Just For Laughs Gags Asia
Just For Laughs Gags Asia is a comedy show based on the popular Canadian version of it. It is an entertainment series that many Singaporean viewers are familiar with, and grew up watching. This is especially so since it is usually aired right before the local news, at 6:30pm which is considered prime time. The extensive broadcast coverage of the series on MobileTV on SBS buses never failed to make me laugh, and it was really embarassing especially when I’m alone on the bus. Hence, when Mediacorp announced that it had entered into an exclusive agreement with Just For Laughs(JFL) to co- produce and distribute JFL gags for the Asian market, many Singaporeans including myself were exceptionally excited and looked forward to the series.
Albeit Asia having a big market suitable for the global television programme export industry, the trends prove otherwise. Exports of such media products to other regions have remained limited despite Asia being the largest regional producer of motion pictures worldwide. Instead, the rising presence of foreign films, primarily from the US, continues to affect local demand for Asian media products in some countries. Even in Singapore, the Asian version of Just For Laughs Gags received numerous bad comments and ratings, such that it was ‘lame’, and simply not funny enough, compared to the American version. As seen, people all over the world are more receptive to American media and somehow view it as more superior to local ones. If you were made to choose between a hollywood film, and a locally-produced film directed by Royston Tan, which will you choose?
Also, as I tried to gather information regarding this (the bad comments), I found that most have been censored or brought down by the administration, and the likely culprit I guess would be MediaCorp? When I typed in ‘Just For Laughs Asia’ on the Google Search Engine, what I got are mostly positive comments on how funny the show is and how they ROFL (Rolled On the Floor Laughing) while watching it. This clearly reflects the hegemonic characteristic of media messages. The media chose only to reflect and reproduce ideas, meanings, and values that uphold the interests of the powerful elite, and silence opposing views. In this case, the media chose to surpress the comments and opinions of the powerless audience, and instead place the series in good light, ensuring that the interests of MediaCorp is kept. So much for freedom of speech.
Also, I’m very sorry that I’m unable to add any videos due to its unavailabilty on Youtube because of MediaCorp’s stance against copyright issues GRRR. So if you guys wanna watch it, you can catch it here. Enjoy!
Brightest Little Firefly In Her Jar 
I actually really liked JFL Asia. I think I wouldn’t mind be pranked. I definitely won’t be angry about it as well. I guess the show has many bad comments and ratings as the people getting pranked on, feedback negatively. I think those people really have closed mindsets.The Singapore media will never be able to be fully diversified if they continue restricting media. To me, it is like an endless cycle. Media, one of the most influential medium, shapes the Singaporeans thoughts and thoughts do shape what one wants to see as well. I guess Singaporeans need to be less conservative and be open to what they see, hear, taste, smell or touch.
I never really caught JFL Asia, but I’ve read newspaper reports of how badly received the show was. I guess there is still the bias against locally produced shows. People probably got turned off because they think that it is just a rip-off from the Western version. An example of cultural imperialism, perhaps? As for the media censoring negative stuff online is also not new, well, all we can say is, “what’s new?”
I haven watched JFL Asia, but i saw some trailers on it before,its quite funny yet stupid at the same time. Whatever it is, it still cracked me up, so it has accomplished its aim! As compared to the JFL America maybe its standards it not as good, i guess its also because they are not as established as the American version but i’m sure they do deserve a pat on their back for the effort they have put it.And of course, the local media would down the negatives comments, its typical of Singapore. Anything bad, they will cover up.Its always been like that.
I embrace JFL Asia! Not only does it provide humor for viewers, it also reveals the uniqueness of our culture! I dont see how adapting such a tv program from the States to be produced in Singapore should be seen as lame because it is not like as though we are copying them wholesale right? Well thats just my point of view.
And regarding Mediacorp’s shamless act of censoring comments or something, I think they are seriously not doing themselves any favor at all. They should learn to accept nasty or negative comments because it is only then will they realise that there are rooms for improvements to provide better entertainment for the Singapore population. It beats having them live in denial and assume that whatever tv production they are doing would be a great hit or something. But then again, it would be difficult for that to happen given that they have a reputation to keep. At the end of the day, I just hope that although they censor negative remarks, they would still take them all into consideration to better their services in the entertainment industry! 😀
Local comedy series are rare in Singapore and jfl asia was a breath of fresh air. With the canadian version as a yardstick, the asian version might fall short but it was a job well done nevertheless. I guess creativity wise, we have less experience/skill etc compared to our western counterparts. but we are improving, westerners do take their storylines from asian ones, like the protege, various horror flicks like shutter, the eye, the ring and so on. cultural imperialism still exists, but at least there is more asian media overseas as compared to the past.
Just for Laughs Gags is one of the shows that made me stuck on to the couch. I love how they can think of such creativity pranks and crazy ideas by making use of the normal human instincts!
However, I’ve also heard rumours about that Mediacorp actually censored most of the ‘angry’ parts of the pranks. Certainly, there are confirmed to have bad sides of stuffs when it comes to TV production. Maybe their idea of censoring is that, since the production is focusing on LAUGHTERS, so the opposite of it shouldn’t be aired or made available to public. In doing so, it can minimize the ‘don’t-touch-me’ factor.
Nevertheless, perhaps by censoring it and airing it on prime time, the another down side of it is that, if children learn pranks from it and do it on the classmates, will ethic issues be a problem?
Personally, I think JFL Asia wasn’t all that bad with the exception of its ‘fakeness’. I can’t help but feel that all those being pranked on are ‘calefares’/part-time actors paid to display those exaggerated responses. If they truely resorted to such measures, I can’t help but throw the openness of the Singaporean community into doubt. Are we really that conservative that we cannot take a simple harmless joke? So much so that the media has to resort to buying off people?
Asians don’t have the stance or perspective to take jokes. I guess mindset are already in place and bringing humour in such way will only offend them. At least we tried to make the effort to bring a wonderful production to sunny Singapore. Do hope Asians in future can take things in their stride.
I really enjoyed JFL asia, i was more like shocked when the ‘gahmen’ actually allowed it and people that were prankd took it better than i would expect an average singaporean to. However, could the people being prankd have been put there on purpose to give the show credibility and to show the rest of the world that singapore is not an uptight, ‘fine’ city like the foreign media likes to say.
Hi I really like this show!! The Asian version only made it easier for us to relate to, especially since it is obvious that many of the pranks were actually played in Singapore. Unlike the original version, the Asian pranks are typically milder but more believable and hence, making the reactions of the “pranked” victims all the more hilarious. Hopefully, there will be more of such positive influence of the foreign media on our own local media. It’s great to unwind to such lighthearted shows after a long day of school work.
The media does have a strong influence on what we can watch. In fact, Royston Tan did a film on ‘cut’ about the censorship of the MDA and what we are really able to watch. well, personally, i really like ‘Just for Laughs’ and i really always laugh. It is not that it is lame, but the agenda of the media that i am worried about.
I guess its quite disappointing that as Singaporeans, many would still choose American produced films over locally produced ones. But if you think about it there indeed is a rationale behind it. America’s film-making industry is one that is experienced and colourful, compared to Singapore’s which holds little variety and depth.