Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, the SMAP member whose drunken, naked midnight lark in a Roppongi park several years ago gave him an extra layer of notoriety, seems more than willing to suffer for his art, whatever that is, on the three-hour TV Asahi special "Neo Variety Matsuri: Kusanagi Tsuyoshi no Tame ni Naru" ("Neo Variety Festival: For the Benefit of Tsuyoshi Kusanagi"; Tues., 7 p.m.).
Viewers are advised to take the term "variety" here with a grain of salt, since the entire special chronicles the outcome of Kusanagi's pledge to subsist on nothing but grass for four days prior to a big SMAP concert. The "kusa" in the singer's name means "grass," and, in fact, he will be given this challenge by veteran announcer Futoshi Kusano, who also has "grass" in his name.
Who says variety shows are running out of fresh ideas?