(Continuing from interview ③) Among recent dating show addicts there is one program that has newly spread by word of mouth. Released on the YouTube channel 'ttaettaettae,' "72-hour blind date" is a dating reality show with the concept of a man and a woman who meet for the first time in an unfamiliar city traveling together for three days to get to know each other and decide whether to continue their relationship. Black Paper CEO Yoo Gyu-seon, well known as Yoo Byung-jae's manager, planned it, and Won's Monologue directed it, and it first premiered last Sept.
"72-hour blind date" begins the "longest blind date in the world" by having people who have never met face one another in overseas cities such as Fukuoka, Bangkok, Hokkaido, Sapporo and Taiwan. Different in tone from existing sensational dating variety shows, it conveys a clean yet deep emotional line and has been spreading by word of mouth. OSEN met Black Paper CEO Yoo Gyu-seon, who planned the world's longest blind date "72-hour blind date," to hear about the production.
The first episode of "72-hour blind date" is the "Fukuoka" episode featuring Miso and Hyeongu. As the blind date progresses, Miso begins to develop romantic feelings for Hyeongu, and she mentions that even if she is not chosen she thinks she will contact him in Seoul. She confessed to the production that she could not stop her feelings of liking him.
CEO Yoo Gyu-seon said, "I think that's right. Filming is over but life is not over. I think you should keep trying. At first I thought Miso's comment was strange, but the reason we left it unedited is that if she came to like him there, I think that is sincerity. I don't think it closes just because they return to Seoul overnight."
There are participants whose after stories have not been revealed. In response, CEO Yoo Gyu-seon said, "Many people are curious about the after, but we prioritize the participants' wishes. What was promised to us was two nights and three days of filming at the travel destination, and because they took it seriously during that period the participants kept their promise. There are parts we regret, but we respect the participants' choices," he said.
Could a spin-off program come out later? He said, "I think the current season 1 team has done everything. We will have an offline screening on Dec. 13, and we reedited the Hokkaido footage to include up to the point where Sang-yeol and Chaewon met again in Seoul. I saw many comments like 'Don't give up on Sang-yeol,' and in fact Sang-yeol often came to Seoul to see Chaewon. We captured that briefly. I don't think there will be more than that, but for the next project I think about including both the travel destination and the after," he said.
Starting in Fukuoka, "72-hour blind date" concluded its first act with the Taiwan episode. Asked about future plans, CEO Yoo Gyu-seon said, "We plan to launch a YouTube channel that carries Black Paper's color. I don't think it will be a channel that deals with only one genre. There are genres we liked in the past that have disappeared. I want to make a channel where we can upload things we used to like, like classic romance films. Works that are romantic even without dopamine, or dramas that can capture the life of a single character, those kinds of works should be on the channel. I think the beginning will be a dating show like '72-hour blind date.'"
CEO Yoo Gyu-seon said, "And I think we'll do comedy too. Comedy and sitcoms are gone genres. On the other hand, why did laughter disappear? Maybe comedy didn't disappear but there are so many things that are very funny now. Still, because there are people who love comedy, we'll upload comedy, make an upgraded dating show beyond Won's Monologue and 72-hour, and try to make a program that finds and showcases charming people. We expect it in Feb. to Mar. next year," he explained.
He said the next dating show will follow a similar arc to "72-hour blind date." He said, "I really want to capture a winter travel romance. It would be romantic to be stuck somewhere because of heavy snow, to stay together and spend time. Personally I really like traveling to Sapporo in Jan. When it snows a lot you can't even take taxis. It's hard to move from the lodging and even going to the supermarket once leaves you soaked, but the coziness when you come inside is so nice," he said.
In a final question to CEO Yoo Gyu-seon, I asked, "If you could recommend just one episode to people who haven't watched '72-hour blind date' yet, which episode would you tell them to watch?"
Yoo Gyu-seon said, "My favorite episode is the Sapporo episode. The reason is that Hyun-ung is my ideal type; he doesn't give up easily, and in a way I think even unrequited love should be expressed. You have to keep rejection deep inside, but expressing it is not easy. I like the Sapporo story because he did that and it was cool."
But CEO Yoo Gyu-seon said there is a recommended viewing order. He said, "It's most fun to binge the three Japan episodes. The three couples are all different. The Bangkok episode feels like a special episode, and the Taiwan episode has a rom-com vibe. It's fun like an omnibus. In Fukuoka you might see that kind of couple, and at the same time in Sapporo and Hokkaido you might see these kinds of couples. If anyone hasn't seen them yet I hope they watch all three. It's more fun to watch with the comments afterward. Also watching episode 1-1-1, 2-2-2 that kind of way is fun. There's enjoyment in seeing the process of getting closer," he said.
During this interview I was able to hear several behind-the-scenes stories of "72-hour blind date." Although actual filming started with the Taiwan episode, it was released last (other episodes were released in the order they were filmed); they wanted to have all couples meet on the mode of transport but could do so for only two couples; and a new dating program akin to season 2 can be expected without delay.
Meanwhile, CEO Yoo Gyu-seon's "72-hour blind date" is currently available to watch in full on the YouTube channel 'ttaettaettae.'
[Photo] Reporter Jo Eun-jung, screenshot from "72-hour blind date" broadcast
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