TV Asahi's popular variety show "What's Wrong with Being Azatokute?" (Thursdays at 12:45am, excluding some regions) will be combined with the station's traditional drama slot "Friday Night Drama," which has been running since 2000, to broadcast the drama series "Boku no Azatoi Motokano" (Fridays at 11:15pm, excluding some regions) from January 24, 2025. The MCs of "What's Wrong with Being Azatokute?", Yamazato Ryota and Suzuki Airi, will proceed with the show from the studio, commenting on the story and lines from the audience's perspective, making this a new attempt at drama. We asked the two MCs about their thoughts ahead of this challenge.
--How did you feel when you heard that you would be appearing in the studio part as an MC?
Yamazato: I'm also in the mood as an actor. I hope you'll see my authentic acting. It may not be aired much, but I'm really motivated, so I'll try to finish it before filming starts.
Suzuki-san: I'll try to keep up too (laughs). I think it's a challenging work to watch while commenting, so I want to comment from the viewer's perspective.
Yamazato: I want to create a work that makes viewers naturally want to talk to the screen.
--Are you so excited that you want to appear in drama parts as an actor as well?
Yamazato: It may sound arrogant, but it depends on the role (laughs). I will not play any passersby or store clerks. I don't need to have many lines, but I'm looking for a role with an important position.
Suzuki: Friday night dramas are a coveted time slot, so I might appear in the role of a store clerk (laughs).
Yamazato: No, Airi-chan. Let's not throw away our pride! We are the MCs of the show. If it's a good role for both of us, we'll accept it. We also had "Trick" (2000, 2002) as a Friday Night Drama. If it's a role like Abe Hiroshi's in "Trick"!
Suzuki-san: That was a pretty big statement (laughs).
--What are your impressions of the three Naniwa Danshi Joichiro Fujiwara, Shiho Kato, Kato Shiho, and Maria Tani?
Yamazato: In "Naniwa," the ones with the cunning image are "Ryuche" (Onishi Ryusei) and Ohashi (Kazuya). I'm looking forward to seeing Joichiro-kun, who doesn't have much of a "cunning" image. I think Tani-san will be able to reproduce the cunningness written in the script 100%. "Katoshi" (Kato-san's nickname) has also competed as an idol, so I think he's a cunning professional. However, there's one thing that's a problem with Katoshi: he's a fan of Audrey's Wakabayashi (Masayoshi) (laughs). I don't want people to bring anything that suggests he's a fan to the set, because I'm quite concerned about that (laughs).
Suzuki: Both Tani and Kato have eye powers that are captivating in different genres, so I'm looking forward to seeing them in the drama.
Yamazato: I'd like to see the "dark side" of the two of them come out, too. They seem like they have something going on (laughs).
--It's been four years since regular broadcasts began, but please tell us again what the appeal of "What's Wrong with Being Cute?" is.
Yamazato: I think the word "azatoi" originally had a negative image, but it has gradually begun to have a complimenting meaning, which I feel is due to the contribution of this program. I myself have realized after many years on the program that "azatoi" is a title for the person's efforts. I'm sure that Minami Tanaka (the MC at the beginning of the program) will be happy that it has been made into a drama. I would like to pray to the sky, saying that the seeds you planted have truly sprouted.
Suzuki-san: I don't think there are many people who feel uncomfortable with being cunning. I think that by broadcasting this time as a Friday Night Drama, we will be able to convey more specifically the wonderfulness of a girl who uses cunning in her daily life!
- Please give a message to the viewers.
Suzuki: I haven't seen many dramas with the theme of cunning, so I hope viewers will watch the drama and see how cunning is the most powerful theme.
Yamazato: I think it's fine to watch the drama while complaining like me, saying things like, "I hate people who do this!" Let's walk the path of hell together. I think there are infinite ways to enjoy this work.
