SeoulFire

It’s moving pretty slow at the job, all of the salesmen are getting drunk 

in Chicago somewhere so I won’t be hearing from them anytime soon, I’ve checked my unresponsive work e-mail 20 different times today, and the iPod is serving up a nice mixture of John Legend, Alex, and James Morrison. Oh yea……if that doesn’t get you in the mood for another issue of “Of the Asian Persuasion” I don’t know what will. So while you sit there and marvel at my astounding work ethic please enjoy this constantly random event: Of the Asian Persuasion #5. LET’S DO THIS!!!!

 (Note: If you haven’t noticed yet I have been including links to general plots of movies/dramas. Most of them courtesy of Dramawiki. I would write them myself but I would write 20,000 words about one title. You’re already nice enough to read my blog and I don’t want to put you through that.)

1) Delightful Girl Choon Hyang: In honor of the heavily anticipated (especially by myself) beginning of “Boys Over Flowers” (Starting December 1, just in case you didn’t already know) I have decided to list some of the most recent work by it’s appointed director, Jun Ki-Sang.  This is not his first drama but it definitely got him more attention than the dramas he directed previously. I consider this drama pure fun. It is a modernization of an an Korean legend but it’s so entertaining that you don’t have to know the original story to enjoy it. If you want romance, humor, and a little action then this is the one for you. This one is for pure entertainment value but it’s alright because the show never promised to be some deep study into human behavior or emotions. You wanna see people fall in love under ridiculous circumstances and far fetched coincidences then this would be a winner. I have to say I’m a bit of a fan of Jae Hee, the male lead in the show. The

 director and the creators of this show have used him many times in their shows. He’s the Steve Buscemi to their Adam Sandler. He always makes the most of a scene and this makes him more attractive no matter what role he plays.

 

 

 

 

 

2) My Girl: I am IN LOVE with both Lee Dong Wook (Lead actor) AND Lee

Da Hae (Lead actress). I’m more in love with Lee Dong Wook than anything but these too together make some good TV. The show itself had a hilarious script but these two enhanced it so much that I had to stop myself from finishing the show in one day!!! The plot is, of course, ridiculous but by some miracle it works. Almost the same way “While You Were Sleeping…” worked. For all intents and purposes ”While You Were Sleeping should be written off as one of the most ridiculous plots ever but because you loved the main characters so

 much you just didn’t care. It was no secret that the plot was used to bring the lovers together so you are more willing to let the writers off the hook. It’s no different with ”My Girl”. We can chalk it up to fictional destiny  and no one can say a word about it. The last two episodes had a lot of crying which became slightly depressing but at least no one died. I hate it when they kill someone at the end!! I’m kind of hoping they collaborate again but we’ll have to see. The main actors in “Delightful Girl, Choon Hyung” were not in the this series but they might have, just maybe, made a special appearance at the end of “My Girl”. Maybe. I don’t know. I guess you’ll have to find out yourself.

3) Witch Amusement: I have to say this is probably my favorite drama made by the same team that made the above mentioned dramas. I wish I was original and said I loved it for it’s deep meaning in this crazy world but…no. (Let me point out that this, too, is pure entertainment.) It turns out I am incredibly shallow and I just so happen to see myself in the main character so of course I automatically invest a lot in what her outcome will be. Misunderstandings are a way of life for me.  Most people who meet me have told me that walking up to me can be a daunting task considering the pensive look I hold on my face can come off rather mean. Although, I guess I don’t make it any better since ALL of my emotions show on my face. If I’m excited to see you, then you’ll know it. If I can’t stand you well…….. There are some unpleasant people who don’t really want to be unpleasant but they find its easier and safer to put up a guard with others. I am no exception.

I appreciated the fact that they made Yoo Hee “The Witch” difficult to love right away. It wasn’t like she was ”the witch” at the office and “the angel” at home. She was who she was the entire show. There was no need to change who she was in the beginning because she was never a bad person but just misunderstood. There were, of course, the changes that ”love” made when Jae Hee’s character brought on with his lovable character as the love interest. The other thing I loved was that while Jae Hee’s character made changes in Yoo Hee he wasn’t interested in changing her. He was only interested in making adjustments here and there such as how she approached people. She was always ready to strike someone first before they had a chance to hurt her in any way. I think more people do this in their lives more they even think they do.

There is more of a necessity to guard yourself now than there was when our parents were younger because people have gotten more creative in their hurting ways. We young ones would use Frienemies as an example of that.  

 

 

4) Boys Over Flowers: I feel as if I’ve said enough about this one and the

more I write about it the more excited I get about it. Trust me……no one should be more excited than what I

 am right now. So in an effort to save myself from bursting like a 12 year old at Hannah Montana concert I will simply make this announcement: I WILL BE POSTING LINKS/VIDEOS TO THE BOYS OVER FLOWERS EPISODES (ENGLISH SUBBED, OF COURSE) WHEN THEY START ON DECEMBER 1!!!! I am personally determined to keep up with this series as it airs. I probably won’t be able to find the subbed versions right away but as soon as I do they will be here. The best version I can find at the time it will be here. I am actually learning Korean right now but I am unfortunately not at the point where I can translate shows. As I get better I will start doing so so that you (and I) will not have to wait so long for others to translate. I probably won’t get that good during this series but as other series come along I hope to be able to do the subs myself. So please take this journey with me. Hopefully it’ll all be worth it. 

5) My Sweet Seoul: And lastly a series I just recently finished. (This was not directed by  Jun Ki-sang but it was good nonetheless.) Let me start off by saying that hearing another plot in which it involves “a group of middle aged, professional women and their journey through life” brings on a rather intense weakening of my upchuck reflex. That sounds dramatic but how many “Sex and the City” clones do we have to endure?! Luckily this is slightly different. Yes, you have 3 different women (Note: Understand that this happens to be a method done by writers to present at least one the characters that all women can identify with. It’s kind of like a multiple choice question where any of the answers could work for the question. I hated those!!) who happen to be middle aged, professionals, and, oh, so stylish. But placing them in the “Sex and the City” clone discard box would be a crime on your part.

As I get older and navigate my way through ”the dating pool” I am slowly but surely realizing that there are two types of men: the kind you date and the kind you marry. “My Sweet Seoul” makes a good point when it some to this among other things.

 In your lifetime you will more than likely meet a guy who is charming and fun to be with but this doesn’t always equate to a long lasting realtionship. Many times guys like that are just that: charming amd fun to be around. Or you may meet a guy who you find yourself attached to, but for all the wrong reasons. These men should be the synanomous with, “Oh, yeah, I dated him before.” Now, if you meet a guy who is respectful, doting, and all out dreamy (You know? A GROWN UP!!), well, that’s a guy you should marry. A lot of times men that you should date just happen to fill some void you’re feeling at the time. The only problem is that they may fill that void right now but they won’t satisfy all the other things you are looking for in a spouse. Once you realize that, you’ll suddenly see the light and dump him as soon as possible. If you know you are ready to be serious and not willing to date anymore then you need to be with someone who wants the same thing. I’m not saying that all men you should date are horrible. The men YOU should date may be the men that other women should marry!!

Of course there is always some reason I am drawn to a show and this

 time around it happened to be Lee Sun Gyun. He was actually in The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince  and I LOVED him in it!! Not more than Gong Yoo…..but a close second. He brings a certain level of comfort and security to his characters that jump off the screen. You can’t help but to believe what he says. It helped also that he was an actual grown up in ”My Sweet Seoul”. A grown up with a rather dark past but still….a grown up. Many people give this drama a hard time but I think it depends

 on where you are in life to really know how much you’ll appreciate it. Check it out and see. Even if the plot doesn’t get you the

wardrobe might keep you interested but maybe that was just MY motivation.

 

 

Less than 3 weeks until the premiere of “Boys Over Flowers” and the studio will probably tease us relentlessly as we count down the days. Bastards.

Ni hao everyone!! Just stopping by to mention some things that have no choice but to end in exclamation points.

• Makino, oh,…….Makino?! : They recently announced who would be playing the female lead, Makino, in the Korean “Boys Over Flowers” set to come out late this year. An actress named Goo Hye Sun and all I have to say to that is……WHO?!
  

  And the role of Makino goes to.....WHO?!

  Apparently she recently starred in a drama called “Strongest Chil Woo” and another drama “Pure 19″ which, obviously, I haven’t seen yet. I looked her up on DramaWiki and so far it looks like she has a pretty respectable resume so it may not be as bad as I’m thinking. I must say I was rather impressed with the fact that she had a cameo in “August Rush” which is one of my favorite movies. Now I have to go home and pull a “Where’s Waldo?” because as of this moment I don’t remember seeing her at all. “Hana Yori Dango” forum participants are freaking out a little because she’s older than the boys who will playing F4……which is depressing because she’s only two years older than me. Let’s face it though: Most Asian actresses don’t look their age until they hit ohhhhh……. 60!! And even then they only look like they’re in their late 40’s or at least they’re early 50’s. I was a bit nervous about this announcement because I have loved this character in every version and it’d be a shame if they ruined it in the Korean version of all versions.  So here it is ladies and gentleman, the lead actors in the Korean “Boys Over Flowers”:

Koo Hye Sun as Yeon Woo (Makino Tsukishi) (Shan Cai)

 

Lee Min Ho as Go Jun Pyo (Domyouji Tsukasa) (Dao Ming Si)

 

Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo (Rui Hanazawa) (Hua Ze Lei)

 

Kim Bum as So Yi Jung (Sojiroh Nishikado) (Xi Men)

                  

Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin (Akira Mimasaka) (Mei Zuo Ling)

They’re all a little TOO pretty don’t you think? I have to admit that I am hopelessly devoted to ”Meteor Garden” while the production is not nearly as good as the Japanese version was and what the Korean version will be it WAS, technically, the original. Plus I kinda have a semi-crush on Jerry Yan. Not only

 is he abnormally cute but he is an ambassador for World Vision Taiwan (he

sponsors a rather LARGE handful of children,) AND he pulled an Angelina Jolie by adopting a child!! Talk about bringing your work home with you!!! Although one thing that none of the “Hana Yori Dango” remakes can claim is that they have Jun Ki Sang directing it. Jun Ki Sang directed “Delightful Girl, Choon Hyang”, “My Girl”, and “Witch Amusement”-all awesome, all will be in the next issue of ”Of the the Asian Persuasion”. So far it looks like they have got all the necessary ingredients to make “Boys Over Flowers” a MAJOR HIT!!! But it hasn’t air yet and in the “biz” what seems like a sure fire thing could turn out to be a sure fire bomb.

• All that hype…..FOR THIS?!: Well, they finally announced who would be leaving “We Got Married” and turns out it was…….well, Andy and Solbi. That’s right. The mystery couple leaving…..is the
  

  Thanks!!......FOR NOTHING!!

  couple we already knew was leaving. All the other couples will be sticking around for a little while longer and they have added two other couples bringing the grand total up to five couples. Of course I’m ecstatic to know that Alex and Shinae are sticking around. This episode was especially special to any “Alshin” lovers.  I’m excited about the other couples sticking around but they all feel like their expiration dates are coming up fast. Crown J and In young are now the only couple that have been together since the very beginning and now that they are going on a year pretty soon here. While the show is fun I’m sure doing this every week can be tiring. Even I would be tired of it after a while. As you may have noticed Kim Hyun Joong is all set to start filming “Boys Over Flowers” so we’ll see how long he’ll be able to stick around. Between filming, publicity, and the pure mania this role has in store for him he may have to choose between the two shows. My gut is telling me that he won’t be choosing WGM over BOF anytime soon. Honestly, I wouldn’t either. Lastly, as much as I love to see Alex every week the fact of the matter is that he is still having back issues and I would rather he give up the show if it gets to be too much for him than to continue the show in pain. Then to top it all off one of Shinae good friends committed suicide this past week and I hear she’s taking it pretty hard. There, unfortunately, seems to be a string of suicides happening in the entertainment industry over there. Prayfully, the trend will cease and desist ASAP.

 

• Stephen Chow is the SHIZZZ!!!!: I recently found out that the oh-so-lovable Stephen Chow will
  

  The SHIZZZ!!!

  be directing and co-starring in The Green Hornet……coming out in

  

  The Green....WHO?!

  2010. Yes, I know it’s a long ways off but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth getting excited about. Double bonus: Seth Rogen will be starring in the film and the script was written by him and Evan Goldberg. You know? Evan Goldberg. The OTHER guy who wrote Superbad. Honestly, I could care less about The Green Hornet (I’m a Superman fan), there’s a good chance that this could go completely wrong, and I think the first few people that see this will have to be established fans of any or all of the people involved.  I’ve been trying not to be so pessimistic lately but, honestly, I don’t know one person who sat and thought to themselves, “Wouldn’t Stephen Chow and Ken Miller from “Freaks and Geeks” make a GREAT TEAM?!?” Of course I don’t think anyone was thinking of teaming Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan and that turned out pretty nicely for all parties involved.

****BIG SIGH**** Hello. How are you? Good? That’s great……….****BIGGER SIGH****What?……..Oh! How am I am? Well, I’m doin ok. I use the term ”ok” loosely. Why? Boy, you are asking a lot of questions today!! That’s ok. I don’t mind sharing. Where should l start? Well……

• As soon as I decide to share my precious Alex with you it turns out he has decided to take a small break from his busy schedule.
  

  Working hard for the money!

  Apparently it’s supposed to last until the end of this month so that he can rest up for his sold out (!) concert coming up at the end of this month. I understand though. He has some back issues and it’s pretty common for entertainers in the Korean industry to pack their schedules. Imagine our entertainment industry filled with Mario Lopez-es aka Saved by the Bell’s A.C. Slater.

  

  Mario Lopez.....Working TOO hard for the money!

  Yeah. They work a lot. Basically the higher profile you have, the less you have to stay in the public eye. He is still doing We Got Married but it worries me that he won’t be doing it much longer. I want him to be healthy because HE’S ALEX but I won’t be attending any of his concerts anytime soon so I have to rely on the nice people who posts his tv appearances on YouTube aka The Center of the (internet) Universe!!! Of course if he kept going it might cause some serious damage that there wouldn’t be any footage to post EVER. But still…….. AI-GOO!! (That’s a Korean exclamation. They use it a lot. And now that Korean dramas have become a way of life for me I’ve started saying it too. It’s rather handy if you ask me. Better than some of the exclamations we Americans like to use ;  0)

• What else? OH!! Solbi and Andy are leaving We Got Married!! Apparently this departure is due to scheduling conflicts. PFFFT!! (Blowing raspberry. Minimum spittage was present.) Yeah. Sure. “Scheduling conflicts”. This is on par with celebrities and their entering rehab due to “exhaustion”. I can almost guarantee that the reasons “scheduling conflicts” means everything but “scheduling conflicts”.
  

  Love you forever?.....Not so much.

  Let’s count the many different possibilities, shall we?:

1. “You’re annoying the crap out of me and I can’t tell you all of the ways I want to hurt you on national television without there being repercussions.”
2. “I’m gay”
3. “I think you’re gay.”
4. “I was using you to make my boyfriend/girlfriend/crush jealous. And it worked! So I’m done.”
5. “I was using you/the show to up my celebrity profile. And it worked! So I’m done.” 
6. “My friends keep making fun of me and I’m sick of it.”
7. “I was done once you made me dress up in those ridiculous costumes (See previous post) but the audience liked it so I stuck around a little longer.”
8. “You’re kinda hot and I thought I would get some. But now that I know that I’m not…….”
9. “I’m tired of competing with Alex!!! He’s too perfect!!” (Ok. Maybe that’s just me typing outloud. HA)
10. And finally: “It’s kinda hard dating when you have a fake wife/husband.”

