I do remember some 'lol their poor english' corners on Korean variety/talk shows w idols as well but they didn't put their hearts into it in quite the same way. They were more successful with stuff like Invincible Youth - Hyomin and Sunhwas as clueless goofs on the countryside - although both, especially Hyomin, have moved on to more sophisticated images for various reasons (although I was briefly almost interested in the improv sit com of Sunhwa and Kanghee as dumbo newlyweds). Of course that's comedy and it's not so easy to think of examples where as you say they are more real failures, not talented, don't really do the work by the rule book. As we talked about earlier the AKB girls seem pretty good at roleplaying village idiots as well when it's called for to gain some recognition (re: faked wrong, funny answers on tests). But the focus on lacking, loveable losers is definitely unique. The more e xtreme forms of humiliation they go through in JP variety is probably part of that.
Re: 3- reading some AKB fan discussions the narrative these days seems to be that NMB is struggling a bit - sales are down for records, events, members acknowledge it and have said stuff like "look at SKE fans, that's enthusiasm" etc (may tie in to your claims that theirs are less hardcore). I'll be honest and say I haven't seen much reason to get to know NMB yet but then of course I don't know them at all. Only the two most popular names have stuck for me. May be biased because I prefer the other groups singles (and SKE's 'performance' gimmick).
The whole system is a smoothly run factory for various talents, tv personalities, actors, models yeah. Various agencies getting their piece of the cake is too smart. The whole "I joined this group to become an actress" schpiel would probably receive netizen hate coming from a Korean idol.
I was looking at the two first eps Sashihara new show "The Rebellion of Sashihara" and reading some summaries (not understanding jack) . The concept is she gets challenges and the first is a photo book project. The first two consist basically just of Sashi talking to the director and an editor about the business of this work- here's a stage48 user summary:
"If Sashiko no Kuseni was a training camp to Sasshi become a (variety) idol, Sashihara no Ran can be seem as a training camp to her become a producer. .In Sashiran, her mentor is a TV/Movie director and the guests will all be publishers, photographers, editors, i.e., people that support from the shadows the entertainment business.
Reading some reactions here and there, some interesting words appears: gesui and namanamashii, meaning, in general, that the show presents a raw reality, without make-ups, of the business. Among other reasons, there are a lot of talk about budget, payment, percentage, salary, i.e., MONEY mainly."
Re: 3- reading some AKB fan discussions the narrative these days seems to be that NMB is struggling a bit - sales are down for records, events, members acknowledge it and have said stuff like "look at SKE fans, that's enthusiasm" etc (may tie in to your claims that theirs are less hardcore). I'll be honest and say I haven't seen much reason to get to know NMB yet but then of course I don't know them at all. Only the two most popular names have stuck for me. May be biased because I prefer the other groups singles (and SKE's 'performance' gimmick).
The whole system is a smoothly run factory for various talents, tv personalities, actors, models yeah. Various agencies getting their piece of the cake is too smart. The whole "I joined this group to become an actress" schpiel would probably receive netizen hate coming from a Korean idol.
I was looking at the two first eps Sashihara new show "The Rebellion of Sashihara" and reading some summaries (not understanding jack) . The concept is she gets challenges and the first is a photo book project. The first two consist basically just of Sashi talking to the director and an editor about the business of this work- here's a stage48 user summary:
"If Sashiko no Kuseni was a training camp to Sasshi become a (variety) idol, Sashihara no Ran can be seem as a training camp to her become a producer.
.In Sashiran, her mentor is a TV/Movie director and the guests will all be publishers, photographers, editors, i.e., people that support from the shadows the entertainment business.
Reading some reactions here and there, some interesting words appears: gesui and namanamashii, meaning, in general, that the show presents a raw reality, without make-ups, of the business. Among other reasons, there are a lot of talk about budget, payment, percentage, salary, i.e., MONEY mainly."
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