SMAP became known as the first idol group that could rival professional comedians in the quality of the comedy skits they did.

Professional comedians were taken aback by Kimura’s Furuhata parody it came as a shock that such a good-looking idol could perform a comedic skit of such quality. This caught the attention of experienced industry people, who were beginning to take notice of this “idol group that does everything.' SMAP stunned everyone with their exceptional sense for comedy. In 1996, SMAP became the first idol group in the history of Japan to independently host their own variety show, a popular program known as “SMAPxSMAP.' The format of the show was refreshing and new, and it showcased how diverse and multi-talented the SMAP members were, from being pitted against each other in cooking battles in the renowned “Bistro SMAP” corner to entertaining audiences with hilarious original skits and parodies of the latest trends, and performing in musical collaborations with top artists and musicians in the entertainment industry. Perhaps the only highlight during those dark years, was the opportunity SMAP were given to perform for the first time on the stage of the prestigious NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. The grandstand was completely empty and the arena was only half full. Their first concert in a major venue was a shocking experience for the members - the entire stadium where they performed was nearly empty. Their press conference was equally horrible with the reporters giving them the cold shoulder and they were not asked a single question during the conference. The sound systems and microphones were also damaged. It seemed like everything was against SMAP, even the weather their debut event was a near disaster when a typhoon struck and drenched everyone at the outdoor event in torrents of rain. Even as SMAP was celebrating their debut, the idol industry was falling apart, and they were heading straight into an era that would be known as “The Idol Ice Age (Aidoru Hyougaki).' This period saw the decline in mainstream music programs which were the usual platforms that previous idols had relied on to promote themselves and gain a foothold in the entertainment industry.

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