Running Man: From making jokes while you play
When it comes to South Korean reality variety shows, many can take the cake. But, one show that is one of the most popular as the good old Sunday series is ‘Running man’. Without a doubt, this quirky, adventurous, comedy-rich, and competitive variety show with hosts and guests is all entertainment.
About Running Man
For those who are not familiar with the program, here is a little introduction. This show airs on SBS as part of the Good Sunday lineup. Urban Works Media and the SangSang company produce it. The format of the game is like any reality show. Here, the MC team and a guest go to an urban location and engage in multiple quest lineups. Winning each mission brings the participant one step closer to winning the race.
The show has been broadcast since 2010 and has since aired 554 episodes. The show is filmed in various locations such as Macau, UK, Russia, China, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Australia, etc., along with South Korea.
There are multiple MCs on the show, with Yoo Jae-suk being the main MC, he runs the show along with other big names like Lee Kwang Soo, Jee Seok-Jin, Song Ji-Hyo, etc. The show also received a spot on the business insider list in 2016.
Why is Running Man so much fun?
When it comes to a reality variety show, there is always a moment when the impact on the audience is lost. But, this show has kept its impact, and people live to see it till date. Because? Well, the biggest reason is the cast. Their non-stop banter, banter, and pranks on each other make the show the ultimate in fun.
Also, people love the traitorous trio of Ji Suk Jin, HaHa, and Lee Kwang Soo. They are always pulling pranks and harassing each other which makes the show a laugh. The games are always fun to watch too. Tearing the name tag is the game that makes everyone a part of it. This iteration of hide and seek is one of the best things about the show. The new locations and new guests make the show that much more entertaining.
some fun facts
-
Kim jong kook of the entire cast is the only one who is fluent in English.
-
Initially, it was designed to make the game male-only to make it competitive. But later, Song Ji-Hyo became a part of the game and gave the boys equal competition.
-
Breaking the name tag is the most popular part of the game. But not many know that name tags are quite expensive, costing up to $75 each.
-
Most of the cast members show their real personalities on the show, in a bit of an over-the-top way.
-
Previously, the show was designed to be competitive. But then, it became a more competitive and comedic format.
-
From the very beginning, Lee Kwang Soo is the most bullied character in the game.
-
After South Korea’s man-runner, China will have its man-runner program, called ‘Hurry up, brother.’
Running man is one of the most popular reality variety shows in South Korea with a large Hallyu following. The show is also subtitled in multiple languages like English, Thai, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Malay, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, etc.
