Banzai was a comedy gambling gameshow spoofing the Japanese gameshow and general television style. Each segment of the show was a silly or bizarre contest. The viewing audience was encouraged to bet with each other on the outcome of each segment.
Betting contests on the show included grannies playing chicken with motorised wheelchairs, amputee soccer, egg eating, blindfolded gas pumping, and the length of time it would take an object to hit the ground after being dropped off a roof. The show also sometimes intentionally skirts the bounds of what some people would consider appropriate television content, as in contests to guess which person in a lineup has the longest penis, or the biggest breast implants. Some minor celebrities took part in the stunts, and the occasional more major celebrity like Rutger Hauer.
The show's MC Mr Banzai, played by opera singer Masashi Fujimoto, did not speak except for saying and singing the word "Banzai" in different ways. Other regular contributors include Mr. Shake Hands Man, who maintains a handshake with a celebrity for as long as possible, and Lady One Question played by non-professional Shizuka Hata, who poses as a celebrity reporter, asks a single interview question and then stands silent. In both of these segments, viewers are invited to bet on how long it takes the celebrity to put a stop to the ruse.
Banzai first aired in the UK on Channel 4. It was later picked up for broadcast in Canada by Citytv, which broadcast the original uncut episodes of Banzai Wednesday nights at 10:30. Then in 2003, FOX picked up the series in the United States, airing its first episode on July 13. After six episodes, however, pressure from Asian-American groups led FOX to drop the show. In early 2004, the show found a new American home on Comedy Central. Reruns moved once again on March 6, 2006 to G4's Barbed Wire Biscuit block.
Controversy
In 2001, two years before FOX aired its first episode of Banzai, USA Network aired clips of the Channel 4 edition of the show as part of their Banzai Movie Friday. Asian-American groups objected to the clips. Meanwhile, the show's website (now removed) maintained:
- THIS SHOW CONTAINS SILLY BEHAVIOR, UNREALISTIC CHARACTERS, AND BAD VOICE OVERS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO INSULT OR OFFEND. DO NOT TRY ANYTHING AT HOME, TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY, OR IMITATE OUR IMITATIONS. ABOVE ALL, ENJOY THE SHOW.
When FOX picked up the show, the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans protested outside the a presentation of the show in Hollywood. Group co-founder Guy Aoki told BBC News, "It's just all the backward images of Asian-American people. This is like an Asian minstrel show. Can you imagine the black version of Banzai?" [1].
The show also caused controversy in 2002 when they attempted to record a sketch during the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's funeral. The film crew were reportedly trying to measure the speed of the funeral procession with a speed gun to allow viewers to bet on the speed. The police however stopped this before the procession could pass. [2]
External links
- Banzai on Channel 4's website
- Banzai on Comedy Central's website
- Banzai on G4TV's Website
- Boycott FOX to Stop Banzai - Modelminority.com's article on their online petition to FOX to keep Banzai off the air.
- FOX Defends 'Banzai' Against Charges of Racism - News story from Zap2it.com.