The highly criticized When the Stars Gossip, known as a "50 billion won failure," has finally ended, but its shadow still looms over tvN's new drama The Potato Lab.

According to Nielsen Korea on March 2, the first episode of The Potato Lab recorded a 1.7% viewership rating.

In comparison, When the Stars Gossip started at 3.3%, dropped to a record low of 1.8%, and barely managed to end at 2.6%. With such a shaky start, can The Potato Lab break free from its predecessor’s unfortunate fate?

The Potato Lab is a healing romantic comedy that takes place in, well, a potato lab! The story follows Mikyung (played by Lee Sun Bin), a woman whose life revolves around potatoes, and Baek Ho (played by Kang Tae Oh), a cold-hearted perfectionist who suddenly enters her world.

Their whirlwind romance, much like a spiral potato skewer, brings unexpected twists. The cast also includes Lee Hak Joo, Kim Ga Eun, and Shin Hyun Seung.

The drama has gained attention as Kang Tae Oh’s comeback project after his military discharge. Since completing his service in March last year, Kang carefully chose The Potato Lab from multiple offers, taking on the role of So Baek Ho, the director of organizational innovation at Wonhan Retail and the temporary head of the potato lab.

Meanwhile, its predecessor When the Stars Gossip was supposed to be a massive hit with its grand-scale space romance featuring Gong Hyo Jin and Lee Min Ho.

The drama, which took five years to prepare and cost over 50 billion won, was filmed over a year from 2022 to 2023. But despite the hype, the outcome was disastrous.

The ratings started at 3.3% and peaked at 3.9% in episode 2, only to plummet to 2.2% by episode 3. It reached an all-time low of 1.8% in episodes 5 and 7. Even the second-to-last episode struggled with just 1.8%, and the finale barely recovered to 2.6%.

Because of this, The Potato Lab now faces an uphill battle. When the Stars Gossip struggled against competing dramas like SBS’s Love Scout and JTBC’s The Tale of Lady Ok, as well as their successors Buried Hearts and Undercover High School. The new drama has inherited this tough time slot, making things even more difficult.

But there’s still hope! tvN’s weekend dramas often see a viewership boost on Sundays, and fans are already loving the refreshing chemistry between Kang Tae Oh and Lee Sun Bin. Plus, Kang Tae Oh’s return with a more mature image and refined acting is expected to attract more viewers.

The big question is—can The Potato Lab create its own success, or will it be another victim of When the Stars Gossip’s curse? Only time will tell!

Source: [1]

Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

Source: [1]