Will Asian groups win protest? Bet now

Protesters are demanding Banzai be dropped from American TV schedules for promoting stereotypes of Japanese people.

The US version of the Channel 4 comedy betting game made its debut on the Fox network on Sunday, prompting outrage from the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans.

They have called on supporters to bombard local affiliate stations which broadcast the show with letters demanding it be taken off air.

And around 20 members of the group staged a protest when the Fox network launched the show to TV critics in Hollywood.

Group co-founder Guy Aoki said: "It's just all the backward images of Asian-American people. This is like an Asian minstrel show. Can you imagine the black version of Banzai?"

Fox say the show is tongue-in-cheek "and should not be viewed as anything but".

Published: 18 Jul 2003