[J-ENT] Televiews / Dramas vs the Olympics: Competing for television gold
June 13, 2008 by KNDY
In the latest Televiews column for the Daily Yomiuri, Wm. Penn wrote, “Who wants to compete with the Beijing Olympics? It is no mystery the summer drama season will take a back seat to the ultimate quadrennial media matsuri.”
“The festival frenzy is beginning already. The latest in Speedo swimwear is a nightly news story. Volleyball has suddenly become very important again. Athlete profiles are everywhere. TBS devotes two hours of prime time to Japan’s medal hopefuls on June 18, 6:55-8:54 p.m. The networks are escalating the pressure on the athletes and have staked their claims to front row seats for the action. NHK will broadcast the opening ceremony on Aug. 8. NTV airs the women’s marathon Aug. 17.”
“On Aug. 23, Fuji has the baseball finale and TV Tokyo the men’s soccer final.”
“When the Japanese TV networks’ famed medal mania inundates the nation in August, who will be worrying about continuing dramas? Just those of us determined to resist donning our happi coats and hachimaki headbands and giving in to the matsuri atmosphere and the medal frenzy as long as possible.”
“The summer season starts July 3 with Code Blue (10 p.m., Fuji), a series about a helicopter medical rescue team with Tomohisa Yamashita of popgroup NEWS as the copter pilot. Yutaka Takenouchi will be brought in to financially rehabilitate a hospital in Tomorrow, (July 6, 9 p.m., TBS). Miho Kanno plays the dedicated nurse.”
“TBS combines the gourmet, shitamachi down-home spirit and dramanga categories in Andonatsu (starting July 7, 8 p.m.). Shihori Kanjiya is the super wagashi (Japanese sweets) confectioner whose name sounds like an “an” (bean jam) doughnut.”
“Yottsu no Uso, set for TV Asahi in July, focuses on four good friends, each with a hidden secret, and features a great cast–Hiromi Nagasaku, Shinobu Terashima, Reiko Takashima and Michiko Hada. This suspenseful drama could be the summer’s best bet.”
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