The once very popular variety show 1 Night 2 Days, or 1n2d, premiered in 2007 with a line up consisting of host Kang Ho Dong, comedian Lee Soo Geun, singer Kim Jong Min, former idol Eun Ji Won, entertainer Noh Hong Chul and actor Ji Sang Ryul. The cast lineup changed throughout the very first season (which lasted all the way to the beginning of 2012) and the most notable being the swapping of the last two mentioned for singer and actor Lee Seung Gi and hip hop artist MC Mong, as well as the early addition of singer Kim C.
The format of the show is reality-variety based, and takes place during the course of two days and one night in which the cast travels in Korea and are given missions and tasks to perform. It can sound quite basic, but with a great PD in Na Young Seok and a cast with amazing chemistry, it worked phenomenally well and viewer ratings had an average high of 27,8% over the first three years.
It has previously been difficult to watch some of the earliest episodes of the show, but not anymore as KBS World (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) has started to upload them with english subtitles! Up until now I've really only seen short clips from season 1 of the show, so I'm very excited to watch it all the way from the beginning!
In early 2012, however, a brand new cast was introduced as the show was moving on to season 2. This introduced us to actor Uhm Tae Woong, actor Cha Tae Hyun, singer Sung Si Kyung, actor Joo Won and actor Kim Seung Woo (who was later replaced with actor Yoo Hae Jin) as well as returning members Kim Jong Min and Lee Soo Geun. A new PD also took over the directing of the show, named Choi Jae Hyung (later Lee Sae Hee) and it was a drastic change from the previous season.
It has been known that sequels of popular shows never lived up to the success of its precursor, and the same thing happened even here. It just was not the same, not as funny or as engaging. The thing that made season 1 so brilliant was the excellent cast that became almost like a family as well as the staff and PD, they all worked so well together, and the missions were funny and original. The lack of chemistry was blatant in season 2, and the PD's started focusing on the bigger and grander scale of missions and locations rather than creating an intimate, friendly environment for the members to bond in. Therefore it was not suprising that the ratings fell all the way to the bottom om the list, and the season only lasted for 2 years.
Now, there has been another member and PD change in hope of bringing the show back to its former glory, and so far I can say I'm enjoying it. Kim Jong Min and Cha Tae Hyun remained from the previous cast (with the former now having been in all three seasons) and singer Jung Joon Young, comedian and artist Defconn, actor Kim Ju Hyuk and award-winning comedian Kim Jun Ho was added instead. This also introduced us to new PD Yoo Ho Jin, who was around as a junior PD during the old days.
The first three episodes have been released with english subtitles on KBS World's youtube channel, and I will have to say I'm impressed so far.
The first episode was a bit awkward, which is only natural and understandable because the cast is basically completely new and most of these people don't know each other too well. The most notable example being Jung Joon Young and Kim Ju Hyuk ending up as a team and not knowing how to interact at all. The second episode was a continuation of the first and tested the new team's teamwork in challanges related to digging a hole in the ground. It also showed them spending the first night together, with Kim Ju Hyuk feeling very displeased about having to sleep outside.
I really like all the new members, with already established Jong Min and Tae Hyun pulling a lot of the load because of their experience on the show, but Defconn also taking charge in driving the new format. Defconn is a very funny guy in general, maknae Joon Young is just so random and oldest member Ju Hyuk providing some of the best punchlines so far. The only one yet to find their footing is Jun Ho, but I'm sure he'll get into it more and more as time goes by.
The third episode has been the best so far, and it had me in stitches for almost the entire episode. The mission was just ridiculous as well. It was that in teams of three they were supposed drive through half of Korea to collect camping equipment and return before sunset in order to not lose all they've collected. The members were standing in shock, especially because one of the teams had to drive a really old and slow pickup. I also loved how no one wanted to be on Jong Min's team, and how they asked him to appeal to them insted of otherwise, even though he was the one picking his teammates.
The most hilarious part of the episode has to be when Defconn is asked to shave off his beloved facial hair in order to for his team to switch cars from the pickup to a new one. I almost cried because it was so funny, and my family members kept looking me strangely while I tried my best to control my laughter.
Yes, the airtime was quite uneven for the two teams, but the Tae Hyun-Joon Young-Defconn team was just much more entertaining so it's understandable.
I can say that so far, I'm enjoying this new season and I hope it can manage to increase the ratings because it's sad to see a once so successful variety show fall so quickly out of the radar. With these new, promising members and PD I feel like it could be really great. It does take a while to establish everyone's characters, but if it's already this funny after such a short time it shows that there is indeed hope. I know I will keep on watching at least. Will you?
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