SBS's New Variety Show 'Aneun Jinja!' Faces Mixed Reactions and Low Ratings

In the era of content overload, TenAsia's Tae Yuna becomes your 'Variety Show Guide,' exploring hot issues, key points, main figures, and behind-the-scenes stories to enhance your viewing experience.

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Concerns about SBS's new variety show are becoming a reality. The familiar cast and format, criticized even before airing, evoke a sense of déjà vu rather than freshness. The frequent mentions of 'Dolsing Fourmen' blur the program's identity.

Premiering on the 2nd, 'Aneun Jinja!' is a character talk show that adds a universe and characters to the traditional talk show format. It is planned by CP Kwak Seung-young, known for 'My Little Old Boy' and 'My Turn,' and directed by PD Seo Ha-yeon, who previously directed 'Dolsing Fourmen.'

Lee Sang-min and Tak Jae-hoon returned to SBS with 'Aneun Jinja!' just two months after 'Dolsing Fourmen.' Joining them are Lee Soo-ji, who won the 'SBS Entertainment Awards' Rookie of the Year for 'My Turn,' and EXO's Kai, who previously worked with Tak Jae-hoon on tvN's 'Udo Jumak.'

'Aneun Jinja!' received mixed reactions from netizens before its broadcast. Some expressed fatigue over the repetitive cast and noted that it seemed like a blend of 'Dolsing Fourmen's talk show format and 'My Turn's character play. Comments like "Isn't it just a title change?" and "Same old, same old" reflected negative sentiments, while others anticipated a certain level of success due to the proven combination.

The most notable aspect of the first episode was the frequent mention of 'Dolsing Fourmen' by Lee Sang-min and Tak Jae-hoon. Despite the different nature of the two shows, Tak Jae-hoon repeatedly joked about the cancellation of 'Dolsing Fourmen' throughout the broadcast, calling Lee Sang-min a "program killer" and making jokes about award speeches. While their banter could be a source of humor, there are concerns that 'Aneun Jinja!' might be overshadowed by the image of the previous program.

Criticism also arose regarding the production style. The first episode featured a prison concept with situational skits, and the production team inserted laugh tracks that sounded like audience laughter after every comment by the hosts. However, the excessive repetition and loud volume of the laugh tracks were said to disrupt viewer immersion. In a time when viewers are increasingly critical of laugh tracks and sound effects, the use of such techniques in 'Aneun Jinja!' was seen as unfortunate.

The ratings also fell short of expectations, with the first episode recording a 1.9% viewership. This is about half of the average ratings for 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 - You Are My Destiny' (hereafter 'Same Bed 2'), which has never dropped to the 1% range in its nine-year run. If 'Same Bed 2,' now moved to Tuesday at 10:40 PM due to 'Aneun Jinja!' scheduling, sees a decline in ratings, it could be a burden for SBS.

However, Lee Soo-ji's character performance and Kai's fresh charm are seen as promising elements for 'Aneun Jinja!' Kai demonstrated quick wit among the seasoned members, and Lee Soo-ji attempted to bring change within the familiar combination through her character variations. The consensus is that 'Aneun Jinja!' should focus on establishing its own identity and charm, rather than being an extension of 'Dolsing Fourmen.'

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr