'My Friend Let's Go 4' production team expressed their deep trust and affection for the 4MC. Along with this, they announced the participation of powerful special guests, increasing expectations for the remaining episodes.
On the morning of the 11th, an interview with U+ Original entertainment program 'My Friend Let's Go 4' producer Yang Ja-young and writer Noh Jin-young was held at a studio in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
'My Friend Let's Go 4' is a fully immersive talk show. The program features four 'Supporters'—Han Hye-jin, Park Na-rae, Poongja, and Um Ji-yoon—who discuss various stories. First released in June 2023, the series has received viewers' love and has now continued into its fourth season, establishing itself as a representative entertainment program of STUDIO X+U.
Producer Yang Ja-young noted, "As the chemistry among the MCs improves and they become more like real sisters, I feel happy and proud seeing the show's shape evolving as we desire, especially regarding the market positioning and audience response." Writer Noh Jin-young also said, "I joined from Season 3, starting with Park Na-rae. When Park Na-rae joined Season 3, I felt confident. The chemistry and the density of conversations improved significantly when guests arrive, and I feel proud to reach Season 4."
Given the nature of the platform, it continues in a seasonal format instead of a regular one, which brings a considerable burden to introduce changes with each new season. Producer Yang stated, "From the viewers' perspective, there is always an expectation for something different, so there is pressure on how to meet that. Since the previous season did well, the pressure mounts to do even better next time. While there are competing mobile platform programs, it's also a huge burden to establish a presence in the entertainment market. We need to expand as the seasons continue and reach more viewers, but I'm grateful to pursue the next season and enjoy the pressure as a source of joy."
In a market overflowing with various observational entertainment, 'My Friend Let's Go 4' is betting on 100% pure talk. Writer Noh Jin-young shared, "Not long ago, Baek Ji-young filmed as a guest and remarked, 'Why is everyone so sincere?' People are curious about how we can get excited and angry about stories together. That's the essence of the program. It's a talk show, but it's not just any talk; it embodies authenticity. Because it's based on stories, we don't just chat, but share similar experiences, which seems to foster empathy among viewers. Though it's a talk show, our authenticity surpasses that of reality or observational entertainment, which I believe is the program's key."
Therefore, when selecting stories, we consider whether the MCs and viewers can collaboratively reflect on them, he noted. "Han Hye-jin has been involved in 'Love's Contact' for a long time, so there are similarities between the two programs since both address romantic issues. During meetings, we share similar experiences. As we talk about stories like we're actually filming, there are details that emerge. We strive to find the differences in those details," he explained. Producer Yang further added, "Within common situations, I ponder a lot about points that should touch upon my own. Although I touch upon my own points, I try to expand it so that it can resonate. I think the strength that has solidified through Season 4 is the way we seamlessly connect our thoughts."
'My Friend Let's Go' series highlights the chemistry among the MCs as crucial, especially since there have been changes in members in previous seasons. As there is interest regarding the possibility of member changes in the future, producer Yang Ja-young mentioned, "Once we finish discussing Season 4, we'll talk about the next season. However, my desire is actually just to go all the way together. I believe in these members' capabilities to empathize and broadcast sincerely, no matter where or what they do. Their mutual trust with each other and the production team makes me think it would be great, even if they do something else without the current production team and 4MC. I believe our show, while a talk show, has a flavor of a membership variety show, which I think is a strength of our program."
The 'My Friend Let's Go' series stands out not only for its MCs but also because its primary production team consists entirely of women, making it a 'women's entertainment' show. When asked if this program characteristic has become a burden, producer Yang replied, "Rather than feeling pressure to do better, platform and cable channels are increasingly targeting 2040 women as their main audience demographic. With a larger consumer base of women aged 20s to 40s, we naturally aimed to create content they would love. We also try to observe what they like and what they might be sensitive about. All of our writers are women, and most of our producers are women as well. So we can start from a common temperature, and when certain topics arise, opinions that say 'that doesn't match today's context' can be expressed immediately. Although it's a small aspect, I think that the ability to discuss the dynamics of relationships from a woman's perspective has contributed to reaching Season 4."
Writer Noh Jin-young reminisced, "A male guest once mentioned a few years back that when 'menstruation' was brought up on the show, the male MCs all froze and didn't know what to do, but here, we can discuss it comfortably. That's what we can talk about because we are all women. It's not something to be embarrassed about or hidden, so I believe it's a program capable of addressing more relatable content among women."
'My Friend Let's Go 4' grabbed attention even before its broadcast with its promise of high-intensity, mature discussions. The 'My Friend Let's Go' series has been released via U+tv and U+ mobile TV, and currently, Seasons 1 and 3 are also available on Tving. Due to less regulation in terms of content than terrestrial TV, the production team strives to maintain a boundary that, while provocative, does not make viewers uncomfortable. Producer Yang stated, "I believe the strength of the female production team manifests well in that regard. While we can't claim that we control the level of intensity and details, both the writer and I have over 20 years of experience. Since all platforms have their nuances, we adjust according to our accumulated know-how over time. We certainly didn't make decisions easily, spending considerable time reviewing subtitles and editing drafts before producing content."
Writer Noh Jin-young added, "Although the majority of the production team consists of women, there are a few men involved as well. We definitely solicit their opinions. It's essential not to become biased towards one side, so we check whether certain topics might be uncomfortable for men or if they don't understand them. We are expanding topics to ensure they can be engaging and thought-provoking, even if they aren't provocative." Producer Yang noted, "While the regulations on speech levels, alcohol consumption, and such are indeed more relaxed than terrestrial TV, both the writer and I have mostly worked in that realm. Thus, we self-filter certain aspects that we feel should be avoided and strive to walk that fine line carefully."
