Park Shi-hoo, most recently of SBS’s trendy romance drama Prosecutor Princess, has been added to the cast of Queen of Reversals, which is the second season of MBC’s hit Queen of Housewives. (Although it’s called Season 2, the drama features a completely different story and a mostly-new cast, with the exception of returning star Kim Nam-joo in the lead.)

Queen of Reversals has already signed Jung Jun-ho and Chae Jung-ahn on to join Kim, the former as her love interest and the latter as her rival. Park Shi-hoo completes the main cast in the role of an “indifferent and uninterested” second-generation chaebol. Looks like he shares some traits with Tae-bong of the first series; he works as the department director of the company where the main characters work, and as he works with Kim, he develops into a genuine leader.

The drama will hold its first script reading on the 9th, and is set to premiere on October 18. It’ll follow Dong Yi, which ends at Episode 60 after a ten-episode extension.

Via OSEN

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• Jung Jun-ho confirms Queen of Housewives sequel
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• Park Shi-hoo treats Prosecutor staff to an island vacation
• Park Shi-hoo screens Prosecutor finale with fans

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Post tags: Park Shi-hoo, Queen of Housewives, Queen of Reversals

Jung Jun-ho will be playing the male lead opposite Kim Nam-joo in Queen of Reversals, which is the second season (spin-off) to last year’s Queen of Housewives. Already I’m enjoying his character description: “Bong Jun-su” enjoyed quite a lot of popularity with the ladies in his youth due to his good looks and glib tongue, “but because he grew up spoiled, in actuality he’s a rather useless guy who doesn’t know to do anything.”

Furthermore, Jun-su starts working at his job intending to get revenge upon a woman who dumped him, where his direct boss is “Hwang Tae-hee” (Kim Nam-joo). As she is a chaebol’s daughter, he starts to entertain thoughts of being a male Cinderella. He does end up marrying her, but also experiences hardships as he struggles to reform himself and become a real head of household.

On the other hand, Kim’s character used to think that marrying the man she loved was “life’s greatest happiness,” but upon marriage she finds there are stormy seas to overcome. The romantic comedy touts itself as both touching and delightful, and what results is a “cheerful, fresh story of reversals and ups and downs in the life of a married couple.”

Queen of Reversals will begin filming next month after finalizing the rest of its casting, and will air on Mondays and Tuesdays on MBC.

Via Mk.co.kr

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• Jung Jun-ho and Shin Hyun-joon buddy up as comic cop duo
• Scorecard: How did IRIS’s stars measure up?
• Queen of Housewives (MBC)

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Post tags: Jung Jun-ho, Kim Nam-joo, Queen of Housewives, Queen of Reversals

Kim Nam-joo is coming back for the Queen of Housewives sequel, re-titled (again) to Queen of Reversals — which happens to be in direct competition with her husband’s drama. She is married to IRIS‘s Kim Seung-woo, who is reprising the same role in spy drama Athena.

Athena will replace SBS’s Giant and premieres in November. Queen of Reversals (previously titled Queen of Tears) will also air on Mondays and Tuesdays, after MBC’s Dong Yi bows out in October. I had thought Queen of Tears was a terrible title for the sequel, if only because it’s misleading because the drama’s actually “a bright romantic comedy,” so I think the change is a smart one.

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Post tags: Athena, Kim Nam-joo, Kim Seung-woo, Queen of Housewives, sequels

Nearly two years after enjoying a popular run on MBC, Queen of Housewives will be coming back to television for its promised sequel, and the second season will broadcast with the title Queen of Tears. According to a source with the production team, it will share a similar theme with Queen of Housewives in its portrayal of a housewife overcoming adversity and standing on her own.

Kim Nam-joo, who starred in the original series as the housewife determined to get her husband back on his feet no matter what, has made an unofficial agreement to return for the sequel. The drama will retain its director and writer, Go Dong-sun and Park Ji-eun. As yet, none of the other main cast members have decided to reprise their roles (although with the main character returning, it would make sense for some others to join her).

Queen of Tears will follow the currently running Monday-Tuesday sageuk Dong Yi for a September premiere.

