Japanese TV films bull stunt at Yuba ranch

They've seen and heard all sorts of things out at the Rosser family's Flying U Rodeo property over the years.

But until Tuesday, a pudgy Japanese television star being terrorized by a Mexican fighting bull had not been one of them.

Showman Cotton Rosser and several rodeo employees looked on curiously as Chan Kawai and a three-person film crew from Tokyo taped an episode of "Sekai no Hate Made ItteQ!" or, "Quiz to the Ends of the Earth!" one of the island nation's notoriously wacky family variety shows.

The spectacle at the Yuba County ranch featured Kawai and three of Rosser's performers — part of his Hand-to-Horn Combat Extreme Bullfighting team — riding a four-seat teeter-totter while an angry bull attacked them and tried to knock them off.

Douglas Brown, 27, a US Marine who works with the rodeo between deployments, had a "let me get this straight ..." tone in his voice as he reviewed the scenario before joining Kawai on the Toro-Totter.

"If he gets knocked down, he's gonna get pummeled," Brown said, looking over the doughy and bespectacled TV star.

The ride/torture device in the center of the corral had been featured in the movie, "Jackass II," and was apparently much sought-after by the television show's producers.

While an on-deck bull kicked around nearby, Kawai's Japanese-English interpreter from New York, Jonathan Hinton, delivered pretaping instructions.

"I don't mean to be rude," Rosser crew member Jeff Shearer interjected. "But it's really self-explanatory. He'll know when it's time to leave."

Three takes in, the Flying U bullfighters were pretty beat up, and a profusely sweating Kawai was babbling and shrieking comically about the horrifying events.

Kawai thanked the men for saving him multiple times from danger, and for taking the brunt of the bull's ire. He bowed to Brown and his teammates, and they returned the gesture.

The segment airs Nov. 25 on Nippon television in Japan.

CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4781. Find her on Facebook at /ADnpasternack or on Twitter at @ADnpasternack.