"Detective! Night Scoop" (ABC TV, Fridays at 11:17 PM) is a popular variety show where "detectives" tackle bizarre requests and worries submitted by viewers. On May 8th, Detective Daigo Nagami investigated the question, "I want to do stand-up comedy even though I get stage fright!" Special Director Takanori Nishikawa, Assistant Director Yasushi Ishida, and Secretary Saori Masuda appeared on the show.
The request came from a 28-year-old man from Hyogo Prefecture. I'm a man who writes stand-up comedy material as a hobby. Due to extreme stage fright, I've never performed in front of an audience. I've always been uncomfortable in front of people, but after several embarrassing incidents in front of large crowds, I've avoided appearing in public ever since.
However, on the other hand, I'm constantly struggling between my desire for recognition—the desire to perform the stand-up comedy I wrote in front of someone—and my fear of standing in front of people. Perhaps because of this, after falling asleep, I've started having dreams where I get huge laughs with this routine, and dreams where I bomb spectacularly.
So, the idea is to have the detective become my comedy partner and perform in front of an audience. However, the audience can be limited to three people...that's the limit.
The man wants to play the "boke" (funny man) role. He wants his partner, Detective Nagami, to play the "tsukkomi" (straight man) role in a typical Kansai style, but Nagami says, "Hmm. I've never played the tsukkomi before..." After reading the script, Nagami gives a professional-level comment, suggesting that the funny boke parts be kept as they are, but the tsukkomi lines be improved. After four hours of practice, they head to the venue, where three unusual people with connections to the TV show "Night Scoop" are waiting in the audience. Will their comedy act be able to make the three audience members laugh?
