Summer television has always brought out some of the worst in television. One show that I won’t be watching is ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.” The premise of the show is simple: 10 (foolish) Americans are taken to Japan to compete in what is described as "the ultimate Japanese game show." To win, contestants must adapt to both the wacky challenges and the Japanese culture and traditions around them.
Translate: If you enjoy the humiliation of others, this show is for you.
Looking at the ABC commercials for this new show, it’s obvious it is not anything new. It’s already been done on cable TV under the names “MXC” and the "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge," which was a redubbing of the Japanese game show Takeshi's Castle, which aired from 1986 to 1989 (clip below).
I remember seeing MXC once, and laughing at the dubbing over of the hosts and the background commentary. It was somewhat reminiscent of "Mystery Science Theatre 3000, " which took old movies and dubbed over “audience’" commentary (now that show was truly funny). But MXC, and the new ABC show “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” appear to have a heavy humiliation component, and also a high injury component. After a while, you can only watch people get embarassed and hurt in so many ways. It gets boring and isn’t really funny at all.
While I know the networks have to provide new content in the summer to get viewers, and I know that the writers’ strike put them all behind the eight ball, I hoped it would mean a newer approach. Wouldn’t it be great if the networks decided to show more educational programming rather than reality shows? There are tons of shows airing on channels like PBS, National Geographic, The Science Channel, Discovery, and a host of others, that would be much more interesting and challenging to the mind. After all, with all the major networks broadcasting in HD, there are a lot more HD nature programs that could be shown which would not only make viewers think, but would also be visually appealing.
My suggestion is to pass on ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” and other summer reality fill in shows. Maybe if we don’t watch, the networks will get the message and we will see something better in the future. After all, isn’t it time to stop dumbing down the programming?
A clip from MXC
Check out my blog home page for the latest information, here.
Translate: If you enjoy the humiliation of others, this show is for you.
Looking at the ABC commercials for this new show, it’s obvious it is not anything new. It’s already been done on cable TV under the names “MXC” and the "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge," which was a redubbing of the Japanese game show Takeshi's Castle, which aired from 1986 to 1989 (clip below).
I remember seeing MXC once, and laughing at the dubbing over of the hosts and the background commentary. It was somewhat reminiscent of "Mystery Science Theatre 3000, " which took old movies and dubbed over “audience’" commentary (now that show was truly funny). But MXC, and the new ABC show “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” appear to have a heavy humiliation component, and also a high injury component. After a while, you can only watch people get embarassed and hurt in so many ways. It gets boring and isn’t really funny at all.
While I know the networks have to provide new content in the summer to get viewers, and I know that the writers’ strike put them all behind the eight ball, I hoped it would mean a newer approach. Wouldn’t it be great if the networks decided to show more educational programming rather than reality shows? There are tons of shows airing on channels like PBS, National Geographic, The Science Channel, Discovery, and a host of others, that would be much more interesting and challenging to the mind. After all, with all the major networks broadcasting in HD, there are a lot more HD nature programs that could be shown which would not only make viewers think, but would also be visually appealing.
My suggestion is to pass on ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” and other summer reality fill in shows. Maybe if we don’t watch, the networks will get the message and we will see something better in the future. After all, isn’t it time to stop dumbing down the programming?
A clip from MXC
Check out my blog home page for the latest information, here.
2 comments:
I avoid all these "programs" like the plague. They insult intellegence of the viewers and the viewer being the lemmings they are they just sit there, watching the shiny lights. Ack, what human waste.
Thank goodness for cable. CI, Burn Notice, Mad Men (so good) and shows on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel (Deadliest Catch is fabulous and the wonderful Dog Whisperer) make summers so much more easier.
"My suggestion is to pass on ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” and other summer reality fill in shows. Maybe if we don’t watch, the networks will get the message and we will see something better in the future."
But how will the netwoks know if I don't watch their shows? I'm not a Nielsen family!
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