Should Regionals Have A Time Limit?

[2D2Will]

I asked last year, and I'm once again asking this year. Should the regional (Qualifiers and/or Top 30) courses have a time limit? Here are a few factors to consider:

- Entertainment: Do you think ANW would be a better show to watch if all the courses (sans Stage 3) had a time limit?

- Training: One comment I saw pop up about Vegas is that some people were running the course too slowly. Having a time limit in the regional courses could help contestants get used to the Vegas course.

- Different Results: If there was a time limit, we would probably see different people in the top 30 and top 15 of each regional.

So should ANW add a time limit to the earlier rounds? Or should ANW stay the course?

[phrozunsun]

I still don't get SOME Sasuke purists that say regionals are dumb and should have time limits because Sasuke stage 1 does (not as much of a problem here as IMDb).

Sasuke doesn't have regionals. Having a time limit for that reason isn't logical.

From what I've read, producers nudge you along between obstacles anyway. If someone wants to hang on the curtain slider for 5 minutes, good on them if they have the strength/endurance. Time limits shouldn't be a factor for qualifiers.

[Amber]

Yes, no more 6 minute runs

[gd38]

Sept 9, 2014 21:14:45 GMT -5 phrozunsun said:

I still don't get SOME Sasuke purists that say regionals are dumb and should have time limits because Sasuke stage 1 does (not as much of a problem here as IMDb).

Sasuke doesn't have regionals. Having a time limit for that reason isn't logical.

From what I've read, producers nudge you along between obstacles anyway. If someone wants to hang on the curtain slider for 5 minutes, good on them if they have the strength/endurance. Time limits shouldn't be a factor for qualifiers.

1000x this. The qualifiers are about determining the best for the majority of the main course lineup. One of the best changes they made was the "win and you're in", so that you didn't have to eliminate anyone who completed the course. It allowed many to slow down a bit and to focus on completing the obstacles one at a time. Forcing a time limit would require everyone to be much more frantic. I like that the time limit is introduced on the main course, as a way to show just how hard it is.

Plus, the time limits would have to vary widely for each city, as some obstacles just take more time than others. And it would probably be hard to determine what a "fair" limit would be.

[KinnikuBanzukeÜberAlles]

I used to believe that time limits would help, but it's the entire trials format that's the problem.

Trials are 99% filler that's used to pad the number of hours to fill the TV schedule, and 1% just a way to thin the herd of competitors.

I've never liked the trials format, and the producers stuck with it on NBC probably because they were too lazy, too scared, or too cheap to create something different than what was on G4.

It would probably cost a lot more money this way, and I know it's never going to happen, but I would go with a scaled down 4-stage SASUKE-style course for each region, instead of the pseudo-2-stage course that ANW has now for trials. Trials would still be filler, but the chance of seeing 4 stages per episode would at least make the episodes more interesting.

[phrozunsun]

Sept 9, 2014 23:58:45 GMT -5 KinnikuBanzukeÜberAlles said:

I used to believe that time limits would help, but it's the entire trials format that's the problem.

Trials are 99% filler that's used to pad the number of hours to fill the TV schedule, and 1% just a way to thin the herd of competitors.

I've never liked the trials format, and the producers stuck with it on NBC probably because they were too lazy, too scared, or too cheap to create something different than what was on G4.

It would probably cost a lot more money this way, and I know it's never going to happen, but I would go with a scaled down 4-stage SASUKE-style course for each region, instead of the pseudo-2-stage course that ANW has now for trials. Trials would still be filler, but the chance of seeing 4 stages per episode would at least make the episodes more interesting.

Actually, the trials make more sense from a TV perspective since we get repeated exposure and can connect with the athletes who do well. We could potentially see them do 6 runs, instead of seeing hundreds of faceless competitors fail stage 1 right away.

I will say though, those back stories need to get short. 30 secs Max, and they should have enough time to show everyone's run.

Not having qualifiers is like saying "we don't need to have the NFL regular season, all I want to watch is the super bowl."

[SasukeForever]

Just something easy like 2 minutes for qualifiers and 5 minutes for finals. At least give them something to think about when they rest for 30 seconds before an obstacle.

[arsenette]

Sept 9, 2014 23:58:45 GMT -5 KinnikuBanzukeÜberAlles said:

I used to believe that time limits would help, but it's the entire trials format that's the problem.

Trials are 99% filler that's used to pad the number of hours to fill the TV schedule, and 1% just a way to thin the herd of competitors.

I've never liked the trials format, and the producers stuck with it on NBC probably because they were too lazy, too scared, or too cheap to create something different than what was on G4.

It would probably cost a lot more money this way, and I know it's never going to happen, but I would go with a scaled down 4-stage SASUKE-style course for each region, instead of the pseudo-2-stage course that ANW has now for trials. Trials would still be filler, but the chance of seeing 4 stages per episode would at least make the episodes more interesting.

This. Only because NBC spends 10 weeks on regionals this is a problem. The logistical issue is that there are a lot of entries to the show and unlike other shows, they show the selection process. Even Japan has over 2000 entries that never make it to either trials or Sasuke. They are just not invited. Lately TBS has been showing bits and pieces of the audition process. NBC shows you the audition process and makes THAT the core of the show. Trials has gotten bigger on NBC because there hasn't been anything ratings worthy in almost a decade in the summer line up. It keeps getting longer every year although the size of the trials has actually shrunk. This way they can fill it with an inexpensive show with no stars they are paying for and they get decent ratings week in week out. It's a win win for NBC. It's stupidly cheap to produce compare to other shows.

The inherent problem with the format is that when Vegas is up it's jarring to see these same people crumble when a clock is involved. If there was 'some' way to add a clock, even if it's Regional finals you can get a better sense of who will do better in Vegas. As it is now it's a jarring transition for the television viewer who doesn't know the competitors DON'T have an unlimited timer like they do in trials. They go with their hopes up that certain people will do well when they have no hope at all in ever clearing the first stage. It's demoralizing to the viewer.

[TCM]

As much as I'm of the opinion that the trials format hurts competitors because they take the time for granted, for the current format, "Win and In" is the best scenario. I'd rather minutes long runs that end in success over someone who cleared the Finals course only to be rejected because he took a little longer than 15th place. If the trials were smaller, then that's one thing, but with the size they are now, it's the best way to handle to format. What competitors just need to do in general is learn how to complete the obstacles quicker. Being cautious is one thing, taking 20 seconds to simply attempt something like the Jumping Spider is another.

[m4tt3r0x]

Regionals are so boring so I say yes.

[arsenette]

Sept 10, 2014 12:21:31 GMT -5 TCM said:

As much as I'm of the opinion that the trials format hurts competitors because they take the time for granted, for the current format, "Win and In" is the best scenario. I'd rather minutes long runs that end in success over someone who cleared the Finals course only to be rejected because he took a little longer than 15th place. If the trials were smaller, then that's one thing, but with the size they are now, it's the best way to handle to format. What competitors just need to do in general is learn how to complete the obstacles quicker. Being cautious is one thing, taking 20 seconds to simply attempt something like the Jumping Spider is another.

Agreed. In addition,it's like promoting the US Trials to (insert any sport) then relegating the Olympic broadcast to an hour.. there has to be a balance and right now their format is what is killing them. Sure you get to see more competitors (and ultimately yourself since so many SMF'ers are there), however in the long run it's like the show is setting up cannon fodder for their main event. NBC keeps treating the trials as the main event and that's the problem with why people want a timer in the first place.

[TCM]

Sept 10, 2014 12:38:20 GMT -5 arsenette said:

Sept 10, 2014 12:21:31 GMT -5 TCM said:

As much as I'm of the opinion that the trials format hurts competitors because they take the time for granted, for the current format, "Win and In" is the best scenario. I'd rather minutes long runs that end in success over someone who cleared the Finals course only to be rejected because he took a little longer than 15th place. If the trials were smaller, then that's one thing, but with the size they are now, it's the best way to handle to format. What competitors just need to do in general is learn how to complete the obstacles quicker. Being cautious is one thing, taking 20 seconds to simply attempt something like the Jumping Spider is another.

Agreed. In addition,it's like promoting the US Trials to (insert any sport) then relegating the Olympic broadcast to an hour.. there has to be a balance and right now their format is what is killing them. Sure you get to see more competitors (and ultimately yourself since so many SMF'ers are there), however in the long run it's like the show is setting up cannon fodder for their main event. NBC keeps treating the trials as the main event and that's the problem with why people want a timer in the first place.

I think inserting the Olympics is pretty fitting because NBC likes to blow through those broadcasts just like they blow through the Vegas episodes.