Owarai (お笑い, owarai) is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning 'a laugh' or 'a smile'. Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows (バラエティ番組, baraeti bangumi) and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin (お笑い芸人) or owarai tarento (お笑いタレント). Presently Japan is considered to be in an 'owarai boom', and many minor talents have been finding sudden fame after a gag (ギャグ, gyagu) or skit became popular.