Korean Variety Show: Running Man

by Diana Danh 8:55 AM 0 comments

Korean Variety Shows dominate the public broadcasint stations along with Korean dramas (Kdramas). Though Kdramas are starting to shine globally, most don't know the strong influence of Korean variety shows in Asia.
Variety shows are anything but simple. They involve talking, body gags, games. Sometimes they involve children, sometimes the show is centered around 80 year olds. Variety shows are unpredictable and the cast mates are joined by guests every week to play some dirty mud game or bungee jump as a mission.
My favorite variety show currently airing is Running Man.

Running Man 

The show has a strong fandom everywhere but Korea. Their fans abroad in China, Dubai, Vietnam, and more have been undoubted. It's the only show with a fixed female host and what they do is constant games and missions. They got popular for their chase game where one team is one offense and they have to hunt defense who are completing the missions.
But before that, they build up with various 'mini-games'. Sometimes they wrestle on water, sometimes in mud fields, sometimes on floating platforms on water. One thing is for sure, losing is not an option. Losing always results in a punishment whether immediate or not.

Running Man team and various guest wrestling on a floating, slippery platform.

Running Man cast members, Gary (left) and Haha (right), get blasted with water after answering the quiz question wrong.

This type of show not only tests the cast's strength but ability to solve puzzles, keep secrets, and intelligence. Some games are based on luck alone and there are a few members who are famous for being unlucky. However, being unlucky is not so bad ion this instance.

The members fight for air time, meaning they don't want to be edited out after 10+ hours of filming every week. They purposely mess up and make fun comments or anything to give viewers a laugh to be kept on the show. 

And like any other scripted show, this show is heavily planned out as well. From lovelines or winners or games. Even if this show is heavily produced, it's still a show worth watching. They're hilarious every week and there's always a new concept or new game so nothing gets too repetitive. Fans start to get attached to the members itself and it's truly a community of fans.

It's been running since July 2010 and is always on the verge of being removed completely. However, it is one of the longest running broadcast with six years.