Lore In Stone Cities

Ratings: Episode 139

1. SBS Running Man 18.4

2. KBS 1 Night 2 Days 13.4

3. MBC Dad! Where Are We Going? 12.9

Next Episode on Running Man…

The upcoming episode of Running Man is guest free- which in my opinion has made for some of the funniest episodes. Not that I hate guests, because I don’t. I would watch Choi Min Soo go grasshopper hunt any day. But I have to admit that when the cast is sans guests they often engage in some of the wackiest and entertaining missions featured in RM history. The next episode’s premise will not disappoint in the wacky department, it features the cast bringing laughter back after some kind of zombie like virus takes all the funny away. I cannot wait. Check out the preview below. Cheers!

Upcoming Guests

The two episodes after our guestless jaunt are promising an entertaining lineup. Episode 141 is going to feature Lee Bo Young and Lee Sang Yoon. The pair recently acted as a couple on the family drama My Daughter Seo-young. The cast and guests were spotted filming in Garousugil and in my opinion are well worth watching, after all they rarely make variety show appearances. A quick fun fact- Lee Sang Yoon played a supporting role in the film Sex is Zero 2 which starred Song Ji Hyo.

Episode 142 also looks promising with a guest lineup of SNSD’s Jessica and Eun Ji Won (formerly of kpop first gen group Sechs Kies). Jessica has been a guest before, appearing way back in episodes 4 and 5 as well as episodes 63 and 64. Ji Won is marking his first time on the show which is not really surprising- last year he ended a five year stint starring on Running Man’s rival program 1 Night 2 Days.

Yoo Jae Suk and People

Vague enough headline? Thank you, I try. To be more specific people refers to Park Soo Hong and Park Myung Soo. Two headlines have appeared in the last week describing their interactions with the nation’s MC. So, yeah, Yoo Jae Suk and people.

It is no secret that Yoo Jae Suk spent many years struggling as a comedian. While working as a comedian he saw his peers’ rise up to become famous standup artists all while he worked hard with little results. Park Soo Hong was one such comedian that came to overshadow Yoo Jae Suk. On a recent episode of YJS’s Happy Together Soo Hong revealed:

“The person who falls behind smiles at the end. Out of all my colleagues, Yoo Jae Suk was the last one to do well. During his rookie days, he couldn’t even drink well, but he would drink every day and call me.”

YJS responded by admitting that he called Soo Hong a lot and that he received much support from him. And all is well- grasshopper is now at the top of his game.

Now on to Park Myung Soo. For those who do not follow YJS Saturday variety Infinite Challenge, Myung Soo is a cohost on the show and is well known for his pessimistically grumpy straight man attitude. Myung Soo also co-hosts the program Magic Concert and on a recent episode of the show he was asked what he wants to better understand. He answered Yoo Jae Suk. Quote:

“When we film together and Yoo Jae Suk doesn’t say anything or looks a little bit annoyed, I always think, ‘what did I do this time?’ I want to know what he thinks about.”

I think a heart to heart is in order.

Future World Super Stars?

Speaking of Infinite Challenge, three of the cast members of the show (two of which also appear in Running Man: Haha and Yoo Jae Suk) will be featured in Psy’s comeback music video. As some astute observers / fans remember Yoo Jae Suk was featured in the video for Gangnam Style having a dance off with Psy and Haha and YJS were part of Psy’s New Years Eve performance on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve.  The song is titled “Gentleman”. The video will be released in late April. Here is hoping it takes the world by storm (though realistically I cannot imagine that will be the outcome, I mean, two hit worldwide songs? If he pulls this off he is bigger than the freaking Beatles). But hey, if it does happen maybe we will be seeing a lot more of YJS and HaHa on the international performance stage. A fan can hope.

Cute seven year olds are more popular than Running Man?

I have no idea what that says. But I do know, thanks to awesome translations, that Running Man placed 4^th on a recent Gallup poll of people’s favorite television shows (the poll was conducted with 1218 people nationwide and was not exclusive the variety genre). While #1 would have been amazing for any fan, #4 is not too shabby, not too shabby at all. The translated list (top 10):

1. Infinity Challenge 11.7%
2. Dad! Where are you going? 7.3%
3. Yawang 7%
4. Running Man 6.9%
5. Horse Doctor 6.1%
6. Find Strength! Mr. Kim 5.3%
7. 1 Night 2 Days 4.5%
8. Gag Concert 3.7%
9. Oh Ja Ryong is Coming 3.5%
10. Incarnation of Money 3.4%

The one thing that the poll pointed out to me in blaring apparentness was the recent popularity of MBC’s Dad Where Are We Going? The show has created a cute-kid-craze in Korea and continues to increase in popularity among international fans. I hate to say this but if those adorable kids overtake Running Man ratings I am going to…um…boycott cute kids forever. Take that!

I wonder if Gary will tune in…

Mark your calendars Miss Mong’s new sageuk Mandate of Heaven is premiering on April 24^th. The drama stars Lee Dong Wook as a royal physician forced to go on the run with an ailing daughter. Ji Hyo plays his nurse who is in love with him. The trailer is suspenseful and well paced enough to make this show appear at the top of my to-watch list. Plus I have not been disappointed by Ji Hyo meets sageuk in the past (and boy does she gravitate to these roles). Can’t wait. Check out the preview below for a look at the drama:

A message from Lore in Stone Cities-

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Running Man headlines; I appreciate your readership and support. I want to let you know that Running Man headlines will be taking a two week hiatus- this blogger is heading over to Taiwan and will be sans blog for the next week and a half. Wish me luck on my adventure (and I am pretty sure an adventure it will be, if it involves my older brother it usually is interesting). In my absence remember- run don’t walk. Cheers! And fill me in when I get back 🙂