Takeshi's Castle

(Redirected from Fu'un! takeshi castle)

Takeshi's Castle (風雲!たけし城 Fūun! Takeshi Jō) was a Japanese game show that aired from 1986 to 1989 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System. It featured the Japanese actor, Takeshi Kitano (aka "Beat" Takeshi) as a Count who owns a castle and sets up impossible challenges for players (or a volunteer army) to get to him. The show has become cult television. A special live 'revival' was broadcast on April 2, 2005, as part of TBS' 50th anniversary celebrations.

In the United States, it airs as MXC (formerly Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) on Spike TV, providing both dubbing and commentary in English that effectively spoofs the original show. In the UK, a shortened version given a comedic voiceover by Craig Charles has been shown on cable TV channel Challenge since 2002, where fans of the show (as well as those in Japan) are known as "Keshi-heads". In India, a shortened version of the show is aired on Pogo TV channel, with a comedic voiceover of actor and dancer Jaaved Jaffrey.

In other countries where the show has been seen, Germany had a dubbed version (aired on DSF), and Spain aired the program as Humor Amarillo (Yellow Comedy) in the early 1990s. Highlights appeared in Australia on "World's Weirdest TV" in the 1990s. In Italy, the UK shortened version is being broadcasted on an encoded satellite channel. The voiceover is done by Lillo and Greg, an italian duo of comedians.

Original Takeshi's Castle Series

The original show involved about 142 contestants who General Tani (known as General Lee in the UK version, and Captain Tenneal in the US) effectively tested and challenged, eliminating some and keeping others. Each show finished with the Final Showdown/Final Battle where Count Takeshi was faced by the remaining contestants. If they hit the paper ring on his cart with their water gun (or in later versions, the laser hitting a sensor that deactivated his cart), the castle was taken and the game "won". The player who shot down Takeshi-san won one million yen (about $10,000 US).

Challenges

A wide range of challenges were used throughout the show's history, some occurring only once or twice, or others in virtually every show, depending upon their popularity and ease of preparation. Many challenges involve falling into water or mud on failure.

The below list contains the names of Games in the UK version of the show, and are followed up by their MXC names.

Contents:	Top – 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Avalanche: Players race up a narrow gulley, and must avoid being crushed by polystyrene boulders. Contestants try and hide in cubbyholes in the gulley's side, but they contain members of Takeshi's Gundan who attempt to push them out into the boulder's path. Called Boulder Dash on MXC.

B

Ball Cupping: This game required players to hit a ball into a pachinko-type machine, and then race down with a small bucket and catching the ball in the bucket while diving into mud. The first iteration of this game did not have the small ramp at the bottom of the machine that forced contestants to dive into the mud. Instead, contestants could stay on the side and catch the ball, making it a lot cleaner. This game is known as Mud Butlers on MXC.
Big Bird: In this game, contestants dressed as a bird must fly by guywire to a pink rabbit, catching it with their feet, and then dropping into a nest with three little birds were waiting to have a meal, all while having small soccer balls shot at them. This game on MXC goes by the name of Bird Droppings.
Bite The Bun: Various buns are hanging on lines above contestants, who in the time given must grab a bun with their mouths (their arms held by either a rubber ring or a bag). Called Sack Lunch and Bagel Bumpers on MXC.
Blueberry Hill: Contestants wear large, top-heavy costumes to resemble "blueberries" (or, in the first iteration, darumas), and must make their way down a ramp, only moving when (usually) Yousichi Shimada has his gaze averted – they are eliminated if he catches a contestant moving, or if they fall over. Known as Mine Games on MXC. The first iteration implies that the game is based on the children's game Daruma-san ga Koronda.
Boulder Dash (V1): Played in the original pilot episode, where all the contestants were men. In this game, contestants ran sideways along a steep muddy hill, whilst avoiding the usual styrofoam objects, this time shaped like logs as well as boulders. The excessive amount of mud on the hill seriously reduced traction for the contestants. That coupled with the steep hill really took it out on their leg muscles, meaning they easily slid all the way to the bottom of the hill, usually on their backsides. If they were overwhelmed by the boulders and logs, or fell all the way to the bottom, they were out.
Boulder Dash (V2): This variation of Avalanche puts three players at a time going uphill trying to avoid the styrofoam boulders. This game is known as The Impassable Stones of Mount McKidney on MXC.
Brat Sack: A parent/child special game. Kids are inside bags. Parents have to find their kids, but aren't allowed to look inside the bags.
Bridge Ball: Players cross a rope bridge] holding a gold colored volleyball, whilst henchmen fire black volleyballs at the contestant, who is eliminated if they fall off. Frequently, contestants are hit in the face, genitals, etc, and hold on to the bridge with one hand for several seconds before having to let go. This game is called (Big) Brass Balls on MXC.
Bridge The Gap: Contestants stepped onto one moving plank, and then ran over to the other side, where they had to catch another plank rotating in the opposite direction. It's all about judgment, as they have to be able to anticipate the moment where the ends of the two planks meet, and move with the second plank. It's very difficult, and usually ends in a painful looking landing on the crash mat below, lightly coated in white powder for good measure. Sometimes the platforms moved across a large pool of water, so failure meant getting wet. The latter version has been seen on MXC as Swamp Gassers, while the powder version has appeared as Gang Plankers.
Buggy Me: Played once in the teenage special, six players went on an obstacle course and picked an envelope with a number connected to a buggy. Three of them were light with stuffed animals, the others had Animal, Kibaji, and Strong. Was called The Great Escape From Foster Care on MXC.

C

Catch It (V1): On a baseball field, the Popcorn twins (usually) hit a ball high up into the air. A group of contestants in giant Japanese Baseball League uniforms have to try and catch it. Whoever does goes through. Each get several chances, but if they still don't get it, they're out. Called Foul Balls (because the baseball was supposedly dipped in some rank odor) on MXC.
Catch It (V2): A soccer ball is fired into the air, which a player must catch. One contestant plays at a time. Played on either mud or snow. Once called Mud Ball in the UK version, and called Dirty Muddy Balls, Dry Balls (where players had to chase the balls on a padded surface – for the Monster Special as an accomodation to the bulky costumes), or Highballs (where they chased onto a shallow man-made lake) on MXC.
Cheeze-Berry Hill: Like Blueberry Hill, but players were dressed as cheese balls. Also, "Dennis The Menace" was replaced by "Desperate Dan".
Corn Cob Trip: Similar to "Mushroom Trip" except with a giant corn cob. Called Corn Holders on MXC.

D

Deep Float: The contestants ran into the sea from the beach where they started. They had to make their way to a very small platform, and try to get on it and stay on it. This is made harder by the fact that; a) they were wearing lifejackets, b) it was a very small platform and it could sink at any moment, and c) there were guards there trying to push them off again, although some hilariously turned the tables on one of them and threw him into the sea.
Die or Pie: Players roll a giant die. Each number corresponds to a hole in a long platform. Whichever number is rolled, the player must stick his/her head out of that hole. The hole corresponding to a roll of one is the closest to a man with a pie, while six is the furthest. If the man is able to toss his pie into the contestant's face, the contestant is out. Called Pie in the Sky on MXC.
Dino Ride: Riding a mechanical bull dressed as a giant dinosaur, contestants try to shoot a pink bat supported by toilet paper with a water gun, but if they fail or fall, they are eliminated (and sometimes sprayed with white powder). Called Buck Off! on MXC.
Dominoes: Contestants have to cross a gap by running on the top of giant dominoes, which usually fall over, bringing the challenger down with them. Known on MXC first as The Teetering Temple of Crumbling Death, then changed to Tumbling Dominoes of Doom.
The Dragon Lake: Swing across a gap over water or mud on a rope to land on a platform, either straight across, or in an arc. The MXC name for the arc version is Dope On A Rope, while the straight ahead version is called Hook, Line and Swingers, Swish Bucklers or The Giant G-String of Doom.
Drop In The Ocean: A large amount of balls were dropped into the sea. Contestants had to run out there and retrieve one. The MXC Almost Live! special used the start of this game as a condom drop.

E

End Bell: Contestants sat on a large float which was pushed down a slope and across a stretch of water. They had to stay on up to the other side, and then climb up a slippery slope and ring the bell at the top. Most contestants failed at the slope, because it was soaking wet from other people's attempts.
Extinction: Guards, dressed as animals, attempt to dodge contestants' shots of volleyballs aimed at easily collaspable heads. If the contestants failed to 'kill' them, then they were caged. Called Endangering Species on MXC.

F

Final Fall: There are five holes and down two of them hide Katsuo Tokashiki and Makoto Dainenji, each wearing an outlandish costume. First, the contestants have to get past Yoroi Chuu, who attacks them if they get in his way. Next, the contestants have to jump down a hole, and if they're right, they get to go through to the Show Down but if they go down the wrong holes where the guards are hiding, then they go out.
Fish Food: Contestants ride on a board as it goes across a conveyer belt. They must jump over pink fish, and crouch underneath sharks. More often than not, contestants can't keep up, or get to far ahead of themselves and fall off. This game is called Chum in the Mouth on MXC.
Flag Down: Two teams — one made up of players, the others made up of the Emerald Guards — attempts to yank down a flag from the others' pole. Called Shaft Grabbers on MXC, and was renamed Mounting The Spike in the Spike TV Launch Special.
Foot Loose: Barefoot players try to find pairs of matching shoes and cross a metal surface covered in glue before time runs out. Some shoes aren't good and will stick to the glue, making it difficult for the contestant. This game is named Athlete's Feet on MXC and casts the glue pad as a giant 375 degree baking sheet.
The Fortress: A starting game. All players run out into a garden area and must find a golden ball to go through. The balls are hidden in strange places like up a tree, in a tree, buried, in green slime water or down a guards costume.

G

The Gauntlet: A video game-inspired obstacle course. Players must race a mushroom which slowly moves forward on a track above the course. Various obstacles include rocks thrown from above, a spinning platform, and a gap you need to swing on a rope to get across. The course is pretty narrow, and getting hit by anything will probably cause contestants to lose their balance and fall off into water. MXC's version is named Dash To Death. Its original name on Takeshi's Castle is Adventure Zone.
Giant Maze: This one is actually a real maze, as opposed to the other two, Honeycomb Maze, and Square Maze. Just enter in one side and find your way out the other side.
Go Nuts (V1): Contestants dress up as a giant nut and stay on a platform with twisty curves while hopping, as their legs are tied together. Called Bust A Nut on MXC.
Go Nuts (V2): Players dress in padding and climb a hill while guards roll large styrofoam nuts in this variation of "Avalanche". MXC calls this game (Salty) Nut Sackers
The Great Wall: Climb over a reasonably large wall. Simple. Called, among other things, Prison Break, The Wall of Hidden, Blistering Death, Get Over It and Hosin' The Ho's (where a water cannon tried to keep the players at bay) on MXC.
Grid Iron: Like American football, players must run to the end zone, avoiding Takeshi's henchmen — dressed in oversized football uniforms — who wait to tackle them. Male players had seven men to avoid, women had five. Once, contestants picked a card between an ace (one) and eight to see how many guards they had to face. Called Dead End Zone on MXC. Its original name is The Longest Yard.

H

Home Run: Brad "The Animal" Lesley had this game made up for him. Wearing giant Japanese Baseball League uniforms, players try to avoid being knocked off a narrow balance beam by three styrofoam baseballs thown by "Animal-san". Known as Ball Busters on MXC.
Honeycomb Maze: Contestants make their way through a blind maze made of hexagonal rooms, whilst chased by henchmen. They must make it to the correct exit without being caught (other exits are pits of water which the henchmen push them into). Known on MXC as Door Jam along with In-and-Outhouse and The Legal Maze.

I

High Rollers: Similar to log rolling, contestants must run over seven (once three and once five) large spinning drums without falling off. Very few appear to pass this challenge, and failure often looks painful with sudden impacts of the skull against the drums, and bodies folded as they fall. The MXC name for this game is Log Drop. Its original name is Roller Game.
Indestruct-a-ball: Contestants are placed inside giant balls, which are then rolled down a pachinko-like course. The object is to avoid the boxes near the end and reach the bottom. Called The Clear Sphere of Fear on MXC.
In The Sack: Played in a couples' special. There are 50 couples, but only 42 beds. They all have to find a bed and lie on it.

J

Jetskid: Players start on a boogie board attached to a ski boat. The ski boat pulls player and board through several obstacles, at varying speeds, including a small ramp. The contestant must stay on the board long enough to jump off it to a platform at the end. MXC calls it Yank My Dinghy.

K

Karaoke: A rather easy game named after the popular Karaoke. Sing a song that will please the owner of the house and his bouncer, and get their okay. Sing badly, you're gone. Called Elimination Idol (a spoof of the popular American Idol series) on MXC.
Knock Knock (V1): Contestants are confronted with four sets of walls with four possible doors each, covered with paper. Three have wooden walls or netting on the other side, while one is just paper. Contestants must run full-tilt at the door of their choice and either break through or painfully bounce off. Advancing through all four door sets advances the contestant. Known as Wall Bangers on MXC.
Knock Knock (V2): As the above, except there are more doors per wall, all 100 contestants are sent out at once, "correct" doors tend to have deep mudpits on the other side, and there are ten door sets. Players may try any number of doors, but those who fail to get to the other side and grab a token out of a pit full of white powder are out. Called Door Slammers, then renamed Great Holes of Glory on MXC.

L

Leap Frog: Players ride a large board that slides down a ramp and into a pond. Those who do not make the jump from the board to a floating lily pad at the bottom end up in the water. This game was only played once, as all but two contestants managed to complete the game. It was scrapped for being too easy. Known on MXC as Loogie Launch.
Line Up: All players are matched up randomly via colored bibs. They must then tie their legs to each other (much like a three-legged race, except with up to six people in the group) and make it to the finish line in time. MXC named it Dead Men Walking.

M

Match Maker: A starting game (a variation on a game called Perfection) with all the players running out of a set of doors and grabbing a shape from the floor in front of them. Then there are some blue holders which the contestants must try and find their matching hole to put their shape in. Some shapes have no holes; players who choose them are eliminated.
Muddy Waters: All the contestants run across a long stretch of muddy water. It's really just a race to the other side. The last ten or so contestants to reach the end are out. Played as Crossing the Poo-tomic (or Pee-o Grande) on MXC.
Mudskippers: Similar to Muddy Waters, except players must crawl, and retrieve a flag at the halfway point. MXC called it Get Hard, casting the mud as quick-drying cement.
Mud Slide: Players on a baseball diamond try to advance from first base to second by sliding into the base with mud surrounding it without being tagged by Popcorn. MXC calls this game Muddy Runs.
Mushroom Trip: Players cling to the stem of a giant fungus, and try to reach a platform at the other end of a lake. The mushroom spins as it goes across, making it harder to land on the platform. Known as Eat Shiitake on MXC.

N

Nautiball: Volleyball played in teams of 5 against different sets of guards while floating on a slippery platform on water. Each team of contestants picked a card out of a box, much like Sumo Rings (only that game uses different coloured balls to choose who they played against).

O

Oh Deer: An obstacle course. Contestants rode tricycles with a deer head taped on the front, then tried to get over a Slippery Wall, then carry a ball on a large bat, and put the ball into a bucket, then carry a large object on their backs whilst walking across a balance beam, to the end of the course. First one to the end wins.
Oh Ma Ha Beach: An obstacle course. Contestants had to run across several platforms like in Turtle Hurtle, then jump into the sea and swim back to shore. They then put a ring around their waists which was attached to either a rake or a set of tires. Then they had to get inside something resembling a tank tread and roll across the ground until they reached the Slippery Wall. First one to the top of the wall wins.
On Yer Bike: Players – five at a time – ride small kiddie-sized tricycles over a course to get to the finish. Called Tour de Grand Prix (or as Kenny Blankenship calls it, "Tour de Grand Pricks") on MXC.

P

Pipe Down: A "Monsters' Special" game in which the costumed players must slide down a fabric tube slide to an opening below and land on a floating platform underneath the opening. Failure puts the player into muddy water. Called Intestinal Fortitude on MXC.
Poles Apart: The object is to use a pole vault pole to leap across a moat from a high platform and land onto a small pad. Named Pole Riders on MXC.
Prod: A jousting game in which a player and a randomly chosen fighter are put onto platforms in the middle of a muddy pool, armed with lances (that have large punching bag-like stuffed ends). Whoever knocks the other into the water wins. MXC used a disease/medical theme and called this game Staff Infectors.
Puck Over: Like Skittles, but this time the players are inside giant snowmen and a puck is slid down an icy slope at them. If they slide off the back of the ice area, then they are out. All about luck in this one.

Q

Quake: Players enter a house wearing wigs and sit on cushions. (In a couples' special, the women sat on their partners' backs.) The house then shakes and the players must try and balance on the cushions for about 30 seconds.

