• CJ ENM’s “When the Stars Gossip” Faces Major Backlash and Ratings Slump, Leaving Only Armpit Hair and a Drastic Stock Drop

    tvN's "When the Stars Gossip" is turning out to be a big disappointment despite its huge investment and star power. After pouring a massive 50 billion KRW into the production, the drama is barely holding on, with ratings in the 2% range.

    The drama, which stars Gong Hyo Jin as Eve, a boss on a zero-gravity space station, and Lee Min Ho as Gongryong, a mysterious visitor with a secret mission, started off with some buzz.

    However, it quickly fell flat with viewership numbers starting at just 3.3% for the first episode and dropping to a disappointing 2% by episodes 3 and 4.

    For comparison, SBS’s "My Perfect Secretary" started at 5.2% and quickly surged past 10%, while JTBC’s "The Tale of Lady Ok" also crossed 10%. Even tvN’s "Queen of Tears" was a much bigger hit, starting at 5.9% and peaking at a staggering 24.9%.

    So, what went wrong? There are several reasons why this space-themed drama failed to land with viewers. First, the much-hyped "first-ever zero-gravity space station in a Korean drama" concept just didn’t catch on.

    While mixing sci-fi, romantic comedy, and space office genres sounded unique, it turned out to be too much of a mismatch for the audience. Despite the fresh take on often-repetitive themes like infidelity, it failed to win viewers’ hearts.

    Second, the gigantic 50 billion KRW production cost created sky-high expectations that just weren’t met. The space station scenes and zero-gravity effects, which used over 10 billion KRW for VFX, raised hopes for a groundbreaking project, but the reality has been underwhelming.

    As the saying goes, "The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment," and the low ratings make this even more embarrassing.

    On top of that, some unnecessary and distracting sex scenes have left fans questioning the direction of the show. From random bed scenes between Lee Min Ho and Han Ji Eun to Gong Hyo Jin and Kim Joo Hun, the plot feels lost amid bizarre and awkward moments.

    Even space scenes involving fruit flies mating or strange concepts like distorted sperm have added to the confusion.

    In fact, in episode 4’s preview, viewers saw another bed scene between Lee El and Kim Joo Hun, leading some to wonder if Kim Joo Hun’s armpit hair will become the most memorable part of the drama.

    The flop of "When the Stars Gossip" is also causing major trouble for CJ ENM, which is already struggling to keep up with competitors like Netflix.

    The company’s stock has seen a sharp decline, dropping from 70,000 KRW to a low of 50,000 KRW. As a result, several securities firms are slashing CJ ENM's profit estimates and lowering their target stock prices, further reflecting the bleak outlook for the entertainment giant.

    With lowered expectations for 2025, it’s clear that "When the Stars Gossip" has left a lasting impact that CJ ENM wasn’t expecting.

    Source: [1]

  • BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Secretly Helped Her Friend Get a Role? Choi Hee Jin Reveals How Their Friendship Led to a Cameo in ‘Newtopia’

    Actress Choi Hee Jin, who impressed viewers with her performance in Motel California, opened up about her close friendship with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo — and how it led to her special cameo in Newtopia.

    Choi Hee Jin recently wrapped up her role as veterinarian Yoon Nan Woo in MBC’s Motel California, which ended on February 15th.

    The actress met with reporters on February 14 at her agency, Saram Entertainment, to talk about her busy schedule and her unexpected role in Newtopia.

    The actress revealed that her cameo in Newtopia happened because of her bond with Jisoo, who stars as the female lead in the drama.

    “Before I signed with my current agency, when I wasn’t with any company, I was offered the role of Jisoo unnie’s best friend in *Snowdrop. Even before the director contacted me, Jisoo unnie had already told me about it”, Choi Hee Jin shared.

    She added, “The director knew about the chemistry Jisoo unnie and I had in *Snowdrop*. Even though the role was very small, they asked if I would be willing to make a cameo in *Newtopia. It really is a tiny part”, she said, smiling shyly.

    The actress emphasized that the opportunity felt special because it reflected her real-life friendship with Jisoo. “There was really no one else but me who fit the role as her close friend, so they asked if I could do it. It’s a very small part, but I was happy to do it”, she said.

    Choi Hee Jin also shared how touched she was by the love she still receives for her past work with Jisoo.

    “Jisoo unnie personally reached out to me too, and we’re still very close. But more than anything, I was grateful that people still remember me from *Snowdrop. Since I made a special appearance this time, I’d love to ask Jisoo unnie to return the favor with a cameo in one of my future projects”, she said with a laugh.

    Fans are loving the sweet friendship between the two actresses — and many are already hoping to see them share the screen again in a bigger project!

    Source: [1]