MBC's 'Manito Club' Brings Back No Hong-chul with a Heartfelt Twist

"Seeing No Hong-chul recently, he's been hosting private events and traveling with young people. He used to be loved for his raw character, but now he's giving back that love in a different way. That's why I thought he was perfect for the first season."

These are the words of Kim Tae-ho, the producer of MBC's new variety show 'Manito Club,' during a roundtable interview. The interview took place on the 20th, discussing the show which is themed around a group of people who know how to share what they receive. It's a chaotic undercover gift-giving variety program.

'Manito Club' operates in three seasons, each with a different cast. The first season featured Choo Sung-hoon, No Hong-chul, Lee Soo-ji, Dex, and Jennie, creating a buzz. The second season includes Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, and Kim Do-hoon. The third season is set to feature Cha Tae-hyun, Hwang Kwang-hee, Park Bo-young, Lee Sun-bin, and Kang Hoon.

No Hong-chul's return to broadcast television in the first season drew significant attention. Known for his 'eccentric' character on shows like 'Infinite Challenge,' his appearances had dwindled over time.

Producer Kim commented on No Hong-chul's transformation, saying, "There have been significant changes in his life. I really like the current tone of Hong-chul. He seems to think deeply about life and has many concerns." He added, "With people looking up to him as a role model, he seems to be contemplating what positive messages he can leave behind."

He also shared an amusing anecdote, "I thought, 'Who doesn't know No Hong-chul?' but Choo Sung-hoon didn't. I was quite taken aback." The show depicted No Hong-chul and Choo Sung-hoon forming a bond and traveling to Japan together.

The first season of 'Manito Club' featured stories of delivering special gifts to elementary school students. Producer Kim explained, "I initially worried that the term 'Manito' might be outdated. However, I was reassured when I found that it's still used today." He continued, "While researching elementary schools, I noticed many student council candidates promised to implement 'Manito' activities. They would say, 'If I become the school president, I'll organize Manito events.' This was one reason we chose elementary schools, as they could easily grasp the concept."

Kim reflected, "In today's world, where dopamine-inducing content is abundant, bringing 'Manito' into the mix involves some self-reflection. I've become accustomed to sending gifts via KakaoTalk for birthdays, as it's convenient and the gifts are nice. However, I realized I want to personally choose gifts for those I truly care about, but I haven't been doing that."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr