Japan: Shoten ("Jokes for Points")

A comedy airing on Sunday nights since 1966, Shoten consists of six comedians seated in a row who compete to tell the best jokes on topics announced by the host. The comedians are judged on their wit and their ability to respond quickly. Those who tell funny jokes are awarded zabutons, Japanese cushions, which are stacked atop of one another as the show goes on. A zabuton can also be taken away from the comedian for telling a bad joke, which leaves some to sit on the floor uncomfortably without a cushion. The first to stack 10 zabutons wins a prize. According to Yahoo! Japan's TV Guide ratings, this show was the country's second most viewed program in February 2010, bested only by the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

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