It must be a big sigh of relief at KBS studios this morning after highly anticipated variety drama Producer finally premiered Friday night. Good or bad, high or low ratings, at least it’s out there now and the cast and crew did everything possible to create something to showcase for audiences. I liked but didn’t love the first episode, enjoying the acting and directing but finding the subject matter wholly uninteresting to me. I don’t watch K-variety at all so watching a docu-drama on the the inner workings of KBS variety shows is like asking someone who doesn’t watch the NBA to enjoy a 30-on-30 episode about the Showtime Lakers.
I may not be the target audience but then I wonder who is – does one have to contextually understand the inside jokes and references to fully enjoy Producer? I plan to keep watching to see if the characters and their interactions coalesce into something interesting independently of the inside look at K-variety, not to mention it’ll also be worthwhile to see which direction the ratings go from here. Episode 1 premiere with AGB 10.1% nationwide, respectable in this day and age, but nothing new to write home about considering the big names of Gong Hyo Jin, Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun, and IU stacked in the cast.
China has become Korea’s top overseas export of dramas and the crackdown that started in 2015 on live-airing K-dramas on the internet has been increasing in scope for the last 5 months. Dramas that premiered in 2015 have yet to see the light of day on any of China’s online streaming portals that used to host new episodes daily, still waiting for SARFT approval on the completed series before hitting the net.
But the new 2015 K-dramas were continuing to get subbed by the big Chinese subbing groups, allowing seasoned drama fans to download raw videos and subs to watch even if streaming was not available. Producer marks the first time even that avenue has been stoppered – the two biggest Chinese subbing groups TSKS and Hanmi have both relayed official word that neither will be releasing subs for Producer at the request (demand) of KBS and the Chinese streaming sites which have licensed the rights to the drama. All I can say is DAYUM, shit got real.
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I thought the ratings was pretty darn good for a new slot and against a very popular variety in tvN. Double digit is so difficult to achieve these days and to do so without a prior drama in the slot to take over from is impressive to me. Now the question is whether they can sustain that and go further. Its different as promised, but not sure if the k-viewers are ready to accept the change. I think it'll pick up tomorrow.
Feel sorry for the Chinese fans. Specially since this is KSH's drama lol. I hope things get resolved soon somehow.
I was bored after 30 mins of episode 1. As much as I love the casts, the writing/story doesn't interest me.
I feel like Korean is trying to be like with old TVB dramas doing all sort of professions. From prosecutor to lawyer, pilots, reporters, firefighter, paramedics and now producers.
Hopefully, Orange Marmalade won't disappoint me since Sensory couple and Falling for Innocent are going to end soon. I need Korean dramas to watch while I wait on Chinese ones or I'll be bored this summer.
I think this drama is trying to get KDrama fans who do not watch K-variety shows to consider varieties and diversify their watching preferences a bit. Even when I've been watching KDrama for years, I only started watching variety shows with 1N2D after falling inlove with Lee Seunggi in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and I swear once you open yourself to Kvariety there's no turning back. I too liked episode 1 but not loving it yet, although I hope I will come to love it in the next episodes to come. However if not for the cast I would probably not consider watching this. Genius decision to cast CTH and KHS.
I do watch Kvariety. But this drama makes most of the shows I watch seem boring. I know this is showing what's behind each show and how it produces but I think it could have been carried out differently.
8 minutes in felt dizzy and nauseous, had to stop... Hand held camera technique does NOT appeal to us...
I didn't even finish the episode, feel asleep, tried to watch it again, got bored and went on to better things~
Producers has an advantage for airing 30 minutes earlier than 3 meals (3 meals made 7.8 rating btw) to lock the audience but it needs a really good and interesting story otherwise the audience could just switch channel. competition with MBC weekend on saturday is more tough I think.
I dont really enjoy the first episode, maybe the second episode will be better. How about warm and cozy? Is it good? I'm not watch it yet, hope it will be better than this, i love ksh and yys, so i hope both drama will be good
I like Warm and Cozy so far. I find it's like a breath of fresh air.
Didn't like ep 1, but it definitely gets better in ep 2, though I still find it not as funny as HS previous projects.
I agree, I liked Warm and Cozy too, even though I really didn't get the brother and sister talking about falling for each other (I thought that was uber weird) I liked it and finished episode one happy~
Warm and Cozy is BADLY WRITTEN. Not a fan of the writers but their previous works didn't feel this bad imo.
A little disappointed for ep 1. Let's see how it goes for ep 2.
I'm so disappointed. I was hoping for a great drama, not yet another "YAWN" drama.
I didn't like ep 1. Hope it'll be better in next episodes.
I think the writer is trying for Modern Family's documentary style. She experimented with it during My Love from the Stars, but it's completely incorporated into Producer. So far, I'm with the majority here who finds it boring. I feel like it's missing that special something that makes Modern Family, The Office, Parks & Recreation, etc. so popular. I'll be dropping it (Sorry Kim Soo Hyun!!) if next week's episode doesn't improve.
Same. I was STRUGGLING to finish the first episode. And honestly? I don't think it will improve much.
supposedly the director said the first two episodes just set up the characters and the real drama doesn't start till the 3rd episode which is a very risky move. He should have done all he could to indicate that in the drama if that's truly the case.
or the writer.
At this rate, I'll only have DoS to look forward to, which sucks, as I can't really stand KES' writing. I couldn't go past 20 min for this one, and was cringing every time KSH comes on screen. He looks totally lost, and the stupid documentary camera made it worse, as the transitions were very wierd and unclear.
Wow, the netizens are slaying the first ep. Apparently not many people liked it!! Someone even compared it to hyde jekyll me, which is the worst insult for someone..
Oh no. This might potentially be Kim Soo Hyun's first flop in 4 years. Let's pray it won't be as bad as HJM.