“Hangout with Yoo” Undergoes Revamp as Multiple Cast Members Depart Amidst 4% Ratings Slump
MBC’s signature variety show “Hangout with Yoo” is undergoing a revamp.
According to a broadcast official on May 9th, “Hangout with Yoo” has set a policy to make changes in the composition of its personnel for its recent makeover. It is expected that Jung Joon Ha, Shin Bong Sun, Lee Ik Kyung, and Park Jin Ju, except for the pillar of the program, Yoo Jae Suk, who has been with the show since its inception, will leave the show. The new members have not yet been revealed.
Not only the cast, but the production team will also be changed. PD Park Chang Hoon will continue to lead the program as a CP to add stability, but MBC expected to create a fresh atmosphere by using a young PD for the show.
“Hangout with Yoo” is MBC’s flagship Saturday entertainment program, which was introduced by PD Kim Tae Ho after the long-running MBC entertainment program “Infinite Challenge” ended.
At first, it gained a great response. However, since PD Kim Tae Ho left the show in January of last year, “Hangout with Yoo” is said to have lost its vitality and freshness from the past when it changed to a five-member system, including Yoo Jae Suk, Jung Joon Ha, HaHa, Shin Bong Sun, and Lee Mi Joo.
WSG Wannabe attracted attention to “Hangout with Yoo” for a while, but the show has been criticized for relying too much on past popular items like a stale bone. “Hangout with Yoo” once recorded 8-9% ratings but has recently dropped to the 4% range.
However, within MBC, it seems that the weight is leaning towards maintaining “Hangout with Yoo” after a makeover rather than scrapping the program. An MBC executive said, “Still, Hangout with Yoo is a popular program with high advertising sales. We will strengthen the competitiveness of the program by infusing new blood and fresh faces.”
Source: nate
