Cast and crew hold first script read for JTBC’s Woohoo Waikiki season 2
by tipsymocha
It’s always interesting to see dramaland take on season formats that are still considered a little unconventional in Korea, and I’ll be sure to check out the latest entry, JTBC’s Woohoo Waikiki 2. The show has recast nearly all of the main characters, save for Lee Yi-kyung (Red Moon, Blue Sun), and while normally, I would be mad about it, the new faces are promising enough for me to give this new dynamic a chance.
The cast and crew of this wacky rom-com’s second outing recently convened to hold the show’s first script reading. The director, Lee Chang-min, and writer, Kim Ki-ho, are some of the holdovers from the first season, which should help with continuity of the show’s feel and affinity for slapstick comedy. And, of course, at the center of the story is Lee Yi-kyung, returning as the struggling actor who is barely eking out a living.
He will be joined this season by Shin Hyun-soo (Twelve Nights) and Kim Sun-ho (100 Days My Prince), both friends from college who somehow get roped into running the titular guest house, which remains in a state of near bankruptcy. Shin Hyun-soo’s character is a former baseball prodigy, who’s described as clumsy and naive. Kim Sun-ho’s character is on the other side of the personality spectrum: A former idol whose group never made it to stardom, but still nurses a dream of becoming a singer, he’s also known as the world’s prickliest man, which should definitely make his road to fame that much easier (*cough* sarcasm *cough*).
Of course, all three friends share a common first love in Moon Ga-young (The Great Seducer), described as lovable and having that 4D oddness so often attributed to the adorably quirky in dramaland. At the outset, she seems to have everything, but one morning, she loses it all due to some unknown event, and ends up moving into the guest house. She’ll be joined by Ahn So-hee (Entourage), making a drama comeback after three years primarily in Chungmuro, who will play another college friend of Lee Yi-kyung. She’s a struggling actress as well, and is something of a part-time expert, juggling as many as she can in order to meet her immediate needs.
And last but not least is Kim Ye-won (Heart Surgeons), who will play Kim Sun-ho’s older sister. Known for her scathing and witty comebacks, she establishes her as the queen bee and at the top of the food chain at the guest house (lol). I’ve enjoyed Kim Ye-won’s portrayals where she’s played these types of characters before, since she somehow makes them likable despite her characters’ flaws. I hope we can expect that same likability in this youth drama about friendship, love, and taking risks for dreams.
Woohoo Waikiki 2 will air on JTBC starting next month, following currently airing The Light in Your Eyes.
Via JTBC, Seoul Shinmun
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Tags: Ahn So-hee, Kim Sun-ho, Kim Ye-won, Lee Yi-kyung, Moon Ga-young, Shin Hyun-soo, Woohoo Waikiki, Woohoo Waikiki 2
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1 JustMe
February 24, 2019 at 5:30 PM
This dynamic seems to be oddly similar to the one in season 1. Ie, the girl who had everything and lost it all (kinda like Soo-ah), or the grouchy idol guy (like Dong-gu), the fact two of them are siblings, the part timer (kinda like Doo-sik).... And that's all fine but it just makes me miss the old cast. *Be positive, be positive*
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Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
February 24, 2019 at 6:02 PM
What’s hard is that the first season was carried by the chemistry between the cast (especially the three guys), and they are going to have to give me a pretty darn good reasons he’s the only left at the guesthouse....
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Martin J Simwaba
February 24, 2019 at 11:46 PM
The plot seems like it's a reboot of the first season
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2 LollyPip
February 24, 2019 at 5:44 PM
I'm so torn. Woohoo Waikiki is one of my favorite shows I've ever recapped, so I'm sad only one of the original cast is back.That said, it's the one who played my favorite character, and I really REALLY like the other actors. If it doesn't try to recreate the first season and finds its own personality, I'm on board for Season Two.
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JustMe
February 24, 2019 at 5:55 PM
EXACTLY! (You're recapping again, right?) The first season managed to surprise me with their recurring jokes and how it just got better and better with each episode.
What I fear most is if this season will make me hate the first....
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LollyPip
February 24, 2019 at 5:56 PM
I don't know yet, but I'd like to!
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egads aka Dame Maggie
February 24, 2019 at 8:08 PM
I still have fond memories of Queen of Mystery. Thank goodness there was no second season to taint those memories.
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
February 24, 2019 at 10:48 PM
Yes, but I'm sad we'll never know if they became involved romantically.
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frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
February 25, 2019 at 1:40 AM
We just need to think of Age of Youth 2! I considered that ten times better than the first series.
