Fist of Zen
Contents |
Host
Voiceover: Rick Edwards
Co-hosts
Peter Law (as the Zen Master)
Broadcast
Monkey for MTV One, July 2006 to July 2007 (20 episodes in 2 series)
Synopsis
The first British version of the Silent Library format, itself originally a segment in a popular Japanese TV show (not unlike Hole in the Wall, in fact).
Five friends are challenged to endure unusual and humiliating punishments in a setting where silence is the usual. The unlucky contestant for each one is determined by shoving their hand into a box with five balls - four will be red and one black. They must not yelp, and their 'friends' must try not to laugh too loudly otherwise they fail. There are nine "rituals" and each passed one earns a mammoth £100 for the team pot.
Rituals basically involved being smacked by something hard, being asked to eat something unpleasant, that sort of thing. Jackass-lite, if you will.
The final task is all or nothing and involves the whole team attempting to perform a task whilst a man offstage pulls string attached to their genitalia.
The whole thing is watched over by "the Zen Master" watching from his magical pool, the whole show is steeped in cod-Chinese parody done on the cheap.
Inventor
It is not mentioned in the credits, but we'd find it hard to believe it isn't a direct descendant of the Silent Library segment from Dauntaun no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
