Latest news with #realityshow
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘World's hottest scientist' signs up for new Netflix shark reality show with incredible £37k prize
A WOMAN once branded the world's hottest scientist has signed up to a new Netflix reality show all about sharks. Biologist Rosie Moore, who boasts hundreds of thousands of followers online thanks to her stunning looks, has confirmed she will be a contestant on Netflix 's All The Sharks, set to launch next month. 4 4 The online star spoke out to fans to address why she went "MIA" online last summer and confirmed it was because she had jetted off to film the brave new show. Taking to Instagram to confirm her participation, the scientist wrote alongside a trailer for the series: "I can finally announce why I went MIA last summer! "Watch for All the Sharks, airing July 4th on @netflix." Florida-based Rosie is known for being an animal lover and litters her Instagram with snaps of her interacting with all sorts of creatures, including crocodiles and snakes. The star is always camera-ready and never shies away from the chance to have a perfectly preened photograph taken. Now, fans will get the chance to see her up close and personal with sharks in All The Sharks. In the programme, four shark lovers, including Rosie, head across the seas with a team of experts to find different variations of the deadly sea creatures. As part of their challenge, the participants are tasked with snapping the best pictures of the sharks that they can. Whoever manages to get the most impressive photo stands to win a cool $50,000 - equivalent to £37,000. But putting themselves so close to sharks does not come without its risks. Shark attack reported at popular US beach as victim rushed to hospital just weeks after 1,600lb beast spotted in state In the show's trailer, the group can be seen surrounded by many sharks as one of them shouts out: "The sharknado. Holy sharks!" Rosie can later be heard talking about the "cutest shark attack ever" - clearly showing she is just as brave as she is beautiful. Reacting with joy to Rosie's casting in the show, one fan said: "Now this is absolutely a reality show I can get behind." Another added: "Rosie!!! This is sick! Congrats." As a third penned: "Cannot wait!!! So happy for you!"
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Zhejiang Satellite TV's ‘The Class of Limitless Acting Transcendence 3' soars to No.1 with a resonance of truth and emotion
Co-produced by Zhejiang Satellite TV and Youku, The Class Of Limitless Acting Transcendence 3 is a youth acting reality show that continues the successful format of its previous two seasons. The program assembles a powerhouse team of industry veterans including Chief Director Dongsheng Er and producers Lei Hao, Chengru Li, Tao Liu, Zhenyu Wu, and Zhiwei Zeng, with guest producers Jing Wang, Huaqiang Xiang, and Tianzhen Yang. Together, they mentor a diverse cast of performers such as Zhipeng Chen, Zhen Ding, Shouer Fu, Hanikezi, Jiuhua He, Yao Hong, Chun Ke, Muchen Li, Yichang Liu, Yixiao Li, Yuxin Liu, Shaoyang Xu, An Yan, Xiaotong Yu, Yuhan Yu, Haoxin Wang, Xing Wang, Danfeng Zhang, and Lili Zhong. Through a professional training ecosystem that includes real-world job assessments, master classes, and on-set auditions, the show challenges young actors to face criticism head-on and rebuild their skills from the ground up. As one of China's most compelling entertainment IPs in recent years, The Class Of Limitless Acting Transcendence has earned widespread acclaim for its sharp insights into the acting industry and its vibrant online engagement. Often described by netizens as a 'clear-headed acting show,' the program has twice been nominated for Best Variety Program at the Shanghai TV Festival's Magnolia Awards. Since the launch of its third season, the show has ranked No.1 in its timeslot across 71 CSM cities on Saturdays, topping internal charts on both Z Shijie and Youku, and dominating popularity metrics across major platforms. It has amassed over 44.57 billion total topic views and more than 17,523 trending topics across Chinese social media. The theme of this season, 'Growth Without Regret,' reflects not only the development journey of its cast but also the evolution of the show itself. In response to growing audience fatigue with long-running formats, The Class Of Limitless Acting Transcendence 3 pushes the boundaries of storytelling, competition structure, and multimedia engagement—cultivating a heartfelt resonance through authenticity, emotional depth, and a commitment to truth. Mirror of Reality: Audiences See Themselves in the Show Authenticity is the most compelling feature of 'The Class Of Limitless Acting Transcendence 3.' Widely recognized as a gold standard for performance-based variety shows, the program has developed a narrative structure that balances critique and support. Season 3 simulates a real working environment in the entertainment industry. Producers with genuine casting needs participate directly, transforming the competition into a highly realistic workplace experience. From auditions to callbacks, fierce role battles to final eliminations, the goal is for each performer to secure an 'offer' at the final 'Unlimited Showcase.' This realistic setup appeals to both professionals and the general public, turning industry dilemmas into relatable social issues. When the market evaluation phase began in Episode 8, the raw exposure of the entertainment world's survival rules resonated with viewers, who saw their own workplace anxieties mirrored in the actors' experiences. A powerful scene occurred in Episode 8 when outstanding actor An Yan was dismissed by market mentors as 'not preferred for cooperation.' Producer Tao Liu questioned, 'Do the audience choose actors by popularity alone, not skill?' and Director Lei Hao bluntly stated, 'Being unknown is a sin; fame makes anything right.' This ignited heated debate online and pushed the hashtag #HaoLei_OnFameBias to Weibo's Top 8. Viewers noted how the entertainment world's 'traffic-first' casting mimicked corporate favoritism. The show revealed cross-industry problems: resource concentration, narrow evaluations, and utilitarianism. As such, the show doesn't just expose acting industry struggles—it mirrors the collective anxiety of modern employees. These uncomfortable truths are a needed wake-up call. The show courageously raised questions like 'Should actors benefit from labels?', 'Do experienced actors outperform new ones?', and 'Can acting be ranked by seniority?', using sharp professional critique to tackle deep-rooted issues and drive healthy industry reform. As seen in the show, An Yan ultimately earned a contract based on his ability. One viewer, Sarah, wrote, 'This reminds the production team that beyond rigid metrics, diverse possibilities still exist. The production team can't change the rules, but the production team can honor professionalism and stay true to authenticity.' Emotional Support: Helping Performers Break Through 'Acting is one way to experience life—I can't be innocent forever,' said Zhen Ding in Episode 10 amid debates over his growth. Some viewers wanted him to 'return to the prairie,' but he expressed growing passion for acting, crediting the show for giving him the space to explore his identity beyond labels. Among all cast members, Zhen Ding became a symbol of transformation. Though a total novice, he moved audiences through evolving roles—from a naive Xu Xian in 'Green Snake,' to a funny chef in 'The God of Cookery,' to a nuanced villain in 'Escape from the Trilateral Slopes,' and a heartfelt young soldier in the war drama 'Final Battle.' He even won praise for his role in 'The Double.' Mentors preserved his innocence while helping him overcome communication and experience gaps, gradually mastering camera language and emotional delivery. His progress through different genres showcased untapped potential. This season's casting was strategic: short drama actors, idols, controversial figures, crossovers, and those seeking a comeback—each representing a unique slice of the entertainment ecosystem. The goal was to portray them breaking free from limitations and provide inspirational growth models. The show built a full-scale testing framework—from fundamentals to diverse genre performance—while aligning individual growth with market needs. The result? Tangible progress. Hot topics like #DingZhenTheClassOfLimitlessActingTranscendence and #YuYuhanJoinedTheRightShow demonstrate the show's grounded mentorship. Interactive Authenticity: Creating with the Audience A healthy entertainment industry depends on collaboration between creators, platforms, and audiences. While embracing professional assessments, the show also invited audiences to co-create the experience. Beyond robust storytelling, Zhejiang TV's promotion team launched creative campaigns like 'Public Covenant Wall' and 'Unlimited Masterclass' to boost professional discourse. The show also responded to audiences' interest with 'Cloud Supervision,' 'Cloud Interaction,' and 'Cloud Backstage.' In the long-running livestream series #SurpriseLive, Director Tong Wu, mentors, and actors join post-episode reviews to dissect highlights and respond to audiences' concerns. On Weibo, the IP mascot account 'ChaBao' playfully shares memes, behind-the-scenes clips, and exclusive livestreams to humanize the cast beyond the screen. Through 'participatory media,' the show forms a feedback loop between production, conversation, and emotion. Audiences don't just watch—they co-create. Ultimately, the breakout success of Season 3 reaffirms this truth: content that resonates is always rooted in honest insight and genuine engagement. In this sense, 'The Class Of Limitless Acting Transcendence' is more than a show—it is a meditation on professionalism, growth, and human value that lingers long after the credits roll. Media Contact Company Name: Zhejiang Satellite TV Contact Person: Xian Wu Email: Send Email City: Hangzhou Country: China Website:
