Japanese variety show

Last updated

A Japanese variety show is an entertainment television program made up of a variety of original stunts, musical performances, comedy skits, quiz contests, and other acts. Japanese variety shows are characterized by an eccentric, fast-paced style and are typically scheduled during prime television time for entertainment. They usually feature a variety of tarento hosts, presenters and guests that include celebrities, comedians, J-pop Idols. [1]

Contents

History

Japanese variety shows originated in the 1950s, with early examples like Gesture, a charades-style game show. [2] Game shows, initially featuring trivia competitions, expanded over time to include diverse and unconventional formats, incorporating concepts like eating unusual foods.

The second longest-running Japanese television show, which is a comedy, is Shōten which began running in 1966 on Nippon TV. [3] After the end of the American occupation of Japan, the public NHK and commercial Nippon television began TV broadcasting in 1953. One of the longest running variety shows is on Nippon TV, Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! , which started in 1989.

Current situation

Japanese television programs such as Music Station and Utaban (cancelled 2010) continue in an almost pristine format from the same variety shows of years before. One notable change in Japanese variety shows since the 1980s is the decreasing use of live backup music. Variety game shows such as Nazotoki Batoru TORE! and Team Fight often featured regular celebrity guests as well as special guest appearances to tie in with forthcoming musical, cinematic and publishing releases; this – a frequent feature of primetime Japanese variety television – has remained consistent over the years.

A once-popular host Kyosen Ōhashi said, "Weird shows that are called Variety only exists in Japan." [4]

One of the more well-circulated clips is a segment in Gaki no Tsukai , hosted by the comedy duo Downtown. In one part, if the male contestants fail to say a tongue-twister correctly, they get hit in the crotch by a spring-loaded pole (The Chinko Machine, or, literally, the Penis Machine), causing great pain. Hitoshi Matsumoto attempted to withdraw but the host - his comedy partner and co-host Masatoshi Hamada, cajoled him back on the platform. [5] [6]

Controversy over injuries

Japanese game shows have been known for including very cruel challenges, with Hollywood Reporter stating in 2008 "the Japanese have elevated cruelty to an art form." [7] In 2002, in the midst of a controversy surrounding the hospitalization of Muscle Ranking contestants and the death of a contestant on Food Battle Club, it was acknowledged that these game show challenges had caused physical injuries to some contestants. [8] Some of these Japanese game show injuries even included spinal injuries. [8] In 2014, Japanese game shows were still acknowledged for having cruel challenges under the guise of comedy. [9] [10]

In the United States of America in December 1994, Saturday Night Live mocked these unique forms of game shows with a sketch called "Quiz Kings". [7] [11] They were also mocked in a May 1999 episode of The Simpsons called "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo". [10]

Influences overseas

Japanese game shows have gained international popularity in recent years. A notable example is Hole in the Wall, or Brain Wall , which has had local versions in Russia, China, Argentina, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The latter two are the most successful versions, with the FOX network and Cartoon Network each having decent success with US versions of the format. The BBC would also find success with their own version in the UK.

With foreign game shows gaining interest from American viewers, in 2008, ABC created two game shows that took influence from Japanese game shows. The first of which was Wipeout , a weekly competition show that involved contestants playing in a large obstacle course. The other was I Survived a Japanese Game Show , which was a reality show that used a fictional Japanese game show to eliminate contestants one by one until the last player standing won a grand prize. [12] Due to the similarities between their shows and other Japanese programs, ABC has been sued by TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) for allegedly copying Sasuke and Takeshi's Castle . [13]

In recent years, certain Japanese variety shows have gained popularity overseas with shows such as Candy Or Not Candy, [14] having clips circulate across various social media platforms.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Takeshis Castle</i> Japanese television game show

Takeshi's Castle is a Japanese game show that aired between 1986 and 1990 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). It features the Japanese comedian Takeshi Kitano as a count who sets up difficult physical challenges that players must overcome in order to reach him in his castle.

<i>Most Extreme Elimination Challenge</i> American comedy television series that re-dubbed Japanese game show Takeshis Castle as a parody

Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC) is an American comedy television program that aired on TNN/Spike TV from April 19, 2003 to February 9, 2007. It is a re-purpose of footage from the Japanese game show Takeshi's Castle, which originally aired in Japan from 1986 to 1990. The re-purposed MXC created a completely new premise, storyline, and characters, with two teams competing against each other à la a typical team sports broadcast and players trying to win points for their teams by surviving through different challenges. In the original program the Count and his underlings would follow the progress of the players as they moved through the course. In the re-purpose Count Takeshi became veteran network announcer Vic Romano and the Count's flunky became young upstart Kenny Blankenship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown (owarai)</span> Japanese comedy duo

Downtown is a Japanese comedy duo from Amagasaki, Hyōgo consisting of Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada. Formed in 1982, they are one of the most influential and prolific comedy duos in Japan today. They are best known for their stand-up acts, hosting numerous Japanese variety shows and their sarcastic, short-tempered stage personas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Kunitz</span> American television executive producer (born 1968)

Matt Kunitz is an American television producer who specializes in reality television. In July 2008, the Los Angeles Times named him "The King of Reality TV."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hitoshi Matsumoto</span> Japanese comedian

Hitoshi Matsumoto is a Japanese comedian and filmmaker. He was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture. He is one half of the comedy duo Downtown, alongside Masatoshi Hamada, and is one of the most popular comedians in Japan.

