"1st place" moves Rhee Minjung to tears and kept Heo Sung-tae from even going to the bathroom, and the all-time great performances finally unveil their veil.
The new MBC variety show "1st place," which premieres on the 15th, features self-proclaimed "audition maniac" MC Rhee Minjung at the forefront, and the atmosphere-manipulating "energy maker" MC Boom, and panels of Korea's representative "audition specialists," including Baek Z Young, Heo Sung-tae, Park Ji-hyun, and Kim Chaewon (LE SSERAFIM), all make a full appearance. Even the "expert-level" panelists who know both the bitter and sweet sides of competitions reportedly delivered all-time reactions to the stages presented on "1st place," drawing attention.
Attention is focused first on MC Rhee Minjung's tears, which became a hot topic from the trailer. Rhee Minjung, who is challenging herself as a music variety MC for the first time since her debut, led the set professionally with the vast knowledge befitting an "audition maniac" on the day of the first recording. However, as soon as one contestant's stage began, Rhee Minjung could not hold back and burst into tears. She said, "I cried when I saw this stage in previous auditions, so I thought I wouldn't cry this time, but I was overwhelmed by a voice that turned on the tear button from the first phrase," leaving an admiring compliment that heightened expectations.
Actor Heo Sung-tae's reactions are also noteworthy. He displayed a completely different "F sensibility" from his on-screen charisma, showing a surprising charm. Enjoying the "1st place" stages more than anyone—laughing and crying—he was said to have marveled at the stage's power, saying, "I usually can't hold my bladder for more than 2½ hours, but now I haven't left my seat for 4 hours and 30 minutes," as if even bodily functions were forgotten. The identity of the stages that left Heo Sung-tae so ecstatic that he said, "I had an epiphany today," and "I feel guilty for receiving the appearance fee," has become a source of curiosity.
The "audition godmother" Baek Z Young, who has served as a judge on many auditions, was also moved by the juniors' growth. From the start she could not hide her shock, saying, "I only imagined this kind of showdown; I never thought it would actually be realized. How did they recruit all of these people?" Known for her cool-headed judging comments, Baek Z Young reportedly could not stop expressing astonishment at the winners' remarkable improvement that day, saying, "It's perfect," and, "They've grown more than during the audition."
Kim Chaewon, who said she had nurtured her dream by watching contestants' auditions since childhood, exclaimed, "It feels like a treat you should pay to see," and Park Ji-hyun, the runner-up of "Mr. Trot 2," declared after one contestant's stage, "I became a fan right now," certifying herself as an ardent fan and increasing curiosity about the stage.
What will the "war of the kings," where winners of Korea's auditions stake their pride regardless of genre or age, look like? The legendary stages that made the panelists laugh and cry will be revealed on MBC's audition finale "1st place," which premieres at 8:50 p.m. on the 15th.
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