According to the following article, actress and brainiac (and I say that with affection) Kim Tae Hee has toppled sultry star Kim Hye Soo as Korea’s foremost “alpha girl.”

This comes as a result of a poll conducted by cable channel On Style — I think these surveys are mostly crap, but they generate some “news” on an otherwise slow news day so… (Yes, I realize the irony of pointing out a problem, then perpetuating it… heh. And let’s not even get into how they’re praising the women using a term that conveys sly disparaging undertones in its very word choice…)

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Sweet Sorrow - “당당한 그녀가 아름답다” (That confident woman is beautiful), from the soundtrack of Seducing Mr. Perfect. I was looking for an appropriate song to post — something about a successful woman, or an intelligent one — and can you believe, there were (predictably) tonnnns of songs about beautiful girls, and nary one about a smart one? So this is the best I could do. “Confident” isn’t a perfect translation, but I suppose it’s close enough. (It means someone who’s open, dignified, unashamed.)
[ zShare download ]

 
But the pictures! So pretty! >>

Filed under: Actors, Stars by javabeans - 24 Comments →

(The lovebirds of Bad Couple and Bad Family)

 
I find the following article (indented stuff in dark blue font is the translated article; the rest are my comments) particularly interesting because I’ve thought this topic over a lot in the past, and pretty much completely disagree — not with the article’s logic, but the conclusion. The piece draws upon comparisons between kdramas and their American drama counterparts, which have multiple-season structures that differ from the kdrama format (of single-season, finite series). I have long believed — strongly, at that — that in this respect, the kdrama format far outstrips the U.S. model.

But I’ll get more into that after the article. First, here’s what it’s got to say:

“Demanding More Seasons of Television Dramas”

When popular dramas end, you’ll find these sorts of comments on the audience message boards: “Produce a season 2!” That was the case not long ago with MBC’s Coffee Prince Store #1, as well as Time of Dog and Wolf.

 
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

The Hi-Lights - “Mister Tambourine” [ zShare download ]

 
Full article and comments >>

Filed under: Directors/Producers/Writers, Hello Franceska, Auction House, Goong, Coffee Prince, Bad Family, Bad Couple, K-Drama by javabeans - 34 Comments →

(Emcee and actress Hyun Young with Canadian panel participant Julien Kang)

 
With the success of the talk/variety show Chatting with Beautiful Women, which I briefly mentioned here, producers were quick to jump on the money train and slap together a male counterpart for a Chuseok special program called (what else?) Chatting with Beautiful Men. But it seems they just produced a show that has attracted more criticism than praise…

 
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Verbal Jint - “Make-up Sex” (Feat. Kjun) [ zShare download ]

 

So what’s the big deal? >>

Filed under: Sitcoms/Variety Shows, Korean culture by javabeans - 21 Comments →

“The Surprising Reason Behind Drama Title Changes”

The upcoming, vastly expensive SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama Lobbyist, starring Song Il Guk [Jumong] and Jang Jin Young, has confused many viewers — because until recently, it was widely referred to as Angel.

After deliberating over the two titles, deciding between the potentially overly feminine “Angel” and the overly masculine “Lobbyist,” the production company eventually chose to go with “Lobbyist.” However, not knowing this, many viewers came to use both titles.

Thus working titles are employed before dramas are introduced to the viewing public. Although many times the working titles do become the broadcast titles, there are also many instances when that is not the case. Some strange circumstances may intervene to require a first title to be discarded.

 
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Humming Urban Stereo - “샐러드 기념일” (Salad days/memories) [ zShare download ]

Article continued >>

Filed under: Lobbyist, Directors/Producers/Writers, Hello! Miss, K-Drama by javabeans - 5 Comments →

 
I love Kang Ji Hwan. Not merely because he’s both adorable and sexy-hot (not necessarily a combination easy to come across), but because he’s the type of actor who stands out no matter what he’s doing — whether it’s period romance (Capital Scandal), fluff romantic comedy (Exhibition of Fireworks), or tragic tearjerker melodrama (90 Days’ Time to Love).

It’s not just his charisma or acting talent, but some unnameable combination of both.

And so, I will find any excuse to post hot pictures of him, using the flimsiest of reasons to do so. (This image, btw, is used in one of my headers.)

According to the article posted below, Kang Ji Hwan is currently in Japan doing promotional activities for several of his series — his prior dramas Be Strong Geum Soon and Exhibition of Fireworks earned him popularity with Japanese audiences (read: ajummas), and two more of his recent series, 90 Days’ Time to Love and Capital Scandal, will soon be airing there. There’s also some interest in the upcoming fusion sageuk drama Hong Gil Dong, which he’ll be starring in with actors Sung Yuri and Jang Geun Seok.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

The Name - “This Is Me” (a cappella version), from the R&B group’s second album.
[ zShare download ]

More KANG JI HWAN pics >>

Filed under: Actors, Stars, Hong Gil Dong by javabeans - 40 Comments →