Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV explained

Genre:Variety show
Starring:Ken Shimura
Cha Kato
Theme Music Composer:Tsugutoshi Kato
Composer:Akihiko Takashima
Country:Japan
Language:Japanese
Producer:Toshiaki Takahashi
Channel:TBS
Related:

is a Japanese television variety show that aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System around the mid-1980s. Starring Ken Shimura and Cha Kato, former members of the group The Drifters from Hachiji Dayo! Zen'in Shugo, the irreverent and satirical program would poke fun at contemporary society in Japan, and would feature comedy vignettes similar to those found on The Benny Hill Show or The Carol Burnett Show. Leslie Nielsen once made a special appearance on the show as well.

The duo also had a PC Engine video game, Kato-chan and Ken-chan, based on their antics, filled with toilet humor, and featuring them as playable characters. It was translated and censored for a Western TurboGrafx-16 release as J.J. & Jeff due to copyright issues and the toilet humor.

Home videos segment

As the home camcorder became more popular in Japan, the show included a segment featuring viewer-submitted funny home videos (home movies), on which Ken and Kato would comment. In 1989, American producer Vin Di Bona initiated a partnership with Tokyo Broadcasting System to develop a similar program in the west, which ultimately led to the successful America's Funniest Home Videos (which is still on the air as of 2023) and other similar shows worldwide. Some videos seen in the first season of America's Funniest Home Videos originally aired on Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan, and the latter remains credited within all episodes of AFHV as the original inspiration for the former. ABC, which owns half of America's Funniest Home Videos, pays a royalty fee to the Tokyo Broadcasting System for the use of the format (even though Kato-chan and Ken-chan left the air in 1992).[1] The British show You've Been Framed! (1990-2022) was similarly based on the same format.[2] [3]

International versions

International formats:!Years aired!Title!Country
1989–presentAmerica's Funniest Home Videos United States
1990–2014Australia's Funniest Home Videos Australia
1990–1995New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos New Zealand
1990–2022, 2024-presentYou've Been Framed! United Kingdom
1990–1998Vídeos De Primera Spain
1990–1998,
2005–2006
Bitte Lächeln!/Bitte lachen! Germany
1990–2008Video Gag France
1990–1998Isto Só Video Portugal
1990–2000Drôle de vidéo Canada
1990–2004Videodinges Belgium
1990คู่หู คู่ฮา (dubbed version) Thailand
2014America's Funniest Videos Brazil Brazil
2014America's Funniest Videos Latinonamerica Peru
1990–2004De Leukste Thuis Netherlands
1990–2013Paperissima - Errori in TV Italy
1990, 1995, 1997, 1999,
2001, 2005, 2007–2009,
2011-current
Paperissima Sprint Italy
1991–1997Låt Kameran Gå Sweden
1991–2002Video Loco Chile
1992–2019Сам Себе Режиссёр Russia
1994–2009Śmiechu Warte Poland
1995–2010Tak neváhej a toč! Czech Republic
1999–presentNatočto! Czech Republic
2004–2009Bitoy's Funniest Videos Philippines
1998–2001Csíííz! Hungary
2006–2008Vidióták Hungary
1990–2000Det' ren kagemand Denmark
1999–2006,
2012–2016
¡Ay caramba! Mexico
1989–2021Video Cassetadas Brazil
1995–1998Naurun paikka Finland
2007–2013Вусолапохвіст Ukraine
1999–2003Smiechoty Slovakia
2007-2008Snutter Norway
2023–presentVideos de Graças Brazil

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20121105171457/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18306720.html HighBeam
  2. News: 8 June 2017. US and UK versions of TBS's "Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan" respectively celebrate their 28th and 27th anniversaries!. Japan Program Catalog. Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan. 13 June 2021.
  3. News: Nicholson. Tom. 2021-01-07. Happy 30th Birthday To TV's Stupidest, Smartest Show. Esquire. 13 June 2021.

External links