Well, we’ve given out our awards for 2012; now it’s time to see how MBC distributed its honors. And if past years are any indication, there are bound to be some head-scratchers and some obvious political choices. Then again, that’s sort of the name of the game all across the board, isn’t it?

The thing about this station is, every year I see MBC’s award list and think, “Oh right. The station did have some hits after all,” which makes me wonder whether I’m misremembering the year as a sparse one for the broadcasters. And then I think a little more and realize that basically, this was all they had. Wasn’t much competition within categories, which is why you got dramas cleaning up in multiple categories, ’cause what else would’ve taken it?

MBC also has the habit of creating categories or altering them without explanation, which just reinforces the idea that they’ve got a list of shows they need to give awards to, and would rather fit the categories to the shows than vice versa. Ah, dramaland.

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Read the rest of 2012 MBC Drama Awards (2,527 words)

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Post tags: awards, Han Ga-in, Han Ji-hye, Im Shi-wan, Jae Hee, Jaejoong, Jo Jung-seok, Jo Seung-woo, Kang So-ra, Kim Jae-won, Kim Min-seo, Kim So-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung, Lee Jang-woo, Lee Sung-min, Lee Yoon-ji, Micky Yoochun, Nam Bora, Oh Yeon-seo, Seo In-gook, Sohn Dam-bi, Sohn Eun-seo, Sung Yuri, Yeo Jin-gu, Yoon Eun-hye

Here’s our first look at the main cast assembled for the epic underdog success drama May Queen, starring Han Ji-hye (The Duo) as a woman who pulls herself up from a harsh life and makes a name for herself in the shipbuilding industry. Jae Hee (Color of Woman) and Kim Jae-won (Can You Hear My Heart) play the two men who war for her love. These two are actually buddies in real life — they were both in the 2001 drama Our House, and then in the army together. So I can see some friendly competition coming into play, and hopefully some behind-the-scenes bromance to boot.

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Read the rest of May Queen poster shoots and behind the scenes (295 words)

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Post tags: Han Ji-hye, Jae Hee, Kim Jae-won, Kim Yoo-jung

Baeksang Awards!

This springtime award show has the distinction of honoring both film and television, sort of like the Golden Globes, and has been running for nearly half a century, since 1965. Since it’s not a broadcast station award (where you have a broadcaster giving awards to its own shows) but awards across stations, winning a Baeksang carries a bit more weight than those year-enders.

Still, in the end, Baeksangs are still something of a popularity game, more likely to hand out honors to hit shows than based on pure critical acclaim—I’m waiting for the day when cable shows get to be part of the mix. That means there are a number of winners I tend to disagree with, and a slew of deserving selections that went overlooked.

Basically, as with any award ceremony: Take results with a grain of salt. Heck, take the whole salt shaker while you’re at it.

WINNERS LIST

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Read the rest of 48th Baeksang Arts Awards (1,716 words)

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Post tags: Ahn Sung-ki, awards, Gong Hyo-jin, Hong Su-ah, Im Soo-hyang, Joo-won, Jung Kyeo-woon, Jung Yumi (2), Kang So-ra, Kim Ah-joong, Kim Min-hee, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung, Micky Yoochun, Park Ha-sun, Park Shin-hye, Park Yoo-hwan, Shin Hyun-bin, Suzy, UEE, Uhm Jung-hwa, Yeo Jin-gu

Look who’s growing up before our very eyes. Kim Yoo-jung has already earned the reputation of being a top child actress with a long list of projects on her resumé, despite the fact that she’s just twelve years old (she’s a 1999-er) and in her first year of middle school.

Thanks to the popularity of The Moon That Embraces the Sun, and in particular her part in the engaging childhood portions, Kim has scored a number of magazine shoots recently (as have her youthful co-stars Yeon Jin-gu and Lee Min-ho). That includes the previously posted Vogue Girl spread, and now the new issue of High Cut, where she looks a bit dressy but isn’t overly styled.

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Read the rest of Kim Yoo-jung’s March photo spreads (282 words)

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Post tags: Kim Yoo-jung, photo shoots

They grow up so fast. One day they’re playing swindling little tykes as young Jang Hyuk in Tazza, the next day they’re playing teenage warriors as young Jang Hyuk in Tree With Deep Roots (yes it’s him, really, in that one episode), and then suddenly he’s rocking the pompadour, the geek-chic specs, and the suit jackets like a little mini-fashionista in the making. He’s like a young Rain, crossed with Lee Min-ho.
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Read the rest of Yeo Jin-gu & company in March’s magazines (147 words)

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Post tags: Kim Yoo-jung, Lee Min-ho (2), photo shoots, Yeo Jin-gu

I really appreciate that things are moving swiftly along, as girlfriday pointed out in yesterday’s recap. It’s so much more satisfying when the show remains a step ahead of you instead of broadcasting everything far in advance and cluttering up your path with obvious angsty obstacles, so that the only things lying between us and the inevitable are a bunch of pesky angst-toys that are irritating to step on. Brisk plot developments are much welcomed in my book.

Also: Welcome to the 30% club, Moon/Sun. Today’s episode brought in a 31.7%, meaning that every episode has increased upon the ratings before it. I wonder where it’ll plateau, because surely it’ll settle at some point, right? Or is the MoonSunSky the limit?

SONG OF THE DAY

Jouet – “내일 아침 (Fly Away)” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 8 (3,621 words)

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Post tags: featured, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung, The Moon That Embraces the Sun

It’s a crash course in fates, as we find out that some connections can’t be shaken, even in death. We finally get our introduction to grown-up Yeon-woo, and things move along a lot faster than I had anticipated. This episode is sort of the sister to last week’s introduction to King Hwon and his world, and this time we get to see Yeon-woo’s side, and what life has been like outside the palace walls for her.

Ratings: Moon raked in 29.7%, further widening the gap with Captain at 7.1% and Wild Romance at 6.2%.

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Read the rest of The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 7 (4,045 words)

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Post tags: featured, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung, The Moon That Embraces the Sun

FINALLY! This is what we’ve all been waiting for. And holy moly! Ratings scored a hefty 29.3% for this episode — every episode thus far has been a new high, so we’ll see how long this steady climb can continue. (Apparently in the minute-by-minute ratings, the episode topped out at a 31.56% at Jung Il-woo’s first appearance. Ha. Why am I not surprised?)

SONG OF THE DAY

The Moon That Embraces the Sun OST – “시간을 거슬러” (Going against time) by Lyn.
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 6 (3,993 words)

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Post tags: featured, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung, Lee Min-ho (2), The Moon That Embraces the Sun, Yeo Jin-gu

Guh, it’s getting so gooood. We get the dark turn that sets the stage for the rest of the series, in a swift episode full of some heartbreaking moments and some stellar acting. It’s going to be just as hard to say goodbye to these young actors as the children they play, because this episode marks the end of their youthful innocence.

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Read the rest of The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 5 (2,881 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kim Yoo-jung, Lee Min-ho (2), The Moon That Embraces the Sun, Yeo Jin-gu

It’s gettin’ good… conflicts heat up, stakes get raised, and dark clouds start to gather overhead. Things take a surprising upturn, but you know what that means in dramaland… there’s a big dip ahead, so hold onto your hats.

Ratings: Moon hits another high with 23.4%, Captain follows with 9.8%, and Wild Romance with 6.2%.

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Read the rest of The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 4 (4,299 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kim Yoo-jung, Lee Min-ho (2), The Moon That Embraces the Sun, Yeo Jin-gu