Human Tetris: simple... but funny

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:17:55 +0200

Japanese game show contestants have been trying to avoid a pit of water by fitting themselves into a cut-out shape for years. Now, Americans are taking their turn. An expat in Japan tries to explain why the country's simple humour seems to be so successful abroad.

Originally launched in Japan in 2006, the game show's simple concept has since been exported to 16 countries including Australia, Russia and Denmark. Until now there has been no cash incentive, but the American participants will have even more reason to fit their bodies into the ever-unusual shapes coming towards them, as Fox, who is running the show, is offering a financial reward. Known as Human Tetris to its YouTube fans, it has been rebranded as Hole in the Wall for the US market. Fox is already organizing castings, and is insisting that people of "all shapes and sizes" are welcome.

Pop Idol from Iraq to Russia

Julien — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:17:00 +0100

Since the launch of reality TV pop-star contests, thousands of talented and talentless people have been able to get their 15 minutes of fame on primetime TV. Britain's Pop Idol concept is so popular in fact, that it has been sold to 110 countries worldwide. And there seems to be no cultural boundary that the more recent Star Academy can't cross. It's the fist Spanish TV product to be sold to both American and Arabic countries. Here is our pick of the most entertaining auditions and performances.

First aired on British television in 2001, Pop Idol is a TV contest that lets the audience decide on the winner. Star Academy, created by the makers of Big Brother, used the same concept with an added "I'm watching you" 24-hour-CCTV feel. Talent is not the only criterion for bagging votes on the programmes - public sympathy also plays a part. The winner of the first series of Pop Idol spoke with a lisp, and the second edition saw a clinically obese woman claim first prize. And the first male to win Star Academy suffered from cystic fibrosis and died shortly after his triumph.

The format of these Saturday prime-time shows modernised audience-voting with the introduction of SMS and digital ballots ("Press the red button on your remote to vote for Michelle"). The format was highly successful; the final of the third edition of Pop Idol attracted 10.6m votes.