Yeah, there are quite a few unique JP Game Shows.
I do agree that MXC and Wipeout use too many childish jokes,
but that is also a bit of the charm in them for many. I have quite
a few friends who do not like JP Movies, Shows, or Anime for
whatever reason, but enjoy MXC. </shrug> Wipeout is a very
mild attempt at the genre, but I think with time if people tune in
it'll become alot more athletic based and less "OMG MUD!". It
really appeals at the moment to people like me who enjoy a cheap
laugh and those who grew up on Nickelodeon goo shows.

As for Takeshi's Castle on DVD you are right in it being hard to
find. You may want to try the original JP title of "Fun! Takeshi J"
in trying to find the discs. I have seen it before on DVD, S-VCD,
VCD, and VHS. The DVD's will probably be Euro releases and
the S-VCD/VCD will be bootlegs of the VHS tapes as far as I
know. It was never licensed in the US or JP for DVD to my
knowledge. While sorta lame I'd do my best to check with the
various Fun! Takeshi J and Takeshi's Castle fanrings to get
original episodes and make your own disc. I know this type of
talk is frowned upon here, so I apologize in advance. =(

Otherwise, you'll have to buy the MXC discs, turn off the english
dub and turn on the CC for a slightly less annoying viewing. It
however does not have the original JP dub or sub. =(

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bear "replicant" Powell
"Be resolute, fear no sacrifice, and surmount every
  difficulty to win victory." - Chairman Mo Zdong

Currently Playing: Warhammer Online CBT, Dark Age of Camelot

----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "AstroNerdBoy" <usr1054@astronerdboy.com>
> I thought "Majide" was likely fake, but I had some people ask me
> in e-mail since I blogged about it. As I couldn't find anything
> online AND the crowd seemed a bit staged, I figured that
> "Majide" may be fake. However, there are wacky Japanese
> game shows out there.
>
> As for "Wipeout," I didn't care
> for that so much. I watched it, hoping for a "Takeshi's
> Castle." I know a lot of people like MXC, Jeff mentioning his
> own enjoyment of that in an earlier post. I don't like MXC because I
> don't care for what "Takeshi's Castle" became (and I ranted
> about it in the early days of my blog). But "Wipeout" was
> somewhat like "Takeshi's Castle" and somewhat like
> "American Gladiators" without the gladiators. It felt like
> they were trying to make "Wipeout" funny with the dumb jokes,
> trying to bring in fans of "Takeshi's Castle"/"MXC,"
> and trying to bring in sports fans.
>
> Speaking of "Takeshi's
> Castle," I've looked and it appears the show was never released on
> DVD in Japan. Is that true? If so, why not?