[REVIEW] "SNL Korea 2" has yet to achieve catharsis

Still shot of Ryeowook in tvN's "Saturday Night Live 2" [tvN]

With the Super Junior hosting the show, the producers of the "SNL Korea 2" declared that they will make the show into an R-rated program.

This was not a simple statement about their intentions to consolidate the program’s image as adult-oriented entertainment, but a declaration that the producers will overcome the limitations in the requests to the idol groups making guest appearances.

Such intentions were realized in the show, with Super Junior members recreating situations with sexual undercurrent, cross-dressing and exposing skin that created an episode with an ambience different to previous programs.

The fact that the members were into situations that have until now been taboo for idol group was sufficient to create laugher by itself. In addition, the episode served to help the viewers realize the age of the members, a fact we have been almost coerced to overlook.

In short, it was a program that has not been attempted until now despite the inherent possibility of producing such an episode.

The problem with the episode, however, was that it depended too much on the hosts to create laughter.

The script was one-dimensional in that it was not specific to Super Junior, and in that replacing them with any other idol group would have been unnoticeable. Furthermore, the comic situations remained within the boundaries of the predictable.

In reality, such limitations are visible across "SNL Korea 2," and the episode prompts the question that the producers are not taking on detailed considerations for sharp satyr by mistaking being daring with being witty.

It was only too obvious that the producers have chosen shock-therapy over engaging the hosts and the audiences in a psychological game as the means for winning support.

Of course, it is necessary for comedy programs to break taboos and to approach topics with boldness.

However, when the objective of such measures unclear and the process stale, they cannot go beyond expressing anything more than the graffiti of hormonal teenagers.

The shelf life of attractiveness of the different is short.

It is clear that has yet to achieve catharsis and that this will not be easily achieved.

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10 아시아 Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@
10 아시아 Editor : Monica Suk monicasuk@