Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Spin-off shows for hit reality shows and drama series on rise
A still from the reality show, “We Don't Bite: Street Woman Fighter” / Courtesy of tvN
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Networks are making use of their hit shows and drama series to adopt the cast members or the show's concept to release spin-off series, hoping to ride on the coattails of the formers' fame.
MBC's period romance series, “The Red Sleeve,” and CJ ENM streaming platform Tving's comedy series, “Work Later, Drink Now,” were picked up for variety shows, featuring the actors of the series.
MBC released a talk show, “Holding on to the Red Sleeve” (direct translation), as a spin-off special show for its hit TV series last week. “The Red Sleeve,” which ended earlier last month, saw a 17.4-percent viewership rating with its last episode, becoming the first series to score a two-digit rating in two years.
The talk show invited the cast members of the series, including the lead actors, Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young, to get a behind-the-scenes look at the production, interact with the series' fans and play different games.
CJ ENM's network, tvN, is launching the Tving original series spin-off variety show, “Work Later, Hike Now,” on Feb. 11 with the lead cast members from the series.
The comedy series, “Work Later, Drink Now,” about three drinking buddies exploring their life, romance, and friendship, garnered huge popularity on the streaming service late last year, contributing to the surge in its subscribers. It was renewed for a second season.
The spin-off variety show will feature three lead actresses ― Lee Sun-bin, Han Sun-hwa and Jung Eun-ji ― traveling to the mountains to climb together.
Still photos from the variety show, “Work Later, Hike Now,” the spin-off of comedy series “Work Later, Drink Now” / Courtesy of tvN
Reality shows, like “Street Woman Fighter” and “Divorced Singles,” are also releasing new series, adopting the former's cast members.
TvN has launched the new reality show, “We Don't Bite: Street Woman Fighter,” with the dancers who competed on its sister channel Mnet's survival show, “Street Woman Fighter,” on Jan. 27.
Mnet's dance competition show, which aired last August, followed eight top-tier female dance crews ― PROWDMON, Coca N Butter, HOOK, LACHICA, HOLYBANG, WANT, WAYB and YGX ― competing to outperform each other. The show created a huge buzz, bringing the spotlight to the female dance teams.
The new reality show stars the leaders of the eight dance crews ― Leejung, Gabee, Hyojin Choi, Noze, Ri.hey, Monika, Honey J and Aiki ― from the show. It invites the dancers to an old house in a rural area in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, and follows them bonding with each other as they experience country life.
Cable network MBN's hit dating show, “Love After Divorce,” is making a spin-off series with a couple who were matched on the show.
The dating show, which aired two seasons since kicking off in July last year, centers around a group of divorced singles looking for new love to get a fresh start to their romantic life. It garnered popularity with a candid take on people's lives after divorce and single parenthood.
The show's spin-off series will revolve around one of the most popular couples ― Yoon Nam-gi and Lee Da-eun ― who got engaged toward the end of the show. It will follow the couple's lives after the show and their engagement as they prepare for their upcoming wedding ceremony.