PD Kim Tae-ho, once known as the “must-watch variety PD,” has received a string of disappointing ratings in the 0% range. Despite flashy casts and experimental formats, viewers aren’t tuning in, leading to calls for a rethink of his creative direction.
His latest project, ENA’s ‘Crazy Tour,’ ended without ever breaking the 1% barrier. The show stayed in the 0% range from start to finish, with the final episode hitting a series low of 0.4%. Considering the show’s name and the scale of the cast, these results are quite disappointing.
The ambition was clear from the start. During the production presentation, the cast promised a high-intensity concept, saying, “There’s a saying that celebrities just get paid to go on trips and have a breeze. We want to wake people up from that idea.” However, the actual viewer response was far colder than expected.
The title ‘Crazy Tour’ led viewers to expect extreme travel, unpredictable missions, and a thrill different from typical travel shows. However, the actual broadcast failed to deliver a distinction that matched the intensity of the title. The combination of singer and actor Rain, actor Kim Mu-yeol, creator Pani Bottle, and WINNER’s Song Seung-hoon also failed to create a strong synergy.
It was especially meaningful for Kim Mu-yeol, as it was his first fixed variety show. There was high anticipation to see a new side of the familiar actor. However, he didn’t evolve into a character that could shift the overall flow of the program. While the cast’s individual charms are great, the “stage” for those charms to shine wasn’t sufficiently designed in ‘Crazy Tour.’
The concerning part is that PD Kim Tae-ho’s slump isn’t limited to just one project. His previous work, MBC’s ‘Manitto Club,’ started at 2.1% but declined over time, ending its run at 0.9%. Even with high-profile stars like BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Go Youn-jung, and Jung Hae-in, the ratings didn’t bounce back.
Ultimately, critics point out a lack of persuasion regarding “why we should watch” rather than “who is appearing.” While the names were flashy, the unique fun and visuals that only this specific combination could provide were not clear. The fact that the buzz didn’t last, even with powerhouses like Jennie and Kim Mu-yeol, suggests a problem with the planning rather than the casting.
Variety shows are a genre where it’s hard to recover once the momentum is lost. More painfully, both programs saw a downward trend as episodes progressed. This means the shows failed not only to attract new viewers initially but also to keep the ones who did tune in.
Because PD Kim Tae-ho once led the trend of Korean variety shows, this current slump feels even more significant. After ‘Infinite Challenge,’ his name became a symbol of experimentation and challenge. However, recent results show that star casting and unfamiliar concepts alone are not enough to convince viewers.
What’s needed now isn’t a flashier cast, but a clearer reason to watch. More important than who is traveling or what missions they are doing is why the viewer should follow that journey. For Kim Tae-ho’s variety shows to regain their power, it’s time to prioritize the density of planning and a structure of sustainable fun over the size of the casting or the novelty of the concept.