In my opinion, the title change gives the sequel a very different vibe than the comedy-filled original, perhaps unintentionally. I don’t know if they’d get Oh Ji-ho back playing Kim’s husband — it looks like he’s cultivating bigger interests after starring in Chuno — but I don’t think fans would care about that if they managed to get Yoon Sang-hyun to return (who I think really ought to jump at the chance). Yoon Sang-hyun was the undisputed scene-stealer of the original and I know many were clamoring for him to end up with Kim Nam-joo, which was hampered by the whole she-has-a-husband-and-a-child issue, which may work better in sequel format. But I’m just speculating!

Via Hankook Ilbo

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• News bites: Recent casting calls
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Post tags: Queen of Housewives, sequels

Haven’t done one of these in ages! Here’s a collection of some of the recent casting tidbits making the rounds…

• Han Yeo-woon, the angel-faced actress of last year’s Story of a Man, stars in a 2-episode special drama called Love’s Miracle. Sounds like a weepie: The main characters are a man who loses his hearing in an accident and a woman burdened with debt who has heart disease. They “save each other” as they help each other pull their lives together. It airs on SBS on May 7. (Spoiler alert! Somebody dies.) [Newsen]
• Park Hyo-joo played a plucky intelligence agent in 2007′s Air City (and was just about one of the only bright, fun things about it) and now plays a secret agent in KBS’s My Country Calls. Her character works on the same team as hero Kim Sang-kyung. [Sports Seoul]
• Despite rumors of Sandara Park and Shin Se-kyung being top contenders for the female lead in the Hong sisters’ My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, producers are insisting that they have yet to cast the role. Some reports even say that neither actress will take the role, but rumors are running wild anyway. [BNT News]

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Post tags: Daniel Choi, Gu Hye-sun, Han Yeo-woon, Kang Byul, Kim Nam-joo, news bites, Park Hyo-joo, Park Young-seo, Queen of Housewives, Song Joong-ki

First, I’d like to start by thanking Sarah for inviting me to be a guest reviewer. I must admit that I was, at first, a bit daunted (okay, scared ****less would be more precise), but how else could I begin to pay a little back to those who have given me so much? I’m neither a blogger nor a writer, but I am an avid fan of kdramas (possibly, too avid), as well as Javabeans’ blog, and these past few years have been brighter and better because I get to come here, my home away from home, each and every day. Good company makes for good times. It truly is an honor to be included with the likes of Dahee, Thundie, JB…and, yes, even Samsooki .

Overall, I’d say 2009 had more to offer than the kdrama drought of the previous year, but as I watched more than 20 of this year’s fare (plus several more that I dropped midway), I found myself becoming increasingly…..well, grumpy. Usually, I tend to finish dramas that I start, I don’t have many expectations from dramas when they begin because I never know how they will affect me personally, and I don’t easily succumb to boredom…so what could’ve caused the permanent indentation on my forehead [from all the headdesking]?

Could it have been the number of daily dramas I was so easily suck[er]ed into watching due to fangirliness and the prospect of shared ogling and squeeing with friends (I haven’t forgotten who recommended those dramas to me, mind you!)? Had my tastes changed so drastically since reaching triple-digits for total dramas watched over the years? Or was I simply turning into one of those persnickety old ajummas with rapidly decreasing patience for idiocy? I’m sure it’s a combination of all that, along with an increased appreciation for solid writing, directing, and acting.

Then towards the end of the year, just when I thought I could not endure any more squama frontalis abuse, I finally watched Kwak Jung Hwan’s 2007 masterpiece, Conspiracy In The Court. It had always been a part of my Horn of Plenty (my ever-increasing list of dramas to watch), but it wasn’t until this mind-blowing experience that I finally realized why I had been drawn to the underrated gems of 2009 while being left unmoved by those that brought in the big ratings.

SONG OF THE DAY

Conspiracy in the Court OST – “Parallel Lines (평행선)” by JK Kim Dong-wook (Because this is just an awesome song, covered in a decadent awesome sauce with whipped cream and a cherry on top.)
[ Download ]

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Post tags: Assorted Gems, Don't Hesitate, Everybody Cha Cha Cha, Family Honor, Hero, I Love You Don't Cry, Queen of Housewives, Return of Iljimae, Romance Zero, The Road Home, year in review, You're Beautiful

December 30 was, once again, the night of the 2009 MBC Drama Awards. Unlike last year, there was no split Daesang award nor the ensuing controversy, but then again, there really was nobody with whom it could be shared. To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Go Hyun-jung was named Daesang winner for her delicious portrayal of Mi-shil in Queen Seon-deok, which had a monstrous night. Full awards list below.

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Post tags: awards, Choi Chul-ho, Go Hyun-jung, Im Joo-eun, Im Joo-hwan, Jang Geun-seok, Kim Nam-gil, Kim Nam-joo, Lee Hye-young, Lee Seung-hyo, Lee Yo-won, Na Young-hee, Nam Ji-hyun, Queen of Housewives, Queen Seon-deok, Seo Shin-ae, Seo Young-hee, Yoo Seung-ho, Yoon Sang-hyun

With the year coming to an end, that means it’s time to take stock of the past twelve months (well, eleven really) in kdramas. The broadcast stations will be holding their awards ceremonies at the end of the month, and I’m working on my wrap-up of 2009′s offerings — as are some very talented (and prolific!) drama-watching fans — which I’ll post up closer to the end of the year.

But this is your turn to weigh in on what you liked or didn’t. I didn’t do a year-end poll last year (after putting one up in 2007) and people seemed to really want one, so it’s back.

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Post tags: A Star's Lover, Accidental Couple, Angel's Temptation, Boys Before Flowers, Brilliant Legacy, Cain and Abel, Cinderella Man, City Hall, Dream, Friend, Heading to the Ground, Hero, Hon, IRIS, Ja Myung Go, Job Well Done, Loving You a Thousand Times, My Fair Lady, Partner, Queen of Housewives, Queen Seon-deok, Return of Iljimae, Smile, Sons of Sol Pharmacy House, Story of a Man, Strike Love, Style, Tamra the Island, Triple, year in review

It’s rare, but it happens: the drama Queen of Housewives is getting a second season.

According to an MBC representative, the drama will air its Season 2 next fall, and if it is successful, more seasons may follow. From MBC’s point of view, turning a drama into a multiple-season series (or “season drama”) would give the broadcast station a representative brand and be less expensive to produce, and therefore more profitable. (Launching a new show is always more work than continuing with a proven hit.)

However, they recognize that the most difficult aspect would be signing the actors on for continued seasons. The source said, “We would like for all of the actors from Queen of Housewives to return, but at this time it’s difficult to say which actors may come back.” The synopsis for Season 2 has not yet been revealed.

When Queen of Housewives aired earlier this year, it was a success for well-known names like Kim Nam-joo and Lee Hye-young, but perhaps even more valuable to the lesser-known actors it catapulted into the spotlight, like Yoon Sang-hyun, Sunwoo Sun, and Choi Chul-ho. The drama used a lively mix of comedy and melodrama as it focused on stories of marriage, fidelity, and the highly political, often comic networking intricacies of work and social life.

Dramas rarely get second seasons in the Korean drama system, and most of the instances of sequels aren’t true continuations. For example, General Hospital 2 and Hometown of Legends were both touted as sequels, but the original series had aired more than a decade prior and only the concepts remained the same. Swallow the Sun was called All In 2, but only because of the writer and concept; in a narrative sense, it was a completely different drama. Lovers in Paris, Lovers in Prague, and Lovers had the same writer-director team, but the stories were wholly different. Last Scandal was an exception where a true sequel was planned, but the untimely passing of Choi Jin-shil called a halt to preparations. On cable, the program Rude Miss Young-ae is the rare case of a drama going for six seasons.

Via Star News

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• The men of Queen of Housewives
• Yoon Sang-hyun discusses his sudden popularity in Marie Claire
• Queen of Housewives (MBC)

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Post tags: Queen of Housewives, sequels

Yep, we as drama-lovers tend to have a love-hate (mostly hate, I think) relationship with drama extensions and, even worse, unexpected cuts. Even a good drama can be ruined in the end by unnecessary extensions — a long-running epic series may suffer less from adding episodes than a short drama whose story was never meant to go beyond 16 or 20 installments. I know that this trend stems from that pernicious habit of broadcast stations’ knee-jerk reactions to ratings, but as much as we hate that, I think we all kind of understand why a station places so much importance on ratings. Here’s an article that discusses the trend.

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Read the rest of The business of kdrama extensions and cuts (926 words)

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Post tags: drama ratings, Queen of Housewives, Queen Seon-deok, Sons of Sol Pharmacy House, Strike Love, Tamra the Island