weekly roundup // 11.24.19

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It’s Christmas show season, and for the life of a theatre person that meant I had to work a bit last weekend and with prepping for Holidays/trip to Chicago time has been limited so I couldn’t post. I know I’m behind, and wasn’t super on top of what was happening these past few weeks, so this will just be some random news stories that I was able to catch here and there from the past couple of weeks. Some of it is already old (sorry!)

SCHEDULE▹▹

Dramas starting this week that I’m interested in: People With Flaws (27), Chocolate (29)

Music I’ll be checking out: EXO (27), CRUSH (31)

ENLISTMENTS▹▹

-Taeyang and Daesung were discharged on the 10th (I didn’t realize I was THIS behind!).

-Hong Jong Hyun to enlist on Dec 2nd.

-Sangwook (N.tic) will enlist on the 26th of this month.

-Leo (VIXX) will be enlisting on Dec 2nd.

-Lee Eun Sung (The East Light) will enlist on the 25th of this month.

CASTINGS▹▹

-Jin Seo, Jang Hyuk, and Sooyoung (Girl’s Generation) confirmed for the drama, Call It Like You See It.

-Lee Joon Hyuk, Yang Dong Geum confirmed for MBC drama, 365: A Year of Defying Fate.

-Kwon So Hyun confirmed for Black Dog.

-Kim Junsu cast in the musical Dracula.

-Song Ji Hyo, Kim Min Joon, and Son Ho Jun confirmed for JTBC drama, Did We Love?

-Jo Han Chul confirmed for Nobody Knows.

-Seo Hyun cast in JTBC drama, Hello Dracula

-Chae Tae Hyun ad Lee Sun Bin confirmed for OCN drama, Further Investigation.

-Soyou (SISTAR) will be making acting debut in the drama special, Clean and Polish.

-Joo Won and Kim Hee Sun confirmed for SBS drama, Alice.

-Kim Jae Wook to star in OCN drama, Train.

-Jang Ki Yong in talks for tvN drama, Youth Record.

LINKS▹▹

-SM and CAA

SM Entertainment has signed with CAA for representation, which will help promote their groups more globally.

-Hairspray in Japan

A Japanese production of Hairspray starring Crystal Kay has officially announced that they will not permit the use of blackface in the production. When first announced, people voiced concerns how the company would handle the characters. While a big sigh that it had to be a legitimate worry in the first place, it is good to hear confirmation. Now if all productions of the show could stop using fat suits too, that would be great.

-CL

CL has left YG (praise all!) and now has a youtube channel. What a time to be alive!

-Eric Nam

Eric Nam just released his first fully-English album, ‘Before We Begin’. He’s been very vocal about why he’s doing it now, and the effects of working as an idol in Korea.

-Steve Yoo

Yoo was a big star in 90’s-00’s, and caused controversy by obtaining US citizenship to avoid the draft. This lead to him being banned from Korea and ousted from the entertainment industry. He’s been battling the courts for a while now to reverse the ban, and it looks like things are finally in his favor.

-TRCNG

There’s been a lot of news to come out about this case, but I really suggest reading up on it and learning the amount of abuse these boys have had to deal with being under TS Entertainment

-Vroom Vroom Pegasus Market

Good news to all of you that enjoyed the drama Pegasus Market, it is getting a spin-off series scheduled to air mid-December on tvN D’s YouTube channel.

-Monsta X

There has been some really good coverage about the whole mess coming out of Western media that rarely talks about kpop. It’s good to see it coming to light, the whole situation is terrible and I’m still not ok with it.

-Seoul Girls Movie

I know we all saw this announcement. I was maybe willing to write it off as a movie that may not the greatest but not think about it again…then I saw someone on twitter post some of the script. Do not want. Throw it in the trash.

-Kim Woo Bin

He’s baaaack.

(but seriously, glad to see that he’s recovered well)

-Idol Outfits

I really love when journalist take the time to report on those who are working behind the scenes.

-Studio Dragon + Netflix

Studio Dragon has signed a partnership (that was obviously going to happen, given how many of their shows have been the one’s Netflix airs live, so not super surprising) to produce new series for Netflix, as well as bring old titles to the site.

VIDEOS▹▹

I’ve missed doing videos on here, so we’re bringing them back!

-If you haven’t listened to IU’s ‘Above the Time’, you should, but you can also watch this reaction by Umu from the React to the K channel.

-I can honestly watch hours of Johnny’s Communication Center, and this latest one where he and Jaehyun learn how to make coffee is no exception.

-I’ve loved the Korean Englishman for a while, but this series is the series I’ve always dreamed of. If you haven’t watched their channel before, their series usually focus on them taking a person (usually a family member or friend) to Korea for the first time and taking them around. Now, it’s all about Ollie finally solidifying some of those Korean skills and not leaning on Josh.

-If you aren’t listening to Tablo’s podcast, you are missing out. Here’s a clip of the amazingness that it is.

♢♢♢