Copycat or trend?

The success of "Grandpas Over Flowers" on tvN, top, has spawned a similar show, "Mamado," KBS's reality program, bottom. A recent spate of Korean copycat shows are irking some viewers, revealing a lack of creativity and authenticity. / Courtesy of tvN and KBS

Similar TV variety shows reveal lack of creativity

By Chung Ah-young

Television shows such as SBS's "Running Man" or MBC's "Where are We Going Dad?" have gained popularity not only in Korea but also in other countries such as Vietnam and China.

Foreign broadcasters have purchased the formats of the Korean television shows and remade them into local versions. Also, some programs are broadcast with local voices dubbed over. Either way, the popularity of the shows has contributed to boosting the Korean broadcasting industry.

However, a recent spate of Korean copycat shows are irking some viewers, revealing a lack of creativity and authenticity, which might throw cold water on the growing demand from other countries for the programs. A slew of variety shows are using the same successful formats as their predecessors.

MBC's "Where are We Going Dad?" puts celebrity dads' children through various camping missions. / Courtesy of MBC

The success of "Grandpas Over Flowers" on tvN has spawned a similar show, "Mamado," KBS's reality program, which features four older actresses — Kim Young-ok, Kim Yong-rim, Kim Soo-mi and Lee Hyo-chun — along with actor Lee Tae-gon.

The show follows a similar format to "Grandpas" in which four graying actors — Lee Sun-jae, Shin Gu, Park Geun-hyung and Baek Il-sup — travel together with younger actor Lee Suh-jin who supports them as a porter. The older actors are dubbed "H4" inspired by the "F4" in the popular television drama "Boys Over Flowers."

The inaugural episode's rating was an impressive 4.15 percent, the highest for cable entertainment programs. Produced by Nah Yung-suk who created "2 Days and 1 Night" on KBS before he moved to CJ E&M last year, the program has recently launched its third season.

KBS's "Superman Returns" takes the camera into the homes of comedian Lee Hui-jae, combat sports athlete Choo Sung-hun, rapper Tablo and actor Jang Hyun-sung to show their interactions with their children. / Courtesy of KBS

Concerning the controversy over the similarity of its show, KBS said that it is different from "Grandpas." But the show clearly follows many of the same concepts of "Grandpas" and "2 Days and 1 Night."

KBS was also under fire for creating a new show, "Superman Returns," which is modeled after MBC's "Where Are We Going Dad?" Both programs feature stars' children. "Dad" was first aired last year, saving MBC's faltering viewer ratings for Sunday evening entertainment shows in primetime.

KBS swiftly ripped off the idea and launched its own version of the childcare reality show. While MBC puts celebrity dads' children through various camping missions, KBS takes the camera into the homes of comedian Lee Hui-jae, combat sports athlete Choo Sung-hun, rapper Tablo and actor Jang Hyun-sung to show their interactions with their children. The two programs are broadcast in the same timeslot.

SBS's "Oh! My Baby" features grandparents such as veteran actor Im Hyun-sik who take care of their grandchildren. / Courtesy of SBS

When KBS first broadcast its pilot version of "Superman," it faced harsh criticism. However, now "Superman" is catching up with the popularity of MBC's show by finding its own way. Viewers like the way the program delivers the struggles of celebrity dads in bringing up their children.

While KBS is jumping on the bandwagon of the successful entertainment shows, SBS recently joined the trend by airing "Oh! My Baby," a childcare variety show. But this time, grandparents take care of the children. After launching a pilot version, SBS officially began the program which features veteran actor Im Hyun-sik, who looks after the babies of his daughter and son-in-law.

Also, top comedian Yoo Jae-suk's new show, "I am a Man," which will begin in April on KBS, is getting viewers' attention because of the way it looks similar to "Witch Hunt" on JTBC.

"Witch Hunt" has four male guests who consult viewers to find a solution and talk with female guests in depth. The program has been garnering explosive popularity among young viewers since its debut in April.

KBS's new show also adopts a similar spin to "Witch Hunt" by hiring three to four male entertainers who talk with the male audience about women. In every episode, female guests talk with the male hosts.

After the format of the new show was unveiled last week, netizens and critics pointed out that it copied "Witch Hunt's" successful format.

Also, MBN's "Family Samgukji" resembles JTBC's "Yujasik Sangpalja," as both programs are basically a talk show involving stars and their children. "Family" has adopted almost the same format as "Yujasik," from the studio setting to the program compositions, and only differs in that it adds the grandparents of star families.

"Recently, reality shows observing stars' real lives has become a trend, but copying others' ideas is different from following a trend. To avoid similarity, they should create something new. Copycats will erode the broadcasters' creativity as well as their brand images," Gong Hee-jung, a broadcasting critic, said.

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