The Kpop Otaku's Dream

"Noona... I'll do it. Tell them I'll do it immediately"

"Huh? but didn't you just say it was possible double suicide?" She teases

"Did I? I can't seem to recall" I laugh, "Noona but why me though?"

"You know Director Choi?" She asks

"Yeah what about him?"

"His close friends with the PD of the show. They were apparently looking for a male replacement after the male guest canceled on short notice"

"But don't they normally invite only top stars?"

"Consider yourself a exception to the rule then. It's mainly due to your looks again."

"My looks? But there's alot of good-looking guys out there"

"Tsk tsk young man. You got to know there are supermodel in the world who only earn pennies while there are supermodel who make millions of dollars. It's the difference in innate quality. Besides, I told Choi all about your singing and dancing. The PD apparently thinks it will be good for ratings if you an unkown do some amazing things out of nowhere."

"Okay then"

Hanging up. I'm shaking a little bit.

I'm going to be on Family Outing!

Family Outing first aired on June 15, 2008, and was immediately one of the top rated programs on Sunday Korean television. The original lineup is one of the most legendary main lineups in history!

Yoo Jae-suk is the main host or Mc. He is also called the Grasshopper, and is the 'Dumb' brother from the Dumb and Dumber pairing with Daesung from Big Bang and is also a part of the Nation Siblings with Hyori. Jaesuk is oftentimes talkative, relying on his quick wit for observational humor, and excels at articulating emotions and situational context, is easily scared in uncertain or foreign circumstances.

Lee Hyori i.e. the "female master" of the show and occasional MC. The 'Nation's Fairy' plays the role of the person who typically admonishes the other male Family members, particularly during cooking mishaps. While at the same time, Hyori often exhibits willingness to open herself to humiliation, whether being teased (for tendencies like alcohol or facial bloating) and during physical games. Hyori describes her nonchalance as "cool like that." She is also called the 'mom' or 'madam'.

Yoo Jong-shin is the old man of the show, he always needs the care and attention of the rest of the family members. He is viewed as the best at "making the seasoning" for cooking on the show with the addition ramen noodle powder to soups. He is often called sickly, old man, and Forty Brothers with Kim Su-ro. Yongshin is usually seen as the least physically gifted and thus last chosen for physical competitions, but exists as a strong competitor for oral battles involving wit.

Kim Su-ro is known as the Game Devil of the show for his strong physical performances. He is very mentally sharp, relying on his wit to pick on Chunhee, acquiring the title Stepmother Kim for constantly tasking Chunhee with chores. He is on occasion very childish and playful.

Kang Dae-sung role is far from his national-idol-Big Bang image, the youngest of the family members assists Yoo Jae-suk in gags and is seen as a younger brother to him. He's called the 'Dumber' brother with Yoo Jae-suk's Dumb and Dumber, as his IQ is revealed to be among the lowest in the family. He is also shown to be easily intimidated and shy, particularly by group member guests or by female guests who he has a crush on.

Lee Chun-hee inhabits the image of Chunderella and Clumsy Chun-hee, he originally appeared to be a strong player, but was later determined to be naive and clumsy. He is constantly picked on by Sooro, his senior from acting school, despite his futile attempts to "rebel" from time to time. (See: Stepmother Kim and Chunderella). Chunhee is also revealed to have a high IQ and to have been contacted by Mensa

Park Ye-jin is originally portrayed as seemingly pleasant, demure ladylike figure, she later showed her true colors as the Sweet and Vicious or Sweet and Savage Miss Ye-jin through her no-nonsense and tenacious ways in preparing fish and chickens for meals, as well as her bravery towards capturing them. Yejin maintained a strong rapport with Hyori as they ranked the Family men for sleep positioning; when female guests appeared, they banded together as the two were cast off as the undesirable "older sisters". She was known for expressing joy and excitement with her high pitch nasal screeching

While there was some changes to the lineup, the O7 (Original 7) is what most people are familiar with.

But since it's 2009 Kim Jong-kook would have also been added to the lineup by now. initially portrayed as a strong physical competitor, Jongkook is revealed to have poor luck and is in a perpetual "game slump". Frequently called "Kim Kook-jong" on the show when being teased by Jaesuk and Hyori. Jongkook's character evolves over the course of the series as he becomes more talkative, allowing him to exert himself over Jaesuk and Jongshin with wit and strength, particularly during chores and cooking activities. He and Daesung demonstrate a fondness for girl groups, performing several dances over the course of the series.

The format of the show called for the "Family" to travel to different parts of South Korea, taking care of the house of an elderly family, who go on a vacation. The "Family" then accomplishes the tasks left for them by the homeowners.

...........................

Contrary to what most people would expect a variety show is still relatively scripted. I'm told before hand what I will be asked to do and if I'm okay with it.