However, some audiences still view transgender woman Poongja with prejudice. When producer Yang was asked if he has had any concerns regarding that, he replied, "I have no concerns. We are not unaware of the situation when casting. If that were a concern, we wouldn't have made it to Season 4." He added, "However, there are definitely people who view it differently or comment online. As a producer, I feel it isn't my place to judge what people think. Also, there are cases where individuals form preconceptions just based on short clips, so writer Noh expressed, 'I hope that people will watch the entire episode instead of just talking about parts.'"
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He shared, "During Season 3, there was a couple's story about the dilemma of having a child. However, Poongja cannot have children. She spoke sincerely about that choice. At that moment, Han Hye-jin asked, 'What if you could have a child?' and then apologized, realizing too late that it was a sensitive issue. Poongja replied, 'Don't apologize; it was my choice. The moment I decided to live as a woman, it was right to give up on having a child. It was a precious choice, and I don't regret it.' Though it's a special situation, listening to such stories helps understand the person better. Such topics often come up in the broadcast, where they can joke about it and can share comfortable stories with ease."
So far, 'My Friend Let's Go 4' has featured a variety of special guests, including Lee Si-eon, Hwasa, as well as members Myo Je-hyun, Lee Han, K-will, Park Seo-jin, CNBLUE's Lee Jung-shin, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Seok-hoon, and Xiumin. Expectations have also increased with teasers hinting at appearances by Park Se-ri, Lee Sa-bae, and Baek Ji-young. When asked about the criteria for selecting guests, writer Noh Jin-young explained, "Chemistry is definitely an important factor. While natural conversations flow better with familiar guests, even if they are not close, the MCs are such veterans that they quickly create a comfortable atmosphere to lead the conversation, regardless of familiarity."
Producer Yang Ja-young stated, "As it's entertainment and fun, we aim to invite people the public wants to see. 'My Friend Let's Go 4' focuses on exclusive guests. Accordingly, we pay close attention to invite people the audience is curious about and wants to see." He also noted that, "Recently, in the YouTube content space, it has been challenging to engage significant guests through personal connections, which adds difficulty. We are eager to collaborate with guests who are enjoyable to engage with when interacting with the MCs, as it's a high priority for us."
In addition, writer Noh Jin-young mentioned a memorable episode, saying, "We tackled a story about forgetfulness during Baek Ji-young's segment, as she personally struggles with severe forgetfulness, to the point where the story was less severe than what she experiences. The MCs noted that 'the storyteller seems like they will receive healing.'" Producer Yang Ja-young added, "Yang Se-hyung also filmed, sharing many 'crush'-like stories with Park Na-rae, who is an old friend. While the MCs are friends of Park Na-rae, seeing Yang Se-hyung, who has appeared with her often, showcased a different side of him. It was interesting to observe how he prepared dishes himself, like chilled beef, conch, and seasoned sauce for Park Na-rae's friends, creating a delightful atmosphere. Even though Yang Se-hyung and Park Na-rae have frequently worked together, it was a refreshing sight that blended well, and the other MCs were very grateful for it."
Additionally, Park Myung-soo also made an appearance as a guest. Producer Yang Ja-young remarked, "He turned the filming set upside down. He usually doesn't participate as a guest, and we're thankful we waited for him for three months to secure his attendance after appealing to him persistently due to his busy schedule with overseas engagements and live radio broadcasts. Given how well the recording went, we wondered, 'How do we edit this?'' Writer Noh Jin-young added, 'He has a lot of quotable moments. I wanted to invite him because I admired his unique perspective and interpretations. Although he generally doesn't like talk shows or featuring as a guest, we mobilized all connections to ask him persistently for his participation, and after filming, he expressed his desire to join again and have more sessions, which shows how pleasant the atmosphere was.'
Through previous interviews, the production team and cast have expressed their desire for the series to continue through Season 11. Producer Yang Ja-young stated, "OTT does not have the concept of regular programming. However, we've done well since Season 4. No matter what these MCs do, it will be fun, and even with similar themes or content, it can change significantly when executed by them. It would be reassuring to work with them for Season 11 or engage in different projects, as I feel confident they can pull it off."
The reason for this trust is rooted in the exceptional affection and sincerity the members have for the program. Writer Noh Jin-young shared, "Now that Season 4 filming is nearing its end, Park Na-rae expressed suddenly feeling a deep sense of loss and got emotional, saying, 'It feels like it's ending too soon,' and 'I wish it could go on longer.' You can feel it's genuine and not just empty words. I'm grateful for their affection. Though they participate in many programs, it's evident they think of this as 'their program,' rather than 'one of many.' The MCs also closely aid in securing guests," he said, expressing gratitude.
This chemistry and sincerity among the four MCs are said to be strengths of 'My Friend Let's Go 4.' Writer Noh Jin-young remarked, "This is probably the only program where Han Hye-jin gets teased. Her younger colleagues often share old stories, tease her for not being able to dance, but Hye-jin finds them cute and takes the jokes well. I feel each recording brings to light a level of chemistry that is extraordinary to witness."
In terms of dopamine's impact, I believe determining the authenticity of content is crucial. However, even when watching short clips, the heightened energy and sincerity of these individuals is detectable because it reflects their genuine thoughts throughout the recording time. It is impossible to showcase such energy for only a moment during those long recording hours. Therefore, even in the edited short clips, that feeling seems to transmit," he emphasized the importance of authentic connections. Noh Jin-young also urged, "Please don't form opinions based on snippets; watch it from start to finish. The context dictates what is said and why it is said. When emotions run high, it's crucial to listen to the thoughts shared, hence please watch the whole show."
[Photo] STUDIO X+U
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