PC Engine The Kung Fu/Kato-chan & Ken-chan TV CM (1987)

30 Sep

Posted by media center as J.J., &, Jeff, Hudson, Ken-chan, Kato-chan, Kung, Fu, China, Kato, PC to TV

Turbo Grafx-16 China Warrior/J.J. & Jeff Japanese commercials. Two of the first games released during the 1987 Japanese launch.
For those who are unfamilar with Kato-chan & Ken-chan:

Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan was a popular Japanese television variety show aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System around the mid-1980s. Starring Ken Shimura and Cha Kato, former members of the group, The Drifters from Hachiji Dayo! Zen’in Shugo, the irreverent and satirical program would poke fun at contemporary society in Japan, and would feature comedy vignettes similar to those found on the Benny Hill or Carol Burnett show.

It is notable for having a segment featuring funny home videos sent in by viewers, as the home camcorder became more popular in Japan, which Ken and Kato would comment on. In 1989, American producer Vin Di Bona initiated a partnership with Tokyo Broadcasting System to develop a similar program in the west, which ultimately led to the successful America’s Funniest Home Videos and other similar shows worldwide. Some videos seen in the first season of America’s Funniest Home Videos originally aired on Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan.

The duo also had a PC Engine video game called “Kato-chan and Ken-chan” (translated and censored for a Western TurboGrafx-16 release as J.J. & Jeff) based on their antics, filled with toilet humor, and featuring them as the game’s playable characters.

PCエンジン功夫 & 加ﾄちゃんケンちゃん TV CM