KBS copycats Grandpas Over Flowers with grandma edition
by javabeans
javabeans: Oh, KBS. *shakes head* Are you really so hard-up for ideas that you’re just going to steal them from everyone else now? So get this: Hot on the heels of Grandpas Over Flowers’ success for tvN, KBS is planning a show that’s basically Grandmas Over Flowers. *shakes head harder*
girlfriday: It’s so shameless. I mean, the show is called Mama Too, like, Hey, That’s a Hit Show, We’ll Do It TOO!
javabeans: But wait! That’s not all! They’re ALSO doing a show called A Dad’s Qualifications, AHEM, and are we supposed to believe the show about dads taking over the care of their kids has nothing to do with the runaway success of MBC’s Dad! Where Are We Going?
girlfriday: KBS variety has been floundering for a long while now, but this is actually worse than just chugging along with your shows that aren’t as popular.
javabeans: I know! Not only is it just annoying to steal someone else’s original idea for your own, it actually makes them look more lame to pull a desperate move like this, like they just need an idea, any idea, oh god does nobody have an idea?
girlfriday: And do they think people won’t notice? ‘Cause… uh… we noticed.
javabeans: Everyone noticed! The headlines are all, “KBS, are you really gonna do that?” and “KBS, not cool man.” I mean, okay, not exactly in those words but pretty much those words.
girlfriday: Yeah the news cycle on these show announcements was pretty funny. “That’s just like this show!” “That’s not okay.” “Is that okay?”
javabeans: It’s worth pointing out that we’re not accusing them of actually plagiarizing or doing anything illegal. Imitation is flattery (said all the imitators to the people they ripped off, hoping that would make it better—it doesn’t make it better), Oreo has Hydrox, Apple hates Samsung, et ceteraaaaaa. It’s just that this is kinda tasteless and tacky.
girlfriday: And an actual tactic from them, because they’re developing six new shows for a variety overhaul… but it’s all just versions of stuff that’s popular on other networks.
javabeans: It has to be a really bizarre experience for Na PD in particular, since they’re ripping off his idea with Mama Too and he was the guy who steered KBS’s flagship show (1N2D) to its greatest heights. He was really classy in interviews asking how he felt about it, saying that KBS is like his parents’ home, that it just means people really love Grandpas Over Flowers, and that he’s going to focus on his own show.
girlfriday: It was nice of him to say that instead of the other thing.
javabeans: No kidding. He totally has the right to be all, “WTF, KBS?” but he’s happier taking the higher road (wonder what the view’s like over there, since my instinct is always the other one). Granted, maybe it’s not so tough when his show keeps breaking its own rating records, with this week’s Episode 6 scoring 6.65% in average ratings with a real-time high of 9.66%, which was even higher in Seoul with 12.34%. Those’re pretty monstrous numbers for cable, but especially cable variety.
girlfriday: They’re massive. He’s basically bringing in Big 3 numbers for cable.
javabeans: Not to be a Negative Nellie from the get-go, but I don’t see a grandma version being as fun. I mean, I do like Kim Sumi (Incarnation of Money), who was hilarious on the 1N2D Actress Special, and they’re also courting Kang Bu-ja, who’s a familiar grandma face from lots of dramas (You Who Rolled In Unexpectedly, Mom’s Dead Upset). But… it’s not the same. I don’t want to turn this into a gendered argument but it’s just that I don’t worry about strong women the same way I worry about bumbling old grandpas trying to feed themselves in foreign locales.
girlfriday: Yeah I have the same initial reaction (not that it couldn’t be an entertaining show for totally different reasons) that women would have no problems on a trip overseas, and there would be no arguing over how to make Chapaghetti or relying on a Seo-jinnie to make them strange hotel soups out of mystery meats.
javabeans: To split hairs a bit, KBS is not technically developing this copycat program in-house—it’s an outside production, but I don’t really know if you can pat them on the back for that since they’re the ones buying it anyway.
girlfriday: I think the lesson here is really: You shoulda paid Na PD more money to keep him.
javabeans: One talent goes a lot longer than a hit show or two.
girlfriday: Especially when that talent has a crew full of talented people who follow him from show to show and write/edit/produce great stuff. When we say Na PD we really mean his whole boatload of people.
javabeans: Who now work for tvN. Giving them monster ratings. And prestige. And laughs. We all win.
girlfriday: Well, everyone but KBS.
Via Star News, Oh My News, My Daily
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Tags: cable programs, conversation post, Grandpas Over Flowers, Kim Sumi
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1 ...
