Daily Archives: June 24, 2008

Matrix Ping Pong

With “Wipeout” and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” both premiering on ABC today, we couldn’t resist posting this classic Japanese game show video. This was pre-YouTube. (Remember those days!!) Anyways, we remember the multi-meg file we were sent, when we first watched this. Now thru the miracle of YouTube, we can see it all over again.

Matrix Ping Pong was first shown on the popular annual Japanese show Kinchan and Katori Shingo’s National Costume Competition. No description we write can compare to just watching the clip. If you have never watch Matrix Ping Pong, check it out below.

Watch Matrix Ping Pong

Finishing the Game on DVD


Finishing the Game by Justin Lin comes out on DVD today. Grab your own copy of Finishing the Game today!! See al your favorite Asian American stars including Roger Fan, Sung Kang, and Dustin Nguyen.

Finishing the Game synopsis

Background: On July 20, 1973 at the zenith of his popularity amongst fans and continuing rise of his stardom both within and outside the film industry, Chinese American martial arts action star Bruce Lee — suddenly and unexpectedly — died while in Hong Kong. He was just 32. Within six weeks of his death, “ENTER THE DRAGON” was released and instantly became an international box office smash cementing his legend, albeit a posthumous one.

At the time of his death, he was at work on a passion project entitled “GAME OF DEATH” for which a 12-minute action sequence had already been shot and vaulted at the film studio. Unfazed by this “minor” distraction, and perhaps equally shocking due to the star’s death, the film’s stony executives callously made the decision to complete the unfinished film by rushing to find a replacement for its deceased leading man and star.

FINISHING THE GAME delves into the exhaustive, worldwide search for that replacement through a period re-imagining of events as seen through the eyes of five somewhat unlikely yet, prime candidates. A wannabe b-movie actor who shares the same initials as the legend; a starry-eyed dotor; a traumatized refugee; a southern bumpkin with a penchant for chili fries and an Asian American activist of questionable ethnic origin — all vie to follow in the legend’s sizable steps, but ultimately fight for
something far removed from a career-making role.

As the lengthy audition process intensifies and good-natured camaraderie gives way to backstabbing rivalry, the five subjects’ eyes are opened as they learn that the scripted game pales in comparison to the real one.

Watch the Finishing the Game trailer

Here’s the Official Finishing the Game Music Video! “Satisfaction” music video created and performed by Far East Movement

I Survived a Japanese Game Show

I Survived a Japanese Game Show” will be the second of 2 Japanese game show related programming that will premiere on ABC tonight. Unlike Wipeout, this show is more like a reality show. 10 Americans put on Japanese game shows, final winner gets $250k. ABC has not put out too many clips on this show. (Wipeout has much more marketing support.) According to Yahoo!, “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” ranks near the bottom of the most searched new summer reality programs. We think “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” will not survive the summer.

Here’s ABC’s description of I Survived A Japanese Game Show

I Survived A Japanese Game Show has begun shooting in Japan and will premiere TUESDAY, JUNE 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) on ABC. This unscripted reality/game show takes an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at 10 Americans – many of whom have never traveled outside the United States — who are whisked away to Japan and compete in the ultimate Japanese game show…with hilarious results. The final winner will take home $250,000.

Two of the games in the premiere are:

* “Why is This Food so Hard to Eat” — Why? Because the food is attached to the head of a teammate who must run in place on a fast-moving treadmill, while the first teammate leans over a platform and tries to eat from the moving dish.

* “Big Bugs Splat on Windshield” — Watch the contestants go “Splat!” as they dress up in human sized bug suits and launch themselves into the air and onto a giant car windshield.

Guiding the American players through their stay in Japan will be Host/Interpreter Tony Sano (Spring Break in Japan, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight), an American actor who is fluent in Japanese; a house mother and resident pot stirrer, Mamasan; and the witty Game Show Host Rome Kanda (Pink Panther, Saturday Night Live), who leads the contestants through all of the zany challenges.

Watch the commercial for “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”

Wipeout on ABC

Wipeout will be the first of 2 Japanese game show related programming that ABC will air tonite. Essentially, Wipeout is a rip-off of the Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle. If you watch the clip below of Wipeout, it looks like MXC (a redubbed version of Takeshi’s Castle) on Spike TV, except the contestants are not Asian. Also the commentary as the contestants “wipeout” is identical to MXC’s style.

Based on the marketing strategy, ABC is placing the biggest bet on Wipeout rather than “I Survived a Japanese Game Show“. Looks like the are using Wipeout as a lead in for “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”. According to Yahoo!, Wipeout barely made the top 5 on the most searched new summer reality programs. We think Wipeout will “wipeout” before the summer is out.

Here’s ABC’s description of Wipeout

Human cannonballs! Human pinballs! Crashes, smashes and mud splashes! Twenty-four thrill-seekers will compete in the world’s largest extreme obstacle course designed to provide the most spills, face plants and wipeouts ever seen on television, in Wipeout, a painfully funny new reality series premiering TUESDAY, JUNE 24 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Each week 24 daring new contestants of all ages, shapes and sizes will go head to head through four rounds of grueling and physically demanding but wildly hilarious obstacle courses to win the title of Wipeout Champion and the grand prize of $50,000. The contestants and the courses change every week, with over-the-top obstacles including “Dizzy Dummy” the “Dirty Balls” and “The Dreadmill” – which will have contestants jumping hurdles on a 40-foot long treadmill at warp speed. In the end, only one contestant will win, while everyone else will Wipeout!

Big Balls! Dizzy Dummy! Sucker Punch! Topple Towers! Killer Surf! are just a few of the wild and wacky obstacles our contestants will attempt to master in the season premiere. Contestants include a a deputy sheriff, a pastor, a go-go dancer, a masseuse, a waitress, a car show model, a senior credit manager and a handyman.

“Wipeout” is hosted by John Henson (E! Entertainment’s “Talk Soup”) and John Anderson (ESPN’s SportsCenter). Jill Wagner is co-host.

Here’s a clip of Wipeout: