Infinite Challenge

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Muhan Dojeon
Genre Real-Variety, Comedy
Starring Yu Jae-seok
Park Myeong-su
Jeong Jun-ha
Roh Hong-cheol
Ha Ha (~ March 2008)
Jeong Hyeong-don
Country of origin Flag of South Korea South Korea
Language(s) Korean
No. of episodes 148
(as of March 1, 2008) (List of episodes)
Production
Executive
producer(s)		 Kim Yeop
Kim Tae Ho('TEO')[1]
Running time 60 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel MBC
Original run April 23, 2005 – Present
External links
Official website

Muhan Dojeon (Korean: 무한도전, Hanja: 無限挑戰, Abbr.: Mudo) is a Korean television entertainment program, distributed by MBC. As of August, 2007, it had the largest market share for its timeslot, with between 21.7 percent and 30.4 percent of Korean television viewers watching Muhan Dojeon at 6:40 PM every Saturday night.[2] This makes it the top free-to-air television program on Saturday evening, and also the 1st position of non-drama programmes in Korea every week (except special sporting events, since November 2006)[3]. It has kept the same scheduled time since first airing in 2005. It runs for 70 minutes, including ten minutes of advertising. Episodes are also frequently rerun on several Korean cable broadcasting channels.[4]

Contents

[edit] Real-Variety

Infinite Challenge has been reported as the first "Real-Variety" show in Korean television history.[5] The program is largely unscripted, and takes a similar form to challenge based Reality Television programs familiar in the West, but the challenges are often silly, absurd, or impossible to achieve, so that the program takes on the aspect of a satirical comedy variety show, rather than a more standard reality or contest program. To do that, as the 6 hosts and their staff continuously proclaim, the elements of this show are the 3-Ds(Dirty, Dangerous, Difficult), which is the greatest on Korean television program.[6]

[edit] History

[edit] Season 1

Further information: List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 1

The title of Season 1 was "Rash Challenge" (무모한 도전). At that moment, hosted by Yu Jae-seok, 6 or more Korean entertainers(Roh Hong-cheol and Jeong Hyeong-don were served as a joint panel) tried to challenge a 'sporting' mission in an outside studio, which was based on a viewer's suggestion through the show's homepage. For example, in one episode, the members were made to compare their strength to a 50-ton bulldozer by the members (and a guest) pushing a medium-sized car and the bulldozer pushing a bus. Although it only lasted from April 23, 2005 to October 22, 2005, and had strong supporters, its average ratings were very low(roughly 5 percent). For this reason, Season 1 episodes reruns are aired on MBC ESPN, MBC's satellite and cable network for sport-cast.

[edit] Season 2

Further information: List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 2

Aired(from October 29, 2005 to April 30, 2006), title of Season 2 was 'Excessive Challenge'(무리한 도전). For the first few episodes, it was fairly similar to its first season. However, because they wanted re-create their characters, they decided to change its whole programme concept as 'Infinite Challenge - Master of Quiz'(무한도전 퀴즈의 달인). Since then, 6 hosts(Yu Jae-seok has been managed as a 'host-in-chief') had a Korean-letter game called 'Ah-ha'(see below) to contest their knowledges, mental powers, on-line popularity polls about some specific themes, and comic features.[7] Although the average ratings were low, however, the unity of each members has been significantly improved. A panel from Season 1 Park Myeong-su came back as a co-host, and Ha Ha and Jeong Jun-ha also became co-hosts of this programme.

[edit] Season 3

Further information: List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 3 (2006), List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 3 (2007-1), List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 3 (2007-2), and List of Infinite Challenge episodes#Season 3 (2008-1)

Since May 6, 2006, the programme 'Muhan Dojeon'(Infinite Challenge, 무한도전), its third season went on air. They featured a special coverage of 2006 World Cup Germany for the entire month of June 2006, and some of Ah-ha specials(with Shinhwa, for example) on their beginning. However, since July 8, 2006, they began its memorable first-step as a 1st 'Real-Variety' television programme on the Korean TV history, with airing 'Please, come early'(일찍 와주길 바래, a subtitle of 'Please, be...'series-see below), combining both the elements of Reality TV and Variety programme, including Comic features which has been made by 6 'Infinite(Challenge) Members'(무한도전 멤버들, see 'hosts'). After then, they has been challenging for anything which can happen in real life(excluding some critical issues such as politics, religions, and sexual references), on outside studio, without faking or heavily-based plotting. Since December 2, 2006, it has been marked the highest ratings of prime-time lineups for Saturday evening.[8]

[edit] Contents

On Muhan Dojeon there are six (but now five, since March when HaHa went off to serve a the military) male entertainers who try to face difficult challenges every week. Some of the absurd challenges such as racing in a foot powered swan shaped paddle boat against a motor boat, to playing a tennis match against Maria Sharapova, to appearing live on stage at a public fashion show. A large part of the humor comes from the fact that the cast is generally not well suited to challenges they attempt. This program can be compared to the filmed-in-studio Wetten, dass..? of Germany, as the programme mainly focuses on the process and progress of the challenges, rather than focusing on the accomplishment of a mission.[9]

[edit] Occasional segments

These segments are part the show but are only featured from time to time.

  • "Muhan News" - This comic-based newscast presents bits of stories which report events that happened to some or all of the members of Muhan Dojeon, and also reports some pieces of their life outside Muhan Dojeon. As Yu Jae-seok, the moderator of this newscast, says at the beginning of the segment every time, the reason for this segment is 'just for fun', rather than focusing on the truth of reports. Recently, however, this segment has turned to focusing more on the actual truth of its reports and also keeping a balance between facts and humor.
  • "Muhan Theatre" - Sometimes, the members of Muhan Dojeon present a conte (short-term comic stories) unexpectedly.
  • "Please, be..."(series) - This segment was introduced by the hard-working staff of Muhan Dojeon, to instill common principles to all of the members (apart from their trademark, 'selfishness'). '"Please, come early"' (Korean: 일찍 와주길 바래) and '"Please, be friendly"' (친해지길바래, between Ha Ha and Jeong Hyeong-don) were two of the memorable segments.
  • Ah-Ha - This is a game in which one member says a word, and the next person says that word backwards. eg) Mu-han-do-jeon (Name of this programme in Korean) - Jeon-do-han-mu. This segment premiered in the 2nd season(Muhan Dojeon - The master of Quiz).
  • "Ha & Su" - A situation comedy (sitcom, Korean: 주간시트콤 '하와 수') that acted out by Jeong Jun-ha and Park Myeong-su. During each scene, they are always at odds with each other about petty issues.
  • "Hidden Camera" - This was also introduced by the staff to catch and record the members' behaviors naturally in certain situations.
  • "One-flash Telepathy" - After hearing a word which has been given from the production booth, each of the members would have to present a gesture and the end result would have to be that each of the members would have presented the same gesture. The original purpose of this segment was to unite their mind of each members, however, they have yet to succeed. A voice narration for this segment(including 'Ah-ha') has been made by Na Gyeong-eun, who serves as the announcer for the MBC and eventually entered a relationship with Yu Jae-seok.
  • Television Advertisements - Throughout the episodes, they create some satirical Korean television advertisements.

[edit] Election 2008

Candidates Votes Notes
Yu Jae-seok 5 (13.9%)
Park Myeong-su 10 (27.8%) Elected, but thought to have
mingled with the votes
Jeong Jun-ha 7 (19.4%)
Jeong Hyeong-don 6 (16.7%)
Roh Hong-cheol 2 (5.5%)
Ha Ha 6 (16.7%)
Others 6 (Invalid votes)
Total 42 (100.0%) Turnout: 84.0%

After an enormous request by Park Myeong-su to have 'a new leader in a new year 2008', the entire Muhan Dojeon members and staff did a poll for the title of 'host-in-chief' on December 31, 2007, at athe nation's own Natural gas field near Ulsan. This episode was aired on January 12, 2008.


Major Campaign Promises

  • Park Myeong-su - Promised that he will wipe out the 'unpopular' and 'old-fashioned' comedy, if elected (썩은개그, 낡은개그 청산)
  • Jeong Jun-ha - Providing 'Winter clothes' for all hard-working staff (모든 스태프에게 방한복 지급)
  • Ha Ha - Liberalization of individual hairstyle (두발 자유화)
  • Jeong Hyeong-don - Serving a wide range(selection) of lunch for all members and staff (다양한 중식 제공)
  • Yu Jae-seok(Inc.) - Pledged for all eligible voters to serve as a host-in-chief again (재선 도전)
  • Roh Hong-cheol's pledge one was not on air.


Votings
All entertainment managers and co-ordinators casted their vote earlier(06:00 AM) at the South gate of MBC Headquarters, and the members and other staff of the MBC voted at night of the election, after attending a meeting for all candidate's pledges. All votes were counted at the new year's day morning(08:00 AM).
Results
Most of voters were thought that Yu Jae-seok can be easily return as the 'host-in-chief', however, to everyone's shock, Park Myeong-su got most of the votes, therefore, Park Myeong-su was elected as a new host-in-chief. But, prior to an agreement that every candidate agreed to follow before this election, the new host-in-chief's leadership must be tested in the next 3 weeks (and if the winner does not have leadership skills, then they can be recalled to choose another leader). Roh Hong-cheol, a candidate who got the least votes at this election, was also elected to prepare a traditional goods(a grand sum of 200Kgs' rice from Icheon). He chose the new leader Park Myeong-su to help him with this task.
Aftermath

  • On the beginning of the episode of S03E88(Assisting the MBC's historical drama series 'Lee-san' challenge; aired on January 19, 2007), Host-in-chief Park Myeong-su nominated his manager Jeong Seok-kwon as the chairperson of the 'Host-in-chief Transition Committee'. Although Yu Jae-seok, who has been left at the bottom by the other members members on that day, has strongly argued and resisted against them. However, Park Myeong-su has done his job of opening and closing that episode eventually, as a name of 'Chief-host Park's Muhan Dojeon'(박반장의 무한도전).
  • After showing a poor performance on 3 whole weeks(3 and a half episodes exactly) by Park Myeong-su, he announced on a comic 'press conference'(which prepared by Muhan Dojeon) to resign his job officially. Just after that, the Host-in-chief was changed back to Yu Jae-seok(as an interim) on February 2, 2008. Recently, they have decided to go to the polls again on February 14, 2008 to decide their leader at the state-of-the-art studio called 'MBC Dream Centre' at Ilsan, once and for all. Its re-election coverage was on air on March 15, 2008.
  • At the re-election done on March 15, 2008, Yu Jae-seok won a majority of the votes and ultimately won the title 'host-in-chief.'

[edit] Hosts

Name Joined Nickname Character Description and Notes
Yu Jae-seok
(유재석, Host-in-chief)		 Since April 2005 Class President Yu (유반장)[10]
The First-in-command (1인자)
The grasshopper (메뚜기)		 As a host-in-chief, he lead all Muhan Dojeon members to reach the goal of each episodes. As of 2008, he has been replaced by Park Myung-Su, but was redone as host-in-chief.
Park Myeong-su(박명수) May - July 2005[11]
Oct. 2005 - Incumbent		 Giant Star Park (박거성)[12]
Father (아버지)
The Second-in-command (2인자)
The Son of the Devil (악마의 아들)
Cool Guy (쿨가이)
Sancho Park (산초박)
Alien (외계인)
The leafhopper (벼멸구)
Worthless elderly (brother, 하찮은 형)
Unique Myeong-su (고유명수, A play on 고유명사/"Proper noun")
Section Chief Park (박반장)		 His nickname(Geo-seong) has been continuously proclaimed by himself. He is often been named as "Father" by the rest of the members due to his elderly look and age. This happens if Myeong Su's hair is flattened or his make-up gets erased. see his page for more details.
Jeong Jun-ha(정준하) Since March 2006 The Helmet (헬멧)[13],
The Lord of Eating (식신)[14]
The Third-in-command (3인자)
Lacking brother (모자란 형)
Stupid brother (바보형)
Mr. Jeong Joong-ang (정중앙씨)[15]		 Due to the extraordinary size of his head (8kg) and huge amount of meals which he eats (in the 50th episode special-S03E50, he had a Challenge where he had to eat 50 plates of noodles in 300 seconds. The plates altogether was about 10-30 kilos. he succeeded, but he had to go straight to the lavatory and sleep at the back of the studio). Recently on S03E78, he has been urged to success to capture an endangered barbie girl on a pool, however, his bid was went unsuccessfully and his body was hung on the middle of pool, accidentally. Since that time, including its creator Yu Jae-seok, the members has been frequently called his name as Mr. Jeong Joong-ang(정중앙씨), which means 'Mr. Jeong in the middle'.
Jeong Hyeong-don(정형돈) Since April 2005 Awkward Piggy
(어색한 뚱보)
[16]		 During each episodes, he has been shown his ability for anything, except making laughs. However, it was sometimes proven wrong.
Ha Ha(하하)
(Ha Dong Hoon, 하동훈)		 December 2005 - March 2008 Shorty (단신)[17]
Little one (꼬마)
The M.A. Ha (석사 하하)
The Top Little one(상꼬맹이)		 As mentioned, and his seemingly stupid decisions he shows sometimes. He is currently obtaining the Master of Arts(on Theatre & Film in Daejin Univ.), however, during the episode of '50'th special, he got only 20 points on elementary-level spelling test. Recently(from Season 3 Episode 62), he sang a song called 'A Little Boy's Story' (키작은 꼬마 이야기) to tribute his height. It went to a huge sensation to its viewers.
Roh Hong-cheol(노홍철) Since April 2005 Stone-Kid ('돌+아이')[18],
Quickmouth (퀵마우스)[19]		 '돌+아이/Dol+I' was created by Yu Jae-seok during the episode of S03E22. Quickmouth was his original character, due to his extremely fast speed of speech.

[edit] Occasional Appearances

  • There are a number of people who both individually works for this programme and irregularly appears with Muhan Dojeon members(hosts) to bring more extra fun. They also frequently called as 'the 7th member'(제7의 멤버).
Name Nickname Occupation Character Description and Notes
Jeong Seok-kwon
(정석권)		 Manager Jeong
(Jeong Sil-jang 정실장)		 Long-time buddy &
Entertainment Manager of Geo-seong		 At first, he has been often criticized when appearing with a lot of 'ambitious but overacting' scenes(that has been cut away from its broadcast), however, he currently helps both his friend Geo-seong(although still quarreling) and this programme, as a manager of the very-old pop Idol group 'Muhan Dojeon'. To restrain a growing popularity of him, Park Myeong-su recently ordered to him that not to appear this show again, but soon, he appealed against him and currently he appeared as an occasional individual of this show.
Choi Jong-hun
(최종훈)		 Choi Co-ordi. (최코디)
Almighty Co-ord. Choi
(Man-neung Choi-codi
/만능 최코디)		 Entertainment Manager of Jeong Jun-ha As the official coordinator of Muhan Dojeon, he currently preparing his common hope of rising stardom(as a professional actor), with a lot of help from Jeong Jun-ha.[20] He prepared a bunch of radish to the members on 'Kimchi Preparation'(S03E30) and 'Jun(Semi-) Hines Ward'(S03E77) episodes well, and he presented his professional agricultural skills on 'MD Goes to country'(S03E25) and 'Rice-planting'(S03E56) episodes.
Kim Oak-jeong
(김옥정)		 Mrs. Kim (김옥정 여사)
Oak-jeong Kim (옥정 킴)		 Mother of Ha Ha She has been regularly reported from its members, moreover, according from Roh Hong-cheol's report last year, she has very little cooking skills that makes fun for its viewers. Recently(S03E83), She appeared for the first time and presented a passionate acting for the broadcast, just as same as its top-rating members. From that broadcast, her last comment of 'Hit that jackpot!' (Dae-bak Teu-ji-se-yo! 대박 터지세요) become enermously popular new-year greetings of Koreans.
TEO
Kim Tae-ho (김태호)		 Bro. TEO (태호 형)
TEO PD (태호 PD)		 Executive Producer of Muhan Dojeon As the pioneer of Korean entertainment producer, he currently serves a job for 'reactions' which brings an extra fun in the show, by his own captioning work(just before screening each episodes). With a sensative fashion outlook, he gained extraordinary popularity when he officially opened his 'Cyworld' webpage recently.
Kim Tae-hee
(김태희)		 Writer Kim (김태희 작가) Writer of Muhan Dojeon As a high-profiled co-writer of Muhan Dojeon and a Korean actress-namesake, she enjoys her huge popularity from dedicated viewers. During the 'Making a song challenge for X-mas'(S03E33) episode, she became very popular Roh Hong-cheol argued against her, with saying 'Backshot of the (Actress)Kim Tae-hee, but the front look of Muhan Dojeon (like us)' (뒷모습은 김태희인데 앞모습은 무한도전).
Shin Mi-so
(신미소)		 Miso Co-ordi. (미소코디) Fashion Co-ordinator of Yu Jae-seok A Busan-native, who helps Yu Jae-seok more fashionable, she has been also popular in this show. Her debut was in sleeping scene as a guest during a '100-minute Debate'(S03E42, that made her name the top online keyword of March 2007), and with breaking a set of illuminators accidentally when Lee Young-ae appeared Muhan Dojeon(S03E52), She become a huge popular individual, and eventually appeared as a co-host of 'Madness Couples'(S03E75) with the Host-in-chief Yu Jae-seok.

[edit] Famous Guests

[edit] International

Name Appeared Occupation Notes
Fedor Emelianenko Season 3 Episode 18 ~ Episode 19 PRIDE heavyweight champion Appeared two episodes; he taught each member submission holds - Season 3
Thierry Henry[21] Season 3 Episode 57 ~ Episode 58 Football(Soccer) Player Appeared two episodes - Season 3
Maria Sharapova Season 1 Episode 23 ~ Episode 24 Tennis player Appeared two episodes - Season 1
Michelle Wie Season 3 Episode 1 ~ Episode 2 Golfer Appeared two episodes - Season 3
Paris Hilton Season 3 Episode 81 Actress Appeared one episode - Season 3

[edit] Korean

[edit] The show in popular culture

  • During the 12th episode(aired on August 16, 2007) of MBC's Monday-night variety programme 'Jippijiggi'(지피지기), comedian Park Su-hong urged to Roh Hong-cheol, Jeong Hyeong-don, and Ha Ha(they are the members of this programme, Muhan Dojeon.) to create a new comic-variety programme called 'Yuhan Dojeon'(유한도전, 有限挑戰, Finite Challenge), however, it was his joke to attend his programme as a guest.[22]
  • MBC Drama, MBC's Drama and Entertainment channel on Skylife and Cable TV, has been decided to launch a brand-new comic variety show called "Muhan Girls"(무한걸스), the female's edition of Muhan Dojeon. 6 Korean entertainers including Song Eun-ei(송은이), Ahn Hye-kyeong(안혜경, which is well-known as Ha Ha's girlfriend), Shin Bong-seon(신봉선), Kim Hyeon-suk(김현숙), Bin-wu(빈우), Kim Ga-yeon(김가연) serves as the co-hosts of this programme.[23]. It has been aired on September 23, 2007, as a pliot(special) programme for Hangawi holidays. Since October 15, 2007, This format went a regular-scheduled programme at the 'MBC Every1', MBC's Cable and Satellite network for comedy and variety shows, eventually.
  • On December 27, 2007, the SERI, a well-known economic research institute of South Korea was picked for this programme as the 6th most-influenced products and services of the year 2007, due to the strong public popularity and its own productive characters.[24]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Infinite Challenge to His Life, article from The Granite Tower, June 5, 2007
  2. ^ Muhan Dojeon's dashed and rushed Seoul city-touring story(Korean), Dailyseop.com, Retrieved on August 26, 2007
  3. ^ List of the Ratings of South Korean TV Programmes(Korean), Conducted by TNS Media Korea corp.
  4. ^ The resource of the superb power of Muhan Dojeon(Korean), Joongang Ilbo, Retrieved on May 28, 2007.
  5. ^ Ibid.
  6. ^ 'Muhan Dojeon Dictionary' got huge popular(Korean), Dkbnews, Retrieved on January 22, 2007
  7. ^ Korean True-face, Muhan Dojeon(Korean), Hankyoreh 21, Retrieved on October 31, 2006
  8. ^ The rating of Muhan Dojeon renewed again to its highest mark(Korean), Starnews, Retrieved on November 26, 2006
  9. ^ Showmanship, demolished the wall(Korean), The Hankyoreh, Retrieved on June 8, 2007.
  10. ^ Popular Nickname boosts the Programme(Korean), Starnews, Retrieved on January 31, 2007
  11. ^ S01E04(May 14, 2005) - S01E15(July 30, 2005).
  12. ^ The Rank of Korean Celebrities after starting Military service(Korean), Segye Ilbo, Retrieved on May 4, 2007
  13. ^ Jeong Jun-ha crosses straightly(Korean), The Hankyoreh, Retrieved on January 8, 2007
  14. ^ Ibid.
  15. ^ Infinite Challenge Ep. 78 4/7(00:50)
  16. ^ Awkward as a progress of combining each programme(Korean), Starnews, Retrieved on January 24, 2007
  17. ^ Ibid.
  18. ^ 'Editing' decides the quality of Variety programmes(Korean), Starnews, Retrieved on March 28, 2007
  19. ^ To live happy, not discouraged(Korean), Ohmynews, Retrieved on March 12, 2007
  20. ^ Choi Jong-hoon; "My common dream is to become an actor", Starnews, Retrieved on July 16, 2007
  21. ^ French soccer star Thierry Henry’s appearance on a Korean comedy program KBS World, Retrieved on June 26, 2007.
  22. ^ Are Hongcheol, Hyeongdon, Haha creates a new programme with Park Su-hong?(Korean), Muhan Dojeon Gallery, Daum.net, Retrieved on August 25, 2007
  23. ^ 'Muhan Girls', The female's edition of Muhan Dojeon will be on air(Korean), Starnews, Retrieved on September 18, 2007
  24. ^ Weekly Insight: Korea’s Ten Hit Products and Services of 2007, the SERI, Retrieved on December 27, 2007

[edit] External links

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