The drama is being written and directed by Takuro Oikawa, who also worked on the similar 2009 drama "The Quiz Show 2009," which starred Arashi's Shou Sakurai. Sakurai plays the host of a live TV quiz program. On the show, contestants who achieve 7 correct answers win 10 million yen, and those who get 8 correct answers will have one of their wishes granted by the TV network. But while the questions start off innocently enough, as the game progresses, the questions gradually delve into the contestants' past crimes or indiscretions, presenting them with the dilemma of having to confess their guilt in order to win. Sakurai's character also has a mysterious past. Before becoming the show's host, an accident had left him in a vegetative state for six years, which also resulted in him losing most of his memories. The supporting cast includes Kanjani8's Yu Yokoyama as the show’s director, Aya Matsuura as a rookie assistant director, and Miki Maya as the producer.
Like that show, the setting for "The Music Show" is a television program with "ordinary" contestants. Here, they will be competing as part of a music artist audition, while tension builds towards the final decision.
Viewers with television sets capable of digital data transmission will reportedly be able to vote for the competition's winner, affecting the story's outcome. The drama will also feature some original songs, which will be available as digital downloads on the Internet immediately after the show ends.
With Japan completing its shift from analog to digital television next year, this show may become a test case for similar interactive experiments in the future.
The cast will star Ikki Sawamura (沢村 一樹, Sawamura Ikki, born July 10, 1967) as the show's MC, Ken Yasuda (安田显) as the producer, and Keiko Toda (戸田恵子)and Mirei Kiritani (桐谷美玲) as two contestants. The judges will be played by Nana Katase (片瀬那奈) and Tooru Kazama.
"The Music Show" is scheduled for broadcast on January 2, 2011 at 11:30pm.
Source: Tokyograph