Silent Library may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masatoshi Hamada</span> Japanese comedian

Masatoshi Hamada, nicknamed Hama-chan (浜ちゃん), is a Japanese comedian best known as the tsukkomi half of the owarai duo Downtown alongside Hitoshi Matsumoto. Hamada is married to Natsumi Ogawa, with whom he has two children.

Ameagari Kesshitai (雨上がり決死隊), also known simply as Ameagari, was a Japanese comedy duo (kombi) consisting of Hiroyuki Miyasako and Tōru Hotohara. They are from Osaka and, like most other comedians from the Kansai region, are employed by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The duo was created in 1989 and disbanded on August 17, 2021.

<i>Wipeout</i> (2008 game show) American television game show

Wipeout is an American television game show that features contestants competing in the "World's Largest" obstacle course which originally aired on ABC from June 24, 2008, to September 7, 2014. In 2021, the show was rebooted on TBS, with John Cena, Nicole Byer, and Camille Kostek as hosts.

<i>Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!</i> Japanese television series

Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, often abbreviated Gaki no Tsukai (ガキの使い) or just Gaki Tsuka (ガキ使), is a Japanese variety show hosted by popular Japanese owarai duo Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Tsukitei and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting. The program has been broadcast on Nippon TV since its pilot episode on October 3, 1989, and continues to this day, celebrating its 1000th episode on April 18, 2010. The program currently broadcasts on Nippon TV and its regional affiliates from 23:25 until 23:55 JST.

<i>Silent Library</i> (TV series) American game show

Silent Library is an American television game show that aired on MTV from June 15, 2009 to May 13, 2011. The series is based on one of the segments in the popular Japanese variety show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!

Events in 2010 in Japanese television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hōsei Tsukitei</span> Japanese comedian

Hōsei Tsukitei formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki is a Japanese solo comedian and rakugo performer, signed with Yoshimoto Kogyo. He is best known for being one of the five members of Downtown Gaki no Tsukai's regular cast. His role on the show is usually divided up between the suberi-kyara and the ijime-kyara.

Events in 1999 in Japanese television.

Events in 2004 in Japanese television.

Events in 2011 in Japanese television.

Cocorico is a Japanese comedy duo (kombi) formed in 1992, consisting of Shōzō Endō and Naoki Tanaka. They are best known for making up the cast of the popular and long-running variety show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Zakoshisyoh</span> Japanese comedian

Hollywood Zakoshisyoh is a Japanese comedian from Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture who has appeared in many television variety shows, as well as television dramas, radio and web series. His real name is Shigeki Nakazawa. After going through Yoshimoto Kogyo and Watanabe Entertainment, he currently belongs to the SMA NEET Project. His stage name during his kombi years was Zakoshisyoh. His is nicknamed "Zakoshi," (ザコシ) "Zakoshisyoh". Martial artist Shinya Aoki is his cousin.

Chad Mullane is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, director, translator, academic and producer based in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The staff ate it later</span> Japanese entertainment term

"The staff ate it later" is a caption shown on screen when food appears on a Japanese TV program. This indicates that the dish or ingredients were eaten and not thrown away; however, some question the authenticity of this statement, and others believe this caption lowers the quality of TV programs.

References

  1. ↑ "What are Japanese Variety Shows?".
  2. ↑ McLaughlin, Joseph (2021-10-16). "The Weird World of Japanese Variety Shows". Jotaku Network. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  3. ↑ Shôten (Comedy), Utamaru Katsura, Rei Kikukawa, Yûko Ogura, 1966-05-05, retrieved 2023-10-03{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ↑ Nikkei Business (January 30, 1995 Edition)
  5. ↑ "- YouTube". YouTube .
  6. ↑ "- YouTube". YouTube .
  7. 1 2 "'I Survived a Japanese Game Show'". The Hollywood Reporter . 26 June 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Injuries Push Japanese To Rethink TV Shows - The Washington Post". The Washington Post .
  9. ↑ "You Have to See These Japanese Game Shows to Believe Them. But Even then You Won't". 10 January 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Nasubi, the Naked Eggplant-Man Who Lived off Sweepstakes". 7 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "SNL: 10 Jokes That Did Not Age Well". Screen Rant . 28 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Breaking News - Abc Announces Its Summer Schedule With The Premiere Of Eight Original Series | Thefutoncritic.Com
  13. ↑ "「風雲！たけし城」酷似！TBSが米ABCを提訴" (in Japanese). 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  14. ↑ Davis, Allison P.; Magazine, features writer for New York; staff, the Cut In the ten years she’s been on; Fashion, She’s Explored All Aspects of; culture; celebrity; sex; Profiles, Dating Through; Features, Long-Form (2014-01-08). "Fun New Japanese Game Show: Candy or Not Candy?". The Cut. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.