The experience of a non-Kpop fan watching Family Outing for the first time

After I dropped a comment on Amy’s blog post talking about her commitment issues with television, she suggested that I give Family Outing a shot. Some time later, I honored my promise to watch it and I ended up watching the first two episodes a week ago despite the fact that I am not a Kpop fan by any means.

In American terms, Family Outing works a bit like Big Brother meets Survivor, but it’s all for shits and giggles rather than involving drama stuff and knowing the show’s participants day by day because the viewer already knows them. Not me!

At best, I was familiar with maybe one or two contestants thanks to the likes of Jenna and Julyssa talking non-stop about Asian singers and actors on Twitter as well as Amy declaring her undying love for many Asian acts. I know they exist and some of them are talented, but I simply can’t bring myself to care about them. I didn’t grow up as a full-fledged anime fan, which is the starting point for getting into the Asian entertainment stuff, I guess.

Despite Amy explaining to me how Family Outing works and telling me who is who, the first 15 minutes of the first episode were hard for me to watch. I really can’t bitch about the non-stop Korean captions tossed around constantly because that wouldn’t be fair from a worldwide standpoint, but the audience laugh track really felt awkward to watch and weirded me out at first. Things felt like they were going kind of fast and I couldn’t process it well, but later on I started to enjoy it at certain points. Granted, the show is of the variety genre, but I also viewed it as if it were of the reality genre. By the end of the first episode, I felt burned out and I had Amy yelling at me “You’re so American!” and I don’t blame her. But it’s not like I’m going to tattoo the American flag on my body, lol.

However, the second episode was a lot easier to enjoy because it was simpler to watch, a lot funnier and I was already adjusted to how the show worked.

One thing I can’t deny: the show’s format is pretty interesting and the games are pretty fun in large part thanks to the cast, all of them looking like they really had a lot of fun doing this. I really want to try that “I love you” game with more friends one day because it can lead to many awkward and funny moments; it’s something you have to see for yourself. Or in my case, watch it with someone already familiar with the show and the Asian entertainment business.

Maybe because I had to see two girls with six boys, but Hyori Lee and Park Ye-jin stood out to me the most. And I don’t mean it as “women I’d love to fuck one day” — they’re charming, entertaining, funny and very likeable. I’m probably gonna sound like a selfish prick here, but I really hope that Hyori pulls a Mark Wahlberg/Justin Timberlake and ends up pursuing an acting career with hopes of one day seeing her on an HBO show or in a Quentin Tarantino film. The guys, while they were funny, felt similar (except for the host) and didn’t capture my atttention like the girls did.

Would I watch Family Outing again? Maybe. Like I said before, I found the format interesting and fun, but I might require the company of someone already familiar with them and food. I’m still not sure about watching the entire thing all by myself.

Rodrigo

YAM Magazine contributor, has a B. Sc. degree in Science/Pharmacy and is a very lazy person.

21 Responses

  1. Julili says:

    You need to watch Running Man, I think you would like it more!

    • amy says:

      @Julili, I also told him about Running Man. Rodrigo told me he wanted to punch Jaesuk’s face LOL – but seriously, Jaesuk wins you over. It’s a commitment thing, though. There’s many many episodes.

      I think he’d like epi. 1 of RM because Hyori is a guest there haha, but then he would learn how many episodes there are… and be like, OMG WTF. Which… I totally get.

      Btw, Rodrigo. I don’t think Hyori is going to pull a JT. I’m not really aware, but she hasn’t done any serious acting. She’s got a great sense of humor, though.

      • Rodrigo says:

        @amy, Once I get a newer laptop, maybe I’d watch more of FO.

        I think Hyori has only done variety shows, which doesn’t really count as acting. Oh well, maybe one day she’ll dip her toes on a film.

    • Rodrigo says:

      @Julili, I’ve heard about it. Maybe one day I’ll give it a shot, but not right now.

      • amy says:

        @Rodrigo, Running Man might be more your cup of tea. That’s a guessing though. I think it’s def. more exciting… but beware, K-entertainment is contagious. LOL

        You might get a clear case of Korean-something xD

        Btw, have you ever watched a K-film? I think you will enjoy the real hardcore ones. They master the vengeance film genre.

        • Rodrigo says:

          @amy, I could give RM a shot.

          K-films, only one because it was on MUBI for free. About some crazy bitch that entered as a maid, if my memory serves right. Was it South Korean? I can’t remember, but it was from the 60’s.

        • amy says:

          @rodrigo, that was The Housemaid. It was actually just remade in a newer slicker version LOL – You should try to check out Park Chan Wook when you have the time. Staple crazy Kfilm Oldboy is eff up beyond belief. Like, seriously. No spoilers. That movie you cannot watch with spoilers.

          There were a lot of good suggestions on the Korean Film Blogathon if you ever need a good starting point.

