(photos credit from Cashewmania)

**I have to redo this entry due to Xanga not saving it—grrrr!

Thanks to SNSD fans, they translated this game show KBS Star Golden Bell 스타골든벨. (I did catch a translated episode on KBS World while traveling through SE Asia.) One recent episode that shown on Valentine’s day had SNSD 소녀시대 aka Girls Generation and  빅뱅 Big Bang’s Seung Ri on it.

The first part of the show they have everyone do some promo work so SNSD 소녀시대(minus Yoona) did a quick demo of “GEE” (their latest and hottest song that is redone all over the world into many versions) and Seung Ri 승리 with “Strong Baby” 승리솔로. Then later the participants have a few games as a team (each row) or later on individually. At the end, one person will have the honor to answer the final “STARGOLDEN BELL” question. All the money raised does to go to charity.

I thought this episode was cute as whenever Seung Ri did well and his team, he had to do the dance from his song to “crack crack” which was hilarious. Or when one of the SNSD gals had to swipe a stick with food to have the other gals try some of it while the MCs were not looking. One game I don’t get but enjoy is when Kara’s Nicole for the guessing game.

(photos: Sookyeong)

Yesterday was the second episode of the two episode spot with 빅뱅 Big Bang’s T.O.P (aka 최승현 Choi Seung Hyun)on the Sunday show 패밀리가떳다 ”Family Outing”. Even though I cannot get alot of the jokes, I was still laughing alot. Compared to 다니엘 헤니Daniel Henney, he is very quiet. The first part shown on 2/8/09 was funny as he had problems touching the fish. Or that Daesang 강대성 was taking advantage being a permanent member on the Family by ordering around his 형hyung while the members were making dinner. Or the fact Hyori 이효리was making pancakes and how everyone lined up to take try some. The singing contest between Jong Gook 김종국 and MC Yoo 유재석 was hilarious to get more of Hyori’s pancakes. I was impressed that this time Jong Gook stepped up and helped YeJin 박예진clean the fish. She is the one who is skilled in making food and knowing what to do.

Last night’s episode (2/15/09) was funny. MC Yoo’s rapping and poking fun at Jong Gook of his old “scandal” with 윤은혜Yoon Eun Hye on “Xman”  (especially in 2005) was hilarious. I still think it is not fun to wake up at 7:30am to play a game to avoid making breakfast. It was funny how Daesang was a bit jealous and had to come out and check out how the breakfast prep was coming along with TOP, MC Yoo and Yoon .Chunhee 이천희 showed off on the ice and after making a cool jump he later fell after doing some other tricks. Poor YeJin fell when paired with Chunhee.

Next up is the third female guest since this show started Yoona 임윤아 of SNSD 소녀시대 (aka Girls Generation the 9 girl group). Right now their song Gee is very hot in Korea at least 3 weeks at the top spot. Of course during the episode preview, she does the requisite performance of “Gee”.

Since Randy Jackson started last early summer with America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) I have been loving this show! (Thank you MTV for allowing to have episodes to be watchable online!) I did not realize it was back—thanks unni! So I caught up and watched the first three episodes.

Right now I love and think the top two look like to be Beat Freaks (go all women crew!) and Quest Crew (love that they are Asian and Hok rocks!) if the audience voters don’t mess up. Though strong contention would be the Strikers All Stars.

This season has been refreshing because you saw various new stuff never seen by the main stream and were absent the first two seasons-clumping, striking and the stuff with their body contortionist moves by the just ousted Ringmasters (last week).

This time around they did not show the auditions. But from the first episode, they went to more places and had more people try out for the top 9 crews to perform. The first episode was sudden death. The crews really brought their game. Second episode was the FIT TEST, meaning each crew had to do a difficult move incorporated into their dance routine. This last episode was the Britney Spears challenge creating a routine on a Britney hit and given a difficult task. I was very impressed by the challenges and the new dance crews ingenious ideas!

There is more entertainment, cleaner routines, variety and amazing choreography that I am looking forward to each week.

Who know that the very masculine and powerful  Quest Crew for the Britney challenge input a convincing “feminine sequence” but not seem “effeminate” either. On top of that, they had to do moves “blindfolded”. WOW! Amazing!  Or that Strikers All Stars did the mirror image and the effective use of their prop-amazing. Even the usual boxy and baggy bboy dancing group Beat Freaks really brought their femininity out (not their usual comfort zone) for their dance routine-it was hot! Even Shane was not expecting them to bring it and breaking out of their usual bboy shell.  I think an all female crew is finally going to make it to the final three or two this time.

Episode 1-Ousted-G.O.P Dance (Puerto Rico)

Episode 2- Boxcuttuhz (reminded me of last season’s Fanny Pack but not as good)

Episode 3-Team Millenia were ousted (though this time they were better than their first outing).

Ringmasters (only East Coast Crew) They made Lil Moma cry but in a good way during the first episode. I think that these kids from Brooklyn are a positive role model to try to avoid the streets in a positive way. Their moves are gravity defying and scary to watch.

I am waiting for the fourth episode (this weeks to be on line).

OTHER

Pics from MTV

I know the ABC Reality Show -The Bachelor with Jason Mesnick is probably my fave as he seems so genuine. I liked him when he was vying for DeAnna Pappas (the last Bachelorette). But it makes sense why she did not choose him in the end as she did not have the “connection” with him as she did with Jesse. (Heard that they are now unengaged.)

I don’t know why I get sucked in, I guess that is why this is a guilty pleasure. But I do like Jason alot. Probably because he has a 3 year old son Ty. Even my sis and I were rooting for him and usually we could care less. Plus all the Bachelors save for 2 broke up after the show. Only one couple actually married was the first Bachelorette Trista ( nee Rehn) Sutter.

I have been able to catchup. Now he is down to the top 4 gals to do the hometown dates. The one he let go was the single mom Stephanie who I felt had a heart of gold. Naomi, Molly, Jillian and Melissa are left. According to the gossip blogs, the gal he chose at the finale is engaged to him.

Definitely one way to kill time. I wish TOP CHEF had repeats I could watch. I don’t have TV and it is killing me!

I loved this Kdrama alot. Ha Ji Won 하지원 just shined. I loved Jang Geun Suk  장근석 as her first love. I heard the film version with Song Hye Gyo is not as good. I watched this drama twice! The costumes, music and acting were top notch.  The OST rocks and listening to this song reminds me of this great drama!

This MV 나쁜사람 (Bad Man) by Paek Ji Young 백지영 is lovely.

So the ballroom dancing craze has also hit South Korea. Currently there is a KBS Special show called “Shall We Dance” 아련알섬님.where they get some entertainers-singers/dancers/models to compete. I watched some clips of the January 27th show. They show some clips of them getting ready but instead have the group sit down and then head off (a pair at a time). I saw clips of 빅뱅 Big Bang’s Seungri 승리Samba (wowed) and Seeya’s Nam Gyu Ri’s남규리 Tango (was not as good) performances. I noticed that Solbi 솔비 and M (Lee Min Woo 이민우) are also in this show as well.

Currently the MVP is Seungri 승리 with a score of 94 and he topped Solbi’s 88. I wish my Korean was better to understand all the comments and discussions. But it was fun to watch! I was glad that Seungri’s 승리 94 topped Nam Gyu Ri’s 남규리 93. (He really is the better dancer of the two.) By by the end of the night his MVP status was usurped by  백지영Baek Ji Young’s performance. (I have seen limited clips here and there.)

Dance order for 1/27/09 show:

1. Goo Hara – Quick Step
2. SS501 Kim Hyung Joon - Waltz
3. Brown Eyed Girls GaIn – Paso Doble
4. ShinHwa Andy – Jive
5. Solbi - Rumba
6. ShinHwa Lee Minwoo – Paso Doble
7. SeeYa Nam GyuRi - Tango
8. Baek Ji Young - ChaChaCha

OTHER

Source for some info of the show- Sookyeong’s site here

Pics from Popseoul-seungri and nam gyuri

Family Outing  패밀리가 떴다  (episode 32-33)had special guest Daniel Henney 다니엘 헤니(19th guest) on their show for the special Lunar New Year show. (Henney is currently filming XMen in Vancouver.) I have watched the first part (broadcast 1/25/09) and the last part (broadcast 2/1/09) I have not caught yet. I had fun watching it though my Korean leaves a lot to be desired.

