Currently Watching: Prime Minister and I, You From Another Star, Let's Eat

Now, more than ever, I'm feeling the addiction settle in for a long ride. A very long ride. As soon as one drama ends, two more premiere and I find myself watching more dramas than I was a month ago. While, yes, I dropped Pretty Man way before it reached the halfway point, I still find myself drowning in all these shows. So much so that I'm not quite sure if today's dramas are legitimately that awesome or I'm just that thoroughly addicted to them. So before the premiere of 2 more dramas that I've been waiting for come to pass (Emergency Couple - which debuts tonight! - and Three Days), let me recount the dramas that I'm still watching.

1. Prime Minister and I - I am so freaking in love with this drama and the central pairing. This is one of those shows that sort of caught me by surprise. To be honest, I was never a fan of Yoon-ah's acting. Also, I had no idea who Lee Beom-soo was. Needless to say, I am now more forgiving of Yoon-ah and I already have History of a Salaryman on my to-watch list. I've fallen in love with Kwon Yul and, therefore, Lee Beom-soo as well and I just need more of him. Imagine that. I get into this drama looking forward to Yoon Shi-yoon and Yoon Shi-yoon alone but it looks like I'll be parting with it (only 2 more weeks left omg!) with fondness for both its leads and the awesomeness of their fictional family.

2. You From Another Star - This is yet another drama that has been causing havoc on my nerves on a bi-weekly basis. I was so looking forward to the cute fish-out-of-water plus noona romance the plot promised to deliver, but I got all that and loads more. Not only is it cute and funny at times, but the drama has a tendency to consistently deliver some good terrors and a whole lot of feels every episode. Whether it's shrinking back every time Jae-kyung gets that horrifying look in his eyes, or whether it's wanting to reach into the screen to give Do Manager or Cheon Song-yi a well-deserved hug, it always triggers more emotions than I can bear. Which is a good thing. Also, can I just say, I've always loved Jeon Ji-hyun, but this drama just made me love her even more.

3. Let's Eat - Although I'm not all caught up with this drama, I still fully intend to continue watching it once I get back on track with my watching schedule (my phone got stolen and I have yet to get a replacement - which sucks because I used to keep up with my dramas via mobile videos, so it's not quite the same now that I need my laptop to watch anything). Doo-joon is the biggest, and happiest, surprise from this drama. I usually don't have high expectations of idol actors, so color me shocked by his onscreen charisma and actual acting chops. Also, at this point in the drama, I'm not quite sure if I want Lawyer Kim or Dae-young to end up with Soo-kyung. All I know is that Lawyer Kim is adorable and Dae-young is, indeed, jjang jjang man!

4. I Need Romance 3 - Sung Joon. Do I even need to elaborate? And, honestly, I've only watched the first episode, but that alone made me want to marathon the entire drama only to realize that that's an impossible feat since it's currently airing. But really, I tried loading the second episode into my classic iPod, you know what I mean, right? Those non-touchscreen gadgets with a click wheel thingy?? But trying to read the subtitles off of that thing made me see double, so I'mma have to wait till this weekend to marathon episodes 2-4 on my laptop. I. Can't. Wait.

5. 1 Night 2 Days - With the third season came four refreshing new members and a PD who brought back the fun of the first season. And by fun, I mean the horrible sadistic streak of first season's Na PD. Which isn't surprising because Yoo PD was a rookie producer during the show's earlier season and he's now back to put our cast members through hell and then withhold food from them afterwards. As for the new cast members: Defconn is such an eager beaver and it's hilarious, Jun-ho just slays me all the time, Joo-hyuk ahjussi is the most handsome pabo ever, and maknae Joon-young is just delightful in every way. It's also awesome that our remaining veteran cast members have such a nice rapport with the new guys and it's amazing watching Cha Tae-hyun take the rein to lead our new gang this season when he's always been the laziest and unluckiest member before.

6. Winner TV - These boys own me. They haven't even officially debuted yet (damnit YG, even JYP's debuted GOT7 already) but I'm already craving for more. It's a good thing Winner TV is keeping me (somewhat) satisfied. From what little we’ve heard on the recent episode, I’m already liking the sound they’re pursuing. Stand-outs are Taehyun’s compositions and that one track co-penned by GD and Minho. To think that these are already good enough songs as they are but YG is pushing them even harder when it comes to their songwriting - well, that just raises my expectations even more. Yang Hyun-suk may be a hard sell and has even higher expectations of the boys than we do (which is no surprise, duh) but looking at the bigger picture, that’s a good thing. Winner fighting!

