Does Running Man a Number One Sunday Variety Show in South Korea?

October 16, 2011 by reglest 31 Comments

My answer: Meh…

This is my first time to post something outside ‘fun’ in this beloved blog. You know, I love peace, really, but somehow these facts keep bugging me so I decide to write some of it off.

Particularly, this post was triggered by some groundless article in soompi, -soompi, my dear soompi who usually goes non biased and become my trustful source- that made statement as below:

1. Running Man is back on the top
2. Now, “Running Man” is the number one variety show on Sundays

Full article

Okay, so for THESE groundless statement, I declare that those two statement is wrong!

First, in term of rating, Running Man NEVER going on the top before! So there is no need to give emphasis for BACK, even more ON THE TOP, since it, until I wrote this post, never happened.

Second, and this is what this post talk along the page, to said Running Man is the number one show in sunday is obviously premature. The statement for sure is groundless, Nothing can prove that RM is number one show, not even rating nor critics said so, it just the author of the article. For example, when the author said RM is number one, should I tell you that RM achieve 13% point etc while, the ‘previous number ONE variety show’ 1 night 2 Days just get 25% point blah blah? Double checking, I’m obviously sure that there is percentage behind the number, so does getting half percentage of 1N2D viewers make you number one variety Show?

In term of quality? Don’t joke! 1 Night 2 Days might be not as popular as Running Man internationally, but this show, along as the member and some staff’s name is a household knowledge in South Korea. This is the show that not only survive for years, or just leading the rating, this show exploring people kindness, airing the non aired and for sure, a leader in originality and creativity.

Originality? Now this is the point of the real talk began.

What irritating me, since I’m not following Running man regularly, is each time I turn the episode of Running Man I found some ‘similarity’ of RM to 1 Night 2 Days. Thanks to dramabeans recap, now along the keep reformatting program, I think the show keep getting closer and closer to resembling, not to say copying 1 Night 2 Days.

So what is the ‘similarity’?

1. The games

   You don’t need to be a genius to found that many of the games played is refer to 1N2D games. Those below is just a few that I’ve ever noticed in the Running Man episode

   1. when Seung Ri was the guest: Group Jump Rope, anyone remembered? Yeah, that’s old old time games in 1N2D
   

   Running Man, 2010

   

   Group jump rope in 1 Night 2 Days: aired in 2008

   1. The elephant spin, again, very old games in 1N2D
   

   Running Man’s elephant spin in 2011

   

   Jiwon vs Ho Dong’s elephant spin, 2007

   1. You said those are common game and everybody could stumble upon the same idea? Ok, because this game is not mere nor common in sociality: Singing Karaoke to achieve specific score. 1N2D airing date? 2011, April, 17th Running Man airing date? 2011, October the 2nd …way to go Cho PD-nim, way to go.
2. The RECORDING

   We know the show somehow growing popular, but is it a necessary to extend the recording from 1 NIGHT (which had been going for one year) into 2 DAYS? It’s not even special episode. It just remind me of some other Korean Variety Show who had been lead Sunday in these three years….

3. The mean PD

   The PD start torturing the members, let –make- them skipping their meal, recurring appearance in front of camera. Are you in the same land with me? Because I can’t imagine someone else except PD Na fit that description.

   

   I know you are hungry

   

   But this boy had been tortured by hunger since 2007..

Butthurt, yes, I am. I know this post is super biased due to my likability and addiction to 1 Night 2 Days, but still, I can’t accept ‘copy cat’ action done by Running Man PD. Not I’m saying 1 Night 2 Days PD have patent for the games or what, but seriously Running Man PD, where is your pride? The resemblance will keep bugging you til the end.

Well, I think I can try tolerating this, just don’t make it happen anymore, kay? Raise your creativity, and that will make you the ‘real number one’. Dear Running Man PD, I’m seriously warning you, especially for your growing similarity or persona or characterization of Na PD, stop it, and never ever ever get a hold of his ‘TTENG’ nor his other creation! Because when you do, you are a laughing stock in your own. And in Na PD’s term, I mean: SHILPAE!

”

-edit-April 2012:

Apparently, fans of Running Man who visit my blog doesn’t understand what I mean, they think I HATE RUNNING MAN, while I’m not! I just sad that Running Man becomes a copycat show while it has many potential to dug up. I’m carefully told them to not using KSN link, because of subbing ownership, but they are arguing just because I make this post. Well, it’s up to them then