The “Family” comprised of a few celebrities, singers,entertainers,models come together for a weekly show and they go somewhere for 2 days and 1 night. They do the tasks the occupants usually do, have some games/challenges and take care of the house they are staying at. There are only two females (show regulars) Park YeJin  박예진 /(she is very knowledgeable about food and cooking) and pop diva  이효리 Lee Hyori and this show has only had 2 female guests thus far.  Others are 김수로  Kim Su Ro, Kim Jong Gook 김종국  (new since SEPT), Yoon Jong Shin 윤종신 ,While the “Family” is together, they separate into teams for sports competitions and various tasks. In every episode they have to cook their own meals. I have only seen two episodes so far—-Rain 비 (real name: Jun Ji Hoon 정지훈 back in the fall).

In two episodes, Daniel learned how to dry squid, how Korean rice cakes are made as well as do a Korean wrestling challenge and he had a chance to cook breakfast with Lee Hyori. I love the bit where he snuck in the ramen powder while making the seafood soup. Even the discussion about their first loves and kisses was cute. Lee Chunhee 이천희  (aka Chunderella) cracked me up when he said his first kiss was in a “video bang” while watching a Stephen Chow 周星馳 movie. Dae Sang 대성 adds the cute comic relief.

When they did the New Year’s greeting their antics were funny. MC Yoo Jae Suk  유재석 trying to imitate Daniel’s cool model stare walk was hilarious. Or doing the physical sports challenges both Kim Su Ro and Yoon Jong Shim (called themselves the 40 guys). I must admit, I cracked up when the cast was using their Konglish on Daniel.

OTHER

Pics from SBS

So I am watching an old drama with Gong Yoo 공유 (Suh Gun) and Sung Yuri 성유리 (Ha Neul /Hae Won) 어느 멋진 날 “One Fine Day”  好的一天 / 精彩的一天 from 2006.  Both leads play brother/sister (not blood related but united by marriage) who are separated once their parents pass away. Then 15 years later they are reunited. Circumstances cause them problems. Also Lee Yeon Hee 이연희 is Hyo Joo who grows up with Gun  and she has a life threatening heart condition. ( Side note, she is currently in EAST OF EDEN 에덴의 동쪽 and supposedly dating her co-star Song Seung Hun 송승헌 -lucky gal!)

The music is lovely and the first part of the drama was filmed in Australia. Gong Yoo’s English was passable-at least better than Lee Jun Jin 이정진 or 김래원 Kim Rae Won’s 2004 Drama  in “Love Story in Harvard” 러브스토리 인 하버드 . But this drama brings back the sister/brother forbidden relationship angle that has been found in other dramas along with the fatal illness aspect as well. Despite it, I don’t mind watching this drama. After 커피프린스 1호점, I loved Gong Yoo 공유 in it.

I am halfway through this drama, I love the OST. Asian dramas sure know how to pick great songs.

CAST:

• Gong Yoo 공유 as Suh Gun
• Sung Yu Ri 성유리 as Suh Ha Neul / Park Hye Won
• Nam Goong Min 남궁민  as Kang Dong Ha
• Lee Yeon Hee 이연희 as Goo Hyo Joo

Extended Cast

• Kang Sung Jin as Goo Seong Chan / James
• Lee Ki Yeol as Goo Kyung Taek (Gun’s adoptive father)
• Jung Dong Hwan as Park Jin Kwon (Ha Neul’s adoptive father)
• Sun Woo Eun Sook as Ji Soo Hyun
• Yoo Ha Joon as Park Tae Won
• Ahn Yeon Hong as Kim Mal Ja (Ha Neul’s friend)
• Lee Eon Jeong as Choi Sun Kyung (Gun’s friend)
• Woo Hee Jin
• Suh Ji Hee as young Ha Neul
• Lee Ki Young

OTHER

-Pic, relations chart and Cast from DRAMAWIKI

-Official website here of One Fine Day

-OST Link here

우리 사랑하지만 (One Fine Day OST)-theme song for Ha Neul and Dong Ho

If I Only Have You-Loveholic 그대만 (One Fine Day OST)-actual MV

Gong Yoo in fanmade-MV 우리 사랑하지만 (again)

After watching episode 7 of Hong Gil Dong, I have not been able to get this song out of my head. I find am humming it alot. Oh my! The song was very appropriate for that scene.  When Hong Gil Dong (Kang Ji Hwan)강지환 姜至奂 leaves  Heo Yi Nok (Sung Yuri) 성유리 成宥利 to save her from being hurt as he being pursued he knocks her out. He knows if he does not, she will follow him.