What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

I think it would be a long and fruitless search, to find such a lack of talent. Tee hee!

Japanese TV variety programs are most boring and stupid I have ever seen. Never want to see.

Some of them do annoy me, but I'm not really qualified to comment since I understand less than a third of what they say in many of the variety shows. Slow down you're talking too fast.

Some are good and entertaining, on some you can learn a lot about japan, Japan's history, japanese, etc.

But there are a ton out there that are just so much fluff and hard to stomach.

Personally got no problem with the japanese shows till they get into specialized subjects like medicine, etc than my japanese falls short.

I like shows like where they show local culture, residents, local areas, etc.

I was thinking about this last night when I briefly tuned into a program featuring Sanma on Fuji TV. It was one of the most irritating programs I had ever seen. They were all dressed in ridiculous costumes, all bantering at the same time. The studio audience loved it, though. I just couldn't see the entertainment value, and it wasn't due to any lack of language ability on my part.

the height of mediocrity. a mishmash of of buffoons spraying saliva and bimbos spouting platitudes, all doing their best to shout over the top of each other, all set against a backdrop of gaudy, eye-candy sets which seem to achieve the desired effect of diminishing the viewer's ability to discern pointless stupidity. behold the nadir of trivial hilarity and hand-clapping hi jinx.

Some　of the shows like(descriptions can't recall names/don't care either):

Admatic(ato-machi) show on at 21:00 on saturdays, features the best 30 locations of an area per week.

Dash-Mura - members of the group dash do local stuff and also show growing of foods, etc.

ITTE-Q: Fun Show that has 3 corners every week.

Trickster(my name) on at 18:30 on Fridays, pitches 2 teams in a contest to beat various challenges like pictures that change, fake vs original foods, etc.

24hr Cop/ or similar shows: those are just fun and informative.

TV-Champion, don't really like the new "TV-Champion 2" format though

Sasuke, Kasou Taishou, Before & After, Dream-house, etc but those are on rarely.

Another fun one used to be "Warau Inu".

Forgot there is an interseting show now on, where they try to re-unit people may it be family members, etc.

when the "talents" have atteneded Tokyo U., Waseda U. Keiyo U., Sophia U., and other high-level, high-profile Universities in Japan, then get in front of a camera and act like cluelss ditzes or stupid buffoons, I'd say that the J-Media is scraping the bottom of the barrel. On top of that, it's a supreme waste of money for these people to have had such great educations only to act like blithering idiots in front of the camera....

There isn't any. (quality)

turned off the tube here 3yrs ago, wow what a difference, the only time I attempt to watch a bit is during hotel stays but the off switch comes down hard usually pretty quick unless I am drunk.

disconnect people 99% of J-tv is a plague it will turn into a salaryman drone for the empire, beware or you will have yr brains turned to MUSH!!!!

Some of the shows mentioned above are mildly entertaining, but they do not fall into the variety show genre. As for those shows they are utter crap. I really can't understand what entertainment value people get from these shows. They promote bullying and violence towards others. Could you imagine any show in the west where on a regular basis one member smacked the other on the head if they made an inane comment. I find Sanma the most annoying personality on TV, but this current trend towards all comedian TV shows is disheartening.

For me it depends on the channels some got some good programs. I could do without NHK personally, Fuji-TV is hit and miss, NTV is good as is TV Tokyo.

I hate it.

I like Franchen on Enta-Kamisama. He makes me laugh.

Now allow me to differ from the usual 'it sucks' blah blah. I think Japanese variety programs are very fun and at times educational. One variety show I've seen recently highlights different countries and their cultures/customs, and have celebrities try to guess how the local people perform certain tasks. Very fun and informative. Things like that are very fun and way more entertaining than the garbage on American t.v. which I watch all the time (nothing but boring dramas about doctors, cops, and lawyers, and the only "variety" are dumb reality shows who the heck wants to see those losers). Yea not all is good but definitely more entertaining than a lot of stuff in other places.

I quite enjoy Fushigi Hakken and the Kantei thing (can't remember it's proper title - the fake copy of the Antiques Roadshow), but the 'talents' in funny wigs and make-up, hitting each other over the head with plastic hammers and falling about on the floor stuff leaves me cold.

Shows are stupid, we look like uneducated idots to the rest of the world

Shoutenn (笑点) on Sundays is good, as is Sazae San, Chibimaruko Chan and Atashinchi. They give a great perspective on a range of Japanese family set ups and common situaitons.

P.S., 90% is appalling.

I liked "Warau Inu"(up on the net) as it poked fun at the japanese culture a LOT. Just look at the "Happa-tai" skid ridiculed in the west as being funny/weird/ott. But it was a call for the Salary-man to break from the mold and do their own thing.

Never mind the skids of the one guy being asked to do impossible tasks by his boss and never getting thanked for doing them.

Same way that one female singer had a major hit about a song that featured the troubles of salary-man. Same with "Otoko ga tsurai yo" because they connect at the basic level.

Japanese like europeans do a lot of "Tongue in cheek" skids on their own lifes but they go over your head as being weird unless you know the culture.

Just my view.

rubbish.

PPS is=X are=O

I dislike Japanese tv programs for several reasons - too much shouting, they always eat food, and mostly the programs are boring.

forgot to say, the programs always make fools of the foreigners that participate/

Japanese tv is just tired and boring. Maybe entertaining if you happen to be under 5 years old. Tee hee!

Anything involving talento sitting around talking in studios is crap, but they do show some interesting documentary-type videos...stuff like Sekai Gyoten News, or that animal programme of Sunday nights.

I like the love hotel commercials

Has anybody seen that show where somebody eats something and half a dozen people watch him/her eat it to see if it's oishii and it is and everyone's astonished and then they all start shouting and then that woman says "Goo" and everyone falls about laughing?

It's effluent of the lowest degree.

I would rather go to the dentist than watch Japanese talent (good work, Misnomer-Man!) shows.

I think, as with all TV, there is some decent stuff, and some utter tripe. I quite enjoyed Debuya and IQ suppli...sadly, I think both of those programs are no longer on the air. There is one show, I think on Friday or Saturday nights, kinda late. . it is actually a political discussion. They don't try to be funny, they don't usually shout over each other trying to show each other up...but it is a serious, and sometimes very intense, discussion about a range of issues. I wish I could remember the title :P

Debuya is still　out there just the slot changed.

There are quiet a few programs like you are talking about, but than I am in tokyo and not nagoya so some of the programing will vary.

But agree,the programming gotten more serious and tends to focus on local/current issues more. Programs like "Takeshi's Castle"(80's) are now long gone.

As are short-lived programs like "Okusan wa gaikokujin", etc.

Has anybody seen that show where somebody eats something and half a dozen people watch him/her eat it to see if it's oishii and it is and everyone's astonished and then they all start shouting and then that woman says "Goo" and everyone falls about laughing?

Why it's on right now. On all of the channels. Again.

It's easy to entertain a bunch of 12 year olds.

Not good, but not worse than some other countries', although at late hours it makes you turn off the tv b/c there are so many baka-bangumi's and what's worse, the volume seems to increase the later it gets. (not to mention commercials) I do enjoy from time to time game shows and one of those children's talent seeking programs, where there are not yet on their teens kids who can play guitar, drums, and do all sorts of things you wouldn't imagine. My question: what is really a 'variety' show anyway

Absolute garbage. Where to start..... firstly everything is based around "Geinoujin" or TV personalities. The geinoujins opinion on everything or anything seems like its must be gospel... whether it be eating something - which is always "OISHIIIIII" - I mean who cares!!! If for any reason the program has to show a non geinoujin piece of footage the viewer is reassured that the geinoujin is still there by displaying their face in a small subscreen... this allows the viewer to view the geinoujins facial expressions... as the Japanese viewers need reassurance that the geinoujin is also enjoying this fantastic footage...

Then there are the one hit wonder geinoujins who come up with such fantastic phrases as follows: Nande daro- Nande daro, chotto chotto chotto, sonna no kannkei nai, GUUU, this catapults them to stardom and they continue doing these jokes... over and over again. The stand up comedy routines are also pathetic.... always the same, 2 guys up on stage - one guy is the fool the other is constantly dissing him "bla bla bla OMAE! bla bla bla OMAE! As the sense of humor in Japan is less about words more about action, better suited to small children.

