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Post by jfeathe on Jan 7, 2013 17:42:02 GMT -5
I've had a sneaking suspicion since the initial announcement that Inui and production team already have a contingency plan for getting the All-Stars back into Sasuke if they needed to.
Although I tend to believe that this was planned to be the All-Stars final tournament, it could just as easily be part of a big 2-tournament stunt to boost ratings for both 28 (the retirement) and 29 (the return).
What I think has been missing from Sasuke is that there are simply no more "out of the blue" competitors and celebrities clearing the first stage. I love Sasuke 1-4 for the fact that you felt that most competitors who were pretty fit and determined had a good chance at clearing the first stage or at least going very far. Now, you have most competitors (including those who have trained) going out on the second or third obstacle. What's more exciting: a bunch of deep runs and unexpected clears or ten people in a row falling after a half rotation on the Rolling Escargot?
By allowing big name celebrities and "unknowns" to make it to the second stage, you end up with a Sasuke that's very engaging until almost the very end instead of forcing excitement out of "Box Girl" and other celebrities for the depressing second and third stages.
By killing all the hope off in the first stage, there's very little for the casual viewer to root for or even care about. I say they should let the second and third stages do the major eliminations, not the first stage.
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Post by dudesky1000 on Jan 8, 2013 18:25:24 GMT -5
I've had a sneaking suspicion since the initial announcement that Inui and production team already have a contingency plan for getting the All-Stars back into Sasuke if they needed to. Although I tend to believe that this was planned to be the All-Stars final tournament, it could just as easily be part of a big 2-tournament stunt to boost ratings for both 28 (the retirement) and 29 (the return). What I think has been missing from Sasuke is that there are simply no more "out of the blue" competitors and celebrities clearing the first stage. I love Sasuke 1-4 for the fact that you felt that most competitors who were pretty fit and determined had a good chance at clearing the first stage or at least going very far. Now, you have most competitors (including those who have trained) going out on the second or third obstacle. What's more exciting: a bunch of deep runs and unexpected clears or ten people in a row falling after a half rotation on the Rolling Escargot? By allowing big name celebrities and "unknowns" to make it to the second stage, you end up with a Sasuke that's very engaging until almost the very end instead of forcing excitement out of "Box Girl" and other celebrities for the depressing second and third stages. By killing all the hope off in the first stage, there's very little for the casual viewer to root for or even care about. I say they should let the second and third stages do the major eliminations, not the first stage. I feel like this is what they were starting to do right with 27, by creating a very lenient time limit and an easier Escargot and Jumping Spider. When we originally saw 28's First Stage, we figured it might be even easier, but as it turned out the Rolling Escargot was made to be harder, the Spin Bridge was turned into a NIGHTMARE and the Jump Hang Kai turned out to be a major time sucker... if it weren't for those little things, we could have easily seen just as many clears as the previous tournament.
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Post by theswine on Jan 8, 2013 19:24:19 GMT -5
I feel like having such a long show makes people lose interest. If stage one was a short speed stage with maybe five obstacles and the studio segments and fluff pieces were cut back you could probably knock an hour off the program. Getting to stage two and three sooner might keep people more interested.
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Post by YoDaUO on Jan 8, 2013 20:09:32 GMT -5
I feel like having such a long show makes people lose interest. If stage one was a short speed stage with maybe five obstacles and the studio segments and fluff pieces were cut back you could probably knock an hour off the program. Getting to stage two and three sooner might keep people more interested. I see the point in this, and it's not a bad idea. Stage 2 would have to be much harder though.
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Post by TCM on Jan 9, 2013 0:54:34 GMT -5
If you think three hours is too long, you weren't around to see 24 or forgot about it.
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Post by theswine on Jan 9, 2013 0:59:55 GMT -5
You're correct, I was not.
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Post by TCM on Jan 9, 2013 1:02:27 GMT -5
Yeah, that was about SIX hours. Three hours is perfect. If you thought Stage 1 was too long, you probably hated 19, since that was pretty much just Stage 1 for two hours.
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Post by theswine on Jan 9, 2013 1:08:02 GMT -5
It must be the difference in culture, but to me anything over two hours should be cut up into more than one episode unless it's a movie. It just seems like the longer something is on the more likely ratings are to drop as people lose interest or get bored.
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Post by TCM on Jan 9, 2013 1:13:02 GMT -5
It must be, considering variety shows can go on for hours in Japan. It all depends on how well the show keeps people hooked for that long.
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Post by lostinube on Jan 9, 2013 7:46:05 GMT -5
To elaborate:
In Japan, the TV "year" revolves around the prime time dramas. New dramas start at the beginning of each season and run for about three months (roughly). Between the ends and beginnings of the seasons stations fill up those two weeks or so with special programming since there is no rerun season like in the United States. SASUKE generally comes out during the those breaks between seasons. To save on having to fill up their time slots, these special programs are usually several hours long.
The New Year's season which TV-wise runs from the last week of December until the first week of January is chock full of long variety programming. December 31st and January 1st especially have lots of live programming running almost all day long. In general, ratings are not quite as important during this time which is a good thing for SASUKE.
As I've said many many times before, SASUKE is for TBS cannon fodder - something to fill up their schedule with. It is not a high priority show.
Also, if I recall correctly, didn't one of Yuuji's Final Stage runs get a higher than normal rating? People tuned out earlier and then actually came back during the Final Stage.
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Post by jfeathe on Jan 9, 2013 14:16:13 GMT -5
Also, if I recall correctly, didn't one of Yuuji's Final Stage runs get a higher than normal rating? People tuned out earlier and then actually came back during the Final Stage. If this is indeed accurate, then this should be more than enough reason for packing the second (or perhaps even third) stage with celebrities and "out-of-nowhere" competitors. Remember, it takes a single killer obstacle to prevent too many clears. I think they need to design a second stage that allows for plenty of deep runs but still keeps the number of clears moderate for the third stage. I've said this 100 times on here, but Sasuke 1-4's second stage was my favorite. It kept a lot of people out of the third stage due to the strict time limit, but it allowed many people to make it deep into the stage which made every run a possible clear.
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Post by wrestlingfan55 on Jan 9, 2013 14:17:51 GMT -5
Oh Sasuke 1-6's stage was the perfect.
28's didn't have any sort of...flow to it.
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Post by VenusHeadTrap on Feb 11, 2013 19:47:37 GMT -5
The course is just too damn hard overall IMO. It's been too hard ever since Nagano won. They need to tone Stage 1 and 2 WAY DOWN but maintain the difficulty of Stage 3 if they don't want anyone in the final. I'd love to see another celebrity make it as far as Stage 3 or the Final (Remember Kane?) but that's not going to happen.
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Post by sdolnicek on Feb 12, 2013 10:45:32 GMT -5
Totally agree. I liked old times when almost everyone had a chance to finish stage 1. I think the 5-17 course format was the best.
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Post by thatoneuser on Mar 13, 2013 10:26:20 GMT -5
Another tweet from Inui: Looks like SASUKE 29 is coming soon!
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Mar 13, 2013 10:34:50 GMT -5
Yeah there's been rumblings for a bit now. I hope they go ahead and post the official confirmation already!
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Post by Philip on Mar 13, 2013 11:34:30 GMT -5
My guess is that the announcement will be soon, if he is saying that.
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Post by Philip on Mar 27, 2013 8:35:24 GMT -5
I think this is the best place to put this: まもなくSASUKE2013の募集始めます。そして、大規模な予選やります。TBSのHPに応募要項出たら、またTweetします。集え!日の丸を背負うムキムキ達!
I will soon start recruiting SASUKE2013. And I do qualifying on a large scale. Tweet I am Also, if you are out in the Guidelines for applicants to HP TBS. Meet! Muscles us carrying a Japanese flag!
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Mar 27, 2013 8:56:32 GMT -5
Was thinking in the Sasuke 29 official thread but since it was Inui that posted about it and that it's coming (and not here yet) I think it is the best thread Oh and the link to the tweet
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Apr 1, 2013 3:43:29 GMT -5
In my normal bug Inui daily ritual.. LOL sorry.. I just ask a lot of questions in hopes some get answered. I asked if the All-Stars were going to Sasuke 29. He wasn't sure. Then we read that Shingo was preparing for qualifications (and a thread exists for that) and so I asked.. if any of the New Generation Stars (Yuuji, Ryo, Kanno and Asa) would be forced to re-qualify and he said no. I asked what month this would be taking place (nothing yet on that). I also asked if this will be televised and he said maybe I'd love to see this.. shades of Sasuke 13's Trials are still in my mind..
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