One interesting part of living here in Korea is watching Korean TV. You'd think that I'd be glued to Korean dramas all the time, but really, it turns out that I can only handle only one of them at a time which ends up being just a couple of hours a week. Not that I don't love them. I have my favorites that I look forward to and I get happy on my K-drama nights.
But I was surprised at how much TV time was taken up by Korean versions of shows we watch in the US. Mostly reality shows like, Top Model, Project Runway, Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol. Well, it wouldn't be called American Idol here. It's called Superstar K (K for Korea, I guess) and it's just as addicting with an additional crossover factor for me because they keep bringing on past American Idol contestants.
But before I get to that, there's something just fascinating watching the Korean version of these shows because though the set up is the same, the way the people go about solving the problems and hashing out the issues seems different. Example. When one group is told they are moving on in Superstar K and another is told that they have reached the end, the group that has passed on is usually the group to shed tears and carry on. They talk about how they don't deserve it and how they sad they feel for their friend. Or on Top Model, the youngest of the bunch is put in her place by her Unnis who feel it is their duty to teach her how to be respectful. So Interesting.
Anyway, back to the tie in to my former American life. Last year, my first season being sucked into watching Superstar K, John Park was on and made it really far. Like to the finals. He eventually took second place and kind of became a celebrity here in Korea. Then, this year I tune in, and find it just as addicting. I also find in the sea of dark haired and brown eyed talented Koreans, Chris Golightly, who looks familiar. With some googling, I find that he'd been on American Idol before too. Remember this story? So sad. But I guess he's friends with John Park who encouraged him to come to Korea and the story seems to be that he's been in Korea working in the music biz and was encouraged to try out for the show.
He made it into the top 10 (through all the initial audtion stuff and mission stuff even with the language and cultural barriers) and it's time for the Korean public to vote. EEK! Here's his first performance all gussied up. Only Korean songs allowed.
Wasn't he amazing? This performance got him into the next round. Team Chris! I am also Team Christina because she is an awesome kimchi sister from America (her korean is pretty good but with her totally perfect English and American way of thinking you can tell she's a second generation) doing her best in the competition. So I guess I am the Team Chrises.
