'Mistrot 4' TOP7 will compete by performing unique duets with non-celebrity contestants.
On the morning of the 14th at the TV CHOSUN studio in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held for TV CHOSUN's new variety show "Mistrot for You." The press conference was attended by MC Boom, Ahn Sung Hoon, CP Min Byung-joo, PD Lim Ji-hoon, and 'Mistrot4' TOP7 Lee So-na, Her Chanmi, Hong Seong-yun, Gil Ryeo-won, Yoon Tae-hwa, Yoon Yun-seo, and Yeom Yu-ri, who shared remarks.
"Mistrot for You" is a fiery and moving duet battle created by the 'Mistrot4' TOP7 (Jin Lee So-na, Seon Her Chanmi, Mi Hong Seong-yun, Gil Ryeo-won, Yoon Tae-hwa, Yoon Yun-seo, Yeom Yu-ri), who concluded 'Mistrot4' with a final rating of 18.4%, and their special partners.
CP Min Byung-joo said, "While auditioning, the most entertaining and fun stage was the master preliminary. The main stage brings tension and the competition itself has other fun points, but I think the master preliminary is most entertaining as variety. It is a gateway for new people and a stage for the harmony of contestants who re-challenge. In a spin-off, you cover songs from many angles. That can lead to repetition or cliché, so I made this project thinking about how to elevate those aspects into parts that can project freshness. I thought this would maximize the differentiating points from other spin-offs, so we planned it that way," introducing 'Mistrot for You.'
PD Lim Ji-hoon said, "There have been various spin-offs, but our 'Mistrot for You' has a cute, charming logo. If you unwrap the packaging, it is a full competition program. I think the TOP7 felt the same after the first recording. There are preliminaries and main rounds, with eliminations, a first place and last place. It has the format of a competition program, so they take it much more seriously and I think that yields more impressive stages. I think that is the biggest differentiator of this spin-off."
About the competition format, CP Min Byung-joo said, "It is completed in two episodes. The viewing points are expectations and interest in the non-celebrity contestants. Duet stages between non-celebrity contestants and our TOP7 are held, rankings are determined, two teams are eliminated and five teams advance. The process is completed over two recordings covering three stages up to the final ranking stage. And when a winner emerges, it does not end there; they can win consecutively, and if they win up to the fourth round they receive a prize of 10 million won. We tried to preserve the variety elements in that regard," he explained.
Asked about the criteria for non-celebrity contestants, PD Lim Ji-hoon said, "We obviously look at singing. We are a competition. The better the singers who participate, the more synergy there will be with the 'Mistrot4' TOP7. Next, we also look at star quality. Beyond stories, people with various charms increase the likelihood of creating great stages with us, so we focus on that," he explained. CP Min Byung-joo added, "We also plan to do 'Mr. Trot 4' this year. I hope that some of the people who judge here might extend to that, so we are approaching it with that expectation," raising anticipation.
The MCs of 'Mistrot for You' will be Boom, Ahn Sung Hoon, and Song Eun I. PD Lim Ji-hoon said, "One of the other differentiators this time is that contestants duet with non-celebrity participants. We found new MCs fitting this new attempt. Senior Boom has been with us so long and knows us well, so as a familiar figure he will excel at hosting and wit. Ahn Sung Hoon was the winner of Mr. Trot 2; he seems able to approach non-celebrities and the TOP7 musically. Song Eun I was recruited because she can play the older sister role and handle emotional parts well."
Boom said, "I felt good after the first recording. I felt refreshed. When a recording goes well you get that energy. In particular, my favorite part of audition programs is the first preliminary. The TOP7 watch the first preliminary together here. It's an open space anyone can join, where you can judge non-celebrity stories and songs, see many kinds of charm, and hear contestants' stories. When story and song come together, the song feels stronger. I teared up at times, and once I was so excited I shouted before the song ended, sorry about that. I was very excited at the first recording. Trot is about breathing with the audience. 'Mistrot' stages were separated, so that lacked, but now they get on stage, hold hands and duet, and that seems to be what differentiates this spin-off."
Ahn Sung Hoon, who debuts as an MC through 'Mistrot for You,' said, "I've mostly been singing, so when I was offered this MC role I saw it as another chance to grow and accepted gladly. I'm still lacking. As an MC I want to approach like a practice teacher to the TOP7 or a comfortable older brother and grow." He added, "I feel more comfortable singing. After my song ends I can focus on reactions, but being an MC made me realize how amazing Boom is and how well he takes care of people. You have to constantly look after and focus on everyone to know what to say next, so it's challenging. It's still hard, but I see potential for myself. Please help me grow," he said, expressing his determination.
Lee So-na, who won 'Mistrot4,' said, "'Mistrot for You' is my first regular program. I am very much looking forward to which contestants with what stories I will duet with. I will work hard," adding, "The competition is over but we are doing another competition, so personally I think I might be the one feeling the most responsibility and burden. Non-celebrities are coming. Especially since I won, I feel the burden that I must sing well for them. I hope the TOP7's charms are more fully showcased in 'Mistrot for You,' and since I am the winner I hope there will be no eliminations for me, so I am doing my best," she said.
Seon Her Chanmi said, "This is my first regular program in 16 years since my debut, so it feels fresh and exciting. I get more nervous thinking about who my duet partners will be," adding, "The good thing is that we select only people who sing well, and everyone interprets songs differently. So it's good to learn the emotions that the other person interprets. My worry is that someone might sing better than me, so I'm very nervous and feel I need to practice a lot."
Mi Hong Seong-yun said, "Having performed alone, standing together with someone else makes me feel more secure and it is a more enjoyable time," adding, "Actually I still know nothing about broadcasting, so doing this spin-off program isn't easy. After finishing the competition, doing another competition feels a bit scary, but I am confident the partner will do well. We will rely on and trust each other and go through the second competition," she said.
Gil Ryeo-won said, "This is my first spin-off program. During the competition it was already tough to handle my body alone, but doing it with a partner, the pressure about how to perform well and survive is huge. I thought maybe I could work harder than during the competition to show a high-quality stage."
Yoon Tae-hwa, who said, "I came with the goal of getting into the TOP7 because I wanted to do a spin-off," said, "I fought tooth and nail to get into the TOP7 to do the spin-off, so suddenly having to compete again is bewildering. I will give my best with the mindset that life is competition. The contestants joined because the stage is precious and missed, so we must not be a nuisance and must work harder. I am learning dreams and hopes too, so please watch a lot because this is a good program," he urged.
Yeom Yu-ri said, "It feels like family, so it is new, and the duet format is not solo but about matching breathing together, and I approach it thinking it's also family, so it seems like a warmer program than usual," adding, "I worked hard to climb through 'Mistrot' seasons 3 and 4, so doing another competition is heavy on my heart, but thinking that it's a competition with new people's stories and everyday human tales makes it less scary and more joyful than terrifying competitions before. Also, since I'm seventh, I worry my partner might think, 'What if we also place seventh,' which is a big burden, but sincerity is conveyed to everyone, so I will do my best," she said.
Yoon Yun-seo said, "I was very nervous before going on stage. My partner and I were both very nervous, but we leaned on each other and enjoyed the stage. In Mistrot4 I showed many solo stages, but this time it's a duet. So I can't think only of myself and must consider the partner; I can't live alone. I think we must rely on each other and perform well," she said, expressing her ambitions.
Asked about the selection criteria for non-celebrity partners, Lee So-na said, "I chose duet partners who made me want to incorporate their strengths when I saw them." Yeom Yu-ri said, "There are people with energies I don't have. If someone with energy opposite to mine pairs with me, the chemistry would be good, so I focused on people with different charms," she said. Hong Seong-yun explained, "I wanted to find someone who could show their charm and reveal a new charm of mine." Yoon Tae-hwa said, "I want to accept everyone who says they want to sing with me. I'm very grateful. In that context I focus on people who desperately want to be on stage. I also look for partners who can show a slightly different charm beyond trot. If I perform with a partner who likes a genre other than trot, I will have to learn that song too, so I look for partners who can help me develop," he said.
Asked about the viewing points of 'Mistrot for You,' Her Chanmi said, "Because we work with a variety of people, you will see many different sides in each stage. Many contestants have sung all genres, so the point to watch is how TOP7 match their breathing with them," she answered. Gil Ryeo-won said, "If only the 'Mistrot4' TOP7 appeared it might feel familiar, but I think the program's curiosity point is that new faces appear each time," adding to the anticipation.
When asked what reaction he hopes to get through 'Mistrot for You,' PD Lim Ji-hoon chose "fresh." He said, "Many previous spin-offs were similar. This time it's duets with a ranking competition format, audiences vote directly and there is band live. Non-celebrities with various charms appear. At the same time Mistrot TOP7 can raise their charm. I hope these varied and new elements are delivered to viewers and attract interest so ratings rise," he said. CP Min Byung-joo emphasized, "What we are pushing these days is TTT. Please remember that Thursday night is trot day on TV CHOSUN."
Finally, Ahn Sung Hoon urged, "Mistrot for You is not just a variety show but life dramas together. It can bring many laughs and tears and give comfort. Please watch a lot and heal through Mistrot for You." Boom also added, "There aren't many family variety shows these days; they are divided by generation. But this is true family variety. Everyone can enjoy it. Please relax and enjoy it and don't forget. We'll record with the mindset of 'If you don't watch, we'll come after you,' so fighting."
Meanwhile, 'Mistrot for You' premieres today (the 14th) at 10 p.m..
[Photo] TV CHOSUN
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