R

Rat Race: Slippery Wall, Honeycomb Maze, and Skipping Stones all thrown together to make one big long obstacle course.
Rice Bowl Down Hill: Contestants had to sit in a bowl while being pushed down a hill into an area with water. Those who stayed in the bowl moved on. Called Irritable Bowl Syndrome on MXC.
Ride The Wave: Players ride a bicycle made up like a whale on a course avoiding balls being shot at them by Kibaji and Strong (or Popcorn) over obstacles. In one episode they went in a straight line, but on an ice rink. Called Sperm Wheelers on MXC.
Ro-Jim-Bo: Contestants play against a Emerald Guard by dancing to music and playing rock-paper-scissors. Losers were lowered on a platform to oblivion (or in one episode, scalding hot monkey urine). Named Finger It! on MXC.
Roller Derby: Six players wearing roller skates and carrying backs set up like thoroughbred horses have to clear obstacles in order to advance. First two to the finish line went through. Called Saddle Sores on MXC.
Roll Out The Barrel: A giant version of the children's game "Pop Up Pirate". Also played in parents and kid specials. Contestants sit atop a large barrel on a disc. They ask the person to stick a sword in one of 6 holes. If it's right, then they try again, but if it's wrong, the top of the barrel tips them down a ramp on the disc into the water at the bottom. They must get three correct swords into the barrel. Named Dead Letter Zone on MXC, which cast the player's choices as the three digits of the answer to a comedic numerical trivia question. (Example: "In each grandstand section of a typical NASCAR race, how many fans are sporting a mullet?" Answer: 513.)
Roll The Dice: Played in a couples' special. Each partner dressed up as a giant die, and were rolled down a hill to the bottom by the guards. If they both 'rolled' the same number, they went through.
Rope: Earlier version of Bridge Ball. The rules are exactly the same except a rope is used instead of a bridge, making it harder for the contestants.
Roulette: Players dig in a flour pit for a disk which tells them where to sit on the giant roulette board (either numbers, black/red, or even/odd). The wheel is then spun and whatever the ball lands on eliminated the people on that number/color/whatever. MXC gave this game two names: Bunk Buddies and Roulective Surgery.
The Run Way (V1): Players run and jump onto a disk and must slide down a course and stop on an end zone. However the course changes shape so it's about shifting your weight. Two guards brush in front of the disk to put the contestant off. If the player falls off the course they land in a pile of fake snow. Think human curling.
The Run Way (V2): The player sits in a cylinder and is pushed down a hill on some rollers. As they travel a math equation is flipped round on signs as they pass like " 3 + 4 x 2 – 10 =". The player then stops at the end and must give their answer to the teacher. If they are right they go through but if they are wrong then the floor drops away and the contestant falls into a mud or flour pit.

S

Sand Flee: A large obstacle race with a lot of contestants playing. First, they must grab a bun in their mouth, then crawl under a net, then find a silver ball hidden in the sand. When they have one, they run to the end of the course and open the ball for a piece of paper. If it has a red circle on it, they are through, but if it has a black cross they must run back and find another ball.
Sandscript: Played after Drop in the Ocean. The colored balls the contestants collected represent what teams the players are in. Each team is drawn out of a box by General Tani and given a Japanese letter. They must then run onto a white piece of paper in the sand and arrange the team in the shape of that letter. Made harder as it looks right from a birds eye view so the teams have to think a lot. The team that finished last was out.
Show of Hands: People are dressed as giant hands. A math question is asked, and contestants have to find the answer (many numbers are written on cards on the floor) and fall face first on the correct one. On MXC, these questions are made-up trivia questions with numerical answers played for laughs, such as "How many decades will a California Death Row inmate stay on Death Row before actually being put to death?" (answer: nine) and is called Hand Job.
Single Roller: One large cylinder is placed on a metal track. Contestants must stand on top of the cylinder and move it forward to the other side. If this wasn't hard enough, near the end of the track, the track slopes downward (frequently called the "slope of no hope" on MXC, which calls this game Runaway Stump), thus accelerating the cylinder out of the player's control.
Skittles: Originally called Star Bowling in the Japanese version, this game had players picking large playing cards designating their pin position (Ace was one, and so on). A giant bowling ball was then rolled. Those who did not stand after the roll were eliminated. Called Spare Me! on MXC.
Skipping Stones: A deceptively simple challenge involving stepping stones, some of which are deliberately not secured and give way under foot. Again, contestants must make their way to the other side without falling off. On MXC, this game is called Sinkers and Floaters.
Sling Swing Fling: Contestants are strapped into bungee cords attached to guy wires. As they slide down the guy wire, they must pull a rope that releases the bungee cord, allowing them to dive down towards a ball in the basket several feet before them. They must grab the ball and toss it into another basket at the end of the wire. Of course, there's also mud underneath them, and Masanori Okada was waiting to dip them — and blacken their face — if they fail. Timing, of course, is critical. Seen on MXC as Jerk and Release.
Slipped Disks: Usually played after the Great or Slippery Wall but sometimes played as a starting game. Players must climb up a fort with a paper ring on their heads. The guards have water guns and must try and squirt the paper rings of the contestants. If the ring gets torn then the contestant is out, but they do get water guns to try and squirt the guards back. Not played on MXC, but has been seen as a prison riot, a bunch of hot college girls getting cooled off, a simulated terrorist attack as well as cleaning up dirty contestants from a previous game.
Slippery Wall: Simular to The Great Wall, but a steep, slippery slope is placed on both sides for the contestants to get over. Called Slippery Slope of Slanted Death on MXC.
Slip Way: Contestants, on a board, push themselves forward on a wheeled track. The objective is to stop after the arrow on the track, but before they fall face first into the water. If they fall short, they get pushed off into the water after being surprised by Masanori Okada. Known as Little Man in the Boat on MXC.
Snow Lane: An obstacle course in the snow including a snow crawl, some deep holes to pass, a walk up a hill in a fox suit, and a slide down a hill on an inflatable ring, as in Toboggoff.
Square Maze: Earlier version of the Honeycomb Maze. The rules were the same, but the rooms were square instead of hexagonal.
Stock Pot Racing: Played by a lot of contestants at once. They must run up a slippery hill, and crawl under a net, then find a vegetable and run inside a giant pot.
Stuff Diving: Just like Show of Hands, but played with numbers on waterproof mats in a pool (once in a Japanese hot spring in the Winter Special). Called Get Wet on MXC.
Sumo Rings: Draw a ball, face a corresponding sumo wrestler, and try to beat him in a sumo match. Called Circle Jerkers on MXC. It's simply called Sumo in Takeshi's Castle.

