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Best Love: Hong Sisters’ meta lens on k-variety

The latest stills for upcoming romantic comedy Best Love show lead actress Gong Hyo-jin taking part in the popular quiz variety show, World Changing Quiz, (known as 세바퀴, short for 상을 꾸는 즈). This is the other half of the scene where she calls Cha Seung-won in the phone-a-friend portion of the show, where she has to feed him speed-quiz questions.

All of this is in fact promo for YET ANOTHER variety show, which is the basis of the drama’s main meta: fictional dating show Couple Making Season 3, where they throw celebrities into fake relationships for the cameras, a la MBC’s real variety program, We Got Married. The major difference is that this show mixes celebrities and non-celebrities, which is how Yoon Kye-sang‘s character ends up as a contestant on the show. The concept is a mat-seon program, essentially setting up people on blind dates for the purposes of finding a marriage partner. So it might actually be somewhat competition-based too, if the intention is to partner off by the end of the season, for instance, and not be left alone.

Here’s the teaser from MBC:

It introduces Dokko Jin (Cha Seung-won) as a nationally beloved star, who’s got a different face behind the scenes, and Gu Ae-jung (Gong Hyo-jin) as the revival star, as in, girl determined to revive her public image, despite having zero popularity. She’s a former idol star who was in a 90s pop group with Yoo Inna‘s character, who seems like quite the bitch herself, from her quick introduction.

In the end Ae-jung calls out to Jin: “YOU! King 싸가지!” Which means anything from rude-o, jerk, bastard, or asshole. Take your pick. I love that she’s gonna be a sassafrass, and that everyone’s going to be the opposite of what their public images are, when the cameras aren’t rolling. I mean their fictional public images in the show, not their real ones. Oh man, the meta is already hurting my brain!

What I love about Hong Sisters dramas is the way they do their meta, like a russian doll: show within a show within a show. I’m really excited to see what they’ll be doing with the k-variety landscape, especially in the era of pop culture where stars’ images are shaped by reality television and this sense that we get to peek behind the curtain at their true selves, all the while having been pre-packaged most of the time.

The mix of the main characters’ mis-matched personalities with the necessity to maintain (or recoup in Ae-jung’s case) public sentiment is going to make for great hijinks and drama, not to mention an interesting social commentary on the entertainment industry and the star-making and -breaking power of variety shows. Can’t wait.

Best Love premieres Wednesday May 4 on MBC.

Via Osen, MBC

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Huh?No comments yet?

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Oh sorry 1st and so not a witty comment.Yoo In Na's character is looking interesting.
It might be too early to call it but do we have screen chemistry already between the leads?

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Can't WAIT.. It feels like City Hall 2. but there is no City Hall.. I wish this girl will do a good job.. I'm too hitched to City Hall Drama.... Can't Wait... CAN'T WAIT.. Hong sisters and the City hall writers are the KINGS AND QUEENS Of Korean Dramas!!!!

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Oh, I love the teaser. Cha Seung Won has a great laugh! Of course, Gong Hyo Jin is one of my favorite actresses too!

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I'm so excited for this drama! So far, the Hong sisters have not failed to make me love their characters, or their quirky situations and well-constructed plot lines! Seriously can't wait!

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LOL...are those cameo appearances?Cool.That's like the Star King or whatever set right?
I am preparing to watch the Brave Couple and Campus Couple tonight.This is hilarious.

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a mock version of quiz to change the world/World Changing Quiz
even the hosts and permanent guests are the same as the real show lmaaaaaao

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ooh soo funny, this is not a real recording of sebakwi ?? hahaha
so this will be the answer to those who wants to see the full story of wgm couple hahaha

mbc is really good to link fake-real-kdrama-variety show
i'll try to watch this, if i can relieve some of my addiction to khuntoria

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Shoulder pads are making a comeback??? Say it isn't so.

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They're like reverse shoulderpads. Wearing your bra on the outside of your clothes is so 90s. All the cool kids now wear their shoulderpads on the outside, instead!

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Look! They even sticky-taped on a... stomach curtain? Clip-on gauze hankerchief? O_o??
Whatever it is, I hope they burned that outfit after they finished filming....

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I wanna believe that article of cloth spontaneously combusted after removal or warped itself into another dimension. Fffff. Now I've seen the worst shirt ever in existence.

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Shoulder pads? I thought they were pincushions.

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Yup, that's what I thought when I saw that, um, garment. A multi-tasking dress. She can sew afterwards. I thought it was some kind of costume. It isn't?

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I also thought they're pin cushions. Seriously, it's not meant to be some gags ?

