Regular readers of my blogs (yes, all four of you) know that I’m fascinated by all the bizarre stuff that the Japanese seem to be into. But when I stumbled upon the following You Tube clip of Smasan Boyle, a Japanese cross-dressing Susan Boyle imitator, well…I have to admit I’m not sure what to make of this actually. It’s obviously a parody of Boyle and her appearances on Britain’s Got Talent, but can someone tell me what the hell is going on? The clip’s in Japanese with no subtitles so I can’t really follow it and it raises all sorts of questions like what’s up with the mysterious man waiting offstage who seems to be making Boyle and anyone who notices him mighty nervous? If you think you can make sense out of this, check it out and enlighten me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8l_Y970ypg&feature=player_embedded
I can’t identify the humor in this, but it’s a clip from a sketch comedy/music/variety show called SMAP. Two of the judges are supposed to be Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell of Britain’s Got Talent. The man backstage is supposed to be Smasan Boyle’s lip-syncher, whom Boyle seems nervous about and runs off when Cowell questions her.
how they got a japanese guy to looks so much like susan boyle is a special effect feat worthy of an award…
SMAP is like the most successful boy band ever in Japan. Besides singing, each member has gone on into acting or hosting and doing variety shows. Unfortunately, this skit with band member, Shingo Katori playing “Smasan Boyle” lip-synching to some mysterious real singer, doesn’t seem funny at all. Cross-dressing, by the way, is supposed to pull laughs like Bob Hope and Milton Berle used to.
If you want to see an even crazier cross-dressing character of Shingo’s, take a look at his “Shingo Mama” character which was very popular with kids. (Watch for cameos of Jackson Brown & I think Jackie Chan is even in there.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AullHqZomY0&feature=related
Imitator shows are common in Japan. There was a big two hour special on last night in fact. Comedians and other “talented” folks gather and put on a complete show of imitations. Some are serious, some are funny, some are tributes, some take the piss. It’s all in good fun, and for the Japanese, it’s a break from reality.