# Japanese Game Shows on ABC Tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101 "2008-06-24T19:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/1 "2008-06-24T19:42:53Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/2 "2008-06-24T19:51:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/3 "2008-06-24T19:52:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/4 "2008-06-24T20:48:44Z")
The wife and I have been looking forward to these shows for weeks now (even if she’s a little hesitant to admit it). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/5 "2008-06-24T21:12:03Z")
The Tivo is already programmed. I’m a huge Ninja Warrior and MXC fan. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/6 "2008-06-24T21:21:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/7 "2008-06-24T21:23:26Z")
I can’t imagine Wipeout having anything as good as the MXC commentary (“Right you are, Kenny”). ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/8 "2008-06-24T21:24:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/9 "2008-06-24T21:43:14Z")
What? There’s a Celebrity Family Fued now? Where have I been? My Tivo will be set on overload tonight. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/10 "2008-06-24T22:15:45Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] Big Bug Go Splat On Windshield and Why Is This Food So Hard To Eat? [/QUOTE] 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?” ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/11 "2008-06-24T22:22:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/12 "2008-06-24T22:40:24Z")
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. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/13 "2008-06-25T00:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] I can’t imagine Wipeout having anything as good as the MXC commentary (“Right you are, Kenny”). [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/14 "2008-06-25T00:29:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/15 "2008-06-25T00:53:27Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/16 "2008-06-25T01:08:14Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/17 "2008-06-25T01:48:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/18 "2008-06-25T01:48:39Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] Didn’t Homer Simpson say the same thing about Japanese toilets? “They’re YEARS ahead of us!” [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/19 "2008-06-25T02:08:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101/20 "2008-06-25T14:13:04Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-game-shows-on-abc-tonight/454101.md?page=2)