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Variety Roulette: We Got Married

Another round of Variety Roulette is here!

This time we tackle We Got Married, the show where stars pretend to be newlyweds in front of the camera. It’s a show that girlfriday watches regularly but which I’ve only caught in snippets, never watching a full episode from start to finish. It takes some getting used to the premise when you’re entering it cold, but hey, that’s the name of the Variety Roulette game, right?

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EPISODE 118. Broadcast on January 21, 2012.

javabeans: Okay, so before we start, a few things. I have to say this right off the bat: I DO NOT GET THIS CONCEPT. I mean, I get it, but I don’t GET it. It’s a reality show about fake relationships. Huh?

girlfriday: It’s this weird setup where you and everyone participating are aware that it’s fake. And yet, it’s fascinating.

javabeans: See, I can understand the fun of watching a reality dating show, right? Like Bachelor (even though I hate that show). There are real feelings involved within the falsified setup and the hope of a real connection, even if it never works out.

girlfriday: Oh see, I hate real reality dating shows. Because I don’t care about the people.

javabeans: Like with Couple Making in Best Love — I see the appeal. Even if the couple ended up with no chemistry, it would be fun watching how they dealt with the show turns.

girlfriday: If Perfect Man Pil-joo weren’t Yoon Kye-sang, I wouldn’t give a flying fart.

javabeans: Me neither. I just mean that conceptually, I see why you make shows like that. But a show where you invent a fake couple, and then follow them doing fake couple things, yet maintaining the transparent facade that they’re a real couple, all while consciously aware the whole time that it’s fake?

girlfriday: It’s because making them pretend to be married forces them to be close and friendly even when they’re not. So the conceit is that they’re play-married, but the reality is that they’re awkwardly thrown together in this really strange setup.

javabeans: But they’re not in a drama, so it’s not a fictional story. Yet it’s not real so there’s no emotional sincerity. It’s scripted to look real, which is what I hate in bad variety shows. Trying to have both sides of the coin and then eating that cake too. Um. You know what I mean. If the coin were a cake. Or whatever.

girlfriday: Yes, the scripted nature of the dates and stuff are silly, (and totally obvious). But the awkward interactions ARE real. That’s the appeal.

javabeans: (Supposedly!) Ha. Okay okay, grumpy pants off.

girlfriday: Oh, you can wear your grumpy pants.

javabeans: No no, I’m happier pantsless. (American pants! Not British pants!)

girlfriday: Aren’t we all.

javabeans: Let’s get this show on the road. Okay so there are some Suju boys I recognize. Wait, am I watching the right show?

girlfriday: Well Leeteuk and Kang Sora are one of the couples, and sometimes the Super Junior boys are featured in their stories. So I guess they’ll be around this time? How come every time we do a Variety Roulette, the Suju boys show up?

javabeans: Do we have secret Suju radar that we don’t know about? Did somebody sneak something into our morning coffee?

girlfriday: I don’t think I have a Suju radar. I can’t even name them all. But I do suspect someone’s spiked my coffee.

javabeans: Okay, so Lee Jang-woo apparently is “married” to Eunjung. And they’re at a club. And he leaves… in the morning when people are going to work? Haha.

girlfriday: Yeah they’ve been a couple for a while. She’s shooting a music video, and he’s recently unemployed, since his drama Man of Honor ended.

javabeans: Ohh, that makes more sense. I like how he calls himself an unemployed guy, like he’s a normal everyday citizen and not an actor on hiatus between dramas. Wait, he’s talking like he’s actually married and he wants to clean the “house” for the “wife.” Is he referring to some shooting set or something?

girlfriday: They actually “live” in a house while they shoot the show. It’s basically an apartment as a set.

javabeans: So they go there once a week or something? Glug, glug, I feel like Variety Roulette has dropped me off the deep end and I’m drowning.

girlfriday: Yeah they set it up as if it’s their newlywed home, and just shoot the show there. Oh, one thing I should probably mention about the setup of the show is the studio commentary. So basically, when this show started, it had a studio setup and the couples would be present along with MCs to watch the footage and comment along. At some point they ditched that concept and went all footage, zero commentary, but that was actually super boring.

javabeans: They’re not very funny. I guess this is why superstars like Kang Ho-dong and Yoo Jae-seok are so good.

girlfriday: Well yeah. But at least this way (now with a studio of just MCs watching and commenting) there’s some running commentary along with the footage, which if you’ve ever tried to watch this show without, makes a world of difference. It’s weird.

javabeans: I guess you need somebody stringing along a narrative. So Jang-woo nags Eunjung about the messy house, and she reminds them of some tea they made three months ago for their 100 day anniversary. She wants him to bring it to her, and I guess it’s kind of funny how he’s the harried house-husband, and she’s the glam star in her makeup bossing him around.

girlfriday: It’s adorable how he keeps asking her not to hang up ‘cause he’s so lonely at home. Ha.

javabeans: I kinda wish they didn’t call each other yeobo so much because it feels super fake. Like they’re in a stage play or something. Although I do like how he asks her how to wash the blankets and she stutters for an answer before telling him to go online.

girlfriday: I love that she doesn’t know either, but when he complains about how bored he is, she yells at him that housewives do this every day, and to just turn on the tv while he cleans.

javabeans: Do the producers just give them a list of what to do every episode? Because obviously they wouldn’t really need to wash the comforter.

