banal_o_rama
2003-07-21 06:51 am UTC (link)

I actually really like Banzai, but I think the racist pseudo-Japanese elements to it have got to go before I can wuv it. They don't add anything to the experience of watching Lou Ferrigno claim the soul of a small boy, and since it bothers so many people I think it'd be best for all parties if Fox would drop it altogether. After all, that thing on Man Network doesn't resort to accents (or anything resembling a translation) to present itself, and it works just fine.

Am I wanking? 6_6

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ruaki
2003-07-21 08:47 am UTC (link)

After all, that thing on Man Network doesn't resort to accents (or anything resembling a translation) to present itself, and it works just fine.

.. the Spice Channel has one now too?!

::ba-da-bum!:: Thank you, everyone, I'll be back next week!

... in all seriousness, I couldn't even make it past the introduction to the show, as the screaming pseudo-Japanese bits just was too raucuous for my girly-girly ears. As an aside, I actually enjoy Most Extreme Challenge, as on a whole, it takes nothing seriously, and so everything gets Equal Opportunity Mocking.

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Pin-pon!

banal_o_rama
2003-07-22 02:03 am UTC (link)

SUPAA LUCKY PADDLE-LESS PINGUPONGU!

I read an article where the show's bosses said that they wouldn't dub in other voices since those are the actors' real voices, and to change the voices would be offensive to them. Which is pretty thoughtful of them, I guess...

I dunno, it just seems gratuitous to me. Parody is one thing, but let's be honest--how many (normal) people knew that the Japanese have batshit insane game shows before they saw this? Parody without context just looks meanspirited.

::wankwank::

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Re: Pin-pon!

rann
2003-07-22 06:34 pm UTC (link)

Parody without context just looks meanspirited.

Actually, that's probably a good point. Parody requires one to at least be passingly familiar with the work being parodied, because that's what parody IS... it's a twist on something that already exists, that's where the comedy in parody COMES FROM.
(I wouldn't even wanna imagine what someone who wasn't aware that it was parody would think of Blazing Saddles...)

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ruaki
2003-07-21 09:02 am UTC (link)

NEON GREEN HURT EYES.

It hurt so much that I couldn't wade through the wank--in fact this 'white' screen I'm typing in now looks... purple ... but anyway, I especially love the argument over whether or not it's demeaning to Asians:

And also, my girlfriend's asian and everytime im over at her house, her family doesnt seem much different than everyone elses.

(::SNRK::)

Well, occasionally, little Asian boys do get beaten up, and occasionally, the reason the racists choose them is that they were repeatedly exposed to negative stereotypical programming...like this show.

(You mean it's not cause of anime? Well damnation, I've been doing it wrong then! /sarcasm)

But we do it for TEH FUNNY.

I have no real opinion of the show, as I can't get past the opening with it's screaming 'BANZAI BANZAI.'

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	ruaki 2003-07-21 09:03 am UTC (link)
	it's screaming 'BANZAI BANZAI. ::MURDERDEATHKILL that apostrophe:: (Reply to this)(Parent)

	? amasaglajax 2003-07-21 09:32 am UTC (link)
	How's it racist? (Have never even heard of the show before this post, so I'm just wondering how, in our politically-correct climate, a show of even mildly racist proportions could be aired) --Amasa (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: ? rann 2003-07-21 01:27 pm UTC (link)
	I dunno... Howard Stern gets away with it. So does Russ Martin, the "Texan Howard Stern". As long as they keep it mild and firmly ensconced in the flow of other jokes, they seem to get away with it. That said, I too would like to hear more information about this Banzai! show, as I've only heard passing mention from a friend who liked it. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	The icon says it all. feenix 2003-07-21 01:11 pm UTC (link)
	Who the hell decided that it would be a good idea to use LIME FUCKING GREEN as the background? That said: Ick. (Reply to this)

	oxydosic 2003-07-21 02:41 pm UTC (link)
	I watched Banzai when it was just some silly clips they put in between those cheesy late night movies they used to show on USA. It was really bizarre at times, but i didn't find it offensive. To me, it was just like those Japanese game shows where the contestants did all those bizarre stunts. I really thought it was just a parody of sorts of that. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	miracalix 2003-07-21 03:57 pm UTC (link)
	To me, it was just like those Japanese game shows where the contestants did all those bizarre stunts. I really thought it was just a parody of sorts of that. You are exactly right. Given that it's aired in the UK for a couple of years now to a certain amount of acclaim and no fuss at all, I'm bemused at the amount of wank it's started to generate. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ruaki
2003-07-22 01:19 am UTC (link)

Given that it's aired in the UK for a couple of years now to a certain amount of acclaim and no fuss at all, I'm bemused at the amount of wank it's started to generate.

Cause this is the United States! Land of political correctness unless it makes you money! Where everyone else has to worry about YOUR problem, even if it doesn't bother you in the least!

God bless America. ::wipes tear from eye::

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	ingrid 2003-07-21 08:44 pm UTC (link)
	When I was in Japan, I saw a lot of game shows that looked a lot like this program (except gorier.) Maybe it seems racist because of a general lack of exposure to the real thing? (Reply to this)

	sorchar 2003-07-21 09:36 pm UTC (link)
	I watched it for the first time last night and laughed my ass off. But that's just me. (Reply to this)

	katemonkey 2003-07-21 10:27 pm UTC (link)
	Damn, it's been on over here for several years -- and it's just like a Japanese game show, but nicer. So there! (Reply to this)

	(Anonymous) 2006-03-16 02:51 pm UTC (link)
	Wait, I missed a memo. How is systematic copying of a culture, for fun no less, in any way racism? Wouldn't that have to involve some bias to, y'know, someone's race? (Reply to this)