THE MC3 to Continue Without Masahiro Nakai—But Will It Avoid the Fate of Canceled Shows?

The contents of the revised plan for survival

A TV network insider reveals:

“The main segment involved conducting street interviews on various themes, such as ‘The most reliable MC’ or ‘Someone who seems likely to slack off at work,’ and ranking the three MCs and guest celebrities based on public perception. Nakai played a key role in hosting the show while also being teased by his senior co-hosts, Higashino and Hiromi, over the ranking results.

In a way, ‘Nakai being playfully teased by two senior hosts’ was one of the show’s selling points. Now that he’s gone, the production team is considering a complete overhaul of the format, shifting focus away from street surveys. The delay in resuming broadcasts seems to be due to these adjustments.”

As of March 8, THE MC3’s official website no longer displays the cast’s photos or program details, suggesting that the production team is still struggling to determine the show’s future.

“It seems they are exploring the possibility of adding a new MC alongside Higashino and Hiromi, given that the show’s title includes the number ‘3.’ While they intend to retain the three-MC format, there’s also talk of transitioning the show into a more traditional talk variety format instead of relying on street surveys. However, finding a third MC who can hold their own alongside veterans like Higashino and Hiromi is no easy task,” the insider adds.

With THE MC3 on the verge of a major transformation after only five months on air, the show’s fate hinges on how well this revamp is executed.

“So far, only six episodes have aired, and just as the show was starting to build an audience, its format may now undergo drastic changes. The previous program in this time slot, Johnson, featuring popular comedians like Kamaitachi and Mitorizu, lasted just one year before getting canceled.

TBS had likely envisioned turning THE MC3 into a hit by bringing together three well-known MCs. While they are rushing to relaunch it for the April programming season, the long three-month gap and the absence of Nakai raise concerns about whether viewers will embrace the revamped show,” the insider notes.

The fate of the most meddlesome variety show in Japan remains uncertain.