[Bogie Time was a success. So much so that a second season is already in the works, promising new challenges, new punishments, and a new lineup of sparkling idols as guest stars. But more Bogie Time isn't the only thing in the pipeline. GFK left behind a whole bunch of other TV programs in his inheritance, and the four agencies continue to pick at them like birds pecking at a corpse. Which leads to the current situation.
On the Road with Stars! was another one of Godfather's obsolete TV shows. Participants traveled to different locations, spending 2 days and 1 night at each place. Like Bogie Time, it featured cohabitation and bonding rituals, fun challenges, and exciting punishments. And, as with Bogie Time, some of the punishments went a little too far. Not just forced crossdressing, but things like being forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures or eat spicy local food without even a glass of water to wash it down with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this particular show fizzled out after one too many idols suffered setbacks to their health—accidents which could've been avoided with more oversight.
Or so the story goes. According to Ibara, there was more going on behind the scenes. Just as Bogie Time was used to humiliate bottom-tier talent and keep them in their place, On the Road might have been used to weaken or take down idols Godfather perceived to be a "threat."
But Hiyori doesn't care about that gloomy stuff. In theory, none of that should matter, since the new and improved On the Road is going to be completely different.
The format's still the same: a program where celebrities travel from place to place, spending 2 days and 1 night at each one. They'll work together on various challenges, striving to earn rewards and avoid punishment, but the punishments won't be anything too terrible—they'll be silly and amusing, not life-threatening. Anything that might threaten the celebrities' health or public image is a no-go. And since this is being billed as a travel program, participants get to try different regional foods and explore fun, new places! Hiyori likes both of those things, doesn't he?
That was the pitch, anyway. The other members of his unit couldn't sign on: too busy running companies, attending high school, or being too cool for variety work. Hiyori, on the other hand, was deemed a good fit: popular enough to draw in viewers, with plenty of variety experience under his belt already.
So, here he is, freshly arrived at their first location: Kyoto! How scenic. The shrines, the nature... the big billboard advertising the SS competition, which the camera crew makes sure to capture. Yes, just like the original On the Road, this show has a hidden purpose: advertise the upcoming competition for male idols, taking place across all regions including Kansai. But it isn't just a promotional vehicle for idols. CosPro has connections with other agencies and industries, and was able to assemble a colorful cast of talents, including actors, models and musicians—all of whom Hiyori made sure to reserach in advance. There's quite a buzz surrounding some of them, but none of them could hold a candle to him, he's sure.
Anyway, it's time for filming to begin. First, introductions! Then, it's onto the first activity: speed dating. Or "speed questions"—that's the official name, but Hiyori thinks of it as "speed dating." The director clarifies that this isn't a challenge, which means there won't be any punishment. This is just a warm-up and a chance to get to know each other. Still, Hiyori has his doubts. There's always an ulterior motive, isn't there?
For the first round, he's paired with some model, answering basic questions. What are his career goals? Make it to the very top with Eden! His hobby? Shopping! His greatest strengths? That he's always cheerful, always charming, always confident, and always cute! Weaknesses? Er... sorry, he can't really think of any! Unless his weakness is just that he can't think of any weaknesses? (Insert break for canned laughter here.) These are all questions he's answered a million times. Boom, onto the next round.
The second round is all "favorites." Favorite food, favorite color, favorite animal, and so on. Hiyori tries to give his partner a chance to respond, but once the animal question is asked, he ends up stealing the spotlight anyway by talking up a storm about his adorable Bloody Mary. Here, let him show you a picture! (Of course, they'll cut to a real photo of Mary during editing.) After some cooing over his adorable pet dog, the second round is done, and now it's onto the third round.
His partner for this round is some actor with a flashy name. That's all that Hiyori remembers him by, really. His career seemed to include a TV credit in some Internet drama, a film acting credit as a child, and a stint on a reality dating show. (That one had some controversy—one of the participants got flamed online and might've attempted suicide?—but it was apparently resolved with a hug and a happy ending.) He had a theatrical credit, too. Sounds like a reasonable career, if a little all over the place. It hardly matters for this activity, though, since all he has to do is answer more questions, which will probably all be standard stuff.
... or not.
"If you could be reborn as anything, what would you be?"
When he hears that one, he blinks.]
Er...
[What is this, philosophy? Spirituality? It's a far cry from favorite foods, and he's never been asked that one before. But he recovers his composure after a momentary hiccup.]
That one's a bit hard, since I can't imagine wanting to be anyone but myself! But maybe a pretty flower, if I have to say? That'd suit me perfectly, wouldn't you say? Right, Aquamarine-kun?
[And here he looks away from the cameras and turns expectantly to his partner for this round.