And with the exception of NHK's airing of BBC's Planet Earth series, almost all documentaries have to be broken up into pieces with the geinoujin providing either commentary or turning the documentary into a QUIZ. I mean, who gives a toss if the geinoujin can guess whats going to happen next in a scene.

Sorry for the rant...

chinpira, don't apologise, I enjoyed it.

I agree with hikikomori08, chinpira... Well said!!

BTW: What is a variety show? People have mentioned lots of shows that I wouldn't call "variety" shows...

Of Japanese TV in general, there are a few shows I like, ex. 9:58am M-F, Kotaete Chodai: there's a theme, sometimes serious, sometimes funny (ex. abusive relationships or ketchi family members) and real people call in/email their own experience on that theme and the TV show does a re-enactment.

But the variety shows are mostly rubbish, for the reasons already mentioned.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=zCcBG91rAsA&feature=related

Terrible. Can you imagine American comedians doing shows where they just taste foods and then tell everyone how delicious they are?

Also, as said above, the humour is extremely childish. Gu gu gu gu! HAHAHAHAH

chinpira Perfectly said. Everything is correct.

And show me one single Japanese TV programme without cooking or eating something and saying OISHEEEEEE.

They are parthetic. Period

Farhaan,

Empty your inbox because you will get flooded with posts of programs that don't include those.

They are usually reserved for a certain time-slot and a few channels. I posted quiet a few programs that don't fall into your category and I got more.

Garbage...no wonder Japan is what it is. Anybody regardless of nationality watching such utter nonsense would soon turn into a drooling, sedated moron.

Japan TV programs, good for programing sedated escapism in illusion fools, of false propagandas.

If ever people get brains, they would be disadvantage to agendas of expert artists of false illusions propagandas in TV industry/movie industry.

Fiction is better than reality for many, so they rather escape in the escapism sedations promoted by TV/Movie expert artists of sedation illusions(fiction propaganda).

Many laughing all the way to the bank with those forking out bucks for more unlimited sedation illusions(fiction propagandas) on the box.

No wonder japan and rest of world are what they are turning out the same, with more consumptions of sedations garbage of worthless fictions on TV and elsewhere.

tv here is a really sad commentary on life in japan. idiots doing idioitic things with only the stupid camerapersons and themselves laughing. give me a laugh track anyday. they beat each other, make fun of each other, put each other in horrible siutations. maybe someday they will hit each other so hard that they will knock each other out and then we wont have to watch them anymore. oh, wait, THATS why i went satellite.

chinpira, don't apologise, I enjoyed it. I agree 100% What gets my blood boiling is the squeaky voiced characters who dot the screen to explain to the audience what they're looking at, a la Dr. Roman, Hige-jiji and Dr. Darwin. The NHK-BS foreign-news anchors have to explain, "This is BBC, it's from England, and they're talking about...." (Like NOBODY can figure out where it comes from or what the issue in the story is.) The kids weekly news is one of the sanest shows on TV in Japan. But THE question of all questions for me is: will the quality of this drivel improve even minimally when we are all the proud recipients of High Definition Digital Terrestrial broadcast effective July 24th 2010? Or will we continue to be treated to fat-boy Ishizuka chowing down with Papaya Suzuki and Gyaru Sone in some obscure location, doing their eternally annoying, "Mayoooo!" Or that moron in the Speedo swimwear doing his mindless hand pumping, "Sonna ni kankei nai!" God help us all! Come back "Rosanne" and "Married With Kids", all is forgiven!

I quite enjoy it. The above comments dissing all the food-oriented themes; these posters clearly don't understand the role of food in Japanese (and many other Asian) culture. Although I must admit, that I could do without Becky's orgasmic squeal of 'oishi' all the time (and several others). But all in all, variety shows every now and then are great fun.

Not that I mind hearing "Oishiiii!" all the time, but just once, I'd like to hear "Ugh - mazui!"

"That moron in the Speedo swimwear doing his mindless hand pumping, 'Sonna ni kankei nai!"

He was cracking me up with those two blow-up dolls the other week on Red Carpet! Hee hee!

