K-Mondays: The Return of Superman (KBS variety).

This variety show is a new one by KBS, which is also airing on KBS World TV. I got to know this show because of news from Allkpop.com mostly about Tablo's (Epik High) daughter, Haru. I'm a fan of Epik High and I really like Tablo and his wife Kang Hye Jung, that's why I wanted to watch this. Last Christmas vacation I watched some of the latest episodes of this show and I found it really cute.

The situation is like this: the mothers of the children will be out for 2 days and so the kids will stay with their dads and do chores or fun stuff which was left by mommy on the notes. The following celebrities are the participants in this show..

Choo Sung Hoon with his daughter, Choo Sarang. Sarang is a really bubbly (sort of) spoiled daughter of Choo Sung Hoon and his Japanese model wife, Shiho Yano. Sarang eats really well and she's really cute with her bangs and short, thin hair. Being a daughter, she's always being spoiled by her dad.

Lee Hwi Jae is with his twin baby sons. I think he has the most difficult job among the fathers since his kids are only 6 months old and still can't sleep at the proper time yet, and there are two of them. Nonetheless, the kids are already showing personalities and they're cute.

Jang Hyun Sung is with his two sons. His kids are more grown up than the rest of the kids, and the challenge for him is to properly teach his two sons how to be responsible at their age, while also hanging out with them to have fun.

Lastly, we have Tablo and his daughter, Haru. At the screenshot above, he witnesses his daughter holding hands with her friend. He was the one who asked his daughter to go look around the zoo with her friends and Haru took the initiative to hold the hand of the young boy so that they can look around together, but Tablo already got jealous of the young boy. Haha! He's so cute. Anyway, Haru is quite smart and mature, although really picky about food. She looks like her father because her eyes are the same as him.

This reality show is a really cute one because of the different personalities of the kids and the funny ways the fathers try to raise their child without the mom's help. I hope this continues and I will continue watching it online, on KBS World TV's Youtube channel.

Here's episode 7 (with English subtitles) from Youtube:

Tuesday Running Man: Episode 179, Cooking Battle part 1.

This episode is the part one of Running Man's cooking battle. In this part, the members, along with their guest partners, gathered ingredients and learned how to properly and deliciously cook them.

Yoo Jae Suk is with Park Soo Hong for this challenge. 

Song Ji Hyo is together with Lee Dong Wook in her hometown, Pohang.

Ji Suk Jin is partnered with Kim Kyung Ho, the rock star.

Lee Kwang Soo with pabo brother John Park.

Kang Gary is with Jaekyung of Rainbow.

Haha is with Sungkyu of Infinite, and they're in Jeonju!

Finally, we have Kim Jong Kook partnered with model Song Kyung Ah.

In Pohang, Ji Hyo met her cousin nearby the market where they were heading to.

The main ingredient for these two are crabs!

These two were informed that they will be getting advice from a "chicken expert," and they suspected that it was from Lee Gae In, which turned out to be true.

Their main ingredient, as they are both health conscious, is chicken. They also got some fresh vegetables from Lee Gae In's backyard, although they weren't able to get some of his chickens.

Suk Jin and Kim Kyung Ho got some oysters from an oyster field.

Jae Suk and Soo Hong's main ingredient is fish. They even went fishing, and Soo Hong caught all three of their catch. 

Ji Hyo and Dong Wook enjoyed their fresh squid by the sea.

Kyung Ah and Jong Kook went to the chicken farm that Lee Gae In suggested and got some healthy hens.

For this episode, it had an interview portion of some of the members (and guests).

Jae Suk thought that he got something big since his fishing reel was really curving and really hard to reel in, but then it was just stuck to the bottom..

As I mentioned earlier, Soo Hong caught all the fishes, even this big one.

Haha and Sungkyu learned to cook delicious Jeonju bibimbap.

Haha was also interviewed..

Gary and Jaekyung learned how to cook their main ingredient, beef, with some delicious pear. They cooked grilled beef patty.

These two ahjussis acted like Jack and Rose in Titanic.

They got teot by the sea, and that's why they rode the boat.

John Park and Kwang Soo learned how to make noodles, their main ingredient. John Park was praised by the chef for doing good (or better) than Kwang Soo. Kwang Soo ruined his dough by putting too much water.

They also learned how to properly season the noodle soup.

Jae Suk and Soo Hong ate spicy fish soup while Soo Hong determines the ingredients of the soup, since he is a licensed Korean chef or something like that.

Suk Jin and rock star Kyung Ho also caught eels.

They also learned how to cook very delicious eel, oyster, and teot meals.

These two same-aged friends played by the sea, and Dong Wook lost right from the start and so Ji Hyo got her wish of Dong Wook carrying her.

Sungkyu, being from Jeonju, and along with Haha, played with the citizens before going to the final cooking battle location.

The cooking battle has four popular judges who are knowledgeable about food. The judges are (from right to left) Raymond Kim, Shim Young Soon, Jung Da Jung, and Louie Kang.

They finally enter the cooking battle arena.

It's not until next week, Sunday, that we will be able to find out who's getting scolded by the judges and who's really going to win this battle.

K-Mondays: Badump Badump (두근두근) ~Gag Concert Skit~

Badump Badump is a skit on Gag Concert which is my current favorite skit now. When I went to Dubai for the holidays, I watched Gag Concert on KBS World and tried to look for good skits, since I wasn't familiar with the skits anymore (because they were all new ones). 

Guy: Why did you suddenly ask to see a movie?

Girl: I've wanted to see this, and you're the only one that was free.

Guy: Why would you watch this movie? You only watch action movies. 

Why watch a romantic comedy? Do you want to be in a relationship?

*cue opening tune of Ode to my Family by The Cranberries*

I like this skit because it's not your usual skit with all the funny lines and body gags but because it's based on a love story between two friends who are too afraid to admit that they like each other and so when it's being implied (that they like each other), they go all "OMG he/she's going to find out" or "I really like this feeling but I can't tell him/her" on their minds. There are many instances and the screen shot above is one example. The situation is funny itself. They would always do things together (like watch a movie) and insist that they only do so because they're both single and really good friends yet they don't want to admit to each other that they do want to be in a relationship (with one another) or something like that. The opening tune of the "Ode to my Family" by The Cranberries is the background music for when they're feeling all fuzzy inside that they seem like a couple but they're not (officially) committed. 

Another part of this skit is the funny younger sister of the girl who is also close to the guy, since they're good friends. The younger sister would always see the two doing something together outside which often seems like a date. However, when the sister would finally say a line that should be "Are you two dating?," instead she will say something else that would make them seem like they're indeed just friends, and that would be the punch line.

In the end, these two would still be friends that has feelings for each other that they would never(?) admit, and that's just too funny for us viewers. We'll never know, once this skit ends, the two idiots might eventually end up together like they would always do in the dramas and movies. For now, let's just enjoy them being all giddy inside and while denying that they want to be in each other's arms! (while we laugh at them)

You can watch Gag Concert on KBS World TV Youtube channel.

J-Wednesdays 水曜日だ！: Strobe Edge.

English translated volume 1 of Strobe Edge.

Strobe Edge is a shoujo manga by Io Sakisaka. It's set in high school, like most shoujo mangas are, and is about a teenage girl who falls in love for the first time. Ninako is a 15-year old girl who falls in love with a popular guy in his grade, Ren. Everyone loves Ren because he's charismatic and so many girls have already been rejected by him. One thing about Ren though is that he already has a long-time girlfriend who is older than he is and is really pretty. His girlfriend, Mayuka, is a college student and is a model. Mayuka is Daiki's older sister. Now who the hell is Daiki? Daiki, during the first few chapters, is shown as Ninako's best friend and apparently had a crush on Ninako for quite a while. He was into Ninako until she rejected him because of her love for Ren. Now Daiki will have a new love interest, and I'll leave it at that. 

There are other characters that will pop up in later chapters of this manga who are all quite important to the story. Since it's a shoujo manga, expect a lot of cheesy and fun moments in the story. In this first volume that I have, the author mentioned that she wanted this manga to become something that everyone could relate with, and created it to contain such emotions that most of us had probably already felt. When I read that, it really stuck with me through my reading of this manga. To be honest, if I didn't read that statement by the mangaka, I wouldn't have continued to read this manga because of its cheesiness. However, the emotions being shown in this manga mostly by the main character, Ninako, is of an innocent love for Ren, and I quite understand that despite the excessive "shoujo manga cliché" that it shows the readers.

Anyway, I just finished this pure and cute story of Ninako and Ren, and I want the song that's stuck with me since it was mentioned that this song is the one Ninako was listening to in a certain chapter of this manga. For those who have already read Strobe Edge, may this song make you remember Ninako's pure and innocent love for Ren.

Chiisana Koi no Uta 「小さな恋の歌」 by MONGOL 800

Enjoy and Happy New Year!「明けましておめでとう」

Tuesday Running Man: Episode 178, Running Man vs Production Team

This week's episode was so exciting, since from the preview last week we see that they might be trying to cross the Han river by a boat made from carton. Now that I've watched it, it really is, and how fun must it be to play against the production team again and do those seemingly impossible games.

The episode started with the Running Man team protesting the number of water games within the year and other difficult missions as well. The Production team then made a deal that if the Running Man team wins on this episode, then they will abolish the water games.

The first game the Running Man team has to play is a gigantic Jenga, where they have to remove a certain number of Jenga pieces with someone sitting on the top of the Jenga tower.

Ji Hyo was the one picked to sit on top of the Jenga tower, not because the other Running Man members are afraid but because "Ji Hyo is the lightest one." Which is probably just an excuse by the other members. Haha!

Kim Jong Kook trying to drill into the Jenga piece so that he can hold to it easily while taking it out from the tower.

Running Man finished the task with not much effort, and so the Production Team negotiated with them that if they get 3 more blocks, they get 20 Running balls for this mission.

While they were negotiating, Ji Hyo fell asleep on top of the Jenga tower. She was so relaxed on top of it that she was able to take a short nap.

The Running Man team won with their team work and more of Jong Kook's nagging!

On the next location, they found cartons, cutters, and tapes. Indeed, they will be crossing the Han river with a boat that they made. Kim Jong Kook, Yoo Jae Suk, Lee Kwang Soo, and Kang Gary are all on one team to make and ride their own 4-seater boat, while Haha, Song Ji Hyo, and Ji Suk Jin make and ride a 3-seater.

Ji Suk Jin trying to make a model of the boat that they should make.

When they applied the model to the huge carton, it didn't look at all sturdy and so they gave up on that model.

Haha then showed Ji Suk Jin how easy it is to just fold the carton instead of cutting out that model. Ji Suk Jin realized it too.

Both teams finished their respective boats and securely wrapped it with tape. They also put cameras on it. 

The 4-seater and the 3-seater boats are ready and so is the Running Man team.

They finally started their journey through the Han river. The time that they have to beat for this challenge is 30 minutes, and respective number of Running balls will be given for certain situations. (like if only one makes it to the other side) However, they will receive 20 Running balls if one of the boats make it to the other side within 25 minutes.

Haha was the captain for the 3-seater boat and was sailing smoothly, which was unexpected since they sloppily made the boat.

The 4-seater boat captained by Yoo Jae Suk was difficult to maintain because of its height, and so there was danger of it capsizing early on.

And so it indeed capsized. The four men (f4) plunged into the cold water of Han river and was immediately rescued by the life-guards standing-by.

F4 was cold and their boat was ruined by their fall. However, they still wanted to continue the mission with just 10 minutes spent on trying to sail and their fall.

On the other hand, the 3-seater boat lead by Haha is still sailing smoothly on the Han river. It was going slowly but surely.

And so F4 went back to the water again, and they removed the upper part of the boat so they sat on the raft part. It indeed was more stable that way.

Another challenge came on F4's way again upon going back to the water. A motorboat went across them and created a small wave. They had to just relax themselves and stop rowing for a while to let the wave pass.

Haha, Ji Hyo, and Suk Jin also stopped for a while to drink water.

The Production Team asked the F4 if they were too tired to go on but the team wanted to continue on and didn't give up halfway.

The 3-seater boat was nearing the other side of the Han river.

Song Ji Hyo grabbed the flag upon arriving to the bank.

Haha really did his best for this mission and succeeded as a captain. The part where there was no background music and just silence upon them arriving on the other side of the Han river was so touching.

The three celebrated as they found out that they arrived within 25 minutes of rowing endlessly! 

The F4 was finally arriving and the three cheered them on as they arrive.

Wet, cold, and exhausted, they found out that they exceeded 30 minutes, but then it was also informed to them that the first boat arrived within 25 minutes and so they still get 20 Running balls.

The next game is gymnastics. The Running Man team relaxed first as they ate desserts.

Ji Hyo's role is to jump 10 times within a hula hoop.

Gary, with much effort and frustration, should throw a ball upwards, roll over, and catch the ball with his legs.

Jong Kook must twirl a ribbon while turning 2 times with one foot on the ground.

Kwang Soo's role was to throw two clubs upwards, turn two times, and then catch them. However, it was really hard to do and so being the naughty guy, he threw the clubs onto the PDs. Haha!

Seeing as they have difficulty in finishing their acts within the given 7 minutes, they pleaded their case and was allowed to change their roles in exchange of 3 Running balls. Also, if they do their mission successfully in the 2nd try, they win 20 Running balls.

Jong Kook exchanged his role with Haha's, which is to throw three hula hoops and jump on it one by one, without stopping.

Haha then did the ribbon twirling act.

Jae Suk's role was to bounce the ping pong ball 10 times with the club.

Kwang Soo's act was made easier because it was changed so that he would only turn once and then catch the clubs.

Ji Suk Jin's mission is to bounce the ball on his shoulders five times.

Lastly, Gary did his mission successfully also with a calm face. Running Man team won 20 Running balls again but 3 of them will go to the Production team as promised.

Now is the final battle between the two teams through draw lots.

Announcer Kim Hwan was the one to draw the winner from the balls and so from the 57 balls of Running Man team and 33 balls of the Production team, the Production team's ball was drawn!

Even though the Production team won, the production team themselves made a mistake and so the water was splashed to the representatives of the production team on stage.

The Production Team still won, and so the water games will still go on and on.

Next week's episode is a cooking special! There will be a number of guest stars partnered up with the Running Man members in this episode.