Can’t Lose can’t agree on extension
by girlfriday
Apparently this show has taken the warring off the screen and into real life. MBC announced its decision to extend Wednesday-Thursday drama Can’t Lose starring Choi Ji-woo and Yoon Sang-hyun for another two weeks, which was surprising because it’s been pulling single-digit ratings for most of its run, up against current ratings king The Princess’s Man. It’s not a flashy show, but it has loads of adorable chemistry and heart, and a fantastic stable of side characters played by some of my favorite supporting actors.
But THEN, stars Choi Ji-woo and Yoon Sang-hyun announced that they had never given the okay to the production team, and are now taking a stance against the extension. Well I don’t see how you’re going to squeeze four more episodes from a show without your leads onboard, so what’s with the drama, Drama?
I’m not a fan of extensions as a rule, (and actually wish most shows were 45 minutes long instead of the usual hour-and-six) so I’m not really excited at the prospect of more episodes. On the one hand, it’s an easy narrative to extend, since it’s not a high-concept drama to begin with. It’s just a couple at war, using divorce court as therapy (yeah don’t try this at home). But on the other hand, I rarely think a drama needs more than sixteen episodes, EVER.
I’m guessing that the extension has more to do with followup drama Me Too, Flower!, starring Lee Jia and Kim Jae-won, which has just started to lock down its cast in the past week or so. Since Can’t Lose had a flexible episode count from the start (they all say that now), it’s probably the easiest way to buy Flower some more lead-in time. I can see why the Can’t Lose cast isn’t jumping to make other people’s drama-shooting lives easier, at the expense of their own sanity.
If the extension does go through, it’ll take Can’t Lose‘s episode count from 16 to 20, which means Me Too, Flower! will premiere Wednesday, November 2. I guess we’ll see who wins the battle behind the scenes. Well, at least husband and wife are united on this front?
RELATED POSTS
- Can’t Lose: Episode 1
- Stills from soon-to-premiere Can’t Lose
- Can’t Lose’s comic promo posters
- Choi Ji-woo and Yoon Sang-hyun as Can’t Lose’s warring couple
- Stills from MBC’s divorce romance Can’t Lose
- Can’t Lose holds first script reading
- Yoon Sang-hyun as Choi Ji-woo’s leading man
- Choi Ji-woo back in dramaland as a lawyer
Tags: Can't Lose, Choi Ji-woo, Yoon Sang-hyun
![[Drama Chat] The mysteriously disappearing desire to watch](http://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/didiva_5-scaled.jpg)
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1 Soom
September 28, 2011 at 5:03 AM
"Well, at least husband and wife are united on this front?"
Haha yep! That's the most comforting part of this news.
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2 nonloser
September 28, 2011 at 5:39 AM
I love your line GF:
I can see why the Can’t Lose cast isn’t jumping to make other people’s drama-shooting lives easier, at the expense of their own sanity.
So this time CJW is sane and stood firm on the ground without giving in to producer's demands and so does YSH. Not like their fanatic weeds take easy ride to please anything along the wind of changed direction.
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3 Luv_KimRaeWon
September 28, 2011 at 6:46 AM
hii..
totally off-topic, but can anyone tell me CJW's real life boyfriend's name.. havent watched the series(only pics of recaps and some previews), but nice to see her in a light drama.. must've been a nice change for her too..
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jojo
September 28, 2011 at 7:04 AM
Believe her boyfriend was Lee Jin Wook, who dumped her as soon as he got out of the military (oops! they parted amicably)
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glencorajane
September 28, 2011 at 7:44 AM
you know, i am not sure who dump who. I thought he look a bit sad when he left army and CJW was all chirpy and smiley on 2D1N and that. So pls dun make assumptive statements.
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via
September 28, 2011 at 7:15 PM
he didn't dumped her.. they just decided to be parted for their own benefit. I think he is a bit sad when they broke off.
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Luv_KimRaeWon
September 29, 2011 at 6:37 AM
oh schade.. thought they were still going strong
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4 rich
September 28, 2011 at 6:52 AM
I agree with you GF. Most of the time, I don't agree with drama extensions. I've seen many dramas which were given extensions which only made the last few episodes slooooooow paced or sometimes random, like they'll throw some random conflict which at times affect the original trajectory of the story.
I'm liking Can't Lose right now but I can't see it having few more episodes. The story in this drama is so simple and yes, repetitive (fight-make up-fight-make up). So imagine having 4 more episodes of fight and make up scenes? Too much, right? :/
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5 Cynthia
September 28, 2011 at 7:07 AM
FOUR more episodes of fighting and miscommunication?!
Nuh-uh.
Now we'll see just how much sway CJW has when it comes to power plays like this.
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6 skelly
September 28, 2011 at 8:29 AM
Maybe they are also hoping that they can pick up some viewers after Protect the Boss finishes this week, so they can end on a ratings uptick. Not likely, but who knows what straws they are grasping at?
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7 Suxi
September 28, 2011 at 9:48 AM
This is why. It's all about monetary benefits. Selling it as a 20 ep is more profitable than 16 esp when the price per ep is incredibly high or highest, if the article is correct & MBC not bluffing.
Good news is that CJW has her own agency , she doesnt have to be forced to do things that she doesn't like. Not sure abt YSH agency
Regarding CJW ex bf, don't think he dumped her. He looked all sappy in one interview and gave a long lecture on love to the host which later got cut because he lectured tooo long. CJW looks so happy recently being all chummy with YSH. Same goes with YSH who declared wNting to date CJW in front of camera and cjw herself. There was even a photo of YSH holding her hand, and no not for a scene!!
Dont just automatically assume she got dumped. He was the one in miliatary while she was a free woman
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8 Suxi
September 28, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Sorry forgot the article link
http://www.hancinema.net/choi-ji-woo-and-yoon-sang-hyeon-power-can-t-lose-33578.html
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9 quirky
September 28, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I really don't think the reason for extension is because of Me Too, Flower drama. if the concern is to give enough time for Flower Drama to shoot, then MBC can fill in the slot with another program, or a special Cant' Lose progam. I am shocked that they are even considering the extension knowing well the low ratings. I am guessing there is more than meets the eye.
Now I bet YSH and CJW are discussing among themselves what to do. CJW is easy since she sets up her own mangement company, then she can do whatever she wishes. She is the ultimate decision maker. YSH also has a movie lined up.
How could MBC issue a statement like that without ensuring that both of their main actors have agreed???
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10 Lidy Wilks
September 28, 2011 at 10:18 AM
why episode extensions? sometimes the show gets a bit too draggy and repetitive towards the end. its better to end it nicely then drag it out only to end it w/ an "eh" feeling. if they want to fill in that time slot before Me Too Flower airs, then just show clips of edited scenes, bloopers, behind the scenes and clips of actors and staff working hard, getting along and joshing with each other. or do some kind of special that's never aired to fill the time slot. better yet show the first 2 episodes of shows that's never aired and have the audience vote which one they like and want to watch more of the most, later on in the year.
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11 Sophia
September 28, 2011 at 11:23 AM
We usually see low ratings drama often gets CUT short, but this one is extended not by 1 or 2 episodes but FOUR episodes?? something is fishy.
I truly loved episode 11 from tonight. So heartugging. Can't wait for you recap Javabeans. hehe
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12 via
September 28, 2011 at 7:10 PM
as much as I love this drama, but I dont think 4 more extention of episodes isn't necessary on this drama. So I think just stick on original plan which is 16 episodes.
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13 Kim Yoonmi
September 28, 2011 at 7:47 PM
They already adapted it from a Japanese drama--they'll run out of script. If they pad it four more episodes the pacing is totally going to be screwed up if I know the Japanese drama very well, which I do. (Won't spoil it for those who haven't watched it).
The first 4 episodes were an attempt to establish ground, but also get rid of the extra padding issues. Adding 4 more would totally ruin what they are aiming for.
As a writer, I'd be against it. I don't have more script once they seed in the thing I'm thinking of. Otherwise it'll be Full House all over again. *cough*
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14 rooroo8888
September 28, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Now, they want an extension?!
But looking back at the airing of Heartstrings, fans were appealing to allow Heartstrings to fulfill its 16 episodes~excluding the aired Special Episode~but they won't allow it to.
Well, if that was granted, it's supposed to be a win-win situation.
First, Heartstrings fans would be very much delighted since the few last episodes would've never suffered from a compressed time that urged for compressed scenarios too.
Second, that surely could've buy them more time for Flowers.
Just saying..
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15 Jaden
September 29, 2011 at 5:38 AM
I am against having more episodes than originally planned. YSH CJW stay strong!
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16 lvsanchez
September 29, 2011 at 8:28 AM
I am not watching this now, but was planning to in the near future. It they add 4 more than I might have to reconsider. And wow imagine the relief they felt at knowing they're nearing the end of the filming schedule, which is HELL for Korean actors, and then being told it'd be extended by 4 episodes. Esp since it won't really benefit them. If anything, they'll lose viewers, I think. Stay strong, leads!!
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17 charlotte1987
October 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM
haven't seen this dama... but i so love Choi Ji-woo and Yoon Sang-hyun... glad for the extension...
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