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| From left, the cast members Seo Jang-hoon, Park Ha-sun, Chae Jung-an and Yang Se-chan pose during a press conference for ENA's new dating show "Myeongdong Sarangbang," held in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of ENA |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Seeking to cash in on the popularity of dating shows in the entertainment scene, ENA's new show "Myeongdong Sarangbang," which is interpreted as "Myeongdong Dating Room," is set out to win viewers across generations with a retro-style blind date of young adults.
"I would say that if viewers start watching our show, they will fall for the pure, fresh charm of young adults these days," Seo Jang-hoon, one of the show's hosts, said during a press conference for the show, held in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, Thursday.
"There's a sense of peculiarity that will make you want to keep watching. I don't say this often, but it's really interesting. We hope to be ENA's next 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,'" said Seo, referring to the cable network's earlier hit series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo."
The new dating show, which starts airing Friday, invites four groups of four close friends in college ― a total of 16 men and women ― to join an overnight blind date. The hosts, TV personality Seo, comedian Yang Se-chan, and actors Chae Jung-an and Park Ha-sun, take on each team as their manager to help with the matchmaking process.
The show is set in a cafe in Myeong-dong during the week and the show's studio on weekends for sleepovers.
The show's co-producer Moon Tae-joo said this is one of ENA's new approaches to making its own shows.
"This year, ENA will be experimenting a lot with entertainment shows. And this place is a hybrid space, a cafe-turned-studio, allowing viewers to come and experience the set," he said. "(The show) is about friends coming together for a group blind date. Since they come with friends, even if they are blown off, they are still cheerful. It's really heart-flattering to watch."
Managers join the participants during the dating process to consult and give advice. Park said that this has set the show apart from other dating shows.
"The hosts take part in the game and take time to talk with the participants. There's also something refreshing that comes from making Gen Z play retro games that our generations used to play," she said.
Yang added that by mingling with the participants, the hosts are able to catch the details of their romance and interaction.
"In other dating shows, the hosts just make comments after watching the footage of the participants. But we actually interact with them on the set … since everything is happening right before you, I could grasp the detail of their stories," he said.
Seo expressed that the show will be more relatable than other shows.
"I feel like the participants in dating shows these days are handpicked and go through a set dating routine. But our show is nothing like that … we have ordinary, young adults in their early 20s that you can come across easily," he said.
"Myeongdong Sarangbang" airs every Friday at 8:30 p.m.
