|
AKBINGO! Jumping Rope J-Pop Style
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 14, 2009 in Japanese TV
AKBINGO! a variety show which features the J-Pop group AKB48 which has so many members that they actually divide them up into different teams. In this episode the competing diva troupes has a show down by jumping rope! The fate of the young lady who is hot by the rope? Well she’s forced to dress up in nerdy eye glasses and must face the taunts of her fellow team members: Read more… It’s the Fit’s Soft & Long-lasting Gum Dance Contest
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 13, 2009 in Japanese TV
It was only a matter of time until virral video marketing found a way to Japan — in this case this ad campaign is for Fit’s Gum which is manufactured by Lotte. I have to say that the dance music is rather catchy and i like the added touch of the secondary dancers: The first who is a mannequin and the second girl in the dog outfit. By the way you’ll notice the ever so cute Akita Inu doggie in the lower right corner of one of the spots. Read more… Remembering the Master of Disaster: Irwin Allen
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 12, 2009 in Cinema, Television
On this day in 1916 film and TV producer Irwin Allen was born in New York City — in his career of over thirty years he created a slew of amazing show like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants. In the 70s he turned his talents to disaster film, producing such classics as The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. Read more… The Eagles are Back! The Spacecraft not the Rock Band…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 4, 2009 in Hobbies and Collections, Television
 Nick Tate as Captain Alan Carter As a child of the 70s I loved the Eagles — no not the infamous rock band (although I do like the Twilight Zone plot to Hotel California) but the de-facto spaceship from Space:1999. The focus of the show was Moonbase Alpha of course, but the Eagle was the real workhorse of the show. Unlike Star Trek the poor Alphans didn’t have any transporter technology so the Eagle was vital for everything from visiting planets to moving about radioactive waste material. The industrial design of the craft was nothing short of brilliant a the mid-section could be swapped for modules that transported people or radioactive waste containers. Even better yet the head of the craft could be separated in case of emergencies. Read more… 24 Patriotic Achievements of Jack Bauer
Posted by John Martone on May 25, 2009 in Television
If there’s one thing I know, its that the United Fictional States of America owe more to Jack Bauer than any other American Figure. Washington? Beat up British tea drinkers. Lincoln? Preserved a Union… once? Nearly singlehandedly, Jack Bauer has saved us from biological attacks, nuclear weapons, and manipulative First Ladies. While in no way a complete account, I’d like to highlight 24 such accomplishments. Oh yes, and spoilers fly like candy… Read more… Charlie Sheen Selling Smokes in Japan
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 22, 2009 in Japanese TV
This vintage Japanese commercial for Parliament Lights looks to be from the late 80s — in fact it feels so cliched that it almost seems like a parody ad from Saturday Night Live. This ad also interesting for me to look at this because cigarette commercials were banned in the United States in 1965, so even seeing a spot for smokes is somewhat surreal in any language. The Drifters: The Gambling Skit
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 15, 2009 in Japanese TV
As part of my obsession with Japanese comedian Ken Shimura I came across this clever comedy skit from 1984. In 1974 Shimura joined the Drifters who started life a rock band and comedy group in 1964 (think old school variety show routines). They had a very popular show on TBS from 1969 until 1985 which was called Hachijidayo, Zen’inshugo! (It’s 8 p.m., Everyone Together!”). The humor in the show pretty low brow by Japanese standards, although what I like about watching it is that you don’t need to speak Japanese to get the jokes which in this case can be very visual. One friend of mine once derided Shimura as “the Benny Hill of Japan” but as someone interested in animation I rather appreciate visual comedy, so to me Ken is a treasure. Spence is a Cat — Meow!
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 9, 2009 in Japanese TV
I’m not 100% sure what show this is, but I know for certain that it’s a segment from a young child’s educational TV show which is produced by NHK in Japan. When I first started watching this I just assumed that I was in for two minutes of the cat being taunted by the singer in the video, but the addition of cat and mouse cosplay actors made me laugh right away. A Rube Goldberg by Any Other Name…
In this article New York based artists Nick Kent gives us a riveting world tour of all things Rube Goldberg: I was browsing Japanese DVDs at a bookstore the other day when between the anime and live concert discs I spotted strange wooden contraptions on the covers of a pair of DVDs. Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: The 33rd Super Sentai Series!
