Last Idol - Season 4 Begins: Full Scale Variety, "Last Idol, Yoroshiku!"

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Season 2 Episode 1
Note: The video cuts off a little early, but it's likely just missing the end of Akimoto's conversation with the CCR members, and a preview for next week. Nothing of grave importance.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2sde
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2de1
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2cvj
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2b3e
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2bk7
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6d2fcr

Summary

Spoiler: show

- The episode opens with a tease and the OP theme sequence.
- Each group in the Last Idol Family (Last Idol, Good Tears, Chou Cream Rockets, Someday Somewhere, Love Cocchi) is lined up side by side.
- A quick video summary of Last Idol's journey from season 1 is played, but..
- The video segues into an intro on season 2 and the new format, starting with introductions.
- The producers are introduced with examples of their work, and the girls react:
Tsunku (Morning Musume, Hello! Project)
Komuro Tetsuya (TRF, globe)
Sashihara Rino (=LOVE)
Oda Tetsuro (Zard, Aikawa Nanase)
Akimoto Yasushi (AKB48+, Last Idol Family S1)

- Each group draws a number at random to decide the order in which they will choose a card corresponding to a producer. The picking order is:
1. Last Idol
2. Chou Cream Rockets
3. Good Tears
4. Someday Somewhere
5. Love Cocchi

- A representative from each group picks the playing card of their choice (all cards are from the Heart suit):
Last Idol: Jack
Chou Cream Rockets: 10
Good Tears: Ace
Someday Somewhere: King
Love Cocchi: Queen

- The Producers images are flipped to reveal which card they match with, and which group they will be working with.
1. Oda Tetsuro x Good Tears
2. Komuro Tetsuya x Last Idol
3. Sashihara Rino x Someday Somewhere
4. Tsunku x Love Cocchi
5. Akimoto Yasushi x Chou Cream Rockets

- Each group gives their thoughts on the results of the producer matching.
- Footage of each group meeting with their producer for the first time. Tsunku is the only one that doesn't meet them in person. He's instead conferenced in via two screens, one for his face and one for his typed responses (his chosen method of public communication after having his vocal cords removed due to cancer of the larynx). He pulls a classic move often seen in Hello! Project auditions by asking them to show their foreheads.

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- Akimoto should have had someone else take his place entirely. Hyadain or something.
- I don't like him.
- This season has even more potential to be rigged than S1 did.
- I think Tsunku would have paired well with any group except Last Idol (and Rino was probably paired with who I would have put her with).
- One of the blogs I follow that did weekly posts on the episodes hasn't updated yet, or else
I'd probably have a little more insight into some of the details I miss on my own.
- Oda Tetsuro has a scary aura.

[Denki]

Komuro Tetsuya is retiring from show business. This may affect Last Idol.

[boinsie]

I honestly haven't watched any of this--is Last Idol not filmed ahead of time?

[Denki]

The first group battle is already recorded and there will no changes to the 1/20 episode.
https://t.co/fPtqBq2B72?amp=1

But no news regarding future battles. I don't think keeping him in is such a good idea since he's already got a bad image and he's in charge of the 'main group.' He's retiring because reports came out that he was cheating on his wife and this was his way to apologize to everyone.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

If it was going to happen, it's best that it happened this early instead of half way through the season. There are plenty of people they can invite to replace him.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Season 2 Episode 2
(The dailymotion videos are slightly short, jumpy, and freeze for periods of time. Pandora.tv is complete but annoying to use.)
http://channel.pandora.tv/channel/video ... cthum2_1_2
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6df33p
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6df22z
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6df2e2
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6df12p

Summary

Spoiler: show

- The first battle will be between Last Idol (PD: Komuro Tetsuya) and Someday Somewhere (PD: Sashihara Rino).
- The video starts a little late; it opens with Komuro talking about the visual concept he wants to use for Last Idol's costumes. He's going for a cool schoolgirl look, the example given being early Britney Spears.
- Footage of Last Idol recording vocals for their new song with Tetsuya in the studio. Followed by footage of them beginning dance rehearsals. Their choreographer is RIKA from SAM (SOUL AND MOTION DANCE STUDIO). Examples of artists she's worked with include JUJU, 2PM, SMAP, Crystal Kay, and on both music videos and live tours.
http://www.soulandmotion.com/instructors/rika2.html