girlfriday: They do something couply in each episode, whether it’s meeting in-laws (their real moms) or going on a trip, or doing everyday household chores.

javabeans: I think it’s this construct — the obvious staged nature of everything — that messes with my enjoyment of the coupledom.

girlfriday: It’s sort of because it’s so obvious that I think people just see the construct and go with it. It’s weirder I think in shows that try to mask the conceit in some way. Here it’s an understood and accepted thing.

javabeans: Is Jang-woo trying to give his blanket a bubble bath? He just keeps pouring detergent into the bath, over and over…

girlfriday: Wait, he didn’t strip the cover off of the stuffing?

javabeans: Nope. He’s sleeping on the couch tonight.

girlfriday: Okay, this is hilarious. You can see that this guy has never washed a single thing in his life.

javabeans: I’m wondering if he’s going by stuff he’s seen in dramas. He wonders, all tired, “How do women all do this?” In unison, the commentators declare, “Women DON’T do that!”

girlfriday: HA.

javabeans: And then he takes the sopping wet blanket, which is still dripping onto the floor, and drapes it on the drying rack. In the middle of his living room. This is like watching a monkey trying to figure out how to get the banana in the laboratory cage test.

girlfriday: Oh my god, it’s dripping wet! I love that they show the perfectly suited balcony, all empty and unused.

javabeans: And then he puts a bucket under the dripping corner, like it’s a leaky roof?

girlfriday: And then he calls Mom, ‘cause he doesn’t know how to fix it.

javabeans: Oh man, Jang-woo’s Mom trying to help him figure out what to do is like me trying to tell my mom how to Facebook.

girlfriday: Pfft, she has to explain how to operate the washer-dryer like he’s a child. He really IS new.

javabeans: My question: If he breaks the drying machine, will his management pay for a new one?

girlfriday: Beats me. It looks like we’re about to find out. Is he really shoving that sopping wet blanket into the tiny dryer?

javabeans: He can’t close the dryer door on the overstuffed machine, so he wonders, “Can I run it with the door open?” What?!

girlfriday: Hahahaha.

javabeans: Good lord, he finally heads to the phone to call for help. TO A CLEANING SERVICE. Is he just going to outsource the problem?

girlfriday: He’s actually panicking by now. This is crazy.

javabeans: Especially since they won’t take it, since it’s already wet and technically washed.

girlfriday: He finally trudges back to the machine, wrings out a little more water, and then sits there, foot on dryer door, to keep it shut. Pwaha. He feels safe with that running for a while, and heads to the kitchen to work on the fruit tea. He’s gotta get it out of the jar somehow, and reaches for a giant soup ladle that’s way too big to fit in the opening, and I don’t know why, but that one thing puts me over the edge. He really IS like a monkey in a lab. I’m dying.

javabeans: It must have to do with his personality type or his way of solving problems, because he’s definitely the Try First, Read Instructions Later type.

girlfriday: It’s hilarious.

javabeans: A commentator says it’s like watching somebody stranded on a desert island. He takes out the blanket from the machine (tugs it out violently, more like) and puts it on the drying rack. Except… it’s still wet and drippy. Jang-woo takes out his phone, but instead of calling for help he takes a sel-ca photo with the blanket, like he’s given up on trying to fix this one.

girlfriday: I guess that’s his limit. He just figures, to hell with it, and drags the thing into the bedroom. Everyone guesses that he’s finally figured out he should leave it on the balcony… and he just leaves it dripping in the bedroom.

javabeans: If I can’t see it….

girlfriday: Right? And then he heads out, not caring that by the time he gets back, his bedroom will have a pond in it.

javabeans: And HE was the one complaining about HER mess.

girlfriday: I think it’s safe to say he left the apartment in worse shape than it was in before. He heads back to the club and brings Eunjung the tea he made, and she catches him staring slackjawed at one of her groupmates dancing.

javabeans: At least he’s equally slackjawed to watch her doing her close-ups… until he’s tapped on the shoulder by her groupmates and taken aside. The commentators wonder if this is going to tick off Eunjung when she finds he’s gone, but the girls (Jiyeon I recognize, the other I don’t) are here to give him advice on how to do better with Eunjung, since they figure he needs a few pointers on what makes her upset and what’ll make her happy.

girlfriday: They know she’s particularly upset about his kiss scene with Park Min-young and coach him on how to talk his way out of being in the doghouse.

javabeans: Is this one of those fake-upsets, manufactured for the purposes of this storyline? I can see how little jealousies can crop up in a cute way, but that seems like a stretch.

girlfriday: It’s a common thing for them to have little tiffs about, but it’s never serious. ‘Cause they’re all actors.

javabeans: Heh, so Eunjung finishes her take and wonders where Jang-woo went, and finds him talking to the girls. She catches the drift of the conversation nods approvingly, with the girls pointing out things he needs to do better. That’s cute. Then Jiyeon leads him in role-playing an argument about the kiss scene, so he can practice smoothing things over. Their suggestions are actually really good, like how the response to “I saw you kissing on TV” should be, “Oh, that? Her lips were so dry, that’s all I could think about.” The commentators point out that girls know that this kind of flattery is white lies but it’s nice to hear anyway.

girlfriday: He promises to try harder on their winter trip, and Eunjung comes out, sending him hiding in mortification.

javabeans: Haha, he’s so embarrassed I love it. It makes it that much harder for him to actually try those lines out on her later.

girlfriday: I can’t imagine he’d actually say any of those things anyway. He’s such a dude.

javabeans: I guess that’s all for this couple today. Next we open on a cafe, where four Super Junior dudes sit on one side of a table. (From left to right: Kyuhyun, Donghae, Eunhyuk, Sungmin.) Are they on a group blind date?

girlfriday: Oh it must be time for their sogaeting. So backstory: Sora asked these four Suju members for some favors during their last concert, to do things for Leeteuk that she wanted to do but couldn’t, like wiping his forehead or giving him massages and things, and in return, they made her promise to set them up on blind dates with her pretty actress friends.

javabeans: How cute. This I like, because you can see they’re actually nervous and excited about the blind date (even though they point out how weird it is do be on a date in the morning, haha). Apparently Donghae was so excited he couldn’t sleep, and both he and Kyuhyun say they’re going to treat today as real, without thinking of the cameras.

girlfriday: He’s like, “I’m here to meet my Fate!” So cute.

javabeans: They point out that it’s the ladies who get to pick their favorites in these group dates — so if they’re interested in one girl in particular, it’s up to them to make their interest known before picking time.

girlfriday: I love how serious they are, all, “Are we gonna fight over one girl?”

javabeans: Sungmin seems prepared to, although they’re like, “Well, not on camera. We’ll go outside.” Haha.

girlfriday: Leeteuk and Sora arrive first, holding hands and ignoring them, which they seem severely offended by. Or maybe just annoyed, since they’re yet to be coupled. Heh.

javabeans: Whoa, Leeteuk is 30? (I guess Korean age-wise.)

girlfriday: Dude, he’s gotta go to army soon, yeah?

javabeans: Sora explains that she asked about each member’s “ideal woman” type, and the boys say in fake-surprise, “Oh, is the date today? I hadn’t even prepared!”

girlfriday: Leeteuk’s like, “Oh, should we cancel it then?” Ha.

javabeans: Sora outlines their preferences: Sungmin likes a girl who fits right into his arms, and he smiles so bashfully that I figure it’s true. Eunhyuk and Donghae both like girls with pale complexions and large eyes. Kyuhyun likes a girl with a pretty forehead.

girlfriday: They’re so excited and embarrassed. It’s adorable. They decide on a signal, for if they like a girl at first sight. The sign is to smooth their sideburns.

javabeans: Sungmin: “What if we all do that at the same time?” HAHAHA. The visual cracks me up.

girlfriday: The door opens and the first girl comes up the stairs. Everyone freezes. Aw, their anticipation is so real.

javabeans: Ha, I love how they’re sitting up in anticipation, and the moment they recognize her, Donghae immediately claims dibs by smoothing his hair. Eunhyuk follows, but he’s a split-second slower.

girlfriday: Bachelorette Number 1 is Sohn Eun-seo, from Flames of Ambition. The boys are giddy and speechless. Eunhyuk pipes up that they’ve met before — apparently they did a show together a year back or something. But right now he can barely look at her, he’s so beside himself.

javabeans: The second bachelorette arrives, and this time Eunhyuk is first to reach for the sideburns. She’s Lee Se-na from Tree With Deep Roots, who played a court lady there and is here to fulfill the huge eye quota. The third arrives, and is Eunhyuk just gonna be greedy and claim everybody right away? Wow, his face is visibly red.

girlfriday: He’s totally trying to claim all the girls!

javabeans: She’s Shin So-yool, who I just saw in Penny Pinching Romance. She was also in Tree, as another of the court ladies.

girlfriday: She’s got a Shin Mina-esque thing about her. Maybe her eyes?

javabeans: I was thinking Bae Doo-na. The last one is someone I don’t recognize, Jung Yeon-joo, and she’s one of Sora’s co-stars in Dream High 2. Oh, Kyuhyun likes her. And Eunhyuk goes for the sideburns yet again, haha.

girlfriday: So the girls start introducing themselves, and maybe this is a good time for us to explain what a sogaeting is, since it might seem like a weird thing for people who don’t know.

javabeans: Oh. Haha. I guess I just take that for granted. It’s basically a group blind date, but with a certain structure in place which I think probably helps moves things along, to help you over your shyness or first-date jitters. Usually it’ll be set up by friends like Sora and Leeteuk, or sometimes one of the leaders on each side will be the coordinators.

girlfriday: It’s most common among college students, and you just match the numbers on each side — yunno, five guys, five girls — and then you play a series of icebreaker type games.

javabeans: Toward the end the ladies “choose” the guy she’s interested in, either by literally just picking the partner or sometimes by game or random draw.

girlfriday: Yeah sometimes it’s lottery, and you get paired off by chance. Other times only couples where each chooses the other is considered a “successful” match.

javabeans: Then the couples are free to continue the date in that pairing, maybe go off into another round, or — if you don’t like your match — diligently try to make the date speed by so you can be free. It’s interesting that the date is both very straightforward — such as the girl literally saying which guy she wants — but also a minefield of social cues, reading people’s behaviors, and inferring. Hence the sideburn code.

girlfriday: Right. And it’s more complicated if there’s an age hierarchy on top of it, ‘cause if the hyung wants dibs or whatever, that screws with the program.

javabeans: Or if somehow the expected script doesn’t play out. Say there’s a jjang amongst the crowd who expects all the attention, and doesn’t get it. That’s the scenario you see in Queen of Housewives, when Kim Nam-joo gets pissy that ONE guy out of the whole group prefers the ugly duckling, so she goes out of her way to claim him when she didn’t even want him in the first place. Of course, that’s a drama, but still, those social cues apply.

girlfriday: It’s less complicated here because only the guys’ side are friends, so it’s going to be less of an issue.

javabeans: Sohn Eun-seo is first to introduce herself, and there’s nothing particularly unusual about her liking movies and music and chatting with friends… until she gets to the part about enjoying kickboxing, and somehow that startles the boys. Gender stereotypes and all, since she looks so sweet and demure. Pffft. The boys are given the chance to ask her questions, but they can only stutter and stare, which is endearing. Eunhyuk starts to ask the question, “Which of us…” but then the boys all crack up in mortification, unable to see the rest of that question through. Sora buries her face in her arms, all, “I can’t watch this.”

girlfriday: He finally asks if one of the guys here matches her ideal type of guy, and she says yes. That slays the room. I think the guys spend half the time with their faces buried. Se-na says she likes guys who smile, and Eunhyuk smiles on cue. He’s so transparent, it’s funny.

javabeans: I love that the guys get in digs at each other whenever they can. It’s their teeny attempt at rivalry. Example: Eunhyuk asks if Se-na’s name is spelled Sae-na or Se-na, and the others retort, “Of course it’s Se-na. Isn’t that a given? He doesn’t even know the basics [of spelling]” trying to embarrass him.

girlfriday: They meekly ask her age, and she says she’s thirty, and everyone’s jaws drop. She really doesn’t look it. Leeteuk happily greets her as a friend, but she says she’s an 82er, and he immediately switches to a bow, calling her noona.

javabeans: I think I like Bachelorette #3 best, So-yool, because she’s all assertive and sassy. I know I’m not here for the date, but given that the Korean expectation still falls toward the quietly laughing, demure girl with long straight hair, she’s a breath of fresh air. Even the way she clunked up the stairs in the beginning.

girlfriday: Me too! She seems like the coolest to hang out with. Maybe Eun-seo would be too, if she let her kickboxing side show through a little more.

javabeans: I’m picturing her with someone younger, to boss around. HAHA. Like Kyuhyun, maybe? Then it’s time for the boys to intro themselves.

girlfriday: How is Sungmin 28?? He looks twelve.

javabeans: How are they so awkward at this, when they are by far the more experienced half of this table? You can strut your stuff onstage in leather and colored afros, but you can’t say hello to a pretty girl?

girlfriday: But Leeteuk was hilariously awkward when he started on this show too. It was so strange. I’ve only ever seen him as an MC, so I never knew he had this shy awkward side, but he literally spent weeks and weeks of episodes just staring slackjawed at Sora and unable to say words. It was really cute.

javabeans: Donghae introduces himself, and it’s almost painful to watch. Also entertaining. But also a little painful. He stutters about how he’s not good at dating, then asks for questions without even saying anything about himself.

girlfriday: The commentators point out that he seems like he’s here to find a wife. Like for reals.

javabeans: Sohn Eun-seo asks Kyuhyun what he’d do if he got together with a girlfriend, and he answers, “Publicly, or s-s-secretly?” Hahaha. I know what he means — as in, he’s a celeb so there’s a different between a public date and a quiet one — but it’s just so hilarious, said like that.

girlfriday: And also so revealing about how seriously they’re taking this. It’s cracking me up. Leeteuk tries to explain for him, but it just earns him an evil eye from Sora. Ha.

javabeans: Now that intros are done, it’s time for the men to show off a little, as in personal skills and the like. The boys are startled at the speed of the proceedings, and they fumble a bit to decide who goes first, but Sungmin steps up and says he’ll go first. He picks up a guitar from the corner, and in so doing a pair of nunchaku fall to the ground. HAHA.

girlfriday: Well that’s just a weird combo of skills.

javabeans: I like that he rolls with it, and decides to show that off first then, saying, “Since I should be able to protect my woman.”

girlfriday: And then he sings and plays guitar, which goes considerably better than the display of nunchuck-whipping.

javabeans: I thought the nunchaku were pretty cool. HAHA. Maybe he’s less your style than mine. (He’s totally not my style, btw.)

girlfriday: The acoustic guitar playing is totally my style, but not much else.

javabeans: But they’re singers by profession, so it’s a leetle less impressive to me. (Plus I’m hearing the original song in my head, which is better. LOL.)

girlfriday: Well, they’re idol stars, so I’m still pretty impressed when any of them can actually play instruments and sing.

javabeans: Eunhyuk just got back to Korea so he says he didn’t have time to prepare a demonstration, but he does have a present. Only for one, though, which means he’s ready to single out a lady based on first impressions. Donghae shoots him a look and mutters, while the caption reads, “Breaking the rules already.”

girlfriday: Haha, he’s messing with the program already! This is totally what we meant by the sogaeting rules and social cues.

javabeans: Right? You may get a step closer to the girl, but you cause a rift with your bros.

girlfriday: He chooses Eun-seo, who opens the cake box, to find… a cell phone? Huh? At first you think he’s going to throw her some line to get her number or something, but then he plugs it into speakers to play a song to dance to. What? Then what’s with the fakeout present?

javabeans: Was it to win points with his girl? Because otherwise it’s just a dance?

girlfriday: Even a cupcake would’ve been better.

