Top 10 favourite dramas of the Autumn 2012 season (Ori Star)

Note that the sample size of this survey is relatively small (only 1,000) and that the pool of respondents are all ladies so preferences may be skewed towards certain genres and results may differ from what the ratings ranking reflects. Number in brackets indicate number of people who voted for the drama:

1) Kekkon Shinai (91)
2) Ooku - Tanjou (84)
3) PRICELESS (67)
4) Yuusha Yoshihiko to Akurei no Kagi (60)
5) Aibou (57)
6) Koukou Nyuushi (52)
7) MONSTERS (47)
8) Osozaki no Himawari ~ Boku no Jinsei, Renewal (46)
9) Akumu-chan (36)
10) TOKYO Airport (34)

Source: Ori Star

MONSTERS to re-shoot some scenes in Ep 1 due to loss of tape

It was reported on 2 October that TBS has to re-shoot some scenes in the first episode of its upcoming autumn drama "MONSTERS" due to the loss of one tape which contained already-completed scenes. According to TBS, they only discovered the loss in late September when they were about to begin editing work for the first episode. As a result, the TV station had to explain the situation to the cast and re-shoot the scenes which were affected by this incident.

Source: Nikkansports

Preview of "MONSTERS" - Autumn 2012

Title: MONSTERS
Official website: here
O.A. Start Date: 21 October 2012
Timeslot: Sundays, 9pm
Broadcast by: TBS
Theme song: MONSTERS by The MONSTERS
Cast: Katori Shingo, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yanagihara Kanako, Warabino Tomoya, Kikuda Daisuke, Hino Tatsuya, Shiroishi Tomoya, Hinaka Yasukage, Ootake Makoto, Endo Kenichi

Yanagihara Kanako to play the fiancee of Yamashita Tomohisa in "MONSTERS"

Comedian Yanagihara Kanako will play the fiancee of Yamashita Tomohisa in the upcoming autumn 2012 drama "MONSTERS" which is due to begin its run from 21 October at 9pm on Sundays. Yamashita plays the role of Saionji, a rich man's son who becomes a police detective while Yanagihara plays his fiancee who he has been dating for the past four years after they had been introduced to each other by their parents. Saionji would always sneak out to meet her without letting his senior (Katori) find out. As for the reason why Yanagihara was selected, the producer explained that one of the key characteristics of Saionji was that he likes round things so he thinks that she fits the bill of being a cute and round girlfriend.


Source: Nikkansports

Katori Shingo and Yamashita Tomohisa to form limited-time-only unit "The MONSTERS"

SMAP's Katori Shingo and Yamashita Tomohisa will be forming a limited-time-only unit called "The MONSTERS" and sing the theme song of their upcoming autumn drama "MONSTERS". The song which has the same title as the drama and originated from SMAP's new album "GIFT of SMAP" released on 8 August, will be released in the form of a single on 14 November. This is the first time Katori and Yamashita are working together.

According to insiders, the two of them had met each other by chance during a Lady Gaga concert in May at Saitama and decided to write a song together. It so turned out that they were later chosen to act in the same drama and the song was also chosen as the theme song. In the single to be released in November, the two of them will also perform a cover version of Pink Lady's 1978 hit "Monster" as a coupling track.


Source: Sanspo

Katori Shingo & Yamashita Tomohisa to star in TBS autumn drama "MONSTERS"

SMAP's Katori Shingo and solo singer Yamashita Tomohisa will be starring together in the TBS autumn drama "MONSTERS" starting in October in the Sundays 9pm timeslot. This is the first time that the two who are from the same agency are working together.

Katori plays Hiratsuka Heihachi, a detective at the Metropolitan Police Department who has a keen eye on details and is very hung up on manners. He thinks nothing of overstepping boundaries in order to expose the truth about people and their interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, Yamashita plays Saionji Kosuke a newbie detective and rich man's son who becomes partners with Heihachi.
Source: Mantan Web
 
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Well...it just so happens that I don't quite like these two so it's highly unlikely that I will watch this UNLESS there is someone in the cast lineup who might entice me enough to catch the first episode at the very least. Anyway, even if I disregard my lack of interest for the leads, the premise of the story still doesn't seem that appealing and reminds me a bit of Tokyo Dogs. Episodic stories tend not to work for me unless there's a strong background plot which keeps me engaged.