Bring back Mini Skirt Police.......

Cable TV is a bargain when you consider you never have to come home to the TV blaring that crap again.

No more Gilgamesh Night, no more Super Jockey, no more Tonight 2...no more fun.

Some of the game show-types are pretty cool. The one on Monday Nights where the contestants finish by playing hyper airhockey is one that I enjoy, as well as one of the animal programs on Sunday night. But the rest, especially the ones where the celebrities act like total idiots are loathesome....

what is there to think of the quality when producers don't think of the quality nor do the viewers. However, some programs are good but then they are not under the subject 'variety'.

Quality? What quality?

Japanese TV in general is pathetic. I never watch it.

the question is very vague. What kind of TV program are we talking here? the endless talk shows? the family idiotic games? the slapstick jokes and nauseating comedians? the dumb and dumber quiz shows? the edited heavily influenced documentaries? I think the Japan TV system is brilliant? It kept people docile and sedated from the reality. A pretext of freedom and democracy but a country ruled like North Korea. Try making real comments and it will be edited by self appointed moderators. No, you don't need to tell them what to do, they are already programmed to do it without resistance. Can you find a healthy discussion about the perils of one day baitos, the lack of real jobs, the balooning budget deficits, the extent of politico-legal corruption, falling birth rates? Heck, even dentists are being paid 5,000Y per day and they wonder why such a working poor!!! The lists are endless yet you get only comedies and more comedies and more travelling. Never surprise me, media-politico-socio-legel system are held by the same powers that run this country.

Japan often produces some good films that regularly win prizes at international film festivals. These can frequently be original, inventive or informative. In fact they are a positive reflection on Japan.

By contrast, the mundane, childish and boring crap that gets put on TV should be seen as an embarrassment to Japan. I'm sure they can do better.

Drivel drivel drivel!!! no imagination, no talent, no interesting segments. sorry I lie the upper on these programmes is when they finish.

The wife had some dross on tv this morning where for at least 45 minutes, a group of women went to various ice cream shops and ate ice cream. All of the different ice creams were oishii, and the ones made from fruit tasted fruity. They continued to be surprised at this throughout, as did the panel of pundits in the studio who were carefully monitoring the eating of ice cream and all agreed that indeed the ice cream did look oishii.

Then, as a thrilling climax, somebody came INTO the studio and gave them some ice cream !!!!!!! and guess what? It was oishii and everybody started shouting about it.

And I sat fuming silently and began another day.

Wottock Hunt,

There is not a lot to laugh about in this world today. However, I want to thank you so much for your entertaining observations on TV. I do not know how long you have been in the country, but you have managed to do a very accurate satire on much of what can be seen on TV in Japan. In addition, since laughing is said to make us younger, thank you for the bit of the fountain of youth!

Wottock-Hunt;

That's absolute rubbish! A show where everyone said "oishii"? That would NEVER appear on Japanese TV. Seriously.

Now if some had thought it was all "oishii" and the rest had said it was "umai", then I'd have believed you.

The wife had some dross on tv this morning where for at least 45 minutes, a group of women went to various ice cream shops and ate ice cream.

What really grates is the reaction of the wife when I tell that watching this garbage will rot her brain. According to her, I just "don't understand Japan".

Watching this stuff, I have to admit it's true, I really can't understand Japan.

Japanese variety shows would be great, if you got rid of the "talent"

lets face j-tv is designed to act like a drug for the people, if thew twits on the tube look to have it bad & get wacked all the time it makes yr average J-person think their lives really aint that bad, especially when beer & shochu it really sedates the masses so they never have time to really think what or they they do what they do day to day, basically makes the nation zombie like

Yes, i hate does zillion food programmes where they always say oishii no matter what they eat. I am wrong sometimes they say Umai or Umeee!

And those comedians that milk out one gimmick they have that get's annoying after seeing it again and Again.

There are only a few programs i realy like; Viking challenge, Restaurant show (where the same panel go to an expensive restaurant, guess the prize and the loser has to pay the bill), Show za prize! Antique show where people try to evaluate their antique things.

