JTBC Challenges the Wed-Thu Drama Time Slot with “No Secret” Starring Go Kyung-pyo and Kang Han-na 

According to a report from Ilgan Sports on March 26th, following the conclusion of ‘Queen of Divorce’ on March 7th, ‘No Secret’ has been scheduled as JTBC’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama. ‘No Secret’ is set to air sometime in May.

‘No Secret’ is a quirky and cheeky romantic comedy melodrama about announcer Song Gi-baek (played by Go Kyung-pyo), who cannot tell lies, meeting the passionate variety show writer On Woo-joo (played by Kang Han-na) and experiencing a hilarious and daring reversal of life. It depicts the stories of freelance entertainers fiercely competing between celebrities and non-celebrities.

Go Kyung-pyo’s character, Song Gi-baek, is an FM announcer who has lived a life of image-making. He meets On Woo-joo at the moment of his greatest crisis when a condition that makes his thoughts blurt out without filtering through his brain hits, and enters the second act of his life. Kang Han-na’s portrayal of the variety show writer On Woo-joo discovers the hidden charm of Song Gi-baek, who speaks without filters. 

Anticipation is high to see what romantic comedy chemistry they will bring, especially after Go Kyung-pyo’s various roles across different genres, along with Kang Han-na’s recognition with the Excellence Award at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards for ‘Bloody Heart.’

‘No Secret’ also draws attention as JTBC’s second Wed-Thu drama of the year. The first Wed-Thu drama, ‘Queen of Divorce,’ starring Lee Ji-ah and Kang Ki-young, recorded a highest rating of 5.8% and ended on March 7th. 

Although there are some mixed reactions to Lee Ji-ah’s comeback project, considering that Wed-Thu dramas had been struggling with ratings for a long time, it’s a meaningful achievement.

Currently, major broadcasting stations including terrestrial channels are trending towards reducing drama slots and only scheduling weekend or Mon-Tue dramas. This trend is due to factors such as poor ratings, increased production costs, and diversification of online streaming platforms.

SBS gave up on Wed-Thu dramas in 2019, while both KBS and MBC stopped Wed-Thu dramas in 2022. tvN also temporarily halted Wed-Thu dramas after May last year.

In this situation, JTBC is the only broadcasting station continuing the tradition of Wed-Thu dramas. ‘The Good Bad Mother,’ which aired last year, recorded a highest rating of 12.0%, showcasing its success. JTBC’s reattempt with ‘No Secret’ in the Wed-Thu drama slot is definitely noteworthy.

While Wed-Thu dramas may not garner as much attention or buzz as weekend dramas, the advantage lies in the absence of competition. Through this, JTBC can establish itself as a brand for Wed-Thu dramas.

A broadcasting industry official explained, “It’s a time when the entire broadcasting industry is pondering which works should be scheduled to attract more attention. However, with Wed-Thu dramas, there is less pressure in terms of ratings due to the lack of competition, and there’s generally satisfaction with decent ratings.”

Source: daum