Best Ever Korean Variety Show: 1 Night 2 Days

If there’s one show that have me laughing from start to finish week in week out, it got to be 1 Night 2 Days (1박2일; pronounce as il bag i il). If you’re not familiar with this show, well that’s because this is a Korean variety show. I couldn’t remember when I started watching 1N2D, it must’ve been somewhere around the Foreign Workers’ Special (episode 173) which aired early this year. FYI, 1N2D started its run on August 5, 2007. So you can imagine how much I’ve missed.

1 Night 2 Days is a tale of 5 lads spending an overnight trip touring interesting places in South Korea. I know this sounds so norm. But here are the beauty of this show: you get to see beautiful scenery and off the beaten track of the lands in South Korea (4 seasons of gorgeous Korea!), being introduced to lip-smacking Korean food (which makes me ‘lau hau sui’/salivate every time!) and immerse in the beautiful Korean culture. There are just so many things that make you go ga-ga over 1N2D.

Then they have the Bok-bul-bok (복불복) game which will determine which members will be getting dinner and who will be sleeping outside. Wake-up song to start the morning mission and a mission after that to decide which members will get to eat breakfast and many other more. Then there’s this 1 rare activity whereby they challenge the production team to a game of football, etc. Yup that means if the production team lose, all the 80 over staff members will have to sleep outside, skip dinner or jump into river! (depending what the challenge is) It was deliciously entertaining and funny.

Playing bok-bul-bok game. Had a hard time stopping myself from laughing.

Another interesting thing that captivates me is that we get to see some behind-the-scene of how the production team works – rare especially in variety show. It’s eye-opening no doubt.

The current 5 ‘celebrities’ members are Eun Ji Won, Lee Su Geun, Lee Seung Gi, Kim Jong Min and Uhm Tae Woong. Each of them are special in their own unique ways. Love all of them. Kang Ho Dong left the show on September 2011. I didn’t miss him at first but as the show goes on, I did missed a part of him. His leadership as ‘hyung’/older brother to other members is what kills me.

I consider executive producer, Na Young Seok as the 6th semi-member for he has the most camera appearance compared to other production crew and besides he’s the man in-charge of giving out mission to the members. The members love to challenge Na PD from time to time which is another hilarious aspect.

From Actress Special episode. Funny and memorable.

All in all 1 Night 2 Days is super entertaining, funny, fun, heart-warming, educational and is an antidote for stress! Laughter is definitely the best medicine and 1N2D never fails to make me laugh (except for the 3rd Viewer’s Special Trip which had me shed tears). Friday night is the moment I look forward to because I get to laugh freaking crazily! I laugh until I cry with tears and stomach cramp and on special occasion laugh until no voice! (coz I laughed too hard)

Oh yeah 1N2D is definitely the BEST EVER Korean variety show (ahem not that I watched a lot LOL most are from KBS). In fact I dare to say 1N2D is THE BEST variety show (in any language) I’ve ever watched.

The close-knit between the members and also the production team and the members interaction with the people they meet are what makes 1N2D highly successful.

Unfortunately… oh yes there’s an unfortunately.

This show will be pulling its plug come February 2012. Which means there are only a couple more episodes before we bade goodbye to 1N2D. I’m super duper sad. 🙁 🙁 🙁

Hai why did I discovered this show only early this year? My mom and sis actually watched it much earlier than me. They kept telling me it’s a very funny show but I decline until one fine day. Sigh.

Anyway…

I know my words cannot describe 1N2D well. You just gotta watch it to know what I mean. You’ll love it no doubt.

Watch this gem before it ends!

1 Night 2 Days RULES!!! How I wish this show is on every day because it’s my no. 1 stress-reliever!

Update:
We now have 1 Night 2 Days – season 2 from March 2012 onwards which consist of 7 members (4 new and 3 old members from season 1). They are Lee Su Geun, Kim Jong Min, Uhm Tae Woong, Kim Seung Woo, Cha Tae Hyun, Sung Shi Kyung and Joo Won. The first few epis of season 2 were just so-so but as they grow to know and love each other, they’re now clicking so well. The show is now as entertaining as season 1. I love it so much-o.

It’s a pity to those who stopped watching after season 1 ended because you’re missing a lot! Btw I didn’t really like Bird PD at first (nickname given to the new PD Choi Jae Hyung) and now I kinda pity him coz the members poke fun of him a lot. Hehehe

Newer update:
I stopped watching 1N2D in the early episodes of season 3… because there were no more magic!

Other notable Korean variety/entertainment shows:
1. Happy Together
2. Dream Team
3. Vitamin
4. Qualifications of Men (retired)
5. Running Man
6. The Return of Superman

Photos from KBS.