MBC’s preparing another big-budget special production sageuk drama, titled God of War, to occupy weekends starting next month, and recently released a full set of promotional posters.

The drama is set in the Goryeo (Koryo) era, which preceded the Joseon Dynasty (Goryeo spanned 918–1392) and stars Kim Joo-hyuk as a man named Kim Joon who was born to the slave class and rose to power. He’s based on a real historical figure, and in several of the posters below his tagline reads, “I’ll break the chains of fate. From slave to the height of power!”

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Read the rest of MBC’s upcoming weekend sageuk God of War (321 words)

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Post tags: Jung Bo-seok, Kim Gyu-ri, Kim Joo-hyuk

Right off the bat:

1. I think I’m going to like this show.
2. Kim Joo-hyuk is brilliant.
3. The format, surprisingly and unsurprisingly, works. It really does.

As I mentioned in the previous post about Saturday Night Live Korea, I’ve been looking forward to Korea’s take on the iconic American sketch comedy show because, well, I have a lot of affection for SNL and also because it’s such a departure for Korean comedy. I’d wondered if the format would translate well, because it’s an American show with an American comedic sensibility — would it work with the Korean sense of humor?

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Read the rest of Saturday Night Live Korea: Episode 1 (3,203 words)

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Post tags: cable programs, featured, first episodes, Jang Jin, Jang Young-nam, Kim Joo-hyuk, Shim Eun-kyung

Cable channel tvN was one of the first cable channels to really step up its original drama programming to compete with the Big 3 broadcasters, and now it’s bringing the live sketch comedy format to Korea with Saturday Night Live Korea. Hosting the inaugural program tomorrow night (December 3) will be actor Kim Joo-hyuk (Fighting Spirit, Bang-ja Chronicles), featured in these promo stills, along with hip-hop artists Dynamic Duo as the musical guests.

It’s not a mere rip-off of the concept, but an actual extension of the SNL brand. I’m anticipating that it’ll be quite similar to the long-running American fixture, with its fixed cast, live broadcast, and format — celebrity host, opening monologue, sketches, and musical performers. Even the styling of the celebrity guest promos here closely resembles the stills in the American show.

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Read the rest of Saturday Night Live Korea premieres tomorrow with host Kim Joo-hyuk (485 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 62 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cable programs, Jang Jin, Kim Joo-hyuk

What do you get when you mix in two Ji-hyos and two Jong-kooks in one episode? Easy – an overdose of Aces, an overflow of brawn and plenty of action! Be wary of who you root for today because things can always take a turn for the worst. Enough talk – let’ s go!

EPISODE 67. Broadcast on November 6, 2011.

It’s a brisk autumn morning and each cast member reads the mission card: wait for the guest to pick you up. If they don’t, find your own ride. So who are these guests with this ultimate power?

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 67 (1,767 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Kwang-soo, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Yoo Jae-suk

Here’s a look at the romantic comedy film Couples, a funny look at modern dating through the various ways that five single people can cross paths with each other and become fated to change each other’s lives… for better or worse. The players: Lee Shi-young (Poseidon) is the heartless girlfriend who disappears one day with nothing but a text message. Kim Joo-hyuk (Terroir) plays her heartbroken puppy dog boyfriend, who tries desperately to track her down. Lee Yoon-ji (Dream High) plays a cop who still clings to the fake diamond ring her last boyfriend gave her before leaving. Gong Hyung-jin (The Duo, Runaway) plays a man who doesn’t believe that love exists, and Oh Jung-sae (Korea) is the guy who’s in love with his friend’s girl.

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Read the rest of Trailer and stills for romantic comedy Couples (233 words)

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Post tags: Gong Hyung-jin, Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Shi-young, Lee Yoon-ji

That’s right – this is the episode you’ve all been waiting for. It’s Flower Boy Joong-ki‘s epic appearance on Running Man!! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in a Running Man episode before. Joong-ki, you’ve got to come back – we’ve missed you!

EPISODE 66. Broadcast on October 30, 2011.

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 66 (1,454 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 35 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Kwang-soo, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Song Joong-ki, Yoo Jae-suk

Actor Kim Joo-hyuk will be making his big return to the small screen for the first time in four years, after 2008′s Terroir. He’s been a leading man fixture in Chungmuro for a while, but lately he’s also been making fairly regular appearances on variety show Running Man, where he’s proven to be hilarious, sensitive, and kind of a whiny manchild. (He has this pouty face coupled with a really silly-sounding upper register that’s really incongruous and cracks me up.)

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Read the rest of Kim Joo-hyuk returns to television (217 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Kim Joo-hyuk

Your heart’s going to race for the entire duration of this week’s episode, that is, when you’re not already dying of laughter. The Mission Team is outnumbered, the clues are tough and the chasers continue to fall one step short. Kwang-soo and Suk-jin’s pairing now has a new nickname: Dumb and Dumber. You don’t get it…Oh you’ll see.

EPISODE 65. Broadcast on October 23, 2011.

The entire cast is back together in front of Yongsan Station, even Ji-hyo who’s all rested up and ready for another Running Man adventure. Her fiery and sassy attitude is back too, sharply putting Jong-kook in his place when he makes a comment about her wardrobe.

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 65 (1,590 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Kim Joo-hyuk, Kim Sun-ah, Lee Kwang-soo, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Yoo Jae-suk

EPISODE 64. Broadcast October 9, 2011.

The clock rolls back to the previous night after the Couples Race and it’s dinnertime, Running Man style. For this mission, each team must buy ingredients and cook up their dishes within a one-hour time limit. Sigh, nothing is ever easy in Running Man Land.

Jae-suk asks their guests if they know how to cook and their answers are reasonably impressive, from Tae-yeon’s omurice (omelet over rice) to Yoon-ah’s spicy chicken stew. But Jessica’s answer of kimchi tuna fried rice sets off their suspicion radar. They press her about how to make it, and she says, “You add in kimchi, tuna, and…” and does a mixing action with her hand. Uh-oh.

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 64 (1,997 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Kwang-soo, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Yoo Jae-suk

Sssshhhheeeee’s baaaccck! Ace Ji-hyo‘s back to bring the heat in Beijing Race Part 2! This time, Ji-hyo’s got someone on the inside working for her. Last week’s loot is safe, isn’t it? Stolen you say?! Oh no, not this wild ride of “Did you take it? I didn’t take it! What about you?” again…

EPISODE 62. Broadcast September 25, 2011.

The morning mission starts bright and early at 8 AM and the first person to arrive is… Haha? We’re just as confused as he is. He’s soon followed by Jong-kook who pulls rank that he’s in first place, as always.

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Read the rest of Running Man: Episode 62 (1,612 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 33 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Haha, Ji Suk-jin, Kang Gary, Kim Jong-kook, Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Kwang-soo, Lee Yeon-hee, Running Man, Song Ji-hyo, Yoo Jae-suk