Today Fuji TV revealed that they are going to produce a Japanese version of the long-running American NBC variety show "Saturday Night Live" with Akashiya Sanma and Imada Koji as the hosts.

"Saturday Night Live" had a lot of influence on Japanese variety shows, such as the infamous "Oretachi Hyokin Zoku" hosted by Beat Takeshi back in the 1980s. According to Fuji TV, combining the original format with Japan's very own "comedy monsters" is bound to result in one of the most entertaining variety shows that are airing right now.

Fuji TV is going to name the new show "Saturday Night Live JPN" and plans to air new 45-min-long episodes once a month. Airing at Saturday nights, people will only be able to watch "Pikaru no Teiri", the show that usually airs at 11pm, three times a month. However, Oshima Mai, "Monster Engine", "Heisei no Bushi Kobushi" and the other regulars of Pikaru will regularly appear on SNL as well.

Well-known TV personality Sanma is going to lead through the show as the main host, supported by Imada and the comic duo "Piece". Aside from the obligatory talk section and countless of original skits, the show is going to feature some interesting guests each week. The first guests will be Ninety-Nine's Okamura Takashi and singer Hirai Ken, but we can also already look forward to really special surprise guests such as the former Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro.

The premier of "Saturday Night Live JPN" will be on June 4th, so you better mark that day in your calendars.

Source: Sanspo