Kim Tae-ho's 'Manito Club': A New Variety Show with a Heartfelt Message

"'Manito Club' aims to present three acts of sharing in an omnibus format. From the start, I envisioned it like a Christmas season omnibus film. While such films may not always achieve great box office success, we focused more on the message. The program was created by those who agreed with this intention."

Kim Tae-ho, the renowned producer, shared these thoughts during a roundtable interview about his new MBC variety show 'Manito Club'. In a recent interview held in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Kim PD explained the show's concept and production process. 'Manito Club' is a variety show with the theme of 'a group of people who know how to share one into two'. Despite the anticipation as the comeback project of a star producer and its global star-studded cast, the show has seen ratings drop to the 1% range.

'Manito Club' operates in three seasons, with different cast members for each. Season 1 featured Choo Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, Lee Soo-ji, Dex, and Jennie. Season 2 included Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Jung Hae-in, Go Yoon-jung, and Kim Do-hoon. Season 3 completes the lineup with Cha Tae-hyun, Hwang Kwang-hee, Park Bo-young, Lee Sun-bin, and Kang Hoon.

Kim PD, known for his influential work on 'Infinite Challenge', left a lasting legacy even eight years after the show's end. However, his subsequent projects like 'My Name is Gabriel', 'Good Day', and 'Manito Club' have not met the same level of success.

"Of course, it would be great to receive more love. It's a challenge for us. However, as we progressed to seasons 2 and 3, I felt we successfully conveyed the intended message. I've always hoped that the show's concept would resonate positively with people, creating sustainability beyond immediate success."

Kim expressed his greatest satisfaction in seeing the cast members continue to communicate and organize events or gatherings even after filming. This movement towards something beyond mere camaraderie was significant for the production team.

He continued, "This is something I discussed with PD Na Young-seok. Nowadays, even the combined ratings of all shows struggle to match the success of a single episode from the past. This led to much contemplation about content consumption. Ultimately, the impact of content on our lives is an important metric."

"Even if 'Manito Club' doesn't show significant numbers, if the cast's heartfelt energy reaches someone, that's rewarding enough."

Kim also views this project as a 'membership'. "By expanding the pool of participants, there's potential to develop other forms of content. With 16 people connected to the program from seasons 1 to 3, there's a possibility for some to reappear in future projects, though nothing is set in stone yet."

Regarding the three-season format, he explained, "Nowadays, it's rare for people to watch all 12 episodes of a series. I often miss them due to a hectic schedule. So, we considered condensing it into four episodes for a more complete and enjoyable experience."

Finally, Kim commented on the current content market trends, "OTT platforms and traditional broadcasts each excel in creating tailored content. There's a growing preference for high-dopamine content like survival or genre shows, which narrows the range of genres. Without trying new or overlooked genres, experience can't be gained. I can imagine because I have experience, but it's not easy for PDs without it," emphasizing the significance of 'Manito Club's' concept.

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