Similar to how I enjoy my films and that is watching films from all over the world, I am the same way with television shows.
Part of appreciating other cultures, traditions, cuisine and even their pop culture is to give things a try.
And I have been a big fan of K-Pop since I discover pop groups such as S.E.S., H.O.T., FIN.K.L. and Baby V.O.X. during my college years and since then, I have watched a lot of Korean films, dramas and continue to listen to a lot of Korean pop music.
One of the things that I enjoyed about Korean multimedia companies approach to bringing entertainment is that they are not as restrictive as other countries. They embrace globalization and seeing their country’s music and entertainment reach worldwide. They don’t ban YouTube videos for people singing or dancing to their music and if anything, this has led to the popularity of Korean pop culture and music worldwide because there is no yellow tape.
In South Korea, there is a television show called “Produce 101” in which they get young women (season 1) and young men (season 2) from different talent agencies and they compete to become a 12-member pop group.
The first season, led to the formation of a group called, I.O.I.:
The second season led to the creation of the boy band, “Wanna One”:
But for the third season, Mnet was going to collaborate with Japan’s AKB48G for “Produce48” in which 48 Korean young ladies from different talent agencies and 48 members of AKB48G (which comprise of idol group members from the groups AKB48, AKB48 Team 8, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48 and NGT48) all becoming trainees and the top 12 as voted by South Korean audiences will become a group for 2.5 years.
This concept is unheard and as many people panned it because they thought there was no way K-Pop and Japanese idol stars can mesh together, those criticisms didn’t last long because “Produce 48” has had solid ratings.
It also has a large international following thanks to Mnet’s streaming of the show which many people can access every Friday.
And while, I’m typically at work during the time it airs in South Korea, I access it on YouTube and fans have posted it with English subtitles as well.
Episode 1 was very interesting because the Japanese idols saw the South Korean talent and were in awe with them. But the quickly learned, how competitive things are:
The first center happened to be the popular Miyawaki Sakura of HKT48, who is the center for “Naekoya” (Pick Me).
But then it’s the stories that eventually get to you. Also, the determination of those who seemed they have no chance but truly begin to shine.
In episode 5, the roster was trimmed to the top 58 and in next Friday’s episode, the roster will be trimmed again to the top 30 and eventually we will get to the final 12 in a few weeks from now.
But here are a few shining moments from the show.
In episode 6, a group of trainees who were literally low in ranking and bumped off songs they wanted to participate in, had to form a group together and sing BoA’s Japanese Christmas hit “Merri-Chri”. Because this group just had to go out and do their best (as their rankings were low and chances are some are going to be eliminated), they need to shine in hopes they can prevent themselves from being eliminated. And it turned out, their performance was magnificent.
In episode 4, as top ranked people had a chance to choose their own teams and compete with another team performing the same song, Miyawaki Sakura of HKT48 chose a group of super talents for I.O.I.’s “Very Very Very”.
Meanwhile, Ahn Yujin who is also a top-ranked trainee, had her team and came up with a more creative performance over Sakura’s team and put Ahn Yujin and Jang Wonyoung of Starship Entertainment put themselves on the top of the list but also giving fellow members on their team part of the spotlight.
In today’s episode (Episode 7), the team led by Kim Chaewon had to perform GIRLS’ GENERATION “Into the New World”.
While the team chose the popular HKT48 member Yabuki Nako to be the center, Pledis member Heo Yunjin started to become concerned as she noticed her ratings were dropping each week and begged if they would consider her as the center.
It surprised the team but Nako was gracious to give her position up for Heo Yunjin and the result was that it was great choice.
Also, from episode 7, we saw a team competing in the dance category having problems with communication. Needless to say, these ladies dancing to Fitz&The Tantrums “Handcclap” (a cover) needed to shine before the elimination round and one person in the group, who flew under-the-radar, would eventually be voted the #1 dancer of all dancers in the competition (as voted by the audience).
And also in episode 7, we saw the team performing BTS “The Truth Untold” and the team wanted Jang Gyuri to be the center.
But Jang Gyuri was rocked by a bad performance of Red Velvet’s “Peekaboo” weeks earlier and that bad performance literally broke her mentally that she was scared to perform to the point that she broke down.
But her team had confidence in her and needless to say, Jang Gyuri bounced back from the lowest of lows and proved people she can sing.
Probably one of the more emotional stories in “Produce48” is about Lee Kaeun, a former member of the pop group After School. Unfortunately, with some pop groups, they go on hiatus, and either the group has a reunion and comeback or they don’t come back and everyone pursues different career paths leaving those waiting for a phone call for a reunion in disappointment.
Lee Kaeun, waited five years but nothing. She watched as her Pledis teammates went on “Produce 101” and became members and she was left with regrets.
One of the older trainees, Lee Kaeun is proving that she deserves to be there and sure enough, when the group was down to the Top 58, it was her vs. the rising star, Ahn Yujin for the #1 seat.
Unfortunately, with eliminations as part of the series, a large number didn’t make the Top 58 in episode 5 and you can watch the heartbreak as those who made the Top 58 greeted their friends or team members who didn’t make the cut.
But if you want to give “Produce48”, you can find videos with English subtitles on the Mnet Official channel on YouTube.
