Sunday 11 August 2013

Grandpas Over Flowers (and Seo-jinnie) head to Taiwan next

javabeans: New variety show Grandpas Over Flowers is already a hit for tvN, with smash ratings (above 4%), but it's a little jarring to hear producers already talking of a Season 2. Ah, so this entire Paris/Europe trip must be the first season, then, which would have been helpful to know up front. It makes sense, though—I was wondering how a ten-day trip could possibly be wrapped up quickly enough for them to get back to Korea and plan the next one!

girlfriday: Yeah the format's a bit of an experimental one, but it seems like a necessary adjustment if you're going to take dramaland's regular CEOs, grandpas, and curmudgeony dads on vacations all over the world. It's not like a quick jaunt over to Paris can happen every other weekend like with other variety shows.

javabeans: Head maestro-sadist-mastermind Na PD just gave an interview stating that they'll be heading to Taiwan next, and he'll be taking along all four halbaes for the next trip. They picked a closer destination this time out of consideration for H4′s health, haha. He added that they're finalizing contracts and schedules with duped celebrity guest and Parisian errand boy Lee Seo-jin, who has confirmed that he will join them again, which, HAHAHAHA.

girlfriday: That's so hysterical. How do you think Na PD managed it? You know what would be great, is if he cried wolf AGAIN and told Seo-jinnie that this time was the real trip (Really! For realsies!) with the girl group, as a reward for punking him the last time.

javabeans: Yes, but then Na PD would have died, and then we would have no Season 2.

girlfriday: *gasp* I don't like to think of a world without Na PD.

javabeans: I'm kind of amazed that he agreed to be their luggage boy again (their words, not mine!). Because dude, he is simultaneously cracking my shit up and making me feel sympathy pangs for all the suffering he is enduring. He's totally earned the right to be pissy, but he's actually sucking it up and being a good guide. Even the most image-conscious celebrity can't just turn it on at will like that.

girlfriday: I know. He's a riot. I'm so glad they scored him for another trip. But I also can't wait to see other actors go through the same trauma eventually, even if it's no longer a surprise after the first trip/season/whatchamacallit.

javabeans: I think this is the stage of Na PD's life when everybody avoids his calls. "Seung-gi-ya, how are you?" "H-hello? Is that a tunnel? *pshwfawrbrrrstaticsounds* Bye!"

girlfriday: LOL. I'm pretty sure that's what happened that led to Seo-jinnie being called in the first place, actually.

javabeans: If Na PD were truly an evil mastermind, he would have lined up his next victim before Halbae aired.

girlfriday: That's what I'm sayin'.

javabeans: Although I guess he couldn't have planned on a show about four old grandpas being a smash hit from Day 1.

girlfriday: Yeah I've read interviews after the show premiered, and he was his usual sheepish self, all, Who knew?

javabeans: According to this interview, nothing has been planned about the second trip/season aside from corralling the same cast and picking the country. Na PD intends to follow "season" format for the rest of the show, but says nothing else will change much. I do really like the idea of doing this show in seasons, though, because it lends itself well to that rhythm. Sort of like British series, where you have a short burst of episodes, then a rest-and-recharge period, and then the next batch.

girlfriday: But not too long a hiatus, I hope! It makes sense from a production standpoint, since the trips are long and the halbaes are busy. But as a viewer I dislike breaks. I'd like to know how many episodes are in each season, though I guess if it took two episodes to get through Day 1 of the first trip, in airtime we might be in Paris for a while.

javabeans: I don't think it'll be too long between seasons, if we can look to SNL Korea's lead, which is also on tvN and I think has had something like FOUR SEASONS in a year and a half. It's just enough time to get everyone back home, edit comfortably, and then get back to planning. The producers won't get a break, but they won't kill themselves either. At least not with the planning. I can't make any guarantees about Seo-jin going primal on Na PD.

girlfriday: Now I'm picturing the drama parody for how the Seo-jinnie deal was closed: a black car pulls up in front of Seo-jin's house and Na PD is the driver who ushers him into the backseat, and Halbae 1 is waiting for him with a grim expression and that deal-with-the-devil drama OST music is playing.

javabeans: Na PD must be workin' serious Jedi mind trick mojo to get him back. The other explanation is that the rest of Halbaes in Paris will be super awesome and bonding and emotionally rewarding, and they all jumped to do it again.

girlfriday: OR… they're lording a deep dark secret over Seo-jinnie's head, and he has no choice but to come running every time Na PD cracks his whip.

javabeans: Either way, win-win.

Via TV Daily

RELATED POSTS

  • Grandpas Over Flowers: Episode 2
  • Grandpas Over Flowers: Episode 1
  • More crackling wit from Grandpas Over Flowers
  • Grandpas Over Flowers goes to Paris
  • Na PD launches new travel variety show on tvN
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Tags: conversation post, Grandpas Over Flowers, variety shows


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