Japanese TV Picks The Top Three Mythbusters Segments
This is a pretty interesting look at how Japanese TV changes (some might say repurposes) Western TV.
Here’s some of the things that are interesting to me:
1. The laugh track. It very much changes my experience of watching this show. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t make it better but I’m not completely convinced it makes it worse. It does however get kind of distracting.
2. The graphics. I hate to admit it but I kind of like the graphics. Does that make me a philistine?
3. The picture-in-picture. This definitely makes it better. I’m sorry but there’s nothing like watching a person’s reaction to a clip in real time. It’s like having a mirror up to the TV.
Hmmm. Now that’s an idea.
What about you? You like your TV the Japanese way or Western? Let me know in the comments. I’ll see if I can do a poll or something.
I gotta disagree with number 3. I’ve always hated that about Japanese tv. They’re always doing the PIP closeup of peoples reactions. Almost like its a guide for people who don’t know how to react. Its like… who are these people, and why should I care how they feel about whats going on? Meh… annoying.
September 8th, 2007 at 12:50 am
For the record, Mythbusters is regularly broadcast in its normal state (albeit with Japanese subtitles) on the Discovery channel here in Japan.
As far as this program goes, I enjoyed the truncated, cut-to-the-chase presentation of Mythbusters. It’s less scientific but a hell of a lot faster in its delivery of entertainment.
September 8th, 2007 at 1:44 am
I have always felt that Japanese TV is TV perfected. Variety TV that is. Its entertaining even if you don’t un derstand the language!
September 8th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I never really pay attention the PIP actually because I’m usually focused on what’s actually being shown. In this case, I’ve seen that segment of Mythbusters many times, but I did enjoy the way it was explained.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:28 am
I love the PIP thing in Japanese TV. It really shows how the Japanese want to stay aware of their social environment even when watching TV. Understanding the group energy is important.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
The PIP thing doesn’t bother me. But i don’t particularly like it either. I just kinda forget it’s there after a while.
One thing i don’t like are the almost constant “heh!” and “ho!”. Gets annoying after a while.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I wondered why the pshow could be in BAKA-JIKKEN….I like the show which is on Discovery channel and it always gives us a lot interesting tips/ideas which people hardly get into prove or investigate on. As a Japanese, it is ASHAME of other japanese way of view.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pm