Could we be seeing American adaptations of Korean dramas on our screens in the near future? While there have been a few Hollywood remakes of Korean films, we have yet to see any of our beloved k-dramas get the Hollywood makeover. That’s about to change, as KBS just struck a deal with Kapital Entertainment, optioning the rights to Resurrection [부활] and The Devil (Lucifer) [마왕] to be remade for U.S. television.

Both dramas happen to star Uhm Tae-woong, which is perhaps a coincidence, but maybe they love him as much as we do. The main draw is actually in the genre, as Uhm plays a detective in both dramas, and well, just flip through a few prime-time shows on American TV. ‘Nuff said.

(...)
Read the rest of Can K-dramas be adapted for U.S. audiences? (218 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 125 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil, Uhm Tae-woong

First of all, I’d like to bow my head in deep gratitude to Javabeans, the highly esteemed writer of this blog, for inviting me to post a few thoughts here. I hope she won’t regret her decision after reading what I have to say, hehe.

2007 was an interesting year, at least for me, particularly when it comes to Korean dramas. I’ve watched dramas on a regular basis since I was old enough to walk and talk (I am, after all, Korean), but I’ve never undergone such a transformation in terms of how I approach dramas as I have in the past couple of years…although I suppose you could argue that it’s turned me into nothing but a picky bitch. (But weren’t you always a picky bitch, Dahee?)

Still, despite my pickiness, I managed to watch quite a handful of dramas this year, although I certainly didn’t manage to finish them all (blame school and the crappy work that some PDs and writers dish out, putting off viewers like me). In fact, I watched so many, I can’t possibly talk about them all here. So I’ll just pick a few notables and dish out some kudos, as well as one or two boos. Because boos are just as fun as kudos, if not as well-received.

DAHEE’S SONG OF THE DAY

Jo Kwan Woo – “천년애” (chun nyun ae), from the soundtrack of the drama The King & I. [ zShare download ]

(...)
Read the rest of The Year in Review, Part 3: Dahee Fanel’s drama round-up (3,776 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 46 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Coffee Prince, Dae Jang Geum, Dal Ja's Spring, Devil, Insoon Is Pretty, King and I, Legend, Madam Ah Hyun Dong, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, My Man's Woman, Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, Taereung National Village, Thank You, Time of Dog and Wolf, White Tower, year in review, Yi San

Has this happened to you? You’re reading a book on the bus or train and all of a sudden you burst out laughing. Everyone’s staring but you can’t stop grinning. And all because that line you just read was so unexpectedly funny.

Here’s another scenario. You’re watching one of the hit kdramas of 2006 and after being entertained for the first eighteen episodes or so, you’re down to the last few episodes. And though you had been warned that it was going to be draggy from here, you had no idea how draggy. So now you’re climbing the walls. Your mood’s so foul from the plot shenanigans you want to hurl two cartons of rotten tomatoes at your TV screen.

That was my 2007. A year where I laughed and cried my way through dramas so good they made me even more of an addict. A year where I watched stuff that people were raving about and I shook my head and said, “Something’s seriously amiss with me because I. JUST. DON’T. GET. THE. HYPE.” I raved, I ranted, and just like that, a year has gone by. Here’s my “hits and misses” (how original a title, right?^^) roundup for 2007.

THUNDERBOLT’S SONG OF THE DAY

Uhm Tae Woong – “사랑하지 말아줘” (Don’t love me) from the OST of Devil. Singing must run in the family. (Older sis is the “Korean Madonna” Uhm Jung Hwa.) [ zShare download ]

And it comes with a video! Live performance by actor/singer Uhm Tae Woong:

(...)
Read the rest of The Year in Review, Part 2: Thunderbolt’s hits and misses (2,366 words)

© thunderbolt for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 58 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dal Ja's Spring, Devil, Legend, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, Thank You, Time of Dog and Wolf, White Tower, year in review

.
I’m not keeping up with Devil/Mawang these days, but it still makes me glad to see quality programming still being appreciated, even if the drama isn’t winning its time slot.

