Sunday, October 28, 2007

Lost in Tokyo; lost from TV (part 2)

I watched the fourth episode today (there are only four episodes available out of ten shot), and I must say that the production team did a real effort in making the show a diverse one. Too bad the show's host isn't really interesting, and takes a long time to announce the winners and losers. I understand this needs to be to add a little suspense, but it really drags the show, while there are so many beautiful and funny things to show instead.

LiT Splash screen. Copyright lies with RTLToday's topic was fashion.
One group had to work with Tim, a famous street fashion photographer, while the others went to work in a fashion boutique, where they learn some Japanese in the process (Irrashiaimase "Welcome to this store").

They try their very best to help customers, but fail due to the language gap. The store owner didn't really seem to mind though; he said that the gaijin at least tried and they created a special atmosphere in the process.
Obviously, they lack certain traits, such as failing to tink of the little things (bow when presenting something to the customer, walk them to the exit after their purchase while carrying the bag), but this is to be expected.
Fun to watch, to say the least.

I found out where they stayed: Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu at a stone's throw from Asakusa station. Looks nice, rates aren't bad either.

What I really didn't like was the "judge", a guy called Yamasoto (an actor named Yujiro, actually). He appears in traditional-style clothing; dark blue kimono and hakama pants, and gives the contestants their mission for the day in the morning, as well as the outcome at night.
The post-production team did something with his voice to make it sound more impressive, I think, but it just annoys the hell out of me.

Natasja had to leave at the end of this episode. A good thing too; she wasn't open for it and totally refused to understand Japanese culture, so Japan is not her style. Shit happens, I guess.

All in all I must say that I'm really disappointed that they cancelled the show; RTL tries to up the ratings by pushing the new season of Heroes forward, rather than give this show a chance.
Apparently, the money lost on the remaining unaired LiT-episodes is less than what they gain with Heroes. A pity really; I found the show to be very entertaining, I'd like to see the rest of it, and while the website shows that the rest of it will be aired at a later date (yet to be determined), I'm not holding my breath.

Cheers, K.

posted @ 7:36 PM | Feedback (2)

Lost in Tokyo; lost from TV

I finally got around to watch the first three episodes of Lost in Tokyo; a Dutch piece of reality-TV (based on the motion picture Lost in Translation) where 14 unsuspecting Dutch men and women get to go and get a taste of the Japanese culture.
Every week, the group votes on two people who have to go out and perfom a task (varying from getting from A to B, to getting information about ceremonies), while the others are divided into two groups and go to work in order to understand aforementioned culture.

It's nice to see that they try and hit many aspects of the Japanese culture, but a pity they didn't show more of the Tea Ceremony, for instance.

The network which aired the show pulled it just four episodes into the series, and I don't really understand why.

Of course, I know why; RTL claims that the ratings went south faster than you can say "Konnichiwa", but after three episodes, I really enjoyed the show.
In fact; this is just about the first piece of reality-TV I throughly enjoyed. Must be the setting. ;)

Of course, the show also has its downsides; the female contestants are just self-centered, whiny bitches who are just too bloody selfconcious for their own good.
As a result, they downright refuse to put out some team spirit, which will cost them dearly later on.

The guys are a mixed bag; some guys are really trying to socialise, while others are more to themselves. The truck driver is my favourite; he manages to communicate with the Japanese people, even though he is unable to speak a word of Japanese himeself.

The show itself is edited like a videoclip; many switches and fast shots make the show sometimes look like a music video, which is annoying at some points.
Luckily, the camera isn't all over the place, so it's not a pain to watch or something; it's just they try a little too hard to mimic the pace of life in Tokyo.

All in all it's good television, and for a Japanophile like me very recognisable, to a point where I am able to point out on a map of Tokyo where someone is at that moment, just by seeing a fragment of a map on the street. Too bad that the contestants are mostly aware of the stereotypes, and regard stuff like cosplay and maid cafés as something pornographic.

My money is on the truck driver, though.

Cheers, K.

posted @ 1:22 AM | Feedback (2)