TV
'Immortal Songs' Sees Slight Ratings Dip Despite Lee Hwi-jae's Return
According to Nielsen Korea, the episode aired on the 4th recorded a nationwide rating of 4.7%, a 0.1% decrease from the previous week's 4.8%.
The episode featured the '2026 Entertainment King Battle Part 2', with performances by the 'Chatflix' team from Gag Concert, Jo Hye-ryun, Song Il-gook & Oh Man-seok (musical 'The Hague' team), Lee Chan-seok, and YouTuber Lala.
In the waiting room talk segment, a heated debate among the cast members spiced up the atmosphere. Hong Seok-cheon declared his affiliation with the Actors Association, to which Park Jun-hyung retorted, "Once a comedian, always a comedian." MC Kim Jun-hyun then handed over the hosting duties to Lee Hwi-jae to calm the situation. Seated unexpectedly in the MC chair, Lee Hwi-jae exclaimed, "Three claps, start!" and smoothly transitioned into questioning the guests.
Lee Hwi-jae showcased his seasoned hosting skills by reacting spontaneously to Hong Seok-cheon's comments and adeptly steering the conversation.
The production team had appointed Lee Hwi-jae as the new MC in an attempt to revitalize the show. Returning to broadcasting after about four years, he expressed, "It's been so long since I've laughed like this. I'm just so happy."
However, the ratings remained steady without a significant increase. 'Immortal Songs' has consistently maintained ratings in the high 4% range for regular episodes, occasionally rising to the 6% range during special episodes or with high-profile guests.
Public opinion on Lee Hwi-jae's return remains divided. While some online praise his hosting abilities, others express negative sentiments due to past controversies.
By Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr
