Archives For Television

I’ve been watching NHK’s asadora, Hanbun Aoi (半分、青い。), intermittently like I always tend to do. At first, Mei Nagano made me think of a grown-up Ashida Mana which made no sense… even though Mana-chan is enormous and the last time I saw her it made me feel like those parents who watch their children turn into teenagers in horror. lol

But now I was watching the most recent episode of Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯) on NHK Premium, and she was featured wearing an up-do samurai bun, white baggy clothes; so relaxed, enjoying her snacks, a dip of her feet in onsen water, greeting fans and playing other young girls. Dorky charisma, yo~ It takes a special ability to have people younger than you to “kawaiiiiiiiiii” you so sincerely. LOL

I was gushing about it over the weekend, but I thought I should also post about it here.

I think it’s oddly befitting that Yu-chan wins her first ever (unbelievable, right?) Japanese Academy Best Actress trophy the year that I’m celebrating my 10th year as her fan. It’s so moving. I’ve had a moving couple of days [low-ley Mamamoo insert, lol]. It was so satisfying seeing Yu-chan being so overwhelmed and so overcome with emotion that it just made me happy for her.

I haven’t seen KanoTori yet, ‘coz duh~ Japan obviousness xDDDDDDDDD but I’ve heard great things about it and, frankly, Yu-chan rarely disappoints me (I’m looking at you Henshin xDDDDDD). I had totally forgotten that Hula Girls was a supporting role for Yu, and that One Million Yen Girl was her last lead for a very long time… until Azumi Haruko and KanoTori.

Please, Yu-chan, don’t make us wait another 8 years or near-decade for your leading roles. You know it’s been ten years since Osen and since Camouflage?

Here’s to many many many more years of successes, Yu!

Your one and only Spanish-speaking Non-Japanese-speaking fan. xD

You know I’ve been loving Celeb Five‘s variety outing this year. Their Weekly Idol episode has probably extended my life an extra month. My Durian and Jujube face idols~

ANYWAY~ probably because of it, the YouTube algorithm gave me this clip of Lee Hyori performing Bad Girls at the 2013 Mnet 20’s Choice Awards which also features Ahn Young-mi, who -after making her Celeb Five mates do sexy dances – has become my favorite. lol

First of all, this arrangement for Bad Girls make it so much easier to figure out the patch from Monochrome to Black. Also, the performance. Also, Hyori. Blessed. I remember I was so mesmerized with Hyori during this era, I still remember the Comeback Showcase she did fondly. I’m almost mad Hyori went to Jeju to live her hippie life xD lol But bless her.

I’m not crying, you are.

Did you get to see Faye Wong and Na Ying’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala collaboration? It’s been 20 years since it happened, and this year’s Years (岁月) was probably the most popular segment [like Tang Weiwei’s two years ago]. I do wonder why CCTV hasn’t uploaded the performance on its own (yet).

As far as I know, it’s only available for high quality download on QQ (though, geoblocked), unless… you know, you do your thing.

And now, someone was awesome enough to provide English translations~

Bless them~

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You know I’m a big fan of NHK’s Okaasan to Issho, right? Like, I’ve been watching it for years, I don’t have children, and my Japanese isn’t improving anymore… but I still watch it. LOL I’m still super shocked that Yoshihisa Kobayashi (小林よしひさ) – the guy that does the gymnastics – is still around since my original post a decade ago. He’s survived like two or three puppet changes, and this is like his third round of hosts— Takumi Mitani left a few years ago, and Daisuke Yokoyama officially left last year, giving way to Atsuko Ono subbing for Takumi, and Yuichiro Hanada taking over Daisuke.

I still miss Itou Mayu, tho xD

Anyway, I digress~ during the many changes in themes and puppets, they started showing the Galapico Poo (ガラピコぷ〜 , GARAPIKOPu) segment that begins with an animated intro that I’ve always been a fan of. It’s been years on air, and there’s no official clips (only poor TV-to-CAM captures, because LOL NHK), but I finally found Kuno Yoko (久野遥子) [Tumblr][Twitter] was in charge of the animation. FINALLY.

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Woah <3 but, man, licensing issues~

Bless their hearts.

Mamamoo and being a Moomoo has made me realize that I should be a better fan to my idols, so I’ve been reconnecting with my Everlasting roots. Bless Brown Eyed Girls, bless JeA, bless Miryo, bless Narsha and bless GaIn. They were my original favorites back when I got into Kpop, but never had enough to really get into them. I swear, if there was a MamamooTrans version of BEG back then, I would totally be a hardcore Everlasting.

BEG are so SO funny, I’ve been recently watching their Mepsi appearance, and I don’t even have an interest in makeup or actually get half the show since it’s a mix of Korean with Chinese subs, and my makeup-beauty Chinese vocabulary is poor. LOL I caught a glimpse of them learning Mandarin and I couldn’t resist, though. I’m usually a JeA racoon-leader stan [1][2], but I’ve gotten acquainted with my new-found love for Miryo. I really lost it when she try telling her model that she’d be doing her eye makeup, but came out as “Wo EYE Ni” xD

Then there was their presentation on Weekly Idol, of course. Weekly Idol was one of the shows that got me into Mamamoo as well, and I remember watching BEG’s and finding it hilarious. They can be so much alike in their Random Play, but also comically true Adult-dols, especially JeA and Narsha asking for Red Ginseng and Oriental Raisin Water xDDDDDDD

Of course I’m still hung up on the perfection that was Sixth Sense, I do not regret buying the regular version AND the collector repackage. It’s really my most precious BEG possession.

Also! Request for having a show with Mamamoo or BEG where they learn a language. There’s actually several shows on NHK where idols/actors learn French, Spanish and Chinese (and various English language shows), so this can totally be a concept.

I just finished watching Wukong, and was dazzled by Ni Ni and had many feels. You know I’m a sucker for these supernatural doomed romances. So I was catching up on news and stumbled upon the fact that Ni Ni and Chen Kun are gonna be on a historical drama together. Seems like there’s tons of Chinese actors heading back to TV for dramas, but have you seen the gorgeous – and I mean GORGEOUS – stills for The Rise of Phoenixes (凰权·弈天下)?

It’s so f*cking good-looking, yo! I may have tears in my eyes.

All the info on the show, plus more stills, available on CFensi. A short explanation is available on Aiya xD

I just didn’t want to spam you, even though I have been spamming y’all with Mamamoo continuous posts x’D

First, Tokyo Ghouls came out, I don’t think it made such a big splash as Rurouni Kenshin did [at the Box Office] and Yu-chan’s role is tiny [the Variety review spoils the role and movie, but does mention Yu hasn’t aged since 2006 xD].

The trailer for Birds Without Names [aka. and shortened to “kanotori”], it comes out on Oct.28., which is a week after the release of Mix., which also released its trailer and Yu-chan is hilarious.

Over the Fence and Japanese Girls Never Die came out on DVD/BR sometime in Mar and June. Subtitles may be scarce xD I’m not aware of HK editions with subtitles. I may be trying to catch Over the Fence without subs for all time’s sake. LOL

Yu-chan has also been on TV lately. She was in the recent special for We’re Millennials Got a Problem SP (ゆとりですがなにか 純米吟醸純情編), which will be coming out on DVD/BR in November (late) alongside What a Wonderful Family 2. I’m still debating whether I should watch the show~ She’s also currently on TBS’ drama Hello, Detective Hedgehog (ハロー張りネズミ) with Eita :)

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I felt so attacked, yo!

This seems to be a presentation for KBS’ Open Concert (열린음악회), where they also did Yes I Am [1], but this re-do of their Immortal SongsFlying Deep in the Night (깊은 밤을 날아서) [1] is sending me to the edge~ like, it’s the same, but they feel so different.

Solar, of course, is killing me softly. xD There was the cute HwaByul moment, and Whee-In giggling, and Moonbyul singing.

Mamamoo also did a tiny broadcast on their CH+, and Whee-In was wearing specs and a 3/4 sleeve t-shirt, so I was dead. I’m mourning because I missed the broadcast, so I have to wait to watch the whole thing xD AND Japanese fans keep posting their photos with Mamamoo and I’m mad jealous. When will I? Hopefully, one day, now that ZanyTV is on.