In all seriousness, now that I know they are leaving I feel like a part of my pop culture addicted life has been shaken. It’s almost as if my mind put some equation together and it made my world slightly different-apparently, these couples are free to leave anytime they want……WHAT?! In a strange way that hurts a little. They introduced 3 new couples last week and they will be holding a segment soon where the couples will decide to stay on the show or not. Andy and Solbi are confirmed. No one is sure about the other couples. Any number of couples could leave and they already have a back up couple waiting on the sidelines. It’s a little scary. Especially considering 1) Alex is trying to slow down for his back issues, 2) He’s already been established as the romantic guy that everyone loves so is there a reason to stick around longer?, and 3) Shin Ae will always have a job because she’s pretty so will she push for them to stay if he says he’s considering leaving?

 

 

 

 

 

ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE ANSWERED IN TIME!!! AI-GOOOOO!!!!!

• Lastly, as I said in the last post, I am working overtime to bring you another issue of “Of the Asian Persuasion”. But here’s the problem-I worked TOO hard!! I’ve worked so hard that I can’t decide which titles to comment on. I’ve been watching all kinds of things for the past month. I don’t know a show/film without subtitles!!  Just to tell you now it will be all Korean dramas because, if you haven’t notice, I’m a little obsessed with them. What makes it worse is that I’ve got more dramas that I have yet to watch that are patiently waiting for me to obsess over them. You can thank my external hard drive for that.
  

  Sleek, dark, and secure...Why do we need men again? Oh right....they're human.

   

Thank God for external hard drives!!! I just have this handy device that protects everything that I love until I am ready to access it. I think I just described my perfect guy. Scary. 

 

 

 

On a rather insignificant positive note I have started watching another Korean reality show to take the place of We Got Married in case my favorite couples leave and it turns to crap. It’s called 2 Days and 1 Night.

 It’s pretty popular over there in Korea. Remember how I said foreign entertainment have a tendency to have titles that are ridiculously obvious? A cast takes 2 days and 1 night to visit a tourist location around Korea with little to no money. You can’t get more obvious than that. They basically use it as a PSA to up Korean tourism and the show is so huge I wouldn’t be surprised to know that tourism has goneup a bit. While seeing the same cast every week going to some place you’ve never heard of and will probably never visit seems, well, useless…….imagine the cast was the cast of Punk’d. Led by an overweight Ashton Kutcher. Wow. If that doesn’t sound funny to you then you have no soul whatsoever. I am literally in tears watching this show. I’ve had many moments where I had to pause the video just so I can finish laughing. I couldn’t see because my eyes had closed completely!!!

If you’re wondering why these shows have that certain je ne sais quai for more people than you think, well, I can only give you my opinion. I personally like the honesty in them that the people display in them. From my short experience with Korean entertainment I’ve learned that Koreans appreciate a certain pureness and honesty that we Americans have a tendency to bury. It’s refreshing. It’s the difference between an American contestant in a Miss USA competition and a Korean contestant in a Miss Korea competition: While they both may want “world peace” I guarantee that Miss USA will have more silicon and botox running through her body than Miss Korea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t misunderstand, I will always come running back to American entertainment because……..WE RULE!!!!! It’s nice to take a break from self involved young adults who have too much money and find ways to voice their opinion by using ”like” for every other word (“And, like, that just, like, HURTS!! You know? Like, A LOT!!”)

 

Just keep in mind that I am one of those young adults. The only difference is that I can control my “likes”. I know when and how to say no. Just say NO, Lauren Conrad!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Before I go I just want to point out- GREY’S ANATOMY STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, breathe in, breathe out……..I’m ok. At least until next Thursday. For two hours I can’t make any promises on my ability to control myself.