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Race Across The World copycat show launching this year promising 'high stakes' and 'spectacular gameplay'
A Race Across The World copycat show is launching later this year, promising 'high stakes' and 'spectacular gameplay'. Destination X, presented by Gavin and Stacey's Rob Brydon, sees contestants dropped off at a random location - and they have to work out where. Set to air on the BBC, it is strikingly similar to the broadcaster's beloved programme Race Across The World, which has run to five series so far since it started in 2019. The competition sees pairs of travellers compete to traverse a cross-continental route without smartphones, air travel, the internet or credit cards - and on a limited budget. The latest series ended last week, with mother and son duo Caroline and Tom narrowly claiming victory and taking home the £20,000 cash prize. But with the trailer for Destination X airing after the finale episode, as filming has already taken place, Race Across The World fans will soon get their next fix of travel contests. Set to air on the BBC, it is strikingly similar to the broadcaster's beloved programme Race Across The World (pictured, the contestants on the latest series), which has run to five series so far since it started in 2019 Based on a Belgian series, after a US version also came out earlier this year, the new programme will see participants travel on a blacked-out bus to an unknown location. They will take on challenges and games during their journey, which will provide clues as to where they are - and a couple of red herrings to keep them guessing. But at the end of each episode, the contestant who places an X on the map the furthest away from their actual destination will be kicked off the bus and sent home. The first player to reach the final mystery place, the titular Destination X, will be crowned the winner. It is not known exactly yet what their prize will be - but the recent American version offered an eye-watering jackpot of $250,000 (around £184,000). The BBC's synopsis for Destination X reads: 'Merging fantasy with reality in this larger-than-life adventure competition series, viewers will follow contestants as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime but have no idea where they are... 'With high stakes and mind-blowing spectacular gameplay, the series will continuously keep viewers engaged and take them along for the ride.' Host Rob, 59, best known as Bryn West on Gavin and Stacey, leapt straight into filming in October last year, just a week after wrapping on filming for the Christmas special of the classic BBC sitcom. A TV source told The Sun at the time: 'Destination X is going to be massive for the BBC and they wanted a familiar face to take it on. 'Rob is very well liked and is incredibly funny, so he seemed the ideal candidate to present the show. 'Filming begins in the mystery location this week.' The BBC has reportedly invested £20million on the travel show and is hoping the series will be 'better than The Traitors'. Involving similar strategy and scheming, it is sure to be a hit with fans of the beloved BBC reality show, which started in 2022 and has since spawned multiple international versions. In fact, Destination X was quietly commissioned back in April 2023, as a joint effort between the BBC and American channel NBC after both hit the jackpot with their respective Traitors programmes. BBC director of unscripted Kate Phillips said in 2023: 'Following the must-see success of The Traitors, I'm delighted that once again we're partnering with NBCUniversal on another very smart, very addictive and very innovative competition show. 'With countless red herrings and brain-teasing clues, we were gripped from the start. 'It promises to be a hugely challenging adventure for our ten brave contestants, with plenty of play along for all BBC viewers, as everyone hopes they've got the "X" that marks the spot!' The broadcaster has thrown all its might behind the new programme, by appointing well-liked Rob as host. The presenter of BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? said: 'How could I turn down the opportunity to become the mastermind of Destination X, the thrilling new travel adventure series coming to the BBC next year? 'It's a show that turns the whole of Europe into a board game - manipulating the players and the audience at home along the way. 'I can't wait to be the puppet master orchestrating every twist and turn as our contestants are taken on a journey where everything is not as it seems. 