Japanese tv variety programs are garbage. The same "talents", and I use this term very loosely. The same talents on all the same shows trying to be funny, but acting like idiots. As, well, we've got the food or cooking shows. That's the extent of Japanese tv: cooking, food, variety and news with dramas thrown in as well. Toss it all in the garbage except for a few good dramas.

Wottock, Great post. More truth there than I care to admit. I believe your wife and mine would become fast friends as Mrs. Taka is addicted to every show on J-TV where "oishi" and "umai" are uttered with tourettes like frequency.

Taka

Pure tripe and and it will never change, due to lack of pressure to do so as standards are so low for all broadcasters. Sadly they, the locals, live in ignorance of the fact that Japanese TV is an utter embarrassment. This country has many great points but TV is not one of them.

GW and Wottockhunt - Funny stuff!!!

Wottock's done this food/talent schtick before - about a year ago from memory - it was funny then, and is funny now. And true.

Chinpira's observations are also spot-on, especially his picture-in-picture comments:

If for any reason the program has to show a non geinoujin piece of footage the viewer is reassured that the geinoujin is still there by displaying their face in a small subscreen... this allows the viewer to view the geinoujins facial expressions... as the Japanese viewers need reassurance that the geinoujin is also enjoying this fantastic footage...

It's almost as if these people in fantasyland are telling the audience what to think and how to react - these images are training for the masses. I also am intersted in seeing how talentos' onscreen behavior is mimicked by the populace - large cries of 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeh!' and outrageous, falling off chair overreactions.

I am still astounded how the whole talento system works. I ask my wife who tells me the people are on TV so often 'because they're popular' - but how is this worked out? Are there regular surveys done about the popularity of talentos? If there are, how does this influence their placement on these 'variety' shows? I'd be interested to hear more.

I often wonder that in actual fact they only become 'popular' because they are slotted in on so many programs by agencies, and audiences just become used to their presence and respond positively. I think it's akin to the payola scams on 1950s radio in the US when DJs were paid to overplay certain records - the repetition of plays led to people wanting the record, and the sales increase.

In many other countries overexposure of a celeb would be a kiss of death for their career - people would tire of them quickly. But here it's the exact opposite - the more often the person is seen the better. That is, until some critical mass is reached, and the person disappears from view.

It continues to baffle me!

Things like that are very fun and way more entertaining than the garbage on American t.v. which I watch all the time

Come live in Japan and experience local 'variety' TV as a day-in, day-out experience as most of the other posters here have. Your rose-colored view of the programs might just change if you didn't have your local TV in America to resort to.

Remember ppl, Japan is 'The Church of Consumption' - even when it doesn't look like it... - you ARE being CM'd. (CM = Commercial) The Media here is always trying to sell you something, or someone.

Don't care which country you're in, if you don't like what's on the telly don't whine about it - use the OFF switch.

Don't care which country you're in, if you don't like what's on the telly don't whine about it - use the OFF switch.

Not all can do that - for many of these posters there are other members of the family present in the TV room who seem to thrive on this stuff. And it's not like you can change the channel to get a better deal either because these shows are endemic.

Therefore, my 'off' switch, in such a situation, is to get up and leave the room before I start to complain.

MrMukatsuku is right though. Everything on TV is being promoted, even the news has sponsors ffs. Waratte iitomo is the worst. Shameless hour long CM.

Careful blvtzpk, maybe cleo will suggest (cue the Evangelical Choir of Consumption) : 'Buy another television!'. Personally I don't watch terrestrial tv, opting instead for satellite tv, or the Internet. I still pop back to jp native tv to remind me just how bad it is, and to motivate me to use my time in a more profitable way.

Too many and most amount to nothing entertaining.

blvtzpk -

Therefore, my 'off' switch, in such a situation, is to get up and leave the room before I start to complain.

That works, too. Personally I use the internal Off switch - the kids when they're at home can watch whatever rubbish they like, I just turn off the TV-receptor brain cells and get on with something more interesting, like reading a book or cleaning the dogs' ears.