T

Take It Snow: Similar to Skipping Stones, except that players had to negotiate their way with snowmen and was played in a Winter Special. This game was called Sno(w) Man's Land on MXC.
Toboggoff: Played in a winter special edition, players had to hold on to an inner tube, avoiding falling down until the end and advance, similar to Rice Bowl Down Hill. Known as The Icy Slope of Frozen Death on MXC.
Tug of War: Part game of skill, part game of chance, there are several ropes to choose from. The contestants try to win in a tug of war with whatever's on the other side of a wall. The catch is, they can't tell what they're tugging against until the end. Various possibilities include any number of Emerald Guards, a cow, a couple of guys in a cow suit, a bulldozer, or a single normal piglet. This game on MXC is named Yankin' It.
Turtle Hurtle: Players must cross from one floating platform to another by scrambling across floating turtles tied together. Not only are the turtles slippery, but a chasing pirate attempts to pull them into the drink. Was called Turtle Gut Check on MXC before it was changed to Turtle Hurdlers.
Turtle Soup: The parents and kids episode game. A bending path was suspended over some water. The parent dressed as a turtle must crawl across the path with the kid on their back without overbalancing and falling into the water.

U

Uphill Garden: Contestants had to get to the top of a hill without having their paper ring burst by a guard. Guards were normally dressed in stupid costumes like a bomb, or three guards dressed as a snake named in the UK version as "Who", "What" and "Why". Needless to say, there was no "When" in the game.
Up The Creek: The player enters a box suspended on a rail over some thick mud. In the mud is a platform the contestant must get to. The player pulls a rope and the box moves across the rail. When they think they're over the platform, they pull a lever and the bottom of the box opens, dropping the contestant. If they weren't over the platform, they'd land in the thick mud and be eliminated. A variant involving laser gun game equipment was called Character Assassination on MXC.

V

Velcro Fly: Wearing velcro suits, contestants try to swing across on a rope and into a wall, the object is to stick to the wall using the velcro suit. This game is called Wall Buggers, Wall of Maim, The Flailing Wall or Window Pain on MXC.

W

Walk The Plank: Strictly a couples (and parent-kids) game, contestants try to run across a river on wooden planks. Both people must step on each end of the plank at the same time to keep it balanced. On MXC, the game is called Plank Spankers.
Wet Paint: Contestants spin a wheel, and try to draw an image with a giant calligraphy brush. The catch is, the drawing area is on a wet slope, which makes it hard to even get high enough to draw the picture. There's also a time limit. Called Skid Markers on MXC, which replaces a spin of the wheel with preassigned images.
Whack The Stack: A parents and kids episode game where the kid would sit on a tower of three blocks and the parent had a large hammer. The parent had to hit one of the blocks out of the tower but the kid had to jump at the right time for the block to slide out. They had to get two blocks out without overbalancing the tower. The MXC name for this event is Slipped Discs of Doom.
Wipe Out: Another simple-looking challenge: contestants stand on a motorized surfboard which swings round in a circle, and must jump over obstacles in their path without falling off into the lake below. This game on MXC is called The Rotating Surfboard of Death.

Y

Yellow Brick Road: The player must run along a yellow grid of paths changing at each junction and hopefully ending up at the right one out of the five slides at the end. Four of the slides lead to a mud pit but one leads to Hawaiian dancers, and to the next round.

End Games

Show Down: The final challenge of the show, where the remaining contestants, and Takeshi's guards, each ride a motorized buggy with paper circles on them – they must shoot at water at the circle; breaking the circle eliminates them. Usually with a handful of challengers left by this stage, Takeshi usually wins. Later series used laser guns similar to Laser Quest. This game is not seen on MXC. In the Early Day's of the show, rather than use the buggies, the contestants actually stormed the castle itslef, wearing paper discs on their helmets whilst armed with water pistols. They had to eliminate the guards defending the castle from various levels. No-one ever won the game in this method.

Ultimate Showdown: This event, played in the final episode of the series, had a mixture of various TC games such as Skipping Stones, Dragon Lake and Bridge Ball mixed in with running through a lane of mud, pushing a ball up a hill and carrying a weight with a fan blowing against you going uphill. In the end, the man and woman crossing the finish line in the fastest time were each the winners of one million yen.

In addition, there have also been special competitions such as the couples challenge, the parents and kids specials, the children's and teenagers competitions and the international challenge (featuring all countries except Japan).

