SBS nixes its Monday-Tuesday drama experiment

32 February 13, 2011February 13, 2011

by javabeans

After a year and a half, SBS is ending its early Monday-Tuesday drama hour, which means that Paradise Ranch will be the last drama to air in that 9pm timeslot.

Can’t say I’m surprised, and I think this has been coming for a while. After a few early dramas put in solid runs, the rest of the offerings have sunk to single-digit ratings despite having no scripted competition (competitor stations KBS and MBC air the news).

This prime-time experiment began in October 2009, when SBS created the 9pm drama timeslot to give its highly anticipated Angel’s Temptation (the spinoff/sister to the mega-hit makjang extravaganza Wife’s Temptation) a chance to find an audience while avoiding its competitor Queen Seon-deok, which had been crushing every one of its rivals for months. Angel’s Temptation hit 20%, and its successor was likewise a strong performer; warm family-centric comedy Wish Upon a Star had ratings in the upper teens.

Angel’s Temptation, Wish Upon a Star

It seemed to bode well for an expansion of the prime-time format (currently stations air one drama per weeknight, while weekends get two). But after the success of Wish Upon a Star… well, not so much. Oh! My Lady wasn’t able to capture viewers’ interest (I blame the plot — cute, but rather empty) and while rocker-ajumma-driven I Am Legend started strong, its second half lost its way and therefore also its audience.

Then there was the sports-medicine series Dr. Champ, which I found refreshing and beautiful to look at, but its numbers never made an impact. I’ve mentioned that I was drawn to It’s Okay, Daddy’s Girl, but that was despite its poor acting and crazy pacing. And now, the romantic-comedy Paradise Ranch (which I thought inoffensive, but banal) has settled in the 8% range.

When Paradise Ranch completes its 16-episode run, SBS will be experimenting with a new format once again, and is looking at variety shows and other special broadcasts to fill the hour. On one hand, it’s too bad that after having a year of extra choices, we’ll be losing one slot. On the other, sure makes no sense continuing something when it’s a losing proposition.

Oh! My Lady, I Am Legend, Dr. Champ, It’s Okay Daddy’s Girl

Via My Daily

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1 Alvina

February 13, 2011 at 8:45 PM

WUAS was a success because of the storyline; it was watchable no matter what age the viewer was.

But, as long as we continue to get the good stuff, I cant say I care what time it airs lol

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2 Hanjae

February 13, 2011 at 8:59 PM

When the ones who rule the remotes in each household are the parents, it's always the news that's going to win over the dramas, unless the dramas are really good/suit their age range. I'm not surprised they're not tuning in to those latter dramas, particularly Paradise Ranch. To be honest, I haven't really liked any of those dramas either (with the exception of I Am Legend, which I LOVED at the beginning and then wished I had those 16 hours of my life back by the end), so I'm wasn't too sad to see the slot go...

...But then I realized that we'd have one less drama to choose from on Mondays/Tuesdays, cry. Even if it was mediocre, it was nice having one more choice, so it's too bad.

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Ani

February 13, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Oh man, I totally understand the news things and parents. No matter what we wanted to watch at 5PM/6PM at home, if the news is on that's what we'll be watching. Sundays are even more torturous since our local broadcasting would have one hour of church stuff prepared by different congregations each week from all over the island (I'm from Samoa) at 7PM and than reruns of church songs that were performed over the past from 8PM to 9PM. Um, yeah, Sundays at 8PM when I was a kid was Lois and Clark with yummy Dean Cain so it was torture missing out on Superman. Truthfully I don't know if this is a loss or gain for SBS, but you need to go where the money is I guess. X/

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harukogirl

February 13, 2011 at 11:52 PM

Love that you say that - Dean Cain as Clark was my first crush.....years later I realized that my obsession with japan started much earlier than I realized, seeing that he's half Japanese....and, as you say, completely yummy :D

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3 lovepark

February 13, 2011 at 8:59 PM

Hmm... I'm of mixed feelings. While I haven't had much interest in this timeslot, it's still sad to see it go. Well, I hope whatever SBS comes up with will be at least somewhat entertaining. It better not be some floundering variety show or weird documentaries about grass growing or something equally yawn-inducing.

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belleza

February 13, 2011 at 9:11 PM

"weird documentaries about grass growing or something equally yawn-inducing."

Have to say . . . all the stations produce interesting documentaries. Friend of mine prefers watching those than most dramas.

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4 belleza

February 13, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Kind of disappointed they're dropping the idea. In theory, it was a good opportunity to show more ambitious fare opposite the family driven stuff. Because nothing said family like Angel of Temptation.

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5 snow

February 13, 2011 at 9:54 PM

when i first saw this, i thought SBS was gonna nix paradise ranch...

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Auntiemame

February 13, 2011 at 10:06 PM

awww ... have some pity for Paradise Ranch.

If my recollection is correct, that drama has been nixed enough. The drama had been completed and sitting on the shelf, waiting for a time slot to be televised.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not pushing the drama because I'm not watching it. Just showing some sympathy. They do have nice horses.

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Sylvia

February 14, 2011 at 2:10 AM

I like Paradise Ranch. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I like the characterization of the main pair and their relationship.

Particularly the leading guy is interesting, and unusual afaik - he's a good-hearted but immature, geeky dork of a chaebol; a beta hero, who was evidently always told he was dumb and incapable, and who believed this, and never even tried before. He loved and admired the heroine for her smarts as well as everything else, and to me it seems he always considered (and still considers) himself very much her inferior.

(The new woman he's interested in is also smart, capable and independent – definitely his type. I like that in a man; that he chooses women he admires and looks up to, rather than someone who will make him feel superior by her own perceived inferiority.)

