Revival of the Seventh Generation of Comedy Led by Soshina

The regular cast of the popular variety show “Atarashii Kagi” (Fuji TV) hosted the “FNS 27-Hour TV: Japan’s Most Fun School Festival!” on July 20th and 21st, which concluded with positive feedback.

 

“With the addition of ‘Shimofuri Myojo,’ ‘Chocolate Planet,’ and ‘Hanako,’ and the fact that the staff in charge of overall direction were in their 30s, there were concerns before the broadcast. However, once it aired, the average individual rating, which indicates the percentage of viewers in households, was 4.0%, and the core demographic (ages 13-49) had a 4.6% rating. On July 21st, from 6:30 PM until the end, the individual rating reached 6.9%, and the core rating hit 7.8%, setting a new high for Fuji TV this year. The show, which featured students and blended humor with emotion, resonated with the parental generation as well. ’24-Hour TV,’ broadcast by Nippon TV, is quite anxious right now.’”(says a television writer)

Soshina (31), who led the program, consistently provided topics of discussion throughout the show, earning high praise for his “Soshina Theater” and contributing to the high ratings.

“While ‘Shimofuri Myojo’ had been considered out of the spotlight due to the end of their flagship show, their reputation in the television industry remains strong as they are seen as capable of delivering humor both as a duo and individually, and can also handle MC roles. Although their provocative statements on YouTube often make headlines, they are geniuses who achieved a double victory in the ‘M-1 Grand Prix’ and ‘R-1 Grand Prix’ at a young age. Moreover, their partner, Seiya (31), is a TV enthusiast who understands which programs best showcase their appeal. It’s more accurate to say they are selectively choosing their appearances rather than experiencing a decline in regular spots.” (says a key network producer)

Their individual potential, as well as their good relationship as a duo, is a strong point.

“Soshina’s usual sharp tongue became a talking point when photos of him crying at Seiya’s wedding went viral. In the current Reiwa era, showing a close bond between the duo resonates well with both sponsors and viewers. Soshina is also active as an artist, while Seiya engages with various talents as a solo performer. Their broad range of activities is also appealing.” (says an advertising agency insider)

According to the aforementioned key network producer, the success of 27-Hour TV has reportedly put pressure on the members of Johnson (TBS) to perform.

“‘Kama Itachi,’ who plays a leading role in ‘Johnson,’ served as the main host of last year’s ’27-Hour TV,’ so a direct comparison is often made. In reality, there are growing concerns that ‘Kama Itachi’ does not hold the numbers by themselves. The ‘6.5th Generation’ of comedians, including them, has reached its peak, but it has been proven by the ratings that the ‘7th Generation,’ known for their more straightforward, audience-engaging humor, is more appealing to viewers in prime time. ‘Hanako,’ which was previously considered difficult to use outside of sketches, gained significant praise for its sincere portrayal on ’27-Hour TV,’ leading to a substantial boost in its evaluation. Soshina, too, only directs his sharp remarks towards fellow industry talents, showing respect to the amateur participants on the show, making him more TV-friendly.”

With Soshina leading the way, the “7th Generation,” which had been labelled as past its prime, is beginning to make a comeback.

 

From the August 23 and 30, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY’.