Characters

Count "Beat" Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) – The lord of the castle and eventual target of the competition. He also makes commentary on the contestants. Known as Vic Romano on MXC.
Takeshi Doll – When Takeshi was unable to attend tapings because of time served in jail in the mid-1980's (and later was under house arrest similar to Martha Stewart two decades later), one of the Emerald Guards filled in by wearing his robe and a giant papier-mâché Takeshi head like the ones sports team mascots use over his head.
Saburo Ishikura – First advisor (or councillor) of Takeshi. Discusses the competition with Takeshi and provides comedy skits as well. He was shown on MXC as a teacher showing Vic how to be a lumberjack.
Sonomanma Higashi – Originally leader of the gundan of Takeshi-san, he replaced Ishikura in the middle of the series run, and did the same stuff that he did. Known as Kenny Blankenship on MXC.
Takeshi's Gundan/Defence Troops – The Count's guards that wear white or emerald green, seen in "Final Showdown" and other challenges, and are more popularly known as "The Emerald Guards". When Higashi became Takeshi's new advisor, Omori Utaeman took over as the leader. Other members included Matsuo Bannai, Tsunami Edamame, Yurei Yanagi (or "Joker"), Rakkyo Ide (he was the bald guy in the "Monsters Special" who wore a shark outfit and fell in during Skipping Stones and suffered some serious bleeding), Great Gidayu (or "Purple Ronnie" or "Putrid Porker" in the UK version), Danken, Third Nagasima, "Rusher" Itamae, Taka Gadarukanaru, Hakase Suidobashi, Sintaru Mizushima and "Loyal" Tadajij Kikuchi. These troops are also usually seen in the background of Takeshi-san and his advisor during the show.
General Tani – Hayato Tani – Leads the contestants through the challenges set by Count Takeshi. In the UK version he was called "General Lee". His real-life wife, Kikko Matsuoka, appeared in an episode and slapped her real-life husband silly for not eating his noodles. Called Captain Tenneal on MXC. On international specials (involving non-Japanese players), he was assisted by a lady, referred to as "Corporal Kirsty" on the UK version (her real name is unknown). On MXC she was called Pey'oncé (name taken from pop-star, Beyoncé Knowles) and served as a translator.
Junji Inagawa (also known as Jyunji Inagawa), Akira Sakamoto and Shingo Yanagisawa – Three of the Battlefield Reporters, they usually wore safari zone outfits. Known as Guy LeDouche and his assorted cousins on MXC. (NOTE: Whilst they were seen in the UK version of the series, they weren't actually acknowledged, except once when Craig commented on the size of the reporter's microphone. ["Put the toffee-apple away and help him!"])
Kibaji Tankobo and Shozo "Strong" Kobayashi – A pair of guards who would probably scare you off just by looking at them, which they normally do to contestants in the Honey Comb Maze and other games. Kibaji usually wears a long red wig, while Strong is bald, and they paint their faces to further intimidate their opposition. Both Tankobo-san and Kobayshi-san are considered to be two of the finest henchmen Takeshi has.
Brad Lesley, a/k/a "The Animal" – Famous Japanese/American baseball player nicknamed "The Animal". His main job was to humiliate and frighten the contestants in any possible way, usually dressed as a samurai complete with a sword. Animal-san has also been seen in a green sumo suit, spider costume, Fred Flintstone-style outfit, a baseball uniform and a Las Vegas-era Elvis Presley jumpsuit costume.
Michiru Jo – One of the only guards to have been involved from the very first episode, he normally wore a pink outfit. Jo was a famous Japanese pop (J-Pop) singer in the 1970's. Known as Danny Glands (a play on words of long-time Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans), "Jimmy Junk", "Golden Shower Boy" or "Barry Sosa" on MXC.
Yoroi/Ritter Chuu – Known as the "Boxing Monster", he stood almost sixteen feet tall and tried to keep players from reaching the goals in several games. On MXC, his name is Skanky.
Makoto Dainenji and Katsuo Tokashiki – Makoto, a karate master and Katuso, a boxing champion in Japan, are the Final Fall guards. They are called "The Pink Panzers" for their pink-toned outfits that they usually wear. Katsuo also serves as the referee in the Sumo Rings game. In MXC they have only been seen in small sketches, once as the "New Jersian Kenny & Vic".
Masanori Okada – Usually seen in the game Slip Way, he would jump out of the water to push the contestants into the drink if they failed to reach the target. Okada-san also has played in the Honey Comb Maze and other games as well. Also known as the "Sea Goblin" in Japan and was a boxer in the 1970's. On MXC he is known as "Mr. G-Spot", "Dr. Bill Veto" or "The Diddler".
Umanosuke Ueda, a/k/a "Blondie" – This aggressive guard, a former wrestler in real life, has been seen in Honey Comb Maze, Square Maze, Sumo Rings, Grid Iron and Bridge Ball.
Large Fuji – Replaced Shinoburyo in the later episodes as the purple sumo fighter in Sumo Rings, on MXC he was one of the two "Purple Packages".
Yousichi Shimada – A guard that is usually seen in the games Blueberry Hill in overalls akin to "Dennis The Menace", and in Wipe Out, dressed up as a female Native American (Indian) nicknamed "Pocahontas", pushing people into the water if they missed the surfboard. The latter is known as Chief Otto Partz (a parody of the Chief Auto Parts auto supply store chain) on MXC.
Shoji Kinoshita & Shoichi Kinoshita – Better known as "Popcorn", these well-known identical twin actors in Japan are commonly seen wearing rainbow ponchos and bowler hats. They have also worn baseball uniforms and other humorous costumes, appearing in the game Rice Bowl Down Hill where they try and put the contestants off by singing an very annoying chant, as well as Bridge Ball and other games. Called Em on Em, a spoof of rapper Eminem (among others) on MXC.
"Ordinary" Oki Bondo, Takayuki Yokomizo, Nobuo Yana and Koji Sekiyama – They participate in the Karaoke game. Oki acts as the emcee, Takayuki is the bouncer (doorman) who ejects contestants who do not sing well, Koji is the owner of the karaoke bar and was later filled in by Nobuo who appeared in the later episodes of the show. In the MXC spoof, titled Elimination Idol, Bondo plays Ryan Seachest, Takayuki is Andy Jackson and Nobuo is Simon Bowel, all of course playing off American Idol regulars Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.
Shinoburyo – Sumo wrestler in Japan who appeared in the game Sumo Rings during the series.
Noboru "Shin" Sugamema – Loyal member of Takeshi's Gundan who is a pathetic sumo wrestler in Sumo Rings.
Ritsuko Nakayama – Also known as Refreshing Ritsuko-Ritsuko, she is a professional bowler in Japan who has appeared in the Star Bowling game.
Yutaka Enatsu – This Japanese baseball player who was the pie thrower in Die or Pie in a single episode. In the MXC "Master Debaters" special, he was renamed "Nader O'Reilly", a fusing of the last names of multiple-time United States Presidential canidate and consumer activist Ralph Nader and TV political commentator Bill O'Reilly.
Bunny/Geisha Girls – Led by Miyuki Ono (not related to Yoko Ono), they helped contestants in several games and also helped Takeshi and his advisor in comedy skits. The others were Harumi Tomikawa, Mika, Mina Morishima, Sawada and Mitsumi Yokota. Sometimes, when Junji and Shingo were off the show for other commitments, one of them served in the Battlefield Reporter's role.

