Happy Together (talk show)

Happy Together (Korean해피투게더; RRHaepitugedeo) is a South Korean talk show which first ran on November 8, 2001, on KBS2. It was the most popular show on KBS from 2002 to 2003, and continued its success in two more seasons. Happy Together is one of the most popular shows on Korean free-to-air networks which airs every Thursday at 23:05 (KST). The program celebrated its 200th episode during its third season on July 7, 2011.[1]

Happy Together
Poster for Season 4
GenreTalk show
Written by
  • Lee Min-jeong
  • Kim Min-ji
  • Shin Jae-kyung
  • Yang Gyu-ok
  • Noh Ji-yeon
  • Kim Do-eun
  • Jung Mi-rae
Directed by
  • Park Min-jeong
  • Kim Hyung-seok
  • Shim Jae-hyun
Presented by
StarringList of guests
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes
  • Special: 4
  • Season 1: 179
  • Season 2: 112 + 1 (Pilot)
  • Season 3: 557
  • Season 4: 77
(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerLee Se-hee
Running time95 minutes (normal)
90 minutes (special)
Production companyKBS Entertainment Production
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseNovember 8, 2001 (2001-11-08) –
April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)

Format edit

Season 1 edit

Season 1 of Happy Together lasted 4 years from November 8, 2001, to April 28, 2005. It was the most popular season of the Happy Together series, the most popular variety show on KBS from 2002 to 2004, and the most watched on Thursday nights. Season 1 had several different "corners", the most famous being the Metal Tray Karaoke Room, and several other "corners" like Metal Tray Drama, and Do Re Mi "Kong Kong Kong". The early Happy Together was a talk show, and a quiz where the MC's face students for scholarships. Later that was scrapped and the Classroom Talk (책가방토크) and the Metal Tray Karaoke Room were implemented as permanent corners. During the season, the Metal Tray Karaoke Room corner didn't fill up the whole episode, so other games were added to fill the hour. A highlight episode was shown on April 28, 2005, as the finale to Season 1, where ratings were slightly lower than usual.[2]

Slogan: "목요일 밤의 행복한 만남, 해피투게더!" (Thursday nights happy meeting, Happy Together!)

Metal Tray Karaoke Room

In the Metal Tray Karaoke Room (쟁반노래방), the guests would sing a song (usually a children's carol) in 10 turns, during which they have to sing every line correctly. 3 chance cards are available to ease the singing, and as soon as someone makes a mistake, the metal trays suspended above their heads will drop on them.[3]

Metal Tray Drama

The Metal Tray Drama (쟁반극장) featured the two MCs (Shin Dong-yup, Lee Hyori) and two other guests, where they would be divided into two teams (1 MC, 1 guest) and act out a scene from a movie or drama. Usually involving funny antics, anyone who laughs or forgets what to do (known as NG) will be hit by a metal tray.

Do Re Mi Kong Kong Kong

Do Re Mi Kong Kong Kong (도레미 콩콩콩) was a corner which featured the Do Re Mi 7 Siblings (도레미칠남메) which contained the two MCs (Yoo Jae-suk, Kim Je-dong) and five other guests. They would participate in reciting a children's song using a human-sized keyboard hanging from the ceiling. They are each assigned a note (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do) and would have four chances to correctly play the song by hitting the corresponding key on the keyboard with their heads. If they are wrong, a group of punishers will hit them with a plastic mallet.

Season 2 edit

Season 2 was commonly known as Happy Together Friends (해피투게더 프렌즈), where celebrities find their former schoolmates. The program originally began as a pilot which aired in February 2005 titled Friends, hosted by Yoo Jae-suk, Eugene, and Tak Jae-hoon. It eventually combined with Happy Together to become Happy Together Friends. This season wasn't as humorous as the previous season, because most celebrities and schoolmates would usually cry or cherish their time together, greatly reducing the level of laughs. Season 2 ran from May 5, 2005, to June 21, 2007. Season 2 was not as popular as Season 1 but still gained the usual ratings range (10–18%). In Happy Together Friends, 2 celebrities are to find 5 of their schoolmates from a group of 25–40 people. Celebrities had 2 rounds to find their friends, their friends would speak about past events and their interesting stories, where the celebrities would try to clue in on the person. However, the celebrities only see the screen of the MC's and not the audience of schoolmates.

Slogan: "친구가 있어, 행복한 목요일, 해피투게더 프렌즈!" (Because friends are here, Thursday is happy, Happy Together Friends!)

Study Quick, If Incorrect, Metal Trays Will Hit!

In this game, Study Quick, If Incorrect, Metal Trays Will Hit! (벼락치기, 달달 외워~ 못 외우면 쟁반 맞아!) or in the pilot Study Quick, If Incorrect, Raise Your Hands! (벼락치기, 달달 외워~ 못 외우면 손들어!), the two celebrities and their friends will compete for a free dinner after the show so they can catch-up with each other. The object of the game is to correctly identify certain objects/people after studying for 30 minutes. A picture of the object/person is put on to a conveyor belt and it passes through each participant while they are wearing headphones, they must correctly identify what it is or be hit by the Metal Trays (or be forced to raise their hands in the pilot). The team with the most points will win the free dinner. This game was only played 4 times (including the pilot).

Season 3 edit

Season 3 which was known as Happy Together: Let's Go To School (해피투게더 학교가자), where the 4 MCs dressed as females (except for Shin Bong-sun, who is female), and participated in school-themed games. Season 3 included a corner from Season 1, where the MCs would play against students in a quiz for a scholarship. This began on July 5, 2007. These proved to be unpopular and were all scrapped in 3 weeks. Now, the show is simply known as Happy Together Season 3 which the corners are Challenge! Memorize Song, and That's You! (그건 너!). These 2 corners proved to be popular, and ratings have gone back to normal. That's You! has been replaced by What is that! (이건 뭐!), where guests bring an item they cherish, and Don't Laugh in the Sauna!, joined the 2 remaining corners that take place in a sauna. In early 2009, Challenge! Memorize Song was removed to save time. Only Don't Laugh in the Sauna! remains, and follows Star Quiz How is that Possible! (스타퀴즈 세상에이럴수가!) which is a quiz about the guests for daily products. On April 25, 2017, the show will undergo a revamp, one significant change is the show will be in the form of a 2-part series because most recordings go overtime.

Slogan: "함께하면 더욱 행복한 목요일 밤, 해피투게더!" (A Thursday night that will be happier if spent together, Happy Together!)

Challenge! Memorize Song

Challenge! Memorize Song (도전! 암기송) took place inside a sauna, where the MCs and guests would need to correctly sing a song (related to your well-being) to escape the sauna. Those who escape the sauna can enjoy food and drinks while watching the rest of the challengers suffer. The last person in the sauna is the loser and receives a painful massage.

Don't Laugh In The Sauna!

In Don't Laugh In The Sauna! (웃지마! 사우나), the hosts "chat" with the guests in a dialect trying to make them laugh. These conversations usually surround what a typical "Korean mother" (아줌마) will talk about, those who laugh will be sprayed by a water gun. Everyone has a plastic clear bowl they can use to protect themselves from the water. This corner takes place in the locker room of the sauna.

Season 4 edit

Host edit

Competition edit

This programme has received the highest ratings of Thursday night prime-time lineups since its beginning. Every week, between 10 and 25 percent of viewers enjoy its episodes. Due to its popularity, programs on SBS and MBC at the 11:05 pm timeslot have suffered from Happy Together over the years.

SBS's People Searching for Laughter (웃찾사) once dominated Thursday nights in 2005, but ratings went down and it moved to different time slots (Sundays at 6:40 pm and Fridays at 9:55 pm). It later moved back to Thursdays at 11:05 pm in 2008 but ratings were still low, so it moved to Saturdays at 4:10 pm in 2010. Hey Hey Hey Season 2 (헤이헤이헤이 시즌2) began airing in 2006 but was cancelled after 9 months due to low ratings. Mystery Hunters (미스터리 특공대) and Love Generation (연애시대) began airing in 2008 and both were cancelled after 3 months due to low ratings. Entertainment Tonight (한밤의 TV연예) moved to that timeslot on SBS but is suffering from low ratings as well. Over on MBC, Dissatisfaction Zero (불만제로) aired for several years with low ratings and later moved to a new timeslot (Wednesdays at 6:30 pm) in an effort to boost ratings. It was replaced by cheaper news programming, Who Plus (후플러스) and continues to air with low ratings as well.

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2002 1st KBS Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Shin Dong-yup Won [34]
Best Program Award Happy Together Won
Rookie of the Year Award Lee Hyori Won
2003 2nd KBS Entertainment Awards Most Outstanding Award in Entertainment Category Yoo Jae-suk Won
Most Outstanding Idea Award Happy Together – Metal Tray Karaoke Room Won
Rookie of the Year Award Kim Je-dong Won
2005 4th KBS Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Yoo Jae-suk Won
Most Outstanding Award in Entertainment Category Tak Jae-hoon Won
2007 6th KBS Entertainment Awards Viewer's Choice Best Program Award Happy Together Season 3 Won
2008 7th KBS Entertainment Awards Outstanding Award in Entertainment Category Shin Bong-sun Won
2009 8th KBS Entertainment Awards Won
Park Mi-sun Won
2010 9th KBS Entertainment Awards Best Entertainer Award Park Myeong-su Won [35]
Best Teamwork Award Happy Together Season 3 team Won
2011 10th KBS Entertainment Awards Outstanding Writer Award in Entertainment Category Jo Ki-bum Won [36]
2013 49th Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) for Television Yoo Jae-suk Won [37]
2014 13th KBS Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Won [38]
Excellence Award in Entertainment Category Kim Shin-young Won
2015 14th KBS Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award in Variety Show Park Myeong-su Won [39]
2016 15th KBS Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Yoo Jae-suk Nominated [40]
Viewers' Choice Best Program Happy Together Season 3 Nominated
Top Excellence Award in Talk Show Park Myeong-su Nominated
Excellence Award in Talk Show Jo Se-ho Nominated
Jun Hyun-moo Won
Rookie Award in Talk Show Uhm Hyun-kyung Won
Best Teamwork Award Happy Together Season 3 team Won
2018 16th KBS Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Yoo Jae-suk Nominated [41][42]
Viewers' Choice Best Program Award Happy Together Season 4 Nominated
Top Excellence Award in Talk/Show Category Jun Hyun-moo Nominated
Excellence Award in Talk/Show Category Jo Se-ho Won
2019 17th KBS Entertainment Awards Best Teamwork Award Happy Together Season 4 team Won [43]
Top Excellence Award in Entertainment Jo Se-ho Nominated

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Both Lee Soo-geun and Shin Bong-sun served as a joint panel and were referred to as Class Presidents (반장).

References edit

  1. ^ '해피투게더3' 200회 특집, 동시간대 시청률 1위. Daily News (in Korean). 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Ratings April 28, 2005 Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine(Korean), TNS Media Korea, Retrieved on September 26, 2007
  3. ^ Description of the corners in Happy Together Archived 2007-11-10 at the Wayback Machine(Korean), KBS Happy Together Homepage, Retrieved on September 26, 2007
  4. ^ Kwak Hyun-soo (November 30, 2018). "'해투4' 측 "조윤희 합류, 11년 만의 女 메인 MC" [공식입장]". Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  5. ^ Lee Seul-bi (November 29, 2018). "조윤희, '해투4' 메인 MC 된다…첫 방송은 12월 8일". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "조윤희 하차소감 "'해투4' 큰 영광…좋은 연기 보여드릴 것"". Digital Times (in Korean). October 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Kwak Hyun-soo (October 1, 2018). "'해투4' 지상렬-황민현 스페셜 MC…첫 게스트 배우 한지민 [공식]". Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  8. ^ Lee Min-ji (May 1, 2019). "'해투4' 황민현, 닥터 스트레인지 의상 입고 'BET BET' 완벽 소화". Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  9. ^ Lee Joo-han (October 23, 2018). "'해피투게더4' 유해진X이서진X조진웅, 역대급 라인업 출격…스페셜 MC 세정". Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  10. ^ Jo Eun-ae (October 23, 2019). "'해피투게더4' 홍진영 "언니 홍선영 다이어트 성공, 내 옷 입더라"". Sports Hankooki (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  11. ^ Lee Ji-hyun (October 31, 2018). "'해투4' 손나은 "레깅스 완판 후 SNS에 전신샷 찍게 된다"". Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  12. ^ Yoo Cheong-hee (November 22, 2018). '해투4' 육성재 "쉬는 날 일부러 가로수길 걸어, 내가 생각해도 관종인듯". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  13. ^ Woo Bin (November 28, 2018). '해피투게더4' 마마무 화사 "특별한 재료를 더한 짜장 라면에 푹 빠졌다". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  14. ^ Jo Yoo-kyung (November 29, 2018). "유준상x엄기준x민영기x김법래 '해투4' 출연…김소현 스페셜MC". Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  15. ^ Kim Ga-young (December 12, 2018). '해피투게더4' 차은우 "연습생 전까지 모태솔로…연애 경험은 한번". YTN News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Kim Han-na (March 13, 2019). '해피투게더4' 라이관린 "워너원 멤버 모두 매년 8월 7일 만나기로 약속". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  17. ^ Lee Yoon-jin (March 20, 2019). '해피투게더4', 박희순-진경-황우슬혜-윤보라, 도플갱어 특집 출연!. News A (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  18. ^ Kim Hyun-kyung (October 9, 2019). "'해투4' 피오, 스페셜 MC 출격…'예능 치트키' 활약 예고". Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Kang Ki-hyang (April 10, 2019). '해피투게더4' 이순재, 연예인들 사건사고에 "대중에게 영향…스스로 자퇴해야" 돌직구. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  20. ^ Yoon Hyo-jeong (April 17, 2019). "[N컷] '해투' 김소연 "이상우와 매일 15시간 데이트, 얼굴 상해"". News1 Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  21. ^ Jin Joo-hee (September 20, 2019). "'해투4' 이동건, 현실부부 일상 공개 "조윤희와 손 놓은지 꽤 됐다"". Star Hankook (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  22. ^ Kim Jeong-eun (October 30, 2019). "'해투4' 강형욱, 충격고백 "한 달 동안 개똥 먹었다"". Star Hankook (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  23. ^ Jo Yoon-seon (November 6, 2019). "'해투4' 장도연, '조커' 대신 '키커' 변신…화제의 계단 춤 '완벽 재연'". Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  24. ^ Park Hyun-sook (November 13, 2019). "'해투4' 홍진경 "조세호, 뜨고 나니 의무적으로 연락해" 폭로". Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  25. ^ Choi Seon-eun (November 20, 2019). "해피투게더4, 음원 퀸 송하예 "아침에 일어나면 차트 확인부터 해"". Special Times (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  26. ^ Lee Geon-hee (November 27, 2019). "'해투4' 강다니엘 스페셜 MC..김영옥 "1급 중의 1급" 극찬". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  27. ^ Sung Jeong-eun (December 4, 2019). "'해투4' 허경환 "키 작고 잘생긴 개그맨은 나 하나" 비주얼부심". Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  28. ^ Choi Yoon-na (December 11, 2019). "'해투4' 오현경, '야망' MC로 등장…신개념 캐릭터 예고". Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  29. ^ Lee Seung-hoon (December 18, 2019). ""동백꽃 필구가 돌아왔다"..'해피투게더4' 김강훈, 최연소 스페셜MC 출격". OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  30. ^ Yang So-young (January 8, 2020). "'해투4' 배종옥 "무서운 선배 이미지? 왜 그런지 모르겠다"". Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  31. ^ Jung Ha-eun (January 15, 2020). "'해투4' 새신랑 김승현 "결혼 실감 안나…부부 예능 생각 중"". Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  32. ^ Yang Moon-sook (January 24, 2020). "천명훈, '해피투게더4' 스페셜 MC (해피투게더4)". Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  33. ^ Kim Jeong-eun (March 25, 2020). "'해투4' 오마이걸 효정 "'아줌마 같다'는 얘기 듣고 다이어트 결심"". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  34. ^ "Past Award Winners". KBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  35. ^ Choi, Jun-yong (December 27, 2010). "Lee Kyung-kyu wins grand prize at KBS Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  36. ^ "Two Days and One Night awarded with grand prize at KBS Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. December 26, 2011. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  37. ^ An, So-hyoun (May 10, 2013). "Yoo Jae Suk and Ryu Seung Ryong Take Home Daesangs at the 'Paeksang Arts Awards'". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  38. ^ "Yoo Jaesuk, Yoo Inna, 'Superman is Back' and more win at the 2014 KBS Entertainment Awards". Allkpop. December 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  39. ^ "이휘재, '2015 KBS 연예대상' 대상..첫 수상 [종합]". OSEN (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. December 27, 2015. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  40. ^ Kim Mi-ri (December 25, 2016). "'9년 외길의 승리' 김종민, 2016 KBS 연예대상 대상 수상 (종합)". My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  41. ^ Hwang Soo-jeong (December 22, 2018). "'2018 KBS 연예대상', 오늘 개최…첫 여성 대상 수상자 탄생할까?". NewsPim (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  42. ^ Hong Hye-min (December 23, 2018). ""이영자 첫 대상"… '2018 KBS 연예대상', 첫 女 대상 새 역사 썼다 [종합]". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  43. ^ "[2019 KBS 연예대상] '슈돌' 아빠들 대상 영광, 박주호 셋째 임신 수상소감 (종합)". Sports Dong-a (in Korean). December 22, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2019.

External links edit