'It's going to be a wild ride!' It comes after mother and son Caroline, 61, and Tom, 21, took the crown on the latest series of Race Across The World. The fifth series saw the travellers take on an almost 9,000-mile route from the Great Wall Of China, through Nepal, to the southern tip of India, with a budget of just over £1,000 per person. The pair narrowly claimed victory, taking home the £20,000 prize, with sisters Elizabeth and Letitia only 19 minutes behind them. And after the programme aired, Caroline spoke out about the secret battles their epic 51-day journey helped her overcome. Caroline and Tom spoke extensively on the show about the mother claiming - and her son accepting - her identity beyond being a housewife and parent. But she told Metro she had been facing another challenge behind the scenes too: 'We'd just downsized the house which I really struggled with. 'I didn't have a horse anymore and we had our dog put down. 'Tom was becoming more independent and I thought, "I don't know what life is going to offer me now". 'Luckily, Race Across The World came at the right time.' She took the loss of her horse so hard because it has emerged since her time on the show that Caroline is a successful eventer. The Race Across The World winner loves to take part in the equestrian event, which sees competitors take on dressage, cross-country and show jumping. And since finishing the BBC competition show, she got her horse back and made a successful return to the sport: 'I have a much more positive attitude now. 'I still spend a lot of time outside with my animals but I'm not as frightened of being lonely.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BBC viewers left 'in tears and screaming at the TV' after documentary about 'absurdly cruel' reality show that saw contestant stripped naked, starved and locked up alone for a YEAR
BBC viewers were left 'in tears and screaming at the TV' after a documentary about an 'absurdly cruel' reality show which saw a contestant stripped naked, starved and locked up alone for a year. Storyville: The Contestant, which hit BBC iPlayer last night, tells the incredible story of 1998 Japanese show Susunu!Denpa Shonen, or Do Not Proceed, Crazy Youth. Aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, then 22, was locked up, asked to strip naked and tasked with entering mail-in magazine competitions until he won one million yen (around £6,000). The man, who auditioned for the programme, was told he could leave at any time - but he decided to persist to complete the challenge, staying for a total of 15 months. He thought the footage would be aired on TV at a later date - but what he did not know was it was actually being broadcast live to around 17million people per week. The documentary, originally created in 2023, has shocked BBC viewers since hitting its on-demand platform last night, who took to X to express their horror. The man (pictured in the documentary), who auditioned for the programme, was told he could leave at any time - but he decided to persist to complete the challenge, staying for a total of 15 months One said: 'Watching The Contestant and that producer should be in prison for torture and war crimes that violate the UN.' The commenter mentioned the man's nickname Nasubi, Japanese for 'aubergine', a cartoon image of which was used by producers to cover his genitals on the show. They continued: 'What he did to Nasubi is absurdly cruel and the entire industry of reality television should be burned to the ground.' Another commented: 'I don't think I've ever yelled, "That's so damn unethical", as much as I have while watching The Contestant.' Someone else said: 'The Contestant was gut wrenching. Nasubi is such a sweet genuine soul. I was in tears by the end! 'I hope they compensated him even outside of the fundraising they did. One year and three months of film and book sales. 'Pay that man. Producer was wrong as hell for that.' One person added: 'If it sounds like The Truman Show, that's because it basically is. The documentary, originally created in 2023, has shocked BBC viewers since hitting its on-demand platform last night, who took to X to express their horror 'They film Nasubi's life for over a year, living in ridiculously cramped conditions and winning very little until late into the game. 'His conditions are worse than being a prisoner in jail. It's completely inhumane.' Another echoed this sentiment: 'The producer on The Contestant should be in jail.' Someone else praised Nasubi's resilience: 'The Contestant is a hard watch but Nasubi is one of the most beautiful people in the world. Wow.' Another commenter weighed in: 'This is all so very bizarre! I can't believe people watched this poor guy on TV.' Not only did he have to accrue prize money from the magazine competitions, he had to win everything he needed to survive too - including food, clothing and toilet roll. He ate undignified meals such as 5kg of uncooked rice, before he was forced to resort to eating wet dog food on day 80. Nasubi was stripped of all his belongings and clothes and left alone with nothing but stacks of magazines, postcards, running water, electricity and heating - without ever signing a contract. His mental state got to the point that he admitted he wished for death - but he tried to stay sane by writing diaries, dancing and playing games. The live stream of his endeavours was one segment, dubbed A Life In Prizes, of the larger programme, which saw lots of ordinary people take on crazy tasks. In an interview with The Sun, he said: 'The loneliness affected me much more than not being able to eat or not having clothes. 'There were so many moments where I thought it probably would be better to die now than keep going. 'The toughest moment was when the rice ran out and I needed to face up to eating dog food. I didn't want to eat it but there was no alternative.' Nasubi admitted that he was in 'such emotional turmoil that I couldn't sleep' and at points even hallucinated to the extent he believed he had been 'abducted by aliens'. In his diaries, he wrote: 'I don't have enough nutrition going to my brain. Being driven to the edge has brought out a madness in me.' When he finally reached the number of winnings needed, Nasubi was eventually freed - but producers soon conned him into returning to the hellish experience. He was flown to what he thought was a celebratory trip to Korea - where the producers worked for three hours to convince him to go through the process again. Nasubi pleaded: 'I thought my life was over. So many times I wanted to die.' He ended up competing for several more weeks, taking him to 434 days in isolation. The contestant then returned to Japan, where he entered another apartment and stripped naked, thinking he was about to be subjected to the same turmoil again. But the walls then collapsed to reveal a TV studio with a live audience of fans, with him becoming aware for the first time that his ordeal had been seen by millions. He had become an icon during his long ordeal, with the Truman Show-esque programme poking fun at him with slapstick noises and suggestive censoring. 'Without his knowledge or consent', as the BBC iPlayer synopsis explains, 'Nasubi became the most famous television personality in Japan'. As well as the record-breaking viewing figures, his diaries from inside also became a bestseller. But Nasubi was not ready to meet his new fans and reportedly needed six months to rehabilitate back into normal life. The lack of interaction and food had left his speech slow and body malnourished, while he struggled to make eye contact or talk to other people. He admitted: 'After A Life In Prizes, I lost my faith in humanity. I had a void in my heart, like a black hole. 'My loneliness could only be filled by those around me. It was their support and affection that filled that void. 'A human's love or that kind of spirit of helping each other - that's what it's all about.' The documentary about it combines clips from the show with never-before-seen footage, alongside interviews with Nasubi, his family and the programme's producer. The synopsis continues: 'This is the incredible story of how one man became a national phenomenon that presaged the global rise of reality TV.' Nasubi has recently spoken out about his experience 25 years on, telling Time he is trying to move forward despite still feeling 'hatred' for the show's producer. He said: 'I've realised that I cannot change the past but by changing how I think about who I am today I can always change the future. 'When you put energy into other people rather than just focussing on yourself, you become stronger than you could ever imagine.' Fortunately, Nasubi has managed to turn the negatives of his time on the series into positives. The contestant completed his goal of climbing Mount Everest in 2016, saying the resilience he gained from reality TV had come good for him in the climb. And the fame he garnered as a result of the show has enabled him to get regular guest appearances on a range of thankfully less traumatic panel and game shows. Taking part in a Reddit Ask Me Anything last year, Nasubi answered questions from curious fans about his traumatic experience. He explained the door had been unlocked during his time in the apartment but his mental state 'degraded' to the point he decided to stay. The contestant said: 'I was not offered a contract. I won an audition, and wanted to participate and complete the challenge. 'The option was "Do you want to do it?" and I said, "Yes". 'So, I was not forced to do it, I was not kidnapped. I was taken to a secret location and blindfolded but I wasn't taken against my will. I decided to participate.' Nasubi went on: 'It's hard to explain, but I think that the people who have experienced being locked in confinement, and felt what it's like to be trapped in those walls, will understand why one chooses to stay instead of leave. 'My mental state was degrading... instead of changing the environment, it felt safer to stay in the same situation, even though it was uncomfortable.' He added: 'I didn't think that the competition would last that long. The door wasn't locked, but I was determined to stay with it until the end. 'You could say it was Yamato Spirit, or Japanese spirt, I would not quit.' When asked if he had known he would be televised and what money he made from the show, Nasubi explained: 'Of course I didn't know it was being broadcasted. 'Back in the early days of reality TV in Japan, they didn't give contracts to participants, it was an entirely new genre of TV. The contestant completed his goal of climbing Mount Everest in 2016, saying the resilience he gained from reality TV had come good for him in the climb 'And my manager did not protect me in the same way that TV stars are protected now. 'For compensation, I made ten million yen for one year and three months and that includes the money from the sale of my diaries from the show.' He added: 'I didn't receive any kindness or support from the crew. 'And since I didn't know the show was being broadcast to an audience, I didn't have any connection to the audience to receive that support. 'After the show was over though, the two emcees that were on [the programme], they encouraged me by saying that I did a good job, and I felt like they empathised with me and my situation on the show.' Speaking about what life was like once he was released, he admitted: 'For a while it was hard to interact with people. 'But I did realise that humans cannot live alone, so I did my best to reconnect with people.' He also spoke about the parallels of his ordeal to the award-winning film The Truman Show, which was released the same year A Life of Prizes aired. He added: 'I didn't receive any kindness or support from the crew' He said: 'Yes, I saw the film. The only person who really truly understands the feeling of what Truman went through is me. It felt like it was my story. 'His life was much easier than what I had but it was a similar situation that everyone was watching both Truman and me and we had no idea we were being observed.' Nasubi added: 'I am still recognised on the street, even 25 years later. I was even recognised in London and when I went to Stonehenge in 2018! 'There were a bunch of Japanese tourists who couldn't believe I was there. I think they were more excited to take photos with me than Stonehenge.' Despite his awful experience, Nasubi said he had no desire to take revenge or legal action and explained he is now working with charities to help others. He wrote: 'I never thought of solving the problem with violence. Because violence doesn't solve anything. 'But then, would I want to sue them and punish them by law? The answer would be no, because that would make some people sad and injured, and that was not what I wanted to do. Even if I get hurt, I want to protect people around me. 'Instead of revenge, I would like to use that energy for something more positive, like helping people.' He went on: 'I am working with charity organisations in Fukushima and across Japan. 'I enjoy connecting with people in person and helping bring smiles to those in Fukushima, and the northeast area of Japan.' He even shows leniency towards 'the one who sent me to the hell that I experienced': 'After a long time, Tsuchiya, the producer, apologised to me. 'He said he wanted to do something for me and I think that his participation in the documentary shows he feels remorse.' The Contestant is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Devil' behind the most horrific reality TV experiment ever: Producer locked a young comedian in a tiny apartment without food and clothes - and secretly broadcast the graphic footage
Reality shows are, today, an inescapable cornerstone of television - with long-running shows like Big Brother, Love Island, and Survivor firmly ensconced in popular culture. And while they considered extreme, they have nothing on Susunu! Denpa Shonen - the Japanese show that premiered nearly 30 years ago and remains one of the most drastic series to be produced. Although it was taken off the air in 2002, the world's 'sickest reality show' is still for its A Life In Prizes challenge - and the young comedian who endured 15 months without food or clothes in a tiny apartment in Japan. Instead, Tamaoki Hamatsu, then 22, was tasked with surviving solely off his winnings from magazine competitions while he was placed under the watch of a camera. However, in a twist that sounds like the plot of a Black Mirror episode, Hamatsu - better known by his nickname 'Nasubi' - had no idea the graphic footage was being broadcast to 17 million viewers across Japan. Nor the extent to which he was being manipulated by the show's producer - Toshio Tsuchiya, a man he idolised and looked up to as a 'god' before discovering he was the 'devil' in disguise. Recalling the moment he first brought Nasubi to the tiny apartment that would become his prison - although the door was never locked - Tsuchiya said: 'I told him that most of it would never be aired. 'I was smiling whilst saying it.' These sadistic tactics are described - sometimes, proudly, by Tsuchiya himself - in the 2024 documentary The Contestant as the now-68-year-old looks back on his most successful - and cruel - project yet. The harrowing production reveals how Tsuchiya, now 68, oversaw a production that failed Nasubi on every level - from the crew 'abandoned' him to the doctor, who gave Nasubi a clean bill of health - even though he was evidently suffering extreme psychological distress and malnourished. And Nasubi's well-being was a price Tsuchiya, still an influential figure in Japan's TV industry, was willing to pay as he became 'consumed' by the prospect of creating an extraordinary, unprecedented show that pushed its contestants to the brink. Under his obsessive direction, Nasubi became suicidal, emaciated, and so disconnected from reality that he, at one point, believed he had been 'abducted by aliens'. Japan watched as Nasubi tried to live off the prizes from magazine and radio contests, with the aspiring entertainer sending postcard after postcard until he reached the contestant's goal of making one million yen (or $8,000) in winnings. All he was given to cover his modesty was a thin, dirty pillow as Nasubi was filmed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 335 days, as he tried to hit his target of one million yen in prizes won while also trying to find the 'enjoyment in every day'. 'Nasubi didn't know that we had rented the room next door,' the show's director, Harutaro Kagawa, revealed. 'To film Nasubi waking up in the morning, the assistant had to sneak into his room early to press record on the camera.' This footage was then whittled down to a six-minute edit - a patchwork of Nasubi talking to the camera, eating dog food, and dancing around the room naked - that had to be approved by Tsuchiya. The producer decided to use an eggplant cartoon to cover Nasubi's genitalia - no doubt because his nickname translates to 'aubergine'. By day 10, Nasubi had submitted a total of 963 applications without winning anything - meaning he hadn't eaten anything apart from the crackers the production team supplied him with intermittently because 'we couldn't let him die'. While Nasubi was growing more frail as the days went by, the production team - undoubtedly on Tsuchiya's instructions - was superimposing light-hearted captions, slapstick noises, and suggestive censoring onto footage he didn't know was being aired every night. His family, on the contrary, was painfully aware of what was happening as his sister, Ikuyo, recalled their shock at seeing Nasubi naked on national TV. 'When I saw it, I thought, "What are you doing? You're joking!" I felt both angry and sad, as well as embarrassed. A grown man naked on TV, with his privates airbrushed. 'And it was my little brother.' Watching Nasubi on TV, she realised how 'cruel and awful' Denpa Shonen - described in the documentary as the 'naughty boy' in the 'school yard' of Japanese TV. 'Denpa Shonen is easy to laugh at if you're an outside but if it's you, or someone you're close to, you see that what's happening is really cruel and awful.' Clips of Nasubi 'farting', holding up women's lacy underwear, and dancing around the room after winning bottles of sake, were all included in the final edits. After Nasubi hit his goal of earning one million yen in prizes from various contests - a feat that meant he spent 335 days naked and alone in the tiny room that saw him become increasingly detached from real life - Tsuchiya picked a particularly painful way to break the news to him During the documentary, Nasubi revealed no one from the crew would speak to him as he became increasingly cut off from the rest of the world. At this point, Tsuchiya added: 'But I told them to never engage with him, because the challenge was about being alone.' Nasubi felt his intentions were more sinister than that, adding: 'He thought that keeping me isolated would make the project more interesting.' Buoyed by the success of his show, which predated Big Brother by a couple of years, and to prove to his detractors that the film was not scripted, Tsuchiya made the decision to live stream footage from 'Nasubi's room' for internet users around the world. 'Not just every week, but every day, minute, and second, this craziness totally consumed me, wondering what I could do next.' After Nasubi hit his goal of earning one million yen in prizes from various contests - a feat that meant he spent 335 days naked and alone in the tiny room that saw him become increasingly detached from real life - Tsuchiya picked a particularly painful way to break the news to him. He woke Nasubi up in the dead of night by bursting party poppers - while shining a bright light - on his face as the frightened 22-year old was crouched in fear with streamers all over his body. But he wasn't done yet. Tsuchoiya decided to fly Nasubi to South Korea for what the frail comedian believed was a 'celebratory' trip - only to push him into repeating A Life In Prizes for an international adaptation. 'Aftrer raising him up, we dropped him right back to rock bottom,' he said. 'When you drop someone, they feel a shock, right? I thought I could capture that moment. 'That's such a cruel thing to do, isn't it,' Tsuchiya continued. This was the moment Nasubi realised the producer was the 'devil' as he told British filmmaker Clair Titley: 'At the audition, a year earlier, Tsuchiya was like a god to me. 'But from that point on, in a flash, he became the devil.' Nasubi ended up competing for several more weeks, taking him to 434 days in isolation. He then returned to Japan, where he entered another apartment and stripped naked thinking he was about to be subjected to the same turmoil again. However, the walls then collapsed to reveal a TV studio with a live audience of fans, with him becoming aware for the first time that his ordeal had been seen by millions. 'That people could push others to such limits, plunge them into despair, it's the same with bullying. 'I realised how cruel people could be,' Nasubi said. Today, Tsuchiya continues to work in the entertainment industry, with The Cinemaholic reporting he has served as the owner-operator of TV production firm Gontents LLC since 2022. He was previously appointed Senior Creator as well as President of the Research and Development Lab at Nippon Television Network Corporation, the organisation that produced Susunu! Denpa Shonen. Does he feel any remorse for the way he treated Nasubi? Cryptically, the producer said: 'What we captured in those 15 months was extraordinary. I thought it was more interesting the more I pushed people. 'If the person on the receiving end had been pushed too far, and didn't want to live, I'd have gone too far. 'But it's hard to know at the time.' He conceded, however, that Nasubi had been instrumental to his success, admitting 'I'd do anything' to help the comedian-turned-activist recover from the trauma he inflicted all those years ago. 'Even if he asked me to put my life on the line… I might even consider that,' he continued. 'If he said, "I need you to die to get closure.' I would seriously think about it.' Fortunately, Nasubi has managed to turn the negatives of his time on the series into positives. He completed his goal of climbing Mount Everest in 2016 saying that the resilience he gained from reality TV had come good for him in the climb. Tsuchiya helped him fundraise for the expedition as part of his redemption but Nasubi shared he could not forgive the producer for tricking him into thinking he was only being filmed as an experimental pilot and never told that instead he would be broadcast to all of Japan. During an Ask Me Anything on Reddit last May, ahead of the release of The Contestant, he confessed: 'It would be a lie if I said I'm not regretting, even though I learned to live with the past. Did I forgive Tsuchiya, the producer? To be honest, in my heart, there is still something that is hating the person.' He explained: 'But then in 2011, a big earthquake happened in Fukushima. I could really relate to the people who are struggling. 'So without my experience in the past, I might not have been able to resonate with people in the tough situation. That's when I realised my past struggle could be something useful. He completed his goal of climbing Mount Everest in 2016 saying that the resilience he gained from reality TV had come good for him in the climb 'So I realised that instead of regretting my past, I have to learn to live with my past and turn this around to make my negative past into something positive.' Nasubi's Everest expedition was a bid to raise awareness about the Fukushima disaster and, when he contacted Tsuchiya about his fundraising bid, the producer reportedly apologises for his past actions. "I didn't have contact with him for more than 10 years and, during that time, he was a symbol of hate for me, someone I really despised," Nasubi told TIME. 'But when I decided to climb Everest, I contacted him for the first time and he said, 'I would do anything to help you,' and apologized for all of the awful things he put me through.' In addition to his work in the TV industry, Tsuchiya is a part-time lecturer at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Tokyo. He is also the author of three books, including his most recent work - We Love Television - that was published in 2017.
