I love this programme Like Totoro said it never gets old and is a real highlight on TV. Also, it's great because every evening myself and my 6 year old sit down together and watch it on challenge before he goes to bed.

Favorite games...? There are so many, Skiping Stones for sure, has to hurt bigtime. Bridge Ball didn't like it at first but it's grown on me. The high Rollers don't think I've ever seen anyone complete this and of course the concussive Knock Knock.

I think the programme also benefits from Craig Charles's commentary with the 'Housewives favorite General Lee' & the 'As my dear old dad always said...' quips it all adds up to 30 mins of great entertainment.

But does anyone understand the actual rules?

Here's a link to a list of all the games incase you can't remeber which one it is you like....

HERE

Craig charles is quite funny with his commentary on the show so as dark m says, it does add to the show well.I remember hearing the prize was something like 100,000 yen at the end but i dont know at all.I would think the rules are to survive from the opening game of running up the slope or biting those buns, all the way through the other games until the finale, its quite funny to see just the single person survive into the final and have to take on all the others! Challenge tv had several japanese shows on their to from extreme Endurance (which was even crazier by the way with men doing all kinds of weird and brutal things),the Iron Chef and Sushi tv.

If a tree falls in the wood and there is no-one around to hear it, does it make a sound?

They might not show any success in that game (as the humour is in the spectacular failures) but that clearly doesn't suggest it is impossible. I've seen a few actually complete it myself but generally it is one of the more difficult games that claims more victims than victors.

I've seen one and unless it was the editing there wasn't much of a celebration just a few fireworks. Very anti climactic.

Oh, and Otaku that I am, I also enjoy the glimpses of the gorgeous bunny girls in the Karaoke game.

Ahhh you talk about the Gauntlet. Great game. Also, a big fan of Animal too although I can't work out which nationality he is...

I watched a couple of these shows yesterday and it still always produces a chuckle or to! I was quite surprised to find out that was beat Takeshi Kitano when i first watched his films but he has been in numourous crazy game shows over in japan so its not so surprising now.One of the worst games in the show was i think the bridge ball game, it was funny at first but it kind of got tiring just watching them stumble across the bridge.Saying that, the girls always seemed to be far better at that game then the men, but maybe its because they dont have a certain area where the enemy keeps trying to shoot the ball at ;).

Doesn't Takeshi fit more with TNA's management style though?

It's on Challenge at 6.00pm - 7.00pm (or repeated on Challenge +1 an hour later)

*EDIT* - I think I may have made a new fan in my four year old nephew. He was laughing his head off everytime someone fell into the water.

-- Edited by Man In Black at 20:19, 2007-09-21

The game is called "Knock Knock". Actually, I'm surprised that no-one has yet figured out how to win that game - it's so simple. Just look for the cleanest door because the muddiest one is the one that most people have already collided with.

Does anyone know how old these episodes are that we're getting? I can't help but notice not only does Takeshi Kitano look younger but the fashions of the contestants are a little dated too.

Takeshi's Castle (!, Fun! Takeshi J?, literally Operation! Takeshi Castle) was a Japanese game show that aired from 1986 to 1989 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System.

Taken from Wiki

Theer was also a 'revivial' of sorts in 2005.

I bet those girls are very attractive ladies now though Mib ^-^. And besides the girls in the childrens versions are probably very hot young women themselves ;).I always thought the show ran into the 90s because i swear i heard it did but oh well. Fabulous show but its nothing compared to other shows iv seen there...

Good job Lava, its fantastic isnt it? Its crazy but its always good fun, i dont watch challenge much now but im pleased it still shows takeshi,its an all time classic, it is sad the show has finished but believe me there is many more games like that out there, i just hope somehow they could find there way onto our channels in england one day :).

Hang on... Takeshi's Castle has been running since the 80's? looks recent to me. Virgin 1 are showing it as well now.

Its pure comedy genius i love it!!

Isn't Ninja Warrior the same show as Viking on Eurosport 2?

The rolling log is just sick - theres no way if i got that far i would be able to walk after rolling down there. Last night some dude nearly broke is leg in stage 2 when the have to lift the gates at the end. The 50kg gate landed smack on his leg - OUCH!!

I havent seen any of stage 3 yet. I will be tuning in later so hopefully itll will show some tonight.

I think the very first jump on the prism is really hard. If you dont get it right your out at the first hurdle.

Make way for tottys head!!

Ive seen stage 3 now and 4 and man there tough!!