Previous Post Update: I FINISHED FULL HOUSE!!!! It was REALLY good. I can see why so many people loved it. The main actor is Bi (Rain). He’s huge. I mean, H-U-G-E. Not as in his size (trust me, no one could have a problem with his size. It’s hard to have a problem with size perfect. Haha. Yeah that was pretty bad. Sorry. But he is pretty hot.) but the sheer popularity of this guy is ridiculous. He’s basically the Korean Justin Timberlake. He was actually one of the performers at the closing ceremony for the Olympics this year and it was kind of a big deal. He’s trying to bring his popularity over here but not much luck yet. I guess time will tell. Although if everyone saw how truly adorable he was on this show he wouldn’t be having nearly as hard of a time. I love that he was able to be adorable while playing a spoiled actor with a bad temper. That’s gotta be hard. Major snaps for Bi!!! Although if he takes another supporting role in movies like Speed Racer again…….well we can only help him so much.

Unfortunately, it is not time for another issue of “Of the Asian Persuasion” (although it’s coming soon) but instead I thought I’d do an honorable mention. I have been watching this show religiously for the past few weeks and I just had to say something about it. There is this show called “We Got Married” and it’s what they call a variety show. Basically they pair up slightly famous people, get them “married”, then once a week each couple lives in their respective homes as a “married” couple as cameras watch them, and then at the end of the week all of the couples come to the studio and watch the edited footage together. Yeah. It’s pretty ridiculous but great all at the same time. Each couple is supposed to represent different types of couples in Korea.

Every week these couples get a new mission that they have to complete. It will all end with each couple having to decide if they would like to stay together or get a divorce. There are actually 5 hosts of the show that make little funny comments about the videos from the week. Three of the hosts do most of the talking then the other two hosts are two married men: one has been married for a long time and the other has been married a short period of time. They basically tape the couples Real World style except the cast is smaller, there’s not nearly as much alcohol present, and the people are funny in a ”hey-I-can-relate-to-that!!” way other than a “that’s-so-sad-and-pathetic-that-I can’t-help-but-laugh-because-you-make-me-feel-better-about-myself” way. So technically this is a Reality/Variety show. Which is a weird combination. It’s like taking “The Newlywed Game” contestants and taping a “day in the life of…..” of each contestant. That WOULD be fun though.

Crown J & Seo In Young aka The Fiery Couple: This is actually my favorite couple.

 She complains, he plugs every project he’s involved in, she calls her shoes her “babies”, he freaks out if his clothes get wrinkled or his his shoes get scuffed, she whines, they find things to argue about, she’s a brat, and he does everything she tells him to do. Now I know they sound like the most annoying couple EVER and they are. But somehow together they make it work. If you watch the show from the beginning you’ll see them go from two selfish people to two people who are still selfish but display a shared give and take in the “relationship”. You have to remember that they are still entertainers and they want to keep a job so they make sure to live up to their couple type. I’m especially reminded when he does his trademark “A”!! He does it constantly!!! And she joins in!!!  They probably play it up a little but who cares??!!!! Underneath it all they seem like they genuinely like each. Do they like each other enough to keep the “marriage” going after the show? I doubt it. But you never know. If the US decided to do an American version of this show they would probably be someone like New York (Flavor of Love, I Love New York) and maybe one of her bachelor rejects from ONE of her shows. Except Crown J is not nearly as pathetic as most of them.

Alex & Sinae aka The Romantic Couple: You know the saying “Keeping up with the Joneses”? If they were a real couple, they would be the Joneses. She’s soft spoken and gorgeous while he’s sensitive and dreamy. God forbid they actually had children!! We would all be blinded by their beauty. It’s really unfair that the show has to tease us with this couple actually : ) In many ways they’re like Lois and Clark. She is always causing some kind of mischief and he always comes up some uber-romantic gesture that is almost always genius.