August 10, 2013 at 4:14 AM
That's absolutely ridiculous. KBS really needs to get it together and come up with something original. Like you guys pointed out, they should have just paid Na PD more to stay! Even if the program isn't produced in house that's no excuse to broadcast a copycat program .
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far
August 10, 2013 at 11:38 PM
ikr? especially regarding 1N2D show. they have a great cast line-up this time. each of them have their own personality, in which if given the proper material, they can shine brilliantly. so for that to get wasted on the current PD (who obviously likes to do things for no reason whatsoever) is really upsetting. i dont see any competitiveness from the boys at all.
i quite like Season 2. it's no Season 1, but Bird PD is not bad. he was just about to turn evil after 1 year, and they switch him to another show. things go downhill after the New PD takes over. it seems to me like KBS is point-black refusing to take new ideas from other people, which results in circulation of people. living in their own world is not good.
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2 kujaichi
August 10, 2013 at 4:24 AM
Well, actually Hydrox was first, and Oreo was later. But somehow I doubt that there ever will be any doubt later which show was first...
I mean, if it's as entertaining as GOF, it's only good for us, right?
But really, the nerve of those people, tssk... I'm totally used to German networks ripping of US shows and so on, but that's really... bold.
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mehkko
August 10, 2013 at 10:33 AM
And US shows rip off British ones...so the story's told.
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kujaichi
August 11, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Yeah, and then we copy the US show that copied the British show... There totally is a German The Office clone for example.
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3 hayy
August 10, 2013 at 4:25 AM
Really? Haha, alright, good luck then.
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4 Ryan
August 10, 2013 at 4:26 AM
Isn't it an unwritten rule somewhere that we will not do this to one another, and will pay/license the concept? Why risk your reputation and be the laughing stock of the town?
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5 Daniaa
August 10, 2013 at 4:30 AM
Wait.... so you mean Na PD took his whole crew over for the change? Damn.... dude is awesome.
Oh KBS. I wouldn't wanna be associated with you.
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Jo
August 10, 2013 at 1:49 PM
What I like about KBS is they provide KBS WORLD subs on youtube.
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6 Mystisith
August 10, 2013 at 4:35 AM
Hahaha. So the problem of creativity plagues varietyland like dramaland. Interesting...
Seriously, when you have someone with talent, notoriety and such an address book, you treat him well and you keep it with you. Those heads who only see $$ should learn a thing or too about friendship and bromance and loyalty. Backstabbing is not nice!.
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Jessica
August 10, 2013 at 11:41 PM
It feels like every country has this issue.
Like when the US had tons of lawyer shows, than cops shows, and then doctor shows.
I guess TV executives around the world think the same :)
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Juli
August 11, 2013 at 9:05 AM
wish that German networks would rip of Korean shows. at the same time I wonder where they should find such great Cast as it is provided in Korea.
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7 tiny
August 10, 2013 at 4:37 AM
they should realize that it's Na PD and his crew who brings the magic. I mean, look at where 1N2D is now with a different PD.
i giess this says a lot about the kind of person Na PD is. I noticed a familiar face in an episode of GOF. it was the same PD who Eun Ji Won was like 'gimme gimme' to a morsel of food she was eating when Sugeun wagered ramyun and sleeping rights. *sniff I miss the real 1n2d again... ?
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mehkko
August 10, 2013 at 10:35 AM
I told myself that I would watch it until school starts this fall or it gets cancelled, but it's been so terrible, especially these last couple of episodes, that I've quit already. I feel terrible because it was my first variety show, but now that I watch more variety than dramas, I know enough to know that everything could be improved about the current 1n2d: the production, the editing, the cast, and the writing. urgh.
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gg
August 11, 2013 at 12:03 AM
yea, 2D1N used to be my favourite korean variety show, i almost cried when I heard that season 1 was ending. Then season 2 came and i cheered up abit although Seung Gi's gone, and i tried to watch it for a few episodes, but it just got so boring that I stopped (no offense to any season 2 fans out there). KBS should do some serious internal reflection.
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mysticmalady
August 11, 2013 at 9:46 AM
TOTALLY AGREED. I never thought I would have to fast-forward through a 1n2d episode (which i've had to do since the new PD came on board). In fact, I spend half the episode mentally editing the show for them and tweaking the games to make them more interesting.
KBS, please hear our cries and get better PDs/writers! I can see the crew trying their best to make the show fun, but I don't think the show will improve if what they've planned is just soooooooooo booooooring. TT.TT
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okitokki
August 10, 2013 at 11:14 AM
THIS. you think they would have learned that the same concept of a show depends on execution... 1N2D was fun to watch even with Bird PD, but it still changed the show, having a different PD. and then the show changed again after Bird PD left (for the worse... much, much, MUCH worse...)
but you would think that it'd be a clear sign to KBS that you just can't replicate success like this. it's not just the concept of "old people travelling abroad" that makes GOF great. it's Na PD, and the cast he's assembled and the rules he creates for his little game and the way all the personalities work together... all of which is highlighted by smart editing.
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8 Tulipsaki
August 10, 2013 at 4:37 AM
I dunno: grandmas can be just as difficult.
They need a cute boybander or two to run the errands.
The only thing that'll get them is: Seojinie being tricked into this job is half the fun! How to replicate that?
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okitokki
August 10, 2013 at 11:19 AM
I don't doubt that halmaes can be just as entertaining as the halbaes (I have plenty of crazy korean grandma stories from work last year that prove this, in fact) BUT a major factor in variety is not just the personalities you get on the show, but how well you edit the show. look at 1N2D (which everyone will be bringing up because of its relation to Na PD): there are still many of the same great personalities on the show as before, but the newest PD? not so great with some of the decisions he's making, and what used to be a good time is now suffering due to poor execution.
if KBS is going to do this, i sure hope they have a damn good PD lined up.
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9 Appletini
August 10, 2013 at 4:42 AM
KBS...sigh. I am not surprised though. They have also used Eat Your Videos without permission ... after the guys who run the website refused to collaborate with them.
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Carmensitta
August 10, 2013 at 7:24 AM
*Eat Your Kimchi videos
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Appletini
August 10, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Thanks for pointing it out, miss Grammar Nazi. I am sure you make typos as well from time to time.
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anna
August 10, 2013 at 12:30 PM
LOL you didn't make a typo tho, you just left out the word KIMCHI. don't need to be so sarcastic about it.
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anna
August 10, 2013 at 12:31 PM
and seriously, i was wonder who the heck is Eat Your Videos haha
Appletini
August 10, 2013 at 1:58 PM
From a dictionary:
ty·po
[tahy-poh]
noun, plural ty·pos. Informal.
typographical error.
Yes, I made a typo. And you are being a grammar nazi for the second time. It is very bad manners to other people unless they have specifically asked you to, thus the sarcasm.
iloveys
August 10, 2013 at 5:00 PM
why are you getting so upset? you left out the most important part of their name, of course they're going to correct you. it was a simple correction, no need to be rude about it.
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Javabeans
August 10, 2013 at 8:36 PM
The correction was civil. The reply less so. Let's let this rest now.
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Outraged!
August 11, 2013 at 11:03 AM
why is some other site stealing your posts?
http://en.hikpop.com/?p=167191
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mira
August 10, 2013 at 4:51 PM
would you mind explaining that ?
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10 tadaaflo
August 10, 2013 at 4:46 AM
this totally remind me of simon and martina debacle.. ohh kbs...
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aisuzieya
August 10, 2013 at 5:11 AM
goodness, what happened?
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Appletini
August 10, 2013 at 6:14 AM
They approached Simon and Martina to make a show together. Simon and Martina refused, because the premise of the show KBS wanted to make was stupid. So KBS decided to broadcast videos from Eat Your Kimchi website without permission.
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Laura
August 10, 2013 at 8:27 AM
omg, no way :O I've never imagined anyone would do such thing...
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tadaaflo
August 10, 2013 at 8:19 AM
they mke a video abt it on their youtube channel. u cn check it out
/watch?v=9AwCkzr_e1E&list=TLnDA4AOzNl9M
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11 Aly
August 10, 2013 at 4:51 AM
LOL this post was so funny!
Well, this whole rip-off idea is ridiculous... but on the other hand it's basically free publicity. They could have come up with some original shows, but since they're pulling this stunt it makes EVERYONE comment on it. These copycat shows haven't even picked a cast or premiered yet... but everyone knows about them already.
Anyways, it always makes me happy to see cable networks beat the Big 3. Muahahaha
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12 eny
August 10, 2013 at 5:05 AM
this is seem shameless esp doing by big broadcaster, it's true the basic idea is the same as 1n2d but it still weird and plus with dad show. Copycat other show that has been popular happen everywhere including my country, i'm not surprise.