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haha...I'm glad I'm not the only one!

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It looked like pin cushions were sewn to her shoulders.

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thanks girlfriday.

Oh my ! look at his accessories ! all over the place !
he is too over with those things. !

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Loved the trailer. Like they say in it "OK". Looks like something I'm ready to jump right into. I haven't been able to really watch the latest offerings from the Hongs because sometimes I feel like I've seen it all, although I watch an episode from time to time depending on the recaps on Dramabeans, but I feel this might be the one to enjoy by watching it. Can't wait.

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I can't wait to see a comedic side to Cha Seung-won~~

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Once again Gong Hyo-jin manages to look elegant, cute, and attractive in an otherwise questionable outfit. I don't know how that woman can be capable of always pulling off her wardrobe but my god does she look good.

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She definitely looks good in whatever outfit she's in. I don't know where she gets the power to look gorgeous despite horrid outfits.
Iguess it's because she's BEAUTIFUL, period.

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And because her roots are in modeling!!

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I do like Hong sisters but honestly, not sure about this drama. I don't get the appeal of either stars (except I did like the laugh of CSW at the end of the trailer).. but then I am probably in the minoritycoz i also didn't like the lead from kim samsoon (not sure of her name)..

please don't be mad but why is GHJ popular? thanks

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you're not the only one. Cha seung won is definitely not my first pick for a leading man when i think "hong sisters drama". usually their male leads are "fresh" and cha seung won just doesnt excite me at all. I'll just give it a chance and see how they pull it off. Majorly disappointed with the casting still, thought =(

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i guess she's popular because she is a good actress. and yeah, she may not have a face of a goddess like shallow people always look at before the talent, but she carries herself very well. and that's what makes her popular. i hope your tiny brain understood this well.

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U ve got to be kidding me right? Y is GHJ popular? Are u really asking that question? Wow am shocked!
All the actors mentioned here, CSW, GHJ and OFCOURSE KIm Sun-Ah are like one of the best korean actors.
I am sure u must be one of d BOF type of fans which had all cute guys/ girls, everything was sparkly n nice, in other words had everything but good acting...am sorry if i am being to rude...but its so clear that u r judging people only by their physical appearance rather than their acting talents.

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@ stupidlikeu and poo:

excuse me, but if u read my comment, I never said anything bad about GHJ nor did I judge anyone. as I've never seen any of her works, I was genuinely curious and wanted to see if I can like her too..

but thank u for your kind words that I now have so much respect for her and her fans.

and just to clarify, I didn't watch BOF either and nor am I stupid - I have an MBA in Sydney university and graduated with honors, thank u very much!

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I haven't seen many GHJ works, but I watched the drama Thank You. She's the lead and she's good in that. Maybe you should watch Thank You, it's a very good drama, aside from the stellar casting.

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I loved Thank You, she was very good in that drama.

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So watching eye candy like BOF means one is stupid? then u should not watch kdramas bec. they are all about eye candies.

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If Friend, Our Legend is just eye candy, then I might just as well throw myself in the wide ocean. Don't generalise, dear, maybe you should be the one who shouldn't be watching kdramas.

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GHJ's really good at what she does. I really like her acting--so genuine, natural and effortless-looking yet intense when it needs to be. She picks characters she can do well and portrays it perfectly. She doesn't have the prettiest face but looks lovely when she's acting--just watch Pasta and Thank You. I've watched most of her work and she's yet to disappoint me. I haven't had much fun with most of Hong sisters dramas but I know this drama will be good because I have faith that even if the script falls short GHJ will make it fun for me to watch.

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agree. i am also not interested that much in this drama because of leads. Hong sisters leads are always fresh,young and appealing. But this time..:(

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I didn't understand why people rave about GHJ as well so i skipped Pasta. But that was before I watched her drama with Gong Yoo, Biscuit teacher star candy, and I tell ya, she's so effortless when acting, and she comes off as someone very charming and genuine so I guess that's why people like her. As for CSW, I watched a few bits of City Hall, and he charmed the hell out of me haha :D

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As others have mentioned...GHJ doesn't have that conventional beauty most people associate with popular K-actresses such as Kim Tae Hee or Song Hye Kyo. However...GHJ's quirkiness, charm & talent blow those others out of the water and makes her much more interesting to me.

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I think that's one of the things I like most of about GHJ is that her quirkiness and charm make her more interesting, and it gives her characters a more appealing than just looking at a pretty face. I like how she isn't doll pretty. Look at Nam Gyuri in 49 days, I can't really watch her for too long without thinking she's like a living manequin.

