Takeshi's Cast Japanese madness (Takeshi's Castle)

Member Name: dove3066

Product:	Takeshi's Castle
Date:	04/02/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Silly, fun, no brain power required, pure entertainment

Disadvantages: On at a stupid hour in the morning

This programme succeeds in the way that wipeout never can. This programmme is hysterical. It is currently being shown on Virgin at some unearthly hour of the morning - so set the recorder.

The show is Japanese so you know its going to be mad - what is it about Japanese game show contestants that seem happy to put themselves within an inch of death and smile whilst doing so- do they not have health and safety over there??!!!

The show starts with about 100 contestants who progress through the programme carrying out all sorts of mad antics - they may have to run headlong into a door which may be only paper and so they rip through it or it may be a solid door - I must confess this games makes me laugh so much when it is a real door and they just bounce off it - there is nothing funnier.

Some games are more skill based - such as jumping from podium to podium whilst a spinner moves around - those of you who have seen wipeout will be familiar with this sort of game. There are other silly games that involve the contestants running across stepping stones in a river - some of which are fixed and others which aren't - so they end up in the water if they pick the floating ones , trying to cross large spongey drums that spin, and another one of my favourites crossing a rope bridge whilst having footballs fired at you.

How no-one is injured I don't know but they all seem to get up afterwards - perhaps its that Japanese mentality.

The final round involves the 4 or 5 remaining contestants driving around in bumper cars with water pistols attached. They have to perforate all the other contestants and the guards paper discs with the water pistols to be delared the winner.

We have seen someone win once - but all that happened was they cheered - no big trophy - no big cash prize - well not that we saw.

The series is commentated by Craig Charles who does have a very wry sense of humour - good fun

Summary: Great fun, laugh at someone else they won't know!!!