tvN releases teaser and posters for High School King of Savvy

There are a handful of upcoming dramas that I'm excited about, which is sad because I actually haven't gotten a move on with the currently airing ones. I think I'm only into episode 7 of Angel Eyes, I've only seen the first episode of Doctor Stranger, I'm only at episode 4 of Fall In Love With Me, and the only drama I'm updated with is Witch's Romance. But still, the teasers and posters of Seo In-guk's upcoming tvN series is something I'm really looking forward to.

In this drama, Seo In-guk is set to play the role of a popular high school hockey player who, for some reason, will have to masquerade as his corporate executive older brother in tvN's upcoming rom-com High School King of Savvy. It's really strange to me how this guy can still easily pull off looking like a high school student and, at the same time, look completely at ease in dapper suits that make him seem more mature and older than he really is. It's that duality of looking like both a noona-killer and an oppa in this man-child that keeps me fascinated.

The drama will feature two women vying for this high school king's affections; one is his fellow high-schooler played by Lee Yeol-eum and the other is her older sister who works at the same company as his older brother played by Lee Hana. At this point, because all press has been pointing toward Lee Hana being the main lead, it's enough to assume that it's going to be a noona romance, but I don't know this for sure. Still, the fact that it's set to follow Witch's Romance, which in turn followed I Need Romance 3, all noona romances, I guess it's safe to assume the same for this new one. And you know how much I love them noona romances. Haha.

High School King of Savvy will premiere on July 16, replacing Witch's Romance every Mondays and Tuesdays on tvN.

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Kim Woo-bin's attempt at aegyo

...in this behind-the-scenes clip from a recent CF shoot for Yakult Seven is absolutely killing me. This man should not be this adorable. But he is. And I'm so dead.

That's all. 

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Current Addiction: Roommate

When SBS first announced the concept of Roommate, I was like, "hmmm… sounds interesting." But now that we're three episodes in, I'm all like, "OH MY GOD THIS IS THE MOST PERFECT SHOW EVER."

I was totally not expecting this.

The producers definitely knew what they were doing when they started casting this show. Even the way they we're divided into the 5 bedrooms is perfection. Every single member feels like a perfect fit. They're all vastly different, to be sure, but I can definitely see them evolving into a real family with the way they're creating relationships with each other.

The refreshing thing about Roommate is how, as opposed to the Western idea of Big Brother or MTV's The Real World where strangers are put in the same house and the audience brace themselves for conflict to arise, the roommates on this show are respectful and all make a conscious effort to get to know their housemates. We see friendships being made and it feels genuine. I love that.

Sure, not everything is unscripted. I do expect there to be PD interventions and scriptwriters telling them how the day should pan out. But the the interactions feel sincere and the bonding moments seem candid enough.

I first decided to watch the show because of 2NE1's Park Bom. As a 2NE1 fan, I'm just excited whenever the girls appear on variety shows, because it's not a common occurrence. Also, I've always thought actor Park Min-woo (Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, I Need A Fairy) was adorable. Aside from those 2, I didn't really know much about the other cast members. I like EXO well enough, but in a group of 12 members Chanyeol always flew under my radar. I've only ever seen Lee Dong-wook in one drama (My Girl) so I really couldn't call myself a fan, no matter how pretty he is. And the other 7 housemates, I just wasn't very familiar with.

So I downloaded the first episode and tuned in with mild interest but then ended up, two hours later, turning my laptop off with wide-eyed wonder. How can we find so much entertainment in something so mundane? Like, literally nothing happens. But I'm glued to my screen with a huge dorky smile on my face. And as soon as an episode ends, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one. It doesn't matter that every episode is 2-hours long. It doesn't feel like it.

Ugh. This show is owning me right now. I've since decided that Chanyeol is an adorable puppy and he has now completely annihilated my EXO bias list. Shin Sung-woo is also super awesome and I love how this long-haired rock god has turned into a doting mother hen who clucks after his kids if they've eaten or not. I love how Lee So-ra is turning out to be this amazingly independent woman who is learning to adapt to living with so many people and (if previews are accurate) is turning out to be the stronghold of the women in the house. I love how Lee Dong-wook, despite his pretty actor status, is a major dork underneath it all and is just as befuddled by life as most of us are. I love how refreshing Hong Soo-hyun is - and let's be honest, we would totally be all over those flower boys as well, were we in her shoes. Jo Se-ho, I feel, is the glue that holds everyone together and he is just a natural ice breaker. Bom is hilarious and adorable and the sweetest little thing ever. I do ship her with Dong-wook, like hard. Nana is funny and gorgeous and I can't wait for the friendship she is slowly building with Soo-hyun and the other girls. Seo Kang-joon and Park Min-woo are too gorgeous for words but are just as dorky as anyone else, and their bromance is golden. Maknae Song Ga-yeon is scary-strong but really gorgeous when dolled up. I love them all.

I think I need to re-watch episode 3 while waiting for episode 4. I think the Bodong (Bom / Dong-wook ship name) moments will be enough to tide me over until next week. If not that, then Chanyeol singing "Love is an Open Door" should do the trick.

P.S. The house is also a major part of why this show is awesome. If I could illegally download a house, I'd think I'd download this one.

Roommate is a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup and airs right before Running Man.

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[Update] 2NE1's Sandara Park arrives in the Philippines and #WelcomeHomeDara trends world wide

Days prior to 2NE1's All or Nothing concert in Manila on Saturday, Sandara Park arrived in the Philippines for some solo promotions and prompts the hashtag #WelcomeHomeDara to trend world wide. Needless to say, the entire country is beyond excited to have the National Krung Krung back on Philippine soil. The other girls - CL, Bom, and Minzy - don't arrive until Friday morning, just in time for a press conference and a meet & greet in the afternoon.

In the meantime, Dara has been shooting TV guestings and the first of which was a pre-recorded episode of Gandang Gabi Vice which is scheduled to air this Sunday evening. Apparently, Dara's friends from Star Circle Quest joined her on the program, including ex-boyfriend Joseph Bitangcol. I hear Ryan Bang was on the show also.

As I'm writing this, I'm waiting for her appearance on daily noontime show Showtime. It's probably gonna be a short stint, but it's bound to be funny. Dara's also scheduled to drop by the Big Brother House today as a celebrity guest on Pinoy Big Brother. Which means I will have to rush home in time for the primetime telecast.

Late last night, Dara also guested on Aquino & Abunda Tonight. One of the hosts, Boy Abunda, shared that Dara had requested that the interview be conducted in mostly Tagalog, much to the delight of Filipino Blackjacks - myself included. In the interview, they discussed several topics including 2NE1's upcoming concert, Dara's trainee days, and little brother Thunder.


{ROYALACES} 140514 Sandara Interview on Aquino... by YGSRASubs
Dara will, indeed, always have a special place in the hearts of Filipinos, k-pop fan or not. And the concert this Saturday is bound to be very special. Not only will 2NE1 be celebrating their 5th anniversary, Dara is also celebrating her 10th year in the entertainment industry this year, and she's in Manila for all of this. Add to that the fact that freaking Winner will be joining them as a guest act, can you imagine how much I'm kicking myself for not having tickets to watch the show??? I hate my brokeass self so much right now.

I guess I'll just have to drown in all news 2NE1-related in the next few days. Gah.

UPDATE:

Dara's short guest stint on Showtime was adorable and her Tagalog is still as awesome as ever. Below are several videos from the variety show.

Dara performs her first single in the Philippines, the 2004 hit "In or Out"

A couple of 2NE1 fans join Dara in dancing "I Am The Best"

Two lucky fans receive free concert tickets to this Saturday's show

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Kang Ha-neul and Lee Jun-ho to join Kim Woo-bin in new film "Twenty"

The gods have heard my prayers and answered them with much gusto. Yesssss, Kang Ha-neul will be starring in a new film alongside my favorite man at the moment, Kim Woo-bin. Woo-bin had already previously confirmed his involvement in the movie but news sites are currently validating the news that Ha-neul and 2PM's Junho will be joining the cast.

I can't wait to see Woo-bin and Ha-neul together again in a project that has to be a hundred times better than The Heirs. The new movie, Twenty, is a light comedy that chronicles the lives of three 20-year-old best friends. Also, I think it's time to mention that Woo-bin's role is being described as "a passionate and horny youth without a job" - HAHAHA. That right there is killing me. I can't wait to see him in this role. Seriously. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it.

Also, my dear Ha-neul. I love this boy. So much so that I'm sticking around watching Angel Eyes with hopes that the flashbacks to the lead characters' youth are used in abundance. I've loved him in all of his dramas and I'm still waiting for that one big role that will catapult him to leading man status.

One of my biggest hang-ups about The Heirs was the non-existent friendship between Woo-bin's and Ha-neul's characters. Sometimes, I swear to god, you can see the palpable jealousy in Young-do over the fact that Hyo-shin sunbae and Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho) were so close. He even actually called Hyo-shin out on the favoritism at one point. Well, in this movie, they can finally have that bromance. I'm a ball of spazz.

I haven't seen Junho's acting skills yet, but when it comes to 2PM he's one of the guys I wouldn't mind watching. I think he received good remarks for his acting in Cold Eyes. I hope he does well in this one too. I surely wouldn't mind seeing him bromancing it up with Woo-bin and Ha-neul.

To top it all off, directing this movie is rookie director Lee Byung-hun (no, not Storm Shadow Lee Byung-hun) who had previously worked on the writing for movies such as Speedy Scandal and Sunny. Those two projects were awesome and anyone who had worked writing those scripts must know a thing or two about heart-warming comedies. Right?!

I am so ready for this movie. Unfortunately, they don't go into production until this summer - and by that, I mean Korean summer. So around July-August, I suppose.

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