New Variety Show “Unexpected” Faces 1% Ratings, Pushed Aside by Lee Jun Ho and Yoona’s “King the Land”
MBC’s “Unexpected” was marketed as the next “Infinite Challenge” with famous guests, but the reality is different.
As mentioned by Yoo Byung Jae at the press conference, “Unexpected” was supposed to remind viewers of the first season of “Infinite Challenge”. It carries out various games without a fixed format or structure, depending on the guests.
The problem lies in the fact that “Infinite Challenge” had Yoo Jae Suk as the central figure, but “Unexpected” lacks such a leader. The appearance of Jun Hyun Moo as the second guest completely took control of the flow of the show, causing the 5 cast members to become background characters.
Afterwards, prominent entertainers such as Park Mi Sun, who has six consecutive Best Entertainer awards, and Moon Se Yoon, who won the 2021 KBS Entertainment Awards Daesang, also overshadow the main cast. It feels as if the emerging entertainers are meeting the masters of entertainment to receive guidance.
Criticism follows that the humor codes are not in line with the trend. The games are also old-fashioned. Lee Yong Jin, Jo Se Ho, Joo Woo Jae, Yoo Byung Jae, and Choi Siwon, despite each having strong individual characters, have been unable to exert their strength on “Unexpected.”
Even if they have charm, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who can bring it out and package it appropriately for the show. That’s why they rely on experienced guests. When Jun Hyun Moo saw the cast, he jokingly remarked, “It feels like a combination ormed in a hurry.”
The ratings started with 2.1%, then dropped to the 1% range after only 3 episodes. In the 4th episode, it fell to 1.4%. Compared to “Adventure by Accident 2” that aired before “Unexpected,” which recorded ratings in the 5% range, these numbers are dismal. It is the lowest-rated variety show on public broadcasting on Sundays.
Of course, it’s necessary to consider the fact that the competing show during the same time slot is JTBC’s weekend drama “King the Land.” Meeting a strong rival can naturally cause a decline in ratings.
“King the Land,” starring Lee Jun Ho and Yoona, consistently increased its ratings from the first episode and surpassed 12% in the 6th episode, defeating SBS’s “Revenant” and establishing itself as the strongest weekend drama. Lee Jun Ho and Yoona’s sweet chemistry makes the drama both highly rated and highly talked about.
However, relying solely on the excuse of competition during the same time slot is not enough; the level of buzz is also low. The YouTube videos about “Unexpected” posted on MBC’s official YouTube channel barely surpassed 6,000 views.
In stark contrast, the video of “Radio Star” posted on the same day reached 130,000 views, and the video of “Adventure by Accident 2” posted a day later surpassed 270,000 views.
Facing “King the Land” head-on makes it difficult to expect a ratings increase. Considering MBC’s extensive reorganization in June, aiming to make a breakthrough in weekend variety shows, “Unexpected” has become a letdown. If it fails to overcome this crisis, it seems inevitable that the show will be canceled after season 1.
Source: daum.