Challenge (UK version)

This condensed version of the original series became an unexpected hit when it premiered on Challenge in November 2002, regularly dominating the top ten programmes on the channel each week. More series were commissioned and shown over the next few months, culminating in a series of hour long specials in the Autumn of 2003, and a special highlights show, The A-Z of Takeshi's Castle, broadcast on January 1, 2004. Though no new episodes have been made since then (due to all the Japanese episodes having now been shown) repeats still air almost constantly on Challenge, including featuring in eight episode blocks on Sundays, with an average of 130,000 viewers an episode. Talk of unedited hour-long episodes airing on the network is ongoing as of this writing.

Craig's Quotes

"Our man with the tan, the ladies' favourite, General Lee, psyches up his one hundred kamikaze cousins..."
"What a wazzock!"
"He's a Happy Clappy Jappy Chappy."
"New ribs/teeth/spine/balls/etc., please!"
"Protect your love spuds/gunnels/Ted Evans/happy sacks/etc.!"
"No winners this time on Takeshi's Castle!"
"Don't let the guards penetrate the ring on your shiny red helmet!"
"Specially shipped in from a pig farm in southern Japan."
"Answers on a postcard, please!" (usually said after a nonsensical question, such as "If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do they all have to?")
"As my old dad used to say..."
"Ouch! Someone call the air ambulance."
"Back to the happy farm/matron/rubber room with the warm biscuits/lemon curd sandwiches/lovely little white jacket that ties behind."
"Shut up, commentator!" (usually said when he makes fun of a contestant, but they then go on to complete the game)
"The Emerald Guard – elite troops: Highly trained, highly accurate, (highly cold, highly sprung, etc.) Haile Selassie." (He often also says of his half-brother, "Slightly Selassie" from time to time.)
"I never thought I'd say this/that on the television..."
"I'm innumerate, me. I can spell that, I just can't tell you how many letters are in it..."
"I've walked on water before. I just made sure that the temperature was well below freezing before I ventured out onto the pond..."
"I once did a gig for Save the Whales, did alright. Then I got mugged, and not one of them turned up to help!" (Usually said during Ride The Wave.)
"The bridge is very wobbly, much like the Millennium Bridge in London"
"The blue/purple ball, thats means he/she has got spud" (During 'Sumo Rings')
"The object of the game is to complete the obsticle course, before the pink thing" (During 'Gauntlet')
"During course of the series we've had 20 broken legs, 35 broken arms, 127 broken ribs and 1568 missing teeth" (Numbers may differ. Said during 'Skipping Stones')
"Heres our friend representing the east" (said about anyone thats white or doesnt look japanese)
"And here to aid General Lee is Corporal Kirsty" (said during world editions)
"Taking on the castle in their 'Dinky dogems/Mobile Discos/Suped up Go-Karts'." (Said during 'Final Showdown')
"Im sure there'll be a winner next time!"
"The Emerald guard are highly trained with those cannons" (said during 'Bridge Ball')
"There's a shot for the director..." (said for any shot that shows women in a risqué or slightly pervy way)

MXC (Most Extreme Elimination Challenge)

On April 13, 2003, Spike TV (then called The National Network or "The New TNN") began airing a comedy-oriented dub of the series, called "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge" (or MXC for short).

In MXC, two teams are pitted against each other (such as Inventors vs. Ex-Child Actors). "Vic Romano" and "Kenny Blankenship" provide commentary throughout. Rather than showing the "Final Showdown" at the end of each show, Kenny counts down the ten most "Painful Eliminations of the Day."

Many of the contestants and games have been renamed by the show's staff after famous celebrities and/or have made-up names with some sort of sexual innuendo. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see participants with names of famous athletes or Hollywood stars (e.g. "Hugh Grunt") competing on the United States version. As well, nearly every episode features one contestant with the family name "Babaganoosh." Contestants of that name are said to have some sort of connection with the Middle East, but in reality it's a favorite meal of one of the producers of MXC.

On April 22, 2004, Spike TV aired a special edition of the show to start the second season, featuring skateboarder Tony Hawk and snowboarder Tara Dakides. The special was taped at Nickelodeon Studios at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida using students from nearby colleges, and appropriately dubbed "MXC Almost Live". The special edition is not based on the original Takeshi's Castle footage, but only has some added in for Vic, Ken, the Captain and Guy LeDouche. Actors were hired to play those who would replace the roles of the latter two, named "Gimp LeDouche" (Eric Esteban) and "Major Babe" (Michelle Sorrell). With the second season, Spike TV officially changed the name of the US version to MXC.

The staff gives no regard to what really happens in the original footage, and instead resort to non-sequiturs, crude humor, and the previously noted sexual innuendo. This is done to facilitate the tastes of the intended audience as well as for the creative fun of it.

Characters

Many of the characters and contestants on MXC are voiced by the producers of the show, who also serve as the series' writers.

Of the principals involved, "Vic Romano", whose lines replace those of Takeshi, is played by Victor Wilson, who also serves as the supervising producer. "Kenny Blankenship", MXC's counterpart of Takeshi's second advisor Higashi, is voiced by Christopher Darga. While Romano is a level-headed play-by-play voice, Blankenship, his color commentator, is somewhat stupid. John Cervenka portrays three characters: "Captain Tenneal" (whose name comes from the 1970's musical act The Captain and Tennille), whose views are conservative and self-absorbed, replaces General Tani/General Lee; field reporter "Guy LeDouche", who substitutes for Jynuji-san, and is portrayed as a Frenchman who has some rather bizzare fetishes; other members of his family include "Geek", "Giddy", "Goon", "Gawp", along with females named "Gay", "Grandma", "Gabby" and "Gidget" (who were voiced by Mary Scheer), and "Your Humble Announcer" (since the show's fifth episode) for the program's opening and breaks to and from commercials. All of the female voices ("Everygirl" according to the credits) are done by Mary Scheer.

Quotes

(NOTE: All are said by "Vic Romano" unless otherwise noted.)

"That calls for an 'MXC Impact Replay!'" (Usually said after a spectacular crash and burn by a contestant that looks very painful.)
"Captain Tenneal" (after asking a question and getting a show of hands from the teams): "Well, you're wrong!"
"And the cons have resorted to livestock!"
"He's spontaneously donated his pancreas!"
Contestant: "I like the feel of cement in my pants, it's, uh... squishy."
"Kenny Blankenship": "If I were to hug you right now, would that be gay?" Vic: "Kenny, I want you to scootch back over to your side of the broadcast booth and let's get back to the action."
Skippy Cunningham, who for twenty-five years played the lovable ten-year-old Postie Malph on "Enjoyable Times" during "Inventors vs. Child Actors": "Nose nuggets!"
At the end of a show pitting Circus people against the Travel industry: "You know, I've really enjoyed those silly freaks and clowns, but I've also enjoyed the circus people as well."
Billy Knawer, a contestant in "Travel vs. Circus": "CORN DOGS!"
Kenny: "And this one I call 'Road Kill.'" (On-screen caption: "Don't be even stupider and try this at home, either.") "This was a great elimination game, until some idiot put a ramp there. We tried it again without the ramp, but we can't show that footage until the case is settled." Vic: "Was that my car?" Kenny: "Uh, let's go to Guy!"
"Josh (Jarhead) showing some great vocal versatility, singing above the key and below it at the same time."
"I miss Mister Sparkly the unicorn."
"That's Dick Zibra who works for 'Spunt TV', the second network for men."
"He's majoring in testicular studies at Ball State."
Kenny: "He shoots lasers out of his third nard."
"Here's Churchy Winston. He is a Pace Car driver for the Royal family Paparazzi motorcade"
"And here's Bruce Fossy. He's the president of the Chorus Union Local 5–6–7–8..."
Kenny (before "Amusement Parks vs. The World's Oldest Profession"): "We have a show with hookers!"
"Right you are, Ken!"
"Indeed!"
"Here's Craig Simmons, creator of Weightnessless Watchers". Ken: "Yeah, for fat astronauts." Vic: "Right you are, Ken." Ken: "Ass-tronauts." Vic: "Kenny?" Ken:"Ass-tro-nauts." Vic: "All right, Kenny, let's get back to the action."
A large female contestant in "Amusement Parks vs. The World's Oldest Profession" named Kitty Litter: "C'mon baby, supersize it!"
Captain: "Boy this is gonna be a great game, I can feel it in my bone. (To himself:) I'm a dirty man. (To teams:) Umm, Let's Go!"
A contestant identified as student government employee Lester Wayne in the "MXC Almost Live" special: "It doesn't matter what I'm saying, you're going to overdub my voice!" Vic: " What was that?" Kenny: "Overdub what?" Vic: "What does that mean?" (Wayne promptly falls in the water in "Sinkers and Floaters", cast by MXC's writers/producers as being from the bongs of schools in the Pacific Ten Conference.) Kenny: "He wished he could overdub that run." (Note: This is an inside joke about the show's dubbing.)
"Guy LeDouche": "Oh-ho-ho-ho, Guy like!"
A character named "Mister Spanky" (who had a hand on his head and his face where the palm should be): "Hi there. Now remember, boys and girls, when your mommy leaves the room, go inside her purse, take out all the money, and send it all to me!" (NOTE: This was a thinly-veiled reference to an infamous incident on New Years' Day of 1965 by Soupy Sales in New York City.)
Everyone: "Don't get eliminated!" (Said at the end of each show.)
Kenny: "He fell right on his nads", Vic: "Kenny!" Kenny: "Oh sorry, I used the wrong verb. I mean nards." (Vic sighs)
Contestant: "I like to fart in my car!"
Contestant: AAAAAAHHHHH!!
Contestant: "I have a song for you!... Milk, milk, lemonade... turn the corner, fudge is made"
Contestant, who had attempted a backflip, and ended up landing on his head, right before his run on Sinkers & Floaters: "I have blood in my stool."
Kenny (during a particularly painful replay from Log Drop): "Let's hear the bones snap!" He then goes on to rewind and replay that shot about 5 times.

External links

Categories: Game shows | Japanese television series