Is it okay to swoon over comedians? The truth about the 'face fans' who surge right after M-1
Now that the excitement of the M-1 Grand Prix 2025 has yet to cool down, my timeline is flooded with voices saying, 'That comedian is so cool' or 'I'm totally swooning'.
The magic of 'swooning' that vanishes by spring
For this M-1, it was Mr. Watanabe from Don de Colte. My timeline was filled with people who were 'swooning' over him. But how many of them will still be going to the theater and following them come spring?
Most of them will likely be gone by spring. I don't think that's their fault; it's just that the magic known as the 'Another Story' that M-1 shows us wears off.
They consume only the 'cool moments' captured dramatically, and when the supply runs out, they move on to the next craze. Am I the only one who feels a sense of loneliness in that transient enthusiasm?
Are Punk Boo Boo far from being 'swoon-worthy'?
To explore the essence of 'swooning,' I looked back at past champions. Nakagawake, Masuda Okada, and Football Hour were all swoon-worthy back then. We were intoxicated not just by their visuals, but by the preciousness of the relationships between the duos (nostalgia).
But even among them, there are some duos that I don't feel that 'swoon' for...
For example, personally, I might not feel much 'swoon' for Punk Boo Boo... That's too rude, I'm sorry.
Their manzai is perfect, and their technique is overwhelming. But it's hard to see the 'relationship between the two' in their material, and the precision of their boke and tsukkomi is just too high. I sometimes think that when a performance is too skilled, we might lose the space to 'swoon'.
The wall of lookism and Oozuru Himan
At the end of the day, I can't help but feel that a cruel form of lookism lurks at the root of what we call 'a cool way of being.' There are people who swoon over Vacuum Jessica, but you rarely see anyone swooning over Oozuru Himan on his own.
To be honest, 'short, fat, and bald' guys aren't even given a seat at the table for swooning, are they?
If lookism were to truly disappear from the world, perhaps that would be when fans who swoon over Oozuru Himan fill the streets. I was thinking about that while looking at social media posts capturing their 'cool profiles'.
Can you love even the 'filth' of a comedian?
Comedians, by nature, are not exactly clean and upright professions. They might have bad drinking habits, messy relationships with women, or be unable to manage their money. Outside of the dramatic 'Another Story,' there must be a gritty, dirty life spreading out.
But if you could love them as a whole person, including that 'filth,' wouldn't that heat last even after spring? I want people to love them as 'comedy,' including the raspy voices and bad attitudes, rather than just capturing the cool moments.
Because the world of comedy is far too fun and deep to end in a fleeting moment of 'squealing'.
What do you think is 'cool'?
The entrance can be 'swooning.' But I hope that you will sink deep into the 'material' and 'way of life' that lies beyond that. How do you all view the 'swooning' phenomenon that surges after M-1?
Even if the supply of 'coolness' dries up, can you keep following them? If you'd like, please tell me about your own 'love for comedians'.
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