Hulu has acquired rights to “The Contestant,” a documentary about an aspiring comedian who unknowingly becomes the most famous TV star in Japan.
Clair Titley directed the movie, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. “The Contestant” will launch on Hulu in 2024.
The documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who auditioned for a TV show in 1998. The premise of “Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes,” the series that eventually made him a household name in Japan, left Nasubi naked in an empty room for more than a year and tasked him with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food, clothes and other necessities. But he had no idea he was becoming wildly famous in Japan as the series was broadcast to more than 15 million people.
“The Contestant” explores one of the first extreme reality shows that pushed boundaries and paved way for others like it.
Clair Titley directed the movie, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. “The Contestant” will launch on Hulu in 2024.
The documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who auditioned for a TV show in 1998. The premise of “Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes,” the series that eventually made him a household name in Japan, left Nasubi naked in an empty room for more than a year and tasked him with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food, clothes and other necessities. But he had no idea he was becoming wildly famous in Japan as the series was broadcast to more than 15 million people.
“The Contestant” explores one of the first extreme reality shows that pushed boundaries and paved way for others like it.
- 11/28/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Liberty University has asked the court to dismiss Jerry Falwell Jr.‘s lawsuit.
The former university president filed a federal lawsuit over retirement money that was not given to him after his departure from his position in 2020. Falwell Jr. says the school owes him $8.5 million.
Falwell Jr.’s lawsuit also states the ways he helped the school, which was founded by his father, Rev. Jerry L. Falwell Sr., increase its profits.
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Falwell Jr. left the university in August 2020 after Giancarlo Granda, a pool attendant who became the Falwell family’s business partner, said he had a prolonged sexual relationship with Falwell Jr.’s wife, Becki Falwell, while Falwell Jr. looked on. After the story broke, Falwell resigned as president.
Liberty University sued Falwell Jr. in 2021, alleging that he negotiated his contract without revealing the sex scandal that ended up ruining the evangelical Christian college’s reputation.
The former university president filed a federal lawsuit over retirement money that was not given to him after his departure from his position in 2020. Falwell Jr. says the school owes him $8.5 million.
Falwell Jr.’s lawsuit also states the ways he helped the school, which was founded by his father, Rev. Jerry L. Falwell Sr., increase its profits.
50 Best Celebrity Bikinis Slideshow!
Falwell Jr. left the university in August 2020 after Giancarlo Granda, a pool attendant who became the Falwell family’s business partner, said he had a prolonged sexual relationship with Falwell Jr.’s wife, Becki Falwell, while Falwell Jr. looked on. After the story broke, Falwell resigned as president.
Liberty University sued Falwell Jr. in 2021, alleging that he negotiated his contract without revealing the sex scandal that ended up ruining the evangelical Christian college’s reputation.
- 5/1/2023
- by Alex Nguyen
- Uinterview
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