New K-Show Addiction: Roommate

I can't call myself a K-Popers, because I don't love K-Pop that much, except for certain musicians and celebrities. But I do like their entertainment shows, such as Running Man, SNL Korea, We Got Married or Grandpas Over Flowers. Korean knows the perfect formula in creating a hilarious, enjoyable show, ranging from reality show, comedy sketch, to variety show. Most of the shows are far from boring and very creative indeed.

In this post I want to talk about the newest show I dig, Roommate. Citing from Wikipedia,

Roommate (Korean: 룸메이트) is a South Korean reality show; a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup, along with Running Man. It was first aired on May 4, 2014. The show features eleven celebrities living together in a share house, sharing common spaces such as the kitchen, living room, and washrooms, as well as household tasks. The house features sixty cameras and five bedrooms. The program is a response to society today where single-person households are dramatically increasing and aims to show the life, troubles, and joys of eleven different celebrities as they form friendships, relationships and possibly enemies living together under one roof.

Members:
Shin Sung Woo, Lee So Ra, Park Bom (2NE1), Nana (After School), Chan Yeol (EXO), Lee Dong Wook, Seo Kang Jun, Song Ga Yeon, Park Min Woo, Hong Soo Hyun, Jo Se Ho

The idea of putting a bunch of celebrities under one roof, sharing their private life is new to me. You have people from different backgrounds, careers, and ages. There are actors, actress, model, singers, martial artist, and even comedian. When I watched the first episode, I thought it was kind of a drag, because of the long introduction of each member (it has 11 members), and I knew very little about them. I definitely knew Lee Dong Wook and Park Bom, but that's that. The rests were not familiar faces for me. But as more episodes unfold and the members get even closer and more comfortable to each other, the show manages to show its charm to its audience, including me, in its own, special way. It's certainly refreshing to see all the famous people interact with each other, strangers first, then friends, and are slowly becoming a family. Since it's not a comedy show they don't have to be funny. It's not a talk show, they don't have to pretend, or maintain their images too hard. They can be themselves. Bottomline, they look natural. If they're not themselves, it shows, because in such a natural setting, audience can see through it if they start faking it. 

To further prove my point, let's take We Got Married as an example. As natural as it tries to be, unfortunately it's not real. The couples are not even real couple outside the shooting time. They're not 100% genuine on the screen. Every action they do is for the sake of putting up a good show. After the couple is over, their relationship ends. Just like that. One definite proof of that argument is the fact that none of them end up dating for real, until now, no matter how lovey-dovey they look during the show. Here is where Roommate provides something different. It's not a make-believe program. They're really living together in one, big house. They moved in. It's the place they come back to from work. Even when the cameras aren't there to record everything, the communication and the stories continue.

So, yeah, each week I can't wait to watch more episodes, and I wish they air everyday, instead of every Sunday. When the show ends, or when one of the roomates move out (it will happen eventually), it will be heartbreaking for me. But I think we're still far from that. For now, I'll enjoy watching Roommate and see how each relationship develops. I expect one or two love lines to bloom. After all, romance never hurt. 

my favorite member, you ask? Hmm.. It's a little too early to pick favorite, but I'm weighing between Hong Soo Hyun, Park Bom, Lee Dong Wook, or Seo Kang Joon, or... Arrgghh.. It's too much, In a show like this, you can never like only one person. Sooner or later, you love each and every one of them. Equally, or not. ;)