7. We Got Married - Taemin and Naeun ended on such a sweet note and my heart was crushed with their departure... But with that came the awesome awkwardness of 2PM's Wooyoung and his poor wife, actress Park Se-young. The thing about Wooyoung is that he always means well, but he has some sort of foot-in-mouth disease that keeps knocking him down a peg. Which, to be honest, is hilarious. I'm looking forward to all this awkward business to be done and over with and for all the cute to arrive. Which, I know, are not mutually exclusive. Awkward can be cute. It's just that... singing a song you wrote about your ex-girlfriend to your current girl is really not the smartest move. Ha.

Emergency Couple premieres tonight, best believe I'll be downloading that drama as soon as subtitles are available. Also, my friend was in Seoul last month and she spotted Choi Jin-hyuk and Song Ji-hyo in Myeongdong shooting for the show. Back when I visited Korea, I spent almost every day in Myeongdong and I did not see a single celebrity. Life is, indeed, unfair.

Oh, also, Park Yoochun's new drama Three Days is set to premiere in late February. And if the photos from his training are anything to go by, it's going to be awesome. I luff him.

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Joo Won to leave 1N2D, will not be replaced

News broke yesterday that actor Joo Won will be leaving KBS variety show 1 Night 2 Days after almost a year and 8 months as a regular cast member.

His agency confirmed that due to his busy schedule the actor will have to give up the variety show. In turn, Joo Won will be focusing on rehearsals for the upcoming musical Ghost and will push through with overseas activities that have been put on hold due to his packed schedule.

I wonder why now, when his schedule has always been insanely full since he first started on 1N2D. To date, and since becoming a regular on the show, Joo Won has been the lead in Gaksital, Level 7 Civil Servant, and Good Doctor. 

Honestly, I haven't been watching the show as religiously as I used to. And with Joo Won leaving, that might just leave me with even lesser reasons to keep watching. Still, as a once adoring fan, I hope the show finds better footing soon. While people at KBS have been repeatedly denying the show's cancellation, it's really not an impossible thing to happen given its ratings.

The producers over at KBS have also stated that Joo Won will not be replaced for now and the show will continue with the remaining 6 members. Makes me wonder how the boys will continue without their puppy... Also, this means Kim Jongmin is their new maknae. HA.

Personally, I think Joo Won needs to be replaced. By whom? That is the question and the ongoing debate amongst my friends. The show needs someone with the same strengths as Joo Won - aegyorific, strong, fast, preferably with puppy dog qualities - and should be someone who's got a long way to go before the army comes calling. Off the top my head, I say Lee Ki-kwang (of idol group Beast) or Kim Woo-bin (School 2013). But that's just me. 

If it were really up to me, I'd say bring back Lee Seung-gi, even though he only has a few more years before army enlistment beckons. And while we're at it, I'd bring back Eun Ji-won, too.

Who do you think would make a good addition to the 1N2D cast?

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1 Night 2 Days catch up - Seung-woo leaves, Hae-jin arrives

I was able to catch Kim Seung-woo's exit episode on 1 Night 2 Days over the weekend and, man, there were tears down my face. This ahjussi will be sorely missed.

Having only started watching this show last year, when the new additions to the cast were introduced, I'm more attached to them than I ever was to the first season's former cast members. I have backtracked a bit and have seen several episodes from the original cast, and I was indeed heartbroken when Eun Ji-won and Lee Seung-gi left, but having watched Seung-woo from his very first episode down to his very last is just an altogether different experience.

In addition to our mat-hyung, Bird PD has left as well. And he, too, will be missed. I loved his silly bantering with the cast members, and he brought a different taste to the show, just as Na PD did. He was as much a member of the cast in my mind, to be honest.

While I wish Seung-woo ahjussi all the best in his acting career, I'm also looking forward to our new member and mat-hyung Yoo Hae-jin. I've read the recaps of his debut trip on dramabeans and he seems like fun. He's upping the hyung game by actually being good at the games when he claims to be noncompetitive and seems to get on really well with agency-mates Uhm Tae-woong and Joo Won, as well as Cha Tae-hyun (who just seems to be every celebrity's friend in k-dramaland).

So here's looking forward to more awesome trips and brotherhood (okay, fine - bromances) in my favorite k-variety, il baaaaaaak, i iiiiiiil! 

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