Who's the Lead Actor, Again?

Uta no Onii-san could have been titled The New Ohno Satoshi Vehicle.  It's an adorable show (I watched all eight episodes in two days), but wow do they want you to know that Ohno Satoshi is the star.  If you think an episode goes by without a reference to Arashi or the name Ohno, then you weren't paying attention.

"Why do we have to smile all the time?  It's not like we're idols or anything?"
"Hey, you look a lot like that guy...Ohno-san?"
And Sakurai Sho even cameos to promote his Yatterman.  (Sho seems to be making a hobby of guest-starring in friends' dramas.  Luckily he's got his own coming up and won't stay "the guest-spot guy" forever.)

Aside from Uta making the same joke every episode, the show has a lot of high points.  There are fights in animal costumes, kids mauling Ohno, and a supercool female lead.  Ohno's pretty good at playing the mildly grumpy Kenta, and we get to see a lot of classic "Ohno faces." 

 There's also Ohno getting kicked off a slide by some precocious Kindergarteners...

Two spastic running montages...

...and this guy.

This is just the first episode, people.  It's definitely a fun watch.