2011 adaptation of shōjo manga with former AKB48 idol Atsuko Maeda

United Television Broadcasting Systems (UTB), a Japanese-language television station in Southern California, is airing the 2011 Hana Zakari no Kimi-tachi e ~Ikemen Paradise live-action series. The series stars Atsuko Maeda (when she was still part of the idol group AKB48) as Mizuki, a girl who disguises herself to attend the same all-boys school as her idol.

The series aired on Japan's Fuji TV network in July 2011. AKB48 performed the theme song "Flying Get" and won the top honor in the 53rd Japan Record Awards. The song was Japan's top-selling CD of the year in 2011.

The manga has sold over 17 million copies in Japan, and Viz Media finished publishing the 23 manga volumes in North America in 2008. The manga already inspired a live-action Taiwanese series in 2006, a live-action Japanese series in 2007, and a Korean live-action series called To the Beautiful You last year. The Dramafever and Viki websites are streaming the Korean adaptation.

UTB premiered Hana Zakari no Kimi-tachi e ~Ikemen Paradise on October 1, and the series is airing every Monday at 12:00 a.m. EDT. Other dramas airing on the station include Still, Life Goes On , Partners , and Kiyomori .

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip