Kim Tae-ho's 'Crazy Tour': A New Gamble in Travel Entertainment

Kim Tae-ho, a renowned producer in the Korean entertainment industry, is making another bold move with his new travel variety show, 'Crazy Tour.' With his recent projects not meeting expectations, all eyes are on whether 'Crazy Tour' can capture the audience's attention.

Premiering on the 28th, ENA's 'Crazy Tour' is a spin-off based on the universe of 'Earth Marble World Tour,' focusing solely on seeking out crazy experiences. The show is co-produced by TEO, founded by Kim Tae-ho, and ENA, featuring singer Rain, Lee Seung-hoon, actor Kim Moo-yeol, and broadcaster Pani Bottle.

At the press conference, Rain expressed confidence, saying, "After filming, I realized it's quite different from other travel shows. We even signed a waiver acknowledging the possibility of minor injuries. You can look forward to it." The other cast members also highlighted the unpredictable journey, emphasizing the show's uniqueness.

Kim Tae-ho is often mentioned alongside Na Young-seok as a leading figure in Korean variety show production. However, their recent trajectories have been contrasting.

Kim Tae-ho's recent projects, such as JTBC's 'My Name is Gabriel' and MBC's 'Good Day,' have struggled with low ratings, while his current MBC show 'Manito Club' is also facing challenges with ratings around 1%.

In contrast, Na Young-seok's tvN series 'Seojin's' has achieved ratings between 7-9%, and the highly popular 'Earth Arcade' continues to thrive into its third season.

Their strategies differ as well. Na Young-seok refines proven formats with meticulous detail, whereas Kim Tae-ho consistently experiments with new and innovative formats.

While Kim Tae-ho's pursuit of novelty is commendable, the recent lackluster results cannot be overlooked. A broadcasting industry insider noted, "It's true that Kim Tae-ho's recent shows haven't met expectations, but his continuous pursuit of innovation is positive." They added, "'Crazy Tour' aims to offer a different take on travel shows, and if it successfully piques viewers' curiosity, it has the potential to be a hit."

Reported by Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr