Deadline Approaches as Popular Comedians Step in for Downtown DX MC Amid Growing Concerns

Also declined as ambassador for the Osaka-Kansai Expo

How long will they be able to maintain their flagship program?

On April 3rd, due to health issues, the host of Downtown DX (NTV, produced by Yomiuri TV), Masatoshi Hamada (61), entered a period of rest. As a result, it was announced that the comedians Kamaitachi would temporarily take over as hosts for the April 3rd episode, with Chidori stepping in for the episode on April 10th. The episodes were already recorded.

Meanwhile, Hitoshi Matsumoto (61), who had previously taken a break from work due to a personal scandal, has yet to make a return to television, and his comeback show Downtown Channel (tentative title) has not been released yet due to Hamada’s absence.

Yomiuri TV held its spring programming meeting on March 27th, where it was confirmed that Matsumoto’s return to his programs remains on hold. When asked if Matsumoto had not yet been accepted back by the audience, Masahiro Tanaka, the head of the content strategy department, responded,

“Given that he is still not appearing, I think that’s the situation.”

As for Hamada, Tanaka expressed sympathy, saying,

“First and foremost, Hamada’s health comes first. It’s important that he recovers quickly and is able to return.”

However, there has been no clear information about Hamada’s health condition or when he might return. Amid this uncertainty, on March 31st, Yoshimoto Kogyo announced,

“Downtown, our talent, was scheduled to serve as ambassadors for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which will open on April 13. However, due to their ongoing activities suspension, they have informed the 2025 Japan World Expo Association of their withdrawal, and this has been accepted.”

The question of whether Matsumoto, who is on a break due to a personal scandal, should appear as an ambassador for a national event like the World Expo had already been raised, and now it’s confirmed that even Hamada will not be attending.

Matsumoto is scheduled to appear in past VTR footage

“Hamada-san had to manage many celebrities on ‘DX,’ and with Matsumoto-san’s absence, he must have been under tremendous mental strain. Now, it’s Matsumoto-san’s turn to step up and protect the show, but TV sponsors aren’t that lenient. If Matsumoto were to host the show alone, there’s a possibility that sponsors would pull out,” said a Yomiuri TV insider.

The higher-ups at the station still believe that Matsumoto has not been accepted by the viewers. However, many staff members, who are fond of the duo, have maintained Matsumoto’s position in the studio.

Meanwhile, on March 31, Fuji TV’s third-party committee reported that there had been sexual violence in a dispute between talent Masahiro Nakai (52) and a woman. Nakai announced his retirement, but Matsumoto has denied any wrongdoing and hopes for a return.

“Coincidentally, on January 23, the day Nakai announced his retirement, Matsumoto was supposed to appear in past VTR footage for the first time since the scandal. However, after Nakai’s retirement due to his issue with a woman, the broadcast was completely scrapped three hours before airing, and reruns were aired instead. This has made the station quite sensitive about Matsumoto,” added the insider.

The long-running program Downtown DX (over 31 years) may be facing the possibility of cancellation.

“It’s hard to watch as they continue to replace popular Yoshimoto comedians. Many at the station are saying, ‘DX might be impossible now,’ and ‘It might be better to launch a new show.’ It seems the station is looking at the end of September as a target. Until then, they plan to continue with the help of Yoshimoto, but if Hamada can’t return by the October programming change, they will have no choice but to create a new program. Of course, to maintain relations with Yoshimoto, it will probably be another show with Yoshimoto comedians hosting,” said the source.

What will become of the popular show?