Since last year I have
being watching variety programs from South Korea, and it turns out that they
are really entertaining. The first show that I watched was Running Man, one of
the shows with more views around Asia, with a unique structure and very
creative writers. Seven members (six men and a woman) with a mission to
complete the race and win, this is the purpose of the show. Some times with guest
appearance like actors, singers, announcers, athletes, and entertainment
personalities, with whom you can have a blast with all the nonsense of the
games and challenges along the way.
Every image right goes
to their respected owners
On July of 2010 SBS has
giving us one of the greatest variety shows of South Korea making us laugh our
guts out. The original cast members where all men; Yoo Jae Suk
"Grasshopper, Yoo-mes Bond, Yoo-ruce Willis", Ji Suk Jin "Impala
or Big Nose", Kim Jong Kook "Tiger, Sparta, Commander, Mr.
Capable", Gary "Peaceful Gary, Random Mr. Capable, Monday
Boyfriend", HaHa "Haroro, Kid", Lee Kwang Soo "Giraffe,
Traitor, Kwangvatar, Unlucky Hand", and Song Joong Ki "Flower
Boy". For 41 episodes these cast drag us to a new world, the world of
Korean variety shows with a lot of nonsense and creativity. But what defines
Running Man is the name tag elimination game, the survivor wins. The winner of
the race would get a price of gold (jewelry, trophies, medals, etc.) and the
losers would have to take a punishment. On the second episode the guest where
Goo Hara from the girl group Kara, and actress Song Ji Hyo, who then turn out
to be one of the fixed members. The alias of the actress are "Ace",
"Blank Ji Hyo", "Miss Mong", and even "Gold Ji
Hyo" being the member with most wins on the show. Song Joong Ki last
appearance on the show was on April 2011, leaving the show to concentrate on
his acting career. Another member was once part of the Running Man, Lizzy,
which is part of the girl group After School and sub-unit Orange Caramel. She
only stayed for 8 episodes on 2011, and was a guest for a previous 2. After
that the fixed members stayed as 7, a number that later on was going to be on a
few episodes. Now, I will talk about a few facts about this amazing cast that
all of you should know.
Every image right goes
to their respected owners
- Yoo Jae Suk: known as the "Nations MC", Yoo Jae Suk is a well-recognized TV host and comedian. His first appearance on TV was on 1991 on a Comedy Festival, in which he uses a grasshopper hat, for which he later on got the nickname of "Grasshopper". He is well known around Asia, and currently have five shows airing (Infinite Challenge; Running Man; Happy Together; Same Bed, Different Dreams; Two Yoo Project, Finding Sugar Man). Jae Suk is like the heart of "Running Man", he is the one that keeps together the members and is the MC of the show. One of the characteristics that we can see while watching the show is the close relationship he has with all the members and also with a great number of guests.
- Kim Jong Kook: Jong Kook is a ballad singer who previously was part of the kpop group Turbo on the mid 90's. His variety show debut was on "X-Man", a show where he sheared the scene with Yoo Jae Suk and HaHa, on this show he had a love line with actress Yoon Eun Hye. This rumored relationship hasn't been cleared up since the early 2000's, for which the "Running Man" members still tease him. After his mandatory military service discharge on 2008 he made his music comeback and variety comeback with "Family Outing" on 2009, later on 2010 it was set as part of the cast for a new show, "Running Man".
- Ji Suk Jin: he started his career as a singer on 1991, but it was his work as an MC that gave him popularity. He was the host of the show Star Golden Bell from 2004 to 2010. It was in 2010 that he took part of the cast of "Running Man" till this day. Among the members he's known as a very gullible person, he sets the female guests as his rival on the missions, and it was the "race starter" at the beginning of the show.
- Gary: Kang Hee Gun is a well-known hip-hop singer, part of the duo LeeSsang. He was an amateur boxer for 10 years before entering the entertainment industry. He started as part of a group named X-teen on the late 90's, from which he meets his music partner Gil and later both left the group. Aside from the duo he has solo projects and collaborations with other artists, being the one with Jung In, the most successful one with the songs "Your Scent" and "Bicycle". Gary made his variety show debut with the "Running Man" members.
- HaHa: mistaken as a comedian, Ha Dong Hoo is an entertainer better known for his comedic personality on variety shows. He was part of the sitcom Nonstop from 2002 to 2003, he later appeared on the last episode on 2006. His debut on the entertainment industry was as a singer and rapper for the group Z-kiri, group that failed and disbanded right after their promotions. Now he is a reggae singer and part of the variety shows "Infinite Challenge" (since 2005) and "Running Man". He is married to singer Byul since 2012, and have a son named Dream born on July 2013.
- Song Ji Hyo: Cheong Seong Im is an actress and the only female member of the "Running Man". Her acting debut was on the third film of the "Whispering Corridors" series, "Wishing Stairs". But it was the role of the ballerina Min Hyo Rin in "Goong" that made her noticeable among the audience. One of her well-known projects is the historical movie "A Frozen Flower" on 2008, one of the highest grossing films of the year and where Song Joong Ki was also in it. She was the MC for the music show Inkigayo from November 2007 to May 2008, the former producer of this show Myeok PD, asked her to join the cast of Running Man. She was a guest till episode 5, and the followed one she was a fixed member.
- Lee Kwang Soo: the "Prince of Asia" is an actor started his career at the sitcom "High Kick Through the Roof" on 2008, but he started his entertainment career as a model. He was proclaimed "Prince of Asian" since the Running Man filmed on other Asian countries and being mobbed with a great number of fans. But it's his unstoppable betrayals and framing that made the audience crack up. The funniest moments of Kwang Soo on "Running Man" (for me) are the ones when he's dancing, trying to eliminate Kim Jong Kook, and when he tries to make and alliance and end up betraying whoever he made the alliance with.
Guests appearance had made the show
even bigger. From idols, TV personalities and actors, all showing a new aspect
of their personalities, those behaviors are the ones that drives the audience
to watch every episode that they can. The guests that have made the most
appearance to the show are: Jung Yong Hwa from the group CNBlue with 12 visits,
he's known to be fast, agile and with a good ability for the nametag
elimination game, one of his most proudest moment was when he eliminated Kim
Jong Kook's nametag; Nichkhun from 2PM, has made 11 appearance to the show,
he's one of the beastly idols being strong, fast and agile but you can’t be
fooled with his look; Miss A's Suzy is the only female with the most visits to
the show with 8 appearance, every time she is the show the members are cheerful
and don’t want her to go. That is for the idols on the show, the members have a
special relationship with the ex-football player Park Ji Sung. Every time the
Korean legend comes to the show (that would be 9 times) the members have games
involving the sport and end up on the Asian Dream Cup, a charity event where Ji
Sung has one team with celebrities and football players. As for the actors, we
have the good looking and charming Kim Woo Bin with 7 visits to the show. He's
known for being very enthusiastic about the games and is very witty on the
missions.
Every image right goes
to their respected owners
Great Pairings, Games,
and Memorable Episodes:
Couples Pairings:
Song
Ji Hyo and Kang Gary are the couple of the show, ON THE SHOW. Since her first
appearance on the show the cast members joked about an admired among the guys,
and it turned out to be Kang Gary. At the beginning, it was Gary the one who
made the first approach with his cheesy comments and awkward behavior. With
this kind of behavior, the cast members started to create situations for them
to be together and pointed out actions with their mischievous comments. It was
on the episode 10 that the cast members decided to leave them alone on the same
room for them to get closer, their awkward interaction was what made the fans
go crazy and fall for them. But what really made the biggest shock was the day
that Ji Hyo said, “On Mondays I have a man”, whit this the "Monday
Couple" was officially on the show. After this the production made a lot
of efforts to pair them up on countless races, making the most hilarious
episodes with their funny romance
Besides the Monday Couple pairing,
on the show there are other significant "couples" or
"trios". At the beginning of the show Kim Jong Kook had for
subordinates HaHa and Kang Gary. The Tiger being the oldest and strongest of
the three, this group was named by production and the other members
"Kook& the 2 Kids". Also, there is "The Betrayers
Club" with Suk Jin, Kwang Soo, and HaHa, being these three the ones that
always stab the backs of the other members, for their own benefit and try to
win the race. Besides being traitors, these two made an even funnier couple,
"The Easy Brothers", Suk Jin and Kwang Soo, fighting and planning to
eliminate the other members to win the race but also betraying each other at
the end. We have also witnessed incredible story line on the show, that can
lead to rivalry. This is the case with the two pillars of the show, Yoo Jae Suk
and Kim Jong Kook. These two are known for always arguing and their incredible
bickering moments since very beginning. When the members are divided in two
teams they were most of the time the leaders of each. Another hilarious group
is the "Unlucky Trio" composed by Yoo Jae Suk, Ji Suk Jin and Lee
Kwang Soo. This trio is known for having the worst luck among the members, from
lose on the missions and getting punish at the end to being eliminated on the
worst scenarios, they just help us get the best time of our lives watching their
crazy tasks. But you know what is the most fun interaction of the members, when
they all decide to go against Kim Jong Kook. The Tiger is the enemy of all of
them, because of his strength and withy, he's one of the Running Man's best
players and the worst to face on the nametag elimination game.
Games:
Hide and Go Seek, Survival Game:
When "Running Man" first started, one of the craziest and funniest
games was the nametag elimination game but with hide and seek. For this game,
the teams where assigned to attack with bells on their shoes for the other team
to be aware of them, and the other one to defend. Believe me, the creativity
they had to place the best space for hiding was marvelous and very
entertaining. On one occasion, the Ace of the members was tired of being on the
hiding team and wanted to be paired with the Tiger, giving them one episode and
creating one of the strongest teams on "Running Man" history.
Mud Field Games: Another game that
is usually a great source of laugh is the mud field games. Every time they play
it is like they got a force from the mud. They energy and craziness goes beyond
expectations in every single moment, making the audience very happy and
expecting more games like this one.
Memorable Episodes:
Best of the Best Match: on these
episodes, the Running Man members compete to find out who is the best among
them. Episodes 42, 74, 130, 196, 257 and 285. The first edition of the match
ended with an elimination game, while the second one gave every member a
special power, on these two occasions Gary was the winner. On a third match,
the members traveled on time and then back to the present day, HaHa was the
winner this time. Later, the members traveled on time again, but this time to
important episodes where they could change the outcome, at the end they got
back to the first match and the winner was Song Ji Hyo. The last "Best of
the Best Match" reunited a great number of missions where the person who
completed them successfully would win, with this HaHa became the winner once
again.
Yoo-mes Bond: I think these episodes
are very entertaining and can make you go crazy with all the laughter. Using
water guns, Jae Suk, must eliminate his fellow members without them knowing.
Episodes 38, 91, 140 and 231. These missions are always secretive, except for
the last episode that it appeared a successor. On episode 231 Lee Kwang Soo was
going to be tested to be the Yoo-mes Bond successor, but as it was expected the
"Icon of Betrayal" made his mood at the end for which Jae Suk had to
eliminate him. With this outcome Yoo-mes Bond persisted as the one and only
winner and master of the water gun.
Forever 7: The "Consensus"
Episode (ep. 267), was the one that embarked the number 7 as symbol of
comradery for the "Running Man" members. On this episode, 6 of the
members had to pick on a random number and later Yoo Jae Suk had to jump the
rope and stop on the number that he though the members choose. He stopped at
number 7! That is why the members when hysterical and happy as they were a Team
and a Family. Later, another episode Gary had to escape from a room, which had
a coding lock, that code was 7012. In Korean, the word forever is 012, at the
end you had "Forever 7". Which is the motto that the members had for
the remaining episodes as seven.
Re-invention of Running Man:
New PD: PD Im Hyung Taek left the
show on March of 2016; he was part of "Running Man" since the
beginning on 2010. He is now directing the Chinese version of the show. For
four months, the show was under the direction of a collaboration of PDs, to
later have Kim Joo Hyung as the official PD on July of 2016. He has appeared on
camera before and is also known as "Myuk PD", myuk meaning
collarbone, and the members always grabbing him out of frustration when the
find injustice on the missions or on the turns of events. The transition to a
new PD was a little overwhelming for the viewers, the show was a little slow
and there were not much physical games on. The production later said that they
were giving the members a break from all the running and exhaustion of the
games, and try to heal any situation that they might have.
Gary Leaves: On the episode of March
20, 2016, the members shared their worries with other members as part of a
healing process. Gary shared his worries with Yoo Jae Suk, and let him know
that he was concerned that he has left his passion of music behind and focused
too much on the show. Since that episode, we saw a new side of Gary and how he
truly felt towards the show, the members, the fans, and of course his career on
the music industry. On October of 2016, it was announced that Kang Gary would leave the show to focus on his music, the members and production supported his
decision. "Gary expressed his desire to focus on his music studies and
revealed that he wants to invest more time on music. The
"Running Man" producers decided to respect Gary's decision to pursue
his main field as a musician. We sincerely appreciate Gary who has given great
effort for "Running Man" as the original member for the past 7
years.” this is the statement from the show production. His last episode aired
on November 13, where the members played a couple of games on Gary's building,
where he lives and works. At the end of the episode, each member left a gift
and a letter for Gary at his house. For all the members, and the viewers, it
was a surprise to find out that for the follow up episode Gary was going to be
the guest; it was a surprise for him too. The members had to complete a couple
of missions and Gary was the key for them to win. Later, Gary was mentioned a
couple of times on other episodes. After an awful scandal involving SBS, the
PDs, and the possibility of Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook's departure from the
show, the production decided to make a member’s week for each member, starting
on January. On week four, it was a mystery whose week it was. The episode was a
rematch of "Best of the Best Match", where they had super powers or
where one of their memorable characters played before. It was later reveal that
it was Gary's week, after he made an ambush scaring the remaining members on
the match with his "Lol Los". Gary won two previous matches, the
first two, and wanted a rematch since the last one HaHa won. At the end, Kwan
Soo was the winner. On April of 2017 Gary announced on his Instagram that he
got married on secret to a non-celebrity, since then he hasn’t made other
public expression and none of his acutance has heard about him, later he
deleted all his pictures from his account.
New
Members: After Gary's departure, SBS wanted to re-invent the show, start anew.
Rumors started to surface on the company until a bomb exploded, "Song Ji
Hyo and Kim Jong Kook to leave Running Man", to later a more shocking
headline, "Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook kick out of Running Man".
The company, not the production, made the decision to let go Ji Hyo and Jong
Kook of the show and bring a new member to the show, Kang Ho Dong. After all
that awful controversy, Kang Ho Dong turned down the offer, which made it even
worst and let the production to a crisis. The members demanded a rush reunion
with the staff, which lead to the cancelation of the show. At the end of that
reunion, the production, along with the members decided to end the show on
February of 2017, for the remaining episodes Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo
decided to not receive the paycheck and donate that money. Later, on the middle
of January the CEO of SBS talked with
all the members and apologized to each of them, they all later decided to stay
on the show for their fans and for the camaraderie, they have. On April 3, it was confirmed that the show would have two new members, actress Jeon So Mi, andcomedian Yang Sea Chan. Both new members where guests on the show before, they
had great chemistry with the cast, as they also had good reviews from the
viewers. The show would have different games, but will not eliminate the iconic
game of the "Name Tag Elimination Game".
This will be the end of this post. I love “Running Man” (check the link),
but for me it has changed so much that it is not the same. “Forever 7” has
stuck in my heart and I hope that someday they get together again. You know which
episode would be a great hit, a reunion with Song Joon Ki, Lizzy and Gary!
(Hope this idea goes to the production of the show ^.~) Love you people, thanks
for reading. Do not forget: “Run Don`t walk!”
*******All the rights
of pictures or videos goes to their respected owners.*******