But now, he's oh-so-slowly growing into both his capabilities and some much-needed emotional maturity.

And I am actually very interested to find out just what happened to end the marriage between him and the leading woman; right now it seems to me that he always loved her and never stopped, but was unable to express his emotions enough to keep her. He might even have let her go for what he thought was her own good; that's the kind of stupidity I can well imagine from him.

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Cherry

February 14, 2011 at 7:08 AM

From the way you talk about it, i want to wath it but just don't want to hate it in the end so shall i watch? *-*

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Sylvia

February 14, 2011 at 8:03 AM

Well, that's always tricky. :-) I'll have to watch it until it's over before I can tell you if I hate it in the end! ;-)

snow

February 14, 2011 at 9:18 AM

ehhh, less of changmin is good for me.

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6 estel

February 13, 2011 at 10:02 PM

I can't say I'm surprised, though I have enjoyed (on one level or another) most of the dramas shown in the time slot.

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7 Remior

February 13, 2011 at 10:20 PM

I loved Angel's Temptation in all it's makjanggy goodness. Hopefully they can fill this slot with a good variety show or such.

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8 ditdut

February 13, 2011 at 10:21 PM

Well, to be fair, I think none of the dramas sitting in this timeslot is actually good, as in good.

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9 Purpleclouds

February 13, 2011 at 11:14 PM

Does it mean less dramas for us to watch? There needs to be plenty, cuz competition brews improvement & variety. I crave romance comedy. There's just not enough cuz now I have to venture onto C-drama and I'm hooked on "Goong" which is totally different than the K one. So far it's a rectangle love tug of war.

I love Dream High, but after that, my anticipation would be on Lee Min Ho's upcoming drama.

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10 tamu

February 13, 2011 at 11:45 PM

after Cheonan incident people now tend to watch news cant blame sbs

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11 SECRET GARDEN

February 14, 2011 at 6:09 AM

dramas from SBS are average. like Oh! My Lady was good yet empty. LOVED Wish Upon A Star, could use some more better male actors though- i didnt find them attractive. and yaaah. Paradise ranch is alright, i think il continue watching it

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12 Carinne

February 14, 2011 at 7:10 AM

As long as PR doesn't get canceled halfway, phew; I want to finish this show to the very end.

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13 Cam

February 14, 2011 at 8:38 AM

Ouch. =/ Not again. Aigoo, I hope that this drama "Paradise Ranch" will be continuing till at the end, of course.

GOSH! I really ENJOOYY watched that drama "Angel's Temptation" but it was so amazing.......That drama made my heart so M....E....L....T. (fan my hand over my face) Cuz' I LOVE Bae Soo Bin! ^__^

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14 Merry

February 14, 2011 at 8:43 AM

*flinch my left eye* Jeez. (I pray that this drama "Paradise Ranch" will keep it up & continuing to be positive, yups.)

Aiggooooo........I really love Angel's Temptation drama because it was great and interesting storyline -- but very STRONG. I recommend ALL of you that you will watch that drama - it's GOOD.

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15 supah

February 14, 2011 at 10:16 AM

:Gasp:
JB, you totally missed Coffee House off your summary!
Haha!

Aww, it's kind of sad really, I never really watched much of the shows in that slot but the couple that I did were watchable and fun. Like WUAS and Coffee House.

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16 Northern Star

February 14, 2011 at 4:40 PM

I watched it last night and honestly, I enjoyed it, although I didn't have a clue on what was being said.

Hoping to see the english subs soon.

Unlike, the "Mary Stayed out...." drama, seems like Paradise Ranch has a story to tell.

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17 kc

February 14, 2011 at 10:11 PM

First time posting here but I lurk a lot. This news seems to put What's Up? in this 9pm timeslot after the 16 episode run of Paradise Ranch.

http://news.nate.com/view/20110215n13980

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18 John

February 14, 2011 at 10:31 PM

It's kind of telling when your drama block loses head to head ratings to news programs.

I wonder if SBS promoted their block of drama programming enough or as a viable alternative to the news programs on the other channels.

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19 tamu

February 15, 2011 at 2:32 AM

JB are you sure about this news ?

Found from allkpop : http://www.allkpop.com/2011/02/daesungs-whats-up-drama-to-begin-airing-next-month

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20 Northern Star

February 15, 2011 at 7:14 AM

Does it mean that What's Up starts on the 21st March, after Paradise Ranch ends?

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21 Northern Star

February 15, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Any ideas on where I could get a recap of PR in English? I am eager to know on what happened during last night's episode.

Who was that third woman? Is the an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend who doesn't want to let go.

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22 Northern Star

February 15, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Ah, may I add!

The lead actress is so funny. Is she a newbie actress? because if she is, she's doing great.

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23 vivi

February 16, 2011 at 11:32 PM

Hmmm, is it just an unfortunate coincidence that the latter dramas mentioned feature SME artists?!

-OML: Siwon
-IML: Heechul cameo
-Dr.C: Shindong
-IODG: Donghae
-PR: Changmin

I suppose I'm not too sure how I feel about SBS nixing this timeslot, particularly since recent dramas haven't really interested me. And although I'm a Super Junior/DBSK fan, none of the dramas compelled me enough to watch them. Life's too short to waste time watching bad/average dramas :)

In any case, I hope SBS will be able to successfully fill up that hour, regardless if it's a drama or not!!

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24 ccangel

February 18, 2011 at 8:11 PM

I love PR it's a good drama with a good story line and Changmin's acting does get better with each episode. This drama is light but keeps you interested to come back unlike Mary stayed out I stopped watching after the 8th episode no point to the show.

If you have nothing else to watch this really is a good drama and the lead lady Lee Yeon Hee is a good actress :)

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