Starring Ken ShimuraCha Kato Composer(s) Akihiko Takashima Original language(s) Japanese First episode date 11 January 1986 | Theme music composer Tsugutoshi Kato Producer(s) Toshiaki Takahashi Final episode date 28 March 1992 Language Japanese | |
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Similar Dorifu daibakushô, Tantei Monogatari, Shimura Ken no Bakatonosama, Variety show | ||
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Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV (加トちゃんケンちゃんごきげんテレビ, Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen Terebi) is a popular Japanese television variety show aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System around the mid-1980s. Starring Ken Shimura and Cha Kato, former members of the group The Drifters from Hachiji Dayo! Zen'in Shugo, the irreverent and satirical program would poke fun at contemporary society in Japan, and would feature comedy vignettes similar to those found on The Benny Hill Show or The Carol Burnett Show. Leslie Nielsen once made a special appearance on the show as well.
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It is notable for having a segment featuring funny home videos sent in by viewers, as the home camcorder became more popular in Japan, which Ken and Kato would comment on. In 1989, American producer Vin Di Bona initiated a partnership with Tokyo Broadcasting System to develop a similar program in the west, which ultimately led to the successful America's Funniest Home Videos and other similar shows worldwide. Some videos seen in the first season of America's Funniest Home Videos originally aired on Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan, and the latter remains credited within all episodes of AFHV as the original inspiration for the former.
The duo also had a PC Engine video game called "Kato-chan and Ken-chan" (translated and censored for a Western TurboGrafx-16 release as J.J. & Jeff due to copyright and the toilet humor) based on their antics, filled with toilet humor, and featuring them as the game's playable characters.