MrMukatsuku - It makes me mukatsuku for you to suggest that I'm a member of the Evangelical Choir of Consumption. Take that back, or I'll make you spend an hour watching Tamori! ;-)

Sounds like your TV programming is as insipid as ours is over here. But! Do you have a talk show where the guests are all trailer trash screaming about who's having an affair with their cousin or a 30yo mother with 10 kids and she doesn't have a clue who any of the fathers are?? Of course, fist fights break out on a regular basis with plenty of hair pulling and the audience cheering them on. Young girls strip for their fathers. When your programming goes that low, you'll know you've hit true bottom.

Heck; Why not emulate US and British tv shows, especially sitcoms.

Japanese tv is brainless, and uninspired, thay don`t even show Fox news, how low class is that??

2 years back I was at an expensive Japanese restaurant with a group of colleagues, it was the end of year party and everyone was having fun. It was teppanyaki and we were all sitting in front of the chef at the counter. Anyway, he goes along to each person and prepared something for each person, paused, they said it was oishii and he moved to the next person.

As this was going on, I thought to myself "I'm caught in one of those Japanese TV programs" cause if there was a camera it could have been on prime time. So I thought I'd mess with everyone.

My turn came and the chef, seeing a gaijin face, thought he'd make something freaky cause he thought I couldn't speak Japanese.

Food comes, I pause for a bit and say "kanari... kanari... mazuii" (quite... quite... tasteless)

Well, now the reaction would have been GREAT for prime time TV. The chef's smile disappeared, all my colleagues stopped talking, everyone is looking at eachother, the waiter called the manager. It was like the world stopped turning.

It was obviously a joke that did not go down well. The chef was offended, the boss was offended because he chose the restaurant... what a nightmare.

So, if someone can capture a true moment like that on Japanese TV, all the other stupid programs are forgiven.

Most TV worldwide sucks, except for a few good shows. Why, because the programming is for the local audiences who want to switch their minds off.

Seimei.

Very bad Joke and in very bad taste. You are lucky if you had done that with a client present the deal would have flopped.

BTW, I wouldn't recommend you to go back to that restaurant.

Japanese tv is the poorest i`ve evr seen, nuff said.

Sorry cleo, you're not a member of the Evangelical Choir of Consumption - with the current 'quality of Japanese TV variety programs' you dog must have very clean ears.

Oxymoron example: 'the quality of Japanese TV variety programs'.

I had a post removed too! It was a doozie.

A couple of weeks ago I saw that Weens had become a news commentator on one of the news programmes at around 10pm. He was trying his best, and didn't do too bad from what I saw. However, if that was in the UK (not that the news on the TV in the UK is that good) or any other country which aspires to serious news, the accusation of "dumbing down" would probably have made the front page of some newspapers.

In Japan it's perfectly normal. As blvtzpk queries, how these "talents" become so omnipresent really is quite curious.

Having not seen a single positive response to the question of "What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?" the judgement must surely be a resounding: "cr@p!"

Everyone wants to be famous, but doesn't want to put in years of work at stage school... are there any stage schools in Japan?

Current technology, used so often in the production of mainstream, J-pop singles, or any single for that matter, means that any old howler can sing like an angel. This promotes an endless stream of talentless bodies that will forever be paraded on terrestrial Japanese TV, who can do no more than warble into a microphone and make out like it's Friday night at the local karaoke bar. Only, next Friday night you are not on the TV, you've been dropped for a new flavour of the month.

The true talent, and I say this with a bucket of salt, are those who come into mainstream media via a 'traditional' Japanese theatrical background.

The point I am making is: The selection process of discovering 'Talent' and putting it straight on the TV is flawed. Talent must be developed before its debut. Oh, and I'm sick of the way the word 'debut' is used here in Japan. A debut is made ONLY AFTER the debutante has been polished and schooled in the ways of 'high-society'. The word debut in the Japanese context literally means: Here now, still debuting tomorrow, still debuting next week, and is gone after a month or so. A debut happens only once folks - one day, one time then your debut is over. I digress... Talent must be developed before its debut.

Being a performer in the TV Media light is a profession, and must be treated as such. Talent must be developed. First, three to five years of stage school would weed out the deadbeat-wannabes - wannabes who want all the fame but don't want to work at it. A school that produces everything from actors to writers to sound engineers. Once you have your stageschool production line going, it should steadily churn out cohorts of real talent. Second, and this will go against the Japanese salaryman ethos of: "Wring 'em dry and throw them away", your talent must be developed and grown through a series of increasing challenges.