javabeans: But I think it mitigates the rule-breaking aspect that it was a fake-gift (while earning brownie points with Eun-seo for singling her out), because then he hasn’t really outdone his bros. I think a cupcake would’ve been too serious.

girlfriday: True. Ha. So he dances and bravely goes over to Eun-seo to dance with her, but just as she gets up to join him, the music cuts out. Aw, too bad.

javabeans: It’s cute enough that she was all ready to do the shuffle with him, even if she only got one step in. Then it’s Kyuhyun’s turn to serenade with one of those popular romantic ballads, “Because I Love You.”

girlfriday: Sungmin plays guitar for him, which is nice, but then he messes up, and the boys accuse him of doing it on purpose. HA.

javabeans: Haha, that’s priceless. Because it’s right when Kyuhyun sings the word “stupid.” Aw, it’s sweet of Se-na to speak up for him, telling Sungmin he’s messing Kyuhyun up.

girlfriday: Omg, he starts up again, but this time Eunhyuk slyly slurps his drink in the middle of the song! Their pettiness is hilarious.

javabeans: That may be my favorite thing. The boys are too shy to say much to the ladies, but they take all their chances at embarrassing their friends.

girlfriday: Kyuhyun follows it up with a magic trick — he makes So-yool’s ring disappear, and when she asks for it back, he says he’ll give it to her when they’re done. Hee. I love all their little tricks to get more attention or facetime.

javabeans: I like how the commentator points out that Donghae seems a little miffed that Kyuhyun’s taking up the limelight, and while he doesn’t seem actually upset, I think there’s a teeny bit of truth there. Hee. Well, Donghae could just talk more then.

girlfriday: It’s finally Donghae’s turn, but he’s so awkward that I can barely watch. I’m cringing for him.

javabeans: Eunhyuk says that Donghae prepared at least 100 things, and this reminds me of the Strong Heart episode where Siwon outed him for preparing stories all freaking year long.

girlfriday: He must really be that guy.

javabeans: He just Cares Too Much. It’s both endearing and, as you say, so awkward you can’t bear to watch.

girlfriday: He’s prepared this elaborate song with signs and roses… and somehow it just gets away from him. Like he prepared it to be super romantic, and now it’s falling apart before our eyes.

javabeans: Oh man, Donghae. It’s a good thing you’re so pretty.

girlfriday: He looks like he’s about to cry.

javabeans: He’s the guy who says “I love you” on the first date. He’s Ted Mosby!

girlfriday: Omg! He’s TED!

javabeans: Alternately poignant and mortifying? Where’s that blue trumpet when you need it? Eunhyuk first steals the spotlight by doing the act better, and then points out that Donghae messed up with the flowers. Aw. On the upside, the girls seem to feel sorry for Donghae. He didn’t show them what he wanted to (cool and impressive), but they like the side they see anyway (bumbling and sweet).

girlfriday: Yeah I think the cool ship has sailed. But girls prefer the uncool real side anyway. And I think Eunhyuk in turn lost some points for being mean while Donghae was down.

javabeans: Yes, totally. Eunhyuk totally scored variety points for the funny, but lost on impressing the girls. I like that the mood has loosened up enough now, though, that they’re starting to have a little fun instead of being awkward balls of nervous energy.

girlfriday: It’s time for the girls to choose their favorite from the talent portion, and both So-yool and Se-na pick Sungmin. Uh-oh, things are already starting to skew one way.

javabeans: Eun-seo picks Donghae, which I think just made Donghae’s year. (I had a feeling he liked her most.)

girlfriday: Yeah I think he nearly had a heart attack when she came up the stairs. Eunhyuk’s particularly sad about her choice, since he singled her out first.

javabeans: Maknae actress Yeon-joo also likes Donghae, which leaves Eunhyuk and Kyuhyun sad. But this is only the first round! In this case they’re not necessarily picking the guy they wanna date, so they’ll have another episode to get to know each other. There’s bowling and dancing and… tears?

girlfriday: I guess this sogaeting gets real for everyone, and not just the boys?

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Adam Couple / Brave Couple ❤ Super naturales.

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In my opinion the best couple would be Yongseo couple aka Sweet potato couple!!

I think that of all the couple they are the most realistic! They started all awkward like normal people who meets for the first time! They got to know each other little by little and I think that its the couple who represents the most what a true relationship is!

It was certainly scripted but it didnt bother me because they werent all mushy and all because of the script but because i think that they were at the stage in their relationship where they were ready to have skinship and not because they were told to! It took them 6 months to hold hand but every little bit of skinship was worth the wait! Unlike other couple who held hand at the second mesting and who looked only fake...

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Here's what I'd like to see:

A season of We Got Married where an actress is paired up with her second lead, the one we all loved, but she didn't choose. Eun Bi and Kang Hyuk, anyone?

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oh my god yessss.... mostly because I just want to see Lee Ki woo in everything and anything though

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Yongseo! I still remember their birthday episode. <3 and their goodbye episode made me cry. :(

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And how about the snow-boarding trip where Seo-hyun put make-up on Yonghwa and did his hair - and got put into a head-lock by him for her troubles?! This is the funny stuff I watch for..
:)

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I was very skeptical going into WGM because i didn't totally like the concept, because the interactions would all be fake and for show.
Then, i was pleasantly surprised to watch the woojung couple first. They are the most comfortable and at ease with each other, and although they overdo it with the 'yeobo' alot of times, i think the process from when they met to now seems so real. They're really good friends, and that, evidently, is not for show.

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loved your HIMYM reference! Poor Donghae! and Lee Jang Woo's ordeal with the comforter was hilarious!

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I really dislike the premise of the show myself. I can't stop myself from thinking: Just when do these people find time to film this stupid, fake show? I'd rather they be sleeping.

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It was so much fun reading your recap and I sure laughed a lot watching the show and talked to my screen ...good thing no one hears me.
After watching the Lettuce couple several times, I don't think they had romantic chemistry and the two actors were not used to faking sentiment which made for their awkward teamship feel genuine. Give it a try... towards the middle they become comfortable and since they are competitive, it's very entertaining. KHJ doesn't cut Hwangbo any slack because she's a tough lady and he's uber competitive.
At any rate, everytime I watch the Lettuce couple, I think..."Someday I want to grow up and be Hwangbo." The lady knits, sows, cooks, is tough, dances, works hard, is a bonafide girl friday, and has a great sense of camaderie.
As for KHJ, I wish I had watched Lettuce couple before BBF because his catatonic acting makes sense given his restrained personality in WGM. (Not that comatose acting works). Emote, curse you, (surgically enhanced) pretty boy!

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Restrained personality? That boy is super 4D and has been since day one. I remember watching SS501 first reality show which tracks them before and after debut...still out there

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It was so much fun reading your comment because you get it all wrong about Lettuce couple and KHJ.
You must don't like him a lot because of his acting in BFF,that makes you blind.

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I nearly died on the Ted Mosby comparison. oh my god that was so funny

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OMG! Please, tell me you are going to recap the second part of this blind date!!!
I saw the episode and reading your comments about it cracked me up. You guys said everything I though while watching.

Please, please, please, recap the second part~♥

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yes! glad for the WGM reviews :)

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I strongly recommend 'Infinity Challenge' for the next round of Variety Roulette. It's been on the air for nearly 7 years (since 2005, I believe), and I'd wager it's just as popular (or even more popular) than 1박2일. The show is all kinds of awesome

Anyone else with me?

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OH GAWD, now you've attracted the WGM fancrazies in your blog. It's fine and good if you watch it in all good fun, like all normal people do, but there are absolute crazies out there who actually believe that their beloved couples are "real". I especially loathe the "Joongbo"ones or whatever you call them. They probably sent out a mass memo amongst themselves to go here and write about their "coupling". Yes, they are that obsessed.
The only variety show I can stand watching is Family Outing.

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So, may I ask as to why are you here?...Since you are that obsessed w/ Family Outing, I strongly suggest that you also should create your own blog about that show so that you can also rant & rave all you want as well.

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the EPIC conversation ever:

girlfriday: How is Sungmin 28?? He looks twelve.

phuahahahahaha

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OMG!!! I loved the Sanchu couple in the first season, but what hooked me to We Got Married is the ADAM Couple (Jo Kwon and Gain). They were HILARIOUS!!! I was never bored with this couple because they would always bicker, which made it feel more like a married couple than the other couples. I would HIGHLY recommend Javabeans and GirlFriday to watch them if they have not already.

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I used to watch WGM back during its first season; just searched for and watched the Suju sogaeting part of this episode after reading this post, and it was so amusing! I was grinning throughout, mostly cos of how awkward everyone was. Can't wait to see the continuation of the group date. :D

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muahahaahaahaa i was literally cackling through this entire recap because I was just thinking that I hadn't seen a "variety roulette" post recently, and OF ALL SHOWS TO PICK the WGM episode with the blind date... I'll tell you, you girls really get lucky with the random episodes thing. The more members of super junior present, the funnier the show. This was probably the best episode of Teuksora yet, just so much lols and so much revealing of fighting junior's natures lol. and Donghae is totally Ted! oh that's too funny. Seriously beside myself that y'all did commentary for this.

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I do think you guys have Suju Radar! RAWR... The ELF in me is happy indeed... Komawo...

Ahahahaha...

I have been watching WGM for eons, yeah did miss some episodes in between seasons... but season 1 remains the most memorable I guess with Ant Couple, Lettuce Couple, Andy+Solbi, Alex & Shin Ae, but there are memorable couples from each season, Kangin + Yoonji, Hwanhee + Hwayobi, Yonghwa + Seohyun and the list goes on...

I am not sure if I like where WGM is heading...Teuk + Sora is/was special, but I am not sure of the synergy/chemistry to come by adding another Suju member in the mix(one of the succesful pairing from this blind date episode), not just because I am a jealous ELF speaking but the contradictory instead... I am all like... "Boys... go and date and have loads of FUN!!! Rather, I look forward to another mature couple like SoWon couple... that was really sweet... I wish they go beyond broadcast and date for real, coz you can really see affections from both sides.

As a show, flaw as it could be... pretending marriages and all, its fun variety, it may be scripted but reaction can't be scripted so that makes it precious I guess...

And this episode... I can't with the Fighting Junior, they make my heart smile...... so full of fail and so childish trying to sabotage each other ahahhahahaha...

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Ah, Donghae~ You lovable idiot. He's my bias in Super Junior but that didn't stop me from cringing at him sometimes. The thing about Donghae is that when in a variety show with other people, he gets really shy and nervous and quiet and awkward. But when it's just him and his brothers (Super Junior Full House, Exploration of Human Body etc), his personality shines. He shows his true personality - childish, naughty, jumping here and there. In this episode of WGM, Eunhyuk had to tease Hae to make him more relaxed but if the ladies were not there, I'm positive Hae would have beaten Hyuk up. He gets really violent sometimes, LOL!

I haven't seen WGM yet. Not even this episode. But if they add Yesung in, I will definitely watch this. I'm already laughing XD

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Kim Hyung Joong and Hwangbo! The best couple. I've been waiting for someone to sub the newer episodes on the site I watch it on...but ... oh well. The great thing about this show is that although they are "fake" there really seems to be some heavy attraction (or repulsion) going on with these couples at times. Love those blind dates they often set up with their friends. It does make me wonder, though, why so many of these male celebs are so shy.

Thanks for the recap.

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Whoa, now that you guys mentioned it, Donghae does seem Ted-Mosby-like, the kind that would prepare so much and expect something grand - or sweet in this case - and getting the opposite in the end xp

Although, as much as I love Super Junior, I don't think turning the show into all SuJu would be a great idea.. True that they all have different appeals and charms, but still it would be better to just have people from different groups or fields.. Right, now this is sounding weird but I hope you all got it :)

Ah, as for the show that Eunhyuk, Eunseo and Soyool (is that right?) did together back then, it was KBS' Oh My School! hosted by Park Myungsoo, Tony Ahn and Park Kyunglim. It's like a school make-believe, where the hosts are the teachers and there are some idols and actors playing as the students. Throughout the episode, students will be collecting good and bad points and the one with the lowest will be punished. At least, that's what I think was happening. Some of the students that I could remember were FT Island's Hongki, Supreme Team's Simon D, Eunhyuk, Son Eunseo, Miss A's Min, Playful Kiss' Lee Taeseung, SHINee's Minho, etc :)
It was quite a funny show too :)

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its been my dream maybe 2 years ago that dramabeans will review We Got Married because I love to know how will you recap the episode plus your cute comments. im your fan since this site is called javabeans.

just when Brave Couple had ended last last week.. omoooo then you came up with this exceptional recap..i shouted waaahhhhhh...they should have at least done a recap for Brave Couple coz this couple is hilarious..sweet..unique..

i wish..i wish before i die you do a recap of Brave Couple even if just the first episode coz its so funny and surprising since they have a wedding right away

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For me, I enjoyed

Season 1:
Hwang Bo * Hyun Joong Couple
They were just really cute and it showed me a different side of Hyun Joong, which also got him cast for BOF when PDs watched WGM and thought he fit the character. Though I can't say much for his acting :\

Season 2:
Seohyun * Yonghwa Couple
This couple I thought started off very slow, but they seemed the most sincere. I felt like script writers were less involved because it was a special case where Seohyun has literally no experience with guys let alone relationships. I definitely enjoyed them more my second time watching it. I also enjoyed the Adam Couple and the International Couple initially, but then it felt very scripted and fake as time went on.

Season 3:
Eunjung * Jangwoo
I've actually only watched the first few episodes of them, but they are cute and he is more honest about what guys want. Like trying to get her to wear a bikini for him, lol. I haven't seen the other couples except for the first two episodes of Sora and Leeteuk which was very awkward.

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There are real feelings involved within the falsified setup and the hope of a real connection, even if it never works out.

^THIS.

But then I keep investing feelings for the couples. DARN YOU GOGUMA'S! I stopped watching the show when they and the Khuntoria couple left. I still haven't seen the last 2 episodes for each couple...I..just...can't....

YAY FOR ALL THE MUSIC YOU GAIZ ARE SHARING!

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First season was hands down the best, bc they actually tried to pair up people based on their own personalities, and it wasn't as scripted (really weird couples when you thought about it - like Junjin and Siyoung, that turned out so well - they actually dated for real after; as well as Andy and Solbi).

Season 2 it started going way too scripted for me. Too ridiculous.

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Holy Cheesecakes, JB and GF.

Recapping this week's WGM Episode (the second half of the SUJU group date) is would be all kinds of urgent. I am dying to know your thoughts on the things that just happened--KPOPlandia is actually on a buzz right now debating whether what just happened was scripted or not, which I believe has always been the central mystery of the show. Well okay, I get the idea that it's scripted, but still. It's quite probably one of the realest epsiodes that I've seen so far, and it's actually a perfect time to follow through the rest of what will happen since everyone's on the budding stage at this point. I'm sure your two cents on this will crack me up.

Waiting, Hwaiting! ♥

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Holy Cheesecakes, JB and GF.

Recapping this week's WGM Episode (the second half of the SUJU group date) would be all kinds of urgent. I am dying to know your thoughts on the things that just happened--KPOPlandia is actually on a buzz right now debating whether what just happened was scripted or not, which I believe has always been the central mystery of the show. Well okay, I get the idea that it's scripted, but still. It's quite probably one of the realest epsiodes that I've seen so far, and it's actually a perfect time to follow through the rest of what will happen since everyone's on the budding stage at this point. I'm sure your two cents on this will crack me up.

Waiting, Hwaiting! ♥

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The second part of this set up date is excruciating so feel free to skip the recap.

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...been wanting to comment... now part 2 ep 17 of the SUJU--Fighting Junior blind date has passed... can't wait for your take on this second part... very "excruciating...!!!" as someone has described...