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 4, 2009 in Japanese TV
I kid you not — Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is the 33rd Super Sentai Series created by Toei to sell an never ending tide of toys! Since the 70s the Kamen Rider formula hasn’t changed much, but why mess with success? In fact not only has this series done well in Japan but there are still American kids buying Power Ranger toys years after that series came here in 1993 (which looks quite primitive to the special effects in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger). Read more… This Mystic Seer Predicts a Lack of Royalties for Bill Shatner
Poor William Shatner! He creates the character of Captain Kirk and doesn’t even get a damn cameo in the upcoming Star Trek film which will no doubt generate millions of dollars worth of merchandise. But if that isn’t enough now they’re cashing in on his Twilight Zone work as well! Shown above is the Twilight Zone Mystic Seer Bobble Head which is based on the classic 1960 Twilight Zone episode Nick of Time which featured a ‘mystic seer’ fortune-telling device. The episode opens with this stunning narration by Rod Serling: Read more… Get Ready for Work in Only 5 Minutes!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 24, 2009 in Japanese TV
This is a cute segment from a Japanese TV show which shows off how to get up, make breakfast and get dressed for work in five minutes. Although it’s somewhat telling that the segment is eight and a half minutes long… Invasion of the Robo-Girls: J-Pop Cyber Sounding Singers
Posted by Guest Author on Apr 20, 2009 in Japanese TV, Tech
In this article pop culture pundit Nick Kent gives us his insights into the growing trend of J-Pop singers who want to sound cyber: I’ve been noticing a mini-trend in Japanese pop music lately consisting of pretty female singers singing with android sounding vocals rather than natural sounding ones. I can’t help but to think Cher’s 1998 hit single “Believe” makes her the Borg Queen of this phenomenon: Read more… Domo is Dead: Long Live On-Chan Nendoroid!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 17, 2009 in Japanese TV
Time was not too long ago that Domo was the coolest thing not just for me — but for any self respecting hipster, creative professional or occasional otaku. But alas our favorite razor toothed character who was all but unknown in Japan conquered mainstream America, before you know it every damn yabbo could pick up a t-shirt at Walmart. But fear not as I have discovered a worthy mascot replacement: On-Chan Nendoroid (shown above) was created in 1997 to represent the Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co. and he sports a pet monster called Guchi. So if you want to be the first kid on your block to own your very own Nendoroid this figurine can be ordered from National Console Support, Inc. By the way here’s Nendoroid in action: Read more… Monsters Inc. at Tokyo Disneyland
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 16, 2009 in Animation, Japanese TV
These two commercials for the Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! attraction at Tokyo Disneyland are enjoyable on two levels: First it’s great to see these familiar Pixar characters speaking Japanese, it almost gives them an anime like quality. Next on the first ad above I love the intercuts of the typical Japanese family mirroring the actions of the animated characters. In fact the high quality of the Japanese voice actors almost makes me want to re-watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles just to see what they did. Read more… What Would Happen if Captain James T. Kirk Met Dr. Who?I got a kick out of this fan made film which combines footage from the original Star Trek series with contemporary Dr. Who. The video is titled Doctor Who – Trek Through Time Part II – The Wrath Of Caan Parody Easter Special 2009 and is by Kelvington who has done a number of other well done projects which kitbash sci fi classics together. AKBINGO! Top Idol Competition
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 28, 2009 in Japanese TV
Shown above is a segment from the March 25th episode of AKBINGO! a variety show which features the J-Pop group AKB48 which includes some 46 divas (well they started with 48 young ladies but that was several years ago) divided into three teams. The group is unusual in that once a week they preform at their own theater which is located in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. Read more… As a Fanboy I’ve Always Deeply Hated the SyFy Channel
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 17, 2009 in Television
I’ve loved science fiction for almost as long as I can remember my life — as a child I grew up screaming if my parents would drag me from watching a Star Trek re-run (in black-and-white no less) to waste time on something trivial like dinner! And I came of age in that magical time of the late 70s to the early 80s and watched every new TV show from Space:1999 to Red Dwarf. And you want to know a little secret? I’ve always hated the Sci Fi channel (now branded the SyFy Channel) from day one — here’s why: Read more… Phoenix Five: A Groovy 70s Low Budget Aussie Space Opera
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 27, 2009 in Television
“The year: 2500 AD. The ‘Phoenix Five’. The crew: Captain Roke, Ensign Adam Hargreaves, Cadet Tina Kulbrick, and their computeroid Karl. Their mission: to patrol the outer galaxies for Earth Space Control, to maintain peace, and to capture Zodian the humanoid, who with the aid of his computers Alpha and Zeta endeavours to become dictator of outer space.” Read more… Peanut Butter and Chocolate: The Food of Nerds
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 16, 2009 in Television
I hadn’t realized just how geek focused the early advertising for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was until I came across these two spots: The first advert above is from 1980 and has a bit of a Star Wars feeling to it, while 1982 commercial below is inspired by the first generation of home videogames. Mickey Mouse Dalek
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 11, 2009 in Dr. Who
I think anyone who who has found Disney a bit corporate and cold would appreciated this Mickey Mouse Dalek by illustrator Darryl Cunningham. Darryl also does an amusing web comic called Super Sam and John of the Night which is well worth checking out. Latest Land of the Lost Trailer
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2009 in Cinema, Television
This latest Land of the Lost trailer goes into a bit more detail than the Superbowl spot — I have to say that I love the idea that the producers have decided to make this a comedy instead of trying and botching up a more serious film. While I loved the fact that the original series had some A+ science fiction writers on board Hollywood just doesn’t have what it takes to pull that off, so it was smart move to do what they do best. Tess Tea: A Very British Drink for Japanese Anglophiles
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 4, 2009 in Japanese TV
This 80s advert for Tess Tea has a soundtrack that either inspired by the Katrina and the Waves hit Walking on Sunshine — or — the earlier Clash single Hitsville U.K. Although the irony of this is that much of British new wave music from that era owed a great deal to a reggae dancehall rhythm. I couldn’t find out much about Tess Tea online other than the fact that it was a brand from Suntory that must have been popular in the 80s. Here’s another anglophile commercial for Tess Tea from 1984: Read more… The Sapporo Ichiban Instant Fist of Death Technique
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 3, 2009 in Japanese TV
There’s something slightly violent lurching under this ever so moe commercial for Sapporo Ichiban instant noodles. From my crude translation my understanding is that these instant bowls of wonder come in three varieties: ramen, miso and udon. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 2025 Fanboy.com All rights reserved. Theme by Laptop Geek.
