Ep 1. 10 Brave Participants

HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental is a Japanese comedy game show which premiered on Amazon Prime on December 15, 2016. The show is hosted by comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto and is produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The show is unique in that its format pits ten comedians against each other in a competition to see who can last the longest without laughing. In the show's first season, ten comedians are given a simple challenge: to not laugh for six hours. The last comedian to remain without laughing is declared the winner and walks away with the grand prize of ten million yen.

In episode one of the first season of HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental, titled "10 Brave Participants," the show introduces us to the ten comedians who will be competing in the show's first season. At the beginning of the episode, the contestants are introduced to the rules of the game and given a brief overview of what to expect in the coming hours. The contestants are instructed to sit in individual cells, each equipped with a camera that will broadcast their reactions to the other contestants in real-time. If a contestant laughs, they are eliminated from the game. The contestants are also given a list of topics that will be discussed throughout the game, which they are to avoid laughing at.

The contestants are then given an hour to mentally prepare themselves before the competition officially begins. As the countdown to the start of the game begins, tensions begin to rise among the contestants. Some of them try to calm themselves by meditating or deep breathing exercises, while others struggle to control their nervous laughter.

As the game gets underway, the contestants are immediately put to the test. The topics discussed range from silly jokes to bizarre imagery, leaving many of the contestants struggling to keep a straight face. As the hours tick by, the atmosphere in the cells becomes increasingly tense. Some contestants begin to crack, while others seem to be holding up surprisingly well.

Throughout the episode, the show cuts between the various contestants' cells, giving viewers a glimpse into their individual struggles. Some of the contestants can be seen sweating profusely, while others are visibly shaking. As the game nears its end, the remaining contestants become increasingly competitive, doing everything in their power to distract their competitors and make them laugh.

The episode culminates in a tense final few minutes, as the remaining contestants battle it out in a showdown of willpower. As the clock ticks down, the contestants become increasingly desperate, resorting to all sorts of bizarre antics in an attempt to make their competitors laugh. Some of them even begin pleading with their fellow contestants, begging them to break so that they can be declared the winner.

Overall, the premiere episode of HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental season one is a hilarious and suspenseful introduction to the show's unique format. The diverse cast of comedians provides a wide range of reactions and comedic styles, making for an entertaining and unpredictable viewing experience. The episode leaves viewers eager to see who will emerge as the winner in the coming episodes.