Showtime (South Korean TV series)

Showtime (Korean: 쇼타임) is a South Korean reality show. The show already has 7 seasons, and has featured the groups, EXO, Beast, Apink, Sistar, EXID[1][2] Infinite, GFriend, Mamamoo. With the exception of EXO, Beast, and Infinite season which ran for 12 episodes, the seasons that followed all have 8 episodes each. The fifth season ("EXID's Showtime") premiered on July 9, 2015.

Showtime
Genre	Variety, Reality
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of seasons	7
No. of episodes	57 (as of September 5, 2016)
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Release
Original network	MBC every1
Original release	November 18, 2013 (2013-11-18) – present

On November 12, it was revealed that the South Korean boy group INFINITE received an offer to star in the sixth season of Showtime. It was first reported that they have been confirmed to star in the reality show. However, their agency Woollim Entertainment stated that "they are reviewing the offer positively but nothing has been confirmed with nothing set in motion yet."[3] Other versions of the news stated that the first broadcast will start in December 2015 and is INFINITE's 1st reality show in 1 year and 8 months since their last reality show titled "This is INFINITE" which ended in March 2014. The concept of the show will also be "Q & A Variety", with INFINITE members answering questions from fans.[4][5][6][7]

Seasons

Season 1: EXO's Showtime

Main article: Exo's Showtime

EXO's Showtime is a reality TV show that allows the fans to see behind-the-scenes of Exo's daily lives and how they act offstage.[8]

Showtime: Burning the Beast
Genre	Reality
Developed by	MBC Plus
Presented by	MBC Every 1
Starring	BEAST
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	12
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Production company(s)	Cube Entertainment
Release
Original release	May 1 – July 17, 2014

Season 2: Showtime: Burning the Beast

Showtime: Burning the Beast (Hangul: 쇼타임: 버닝 더 비스트) is the second season of the South Korean reality series Showtime which featured the South Korean boy group Beast. The concept of the season is through Q & A Variety, with Beast members personally answering questions from fans.[9]

On April 10, a press conference was held for Beast's upcoming reality show, Showtime: Burning the Beast. PD Jang Jae-hyuk explained the difference between EXO's Showtime and the current season, stating that "Beast is a top idol group and just because of that fact, the programme is already television-worthy. Fans of Beast will also be able to watch a new side of them if they watch the show." He added, "The atmosphere was fresh and not very organized during EXO's Showtime but even during the first recording, Beast delivered a full and stable performance. Viewers will also be able to feel humor and wit together with the relaxed atmosphere with Beast." [10][11]

Furthermore, the reality series is one of the first in a few years, since MBC Every1's Idol Maid in 2010. Member Yang Yo-seob shared that they'll show a fun and impressive side of them with this upcoming reality show.

Apink's Showtime
Genre	Reality
Developed by	MBC Plus.
Presented by	MBC Every 1
Starring	Apink
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	8
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Production company(s)	A Cube Entertainment
Release
Original release	August 8 – September 25, 2014

Season 3: Apink's Showtime

Apink's Showtime (Korean: 에이핑크의 쇼타임) is the third season of South Korean reality television series Showtime that premiered on MBC Every1 on November 28, 2014.

On July 18, MBC Every1 announced that Apink will be the next group features on the Showtime for its third season, they were the first girl group to features on the show. With the announcement, a rep added, "Apink will show different charms from EXO and B2ST as they show their daily life through Showtime."[12]

During the press conference on August 6, PD Yoon Mi Jin, the main producer of Showtime, revealed the reason for casting Apink for the new season,“They are the hottest girl group of 2014, that is why,” and continued to explain, “Apink and the members as individuals are pursuing activities through both variety and dramas, so we thought people might be curious about them. As their curve of success has been soaring since their debut, we chose them as the main characters of our third season.” [13]

Apink members also shared their thoughts on filming another reality show after Apink News. Nam-joo said, "There are a lot of things we are revealing for the first time through this reality program. Of course, there are our bare faces. We also reveal our dorm. We think we're going to put in a lot of ourselves as is. I think people will be able to feel like they're doing the things with us rather than watching a program." While Na-Eun added, "Not too long ago, we filmed at a water park, and I played so excitedly to the point I didn't even notice the cameras. I do worry about how it may look onscreen, but we received a lot of interest through a reality program when we debuted. I hope the same will happen this time."[14]

Apink's Showtime premiered on August 7, 2014 and aired every Thursday with total of eight episodes.[15] The first episode recorded a 1.35% average rating and peaked at 1.74%, highest rating for first episode of Showtime and a solid numbers for an idol reality show on a cable channel. It was also well received by female viewers as it recorded 2.1% average rating among women.[16]

Season 4: Sistar's Showtime

SISTAR's Showtime is the fourth season of South Korean reality television series Showtime that premiered on MBC Every1 on January 8, 2015.

EXID's Showtime
Genre	Reality
Developed by	MBC Plus
Presented by	MBC Every 1
Starring	EXID
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	8
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Production company(s)	Wellmade Yedang
Release
Original release	July 9, 2015 – August 27. 2015

Season 5: EXID's Showtime

Main article: EXID's Showtime

EXID Showtime is the fifth season of South Korean reality television series Showtime that premiered on MBC Every1 on July 9, 2015.

Infinite's Showtime
Genre	Reality
Developed by	MBC Plus
Presented by	MBC Every 1
Starring	Infinite
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	12
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Production company(s)	Woollim Entertainment
Release
Original release	December 15, 2015 – February 2, 2016

Season 6: Infinite's Showtime

INFINITE's Showtime is the sixth season of South Korean reality television series Showtime that premiered on MBC Every1 on December 15, 2015

At the press conference on December 10, 2015, the members promised to show a different side of INFINITE. Kim Sung-kyu said, “It feels good to be able to participate in ‘Showtime.’ It's been a while since the last time we filmed a reality program with all the members. We worked hard so please anticipate the broadcast.”

The PD for the show revealed, “We wanted to cast INFINITE because they had shown themselves to be talented in many reality programs before. Not only do we plan to show their ordinary daily lives, but we also plan to revisit the memories the members made together.”

“Through the broadcast we will show our daily lives, our daily interactions, and even our daily conflicts,” Nam Woo-hyun said.

“We’ve been together for six years, so there's bound to be some conflict,” Sunggyu added. Infinite will show us their natural interaction as Sunggyu said, “Woohyun and I actually fought recently, but we resolved it over a bottle of soju. That kind of natural interaction will be seen through the broadcast.”[17]

Mamamoo x Gfriend Showtime
Genre	Reality
Developed by	MBC Plus
Presented by	MBC Every 1
Starring	Mamamoo, GFriend
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	8
Production
Production location(s)	South Korea
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	approx. 50 minutes
Production company(s)	Rainbow Bridge World, Source Music
Release
Original release	July 7 – August 25, 2016

Season 7: GFRIEND x MAMAMOO's Showtime

GFRIEND x MAMAMOO Showtime was the first Showtime to include two groups at once. The show aired for 8 episodes and included some episodes with the two groups together and some episodes separate.

One episode of the show was shot with GFRIEND in Los Angeles and Mamamoo in New York during their performances at KCON in the US.

The two groups met up during the final episode and performed a series of games together.

References

1. "EXID to Take Over ′Showtime′". CJ E&M enewsWorld. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
2. "EXID's First Reality Show Starts Its Broadcast". BNTNews. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
3. "Infinite Currently in Talks to Appear on ′Showtime′". Mnet. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
4. "인피니트 '쇼타임' 긍정 검토중, 1년 8개월 만에 리얼리티 프로그램 출연?… 이번엔 어떤 모습 보여줄까 '기대↑'" (in Korean). Chosun News. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
5. "인피니트, '쇼타임' 시즌 6로 완전체 리얼리티 출격" (in Korean). Chosun Sports. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
6. "[단독] 인피니트, 2년만의 리얼리티 '쇼타임' 출연 '확정'" (in Korean). Joins. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
7. "인피니트 '쇼타임' 출격 데뷔 6년차? 20대 청년? 월드돌? 다 담았다" (in Korean). Sports Today. November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
8. "Reality show gives inside look personal lives of Exo, Rain and more". Kpopstarz. 2013-11-22. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
9. "'쇼타임 버닝 더 비스트', 데뷔 6년차 비스트의 농익은 리얼리티" (in Korean). News Tomato. April 10, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
10. "PD Explains Difference Between BEAST's "Showtime" And EXO's "Showtime"". Soompi. April 11, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
11. "비스트의 '쇼타임', 엑소와 어떻게 다른가" (in Korean). Oh My Star. April 10, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
12. Jung Ji Won (July 18, 2014). "A Pink Confirmed as Next Idol Group to Take Over 'Showtime'". Newsen. Mwave. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
13. "'쇼타임' 윤미진 PD "왜 에이핑크? 2014년 가장 핫한 걸그룹"". Pop.heraldcorp.com. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
14. "글로벌 경제를 여는 최고의 리얼타임 뉴스". Newspim.com. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
15. Jung Ji Won (July 18, 2014). "A Pink Promises to Run 10km Marathon with Fans if 'Showtime' Reaches Over 2% Rating". Newsen. Mwave. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
16. "첫방 '에이핑크 쇼타임' 동시간대 1위..엑소 시청률 제쳐". Mt.co.kr. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
17. notclaira. "INFINITE Promises to Show New Side of Themselves on "Showtime"". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-01-21.

External links

• EXID's Showtime