His partner who made it very clear earlier that he prefers to be called "Aqua." But Hiyori is someone who forgets stuff on purpose if it's inconvenient to him, or, in this case, if it makes for better reality television that way, so please excuse the lapse in memory.]
no subject
On the Road with Stars! was another one of Godfather's obsolete TV shows. Participants traveled to different locations, spending 2 days and 1 night at each place. Like Bogie Time, it featured cohabitation and bonding rituals, fun challenges, and exciting punishments. And, as with Bogie Time, some of the punishments went a little too far. Not just forced crossdressing, but things like being forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures or eat spicy local food without even a glass of water to wash it down with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this particular show fizzled out after one too many idols suffered setbacks to their health—accidents which could've been avoided with more oversight.
Or so the story goes. According to Ibara, there was more going on behind the scenes. Just as Bogie Time was used to humiliate bottom-tier talent and keep them in their place, On the Road might have been used to weaken or take down idols Godfather perceived to be a "threat."
But Hiyori doesn't care about that gloomy stuff. In theory, none of that should matter, since the new and improved On the Road is going to be completely different.
The format's still the same: a program where celebrities travel from place to place, spending 2 days and 1 night at each one. They'll work together on various challenges, striving to earn rewards and avoid punishment, but the punishments won't be anything too terrible—they'll be silly and amusing, not life-threatening. Anything that might threaten the celebrities' health or public image is a no-go. And since this is being billed as a travel program, participants get to try different regional foods and explore fun, new places! Hiyori likes both of those things, doesn't he?
That was the pitch, anyway. The other members of his unit couldn't sign on: too busy running companies, attending high school, or being too cool for variety work. Hiyori, on the other hand, was deemed a good fit: popular enough to draw in viewers, with plenty of variety experience under his belt already.
So, here he is, freshly arrived at their first location: Kyoto! How scenic. The shrines, the nature... the big billboard advertising the SS competition, which the camera crew makes sure to capture. Yes, just like the original On the Road, this show has a hidden purpose: advertise the upcoming competition for male idols, taking place across all regions including Kansai. But it isn't just a promotional vehicle for idols. CosPro has connections with other agencies and industries, and was able to assemble a colorful cast of talents, including actors, models and musicians—all of whom Hiyori made sure to reserach in advance. There's quite a buzz surrounding some of them, but none of them could hold a candle to him, he's sure.
Anyway, it's time for filming to begin. First, introductions! Then, it's onto the first activity: speed dating. Or "speed questions"—that's the official name, but Hiyori thinks of it as "speed dating." The director clarifies that this isn't a challenge, which means there won't be any punishment. This is just a warm-up and a chance to get to know each other. Still, Hiyori has his doubts. There's always an ulterior motive, isn't there?
For the first round, he's paired with some model, answering basic questions. What are his career goals? Make it to the very top with Eden! His hobby? Shopping! His greatest strengths? That he's always cheerful, always charming, always confident, and always cute! Weaknesses? Er... sorry, he can't really think of any! Unless his weakness is just that he can't think of any weaknesses? (Insert break for canned laughter here.) These are all questions he's answered a million times. Boom, onto the next round.
The second round is all "favorites." Favorite food, favorite color, favorite animal, and so on. Hiyori tries to give his partner a chance to respond, but once the animal question is asked, he ends up stealing the spotlight anyway by talking up a storm about his adorable Bloody Mary. Here, let him show you a picture! (Of course, they'll cut to a real photo of Mary during editing.) After some cooing over his adorable pet dog, the second round is done, and now it's onto the third round.
His partner for this round is some actor with a flashy name. That's all that Hiyori remembers him by, really. His career seemed to include a TV credit in some Internet drama, a film acting credit as a child, and a stint on a reality dating show. (That one had some controversy—one of the participants got flamed online and might've attempted suicide?—but it was apparently resolved with a hug and a happy ending.) He had a theatrical credit, too. Sounds like a reasonable career, if a little all over the place. It hardly matters for this activity, though, since all he has to do is answer more questions, which will probably all be standard stuff.
... or not.
"If you could be reborn as anything, what would you be?"
When he hears that one, he blinks.]
Er...
[What is this, philosophy? Spirituality? It's a far cry from favorite foods, and he's never been asked that one before. But he recovers his composure after a momentary hiccup.]
That one's a bit hard, since I can't imagine wanting to be anyone but myself! But maybe a pretty flower, if I have to say? That'd suit me perfectly, wouldn't you say? Right, Aquamarine-kun?
[And here he looks away from the cameras and turns expectantly to his partner for this round.
His partner who made it very clear earlier that he prefers to be called "Aqua." But Hiyori is someone who forgets stuff on purpose if it's inconvenient to him, or, in this case, if it makes for better reality television that way, so please excuse the lapse in memory.]