- Last Idol, produced by Komuro Tetsuya, enters the stage.
- The new MC for season 2 is Yusuke Santamaria, Assistant to the MC is AKB48 member Yokoyama Yui. Marty Friedman and Kurata Mayumi are back at the judges table.
- Moving on to Someday Somewhere with Sashihara, a quick recap of their first meeting and Sashihara's comments.
- Sashihara has decided to create a W-center with Majima and Kiyohara, instead of just having Majima as the sole center. She plans to give them 34.5cm length skirts as part of their costumes.
- The group starts dance lessons. Their choreographers are Arakaki Hisako (新垣寿子, former Super Monkey's member) and
Takara Maiko (高良舞子). Both of them worked on choreography for Sashihara's group =LOVE. Individually they've each worked with several *48 groups, various artists, and on concerts and stage musicals.
https://www.hisakoarakaki.com/
http://profile.ameba.jp/takara-m/

- Sashihara dropped in to check on the group dance rehearsal.
- Someday Somewhere, produced by Sashihara Rino, enters the stage.
- Performance Battle begins, starting with comments from each group.
- Last Idol performs first. Their new song is "Kaze yo, Fuke!" (風よ吹け!; Wind, Blow!). They use a theramin during the performance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

- Someday Somewhere performs their new song, "Kono Koi wa Transit" (この恋はトランジット; This Love is in Transit).
- Mangaka judge Kurata Mayumi (倉田真由美) is called on to announce the winner. She chooses Last Idol (PD: Komuro Tetsuya).
- Looking at the other judges, if each vote counted the overall score would have been a 2/2 split.
- Next week Love Cocchi (PD: Tsunku) and Chou Cream Rockets (PD: Akimoto Yasushi) will battle.

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- I won't remember either of the songs and the performances were mediocre.
- I don't think Sashihara chose well for her second center girl.
- Neither group left a strong impression on me, but I liked Last Idol's styling more.
- Trying to look up random choreographers is 3x harder than looking up random indie idols ever was.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Season 2 Episode 3
(I couldn't find any dailymotion uploads (yet). Pandora is incomplete. It freezes and cuts off parts of the performances, and ends before the judging.)
http://m.pandora.tv/?c=view&ch_userid=h ... d=55801582

Summary

Spoiler: show

- The episode starts by introducing the producer battle; Tsunku vs Aki-P. They show brief clips of their most famous productions: Morning Musume and AKB48, respectively.
- Love Cocchi vs Chou Cream Rockets.
- Replaying footage from Love Cocchi's first time meeting Tsunku. His famous forehead check.
- Tsunku's message to Love Cocchi, with voice over.
- Love Cocchi's choreographer is Kinoshita Natsuko (木下菜津子). She currently works with Hello! Project, they directly mention her work with Berryz Kobo, °C-ute, and Morning Musume. (She's also worked with several other current groups and helped choreograph a handful of concerts.)
https://twitter.com/nacchomen
https://www.instagram.com/nacchomen/

- Love Cocchi, produced by Tsunku, enters the stage.
- MC Yusuke Santamaria comments on the before and after looks of some of the girls.
- Replaying a moment of footage from Chou Cream Rockets first meeting with Aki-P.
- The title of the Chou Cream Rockets song is "Kimi no Achoo!", they put some focus on the English onomatopoeia "achoo". Judge Marty Friedman imitates a sneeze and alerts others on the panel to it being English.
- Chou Cream Rockets choreographer is the duo CRE8BOY. They've worked with Love Cocchi before. Other credits include the *48 and *46 groups, all of the other Last Idol units in 2017, Rev.from DVL, lol, MAX, SMAP, and plenty of others.
http://cre8boy.com/