I can't see anything like a stage school happening, but I though I'd express the idea anyway to promote a bit of discussion.

Comments? Ideas? Insults?

The Japanese use of 'talent' harks back to old TV studio (and maybe movie?) lingo - 'the talent' is whoever is in front of the camera - perhaps the underlying suggestion is that anybody in front of a camera has 'talent', but the reductive meaning is that they're just warm bodies to be filmed and transmitted to an auidence - possessing 'talent' in the general and traditonal sense is of no importance. Understanding that, calling the people who appear on Japanese TV 'talentos' ideally matches the industry definition - warm bodies.

blvtzpk - Might I presume that they are only 'warm' because of the studio lights? In all other respects they don't do anything that warrants their appearance in front of the camera!

Same as in any country, some are good, some are bad.

I tuned out to Japanese TV years ago and now it is all I can do to stop my child from watching it! I need to be more vigilant before his mind turns to mush...

amazing how the natives seem to love it - 5-1/2 hours per day, more than any other country in the world. how do they ever find time for their precious "hobbies"?

RepublicofTexas "Same as in any country, some are good, some are bad."

Congrats, you are the first person to post here who has any common sense.

I agree that there is some crap out there, but on average I would pick Japanese tele over what I had to see at home (being repeats of repeats, repeats of family shows a la wheel of fortune, repeats of crap that came over from the US, and interviews with the local celebreties who are in my opinion not a but more funny than the Japanese ones).

If all of you truly think that Japanese television is worse than that of your home land it can mean 4 things:

you are not watching Japanese television you are not watching television in your home country you are not watching either of them you are a liar

sarcasm123

This post is a joke huh!

Japanese tv is as low as it comes, heck! Probably N Korean tv is better. Tee Hee!

US tv is the best tv, most watched and exported. Don`t that tell you something. How much Japanese tv does the rest of the world watch, pecious little thank god.

US tv is easily world number 1, followed by the Brits, Japan must be at or very near the bottom of the list.

"US tv is the best tv, most watched and exported."

And as 95% of people are idiots, that proves it is crap indeed.

"Don`t that tell you something."

Well, since all Japanese mostly watch it, it means - by your standards - that it must be great!

"US tv is easily world number 1, followed by the Brits"

... both of which are English speaking countries allergic to foreign languages. Tell you what, when did a European movie last become a hit in the US? Ask the film critics what they think about European movies, and connect the dots.

Moderator: Readers back on topic please. The subject is Japanese TV programs.

USA Patriot obviously your name says it all..

'How much Japanese tv does the rest of the world watch, pecious little thank god.'

Want to know something? How much of the rest of the world can speak Japanese? I dont see Chinese shows in Australia and I dont see American shows in Japan. So please re think your comments. The reason why American shows are shown around the world are because they are in ENGLISH.

Please think before you say.

As i'm not living in Japan, i couldn't judge the quality of Tv Programs but on other hand judging from the quality of Japanese manga, i think that japan Tv programs must be good.

Other thing, we mustn't forget that, we humans, tends to see the problems than solutions and disadvantages than advantages so wherever you go you'll find that a lot of people don't like the national Tv programs. I'll take in example Canada, where i lived for 3 years; before i get there, i thought Canadian TV programs will be the best and once there i was disgusted by some TV programs and later realized that wherever you go you'll find good and bad and that everything depends on our perception of what we see.

The worst programming in the WORLD! So painful to watch!

But since Japanese people don't have access to anything else the TV stations can mass produce the crap as there is nothing else to watch.

gogogo..

Agree most of the japanese variety programs suck.

As for not having access to overseas programming there is cable/satellite(various services)/online streaming, etc for decades. Granted most is US-centric(AXN, etc) which I find rather meh.

Most of my Japanese friends use one of those services. Heck when I travelled overseas(business/leisure) I found the local channels just as boring and mind-numbing(grated some shows were good).

Just because they don't serve your flavour of mind-numbing crap .......

People are following me, I replied to this 3 year old news story :)