Expert Picks: TV Shows That Adults Will Truly Enjoy
Special Entertainment Research Project [Part 1
Precisely because we live in an era dominated by streaming services
While streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video continue to rise, TV networks have long struggled with viewers turning away from traditional television.
Yet despite these challenging times, it’s also true that some high-quality programs—powered by strong concepts and clever editing—are winning passionate support from many fans.
With that in mind, FRIDAY asked six experts—including TV producers, columnists, and screenwriters, true professional viewers—to each name five TV shows that adults would genuinely enjoy watching. Why are these shows worth your time? Let’s take a look at the carefully selected picks from these seasoned minds.
The Last Stronghold of Japanese TV: Wednesday’s Downtown
The Last Stronghold of Japanese TV: Wednesday’s Downtown
Among the many TV programs, several experts ranked Wednesday’s Downtown (TBS) in their top five. This show examines a variety of theories brought in by participants, with extreme segments aired weekly that go against the current trend—such as comedians being confined or swept away by a flooded river.
Tamami Hiyama, a TV columnist and board member of the NPO Broadcasting Critique Roundtable, who listed Wednesday’s Downtown as her top pick, analyzes:
“Wednesday’s Downtown is an extremely intense show. It’s so extreme that it’s received warnings from the BPO, but it has also won the prestigious Galaxy Award—considered the highest honor for TV creators—a total of five times, with episodes like ‘The theory that someone who saw Tokugawa Yoshinobu live might still be alive.’
In today’s world of strict compliance, shows with such a wide range have become rare.
This is likely due to the strong resolve of the creators, led by producer and general director Kentaro Fujii. That’s why the comedians on the show can go all out for laughs without fear of backlash. I think it’s like the last stronghold in today’s TV industry.”
A Unique Gourmet Variety: Human Gourmet Documentary: Omoumai Shop
Another program with a Galaxy Award and strong industry praise is the gourmet variety show Human Gourmet Documentary: Omoumai Shop (NTV). This show stands apart from the trendy food shows of today. It focuses on the lives and human stories of people working in uniquely cheap or unusually serviced restaurants.
TV producer Hiromichi Shizume gives high praise, calling it a truly amazing program:
“They put in an incredible amount of time and effort to find the restaurants featured in the show, far beyond what other food programs do.
That’s why we see places like a sweets shop selling cakes for an unbelievable 110 yen, or a soba shop owner who becomes strangely attached to the film crew and makes them his disciples.
Every episode makes you think, ‘How did they find such a quirky shop and owner?’ It’s impressive.”
Digging Deep into Everyday Experts: The World Unknown to Matsuko
In terms of exploring everyday people, the talk-variety show The World Unknown to Matsuko (TBS) also falls into this category. It features ordinary people with deep knowledge of a specific field—like Japan’s first zombie business expert, a vending machine enthusiast, or a man who eats around 3,000 sweets a year—and digs into both their personalities and their passions.
Professor Takahiko Kageyama of Doshisha Women’s College gives the show high praise:
“Among all of Matsuko Deluxe’s (52) shows, this one is number one.
She skillfully draws out the charm of quirky and niche guests. Even if the viewer has no interest in the topic, they end up getting pulled in.
Matsuko knows the limits of what can and can’t be done on TV—the appeal of just short of too much.
Even when she delivers sharp remarks to guests, she immediately follows with a comment like, ‘But I don’t dislike this kind of person,’ showing an excellent sense of balance.
She boldly says what others might hesitate to, but turns it into humor in the end. She never aims for easy laughs from a safe place. That’s why her appeal shines in a show like this, where she engages with unique individuals.
On the other hand, while Matsuko’s Monday Late Show (NTV) has been criticized for excessive staging, The World Unknown to Matsuko naturally brings out the charm of its guests.
It’s the kind of show adults can genuinely enjoy.”
Amateur Version of Iron Chef
The legendary gourmet variety show Iron Chef (Fuji TV), which took the ’90s by storm, now has a spiritual successor in Gekitotsu Meshiagare: Amateur Gourmet Showdown (NHK). In this program, amateur cooking enthusiasts from across Japan compete in culinary battles based on themes set by the show.
Columnist Takashi Kimura explains its appeal:
“Participants create inventive dishes around familiar themes like ramen or hamburgers. In an age where many shows are overloaded with entertainment gimmicks, this one stands out for its straightforwardness—pitting people who genuinely love cooking against each other in serious competition.
It’s reminiscent of Iron Chef or TV Champion (TV Tokyo), but what makes it especially NHK-like is its focus on ordinary people. The fact that it became a regular series this year speaks to how highly it’s regarded within the network.”
Cameras for 72 Hours: A Glimpse into Real Lives
Another NHK program that ranked No. 1 is Document 72 Hours. This documentary sets up cameras in one location—like a family restaurant, izakaya, or in front of a vending machine—for three days, capturing the everyday moments that unfold there. In one episode set at a high-speed bus terminal in Tokyo Station, the camera caught a touching scene of a mother and child visiting their husband and father on a solo work assignment.
“In 2024, it moved from its late-night 10:55 p.m. slot to the more prominent 10:00 p.m. prime time.
While NHK documentaries often carry a heavy, dramatic tone like Project X, Document 72 Hours offers a quiet glimpse into the everyday lives of people all around us. That’s why it resonates so deeply with viewers—it avoids predictable storytelling or forced emotional climaxes and strips away the unnecessary. The 30-minute runtime is also perfect. It’s an ideal show to wind down with on a weekend evening.” (says Professor Kageyama, previously quoted)
Pure Entertainment That Found Its Morning Audience: Love It!
On the flip side, a show that fully leaned into entertainment and found success is Love It! (TBS). Professor Gochinobu Okada from Yamato University’s Faculty of Sociology offers his analysis:
“At first, many in the industry said, ‘A variety-style show in a morning news slot? It won’t last a year.’ But it defied expectations and is still going strong.
The show almost entirely avoids current affairs, instead pushing its variety angle—like punishment games with electric chairs in the morning! That bold strategy has paid off, and it’s especially appealing for adults who are tired of traditional morning news programs.”
From “FRIDAY” combined issue, September 12 & 19, 2025.
PHOTO： Ippei Hara (Hamada) Kojiro Yamada (Matsuko) Keisuke Nishi (Kawashima) Sankei Shimbun (Hiromi)
