Wait, what was that noise? It can’t be… ? The Hunter is back, and this time he’s got one target: the Grasshopper. Get ready for an action-packed episode of hilarity, intrigue, and revenge stuffed within every minute. Will the Grasshopper be able to evade the Hunter’s attacks or become fodder for the dogs? There’s only one way to find out.

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 69 (1,946 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 31 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Lee Kwang-soo, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Yoo Jae-suk

Aw, how cute are they? November’s issue of Elle is going with a fun novel concept, featuring some of the big and small screen’s most charismatic actors, in a downright adorable set of photos. Who would’ve thought “ajusshi” and “cute” would go together so well? Choi Min-soo, who’s just come off yet another standout performance on fusion sageuk Warrior Baek Dong-soo, looks positively giddy on his bike. I just love that on the outside, Choi Min-soo is the tattooed rocker/biker and serious actor, but then he’ll show up on variety programs and be the goofy ajusshi with great comic timing. This guy needs a comic reversal for his next role. Like his very own Best Love? How awesome would that be?

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Read the rest of Elle photo spread features ajusshi stars (197 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 50 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, photo shoots, Ryu Seung-ryong

So 1 Night 2 Days is ending soon, which happens just as I was getting into this whole variety world, which is so close and yet so far from the world of scripted television. (Even allowing that yes, variety can be scripted too.)

With the overwhelming number of variety programs out there — seriously, a ton — it can be pretty daunting trying to find out what show does what and when, and what its themes and formats are. So Girlfriday and I thought we might take a crack at all the variety shows out there and pick up random episodes in a series we’re calling Variety Roulette: No preplanning, no following special guests, just pick an episode and dive in.

We plan to take a look at as many different shows as we have time for, and are starting off with one particular hit talk-show offering, SBS’s Strong Heart. Keep your eyes peeled for more installments to come in the future! What shows or what episodes we’ll pick, we have no idea. We’ll go where the wind takes us.

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Read the rest of Variety Roulette: Strong Heart (3,482 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 181 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Choi Siwon, Donghae, featured, Im Soo-hyang, Kang Ho-dong, Kim Heechul, Lee Seung-gi, Shindong, Super Junior

Crap. It’s good. What to do? There just aren’t enough hours in a day for all these dramas!

Fusion action historical drama Warrior Baek Dong-soo premiered on Monday to 10.1% ratings (with Baby-Faced Beauty in the lead at 14.2% and Ripley close behind at 12.9%). This was one we were keeping an eye on because the premise is so cool—two young warriors trained together, one to protect the king and one to kill him—but stayed cautious about because this kind of drama is all in the execution.

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Read the rest of Warrior Baek Dong-soo: First Impressions (601 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 81 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, featured, Jeon Gwang-ryul, Ji Chang-wook, Warrior Baek Dong-soo, Yoo Seung-ho

The first official poster is out for upcoming fusion action sageuk Warrior Baek Dong-soo, a show about which I am being cautious, but optimistic. Because while some of its stills verge on looking cheesy, others are much more interesting, visually and thematically.

Plus! It stars two young rising stars, Ji Chang-wook as the good guy and dastardly assassin Yoo Seung-ho as his rival, with both of them being equally matched in their mastery of swordsmanship. They trained together in childhood, but somehow went their separate ways, with Dong-soo becoming one of the king’s guard and Yeo-woon turning to the dark side as a member of a shadowy organization plotting to kill the king. I just love this kind of conflict; let’s hope the drama can deliver on the tension built right in to the premise.

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Read the rest of Warrior Baek Dong-soo’s first poster (246 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 42 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Jeon Gwang-ryul, Ji Chang-wook, Warrior Baek Dong-soo, Yoo Seung-ho, Yoon So-yi

This means Kim Bum is out of the running; Ji Chang-wook is taking the lead role in upcoming manhwa-adapted action sageuk drama Warrior Baek Dong-soo (formerly called Honorable Baek Dong-soo).

Kim Bum may have had the mane-of-glory-in-training, but it’ll be Ji Chang-wook who gets to flaunt his in the drama, all while flashing some serious martial arts moves as the titular hero. Baek Dong-soo was a real-life figure who created a martial arts guide in the Joseon era, though this drama takes much of its inspiration from the manhwa.

I’m definitely looking forward to this, not only because it stars two very solid actors: the veteran, Choi Min-soo (Sandglass, Father’s House), and the talented up-and-comer, Nam Ji-hyun, who’s starting to transition from child roles into adolescent ones (she’s 16). She notably played young Queen Seon-deok, and had strong performances playing childhood parts in Will It Snow For Christmas and Giant, but now she’ll take on a more mature role as the recipient of Crown Prince Sado’s love. Aw, someone’s all growed up.

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Read the rest of Fusion sageuk Warrior Baek Dong-soo has its hero (394 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 68 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Bum, Lee Jia, Nam Ji-hyun

A-list star and veteran actor Choi Min-soo (Road No.1, Father’s House) has officially signed on to upcoming manhwa-sageuk drama adaptation Honorable Baek Dong-soo, and meanwhile top contender for the leading role, Kim Bum (The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry), is growing what suspiciously appears to be… is that… could it be… a MANE OF GLORY?

I think it is! Now WHYever would you be growing sageuk hair, Bummie? For fun? To make the noonas drool? Not that said goal isn’t an admirable one, to be sure. No complaints here. Not even if you grow Jang Geun-seok-hair. But perhaps your buddy Jung Il-woo‘s a better hair role model for you. Am TRYING not to picture the two of them sitting around, braiding each other’s hair … … … damnit. Too late. There goes my day.

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Read the rest of Choi Min-soo confirms drama, will Kim Bum join him? (282 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 74 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Kim Bum, Warrior Baek Dong-soo

Sometimes, you don’t need words when a simple image would suffice. Am I right? (Behold, a picspam post!)

Road No. 1, which has already completed 100% of its shoots, premieres next Wednesday on MBC.

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Read the rest of Yoon Kye-sang’s abs in Road No. 1 (72 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 48 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Kim Haneul, Road No. 1, So Ji-sub, Sohn Chang-min, Yoon Kye-sang

I’d briefly mentioned the two-episode special drama Father’s House, which pairs Choi Min-soo in his acting return with young rising actor Kim Soo-hyun, who recently drew buzz for his performance playing Go Soo’s younger character in Will It Snow For Christmas.

The drama aired both its episodes last Monday on December 28, and it did so well that it not only came in first place for the timeslot (ratings were 16.6% for Episode 1, then rose to 19.6% for the second hour), it was also given a rebroadcast. The second run showed on New Year’s Day, and also performed strongly with an 8.6% and 9.8%.

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Read the rest of Drama special Father’s House brings in strong praise (291 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 31 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Kim Soo-hyun, Moon Jung-hee

Actor Choi Min-soo is getting back to work after a scandal (caused by his own bad behavior) threatened to end his career last year. He’s slated for the So Ji-sub war drama Road Number 1, but before that gets off the ground next year, he will also be seen in a short year-end special drama, Father’s House [아버지의 집].

Also starring in that special is young actor Kim Soo-hyun — aka the actor who played Go Soo‘s teenage counterpart in the currently airing Will It Snow For Christmas. (He was in Episodes 1 and 2.)

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Read the rest of Choi Min-soo returns in Father’s House (376 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 40 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Min-soo, Kim Soo-hyun