Webtoon artist and broadcaster Kian84 and actor Lee Jang-woo will present a new variety show as characters who became hot topics on Home Alone. While reinforcing the IP power of flagship variety show Home Alone, they also face the task of answering how long it will remain 'NaHonSan'.
On the 9th, MBC released the official poster and teaser video for the new variety show "Countryside Village Lee Jang-woo 2" (abbreviated as Countryside Village 2) and announced the confirmed first broadcast on Tuesday the 30th at 9 p.m. The guest lineup revealed alongside it raised expectations with appearances promised from Kian84, Park Na-rae, Lee Joo-seung, and Kim Dae-ho, as well as Jung Joon-ha, Hong Seok-cheon, choreographer Kani, Super Junior's Lee Teuk, and Kim Mi-ryung, chef of "Culinary Class Wars" Imokase No. 1.
Among them, Kian84, Park Na-rae, Lee Joo-seung and Kim Dae-ho are regular members active with Lee Jang-woo on MBC's flagship variety show Home Alone (abbreviated as NaHonSan). With Lee Jang-woo expected to leave Home Alone as he prepares to marry in November, rainbow members are scheduled to appear in large numbers on Countryside Village 2 to cheer for Lee Jang-woo and show their close bonds.
Before presenting Countryside Village 2, Lee Jang-woo's variety career began as the "Flour Prince" who dominated NaHonSan. From there, his character—praised for exceptional cooking skills and interest in food—expanded into various mukbang and cooking-style shows, including "Farm Oil Siblings" with Jun Hyun-moo and Park Na-rae, and "Gijangdae" with Kian84 and Kim Dae-ho. This led Lee Jang-woo to showcase not only restaurant ventures but also personal YouTube content, introducing the charm of regionally distinctive ingredients and dishes in the Countryside Village series, whose success in season 1 paved the way for season 2.
Since its first broadcast in 2013, Home Alone has been greatly loved for 12 years as a documentary-style variety program that reflects the rising trend of single men and single-person households by capturing the daily lives of celebrities living alone in an observational camera format. As MBC's long-running flagship variety show, it is not only regarded as a representative work that produced MBC Entertainment Award winners such as Jun Hyun-moo, Park Na-rae and Kian84, but also credited with opening trends in observational variety shows and remains one of MBC's strongest IPs.
Like Lee Jang-woo, it is common for NaHonSan characters to expand beyond the show into standalone programs. Kian84, known as "a man living because he was born," continued with the "Adventure By Accident" series, and Lee Jang-woo—loved as the "Flour Prince" and part of "Farm Oil Siblings"—expanded his passion for food beyond flour into the "Countryside Village Lee Jang-woo" series.
In addition, "Extreme84," which expands Kian84's "Running84" image, is also in preparation. "Extreme84" was born from Kian84's challenge spirit—his attempt to complete a full marathon on NaHonSan and his continued dedication to running—and the public's positive response. It is reported to be an ultra-extreme running show in which he tackles an unimaginable course beyond 42.195 km, tests himself in extreme marathon conditions and strives to finish.
Home Alone and its cast members still boast high variety show buzz. Expansion of universes using the cast members' characters is expected to continue. Expectations for awards at year-end ceremonies and the labels calling them NaHonSan's sons and, further, MBC's sons are an added bonus.
However, finding novelty that goes beyond character or universe expansion remains a challenge, because merely adding detail to essentially the same character play with different settings and people has limits.
Fortunately, there was a successful case in the Adventure By Accident series, which even produced its own spin-off in season 4. Through season 2, Countryside Village Lee Jang-woo appears to aim for building another universe beyond variations of character play. Attention will focus on the results of NaHonSan's sons as they extend into another programming slot following Friday nights.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by MBC.
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