- Chou Cream Rockets, produced by Akimoto Yasushi, enters the stage.
- Comments from both groups before the battle performances.
- Tsunku's message to Love Cocchi before they perform, with voice over.
- Love Cocchi is barefoot for their performance. The song Tsunku wrote for them is titled "Seishun Symphony" (青春シンフォニー).
- Members crying after they finish performing.
- Chou Cream Rockets performs "Kimi no Achoo!" (君のAchoo!).
- Judge, model and idol fan Hikasa Reina (日笠麗奈) is called on to announce the winner of the battle. (My video cut out here so the rest of summarized via a blog I follow.)
- She chooses Love Cocchi (Tsunku) as the winner.
- The other judge choices don't matter, but we get a look: all of them chose Love Cocchi, it would have been them no matter which judge was called on.
- Next week will be Good Tears (Oda Tetsuro) vs Last Idol (Komuro Tetsuya????).

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- As his fan I'll take this moment to gloat. Of course Tsunku's producing/song was the unanimous winner.
- In all seriousness the "Achoo" song didn't leave much of an impression, which is unfortunate since I thought they had one of the nicer songs from the first single.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Season 2 Episode 4
(Still not finding any Dailymotion uploads. Might be relying on bilibili and pandora.tv for the rest of the season.)
http://m.pandora.tv/?c=view&ch_userid=o ... d=55825576

Summary

Spoiler: show

- Episode starts with a quick summary: Oda Tetsuro (PD: Good Tears) vs Kimuro Tetsuya (PD: Last Idol).
- Quick run through of Good Tears and repeating footage from their first time meeting Oda Tetsuro. He
asked them to sing solo acapella for him.
- Short interview with Oda Tetsuro in the recording studio.
- Footage of a second meeting between Good Tears and Oda Tetsuro, and of them working in the recording studio.
- The choreographer for Good Tears is Ruu from Dance Studio ViVid & teacher of Fabulous Sisters, a dance group
that has placed twice at the WORLD OF DANCE competition in the Youth category.
http://ruu.dance/
https://twitter.com/fabulous_runa
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Y8MjjnFHRi

- They showed footage of a Good Tears member crying during the dance lessons.
- Good Tears, produced by Oda Tetsuro, enters the stage.
- MC Yusuke Santamaria comments on the visual transformation of some members (as he has for all of them so far).
- A quick re-cap on Last Idol's win from their first battle.
- Last Idol, produced by Komuro Tetsuya, enters the stage.
- Comments from both groups before the battle begins.
- The title of Good Tears song is "Suriru" (スリル; Thrill).
- Last Idol performs their song, "Kaze yo, Fuke!" (風よ吹け!; Wind, Blow!).
- Musician and idol fan, Marty Friedman, is called on to announce the winner of the battle.
- He chooses Last Idol. They've now won two battles.
- Comments from Good Tears after losing.
- The preview for next week: Love Cocchi (Tsunku) vs Good Tears (Oda Tetsuro).
- Promotion for a Last Idol Family Valentines Day event/live at Zepp Tokyo.

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- Good Tears song straight up sounds showa. Which means I want Tsunku to win, but if he doesn't Oda would be cool.
- The dance has.. a lot of arm movements.
- The performance was kind of boring though, even if the song was there.
- Their costumes were cute though.
- Last Idol did better this time than they did during their first battle.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Season 2 Episode 5
http://m.pandora.tv/?c=view&ch_userid=d ... d=55846475

Summary

Spoiler: show

- The episode starts with a re-cap of the battles so far, and a very quick preview of the upcoming battle: Love Cocchi (Tsunku) vs Good Tears (Oda Tetsuro).
- Both groups immediately enter the stage, and give their pre-battle comments.
- A reminder of Love Cocchi's all kill during their first battle, where the deciding judge and other judges all picked them as the winner.
- Backstage comments after the all-kill battle.
- Comments from Tsunku on their performance last week, and a haircut image change for all of the members. Everyone has shorter hair now.
- MC Yusuke Santamria asks about the new haircuts.
- Love Cocchi performs "Seishun Symphony" (青春シンフォニー; Youth Symphony).
- Footage of Oda Tetsuro commenting on Good Tears performance last week.
- He brought in NAOKI, a professional dancer, to help them alter the dance. He's worked with Kanjani8, SMAP, Lee Minho, AKB48, etc.
https://twitter.com/naokigunzhunt
https://t.co/wTclZZD4R9

- Oda Tetsuro offered advice to Good Tears on video chat before their battle.
- Good Tears performs "Suriru" (スリル; Thrill), with new choreography.
- Judge Takenaka Natsumi, idol choreographer, is called on to announce the winner.
- She chooses Good Tears. This is their first win.
- Comments from Good Tears after they celebrate. Love Cocchi members are crying too hard to give a comment.
- While their votes don't change the outcome, we get to see that all of the other judges chose Love Cocchi.
- Next week is Chou Cream Rockets (Aki-P) vs Someday Somewhere (Sashihara Rino).

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- Love Cocchi's singing has gotten better. They don't sound like they're tripping over each other in unison this week.
- I'm sad Marty isn't at the judges table this week. The guy everyone hated in S1 is back though, of course, because he gets attention.
- Good Tears new dance is still awkard, they don't pull off sexy.
- Love Cocchi's singing went became slightly better, Good Tears went backwards. Maybe Oda should bring in a vocal coach instead of new dancers.

[Nayoko-Kihara]

Announcements:
- The second Last Idol Family single will be released on April 18, 2018.
- (NOTE: This proably isn't 100% correct.) At the end of season 2 episode 6 they announced fan voting from February 17th - 22nd. Until now they've utilized one-of-four judge based voting, but because of the nature of the round-robin style battles there's a possibility that too many groups could tie with 2 wins. They'll use the fan votes to break the tie.

Season 2 Episode 6
http://m.pandora.tv/?c=view&ch_userid=o ... d=55861617

Spoiler: show

- The episode opens with a quick preview of the battle to come, Chou Cream Rockets (Aki-P) vs Someday Somewhere (Sashihara Rino); AKB producer vs AKB member, PD vs performer turned PD.
- Both groups immediately enter the stage, and give their pre-battle comments.
- A re-cap of Someday Somewhere's previous loss to Last Idol, reactions and comments backstage afterwards.
- Someday Somewhere in rehearals. The instructor is trying to impress upon them the importance of appearing excited, pumping up the crowd, raising tension, etc.
- Someday Somewhere performs "Kono Koi wa Transit" (この恋はトランジット).
- Re-cap of Chou Cream Rockets previous loss to Love Cocchi. Footage of reactions and comments backstage afterwards.
- The group had a meeting with Aki-P. They point out Good Tears and Love Cocchi's new elements and image changes.
- Chou Cream Rockets undergoes more extensive vocal training, with trainer, chorus singer, and songwriter Hirono Yuki (廣野有紀). She's worked in some capacity with Maeda Atsuko, °C-ute, Morning Musume, Mano Erina, Ken Hirai, etc.
https://twitter.com/hiron_sun
http://hironoy.net/profile

- Chou Cream Rockets performs "Kimi no Achoo!" (君のAchoo!), with more performance focus.
- Musician Ohtsuki Kenji is called on as judge to announce the winner of the battle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Ohtsuki

- He chooses Chou Cream Rockets. It's their first win during the round robin battles.
- Comments from both groups on the results.
- The other judge votes are revealed; it was split evenly 2 to 2.
- Someday Somewhere is now the only group that hasn't won a season 2 battle.
- MC Yusuke Santamaria and his assistant have a surprise announcement at the end. From February 17th - 22nd viewers will be able to vote for one of the groups to help decide the final battle lineup in the case of a tie via the judging system and round-robin tournament style they've been using.
- Next week is Last Idol (Komuro Tetsuya) vs Love Cocchi (Tsunku).

Personal thoughts

Spoiler: show

- As someone that isn't interested in closely following the groups or the individual members, and that isn't super into any of the songs, the show is becoming stale.
- Someday Somewhere played with the camera more, which was nice, and seemed to have more energy.
- CCR's singing didn't change that much; even if they sounded like angels, the song is still boring as heck.