> prom
> > o during an ABC news program... now I will vehemently
> avoid
> it.  "Reality"
> > shows of this type always suck,
>
> That's not why you watch this show.=A0 I've only
> seen one
> reality show in my life, and that was "Boot
> Camp."=A0
> Ignoring the fake drama of the reality show, the Japanese
> games are a hoot
> and I loved getting to see bits of Japan in the first
> episode as well as
> the bits of cultural stuff.=A0 That's the reason to
> watch this show,
> not the BS reality crap.

Yes, some Japanese game shows are damn funny, just from the absurdity, by w
hat people are willing to do, etc.  Those that go way over the top are ofte
n the best.  But, a lot are garbage, as well.
The problem is, US programmers (and maybe it's true) think that the current
 format is the only and the best (and if so, it bodes really poorly for Ame
rican morals and ethics).  That's the reason I won't watch it...  If it had
 actually had some great Game show moments, with JUST interviews with the E
nglish contestants, that might have convinced me to give it a shot.  But, n
o, they showed footage of the contestants going through all the same crap t
hey do on Survivor, Big Brother, Farmer, and all those other things the Maj
or networks think makes a controversial and entertaining show.
However, if they decide to bail on that format, and aim for something that 
might appear on Discover or TLC, that centers on simple interviews and the 
game show itself, instead of conflict, I'll give it a shot.  However, since
 that has NEVER happened with any "reality" show so far, no matter how badl
y it needed a retool from poor ratings, I don't thinkI even have to think a
bout it.  ^_^

>
> >> -- and I gave up on
> "Heroes").
> >
> > The first season
> was awesome, the second didn't seem like it
> > w
> > as
> written, acted, or filmed by the same people.  It seemed
> just flat and
> > l
> > ifeless.

> I think that can be attributed to
> the writers strike.=A0 The 2nd season had to be abrieviated
> just
> because of the writers strike.

No, unless the writers and a few others knew months in advance of the strik
e and were deliberately sabotaging their work, I don't think so.  Since the
 my outlook on the show was from the very beginning.
It kind of reminded me of most of the shows by David E. Kelley, and how alm
ost all of them lost their creative and artistic edge, as soon as he left t
he helm.

=0A=0A=0A