Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the one show you should really be watching this summer: ABC’s I Survived a Japanese Game Show. I caught the premiere episode of this fantastic reality show last Tuesday at 9 PM, and was kind of blown away at its genius. The show takes 10 Americans — many who have never left the country — and sends them to Japan, where each episode they are forced to compete in insane Japanese game show stunts in order to last until the next challenge. The last person standing wins $250,000. Last week, there was a complicated treadmill/competitive eating competition that ended in the contestants being both out of breath and covered in flour. (The full episode is here.) ISAJGS also marks the first time in reality tv history that all of the contestants are stomachable — nary an Omarosa among them… so far, at least. You even have Cathy, a contestant whose eyebrows move independently of one another, example:
But more than just a slapstick gameshow, ISAJGS is a lesson in Japanese culture and a great way to see Tokyo on the cheap. The contestants live in a traditional Japanese home with a “Momo San”, or House Mother. The show has many elements of what makes The Amazing Race perhaps the best reality show ever, as well as the kind of LOLy humor that’s made AFV such a huge success, drunk or sober. For God’s Sake, the title of tonight’s episode is “”Crazy Crane Finds Fluffy Bear!” “Extra! Extra! Crazy Wind Hits Crazy Americans!” The English! It’s all so bad!
The only criticism I can think of with this show is ABC’s lineup. Right before Japanese Gameshow is ABC’s other foray into “slapstick challenges” Wipeout. To put it simple, Wipeout kind of sucks. It’s stupid, and so repetitive, and poor John Henson from The Soup is forced to be so stiff, and oh, I’m really not a fan of Wipeout.
So tonight, make sure to tune into ABC at 9 PM. You can see a preview of the show over at ABC.com. You will leave the show feeling happier and more well-educated.
ps If ABC really wants to find a challenge, they should have a new show called “I Survived a Chechnyan Game Show.” Because I’m pretty sure most people don’t.
