The birth of reality TV has offered the chance to the whole world to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame. Its popularity has dominated TV viewing figures and its ascension has only led to some truly bizarre concepts. A dwarf bachelor? A wolfman looking for love? You name it, there’s probably been a show made out of it. The list is not completed dominated by reality TV though. The Japanese are notorious for their baffling game shows; there could have been a list produced for these alone. Read on to find out which were selected for this list as being the most bizarre
1. The Littlest Groom
Were you a fan of The Bachelor? If so then you’ll love this alternative take on the popular series. Glen Foster aka The Littlest Groom, had to pick a companion from among other dwarf women or regular sized females. The show ran in 2004, unsurprisingly with very little success (excuse the pun!) WARNING SPOILER ALERT: If you are actually interested in this show and are planning on immediately seeking out the DVD release (if there is one) then stop reading now! Glen Foster, who is 4ft 5″, went on to pick fellow dwarf Mika over regular sized female Zoe in the final.
2. Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen?
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In 2007 Morusa Media came up with the genius concept of a new version of the Dating Game. An American bacholerette would go on dates with a host of immigrants, and by the end she would choose the immigrant she would like to spend the rest of her life with.
Who wants to marry a U.S. Citizen ?
WHO THE F★CK IS L.A. HERNANDEZ? | MySpace Video
I know what you’re thinking, easy way for them to get a green card right? Well, when asked this very question the producers were quick to offer reassurence that a marriage or U.S. citizenship was guaranteed. Surely that defeats the purpose of the show then? By the end of 2007 the show had signed a host and the participating contestants. I don’t think they ever found a network to air the show but the fact that they came so close as to hold discussions with one cable TV network and sign up provisionally for six episodes is bizarre enough.
3. Silent Library
This show was so popular it got snapped up my MTV. Contestatnts sit around a table in a quiet library and select cards at random. The one who pulls the card marked with an X has to perform the challenge. This is where it gets bizarre because the challenges range from eating something disgusting, to getting beaten, to getting bitten by an old man without his dentures!! Still not bizarre enough for you? Well, whilst the person is enduring their challenge, they and everyone else around the table has to remain quiet in order to win money for that round. Random huh?
4. Hole in the Wall
Dubbed as “Human Tetris” the Americans adapted the Japanese version, Nōkabe in 2008. Contestants have to don silver lycra outfits and then shape themselves into odd positions to get through the wall. If they fall in the water or make an extra hole in the foam wall, then the team does not score any points. Simple concept but strange nonetheless. It’s gained so much popularity though that the UK have their own version of the show as well.
5. Tomorrow’s Pioneers
A kids TV show from Palestine that has some disturbing messages for its young audience. Their approach is not exactly subtle, in fact it’s quite the opposite. With a Mickey Mouse look-alike, a bumblebee and a rabbit teaching the children the letters of the alphabet with themes such as Antisemitism and Anti-Americanism for the letter A, you begin to gauge what this show is all about. It’s not hard to decipher what is to be expected when you have episodes called “Farfour and the AK-47″. As if all this wasn’t enough, each one of the show’s characters has been killed off in the war against Israel, making them instant martyrs. Bizarre, yet very worrying.
6. Iguana
A brief mention was made in the introduction of crazy Japanese game shows. Well, here is one of the craziest. What do you get if you put raw meat onto a woman’s forehead and combine it with a hungry Komodo dragon? The answer – the Iguana gameshow of course. Why they called it Iguana when the starring reptile is a Komodo dragon only adds to the bizarreness. The female contestants are expected to attach the raw meat to their heads, then place them into glass boxes with the dragon. The winner was the last one standing. Don’t worry, there were no fatalities and no lawsuits either surprisingly!
7. Ball Buster
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The idea is simple but the reason for it is beyond bizarre. Men line up. Each must repeat a tricky tongue twister. Whoever gets it wrong gets happy slapped in the nuts. Simple, genius, hilarious, painful, illogical…many words can describe this. Why men would volunteer to take part, God only knows. I can think of no prize worth winning to endure that!
