The restarted "Insamo (the gathering of unpopular people)" project on 'Hangout with Yoo?' delivered laughs that again stirred the hearts of viewers who had been waiting for "Insamo."
On the 18th episode aired, MBC variety show 'Hangout with Yoo?' (abbreviated 'Hangout') episode 302 showed Yoo Jae-suk, Haha, Joo Woo-jae, Lee Yi-kyung meeting new candidates for "Insamo (the gathering of unpopular people)": mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man, actor Hyun Bong-sik, and broadcaster Hwang Kwanghee.
The episode recorded a nationwide rating of 4.8% according to Nielsen Korea. It was lower than episode 300's 6.6%, which peaked at a momentary high of 10% when "80s Seoul Pop Festival" aired, and episode 301's 5.3% during the Chuseok holiday atmosphere. However, it raised expectations by announcing a new start for the "Insamo" project. As a result, the household rating in the Seoul metropolitan area was 5.1%, making it the No. 1 Saturday variety show.
Notably, the key indicator 2049 rating, which gauges channel competitiveness and topicality, stood at 2.3%, ranking first among all Saturday programs including variety shows and drama. Among scenes, when Hwang Kwanghee received the "Insamo" invitation and ran wild, the minute-by-minute peak rating surged to 6.8%, drawing attention.
Choi Hong-man appeared flaunting his overwhelming physique and showed "Hong-man magic" that made those around him seem like miniatures. Paper-man Joo Woo-jae staggered at a single gesture of his, and even suffered the humiliation of having his butt grabbed with one hand. Choi Hong-man, who recently spent a whole day training in Jeju Island, also shared a love-story about a woman he has been seeing for 100 days. Joo Woo-jae teased and asked whether the woman actually exists, and an enraged Choi Hong-man shouted, "Don't mess around" and punished Joo Woo-jae. Joo Woo-jae being crumpled and subjected to "paper folding" by Choi Hong-man brought laughs.
Questions about Choi Hong-man's "some" story about his private life bounced to Yoo Jae-suk as well. Haha asked, "Honestly, I'm curious about Jae-suk hyung too. When you kiss, do you take off your glasses or keep them on?" which drew laughter. Yoo Jae-suk, in a flash of irritation, answered, "I do it wearing them," revealing private details about his wife Na Kyung-eun and adding to the amusement.
In the friendly atmosphere, Yoo Jae-suk gauged Choi Hong-man's reaction and brought up "Insamo." Choi Hong-man admitted, "My popularity is ambiguous. When I'm active fans come, but if I'm not, I disappear." Lee Yi-kyung comforted him saying, "Except for Jae-suk hyung, it's all temporary," and Yoo Jae-suk modestly said, "If I rest for just two months it all disappears too." Meanwhile Haha shouted, "If you stop, what about me and our Dr.So.Song (Dream, Soul, Song)! Don't stop, work," prompting laughs. Choi Hong-man, enticed by stories that celebrities lined up to join "Insamo," sparked interest in whether he would accept the invitation.
Next Yoo Jae-suk met another candidate, Hyun Bong-sik. Known as an actor with premature-looking eyes, Hyun Bong-sik said, "People see me as in their 50s," and seemed to accept being viewed about 10 years older with grace. He shared recent news of forming an "1984-born group" with fellow 1984-borns actor Yoo Yeon-seok, singer Simon Dominic (Sam-D), Seven, and Kim Yong-jun, and recounted an awkward incident when actress Im Soo-jung recently called him "senior."
While assessing whether Hyun Bong-sik was suitable for "Insamo," Yoo Jae-suk was surprised to learn his story of debuting as a late-blooming actor after working as an installation technician for a major company's subcontractor. Hyun Bong-sik's fan cafe "Bongsik-ine" lacked presence, buried in restaurant searches, and a recent post had nine views. After receiving the "Insamo" invitation, Hyun Bong-sik sniffed and said, "My casting is first-come, first-served," raising curiosity about whether he would join.
The next "Insamo" candidate they met was Hwang Kwanghee. Yoo Jae-suk and Haha raised suspicions that Hwang Kwanghee's face looked different after a year, and an aggrieved Hwang Kwanghee denied the recent "cosmetic reoperation controversy," saying, "I haven't had anything redone. It's still the same. There was controversy that I had become handsome." Hwang Kwanghee, who recently traveled to the U.S. for 10 days, called himself "No. 1 celebrity syndrome," certifying that his popularity did not match his serious celebrity syndrome. At a Korean restaurant in the U.S. he was ready to take a photo with a staffer, but when they didn't recognize him he used the G-Dragon friend cheat and said, "Do you know G-Dragon?"
Pursuing a Korean-American style, Hwang Kwanghee poured out talk, but when he received the "Insamo" invitation he bristled and denied, "Do you treat people like this? I'm different from them," However, he soon recalled fan sign events during his 'Zeppelin of the Children' days and admitted, "I was the most famous. But the number of gifts or people wanting autographs was small."
Yoo Jae-suk, tired of Hwang Kwanghee's emotional ups and downs, was about to leave, and Hwang Kwanghee revealed he had been anxious about them leaving, saying he had to rush through talk. He fired back at malicious comments saying "Kwanghee still can't do terrestrial TV," and "Kwanghee is just kind and not funny," saying, "What can't I do? I just don't have time, so I can't do it," and, "If it's not funny, it's hard to come this far," as he ran on. Yoo Jae-suk and Haha seized the moment Hwang Kwanghee calmed down and made a quick exit as if fleeing, hurriedly concluding the "Insamo" interview and drawing laughs.
The next episode preview showed members forming "Comma, Club" with Heo Kyung-hwan and Ha Dong-kyun and departing on an autumn tour, raising expectations. 'Hangout with Yoo?' airs every Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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