But KBS drama is still the best for me, they make better drama with more original idea more than other broadcast
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13 KDaddict
August 10, 2013 at 5:21 AM
If KBS doesn't care how this copy cat move makes them look, would they care when their copy cat show (Mama Too) FLOPS? After all 1N2D that worked so spectacularly under Na PD has flopped just as spectacularly without him. The idea is impt, but so is the execution. They will look Really stupid, won't they?
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14 Cheese
August 10, 2013 at 5:24 AM
Oh korea you and your copy cat issues.. Korea has this strange law on intellectual copyright not entirely connected to this but on other aspects of korean media. They are not like "im inspired to do this but created a whole different version" Instead "hey thats the trend today or thats has ratingslets do that! Trigger happy copying lol
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15 junny
August 10, 2013 at 5:40 AM
that's a pathetic move, KBS. couldn't you have come up with something else that doesn't make you look stupid? sigh.
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16 petirrojo
August 10, 2013 at 5:46 AM
Maybe instead KBS could come up with a show that features the Grannies searching for chaebol ghosts who like to time travel...
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17 NaHyun
August 10, 2013 at 5:48 AM
Are.you.serious.
Wow what a shame KBS. I can't believe they're actually copying Gramps Over Flowers.. I think grandmas would be quite annoying. They don't have that cuteness only grandpas have. And I didn't really like Kim Sunmi's variety personality in Running Man, it really annoyed me. To think that they woykd cast her..
I used to think KBS was the best but that was only when the original 1N2D was alive.. Now KBS is really failing.
If I had one word to describe this whole thing it would be: ANNOYING
ㅡㅡ
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Hazel
August 10, 2013 at 2:39 PM
"I think grandmas would be quite annoying. They don’t have that cuteness only grandpas have."
Yeah, I'm going to totally disagree with that statement. I've met many adorable, feisty, hilarious & charming grandmas, and have known quite a few obnoxious, annoying grandpas. It depends on the individual not their gender.
But if you mean that there might be some gendered expectations about how grandmas are supposed to act that could potentially inhibit some of the cast (or even the PD/staff/editors), then okay.
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18 the50-person
August 10, 2013 at 5:52 AM
Ugh. Disgusting move KBS. Disgusting.
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19 sartorius
August 10, 2013 at 6:23 AM
le sigh...
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20 Dongsaeng killer
August 10, 2013 at 6:25 AM
Just ridiculous
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21 ck1Oz
August 10, 2013 at 6:30 AM
I didn't follow the original 1N2D but Grandpa over flowers have now become about the only variety show I follow.
I like the female actresses but I love the halbaes. It's like they are in a whole world of their own. With their own rules.
KBS- can you come up with an original show? Or 2?
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22 Laura
August 10, 2013 at 6:38 AM
The same happens between the main Lithuanian networks in my country, it's just that they somehow manage to "create" several almost the same fresh ideas at the same time for their new seasons... Ridiculous...
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23 hui3r
August 10, 2013 at 6:58 AM
Well... from a commercial perspective. Na PD wouldn't want to say anything that burns bridges with KBS.
Although, at this point, KBS should be on their knees begging.
Btw, anyone's got any idea where Bird PD went? I kinda miss him. :(
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24 wednesdays
August 10, 2013 at 7:00 AM
That is low kbs.... tsk tsk tsk....
Difference of grandpas from grandmas:
Grandmas can and will serve and cook for anyone younger than themselves. They can talk themselves out of anything and will do anything they want and/or think they can do.
Grandpas on the other hand will sit, chill and relax while waiting to be served by younger people... they give orders and expect everyone to follow them(except probably their wives). Not that they cant do anything by themselves but its just the way it is in asian cultures.
Im not saying that a show with grandmas wont be entertaining, but the show dynamics has to be different from that of the existing one. They need to think up their own concept and quit copying... think "new" writers and pd's....
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25 Saima
August 10, 2013 at 7:08 AM
*facepalms*
If I were an actor being courted to feature in KBS' copycat show... I'd run in the opposite direction. Nobody would like to star in an infamous copycat show. It'd be akin to being in the news for ALL the wrong reasons. I concur with the previous posters... Variety show with Grandmas will just not be the same. :S
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Tulipsaki
August 10, 2013 at 10:30 AM
On the other hand, you might need the work.
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Ondubu
August 10, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Valid point, but I think the show itself will be funnier if it goes a total "fish out of the water" concept. The more serious/ famous a person's image is, the more hilarious it is to see them out of their element. Essentially I'm saying that Lee Seo Jin's role would most likely be funnier if played by an equally big star that people know. In which case, they might not be needing so much work!
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