through Turkish TV listening to British Eurosport with a 15 second delay in sound LOL. I'm still having visions as if I watched the whole thing in replay...).


(shot of everyone lined up doing the prerequisite yell to show the start of Sasuke 20!)

Anywho.. checked to see if anyone else was on and seems everyone was sleeping at 5 am.. bleh.. have to wait.. won't start until almost 6 am my time.. Okay.. I’m not good like Ube.. and half the people I don't know.. but I'll try to give my impressions. Should be starting in about 8 minutes.. watching news.. great commercials.. something must be in that Japan water.. WHOOT right channel They gave a Sasuke 20 commercial - 05:52:43 Eastern Standard time.. I hear my husband’s alarm going off in the background.. almost time for work..


(this was my view all morning ;) that's Akiyama who had the priviledge of starting as #1 - Go Akiyama!)

05:55:51 started! Just to let you know up front.. NO Bunpei Shiratori, NO Shunsuke Nagasaki (or Daisuke Nakata cheering him or otherwise), NO Koji Yamada and No Paul Anthony Terek! I understand Bunpei (Sasuke Maniac showed him saying that he would not be there – resting a bad back he’s had hurt since Sasuke 19 I’m told), Shunsuke is competing in the summer Olympics in Trampoline and it would be insane if he hurt himself in a gameshow in Olympic year.. Koji? Not a clue.. I hope he’s not hurt.. looking forward to seeing Mr. Gifu 3% body fat fire fighter in Sasuke 21. Oh and another word of warning… I’m not covering everyone like Ube does.. I just don’t know them enough and quite frankly I have my favorites :D They are using the numbers (like in Sasuke 10) counting to 2000 (instead of 100) so the numbers are 1900 (Akiyama) – 2000 (Nagano)

The obligatory posing shots of people (half of which I don’t know).. Daisuke Miyazaki (handball guy) and his teammates.. I won’t even bother with trying to get many names.. I leave that to Ube since I can’t understand the Japanese and can’t read Kanji so unless I recognize people we are totally S.O.L. - Brett Sims (American Ninja Warrior/G4) is lined up with Levi and Brian (ANC winners for season 2).


(What's left of the All-Stars getting ready for Akiyama's run)

With the introductions and interviews of everyone we start.. Katsuhito Akiyama is back! WHOOT!!!!! He passes all the other obstacles well! I’m so proud of him! Passes the Jumping Spider! Good run for Akiyama but he fell in the water... that rope YEEEEEEEEEHAWW thing (Halfpipe attack).. looks like he mistimed and didn't get a good grip on the rope.. fell short of the landing pad. Hard to see I’m sure but am very happy he got as far as he did. All stars are upset but still cheer him on. Nagano is taking it pretty hard.. I’m sure he wanted him a lot further. They are showing the audience and Nagano is still upset sitting in the stands.. awwww (after the second guy drops into the water. .jumpgu spidah – channeling my inner Ube ;) )


(Toshihiro Takeda and Makoto Nagano doing the "awwwwww" look after Akiyama drops into the septic sludge)

OMG mister pants is back – the idiot who tried to take off his clothes.. got his pants stuck on his sneakers.. but still tried to get on the course only to splash down and take the camera guy with him.. glad TBS allowed him to come back.. oh! Break away pants now LMAO But down on the log grip! Another American - some Swat guy. 38 years old.. went down on the Jumping Spider.. He missed trampoline center and had no lift. Never seen him before might not again.



(Makoto Nagano reacting to a question from reporter/interviewer after Akiyama's run)

Let me explain to you something.. it’s been 22 minutes and the TBS Camera loves the handball guy - Daisuke Miyazake! LOL cracks me up how they just break in the middle of a run for a commercial.. every time.. I’m just so used to American television that it’s quite jarring from my perspective to see it just stop…


(Shingo Yamamoto and Makoto Nagano reacting to someone's inevitable fate!)

Half hour in show.. Wow no one has passed the Great wall this time! Kenji Takahashi sighting.. same hair .. either hasn’t grown out of he likes the shavings across the noggin..


(Kenji Takahashi sporting the doooooooo.. )

First clear! 37 year old father - ex Olympic Runner (Ube’s log tells me his name is Yoshiyuki Okuyama).

Next ones I recognize .. oh.. LOL the most famous gut in Japan!! Koriki Chōshū.. down he goes early.. (as if I wasn’t expecting but still I thought he’d get past or up to log grip!). Aww 55 year old Nomura takes a bath from the Log Grip. I swear this man was a HEARTBREAKER in his youth.. still good for 55 ;)



LOL staring at the scenery again gals.... Nagano and Yamada (Katsumi) are chatting up a storm in the background only half paying attention to the action in front of them. Omg that skeleton man who’s a model maker. someone mail him a burger please.. 2 steps like last time.. Minoru "Mr. Octopus" Kuramochi whoah.. surprised to see him go down so early after 19’s run to the pole! Has his own theme song LMAO! LOL So does Hang Glider guy.. lol they all have their own theme songs!


(Shingo pointing and laughing at the spectacle!)

Commercials again.. Carpenters background music for this commercial LOL "I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation... " (Channeling my inner Karen Carpenter.. may she rest in peace)..

We are back.. Boy I feel especially bad for those who qualified to get here.. and go down..

Russelis siting If not in a video. GO Blackie Chan! (Nagano and rest of Allstars looking intense watching from the walkway) ANC (American Ninja Warrior) guys coming up! Brian is up first! Great Jumpingu spidah! Great wall! FLying shooooooooT Commercial! LMAO (bastages.. they know how to create a cliffhanger moment..)

Back from Commercial.. looks like a good grip on the rope (I swear it's closer... and lower... which is a good thing!)

GAAAAAAAAAAAAH in water! Whiplash?

Great shot of Nagano mwahahhahahah he's looking great. Someone asked him something (he was upset about Brian) then he started laughing at the question.. wonder what that was.


(Watching scenery again.. and if you didn't notice.. this guy is hot.. sorry.. er.. Makoto Nagano looking at the action around him - Toshihiro Takeda behind him)

Sorry.. distracted by Nagano to be paying attention who was the next person to take a bath.. Brett is next! Surprised but HAPPY he’s back. I assume he paid his way back but happy he got another invite from TBS. I prefer him from the ones last year but it’s my own personal choice ;) He's got another set of American pants! Revenge on Jumpingu Spidah! Passed half pipe.. COMMERCIAL!

Back from half pipe... Losing time on wall.. bah.. timed out on wall. "It's fantastic" is his quote lol he’s still as animated as a doorknob.. Honma is a lot bigger now.. remember when he first came on.. fell off pole maze.. Random soccer player.. so random they showed a video of him and pointed an arrow to him on the field LOL Drank of the septic sludge anyway.. Half pipe attacked him back.. Starting to get dark now. They are blowing through the people.. and we still have 3 hours left of the broadcast! Random Handball guy.. didn't let go of Half pipe attack.. swung back.. and STILL missed landing.. LOL Nagano loved that one!


(All-Stars having fun watching Shingo BATHE himself in sticky spray.. I can see the sheen on his skin that he's dang drenched in this stuff..)

SHINGO YAMAMOTO!!!!!! Half pipe attack!!!! Commercial.. gaaaah.. lots of Allstar support. Everyone's smiling C'mon Shingo! (yea... like if this was live LOL) yes.. they are back.. Dammmmmmmmmmmmmn.. Misjudged landing.. he's like the 5th today to miss that landing off the Friggin' Half pipe!!!!! daaaaaaaaaaaangit!


(Shingo never getting a firm grasp of the spongy ground and down he goes .. face first..)

Replay shows he landed.. had waaaaaay too much momemtum and just plummeted to the other side.


(Shingo in utter disgust coming out of the water and onto the platform.. that he missed..)

Allstars in utter shock..


(Toshihiro Takeda reacting to Shingo's fall into the septic sludge...)

The replay is going over and over and over again...


(Makoto trying to make sense of it all by talking to the rest of the All-Stars about Shingo's handgrip on the rope)

Poor Shingo is slow to move to get interviewed..


(Shingo takes one last look at that Rope.... Stupid Half Pike Attack.. you'll get yours..)

Alas.. time to get interviewed.. Gaaaaaaaaaaaah..


(Shingo utterly disgusted at himself.. though he smiled through the whole interview in a "shucks"-type fashion)

Iketani time.. older brother Yukio first.. Dangit.. still upset about Yamamoto to care.. /crrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy Down in the Log grip.. Naoki doesn't seem to care LOL he's putting on his sneakers. Geez are we only on one person cleared? LOL Naoki is totally bathing in that stupid sticky spray! Did he spend time with Yamada? LOL

Naoki next.. lol Commercials already.. good.. potty break.. made it back to see Naoki start again.. LOL he's sliding like nuts in the jumping spider wall! Down he goes.. aww what a shame for kewpie.


(Makoto Nagano just utterly disgusted at how the day is turning out.. shades of Sasuke 19 bigtime..)

OMG they are going to show Shinji!!!!!! Yay Kobayashi time!


(Haven't seen him in ages.. though he entered the last few Sasuke's.. TBS just loved to cut him out of the broadcast!)

Daaaaaaaaaamn jumping spider ate another one..


(Stupid Jumpingu Spidah ate another one.. water is getting darker.. many many dreams are drowning in it at the moment..)

Wow he was 1985.. please say all the rest of the allstars make it.. Oh! Takahashi's brother! stupid landing half pipe attack.. whats' that.. 8 now missed the platform?? LOL Kenji is making love to the spray too!


(Fire sale on Sticky Spray.. Kenji Takahashi is making sure he's sticking to the course.. big time)

Stupid Flying shoot! He missed.. tried to hand grip it and fell into the water just like Nagano did in 19...


(Gaaaaaaaaaaah Takahashi I feel your pain!!!!! He went flying down that chute!)

This Takahashi went out with his brother Kenji.. was not the buttfloss guy.. (didn't even see him . unless I didn't recognize him with his clothes on.. LOL).. No he didn't fit out like he did before.. but he was dissapointed.. he almost looked like Bunpei from 19 getting out of the water.. He slowly made his way to the interviewer and was just visibly disappointed but conducted a full interview.


(Takahashi reminded me a lot of Bunpei Shiratori coming out of the water - from Sasuke 19...)

Levi is next (ANC guy).. He cleared! We have number 2 cleared! 16 seconds left what a great run! LOL newsbreak Now back to our regularly scheduled program.. Digest of the day..


(Baby Nagasaki.. er.. Takamasa Nagasaki (minus big brother Shunsuke) sporting the wolfin' haircut.. or lack of haircut..)

Takamasa's here!!!!! 19 years old now Dad's there.. I don't see Shunsuke.. Dangit.. wall is eating him! He's not passing the wall. but 15 seconds left.. timed out before he touched rope to go to exit..


(Makoto Nagano now wondering if this is a repeat of Sasuke 19.. he's not at all happy..)

Motorcross guy next.. we still have just 2 guys past the first stage.. he's 1991.. wow we are running out of competitors.. Damn! That landing from the Half pipe is just eating people today! I count more than 10 now..


(Toshihiro Takeda (who's now joined at the hip with Nagano) is wondering as well if this is Sasuke 10 part deux..)

Roller skating guy next.. bathing in sticky spray.. Long intro.. time for commercial.. came back and he drank of Midoriyama's septic sludge..


(Makoto Nagano is disgusted that Motorcross guy didn't make it.. He was one of only 2 guys to make it to Stage 2 in Sasuke 19..)

Jotchev is back! he's 35 now. he's 1995.. so we are coming down the wire.. passed half pipe.. Commercials lol Back to our regular scheduled program already in progress.. Wall giving him problems.. LOL Nagano and Takeda just talking to each other and not paying attention.. timed out on wall.. Jotchev saying he didn't have luck like a lot of the other guys. Nice guy Almost completely grey now.


(Takeda and Nagano are still discussing how much suckitude is in the air.. you can feel the tension in the air building.. not many people left!)

Another of the handball guys.. not sure who this one is.. just know Daisuke and he's not up yet. Stil only 2 guys that cleared.. Down on the log grip!


(Shingo, Katsuhito Akiyama and Takeda are sharing a moment.. All-stars are looking pretty down right now..)

Looks like Takeda is next.. Yamada AND Nagano slap his back – a congregation of All-star magic is surrounding Takeda


(Wait.. I think I have Levi hitting him on the back too! Good luck there Takeda!)

HE's bathing in sticky spray.. good lord.. LOL Video getting really choppy.. must be a lot of people pinging server LOL


(THIS is not the face of a confident man.. Poor Takeda.. he's petrified!)

Off we go.. he's on the course.. up the wall in one shot.. hanging on the rope off the flying shoot!......... finally off .. 15 seconds to run and get the rope!!!!! gaaaaaaaaaaah Commercial! We are back.... staring at my nails.. don't bite.. don't bite.. Nooooooooooo Timed out on rope wall!


(Even with 5 seconds added from Sasuke 19.. Takeda dangled from the rope of the Flying Chute waaaaaaaay too long.. )

Utter shock from everyone.. A whole bunch of Nande's .. (what's going on.. I think) and a Shingo "gaaaaaaah" Nagano looks friggin' down..


(Sasuke 19 all over again.. Just one more All-star.. and given his track record.. it's going to come down to Makoto.. again.. To save the day)

A bunch of shaking heads.. why is Sato after Takeda? I mean damn he's never passed stage one.. he shouldn't be so high.. /end rant.. Down as expected.. Wall ate him.. Why am I not upset? Wish I had a fast forward.. dangit .. he passed wall.. bah.. commercials.. Sato coming after commercial break.. I can't wait.. K we are back.. hanging on rope on flying shoot.. finally on ground.. didn't even get to rope..


(Nagano watching Wacky compete.. he's not at all confident)..

Nagano giving support to Wacky (I think that's his nickname).. then walks away when he sees Sato time out.. Still pissed Sato was so high on the rotation.. again.. /sigh.. get over it.. Yeah I think it's "Wacky" next.. - Sportsman #1 clips.. STILL 2 people past stage 1.. Yep.. they announced Wacky.. Bah.. down on Half pipe landing..

Daisuke bathing his legs in the sticky stuff.. showing Nagano trying to pump himself up.. everyone just in a freaked out look. Main Handball guy that Ube linked in the main page - Daisuke Miyazaki - he's hot... He's 26! he's 1998.. they must have futz with the lineup in the television show again.. Mistah Handabol..


(Again.. Half Pike Attack course is totally bloated with the bodies of the fallen.. Poor New Kid on the Block Daisuke Miyazaki)

ANOTHER one missed half pipe attack!!!!!!!!!!!! Nagano is doing everything he can to pump up Mr. Sasuke who looks like he's going to cry.


(Nagano and Yamada can see the fall coming.. it's.. almost.. there..)

Either they over shoot the landing or under shoot it.. wow.. never seen so many missed that platform!!


(Poor Nagano. trying to help Yamada but Yamada's confidence .. if any were left.. is not completely gone..)

Daisuke manages to get himself out of the sludge and have a nice interview.


(Can't understand a single word he's saying.. but Daisuke tried his best and did pretty good for his first time out!)

Katsumi Yamada is next.. btw.. WHERE IS KOJI!!!!!!??!??!?!??!?! In my excitement I totally missed him.. couldn't have been cut .. was he even here??


(Katsumi Yamada making love to more sticky spray.. as if when he was sitting down it wasn't enough.. I swear it's his pacifier..)

Looks like an armband and not a tattoo.. will you put that damn bottle of sticky spray down? Nagano talking.. again can't understand.. oh I see his black shirt underneath.. that's right he's after him.. wow.. almost done stage 1 and STILL only 2 guys out of stage 1


(Katsumi Yamada totally rocking a Superman pose.. not going to help... I"m sure.. what's up with that armband?)

DOWN ON JUMPING SPIDAH! He HAD it.. daaaamn..


(Shingo can't bear to look at Yamada imploding again..)

Obligatory All-Star shock pictures..


(Nagano totally upset screaming KUSO!!!!!! (that's DAMN for those of you at home..)

Akiyama comforting Nagano who's now getting his sneakers on..


(Katsuhito Akiyama sneaking in to help raise Makoto's spirits.. he's dooooown right now..)

Katsumi is totally avoiding the camera.. Feels like 19 all over again.. good lord.. GO GO NAGANO!!!!!!!


(Nagano being interviewed after Mr. Sasuke's demise.. well.. they couldn't interview Yamada.. )

Now they start the massive intro for Makoto Nagano..


(Makoto notices Akiyama and smiles in approval)

Total red hair on Nagano.. it's glaring how bright it is.. even in the dark.. All stars except Katsumi all gather around him.. damn almost missed the hospital shot.. very short..


(Photo from the long opening bio of Makoto.. have no idea where he was going sporting the new suit..)

Video bio of him showing him with his stay in the hospital.. TOTALLY missed the shot of him in the hospital bed looking pathetic .. with a smile.. /sigh.. was too busy moving the windows.. I had 4 of them open..


(Looks like a politician? He's doing the slap on back good luck thingie that Takeda and Nagano have become famous for)

Video is still going and they cut back to the staring block where he's surrounded by friends.


