'Shooting Stars' returns with a new season.
On the morning of the 13th, at an online media day for SBS' Shooting Stars, PD Kwon Hyung-gu, writer Jang Jeong-hee, and members of FC Gukdae Family, FC Balladream, FC Top Girl, FC Wonder Woman, FC Actionista, FC World Class, FC Guchuk Jangsin, and FC Streaming Fighter attended and discussed the program.
Shooting Stars premiered as a regular program in June 2021 and, for about four and a half years, has been with viewers nonstop, opening a new chapter for women's soccer variety shows; after an off-season period of about one month, it returns with new players, a new league and new rules.
This season, the show was completely rebuilt from 11 teams to eight teams in seven-player squads to strengthen each team's identity. In addition, the program enhanced its "sporting" aspects beyond variety entertainment to adjust balance among teams.
On the day, PD Kwon Hyung-gu said of the rebuilding criteria for this team composition, "We also take the word déjà vu seriously because the matches repeat every week. Fortunately, we were given time, and in preparing for that we focused on thinking about how to preserve each team's unique identity."
Kwon said, "We took a broad approach of strengthening identities through player transfers or recruiting new players, and additionally we adjusted team levels and balance so matches would be unpredictable, which keeps viewers watching until the end. Our aim was to make the balance as even as possible when reorganizing the teams."
Is there a reason for reorganizing the teams this way? PD Kwon Hyung-gu explained, "This is about ability, but we had 11 teams, so when a team's match airs it could be two to three months later. We recognized fans' concerns and complaints about when the team they support would appear. Rather than saying we cut teams, we prepared with the direction that eight teams would compactly participate in the league."
He added, "Teams such as FC G Avengers, Anaconda and Bulnabang, which will not participate in the next league, could still take part in cup competitions if they have capable players. The teams were not eliminated; rather, this league will have eight teams so viewers can see the teams they support more often."
Writer Jang Jeong-hee said, "Although the number of teams has decreased, Shooting Stars has a marine corps spirit: once a Shooting Star, always a Shooting Star. Even if a team's identity or name changes, we are trying to create a system in which those who have joined can return to play soccer again after some time."
Previously, the show raised the league's quality by recruiting skilled players, but this season it balanced teams through overall adjustments. PD Kwon said, "The spectrum of viewers who watch Shooting Stars is diverse. Some watch for soccer, some who watched in the early days want to see skill improvements week to week or see players upset after a loss. We recognize we cannot go to just one side."
PD Kwon Hyung-gu said, "It's important for skilled players to come and raise the match level and quality, but there are many veteran players who have grown over four to five years. Viewers are waiting for those players' growth. To avoid leaning to one side, we tried to go together, and one change is that the number of players increased to seven and we implemented a rule that every player must set foot on the field."
True to Shooting Stars' slogan "sincerity," the production team gave candid answers, and the cast was unreserved. When each captain was asked which players they would want to recruit regardless of team identity, Jeong He-in said, "We don't have anyone. We think Actionista is already perfect, so we're fine. Actionista has always been a perennial top four. Three players who perfectly fill Actionista's shortcomings have joined, so you can look forward to Actionista's play this season."
Chaeryeena also said, "Two players I had long coveted joined. I couldn't ask for more. I don't feel greedy; I praise and thank the production team very much."
However, she confessed, "When I was training with Top Girl, a friend came to help. She wanted that friend to join Shooting Stars; that friend is Park Ha-yan. The treasured junior joined Gukdae Family, so if we were to take her, I'd like to bring Park Ha-yan."
Lee Hyun-i also said, "Our team has strict criteria for admission. Among players taller than 170 cm, the player we think best fits our team's color is Actionista's Jeong He-in," prompting Jeong He-in to walk out of her seat and draw laughter.
The captains continued to boast about their teams. When asked about each team's strengths and charms, Gukdae Family's Park Seung-hee said, "Many of our team are former athletes, so we think our advantage is moving organically when playing soccer. What we all say in unison is that in terms of stamina we do not fall behind any team. Also, the team atmosphere is good. The family-like atmosphere, I think, does not fall behind in teamwork."
