Ever wonder what the Japanese think people in the United States would like to see on TV? Well, if the pilot of
"Amerika wo Warawasero" (Make America Laugh) is successfully sold to American executives you may not have to wait that much longer for an answer.
TBS is working in conjunction with a Japanese talent agency and a U.S. production house (Reveille) on a show concept where Japanese comedians propose show ideas for American television. Masi Oka, who played Hiro Nakamura on the show "Heroes" is producing the effort as he hopes to continue to breakdown barriers to the U.S. television market.
In the past, when a show is being pitched to an american company from a foreign source the standard operating procedure includes the use of subtitles as they try to sell the concept or format of the show. However with "America wo Warawasero", Oka chose to simultaneously film two pilot episodes, taking time to use both an English speaking and Japanese speaking host. If the show is picked up by an American company, Oka is believed to have a collaborative role in its production.
"There is a chance that Japanese comedians will appear in the final U.S. version, but basically the idea would be to make the show in the U.S. using American talent," Yorihiro said.
The show idea is interesting because it illustrates that people outside of our borders think about american entertainment, even to the point where they theorize what we might like. It also shows how hard it is to break into the american television consciousness. Not many shows from Japan make it onto U.S. airwars yet the reverse is far from the truth. The U.S. exports entertainment but rarely imports as it plays its roll of the colonizing media force. If TBS is able to find a home for this show it would be interesting to see what the Japanese, of all countries, might think Americans enjoy. Considering there programming is a little bit out there, I'm going to assume that their ideas would never catch on. On that note, I'll end with this...
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