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3 Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
February 24, 2019 at 5:59 PM
I’m just... sad about this news... Drama gods are so twisted in how they answer our prayers for second seasons 😿
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🍙 kimbap noona
February 24, 2019 at 6:04 PM
Son Seung-won likely makes an appearance in......neither. 😭
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mianmian
February 24, 2019 at 8:06 PM
I loved our trio as well! It’s so sad that one couldn’t figure out how not to drink and drive, and the other got too stressed in playing a very dark role. Plus isn’t Lee Yi Kyung dating the main girl from the first one in real life? So even though it’s unfortunate I understand why the recasting had to be done.
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Amy
February 25, 2019 at 12:04 AM
They broke up not soon after the drama ended.
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4 🍙 kimbap noona
February 24, 2019 at 6:01 PM
If Go Won--hee makes a cameo appearance, will she choose her former handsome reformed chaebol boyfriend or her funny (also handsome) actor boyfriend?
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WishfulToki
February 24, 2019 at 6:35 PM
Psst do you remember where we last saw Kim Ye Won? This is a step up. *cough*Richmanpoorwoman*cough*
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🍙 kimbap noona
February 25, 2019 at 9:52 AM
Oh yes, @wishfultoki, a definite drama step up, but she would have to step down from being a Rich Woman who is a gallery owner to (possibly) a Poor Woman who is the top of her food chain in an youth hostel.
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superwhopotterlock
February 24, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Definitely her struggling actor bf. Her reformed chaebol husband became successful again, went abroad and left her to take care of his dog, while busy cheating on her. Till a handsome house helper knocks some sense into her.
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🍙 kimbap noona
February 25, 2019 at 9:49 AM
Hahahahaha @superwhopotterlock, you win the best cross-drama meta reference of the year!!
I need to forget about that epilogue/cameo for this possible love triangle cameo to work, and no need to bring in an adorkable attorney with a serious one-sided crush into the mix!!
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superwhopotterlock
February 25, 2019 at 11:25 AM
Thank you for the honor bestowed. *bows respectfully*.
Oh my god! Totally forgot about that. Three's a crowd! Definitely don't want that.
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immawish
February 27, 2019 at 4:19 AM
OH MY GOD i KNOW there was smth tying kim sunho and lee yikyung i just don't know what kxjdhzhs turns out it's go wonhee. I do hope they failed to get the cast bcs of conflicting schedule instead of bad deal so that she can make appearance a la Kang Unni in Age of Youth 2
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5 KSJung
February 24, 2019 at 7:11 PM
I'm having Let's Eat trepidations and kinda holding my breath. But of course I'm trying to keep an open mind and will check it out.
Speaking of season two's (and seeing some other dramas being productive).... forever waiting on Signal 2, please Drama Gods hear my plea, patience has never been one of my virtues.
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lemoncello
February 24, 2019 at 11:25 PM
Plus one to "Forest of Secrets"....
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bong-soo
February 25, 2019 at 9:24 AM
Plus one for TEN 3 which will be further delayed since I believe Choi Woo-shik will be fulfilling his military commitment this year.
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KSJung
February 25, 2019 at 1:23 PM
I appreciate this reminder that I hadn't watched this drama yet!, was on my list of to do's. Viki does not support in my area so I'll need luck to find it.
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annnsow
February 27, 2019 at 12:45 AM
At this point I doubt it'll ever happen
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bong-soo
February 27, 2019 at 5:13 AM
Probably not. I have fond memories of SPECIAL AFFAIRS TEAM TEN (2011/12). It was my third kdrama (after HEALER and HIDDEN IDENTITY) when I came to the world of kdramas in 2016.
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6 Fatcat007 (Kitty 💜)
February 24, 2019 at 7:57 PM
With only one actor from the original cast, how does this count as second season? :(
Feels more like a spin-off to me.
Not that I'm not supportive but I was really hoping for a s2 with at least half of the original cast present.
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7 samchunfan
February 24, 2019 at 8:47 PM
Definitely sad to see at least 1/2 of the cast return. I also was hoping that Kang Hanna would have played a lead female role as first reported a few months back, I guess they must never have come to terms. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.
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8 Cafe
February 24, 2019 at 8:48 PM
I don't like the recast to be honest... this feels more like a spin-off than a sequel tho.
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9 mary
February 24, 2019 at 9:07 PM
For a moment there, I feared they'd recast the actors but kept the characters, just with a new face. Whew~ this news is a bit better. Waikiki is one of those few kdramas that can still work with a new cast, so fingers crossed for this one.
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10 pantamy
February 24, 2019 at 10:06 PM
I'm quite excited for this season, although they recast almost everyone, the good news is the same director and writers that took part from the 1st season will be doing it again this season. This season may be crazier, funnier and more fun than the former. Plus, I'm a big fan of Kim Sunho, I've been eyeing on him since Chief Kim days.
There's probably a reason why they need Yikyung and he accept this role again. Will the old guesthouse remain or a new one? Is it a continuation from the 1st season (assuming everyone got moved out) or an alternate timeline. How about his relationship with Seojin?
I'm curious about Shin Hyunsoo that he got casted with a different role not the one that he cameod last season (a model who can't smell)
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11 seoul_searcher
February 24, 2019 at 10:46 PM
i'm cautiously optimistic about this season seeing as it is a light drama and i would have been more worried if it was a plot based show like mystery queen or others. Its crazy how the second season cast are somehow related to the first through previous works. i can only hope it is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining as that was the charm of the first one.
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12 pantamy
February 24, 2019 at 11:08 PM
Meanwhile, the teaser is already out!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAqslm2y-3k
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13 melodyofrain
February 25, 2019 at 12:16 AM
I'm actually pretty sad since we didn't get half of the original cast for the S2, but hearing that Kim Sun Ho & Shin Hyun Soo will be joining it makes me excited to watch it, and it's funny knowing that Shin Hyun Soo actually appeared as cameo in Season 1.
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14 beantown
February 25, 2019 at 2:44 AM
Would Terius be OK without So Ji-sub? Would Mystery Queen still work without Choi Kang-hee?
I loved Woohoo Waikiki, and a huge part of why was the characters.
I just can't see this reboot working, and frankly, it minimizes the critical contribution of actors, so I'll probably stay away.
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SnarkyJellyfish
February 25, 2019 at 11:21 AM
But isn't this exactly why this would work better than a second season of those shows? Waikiki is character driven, so if there are new characters with new stories I think it would be better than a second season of a normal drama. Most dramas are serialized storytelling where if you miss an episode you're losing out in terms of plot. You get things tied up (mostly, even if unstatisfactorily).
What I loved about Waikiki was that it was more episodic and loose, so you could pick it up anywhere. Yes, there was an overall plot arc, but because it was more character driven it meant that switching up the elements wouldn't change the overall formula much. I'll absolutely miss the original characters, but I'm willing to give the new ones a chance. All that matters to me is that the tone and writing remain consistent.
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beantown
February 25, 2019 at 12:23 PM
@snarkyjellyfish. It will be definitely be interesting to see how they do.....(You know I will be unable to resist sneaking over to watch for at least the first episode or
two!)
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SnarkyJellyfish
February 25, 2019 at 12:40 PM
I was only planning on being worried if they had new people behind the scenes. I thought (though not everyone agrees) that Let's Eat worked with this formula of having one carryover character in a new set of circumstances with its three seasons. I think Age of Youth was smart in how it had new characters integrated with the old cast too (though I wish they'd just replaced one character instead of that recast, which was not great). Those shows both kept their quirky tone and were enjoyable despite the changes.
I can't think of a drama that has made me laugh more than Waikiki, so I'm really hoping to have more of that again. And Jun-ki is probably the funniest of all, so I'm glad he's the through thread. Though I will miss the adorable Sol, and I hope they manage to have a cameo or two just to say good-bye.
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15 jaderjylsk
February 25, 2019 at 6:12 AM
I'm really really sad it's only Jun-ki returning. I have watched the new actors in other dramas and I really like them so I don't doubt they can do a good job.
It's just that the first season sold me on the wacky but solid friendship of the trio who stuck together through thick and thin (literally and figuratively..lol) and I just can't easily set that aside. Tbh, I will wait out the reviews for this. Otherwise, I may sit it out, just so I can retain my fond memories of Season 1.
Oh well, I hope that the new characters will not be cut-outs of the previous cast characters just packaged anew.
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16 mk
February 25, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Not sure how I feel about this soft reboot but I love all the ladies involved so they've already got me for at least the first week lol
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17 ys
February 25, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Love Kim Yewon so much. She does often play mean, spoiled characters and still I love her. Sohee I've only seen in Train to Busan and she was Terrible. I hope she's not Lee Yikyung's love interest. That would be such a waste.
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18 spazmo
February 25, 2019 at 2:37 PM
i will try this mainly because of the addition of Kim Sun Ho...
; )
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19 Vicki
February 27, 2019 at 12:10 AM
What if this drama is like a movie about the first season; like autobiographic? I mean, written for Doo Shik, directed for Dong Goo and acted for Jun Ki? That would mean that what happened in the 1° season is not destroyed in this one.
In other news, I really like the cast in this one even if I will miss the ones in the previous one (especially Doo Shik, Soo Ah and Seo Jin)
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20 Dongsaeng
March 8, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Pls wait for me i stiil have to watch season 1😳
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