Zenigata
February 13, 2005
銭金 Zenigata Kintarou is probably my all-time favourite show in Japan. It’s the quirkiest and funniest thing I’ve seen plus it demeans its guests.
The premise: three “supporter” guys each go film and interview a poor person. These poor people voluntarily submit their apartment, fridge, and pretty much anything the supporter finds out about them to jokes and prodding. It’s amazing how stupidity and poverty go hand in hand sometimes. Each time I watch this show, I laugh at how some people subject themselves to suffering just because they’re too lazy or too stupid to think otherwise. The supporters generally try to make fun of them as well which adds to the hilarity.
At the end of the show, three judges choose a winner to receive a 200,000 yen “prize”.
There are several kinds of poor people that keep recurring:
- the dumbass who works at a convenience store barely making a living and dreams of becoming a famous actor
- the quirky dumbass who has an idea and has already put it into action but just don’t seem to see the stupidity of their idea and why it’s not working
- the funny foreigner who’s studying in Japan and is living on a tight budget
- the unfortunate person who has fallen under certain circumstances and is really working and trying hard to make ends meet
While the last variant is least funny, they always win the well-deserved cash prize.
8pm Wednesdays, channel 6.
February 15th, 2005 at 04:32
Making fun of people less fortunate than you is fun. At least they get a prize. Money is definitely worth it for losing dignity.
February 15th, 2005 at 11:24
I find it odd that in this day and age, exploiting poor people is seen as entertainment.
February 17th, 2005 at 02:49
Nothing beats Bumfights for pure exploitation of poor people. Nothing!