Is 'The Contestant' the most bizarre documentary of the year?

Documentary of the Week | May 3, 2024

'The Contestant' explores the early days of reality TV in Japan when a man named Nasubi lived naked in isolation living off prizes from magazine sweepstakes for over a year while 30 million viewers tuned in to watch. Filmmaker Clair Titley interviews all the main players in the story and explores what happened to Nasubi after he became famous.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

WNYC Homepage - Top Stories

Ask Mayor Mamdani: Childcare, Pedestrian Safety & Trans Healthcare

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor, takes questions from listeners and talks about the big news in the city.

The Brian Lehrer Show |

I.C.E.'s "Wartime Recruitment" Campaign

Hiring at the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency.

On the Media |

Who is ICE detaining at NJ's Delaney Hall? Not as many criminals as DHS suggests.

More than 10,000 people have been detained at the facility. Most have no criminal background.

Gothamist |

Shakespeare in the Park Tackles "Romeo and Juliet"

All Of It with Alison Stewart |