Oh, MBC. I can always count on you for some awards-time whatthefuckery. Three years ago it was split Daesangs (daesang = Grand Prize), giving the same award to Kim Myung-min and Song Seung-heon and doubling awards in every category. Two years ago, there were more split awards, and last year we had the bizarre “Character Daesangs” (“Crude Language Award,” “Hot Temper Award,” and so forth).

This year, no actors were forced to share the Daesang…because it basically went to a drama instead. What the what? (Last year, Drama of the Year was a viewers’ pick award. This year it took the place of the Daesang, even if it wasn’t officially called one.)

Part of what makes MBC such a weird award in my opinion is that they never seem to know what they’re doing. If you’re going to make weird categories a thing, then stick with it — but if you’ll compare past years with each other, you’ll see that they keep changing things around. It makes them seem desperate, scrambling to appease everyone. Add to that the fact that in recent years, MBC has typically had the weakest drama performances of the three broadcast stations (remember when MBC was the Drama Kingdom?). So with weak competition, you get awards being doled out to some middling dramas, while others are overlooked entirely.

It must be noted that these awards are hardly ever based strictly on merit. They’re given out by the broadcaster, so they’re more a measure of which dramas and stars they want to thank/bribe/flatter. It’s partially a popularity contest, and partially politicking; it’s a given that the big ratings hits will rake in a lion’s share of awards. I still reserve the right to gripe about their choices.

You’ll see that this year, the broadcaster has once again introduced new categories and done away with others. They’ve gotten a lot of flak in past years for splitting awards, so this year they haven’t split many… because instead, they split award categories, which essentially achieves the same thing. Oh, MBC, always trying to please everyone and therefore pleasing no one. Maybe you’ll get a decent hit in 2012.

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Read the rest of 2011 MBC Drama Awards (1,593 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 121 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Cha Seung-won, Gong Hyo-jin, Honey Lee, Hwang Jung-eum, Ji Hyun-woo, Jo Yoon-hee, Jung Bo-seok, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-tae, Lee Bo-young, Micky Yoochun, Namgoong Min, Park Yoo-hwan, Shin Aera, Yoon Tae-young

For something a little different in the way of drama offerings, there’s a late-night Saturday drama that just premiered on MBC called Night Hospital, which is billed as a medical suspense thriller starring the very underrated (in my opinion) Yoon Tae-young as a surgeon-slash-boxer. What’s not to like?

Night Hospital‘s first episode drew a very promising 5.9% rating for its premiere episode on the 15th — note that that’s for a drama airing at midnight-thirty on a Saturday night. Considering that some prime-time weekday shows average in that range, that’s a pretty great number. Viewers have been impressed with its compelling plot and quick pacing, and I think the 10-episode length is a mark in its favor.

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Read the rest of MBC premieres Saturday medical suspense drama Night Hospital (261 words)

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Post tags: Ryu Hyun-kyung, Yoon Tae-young

MBC’s weekend sports drama Strike Love unfortunately got cut off early due to flagging ratings — its initial 20-episode run was cut to 16, even though the production had by that point nearly finished filming all 20. That meant that the last week of the series was rushed to cram in content and left out much of the story that meant to follow — leaving viewers dissatisfied with hanging story threads. (It was pointed out that the shortening may have been a hasty decision, as the drama picked up in ratings toward its end).

In any case, at least Strike Love will have the chance to air its full 20 episodes overseas, and will broadcast in countries like Japan the way it was meant to be seen. Lead actor Yoon Tae-young picked up a fan base after his role in Legend, which was quite popular in Japan (all hail Yonsama power).

According to the production side, a different ending had been intended originally. The first 16 episodes had unraveled as planned, but they had to hastily swap out the ending to wrap the series. I guess this means, if you really liked Strike Love, maybe you should wait to see the Japanese broadcast for a satisfactory resolution?

Via Segye

RELATED POSTS

• Strike Love wraps up two weeks early
• Open set day at Strike Love
• Strike Love: Episodes 1 & 2

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Strike Love, Yoon Tae-young

I haven’t written (yet?) about the latest episodes of MBC’s baseball drama Strike Love [2009 외인구단], but I’m still watching, and I’m still enjoying it. This couple — Yoon Tae-young and Kim Min-jung — is probably the biggest reason I’m sticking with it, because they are so sweet and adorable together, in addition to both being good actors.

The drama isn’t really new or incredibly original, but it’s kind of like really well-cooked comfort food. The romantic pairing is obvious from the start, but acted with chemistry and sweetness, while the athletic match-up is also a little predictable but still enjoyable to watch. The antagonist tends to be one-dimensional — but he’s the kind you love to hate, because our hero will have his day and when that happens, it will be so satisfying to watch.

The production opened up its Kyeonggi province set on May 22 while it filmed “training hell” sequences for the drama.

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Read the rest of Open set day at Strike Love (237 words)

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Post tags: Kim Min-jung, Strike Love, Yoon Tae-young

(I know, I used the same picture in the previous post about this drama, but this version of the poster looks cleaner and cooler.)

I watched MBC’s new weekend baseball drama, Strike Love [2009 외인구단], without any preconceived notions or expectations. I never read the original comic on which it is based, and I don’t much like sports (baseball being at the bottom of those I can endure watching when father/brother/friend figures insist upon it). But I had an inkling, based on the preview clip, that this drama might be watchable. And lo, it is. Quite.

I was sucked into Strike Love in the first 60 seconds. After the first episode, I sighed, “Aw, man,” because I was hoping it would be bad so I could clear off my plate a little. After the second episode, I figured this meant I’d have to rearrange my list of drama priorities.

SONG OF THE DAY

EZ Hyoung – “Floating World.” There’s a nice song that plays several times in Strike Love, and it reminds me of EZ Hyoung whenever it comes on. So here’s some EZ Hyoung. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Strike Love (MBC) (2,989 words)

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Post tags: first episodes, Kim Min-jung, Park Sung-min, Song Ah-young, Strike Love, Yoon Tae-young

MBC’s upcoming baseball drama Strike Love [2009외인구단, for which I previously used the literal translation Alien Baseball Team], is another drama adapted from a popular manhwa, and has fans eager for its premiere next month.

The sports-themed series stars Yoon Tae-young (Legend) in the lead role of baseball player Kachi, while Kim Min-jung (New Heart) is cast as his love interest Omji (or Umji).

I wasn’t sure how I’d like this drama, but the new preview video clip makes it look pretty good (watch below).

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Read the rest of MBC winds up for baseball drama Strike Love (375 words)

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Post tags: Kim Min-jung, manhwa adaptations, Strike Love, Yoon Tae-young