TV Shows

Korean

Running Man

You all probably know this one, but for those who don't know, this is one of South Korea's most popular variety show, Running Man. The main host is known as the nation's MC, or South Korea's top MC, Yoo Jae Suk. Other regular guests are Song Joongki (ep 1-41 as regular), Lizzy of After School (ep 18-25 as regular), Song Ji Hyo (ep 7-present), Kim Joong Kook, Lee Kwangsoo, Ji Suk Jin, Kang Gary, and Haha. There are different themes, games, and races each episode. The show invites celebrities to be guests. The host and regulars are hilarious, so the guests have a great time and we have a great time watching. One of the most famous race is the ripping of name tags.

Weekly Idol

If you want to see more of your favorite idols, this is for you. They mostly invite groups or a solo artists who are currently promoting to guest on their show. The hosts are really funny and do a great job in bringing out all of the idols talents and qualities. The hosts are my favorite because one second they are uncle-fans, cheering and spoiling the female guests, but to the boys or females they are close to, they are bullies that try to get idols to mess up. The first segment is Real Chart and Idol Self-Ranking where idols vote on a certain topics like who is the best leader. The second segment is called Idol of the Week. Here, you can really see idols doing all sorts of things, from blaming each other for messing up during Random Play Dance, to guys dancing girl group dances. Due to its low budget, its filming takes place in the 3rd floor basement and the walls are white just in case they need CGI.  They have prizes for the idols most of the time, with the most common being beef, pizza, and chicken, but it can range from massage chairs to toilet paper.

Roommate

This show is about celebrities living together in the Share House.

Sadly, after two seasons, this show is wrapping up. After the multiple controversies during season 1, they wrapped it up and replaced more than half of the old cast with the new cast. Sorry to say this but Season 2 is a lot better. The new cast is hilarious. 

Nana of Afterschool (Season 1 and 2): She is known to have a great figure and a pretty face. She learns to cook as the show goes on. She never sheds her idol image.

Chanyeol of EXO (Season 1): He is the happy virus of the group and a really sweet person.

actor Lee Dong Wook (Season 1 and 2): Despite being a handsome actor, he is constantly called ugly. In the second season, he has to constantly "babysit" Jackson and Youngji and help them reconcile after bickering.

comedian Jo Se Ho (Season 1 and 2)- He is also a happy virus, to me at least. To most, he is narcissistic, annoying, and extra. He is caring and funny and one of my favorite cast members.

actor Park Min Woo (Season 1 and 2)- He is handsome and has a nice smile. Despite not garnering much attention, he is like a smiling angel. Sadly, he has little screen time; he is barely in season 2.

actor Seo Kang Joon(Season 1 and 2)- as an up-and-rising actor with great visuals, he is the perfect flowerboy and 2nd male lead of the drama, Cunning Single Lady. He is adored by the females.

Park Bom of 2NE1(Season 1)- She is known to have a 4D personality and has weird Korean. After a scandal, sadly, she no longer appeared on the show.

model and radio mc Lee So Ra(Season 1)- She won the Super Model contest and is now a radio mc. She has a small fiesty dog. It is hard for her to sleep, so it took some getting used to after she moved in. 

MMA (Mixed Martial Artist) and show girl, Song Ga Yeon- Being an MMA fighter, she is constantly requested to kick, yes kick, people below the waist.

rock singer Shin Sung Woo (Season 1)- He has long hair and a beard (before Park Bom and others helped him cut it off). He is known to be the chef umma because he is a great cook.

actress Hong Soo Hyun (Season 1)- She is a drinker, but not an alcoholic. She brought alcohol to the Share House. Her, Seo Kang Joon, and Min Woo had "love triangle."

Jackson Wang of Got7 (Season 2)- He is my favorite cast member. He's from Hong Kong so he isn't completely fluent in Korean. He speaks English with Joon and other English speakers and mishears lots of Korean. He is hilarious. He is arguing with Youngji, but near the end of the season, he is jealous at the smallest things guys do to her. He also tumbles (taekwondo style) a lot. He also has a "crush" on Gok Joo and is jealous when she likes Seo Kang Joon more.

Heo Younji of Kara (Season 2)- She joined season 2 after debuting for 3 months. She has a signature laugh; she laughs with her whole mouth opened but silent.

Park Joon Hyung of the legendary group, g.o.d (Season 2)- He is from the US so he is fluent in English and has a hard time with Korean despite having lived in Korea for more than half his life. He is 45, but acts and talks like he is 20.

actress Bae Jong Ok (Season 2)- As a veteran actress, she is respected in the Share House. Her failed attempt at making kimchi is always brought up.

comedian Lee Guk Joo (Season 2)- Her weight and great appetite is always mentioned, especially when the word pig is mentioned. She is a great dancer and there is a messy love triangle between her, Seo Kang Joon, and Jackson. She is hilarious and another of my favorite. Basically almost all the new cast members are my favorites.

Sunny of Girls Generation (Season 2)- Her credit card is used frequently by other members to buy grocery.

actor Ryohei Otani (Season 2)- Being the only Japanese cast member, he is quite sad at times. He used to be a great volleyball player who was cocky and arrogant. After going to university, he saw that others were better than him so he learned to speak less and observe more.

If you like to ship (root for a certain pairing) and like to laugh, this is the show for you (especially the second season).

We Got Married


We Got Married is a show about celebrities getting "married." They call each other husband and wife and you get to see them from their awkward first meeting to their tearful separation. Some couples are sweet and cute while others bicker. Some of my favorite couples are the Adam couple, or Jokwon of 2am and Gain of BEG; Khuntoria, or Nichkhun of 2pm and Victoria of f(x); and Song Jaerim and Kim So Eun.

Taiwanese

大学生了没

Recently I have been obsessed with this show. The show has three hosts and around 20-30 college students who are regulars. They will invite guests that are most likely also college students, or even celebrities, and the theme will be college related. Lots of times, they will invite handsome guys and pretty girls onto the show and the regulars will get to do something with them, like maybe a hug or a song from him/her. It is a very good show that shows you a lot about Taiwanese college students and you can learn their slang, fashion style, hobbies, and just their general life style and love life.

Chinese

Happy Camp

This is a really famous Chinese show, as long as China's longest running variety show. Every week, they invite singers, actors and actresses that may or may not be from China. Many Korean idol and celebrities have been on this show. They have 5 hosts that love to mess around with the guests.  They are some of the most well-spoken hosts I have ever seen. The guests play games and talk about anything from their struggles to their love lifes. The games are really fun and even scary. 

I Am Singer

There are 3 seasons. I personally enjoyed Season 2 the most. The show basically has professional singers compete against each other. The original line up has 2 performances. Then according to the total amount of votes, they are ranked. The last person by the end of 2 performances will be eliminated and replaced with another singer, and this goes on. Season 2 has a great line up, with my favorites being GEM Tang and Shila.

Dad, Where Are You Going?

If you like kids, this is for you. There is also a Korean version. Basically, fathers bring their children to the countryside and try to take care of them without the mother's help. You will see kids cry, whine, and throw tantrums. These kids are very cute but their tantrums are thrown left and right. Sometimes they fight with each other but often they develop cute love lines. I love to see their relationship with their fathers improve.