Bonding over Banzuke

Finding common ground on the TV

What is it about aggression, confrontation and acting up (not to mention, acting out) that men find them entertaining 'reality' television? I don't know. My taste in TV runs from the mystery of The Antiques Roadshow to the adventure of Rick Steve's Europe to the nail-biting suspense of House Hunters International. When I want to relax, I watch P.Allen Smith's Garden Home or New Scandinavian Cooking.

 In stark contrast, the men in my life (when there is no English League Soccer or NBA game on) flip from channel to channel searching for the most mindless, regressive sort of programming they can find. While I'm over in the corner campaigning for "How it's Made" or "Mythbusters", they're discussing the relative merits of  'Hardcore Pawn', 'Lizard Lick Towing', and' 'Storage Hunters'. They try to tell me these are different shows, but there are a few things one can count on: finger pointing, quickly escalating confrontations, bleeped expletives, forcible removals, and the like. 

Then there's the 'World's Dumbest...' franchise. Finish that any way you like: bank robbers, convenience store heists, high speed chases, carjackings, drivers, stunts - there is no end to the folly. This gem is hosted by a revolving roster of has-beens and small timers - several of them with rap-sheets. There's Tonya 'Whack-a-Knee' Harding, Danny 'Been-There-Done-That' Bonaduce, Gary 'Cold-Busted' Busey, not to mention Daniel 'I'm-No-Alec' Baldwin.

I was just about to give up on finding common ground when we stumbled upon 'Unbeatable Banzuke' and 'Ninja Warrior' - Japanese extreme-sport game shows complete with hyper-enthusiastic Japanese commentary. There's no trash talking or posturing - there's no time. Completing these obstacle courses takes every ounce of the competitors' energy and focus. The action is exciting, awe-inspiring and just plain fun to watch- pure performance without the side-show. In last night's episode of Ninja Warrior, American parkour enthusiast and freerunner Levi Meeuwenberg was the only one to make it to the third stage of the course. Speed, strategy and suspense meet grace and beauty - we all get something to cheer about.

Photo credit:Derek Hyamson

http://twistedsifter.com/2011/03/25-incredible-parkour-photographs/