Joost Blog

TGI Wedensday. Not only are we one day closer to the weekend (coming back from vacation is tough) but the "w" in Wednesday gives us the alliterative excuse to showcase some of of the more "out there" shows on Joost.

Up this week: Japanese reality TV shows. Japanese reality shows are, uh, shockingly creative in their approach - they have no boundaries. But somehow, through the torture, humiliation and seemingly impossible tasks, the "contestants" always have a sense of humor about their fate.

You can't really grasp it until you've seen some of the most outrageous Japanese "game" shows out there...

• Nasubi: Here's the scenario: you're a comedian who's dreamed of having your own TV show. One day, you get one - by essentially picking a winning number out of a hat. Your "prize," so to speak? You get to support yourself through your sweepstakes winnings. If you don't win food, you don't eat. If don't win soap, you're dirty. So you spend your days entering every sweepstakes and competition you can find - until you've raised 1 million Yen in money and items. Oh, and just for kicks, you're naked on national TV.

• R-mania: Now these lucky comedians are essentially kidnapped and taken to a deserted island. Rather than supplies, they're given cameras, videotapes, and a box of matches. They win if they "escape" to a place with people.

• Funako: Poor Funako...her love of bargains seals her fate. In this caper, every day Funako must find the cheapest possible ingredients for dinner. Then she must bike all over the greater Tokyo region (and it's <i>big</i>) to find them. Then she has to use these carefully selected ingredients to make dinner for her "family" of four..mannequins.

• 24 Hour Tag: Oh, this sounds like fun, right? Well, you're living in a gym, subject to an "it" at any hour of the day. And if you're caught, you're hit. Or you're kicked. Or you get bitten. And weapons are involved.

You know the most shocking thing about all of these shows? These people just don't give up - and they don't really know what they're going to win. Although being reunited with your family or not living on a desert island for the rest of your life might just be prize enough.