Celebrity

Concerns of actors who are loved for their appearance on variety shows

Many actors are showing up here on there on variety shows, movies, and dramas, which viewers might be getting tired of. As much as they want to promote for a long time, these actors are being extra careful.

Above is a concern that an actor recently confessed through an interview. It is true that appearing in entertainment shows greatly raises their public recognition, but there are times when such shows feel like a burden to actors, who have to live and breathe as characters in movies and dramas, not themselves. Even for veteran actors, it is never easy to find a balance between entertainment and acting.

Running Man

These days, when K-entertainment is gaining its own recognition, more and more actors are making people laugh aside from just acting. SBS “Running Man” is a representative entertainment show that many actors are looking for. Among them, Song Ji Hyo and Jeon So Min are even active as regular members.

tvN’s “Six Sense” series also has actors as its regular cast. Particularly, Oh Na Ra, Jeon So Min and Lee Sang Yeop have been filling the small screen with laughter as regular cast members. The program has been mentioned on various online communities and boasted great buzz thanks to their frank talking skill and chemistry.

jeon so min running man thumbnail

Actors in the entertainment industry have various advantages. They get to show a friendly image and show off their new charms, even promote their names to viewers who do not enjoy watching dramas. In many cases, actors receive even greater attention for appearing in entertainment shows than in dramas or movies. According to the non-drama category and non-drama cast category ranking in the first week of December released by the Good Data TV Topic Research Team, Son Seok Gu topped the list with his appearance on “Yoo Quiz on the Block.” Lee Jae Wook and Ro Woon ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, with “House On Wheels 4.” Kim Hye Yoon, who showed off her chemistry with the two mentioned actors through the same program, ranked 10th.

oh na ra blue dragon

Just as darkness exists when there is light, entertainment shows are not only advantageous. This is because when they appear in dramas and movies, people mostly see them as actors from entertainment shows, not as their acting characters. Lee Kwang Soo has stable acting skills, but many viewers only think of “Running Man” whenever they see him in his acting works.

lee kwang soo

In order to avoid such criticism, it is better for them to thoroughly separate entertainment from their main job. Jeon So Min erased her comical image from “Running Man” by showing an unconventional appearance as a mistress in Channel A’s “Show Window: Queen’s House,” which ended in January. Oh Na Ra also gave a great performance on tvN’s “Alchemy of Souls,” which did not remind the audience of her in the “Six Sense” series at all. As a result, acting skills and the performance of the cast also have a great impact. If they fail to produce results as an actor and is recognized only for their sense of entertainment, they will only be recognized as an entertainer, not an actor anymore.

Of course, not all actors are allowed to appear on entertainment shows. Aside from cases where they are not invited, there are also concerns from management agencies that overly honest appearances may be toxic for celebrities. Some agencies are reluctant because they are worried that their actors will slip their tongues after appearing on entertainment shows. There is also an agency that says, “Even if they join, they will be criticized for their lack of entertainment skills.” Turns out, appearing in entertainment shows is a right that only a few actors are allowed to have.

The most important task here is to find an appropriate balance. No viewer will criticize those who faithfully play their roles as actors while perfectly show off their sense of entertainment on variety shows. If they do both well, they can maintain their actor’s title while securing a buzz and even fans of a wider age group.

Source: Hankook Ilbo

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