The identities of the guests are however kept secret to most of the cast beside Jae-suk.

I'm sitting in my van waiting for the cue for us to pull into frame.

Family outing has this thing where they bring each person in one by one at the beginning of the show.

Today we are Chungcheong-do, its a very rural area up in the country side. It's especially cold this morning so I'm pretty covered up.

From afar I can hear the guys exclaim of surprise, seems like there is a female guest too today.

I wonder who it is. I never really watched Family outing that much during my past life so I really can't recall who were the guest at this time of the year.

"1,2,3 Start" The man behind the camera crew signals for us to start heading in.

I can see Yoo Jae-suk and the other guys crowded around the female guest with Hyori and Ye-jin left isolated. This is a typical scene from the show but it's really different in person.

While they are immersed in the talk, I enter into frame with not much fanfare.

Nervously I approach before Jae-suk notices and says , "It's the Cf star!"

I bow and greet everyone, and then turn to camera "Hello, I'm Dylan park"

Not missing a beat Jae-suk retorts, "Hey who you greeting, we are over here"

This causes everyone to laugh and makes me a little embarrassed so I scratch my head.

I make my way to stand at the end of the half circle but Jae-suk motions for me to come to the center.

He begins to introduce me and speaks about how this was sudden and came about relatively quickly.

This is when I notice that the girl guest for today is Yoona! SNSD's Yoona.

Yoona is a South Korean solo singer and actress under SM Entertainment. Thinking about it it makes complete sense her you are my destiny just ended. She really is the ideal beauty of korea. She's cute in a girly-fresh-faced kind of way but not in the gorgeous Hollywood scarlet kind of way. Of course looks all come down to preference.

And my preference is the girl standing next to her with her olive skin. Lee hyori, I've heard that she's even more stunning in real life before and seeing her in person makes me wholeheartedly believe. From her pronouced chubby apple cheeks, to her flawless glowing skin and great smile. Call me biased , but it is righfully so. Not to mention she is well known having one of the best bodies in Kpop. Much of it due to a healthy diet and tough workout regimen. Seriously, Lee Hyori is sexy for all the right reasons.

Jae-suk picks up on my nervousness and decides to tease, "What is this? Some movie? Don't these two (referring to yoona and I) look like a drama couple"

Oh the 'love line' that Korean variety shows are famous for has appeared.

Jae-suk asks, "Dylan is any of the females here close to your ideal type?"

I nod, "Actually ...yes"

This causes the guys to sweep in, " Who who who?"

I laugh and show towards hyori " Lee hyori-noona"

Jungkook shouts, "That Ahjumma? Dylan you have bad taste"

While Daesung and Chun-hee are celebrating the fact that there's one less competitor for Yoona's attention.

Hyori gives Jungkook a look which causes him to retreat for cover.

Jae-suk decides to pipe in "So Yoona looks like you were rejected, how do you feel?"

She laughs and bows to me, "I will work harder!!!"

Jae-suk then asks Hyori, " Sis what do you think of him?"

She gives me a once over, and says, "Dylan is not my type, his too good-looking"

Jae-suk waves his arms, " Double rejection! It's over"

This causes me to blush. I really need to find a place to hide

Jungkook complains again, "What is going on!"

Jae-suk snaps back, "Kook-jung don't you worry there's Ye-jin for you"

This causes Jungkook to get shy. Seeing the muscle man become tongue tied is really some experience.

We are then handed a crudely drawn map of where to go, and its handed off to Yoona. After Jae-suk tells her which direction to go, she puts on a little aegyo and hop skip and jumps to the front leading the way.

This makes the uncles contently satisfied, and they are hooking arms for some reason. This pushes Hyori and Yejin to the back.

I slow my pace down and decide to walk on the left of Hyroi while Yejin is holding arms with her on the right.

Usually this would be the time for Hyori to show the temper she's famous for but it looks like because i'm part of the abandoned duo, she relents on the physical abuse. And complains, "Hey we can't see in-front, you guys are taking up all of the road"

Jae-suk turns and asks, "Who?"

Hyori answers his question seriously, "Us! We can't see the front"

Daesung then makes me laugh when he says, "Don't look to the front, look to the side then"

I turn to Hyori and say, "If you want to see, I can help"

I kneel down and motion for her to climb on my back.

No hesitation at all she climbs on and orders me to make my way to Jaesuk.

I end up behind him, and she hits him on the head causing him to stumble.

He then see's her on my back and says, "What was that for?"

She laughs and says, "Because you were annoying"

I let her down just before we enter into the gates of the home and she apologizes, "Sorry for being so heavy"

"Please, you don't even weigh more than two potato bags"

"Who compares a girl to potatoes!?"