Summary
Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV (加トちゃんケンちゃんごきげんテレビ, Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen Terebi) 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.[citation needed]
| Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Variety show |
| Starring | Ken Shimura Cha Kato |
| Theme music composer | Tsugutoshi Kato |
| Composer | Akihiko Takashima |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| Production | |
| Producer | Toshiaki Takahashi |
| Original release | |
| Network | TBS |
| Release | January 11, 1986 – March 28, 1992 |
| Related | |
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 edit
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 edit
| Years aired | Title | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1989–present | America's Funniest Home Videos |  United States
|
| 1990–2014 | Australia's Funniest Home Videos |  Australia
|
| 1990–1995 | New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos |  New Zealand
|
| 1990–2022, 2024-present | You've Been Framed! |  United Kingdom
|
| 1990–1998 | Vídeos De Primera |  Spain
|
| 1990–1998, 2005–2006 |
Bitte Lächeln!/Bitte lachen! |  Germany
|
| 1990–2008 | Video Gag |  France
|
| 1990–1998 | Isto Só Video |  Portugal
|
| 1990–2000 | Drôle de vidéo |  Canada
|
| 1990–2004 | Videodinges |  Belgium
|
| 2014 | America's Funniest Videos Brazil |  Brazil
|
| 2014 | America's Funniest Videos Latinonamerica |  Peru
|
| 1990–2004 | De Leukste Thuis |  Netherlands
|
| 1990–2013 | Paperissima - Errori in TV |  Italy
|
| 1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007–2009, 2011-current |
Paperissima Sprint | Italy
|
| 1991–1997 | Låt Kameran Gå |  Sweden
|
| 1991–2002 | Video Loco |  Chile
|
| 1992–2019 | Сам Себе Режиссёр |  Russia
|
| 1994–2009 | Śmiechu Warte |  Poland
|
| 1995–2010 | Tak neváhej a toč! |  Czech Republic
|
| 1999–present | Natočto! | Czech Republic
|
| 2004–2009 | Bitoy's Funniest Videos |  Philippines
|
| 1998–2001 | Csíííz! |  Hungary
|
| 2006–2008 | Vidióták | Hungary
|
| 1990–2000 | Det' ren kagemand |  Denmark
|
| 1999–2006, 2012–2016 |
¡Ay caramba! |  Mexico
|
| 1989–2021 | Video Cassetadas | Brazil
|
| 1995–1998 | Naurun paikka |  Finland
|
| 2007–2013 | Вусолапохвіст |  Ukraine
|
| 1999–2003 | Smiechoty |  Slovakia
|
| 2007-2008 | Snutter |  Norway
|
| 2023–present | Videos de Graças | Brazil
|
References edit
- ^ HighBeam
- ^ "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. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Nicholson, Tom (2021-01-07). "Happy 30th Birthday To TV's Stupidest, Smartest Show". Esquire. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
External links edit
- "Tokyo Broadcasting Co. information about show"