SASUKE 25 format

[lars072]

Not many poeple here have talked about this, but I still thought that #25 was part game show- part tourism bureau video. I mean, I liked having participants from different areas of Japan and the world (Europe?) but even my wife was asking me what's with all the fruit and wildlife? It was like they were promoting Japanese tourism during the show.

Anyways, I think the producers should make some major changes for #26. Promote the darn thing for one and they had better do something BIG- maybe bring back Kane! ;D

Let's have discussion on SASUKE 25 format and possible changes for #26 here.

I'll start....bring back those Japanese celebrities and famous people that noone else in the world knows about. Bring back the joke and wacky competitors that have no chance of clearing the first obstacle. Bring back Terek and Jovtchev (ok that's for me). Bring back Yamada (that's for ube ). Bring back the muscle musical people. Bring back...you get the point.

[arsenette]

I know this was a huge risk for M9 to do.. completely changing the composition of the representatives. I know this is where we disagree. I happen to have enjoyed the prefecture thingie. Granted it did feel like a tourism thing but it was really a fan-friendly show where the uber fans irregardless of lifestyle was invited to participate. Some replaced the celebrity joke competitors and others were diehard STQ'ers who finally got a chance.

In conjunction with the ratings problem - sasukemaniac.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=s25&action=display&thread=2193 it seems clear that for the small amount of advertising that there was.. the format didn't seem that appealing to people and only catered to a few of us. So to bring back Sasuke to it's former glory it would behove us to see more of the stupid competitors that pay the bills

Oh I can have a large wishlist of people I'd like to see but that would take up the rest of the thread LOL!!

[lars072]

Mar 29, 2010 21:08:31 GMT -5 arsenette said:

I know this was a huge risk for M9 to do.. completely changing the composition of the representatives. I know this is where we disagree. I happen to have enjoyed the prefecture thingie. Granted it did feel like a tourism thing but it was really a fan-friendly show where the uber fans irregardless of lifestyle was invited to participate. Some replaced the celebrity joke competitors and others were diehard STQ'ers who finally got a chance.

In conjunction with the ratings problem - sasukemaniac.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=s25&action=display&thread=2193 it seems clear that for the small amount of advertising that there was.. the format didn't seem that appealing to people and only catered to a few of us. So to bring back Sasuke to it's former glory it would behove us to see more of the stupid competitors that pay the bills

Oh I can have a large wishlist of people I'd like to see but that would take up the rest of the thread LOL!!

It's not that I didn't like the whole prefecture thing- it was nice to see average people compete- but it just added a different feel to the show. I thought it lost its 'Japanese game show' feel what basically SASUKE is supposed to be. I don't want it to turn into a farce, but the new format didnt work and if you own a business and people aren't buying your product, you change it or you go out of business. I hope the choose the former...

[arsenette]

Oh no arguments there. I was just saying that they took a risk and in this case they lost out. I do agree that format is going to go bye bye if they can survive this stage. Given the age of the show they will have to do a LOT to gain back the casual viewer that has since ditched the show. You know WE will continue watching it but from this point on I"m curious in what direction M9 is going to take.

[Ninja Chris]

I personally liked Levi's take on it - That it's similar to the thought of the olympics by bringing the best from all around to compete... except for where he thought where they compete against each other. But that's ok. If put up on a camera quickly like that, I probably would have given a quick answer similar to that.

But like the last total renewal, it seems this was just a big flashy intro meant to get the point around that this is a new beast... without having a zipline that kills people that hold on too long.

[lars072]

Mar 29, 2010 21:22:44 GMT -5 arsenette said:

Oh no arguments there. I was just saying that they took a risk and in this case they lost out. I do agree that format is going to go bye bye if they can survive this stage. Given the age of the show they will have to do a LOT to gain back the casual viewer that has since ditched the show. You know WE will continue watching it but from this point on I"m curious in what direction M9 is going to take.

I'm curious too- it'll take a lot of thought and planning on their part. IF they are serious about this, then why not get some former or current SASUKE competitors to both promote the show and consult about the changes needed. Just think how many people would show interest if smeone like Kane was promoting (not even competing) the show?

They tried something new, it didn't get the ratings. shyte happens. So now move on and get the viewers back..heck, draw new viewers too. TBS/M9 just needs to splash some cash in the right places.

[arsenette]

They have all summer to fix things if TBS wants them to since after all they are holding their meal ticket right now by being the broadcaster. Hokkaido's Muscle Park opens up in July. Golden Week is coming up they can do a bunch of celebrity stuff like they did last year with having a full sized Warped Wall in Odaiba. They can do more festivals and stuff (Maguro Festival is coming up in April 24th.. no word yet if it will have a Sasuke festival in it yet or not.. I haven't read anything).. Though TBS has to step up and think of something to promote it differently on their networks.

[scnoi1217]

I think M9 will need to bring back a balance that they haven't had since SASUKE 23.

SASUKE 24 had way, way too many comedians and celebs while SASUKE 25 had the exact opposite. I mean, who were the big selling points in 25 in terms of celebs? A boy band and Dandy Sakano? Not really much to go by.

I personally loved the no name underdogs, and I think M9 should keep that, which has been lacking in the last few tournaments outside of a few wacky competitors and the ones that do very well. But I also see the value in having celebrities and keeping the casual fans entertained. SASUKE 25 didn't have as many funny skits or crazy wipeouts that say, the first hour of SASUKE 24 had.

The thing that I have to agree on the most though is this: They need to make a name for the New Stars. They kinda were doing that with Kanno or Yuuji but got away from that for whatever reason for SASUKE 25, especially Yuuji's kanzenseiha. Embrace it for the landmark event it was, and promote them.

Also, what they got to do, is define who and what the New Stars are about, essentially making another "All-Stars". Promote the All-Stars like they have and will be doing, but also promote the New Stars. Make them a name and put a label on them. If they can't get the big name celebs anymore (even though I still think they can), then they got to make a name for these new guys. The All-Stars are getting older, and their performance as a whole, while still good, is inconsistent. Make a group of 5-7 guys, "New Stars", and promote them like they do the All-Stars. Put them in the trailers, in the promotional magazine articles, have recaps showing where they failed and scream NEW STARS ZENMETSU (or whatever it is) after the last one fails. They need a collective group that they were building before 25 and they need it for the future.

Also, they need to pick a better timeslot. I don't know if they had any control over going against the figure skating final, but I do think that Sunday nights aren't working for SASUKE. If better ratings means we have to watch SASUKE on a Wednesday, then fine.

[arsenette]

scnoi I agree 100%.

Once I'm done with Sasuke blog I'll post a long post just on this topic. I know they read the blog so maybe they'll read that. Bottom line we want it to succeed.. and we want it to succeed in Japan - the target audience. The last thing we want is for it to go away so any way we can help (even if just moral support because ya'll know we can't do jack other than support) then maybe it will help... who knows..

[RiderLeangle]

I agree completely. I think the broadcast focused too much on what WE wanted to see.. And they spent so much time on the gimick of having someone from everywhere and instead of showing a minute of notable competitors we lose a minute or two showing off where everyone was from.. the idea was there but the practice was not.. Showing famous people failing the Dome Steps (I swear that feels like G4 had a hand in naming it...) who would actually bring ratings in would be better.. I thought after 24 the comedians and everyone were wasting time but after seeing that 7.5 I understand how damn important how important insane guy failing steps and log are (I can see serious jokes failing the Jump Hang). As much as none of us seem to like him (and I hear rumors off camera he's an a**) but I've noticed lack of our Pro-Combo Breaker (Sato Hiromichi) seemed to hurt ratings too.. and didn't 22 and 24 have a jump in ratings for stage 2?

As for the All-Stars issue their preformances seem to not be so consistent as when they earned the term All-Star.. Even Nagano seems to be having trouble recently.. As of 17 he had only failed stage 1 3 times and that was when he was new, since the 13-17 era ended he's failed stage 1 3 times since then, 24 he failed for a mistake about being worried about what happened to other competitors and trying to rush.. 25 just seemed like a really off day for him.. he took a breather before the jump hang (and really the Dome Steps and Rolling Maruta don't seem like they'd cause Nagano to have to rest) and he looked damn near drained by the Soritatsu Kabe.. Takeda seems to have that curse with new courses but it was still kind of shocking.. Akiyama and Shingo, well those fails I saw coming a mile away TBH

We really should promote all these "Shin Sei" (New Stars) more (despite the fact that Kongu is a long time veteran and Lee is from Taiwan (Levi has gotten to Stage 3 a few times but I wouldn't really call him new star material TBH, Then again they call Sato Jun a New Star and he's never made stage 3 and failed the LG in 21)) to try to get them fans and have them get as popular as the All Stars did. That one magazine trying to say Yuuji didn't earn his win from his boots definitely had to hurt ratings too.. A new champion should be the star of the show.. I didn't hear anything about Yuuji before 25 aired except he had #100 from that magazine Ube scanned..

Also.. completely irrelevant to what I just said and the important points of the posts.. Don't the ear-bleed boys only have what?.. two songs? They're no where close to bringing in ratings.. and didn't they first go because their producers sent them to try to get THEM free promotion? XD