'Miss Trot 4' Delivers Unprecedented Mixed-Gender Team Medley Performance

The latest episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Miss Trot 4' showcased an unprecedented mixed-gender team medley performance.

Aired on the 29th, the show recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 13.2%, with peak ratings reaching 14.2%. It has dominated the ratings for all programs across all channels for seven consecutive weeks.

The episode featured the third round of the main competition, a medley team mission. For the first time in the series, a 'Miss & Mister' mixed-gender team medley mission was held, delivering legendary performances that captivated viewers. The competition was intense, with only a 1-point difference between teams, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

In the medley team mission, only the first-place team survives, while all others face elimination. The mission consists of two rounds, with scores from both the masters and the national representative panel combined for a total of 2000 points per round. In this episode, only the celebrity master scores, out of a possible 1500 points, were revealed. In this first-ever mixed-gender team mission, the top 5 contestants from the 1:1 deathmatch—Yoon Yoon-seo, Gil Ryeo-won, Heo Chan-mi, Lee Elijah, and Yeom Yu-ri—selected 1-2 members from the 'Mr. Trot 3' top 7 to join their teams. The Trotmen impressed with performances that surpassed their own competition days, showcasing their wild card-level presence.

First up was Gil Ryeo-won's team 'Miss Blue Jeans,' featuring a powerful lineup including nursing student Gil Ryeo-won, clear-voiced Kang Bo-kyung, 17-year veteran Kim Da-na, Lee Se-young who gave up laughter for trot, and 18-year veteran Yoon Tae-hwa. Their medley of 'Blue Jeans,' 'Really,' 'Mapo Terminal,' and 'Amor Fati' was a dopamine explosion. Yoon Tae-hwa and Kim Da-na's rendition of So Chan-whee's 'Wise Choice' received high praise for their extreme high notes. Kim Yong-bin, moved to tears, delivered a heartwarming harmony with Gil Ryeo-won on Joo Hyun-mi's 'Love Letter,' reminiscent of a trot campus couple. 'Miss Blue Jeans' scored an impressive 1439 points.

Next, 'Bongjin2' featured Yoon Yoon-seo, Lee So-na, Jeok Woo, 18-year veteran Chae Yoon, and little Joo Hyun-mi Kim Hye-jin. Their medley included 'Sseurirang' and 'Jini,' with Jeok Woo challenging traditional trot for the first time with 'Maiden Boatman,' showcasing impressive vocal techniques. 'Mr. Trot 3's Son Bin-ah captivated with her signature high notes on 'Girls' Generation' and 'Beautiful River and Mountain.' Lee So-na's sexy dance and stable vocals earned her high praise. 'Bongjin2' scored 1438 points, just 1 point behind 'Miss Blue Jeans.'

Then, 'At Girls,' led by Lee Elijah, took the stage. The team included actress Lee Elijah, genre-bending Yumi, breast cancer stage 3 fighter Lee Ji-na, musical actress Shin Hyun-ji, and Myanmar girl Wani Hwa. Their medley of 'Ah! Hot,' 'Eternal Friend,' and 'Companion' was highlighted by a performance of god's 'Road' with 'Mr. Trot 3's Cheon Rok-dam, which Kim Yeon-ja praised as sounding like a 60-member choir. Yumi and Cheon Rok-dam's duet on 'Hongyeon' delivered chills with their harmony. 'At Girls' scored 1377 points.

'Hit Train,' featuring Heo Chan-mi, small giant Hong Sung-yoon, trot prodigy Bae Seo-yeon, 10-year veteran Jung Hye-rin, and office worker Kim Yoo-ri, delivered a standout performance. Starting with Bae Seo-yeon's clear voice on 'Balloon,' followed by 'First Car,' Heo Chan-mi and Chu Hyuk-jin's fiery performance on Jang Yoon-jung's 'It Was You,' and the high-energy 'Heungbo is Amazing.' The masters were amazed, declaring, "This team is definitely number one." Monica praised Bae Seo-yeon as a genius showing her soul, and compared Heo Chan-mi and Chu Hyuk-jin's performance to a Super Bowl show by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. The duet of school and audition seniors Choi Jae-myung and Hong Sung-yoon on 'As You Live' moved the audience to tears. 'Hit Train' scored 1440 points, surpassing 'Miss Blue Jeans' by 1 point to take the top spot in the master scores.

Finally, 'Vita O Girl,' led by Yeom Yu-ri, took the stage. The team included trot's Lim Soo-jung Yeom Yu-ri, versatile Jang Hye-ri, dancer-turned-trot star Yoo Soo-bi, taekkyeon girl Won Ha-yeon, and unique-voiced Kim San-ha. Their shocking fire show performance was reminiscent of will-o'-the-wisps, leaving everyone in awe. The outcome of the medley team mission, with its 1-point margin, now hinges on the national representative panel's vote.

Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr