Whether you are a big fan of the Japanese "boy" bands or can barely stomach even the best of "jpop," Smap x Smap is a boy band showcase that amuses and remains surprisingly enduring. Most boy bands in Japan fade quickly after a three or four year career but Smap has been around since the early 90s. Their self titled variety show allows them to showcase their entertaining skills, whether that be cooking for lovely young actresses in a regular segment called Bistro Smap (a knockoff of the network's "Iron Chef"), acting in parodies of popular movies (e.g. Titanic, Spider-Man), or just being good sports at whatever nonsensical game the producers put them in. Though most of the group's members are tepid singers at best - Kimura Takuya being the most vocally gifted - the show lets people enjoy what's best about Smap, and that's their personalities. Smap x Smap or 'sma sma' continues to do well in the ratings and it's likely it'll continue to do well in it's prime tv slot.