(Makoto Nagano getting support from Toshihiro Takeda and Katsuhito Akiyama.. Nagano just grinds his hands into the carpet trying to psyche himself up.. he's really having issues)

LOOOOONG INTRO


(Nagano can't take a deep enough sigh.. He's almost ready to take on the course..)

My God.. this intro is taking a lifetime!


(With a rebel yell.. dangit Holly.. I can't stop thinking of Billy Idol now.... oh.. sorry.. Makoto getting himself psyched for his turn.. last one.. number 2000 in the Sasuke 20 competition)

ROCKING the course.. totally flying.. flying shoot.. COMMERCIAL!!!!

He had EVERYONE around him.. They were swarming him at the beginning.. Katsumi just walked passed the camera in utter disgust.. Still only 2 people.. wow.. still waiting on Nagano.. damn I hate commercials..

We are back.. still holding my breath.. good Lord.. by the way.. still getting over how PALE he looks.. Still have that rocking tan in my mind..


(Takes time to greet his fans in approval.. before he touches red button.. friggin' showoff :p )

YEAY!!!!!!!!!! LOL Nagano slowed down knowing he had time.. bowed to audience.. then raised arms.. then hit button with like 8 secs left.. he could have made it with less time.


(Katsumi Yamada shocking the living crap out of me.. he sneered.. turn in disgust and walked away AFTER MAKOTO'S RUN! Wtf is up with that!?!?)

Yamada looks upset!!


(Looks like Nagano took notice of his "friend"'s unsportsmanlike behavior...)

He looks utterly relieved. .but Yamada is nowhere to be seen.. he walked away in disgust! I mean seriously.. didn't clap .. nothing.. I'm surprised how much of a poor sport he was.. I mean.. there was no "story" or anything. .he just winced.. turned around.. and walked away.. what's up with that??


(Smiling when he got to the interviewer.. he seems sooo relieved he didn't swim in teh septic sludge..)

Guys swarmed him as he came in screaming.. Utter relief.. and smiles from everyone there.


(Lineup for Stage 2!! - Former Olympic Runner, Freestyler and Commercial Fisherman)

They introduced second stage.. interviews. looks like 24th, 89th and 100th.. made it to second stage. Recap of 19 and showing Koji.. he wasn't here this year.. what a shame.. also motorcross guy (he was there this year scroll back to see).. Showing everyone getting pumped up.. running, stretching.. more interviews..

K story on the runner.. we must be ready to start.. wow they wasted a lot of time.. I have no idea about Yamada.. Yep.. runner first.. name going too fast.. Salmon Ladder going up with ease!!!!!!! Commercials.. I swear the commercials are getting longer LMAO

We are back.. Olympic sprinter is he's rocking the salmon ladder.. nice and smooth and going up with speed! He failed the stick slider?? STRAIGHT into the water! everyone in shock!


(Makoto again thinking this is going to be Sasuke 19.. again.. watches as Runner dude totally pwns the stick slider.. I mean.. I asked once if someone can FAIL it.. My question was just answered..)

I mean.. he rocked the salmon ladder. .was supposed to go across and then slide into the mat.. totally missed it!


(Makoto and Levi have a moment They are the last 2 men standing..)

Levi video.. he's next.. good lord.. we still have another hour I think. Nagano talking about Levi.. not a clue as to what.. all smiles though..


(Makoto talking about Levi.. he's optomistic.. go G4 guy!)

Here we go..

Levi doing well in the salmon ladder.. .. going accross.. Damn commercials.. LOL I'm having hysterics! I can't believe I can TYPE! LOL my screenshots file must be in the 500 range LMAO Everytime I see him I click like a mad woman with a shutter problem.. I'm convinced.. they saved all the commercials for now.. bastards..

K we are back

Levi Rocked teh Salmon ladder! DESTROYED Stage 2!!!!!!!! 38 seconds left! I mean UTTERLY DESTROYED Stage 2!!!!!!!! Annihilated.. pwned.. ripped.. slammed.. I'm running out of words!

Nagano wants 2 slaps on the back. he's NERVOUS!


(Makoto is beyong nervous.. Takeda does his hand slap on the back thing.. no good.. do it again Takeda..)

Takeda complies..


(Takeda smiling.. c'mon Nagano.. get with the program.. Levi did excellent.. you can do the same!)

Now it's now Makoto's turn.. wait.. replays and interview.. Long intro bear with me.. Yamada back.. looking sullen.. group is there.. everyone is there.. all holding breath..


(Is it my imagination or all they ALL Staring at how Yamada is just standing there not even looking at Makoto??)

Levi walks up the tower and gives him a hug. High five.. a handshake.. a good luck.. thumbs up... smiles all around.. no trepidation look.. damn I love Levi.. THANK YOU LEVI!!


(Levi wishing Makoto luck.. oh.. so THAT'S what it says behind Makoto's trademark black tanktop..)

Makoto looks like he just saw a ghost.. still waiting for gate to go up.. still looks petrified.. everyone giving him thumbs up.. intro.. gate comes up.. looking down.. looking intense.. COMMERCIAL!


(THAT is not the face of a confident man.. Gah he looks haggered..)

Back..


(the WTF moment of the tournament.. Levi agrees with me!!)

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(Wow.. just .. wow.. I'm sure Nagano expected something goofy to happen.. but no one could have predicted this!!)

He missed the rope!!


(First time I notice that that thing is not on rails!!)

He lost his balance on that platform thing.. it was moving the whole time he was coming down.. I swore he was trying to surf it!


(Wow check out how far HIS right the tray thingie whatever it's called was when he finally grabbed the rope!

Just grabed rope but his body was sliding sideways..


(see how tilted he was?? Wow.. that just utterly sucks!)

What a bad break!


(Makoto just laughing it off.. Wow.. he lost a lot of weight if that shirt that usually is spraypainted on is hanging on him like that.. even wet.. poor guy.. stupid 3 week hospital trip..)

Levi is the only one in stage 3! G4 is going to have a coronary!

They are recapping 18's run of stage 3. Showing Levi how the course is run.. new obstacles.. wow I'm still in shock.. Nagano is being interviewed a lot about stage 3! Looks like he thinks he can do it. (meaning Levi) More intro for Levi.. I smell another commercial coming.. I'm still in shock the only person in Stage 3 is an AMERICAN LOL More Nagano and Levi. Levi is saying he's hoping to pass it to show the Allstars what Stage 4 looks like.


(Makoto wishes Levi good luck! Wow he's a shrimpy next to Levi :)

A lot of Nagano support Levi must be in cloud 9! Stage 3 looks badass...

Passed the ring thingies.. more Nagano.. he's walking the course alone with him.. (at least.. wait..) Takeda and Nagano are yelling for his attention.. LEVI!!! LEVI!!


(Like this Levi says.. listening to Takeda and Nagano yelling at him to change his grip)

Globe grasp they are telling him how to do it.. Change your grip.. Thanks Levi for listening!! Unlike morons from last year.. Passed it easily with grip change. Takeda and Nagano nod in approval. Akiyama has joined them.. that ladder thingie.. passed easily. Nods of approval and a bunch of talking to each other and pointing (yeah that's what we have to do next time)..


(Akiyama, Takeda and Nagano all hoping Levi passes so they can see the Heartbreaker.. )

Didn't watch the next one forgot to watch. was too busy typing since I smelled a commercial and I was right! He's up to cliffhanger and commercial started..

We are back.. cliffhanger..


(Watching.. watching.. approaching death area of Sasuke 18....)

he missed the drop down.. same place everyone lost in 18


(Yep.. just like Sasuke 18.. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah)

Couldn't hang on.. lots of claps all around.. great job ANC guy!


(Makoto and Nagano have a moment.. awwwwwwwww)

One last hug and "awwwww" from nagano and credits.. show is over. Great speech from Levi saying he doesn't see American and Japanese.. the course is about Human potential. Great class!!!


(More of the Awwww moment between Makoto and Levi as the credits roll)

It's going to take me a while.. peeking into my screen shots folder.. 286 photos LMAO

Figured as well now (to do the blog) that I'm not STRESSED.. I feel a lot better now So nice to see Makoto very smilie. LOL even in the water he was giggling He must have been soooooooo stressed.


(Final shot of Levi and Makoto taking in the course.. one.. last.. time..)

Also very happy Makoto had the CLASS (never doubted him) along with Takeda to help Levi out. THAT is why I love them! THAT is class It was cute seeing them go "LEVI LEVI".. then Levi looked over.. saw the guys show the grip (straight up) since he was motioning (as if in practice) what he was planning to do. Then he DID what they told him to and aced the globe grasp. So happy Levi Meeuwenberg was nice! We are proud.. G4 will be ecstatic!