It used to be that music shows were mostly music, but since the early 1990s they've generally been talking about music. "The M" (Nihon TV, Tuesday, 9 p.m.), a new show that premieres this week, attempts to give the music-talk format a few twists.
Hosted by Tatsuya Ishii, the voluble leader of the pop juggernaut Kome Kome Club, former idol Noriko Sakai, and comedian Hitori Gekidan, "The M" is divided into three themes: the history of a major musical artist, a special live collaboration, and the usual talk.
This week's guest is the "original" boy idol Hiromi Go. In the history section, Go's career from the '70s to the present will be showcased using film and videotape of performances from all the phases of his career. In the collaboration section, Go and DJ Ozma will perform a special version of one of Go's biggest hits with a new arrangement by Ozma. And in the talk section, actress Kirin Kiki will talk about the hit duet she and Go did so long ago.