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Nah, I think it's normal to think that way...at first. First impression are sometimes too one-dimensional when they're the type that slowly yet completely draws you in. It's how I fell for Park Shi Hoo, Kang Ji Hwan, Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Seung Gi, etc. Sometimes you just have to see them in action, haha.

I never paid CSW any attention until he guested on a Family Outing episode way back when. Thought he was adorable and sarcastic in a really manly way and fit in really well with the Family, so I checked out City Hall (with Kim Sun-ah). And they both won me over completely. CSW just EXUDES testosterone, lols. I never disliked Kim Sun-ah before (she was endearing enough in MNIKSS), but I absolutely adored her after City Hall as well.

GHJ...hm, I don't know how to explain her appeal except that after watching her without fast-fwding for 20 episodes in Pasta, I like her. I think it might be because she's really believable in her character. It's refreshing to someone mature and chic take on a lead role because I think we have enough Candy-types and naive Jan-di types already. Totally looking fwd to how their loveline unfolds!

I'm impressed with this Hong Sisters' casting, tbh. I always thought that their female roles seemed to lag a bit behind their male leads (e.g. You're Beautiful's Park Shin Hye, Hong Gil Dong's Yuri). But with a really talented actress who makes the role her own (Shin Min Ah), it's daebak.

Anyhow, I think time will show and convert new fans over.

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The appeal for me is that the main leads are older than the conventional Hong Sisters drama (um, I think the age in Hong Gil Dong skewered older too, but I haven't seen it so I can't recall), and for me I've always found those a little easier to believe romantic wise. I don't know if that's why I liked Fantasy Couple (ok, it was more because Samshil/Anna was an evil bitch and it was fun to watch her transform), but the age there was more adult compared to Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang (and I enjoyed DGC very much). The cute from You're Beautiful and MGIAG was awesome, but I don't mind a mature cast every once in a while. Especially when we know the mature cast will be called upon to deliver some funny and cute moments themselves. I don't know, I'm in my twenties, but I love watching adult rom-coms. XD

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i suggest you guys catch up on sleep NOW. When May rolls around I predict two very sleep deprived and coffee-hyped recappers.

Hm maybe we should start a coffee-funding charity for you guys?

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it wont just be them...I suspect viewers will be too

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as long as this drama doesn't have another recycle older couple sideplot it's a win

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My only revision would to change "older" (older couples can be fun too!) to "other" but then can I add an underline and like a hundred exclamation points to your comment?

It especially bothered me in Gumiho where the other couple started off cute and funny but quickly became grating. The Hong Sisters usually handle their mains very well, but when it comes to minor characters and pairings it all feels rather half-baked.

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why not ksa cameo for csw... hahaha

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haha. and lee seon kyun cameo for gong hyo jin too, maybe.

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yeah, it would be great if they have cameos like you guys mentioned. def looking forward to this!

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Ah......cameos!!!! It'd be awesome if they actors cameo as themselves ala On Air

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so cute! Debuting just in time for the very end of the semester/start of summer!

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this looks like my Kdrama dream come true.

i am so not even kidding.

SO. FREAKING. EXCITED.

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Right there with you!

Eeee!

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If I didn't love the Hong Sisters already I'd watch this just because I saw Kim Shin Young in the stills. I really loved her in Invincible Youth.

Oh yeah! I'd also watch this because of Yoo Inna. I just really hope as second female lead, he character would be more compelling than Park Soo Jin's Hae In in MGIAG. The best so far was UEE as Yoo He Yi.

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It's like a mix of reality, REALITY, and fiction seeing those stills lol.

...just how the entertainment business really is.

I have a feeling a lot of people are going to walk away with false perceptions about certain things after the drama ends lol.

I can just see it now.

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im so confused but super excited

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Woohoo! This drama is going to be a riot!! Can't wait!

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OH MAN! This looks so cute and fun and I really like the actors. Idk about the chemistry yet, but I think this will be a lot of fun!!

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wow this looks fun....!!!
and the cameos are real stars who often appear in variety shows!!!
looking forward for this

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Can May 4th please come sooner?

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As much as i LOVE hong sister dramas, I don't think this one amuses me too much. is it because the guy isn't as cute as i though? did i have my hopes high for lee seung gi to return (although it was announced he wasn't it quite some time ago)?hmm...and the trailer didn't really make me excited either. hopefully the drama is better than the preview.

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so cannot wait for this! *excited squeal*
i love csw bellowing laughter.
he's still so tanned

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Excited for any Hong Sisters' drama, but what on earth is she wearing?

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fur-reaak. am i excited or WHAT? hong sisteeerrrss!

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