Australian Ninja Warrior is a ratings hit but a commentary miss

AUSTRALIAN Ninja Warrior is a huge ratings hit, but there’s one big thing wrong with it that needs fixing, and quickly, writes Colin Vickery.

I’VE decided that the only way to watch Australian Ninja Warrior is with the sound turned off.

It has taken only two episodes of Channel 9’s new sports game show to have me severely concerned about hearing loss.

That is because of the constant shouting by hosts Ben Fordham, Rebecca Maddern and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff.

The trio have fallen into a trap that has stymied many other hosts of big events — they play to the crowd instead of the camera.

Even when Maddern is describing the obstacle course it sounds like she has the volume turned up to eleven. That goes up another couple of notches when she is commentating.

That is fine if you’re one of the punters at Sydney’s Cockatoo Island but if you’re watching at home on the sofa it is painful.

Fordham, Maddern and Flintoff have forgotten that television is an intimate medium. Viewers hate being shouted at.

I'm thinking a better name for Australian Ninja Warrior would be 'Mid-life crisis obstacle course with bad commentary'.#NinjaWarriorAU

— Evan McInnes (@evan_mcinnes) July 9, 2017

Eddie McGuire (The Footy Show), Darren McMullen (The Voice) and Gretel Killeen (Big Brother) succeeded because they spoke to the camera in the midst of large studio audiences.

It doesn’t help that the Australian Ninja Warrior crowd has clearly had too much red cordial. The wall-to-wall cheering and clapping gets grating very quickly.

I’m sure that constant background noise is also making Fordham, Maddern and Flintoff pump up the volume.

And oh that commentating. When it isn’t full of cliches — “the obstacle course is tough but so are our competitors” or “the crowd is getting behind her” — it is surprisingly bloodless.

Where’s Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Commetti or the late Richie Benaud when you need them?

I don’t blame Fordham, Maddern and Flintoff — they’re newbies to the game. Commentating live sport takes years to master.

All we need is Roy and HG commentary #NinjaWarriorAU

— Jane Timmins (@JaneTimmins) July 9, 2017

There is an art to finding avoiding cliches, finding the right balance of emotion, and not over-describing something that viewers can see for themselves. Usually less is more.

The heavy-handed commentary is a shame because it distracts from the achievements of the competitors, many of who have powerful personal stories of triumph over adversity.

The launch episode featured Lisa Parkes, a 43-year-old mum who had recovered from a broken back. Episode two had dual Paralympian Sam Bramham who was born without a right femur.

It was also fascinating seeing elite athletes including Olympic triathlete Ryan Fisher and national triple jump champion Emma Knight humbled by the course.

The first two nights of Australian Ninja Warrior rated spectacularly, with more than 1.6 million viewers per episode across the five capital cities.

Nine took a risk making the show given that overseas versions have only ever screened on SBS over here.

For that they should be applauded. And I’m sure Fordham, Maddern and Flintoff will eventually find their groove. But right now I’m pressing the “mute” button.

Colin Vickery is a News Corp national TV writer.