“Japanese Fans Wish For Devil/Mawang’s Success with 10,000 Paper Cranes”
(日 팬들 ‘마왕’ 대박기원 종이학 1만개 갖고 한국 방문 밀물)

According to this article, Japanese fans are so looking forward to seeing Devil that they are sending 10,000 folded paper cranes in encouragement, wishing the kdrama success. They are also planning on visiting the filming location en masse on the 21st, in a city just outside of Seoul called Pyongtaek. They’ll come with the paper cranes as presents and gather at the set location at 2pm.

The series Resurrection (부활) was televised last year in Japan, and was recognized for its quality and earned Uhm Tae Woong popularity among Japanese fans. Upon learning of the upcoming Devil, which not only stars Uhm Tae Woong but is also directed and written by the same people who worked on Resurrection (dir. Park Chan Hong and writer Kim Ji Woo), Japanese fans have been eagerly anticipating the series. A fan expressed excitement at the thought of visiting the location and meeting the three stars, Uhm Tae Woong, Joo Ji Hoon, and Shin Min Ah, counting down the days to the sure-to-be-unforgettable event.

The location details, which had not been fully made public, were first publicly announced to media outlets on behalf of the Japanese fans, so they could come to the location on this day.

(I love reading about stuff like this — a give-and-take relationship between the production and the fans, which shows that the production realizes to whom they owe their successes, and the fans being grateful rather than entitled to the dramas they love. I’m also amazed, because no way in hell would American entities allow their fans anywhere this level of access — although probably for good reason, since there are so many crazies around, especially when we’re talking Hollywood. Still, I hear about things like Seven’s fan club sending lovely gestures like gift packages and food to the set of Goong S and I’m mystified that it’s actually safe to eat. I can’t be the only paranoid one! — especially not after the DBSK/Yunho poisoning incident by an anti-fan some months ago.)

.
source: http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?news_uid=129511&code=100100

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil

The ratings measuring systems developed thus far are in no way able to be completely accurate, and are therefore highly susceptible to misrepresenting actual viewership. But currently, there’s no better alternative, so we make do.

According to the headline below (and full article behind the jump), apparently ratings for Que Sera Sera and Devil/Mawang aren’t so hot, which I find disappointing because these two series, in my opinion, are probably the two best shows currently airing.

‘늑대’ 주역 엄태웅·에릭, 동반 부진
촬영 사고로 중단된 ‘늑대’ 출연진, 차기작서도 고배

Discontinued Drama “Wolf”‘s Lead Actors Eric and Uhm Tae Woong,
Both Encounter Disappointment in Following Projects

.
SONG OF THE DAY

Epik High – “선곡표”. I’m in serious love with Epik High’s latest album (their fourth, Remapping the Human Soul). I like all of their albums, but this is definitely my favorite. I also have a tremendous respect for intelligent, literate music/lyrics/people, and Tablo represents all of those. [ zShare download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Ratings Notes: Que Sera Sera & Devil (1,009 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil, drama ratings, Eric, Que Sera Sera, Uhm Tae-woong

Since last week was the week of many finales, that makes this week the (very busy) week of many premieres. Help me, I’m drowning in dramas! This week alone, we have the premieres of: Que Sera Sera, Hello! Miss, Witch Amusement, Thank You, Devil (Mawang), H.I.T… Seriously, I don’t know where I’ll get the time. I’ll make the time somehow. Maybe most of the shows will suck so I don’t have to feel bad about dropping them.

There was no new episode of Que Sera Sera today (boo for televised sporting events!), but I do have ONE related goody for you (much thanks to yeohweping and ay_link!):

(Theme) SONG OF THE DAY

W & Whale – “월광” (Moonlight, or Moonrise): Main theme song to Que Sera Sera. Can’t you just picture Eric strutting down the street to this song? He’s not at all my type, but I can’t deny he IS one sexy man. [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Week Round-up: “Hello! Miss” et al… (1,724 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 52 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil, Go Hyun-jung, Hello! Miss, HIT, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Da-hae, Lee Ji-hoon, Shin Mina, Thank You, Uhm Tae-woong