'Golden Friday' Debuts with Stellar Ratings and Unforgettable Performances

'Golden Friday' captivated audiences with its thrilling competitions and entertainment right from its premiere.

On the 26th, TV CHOSUN's new variety show 'Golden Friday' aired its first episode.

Featuring the TOP7 from 'Mr. Trot 3' and the winners from 'Miss Trot 3', the show kicked off with legendary trot singer Kim Yeon-ja as the first 'Golden Star'. The contestants engaged in one-on-one death matches with Kim Yeon-ja's iconic songs, delivering high-quality performances that mesmerized viewers.

According to Nielsen Korea, the premiere of 'Golden Friday' achieved a nationwide rating of 6.2%, with peak ratings reaching 6.9%. This made it the top-rated show across all networks, including terrestrial, cable, and comprehensive programming channels, securing its position as the leading Friday variety show.

The highlight of the episode was the 'Catfish Singer' round, featuring a showdown between three past winners of 'Miss & Mr. Trot'. Jeong Seo-joo from 'Miss Trot 3' charmed with a lively rendition of Kim Yeon-ja's 'You Are a Mean Butterfly', earning praise from Kim Yeon-ja herself, who reminisced about her younger days.

Following Jeong Seo-joo, Kim Yong-bin from 'Mr. Trot 3' delivered a heartfelt performance of Patti Kim's 'Love is Forever', drawing admiration from Kim Yeon-ja, who likened him to a painter of songs. Both contestants scored 98 points, resulting in a tie.

In a surprise twist, Yang Ji-eun from 'Miss Trot 2' appeared as the hidden 'Catfish Singer', shaking up the competition. She performed Kim Yeon-ja's 'Dear One' with excellence, scoring 99 points and narrowly defeating her competitors.

In the first round, Son Bin-ah was chosen by Bae Ah-hyun to perform, leading to a showdown between the season's runners-up. Son Bin-ah delivered a flawless performance of Kim Yeon-ja's 'Yeongdong Blues', earning a perfect score of 100 and claiming the first golden star.

The excitement continued with close scores in the 90s. In the third round, Cheon Rok-dam scored 93 with Im Jae-bum's 'For You', while Oh Yoo-jin scored 91 with 'Amor Fati', allowing Cheon Rok-dam to win the golden star. In the fourth round, despite scoring 90 with 'In Ten Minutes', Chun-gil lost to Nam Seung-min, who scored 89 with 'Is It True', in a dramatic one-point victory.

The winners of the first episode's golden stars were Son Bin-ah, Cheon Rok-dam, Chun-gil, and Choi Jae-myung. Kim Yeon-ja expressed her pride in the contestants, while Kim Yong-bin promised a stronger performance in the next episode.

With a mix of impressive performances, humor, and emotion, 'Golden Friday' has already captured the hearts of viewers. As the trot stars continue their golden battles, anticipation builds for the upcoming episodes.

TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' airs every Friday at 10 PM.

Im Chae-ryeong, Ten Asia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr