"Huh? but didn't you just say it was possible double suicide?" She jokingly questions
"Did I? I can't seem to recall" I laugh, "Noona, but why me though?"
"You remember Director Cho?" She asks
"Aha"
"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 only invite top stars?"
"Consider yourself an exception to the rule then." She says proudly before adding "And your great agent! I think she deserves a raise"
"Wow! .... How shameless, who was the one in the interview that said what I offered was too much again?"
"Did I ? I don't seem to recall" She answers before screaming in the background "Hyun! Stop messing with So-hee! Sorry my kids are acting up again. I'll call again later. Bye"
"No problem. Tell them Uncle Dylan says Hi.. Enjoy the evening"
Hanging up.
I start shaking a little bit.
I'm going to be on Family Outing!
____________________________________________________
*Day of Shooting*
Family Outing first aired on June 15, 200X, 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 Tae-suk is the main host or MC.
He is also called the Grasshopper, and is one of the 'Dumb' brothers from the Dumb and Dumber pairing with Raesung from the Mega Boy-group Evolution and is also a part of the Nation Siblings with Hyo.
Taesuk is the most talkative of the bunch, and thanks to his quick wit for observational humor, excels at articulating emotions and situational context.
Lee Hyo i.e. the "female master" of the show and occasional MC.
The 'Nation's Sexy Fairy'. A Female Idol that in the 90's captures the hearts of the nation. And in the 2000s is still capturing the desiree of all teenage boys. Contrary to her image she is fun and loving often exhibiting willingness to open herself to humiliation, whether being teased (for tendencies like alcohol or facial bloating) and during physical games.
Hyo describes her nonchalance as "cool like that." She is also called the 'mom' or 'madam'.
Yoo Nong-shin, 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 as he often sneakingly incorporates MSG to all organic meals.
He is often called sickly, old man, and Forty Brothers with Kim Gu-ro. Nongshin 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 Gu-ro is known as the Game Devil of the show for his strong physical performances. He is mentally sharp, often picking on Chumhee, acquiring the title Stepmother Kim for constantly tasking Chumhee with chores.
Kan Tae-sung'S role is far from his national-idol-Evolution image.
The youngest of the family members assists Roo Tae-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 was revealed to be among the lowest in the family.
Lee Chum-hee, the goofy actor, inhabits the image of Chumderella and Clumsy Chum-hee. Although appearing to be a strong player, he is quickly shown to be naive and clumsy.
And lastly, Park Se-jin a seemingly pleasant, demure ladylike actress, whose true colors are in fact the Sweet and Vicious or Sweet and Savage Miss Ye-jin through her no-nonsense and tenacious ways.
While there was some changes to the lineup, the O7 (Original 7) is what most people are familiar with.
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 of a 'natural' variety show, it 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 all of the cast beside Tae-suk.
Waiting in my van as the staff gets ready, I find myself growing bored as I await my que to enter.
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 Guy cast exclaims of surprise, seems like there is a female guest today. A pretty one at that.
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" A man behind the camera crew signals for us to start heading in.
I can see Tae-suk and the other guys crowded around the female guest with Hyo and se-jin left isolated.
This is a typical scene from the show but it's really different in person.
I enter into frame with not much fanfare.
Before Tae-suk excitedly say , "It's the Cf star!"
I bow and greet everyone, and then turn to camera "Hello, I'm Dylan park"
Not missing a beat Tae-suk retorts, "See! See how happy the female crew are now. You don't get like that when we show up to work."
This causes everyone to laugh and makes me a little embarrassed.
I make my way to stand at the end of the half circle but Tae-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 Yoo-ah! SNSD's Yoo-ah!
No wonder!
Yoo-ah, a 20 year old singer and later turned actress under MS Entertainment.
She is the ideal beauty of Korea.
She is one of the MS Visuals that have raised the standards of Idols all across the entertainment field.
I've heard that she's even more stunning in real life before and seeing her in person makes me wholeheartedly believe.
From her flawless glowing skin to her bright eyes and great smile. Call me biased , but it is rightfully so.
Tae-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 famous 'love line', where a cast of Korean variety show is pared up. has appeared.
Tae-suk presses on, "Dylan is any of the females here close to your ideal type?"
I nod, "Actually ... I don't have an ideal type"
"Aish! Don't lie" Tae-suk over dramatically plays "Just say it"
This causes the guys to sweep in, " Who who who?"
I laugh and show towards hyo " I was always a fan of Lee hyo-noona"
Raesung shouts, "That Ahjumma? Dylan you have bad taste"
'No I don't. I have eyes' I say internally as I look toward her.
Hyo is bare faced yet splendid, commanding if that's the word.
Although she is a head shorter than the other men and even Yoo-ah, she is still imposing.
Ten years ago, when she started, she was an absolute doll.
Her style has however changed, no longer a pale fair skinned beauty, she has a healthy tan, as a result of her working out, that gives her skin an olive grow, accented by her dark brown eyes, crescent shape lips.
She is beautiful in the way a Succubus or Kitsune is .... seductively so.
While Raesung and Chumhee are celebrating the fact that there's one less competitor for Yoo-ah's attention.
Hyo gives Raesung a look which causes him to retreat for cover.
Tae-suk decides to pipe in "So Yoo-ah looks like you were rejected, how do you feel?"
She laughs and bows to me, "I will work harder!!!"
Tae-suk then asks Hyo, " Sis what do you think of him?"
She gives me a once over, "Not my type ..... his too good-looking"
Tae-suk waves his arms playfully, " This is a first. Who ever gets rejected for being handsome. What do you have to say about that Dylan?"
"Uhm.. Noona is such a good liar" I cheekily smile as I answer.
"What makes you say that? You don't think you are good looking. Be honest." Tae-suk questions
"Because.... I'm everyone's type" I strike a pose, causing the female crew to cheer. "See, Noona must be lying"
"What is that! Dylan come here" The male cast show their displeasure, proceeding to 'mock' beat me up in annoyance as a result.