The End Of Running Man (At Least As I Know It)

The Invincible Seven

Along with the bevy of favorite K-pop artists either quitting or losing members, the SBS variety show RUNNING MAN is also in the midst of a big upheaval. Ever since member Gary announced his departure just the other month, the group as-we-knew-it had already been compromised, and it has now been announced that  in 2017 both members Kim Jong Kook and Song Jihyo will also be leaving, to be replaced by veteran host Kang Ho Dong.
 Aw man, this is a real bummer of news for me. Running Man has always been a part of my whole K-pop experience (I first discovered it when I got into Girls Generation and everyone said "ya gotta see the Running Man show with SNSD!") and though I don't talk about it was much as I once did, it was and is still a big part of my life and I still watch it regularly, , and it's hard to see the show continuing with out the "Invincible Seven" of Jae Suk, Sukjin, JongKook, Jihyo, Gary, Haha and Kwangsoo...The dynamic of these 7 was darn near PERFECT!

But even I will admit the show hasn't always quite sparkled like it did in its early days (at its best, Running man was unbeatable for its fun, intriguing and totally exciting shows!) and I don't blame the individual members for deciding to "move on" and do other things, leaving their RM legacy intact!

 I don't know who else will be either leaving or joining, but no matter what, I'll have to check it out: this is a show that I will always have huge sentimental attachment to. And of course, if I ever get lonely and nostalgic, I'll always have those classic old episodes to watch and re-watch when I want to!

EDIT 12/19 via Koreaboo:

Well, in a move that everyone expected, the word has come down that Running Man will wrap up at the end of January. With how badly things have been handled, this is certainly no surprise. Thankfully Kim Jong Kook and Song Jihyo have decided to return to give Running Man a proper send off.

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

TWICE on Running Man!!!

TWICE on Running Man

Ahhhh, this is a GREAT time to be getting into awesome JYP powerhouse group TWICE as they are appearing on more and more shows and events, and I was THRILLED to find while catching up on my episodes of Running Man that the girls appeared for the final challenge of Episode's 302's Race! Granted, the girls weren't "official" guests in that they only appeared on that final challenge, but they really made the most of the time they were there!!

Blue Team

White Team

They divided the nine Twice members into the two Running Man teams, Mina, Dahyun, Jungyeon and Tzuyu joined the White team (JongKook, Haha, Jihyo and guest star Yeo Jin Goo)...

and Momo, Nayeon, Jihyo, Chaeyeong and Sana joined the Blue team (Jaesuk, Sukjin, Kwangsoo and Gary)!

Now that the teams were established, it was time for the game to commence, and YES! The final challenge was none other than a good old-fashioned NAME TAG RIPPING RACE!

The thing about guests on a Name-Tag Ripping race is that the guests are sometimes shy to chase and attack other members, but I was happy to find that the girls were really going for it, giving it their all, especially when it came to competing against each other!
The object was to find "Secret Lunchboxes" with hidden clues,and it was very cute watching the girls wander around aimlessly looking for these things....

Nayeon and Momo asking for hints

Mina and Song Jihyo

Meanwhile TWICE Jihyo looking under Mannequin Skirts....

"I can't find anything".

Jaesuk and Sana

Jong Kook and Tzuyu

Tzuyu sees something interesting? 

Mina having a ball

But of all the girls, I'd say Dahyun seemed to be the most able and willing, readily hunting her group members down and wrestling away their their tags, as poor Sana learned early!

Chaeyeong and Sana looking for clues...

When suddenly Sana sees out of the corner of her eye...

A wild Dahyun Attacking! (With Jin Goo assisting)

Sana pleads for mercy...

But is immediately taken down, LOL!

Sana: "Dahyun ripped my Nametag"

And Momo, WOW! She was one who really fought tooth and nail against having her nametag ripped, even resorting to lying down on the floor as she is assaulted by both Tzuyu AND Jungyeon!

Nayeon wasn't much help as she was busy being attacked by Dahyun, Haha and Jongkook!

This was yet another fine example of the girls great chemistry and charisma, and I was to later read that Running Man producers liked them so much that they promise to have Twice back again, this time as official guests!!!! Can't Wait!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Hyeri Still My Girl's Day Bias

Hyeri on this past week's RUNNING MAN

There was a brief time when Hyeri was Korea's "it" girl and out there stealing everybody's hearts, but inevitably there came the backlash where people were tired of her cutesy antics, and I wasn't surprised when I saw a recent popularity poll ranking Girls Day biases and Hyeri came out dead last.

But ya know, I just caught Hyeri in a recent RUNNING MAN from a few weeks back, and I mean to tell you, she is STILL as freaking adorable as ever! 

She is still the giggly and squeaky girl that won my heart over all those years ago and still such a  joy to watch in action!From her Opening interactions with Jaesuk and Sukjin (where Jaesuk convinces Hyeri to pretend Sukjin came in first place), that patented eye-smile was simply beaming...

To her befuddled attempts at trying to navigate the journey using a map book (until Jaesuk laughed and said, "You'd better let me look at that, Hyeri, LOL"..

Her nailbiting moments at the brain-quiz up against a computer...

...and most hilariously, watching Hyeri trying to beat an automated machine trying to see who could pop the most balloons faster, oh my GOSH was this FUN to watch!

Yeah, Hyeri may have dropped out of the public's conscious as the gal of the moment, but for me she will always be the reason to keep up with Girl's Day! You GO, Girl!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com