Takeshi's Castle

This is one of the greatest acting jobs in the history of all acting. Seriously, Charles puts you in the drivers seat, he makes you feel like you are living the life of a true movie star. With his fame stemming from the hit series "Robot Wars", Charles has devoloped fine speaking skills and a killer body. His handsome face can only be matched by one man, Dante. Dante is more commonly known as DANTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Truly, Charles has shocked the entertainment world with his slim figure filling leather jackets which have been processed through paper shredders. I think Charles should contact a new suiter, don't you think? All in all, A-Class work from a brilliant mind. ANTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

I absolutely adore Takeshi's Castle, and enjoy watching it immensely. I find myself laughing out load often and love all the games, the Takeshi team antics and the crazy contestants – who I have to say happily laugh at themselves hilariously.

If you're a lover of energetic, entertaining, manic game shows, this is the one to watch.

My only complaint is, must the UK listen to Craig Charles' idiotic running commentary? His comments are sexist, racist, puerile, repetitive, irritating and constantly undermine my viewing pleasure to the extent that I have to watch it with the volume turned down, which effectively ruins the show.

I will keep watching the show, because it's too brilliant to miss, unfortunately with the volume off (can't we have English subtitles of the programme instead Mr Charles' nonsense?).

For those who don't know, Takeshi's castle is a hilarious gameshow! The concept is 100 Japanese contestants start at the beginning of the show. Guided by their leader "General Lee" (get it?), the contestants have to make their way through various challenges such as Knock Knock, Wipeout, High rollers, Skipping stones and Bridge ball (my personal favourite). The people who survive get to battle Takeshi and his "emerald guards" in the "final showdown". I've watched many episodes and so far have only seen 4 winners! In the USA there is a conversion of the original Japanese show called "Most extreme elimination challenge". In this version, everybody's voice is dubbed in English in comedic ways. However, in the English show, there is running commentary by Craig Charles (Lister from Red Dwarf). His funny comments include; "You wazzok!", "they look like extras from the water margin" and "big black balls, banging off his backside".

Takeshi's castle is a funny, brilliant concept for a gameshow made funnier by Craig Charles. If only they brought this cult show to DVD!!!

Takeshi's Castle (2002) is the re-dubbed UK release of cult-classic Japanese show Operation! Takeshi's Castle (1986-1989), an endurance-based game show in which 100+ contestants compete in a series of outlandish assault-course-like challenges until the numbers are whittled down to a select few. From here, the remaining handful of contestants can go on to battle the infamous "Count Takeshi" and his guards for the chance to win up to one million in Yen. The show is notable for at least two reasons; the first is the outright eccentric nature of the events and the seemingly dangerous falls, scrapes and mishaps that befall the contestants during their bid for glory. The second is the appearance of esteemed Japanese actor/filmmaker/comedian Takeshi Kitano, who here plays the titular count (though his appearance is edited down in this particular version). The format of the show mixes the bizarre events alongside some even more bizarre sketch-based moments of typically absurdist Japanese humour, as the contestants put themselves through some of the cruellest and most punishing events ever witnessed on national television.

What was great about the original show was the way that the contestants seemed to be having a great time, even when falling eight feet into shallow water, being smeared in mud or talcum powder and being knocked off a rickety suspension bridge by a barrage of rubber-ball cannon fire. It also benefited from a colourful, larger than life quality, in keeping with the tradition of early Nintendo video games and Anime films; as the overstated supporting characters and continual appearances from General Tani (here renamed General Li) give the events a sense of context and continuity. Ultimately though, the programme works because of its uniqueness; with the nature of the games, the imagination, the willingness and excitement of the contestants and the obviously low-production values (combined with the witty commentary from actor Craig Charles, with his bad puns and sly double-entendres) all adding to the bizarre, subversive glee.

I have only recently been introduced to this show, (under the name MXC here in the States) and I am hooked. I have not laughed this hard in years.

Putting the Americanized potty humor aside (MXC version), the nature of the games shown is total humiliation of the contestants, not to mention complete and utter disregard for their well being. And it is funny. Really funny. Why do I laugh at a 90 pound woman smashing into a brick wall on a rope? Maybe because she is in a duck costume, and comes up muddy and smiling? The level of joy in the contestants faces cannot be measured - they are in bliss, even though they are in pain, and being made fools of.

Surreal and brilliant, please try and watch Takeshi's Castle on the Challenge network in the UK, or on MXC on the Spike network in the USA.