There appear to be 2 fine quality summer series debuting tonight…“Wipeout” and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”.
From the commercials, Wipeout sure looks like an Americanized version of the game show that was featured in the marvelous “Most Extreme Competition” (MXC) on the Spike network. No idea what the premise of ISAJGS is (other than what it says on the box, of course). But the two appear to be a matched set.
Anybody planning to watch? And admit it?
Hey, Japanese game shows are some prime entertainment. G4 had/has Ninja Warrior (Sasuke in Japan) which is a brutal obstacle course competition. Best show they ever had.
And if ISAJGS has Human Tetris, it’ll be worth it. Check Human Tetris out on Youtube if you haven’t seen it–I dare anyone to get through one of those clips without laughing.
The wife and I have been looking forward to these shows for weeks now (even if she’s a little hesitant to admit it).
The Tivo is already programmed. I’m a huge Ninja Warrior and MXC fan.
I was not aware of this so thank you for bringing it up. I’ll be checking out both shows tonight. MXC is one greatest shows ever and if these are half of what MXC was then it’ll be well worth the time.
I can’t imagine Wipeout having anything as good as the MXC commentary (“Right you are, Kenny”).
Wipeout does indeed appear to be inspired by Takeshi’s Castle/MXC, although ABC’s press material makes no reference to the show. According to ABC, I Survived A Japanese Game Show chronicles ten Americans who are sent to Japan to compete on a game show with such events as Big Bug Go Splat On Windshield and Why Is This Food So Hard To Eat? I’ll be watching tonight- sorry, NBC, but Celebrity Family Feud just doesn’t cut it.
What? There’s a Celebrity Family Fued now? Where have I been? My Tivo will be set on overload tonight.
One reason I like Japanese game shows. The name of the show tells you all you need to know.
I mean…Jeopardy? That could be anything! But I know exactly what I’m getting with “Why is This Food so Hard to Eat?”
ABC had a preview of Wipeout during The Bachelorette last night. MrsB asked me to change the channel because I was shaking the couch too much with my laughter.
I might watch them just because I feel they will both be horrendous train-wrecks.
MXSC on basic cable doesn’t sound very good, with stricter-censors and all.
If I can’t take any of the big 3 premieres any more, I’m switching to Nova. They’re doing the history of Samurai Swords. 
Absolutely. Not impressed so far; the tone lacks the hyper, irreverent, double-entendre-cracking, frat boy sensibility of the MXC guys.
OTOH, somewhere in Tokyo Prefecture, a few hip, 20-something, otherwise-unemployed TV producer wannabees are watching this show and taking notes…
The inevitable Japanese-language MST3K-ing of “Wipeout” will be hilarious. Too bad that show won’t be translated into English.
Things are picking up with the “Sweeper” event. The faster pace of the action (what with multiple competitors) and the sheer goofyness of this one is working for me.
It’s a fascinating dynamic: the first person to get caught on the sweeper arm slows it down and distracts the others, so their rhythm is all off. Plus, how can you jump over the arm if it still has a person clinging to it, who’s getting knocked or scraped off by your own pillar? I don’t think I’d fare well with that extra challenge, either.
Indeed, i was cracking up during this one. I loved the go-go dancer cheering about the other guy falling off and taking it in the chest.
Didn’t Homer Simpson say the same thing about Japanese toilets?
“They’re YEARS ahead of us!”
Toho Studios? Are they gonna meet Godzilla? Nope, compete on a suprise game show!
We just watched some of the I survived a show show and it sucks ass. It is cast, and edited EXACTLY like Hell’s Kitchen. There are only a few minutes of Jap Game Show.
It’s a waste. It won’t last till the end of the season.
Not a Simpsons obsessive, but that does sound mighty familiar.
What I’d really like to see for an elimination game [Yellow Penguins team] – Darcy vs. Ms. Staten Island, in a cage match. To the death.
That Darcy isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack, is she? Her repeated failure on the mocci treadmill was inexcusable.
I thought the first one was stupid, but the second one has the possibility of being really good, esp. since it will, apparently, continue with the same group all season. Bummer about that obnoxious princess being booted so soon, though – she’d’ve made a good villain.
I admit, I loved “Wipeout”. I viewed it as a cross between “Ninja Warriors” and “MXC”, two shows I get a kick out of. I would rather it go more by the NW way - you fail, you’re out. However, considering NO ONE made it without ending in the water, obviously that was not possible.
“I Survived a Japanese Gameshow” I’m still not sure about. I think I like it? TheKid was loving it - she’s very into Japanese pop culture and was pausing to look at the “hotties” in the audience. Mama-san did amuse me - “I am not your mama, I’m mama-san!”
Both will be watched next week.