The recent trend of Korean entertainment programs is geared toward what we might call ‘observation entertainment.’ From traditional broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and SBS, to specialist TV channels offering a comprehensive range of options, most contents adopt the same format – observation entertainment shows.
‘Observation entertainment’ refers to a style of programs close to the documentary genre, where the action is not scripted or planned in advance. They are generally shot outside of the studios and focus on performers without the intervention of the production crew. This is totally different from the ‘real variety programs,’ which was the trend in Korean entertainment programing until now. Real variety productions are carefully planned with a whole crew, only the events are ‘real.’ Representative real variety programs include ‘Infinite Challenge’ from MBC, or ‘1 Night, 2 Days’ from KBS. Observation entertainment shows are totally different, so why do people like this kind of programs?
Basically, people who love these observation entertainment shows have a ‘peep show’ craving. They are curious at other people’s lives, especially if they are different from their own. For those viewers, these shows made them feel sympathetic. Observation entertainment shows started with two programs, ‘Where Are You Going, Dad?’ from MBC and ‘The Human Condition’ from KBS. The first was aired from January 2013 to January 2014. It follows the expedition of celebrities and their children. The popularity of this program is essentially based on the children’s innocent appearance. Nothing was scripted; the camera just followed parents and children. Viewers called this program a ‘kind program’, and that is the reason for the success of this formula.
‘The Human Condition’ refers to a different form of observation entertainment. This show, broadcast from January 2013 to December 2014, describes the condition people live in the modern society. It shows the real lives of six Korean gagmen who experience life without convenient things through programs such as ‘Living Without Cellphone, Television, and the Internet,’ ‘Living Without Garbage,’ and ‘Living Without a Car.’ Each ran for five days. ‘Where Are You Going, Dad?’ and ‘The Human Condition’ gained popularity taking many different forms.
Two popular programs in the observation entertainment genre, while similar in many respects, can still be fruitfully compared – ‘I Live Alone’ from MBC and ‘My Naughty Son’ from SBS. These two programs focus on people who live alone. Viewers follow their daily routine through cameras installed in their houses and cameras that follow them. While ‘I Live Alone’ does not feature any special guest, only following the real life persons, ‘My Naughty Son’ has a special guest in the person of the mother. The program focuses on the son from the point of view of the mother, thus the name of the show. It looks for differences between the son’s and the mother’s viewpoints. ‘I Live Alone,’ on the other end, looks at the solo life in a single household. Both programs are observational, while each underlining different features.
The popularity of these observation entertainment shows point to a problem, though. The new shows follow the same patterns, are copycats, and, thus, narrow the diversity of television programs. Furthermore, showing the daily life of celebrities has little relevance to the reality ordinary people live and they might envy the luxury lifestyle shown on television. Also, these programs show the unnatural life of the people filmed to make viewers not to feel bored about their own life. Featuring this unnatural situation, the observation entertainment shows, in truth, do not show the real, raw content, but only a pretense of it.
As said before, the reason why observation entertainment shows became the new trend in the world of broadcasting is that these programs fulfill people’s desire to peek into other people’s life. Also, these programs relate to the fact that we are living in a community with many different people and different life stories. No surprise, then, that these programs are popular as they satisfy our desire and interest.