I have a hard time believing the heights he goes to impress her and even she has said that everything he does makes everything she does seem inadequate. Which sounds bad in a way but he only wants her to feel comfortable with him by being herself all the time and the more she opens up the happier he is. How much does it suck to have to watch that every week?! I guarantee anyone who watches this show with their spouse has turned to them at least once and screamed, “Why can’t you do that?! Alex did it and he’s not even in a real relationship!!!” I love this couple but they lose cool points with me because I find myself getting a little jealous when I watch them. Which I know is ridiculous but can you blame me?! Alex SINGS to her for heaven’s sake. And he’s REALLY good. REALLY GOOD. I guess he has to though since it’s his job. While it’s hard to watch them together I would pick Alex over any of the grooms on any day. He should get his own “The Bachelor” type show if it doesn’t work out with this one. Women would be falling over themselves to get to him. Me included. Even though he’s kinda short and, unfortunately for me, size does matter…..as in height ; ) I guess an American version would cast the girl that won Joe Millionaire (Zora?) and a slightly known actor who has a reputation for being pretty nice (The guy from the short lived show “Good Morning, Miami”? Mark Feuerstein? He always seemed nice : )  

*****SPECIAL REPORT******:Alex just came out with his solo album, MY VINTAGE ROMANCE (Great title). Please buy this CD. You won’t get it at your local

 Wal-Mart but I guarantee you’ll get it on the internet. And don’t worry it’s totally worth it. He has stated that he would like to be known as Alex the artist and not so much Alex the romantic guy…….DON’T THEY ALL?!  And really it must be so hard to be known as the romantic guy with a voice like butta (That’s right BUTTA, not butter. Butta is better than butter. Take note.) So let’s help him be that artist by making his album sell like hotcakes!! Ok. Maybe not like hotcakes here in America (Although it would be nice.) I hope they are buying it up overseas though. I’m pretty sure he would do it for us. In fact I’m positive he would buy our albums if we put it out. Why? Because he’s ALEX!!!

 

 

Lee Hwi Jae &  Jo Yeo Jeong aka no longer a couple: She left. He hosts. Moving on.

Solbi & Andy aka The Cute Couple: This is mostly the couple you see once in a while who have known each other for so many years that it only made sense for them to get married because no one will know them like they know each other.

 They’ll have little nicknames for each other, too many inside jokes, call each other their best friend, turn snuggling into a science, and have arguments that never amount to anything because they always end with laughter.  I like to call them ”The Gap Couple”. Whatever she is lacking he fills and vice versa. There are many times they try a little too hard to live up to their couple name but the only reason it is obvious they are is because they don’t realize they don’t have to try to be cute together, they just are. Most of the audience roots for them but I don’t see it going past the show. They could date for a while but I don’t see any kind of marriage happening. There was a really cute episode where they gave each other couple rings on the exact same day. It’s usually the guy who gives the couple rings but she lost hers and wanted to make up for it. The reactions they had when they realized they both had couple rings on the same day was classic. Just watch it if you get a chance. Very funny!!! For some reason I can’t think of an American equivalent for this couple. I think this would be the most difficult couple to find actually. Andy and Solbi had known each other before the show and they do have a natural comradery that the show doesn’t have to edit. That’s kinda hard to find in the entertainment industry considering a lot of people plaster their smiles on their faces to hide who they like and dislike. That would be the most interesting choice though. Maybe Dawn and Que from ”Making the Band”? Of course that probably won’t last all that much longer, I mean, let’s face it. They are cute but reality show couples don’t really have a long shelf life.   

Hwangbo & Kim Hyung Joong aka Age Difference Couple: I find myself slightly pulling for this couple. She’s 28; he’s 22. Yeah it’s interesting from time to time. There’s this constant awkwardness between that will

 more than likely NEVER go away. There are moments where they are more comfortable with each other but it never lasts. It seems this has become a trend in Korea but I don’t think the country has fully embraced it yet. The only thing that makes it work is that they are both likable people.  He’s really good at making jokes at those awkward moments and she tries everything to include him in everything that is going on. It’s not enough that they’ll stay together at the end but it’s fun to watch them now.

 

 

Ok. That’s all I’ve got for this post. PLEASE WATCH THIS SHOW!!!! It’s on YouTube. English subs and all. So you have no excuse. And you have to watch this week……the show is giving the couples CHILDREN!!  Why is it on YouTube? Don’t you know? (Insert blog title here) ZAI JIAN!!!!!!