"I Survived a Japanese Game Show"

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

06/26/2008 06:18:12 PM · #1

So I read a review of the new summer shows a week or so ago, and I thought this show seemed like a pretty stupid premise. Now today I find out that an acquaintance of mine is one of the 10 contestants...! WTF?

Those of you who know me know that I've been involved with the Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, PA, for a long time. Ben Hughes is the guy who yanks Punxsutawney Phil out of his hole on February 2nd (he's his co-handler). For many years he was my liaison with the group. And Ben is a web design client of mine.

I had a meeting with Ben a couple months ago, and he had mentioned that he was going away on a trip, but he was pretty vague with the details. Apparently he was heading off to do this show, and wasn't able to say so!

Anyway... it just seems funny that I'd *love* to be on the Amazing Race, or Survivor, or whatever, and people I know seem to end up on the show all around me. Go figure!

Is anyone else watching this show? You can see the whole episode on ABC's web site (I just watched it online since I had no idea he was on it until today). Root for my buddy Ben!

Message edited by author 2008-06-26 18:18:50.

gwe21

Nikon D300

06/26/2008 06:48:20 PM · #2

we watched it the other night. I thought it was pretty funny. We watch Japanese game shows all the time... The contestants sure didnt seem to realize they were going on Game Shows like that! !hahah

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

06/26/2008 07:12:44 PM · #3

I caught a little of it the other night while at work, pretty funny. I used to watch a lot of Japanese shows (especially game shows) while stationed in Okinawa, it didn't matter that I didn't speak Japanese it was just fun watching them...the Japanese version of Deal or No Deal was too funny.

As for everyone around you getting on shows it probably means you're next.

Yomi

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR

06/26/2008 08:05:02 PM · #4

I love watching Japanese game shows as well. When I lived in Okinawa as well I found Takeshi's Castle and watched that every week. I watched this show this past week and loved it. I thought it was going to be different than it was, but it was funny. And that is really how their game shows are.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/26/2008 08:30:35 PM · #5

Originally posted by sabphoto:

As for everyone around you getting on shows it probably means you're next.

I thought the show was pretty good, too, despite thinking it was going to be stupid :) I hope I'm next! I think I'd do a good job of filling some show's quota for annoying middle aged guy.

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

06/26/2008 09:45:53 PM · #6

I thought it was a great show and so hilarious!

Good luck to Ben! And I hope you get your wish to join one of the shows, soon! :)

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

06/26/2008 10:34:48 PM · #7

I live in Japan, but don't actaully watch very much TV. Although the TV might be on, I prefer to be at my computer. ;-)

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

06/27/2008 02:38:54 AM · #8

Did you read the message boards? A bunch of folks up in arms that they're "making fun of" and "degrading" Americans. Obviously they've never watched a real Japanese game show!

06/27/2008 08:31:58 AM · #9

Hey coolio! My wife & I watched the first episode so far and had a lot of good laughs, so now we've got the PVR set to record all the episodes. I'll tell her your story and we'll root for Ben!
:-)

06/27/2008 09:30:03 AM · #10

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Hey coolio! My wife & I watched the first episode so far and had a lot of good laughs, so now we've got the PVR set to record all the episodes. I'll tell her your story and we'll root for Ben!
:-)

06/27/2008 09:38:10 AM · #11

When they showed he was from Punxsutawney in his caption, I immediately thought "groundhog", but oddly enough I don't remember anybody in particular for wearing a top hat. I'm probably desensitized to unusual clothing on TV.

Originally posted by alanfreed:

I thought it was funny that in a lot of the early scenes, Ben was wearing a top hat, which is what the groundhog guys wear on Groundhog Day. I'm sure they wanted him to wear it to make that connection, but they never mentioned on the show that he's one of the groundhog dudes, so he just looked like some guy who really enjoys wearing top hats. His bio on the ABC web site does mention his groundhog gig.

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Hey coolio! My wife & I watched the first episode so far and had a lot of good laughs, so now we've got the PVR set to record all the episodes. I'll tell her your story and we'll root for Ben!
:-)

06/27/2008 10:00:27 AM · #12

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

At the beginning he was wearing it in pretty much every scene ("Hi. I'm Ben. I enjoy wearing top hats."):

Come to think of it, I have a lot of my own pictures of him where he's wearing the top hat. Maybe he does like them...?

06/30/2008 08:30:44 AM · #13

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
When they showed he was from Punxsutawney in his caption, I immediately thought "groundhog", but oddly enough I don't remember anybody in particular for wearing a top hat. I'm probably desensitized to unusual clothing on TV.

At the beginning he was wearing it in pretty much every scene ("Hi. I'm Ben. I enjoy wearing top hats."):

I think I am desensitized! If I were watching that on TV and you asked me to describe him I'd say, "a guy carrying a shoulder bag." :-)

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

07/01/2008 09:08:57 PM · #14

Just saw that ben has to leave the game cause he is sick...hope he feels better real soon.

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 21:09:14.