..so like many there are couples fans prefer... My being an ELF had me explore the first season of WGM because of two characters from SUJU!!! Around ep 29 Alex tries to find assistants to help babysit the quadruplets and finally gets Leeteuk and Eunhyuk to agree by way of using wife Shin supposed wanting to see them... Eunhyuk is one great character... quite comic/slapstick in his babysitting method.. Hope this can still be seen out there in the internet... Quite a bit ironic that now the Fighting Juniors are part of WGM. And so went my addiction to WGM... Loved the Lettuce Couple--They were unique.. entertaining..

Like many of you, my thoughts were what kind of a show would have celebrities be kind'a married... I couldn't understand but like many I was hooked... What kind of people would allow themselves to be part of the craziness... I was curious and easily hooked... Alex seemed sane, why would he allow himself to be part of this? And so many couples involved, it's difficult to believe that there could just be a complete break off at the end of each couple's relationship.. How could they easily detach themselves.. Like many I cried with Hwangbo when she and Hyun Joong split... It's difficult not to be involved, human nature just tends to get you attached... even if they just be friends... pals..

My next great attachment was the Goguma Couple--fascinating to watch their slow progression.. Were they for real? I mean if they were, well, I hope they continue. We all have differences in preferences but I waited for each episode to see how Seohyun would deal with Yong.. I, like many hope they were and are true but if they are not, I would like to believe that they are true friends. The Khuntoria couple were truly modern, I hope not scripted... I looked forward to the Brave Couple and truly enjoyed their friendship, they to me were the most real/natural... and hope that their long lasting relationship does last... As for the current Dimples Couple well, the powers that be are milking the Hallyu phenom... and I'm a sucker for it!!! A true Hallyu, Elf... fan... from drama to anything Kpop... I'm a true fan/addict!!!

Thanks JB and Girlfriday... can't wait and hoping that you recap part 2 of the Fighting Junior blind date...

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Please continue to sub WGM! This week's episode was so funny, and your comments always make it better. =D

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My FAVORITE couple has always been and it's gonna be SSangchu couple. I've never really watched any other couples (just some cuts) except them. I can watch them one zillion times and never get tired of it. They're heavenly made <333

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I've watched s1. i loved all the couple esp HB and KHJ.
it's very entertaining.

There came a point that you thought they are already not acting but everything you saw was true... And then you wake up and realised that it is just a make believe all along.

Wgm is like a story that you know from the start that it got no happy ending...and you accept that and enjoy it while it lasts ;)

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Of course, Joongbo is the most beloved couple for me. Who can ever forget the most heart-wrenching conversation on the top of Mount Halla? "By the time I need the most I think you are the one sent to me by God." And "Never bring him to Jeju because it will remind you of me." Or "When I saw a heart attached on his chest like scars, He's not human, he's a Little Prince?"

Even the best romantic movie scriptwriters can't deliver those lines. But HB and HJ can!

PS. I just had a chance to watch Marry you, Marry Me MV. Man, I swear that if I was not afraid to be ridiculed by Joongbo anti-fans I would tell you that the last photo at the end which was sent by a fan means BIG THING! Cause it's an imitation of Joongbo wedding photo! Why HJ put this photo at the end? Why Why Why? THINK ABOUT IT, THINK!

To The World!

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So much worship for Lettuce Couple! They totally got me hooked! I also LOVE Brave Couple and Adam Couple--I would definitely show an episode from one of these couples to get someone hooked rather than the newer stuff. I love the MC's, but I agree with some other commenters. They need to make it more real-feeling or be more upfront about the scripted nature of the show with the mission cards etc...I still do love Woojung and Dimples though :) I really liked Goguma too--particularly b/c CNBlue was on the show all the time--same with Adam--and so it felt more like we were really in their lives

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well to me the 1st season of WGM is the best... especially Sangchu couple..during that season the PD motive was very clear which is to show the couple married life... but the new and latest seasons are more to promoting their career.. i think PD should change the title... ^^

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Thanks for the recap! This website is so awesome <3

I always enjoyed WGM, because the couples are very entertaining (esp. season 1's Hwangbo and Hyunjoong). And although it is scripted, there isn't a "hard" script, so it is not thaaat fake. The couple dynamics are so fun to watch! I recommend the Adam couple :)

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Hey! ive just recently watched this show, but theres something im not so clear about. I read comments saying WGM is fake. But define fake? For instance i was watching the YongSeo couple, so by saying its fake, he actually made and bought those presents for seohyun is it because it was scripted? or were they real intentions? im confused, cause all this while ive always thought that the only fake thing was that they "married" but the romance wasn't all acting.. in yongseo's case of course.. can someone answer my question?

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JV, I get your point. I never thought of watching this (or actively looking for it online since I don't live in Korea and its not on our local cable list). When I first heard about it I thought, "Whaaaa??? Who got married?!" Then ding ding ding...it's a freakin reality show about fake relationships.

Then Fujii Mina got involved. I so love her that everything else didn't matter.

Shallow right? But then again,so what.

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I love this show because it can be very entertaining.
The only thing i do not like are the couple that are too unbelievable. Im to busy focusing on if the male is gay or not . It tends to ruin the concept.

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Seriously, I finished watching all the episodes of the Lettuce Couple just about right now. and I simply adore them! The got me hooked and the ending was really sad/ :(

I hope they are still friends up to now :)

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