On August 19th, AKB48 announced that they will start their own short comedy program (title unknown yet) through video distribution service, �Hikari TV�. This program is set to start on September 29th and AKB48�s producer Akimoto Yasushi will be producing this show. This upcoming program is said to break the boundaries of an idol and will go to any extremes to be comedic. This show is expected to show a new side of this popular idol group.

The filming commenced on the first week of this month. For the episode titled �Niwatori-goya (Bird Cage)�, Watanabe Mayu (17) will dress up as a high school boy who has close-cropped hair, and will dance to �Heavy Rotation�. While this dance is going on, Minegishi Minami (18) who Akimoto Yasushi discribes as �Speaking of�comedy, it's Minegishi!�, demonstrated her own dancing skills and made the people on set laugh.

In another skit, Kojima Haruna (23) will be appearing with a beard drawn with a marker and will unveil her short story through a stunt.

Regarding this program, Minegishi stated, �I believe you can see AKB48 in a way you have never seen before. In a good way, I am looking forward to casting away the idol me,� and gave the viewers something to anticipate for.

This program will broadcast every Thursday at 11:30 p.m. and the first episode will be aired at 7:15 p.m.

Check out some of the screenshots and their practice lesson for this program below!

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Source: TV Asahi
Image: natalie