History Series / Banzai

* CoolGuns: Specifically, the shotgun wielded by [[PageThreeStunna Jakki Degg]] in an attempt to pierce as many balloons as possible.

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on Creator/{{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanized and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was cancelled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes. Nevertheless, the show was then picked up by Creator/ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy. On March 6, 2006, re-runs were move to [[Creator/{{G4TV}} G4]] (formally known as G4TV) as part of its late-night prime programming block.

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on Creator/{{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanized and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was cancelled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes. Nevertheless, the show was then picked up by Creator/ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Tara Palmer Tomkinson toast topper test.

* CoolOldLady: If you allow yourself to take part in a game of chicken with your motorized wheelchair and a fellow granny, riding the same vehicle, you earn this trope.

* AliensMadeThemDoIt / MateOrDie: One bet consisted in asking Creator/PeterDavison if he had to have anal sex with one of the other living actors who played the Doctor on ''Series/DoctorWho'' in order to save the Earth from the Daleks, which one would he pick. (His answer was Sylvester [=McCoy=] much to the bewilderment of the announcer).

* Mr. Banzai: Played by opera singer MasashiFujimoto, he would appear as the MC, when one is needed, or just shout 'BANZAI' at random moments between betting games.
* Mr. Cheeky Chappie: Appears randomly through the program, sometimes announcing the current game.
* Mr. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Shakehandsman]]: As the name implies, this man goes up to celebrities and shakes hands with them for as long as possible, with bets being placed on how long he can maintain it. His record so far is over four minutes. Gets replaced midway through the second series because celebrities recognised him.
* Miss Onequestion: Another literal example, she would go up to celebrities, ask one question, and then stare at them without saying another word. Bets were placed on how long it would take the celebrity to walk away.

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on Creator/{{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanized and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was canceled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes, and was then picked up by Creator/ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Mr. Shakehandsman.

* OnceAnEpisode: Mr. Shakehandsman shakes the hand of a new celebrity each episode. Subverted in one episode, however, as one attempt at shaking hands resulted in a time of 0.05 second. They gave him a chance to redeem himself in the same episode.

* TypeCasting: WordOfGod- from when one of the show's gods appeared on one of Creator/Channel4's Top 100 shows- states that the first Mr. Shakehandsman left the show because he didn't want to be typecast as a man that shakes hands. Really.
** The reason given in the show, though, was that he was being recognized by celebrities who refused to shake his hand and ruined the whole thing, meaning a new person had to be entered.

''Betting ends!''

->''Play at home fun! From the land where anything is truly possible comes new gambling opportunity. Place your bets now, it's time to play... [[TitleDrop Banzai]].''

----

* TooSoon: Production was halted for one episode after it was leaked that the show was going to use a speed gun to measure the speed of the funeral procession for the Queen mother. The process was interrupted before they could record it.

* Mr Cheeky Chappie: Appears randomly through the program, sometimes announcing the current game.

* Miss. Onequestion: Another literal example, she would go up to celebrities, ask one question, and then see how long it takes for them to go away.

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on {{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanized and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was canceled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes, and was then picked up by Creator/ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy.

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Which of five lingerie-clad Lovely Ladies has the pickled onion in her mouth after 60 seconds of kissing and cuddling. Compeered by [[HoYay Valerie]] [[Series/BluePeter Singleton]], no less. [[CatchPhrase Outstanding!]]

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Which of five lingerie-clad Lovely Ladies has the pickled onion in her mouth after 60 seconds of kissing and cuddling. Compeered by [[HoYay Valerie]][[Series/BluePeter Singleton]], no less. [[CatchPhrase Outstanding!]]

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Which of five lingerie-clad Lovely Ladies has the pickled onion in her mouth after 60 seconds of kissing and cuddling. Compeered by [[Series/BluePeter Valerie Singleton]], no less. [[CatchPhrase Outstanding!]]

''Banzai'' was a ChannelFour program spoofing Japanese game shows with its unorthodox methods of entertainment, from how long it takes to masturbate a turkey to how many balloons are needed to make a chicken fly. It spoofed Japanese culture in general with its three main presenters:

* TypeCasting: WordOfGod- from when one of the show's gods appeared on one of ChannelFour's Top 100 shows- states that the first Mr. Shakehandsman left the show because he didn't want to be typecast as a man that shakes hands. Really.

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on {{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanized and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was canceled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes, and was then picked up by ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: A lovely cute little chicken attached to balloons and floated into the sky. See Also: EverythingsNuttierWithSquirrels.

* EverythingsNuttierWithSquirrels: Squirrel fishing. Two squirrels, two scientists. Two pieces of string, two nuts as bait. The winner is the scientist whose squirrel jumps up, grabs the nut, and can be pulled up as well.

* InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja: Sometimes a title is shown before a game, then that title will be hit by a ninja star, with ninja music and stock scream effect, before dying to become the ''real'' title.

''Banzai'' was a ChannelFour program spoofing Japanese gameshows with its unorthodox methods of entertainment, from how long it takes to masturbate a turkey to how many balloons are needed to make a chicken fly. It spoofed Japanese culture in general with its three main presenters:

With random silliness, and featuring celebrity cameos during the bets, ''Banzai'' ran for four series from 2001 to 2004. In the United States, it had a brief run on {{FOX}} in 2003 (these were Americanised and removed references to British culture and celebrities) that was canceled due to protest from Asian American groups after six episodes, and was then picked up by ComedyCentral, who ran the rest of the series with no controversy.

** The reason given in the show, though, was that he was being recognised by celebrities who refused to shake his hand and ruined the whole thing, meaning a new person had to be entered.

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Which of five lingerie-clad Lovely Ladies has the pickled onion in her mouth after 60 seconds of kissing and cuddling. Compeered by [[BluePeter Valerie Singleton]], no less. [[CatchPhrase Outstanding!]]

* AliensMadeThemDoIt / MateOrDie: One bet consisted in asking PeterDavison if he had to have anal sex with one of the other living actors who played the Doctor on ''Series/DoctorWho'' in order to save the Earth from the Daleks, which one would he pick. (His answer was Sylvester [=McCoy=] much to the bewilderment of the announcer).

* {{Catchphrase}}: "Place bets now", "Betting ends", and "What else we got?!"

** The reason given in the show, though, was that he was being recognised by celebrities who refused to shake his hand and ruined the whole thing, meaning a new person.