Next, Balladream's Gyeongseo said, "Our team plays charming, visually pleasing soccer, and the phrase we always keep in mind is 'no individual is greater than the team.' Our members make you think that way. When seven gather, I think the members together create a sum of 10."
World Class' Saori said, "First, if I point to our team's strengths, we are a strong team uniquely holding four stars, and when Jay joined last season she helped the team and overall the joining player will help our growth and make us reliably new. Our charm is that as a foreign team coming to Korea from abroad, we can show many people the challenge of being in Korea while working with wonderful Koreans, giving a positive influence; I think we are the only team that can do that."
Streaming Fighter's Shim Euddeum said, "Because Streaming Fighter members are all individual creators, there is an unpredictable freedom to where we might go, but within that we have the best unity. Our activities are global. Given the large fandoms that follow individuals, three members changed this time, and we will show how the members will come together and unite."
Guchuk Jangsin's Lee Hyun-i said, "We are the only team among the eight that had all members attend. From the pilot onward, I don't know about other things, but our diligence is second to none. We take that as our pride." Actionista's Jeong He-in said, "Our biggest strength is that because we are all actors, we have rich emotional lines. Playing soccer has many tough moments and hardships, but we embrace each other; each person has strengths, but when we gather we can show that we are one, which I think is our greatest quality. Like every team, when we unite we can be the strongest team."
Top Girl's Chaeryeena said, "Those in the industry really know Top Girl. Our teamwork is good and we are a team full of love. When Rina unnie, the oldest in Shooting Stars, runs like that it's moving and makes us run an extra step for her; and Boram or Seung-yeon joined this time but they were already familiar members, so I wonder if we've ever been this tightly knit. I think we can tear it up this season." Wonder Woman's Kisum said with a laugh, "Our kids are kind. They are kind, and as pretty as their faces, their hard work is pretty. Including coach Kim Byung-ji, aren't we the visual team?"
As Shooting Stars grew popular, more women began enjoying soccer, and women's soccer's popularity has continued. Original member Lee Hyun-i, who has been with the show since the pilot, opened up when asked what she gained through Shooting Stars: "I, too, gained the mindset of doing anything."
Lee Hyun-i said, "The nature of being a model is a profession that depends on innate traits. Here I'm among singers, actors and national team alumni, but I had rarely worked so hard in my life that I felt like I would die. But meeting Shooting Stars, I poured myself in as if to say, 'If I had lived like this, wouldn't I have lived better?' and although I'm not outstanding, it worked out. Hitting rock bottom and realizing my potential became a turning point in my life."
Meanwhile, Shooting Stars has already become a long-running show with more than 200 episodes. With each new season, the physical burden inevitably increases every year, and the oldest sister Chaeryeena will likely feel that burden most.
In response, Chaeryeena confessed, "I actually worry every season. I think maybe I should stop. I enter the season feeling limits, thinking there are things that don't work no matter how hard I try. One reason Shooting Stars has been loved for 200 episodes is because it doesn't know how to give up and keeps challenging."
Chaeryeena said, "When I first joined Shooting Stars and took a strength test, my result was equivalent to age 55. Dancing doesn't develop muscles. You still have to diet when you go on stage. By raising that strength situation, I think I won the battle with myself." She said her current strength age is in her mid-30s.
She added, "A gratifying thing about Shooting Stars is when someone says, 'Unnie, I started playing soccer at my age too.' That really makes me feel good. I hope there will be more people like that, and I hope all Shooting Stars members will work toward that."
Finally, PD Kwon Hyung-gu said, "As our players and coaches have said, they are doing it sincerely and enjoying it very much. The production team has no different resolve; we just hope the players avoid injury. What I've felt is that there are not only physical injuries but also emotional wounds. Sharp words and comments can cause emotional injury," he said, voicing his difficulties.
Kwon said, "In that respect, I hope this becomes a program that protects against injuries and a dignified league. I take pride in being the origin and the eldest sister of sports variety shows. I will work hard and tirelessly to protect this status and honor."
Meanwhile, the renewed SBS variety show Shooting Stars will air on Jan. 14 at 9 p.m.
[Photo] SBS
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