        • Rodrigo says:

          @amy, I wanted to see Oldboy one day, but then I got lazy and forgot about it.

  2. Camiele says:

    Oh, Family Outing. Yeah, you sorta need to be eased into that one. It helps if you are a Kpop fan, though I don’t think it should at all be some sort of prerequisite.

    As far as intros into anything Asian, anime isn’t necessarily the best starting point. If you’re interested in pop music in general, you may just expand your tastes to stretch past the US seeing as the days “good” pop music may have come and gone…well, at least for the time being, there doesn’t seem to be an overwhelming desire to go back to quality as regards the pop scene. Anyway, my introduction to anything Asian related came with the original Iron Chef…go figure.

    I’d suggest X-Man, because that’s actually a game show and game shows are meant to be over the top, so it helps to adjust to the EPIC of other Korean shows…HaHa.

    • amy says:

      @Camiele, I LOVE Iron Chef. Not the wishy washy American version, but the funny American-dub Japanese version. I used to watch that all the time on the Food Network when I was living in Canada hahahaha.

      I got into Kpop after I got into Family Outing haha.

      • Camiele says:

        @amy, YES! Another IC fan! I literally got into Kpop because of Julz and that damn DBSK! I know…shocking…HaHa. I really didn’t know much of anything about Korean culture (except from my brother and one of his friends who’s Korean-American). So, like, kimchi and bboys (which, by the way, are rampant in Korea…who knew?!)

        I was really all Japanese…HaHa. It was Iron Chef then it was Cowboy Bebop…hook, line, sinker…dead!

        It was only a matter of time before I got some Kpop in my system. Now, I’m sick all the time…HaHa!

        • amy says:

          @Camiele, if you liked the cooking aspect of IC – you should check out all the Asian food dramas they have. My fave, though I’m biased, is Osen. Short series, only about 10-episodes so it’s easy to watch.

          I had a lot of Korean friends, so I kinda got easy access to Kfood and all for a while, but it wasn’t until my a friend from high school + Julz that I watched FO, and then I had the munchies for Kfood and then laughing at/with Hyori and Daesung, I got into Kpop.

      • Rodrigo says:

        @amy, “I got into Kpop after I got into Family Outing haha.”

        May I ask: Isn’t that a very odd route to get into Kpop? Lol.

        • amy says:

          @Rodrigo, I mean – I knew Kpop. I listened to Bi and SeoTaiji back in 2004 but I just… listened to it. It was a thing there. Years passed, I had my Swedish phase circa 2007, which Julz knows all about.

          But then it was Diana on FB posting all this Family Outing clips saying how funny it was, laughing in type “hahahaha” with her sister talking about the latest episode, and then I finally click the video, and I was like… OMG, this is so funny. xD At that time it was easier to watch though, because the episodes were on YouTube so you didn’t have to download.

          Then it was all sort of doing references, and not getting what the joke was about and wanting to get on it. LOL Then I was like, Oh Hyori you’re so funny I have no idea what you do, so you went on a look her up – ended up on one of her videos… and it was Britney all over again. LOL You can actually find that blog posts if you know what to look for xD

          And also, Haru Haru (Big Bang) is a really good pop song. LOL

        • ersby says:

          @Rodrigo,
          I got into korean stuff after watching We Got Married (which, by the way, I don’t think you’d like). After that I tried Running Man, and then Family Outing. The thing about both of those shows is that their first episodes are quite weak. RM doesn’t really get going until up 5, I think. Family Outing, though, is pretty addictive once you get going and after you know who every one is.

    • Rodrigo says:

      @Camiele, I never said anime was the best starting point. But it’s one of them. Some go first with the Salior Moons and Dragonballs of the world when you’re young. Then if you give a fuck about the country, you get into their music and so on until somehow you reach Kpop or Krock, I assume.

      And for my music taste, I’m mostly into alternative rock, mainstream or indie. Pop isn’t much my thing, but I don’t really hate it.

      Sure I could watch a Korean show by suggestion, but I can’t see myself giving a shit about the Kpop idols unless something extremely drastic happens and somehow they mold into my “give a fuck” factor. Fanboys and fangirls (anywhere) are mostly a turnoff for me, with a few exceptions, but that would be another conversation.

      • @Rodrigo, HaHa! I hear ya, I hear ya. Just making a suggestion. I actually just watch the shows for how crazy they are. I didn’t realise they were vehicles for Kpop stars, really. I just though Kpop stars just so happened to be guests.

        BTW, I wasn ‘t suggesting that you said anime was the best way, just saying out loud what I was thinking…that anime may even be a stretch for getting a head start into the Asian entertainment culture. Anyway, you’re right that it does sort of require you to have at least a passing interest in the country to even bother.

        Like I said, if you’re into pop in any way, getting into Kpop is just a simple desire to get away from the so-called pop scene of the US in search of something more interesting or actually of quality…though from what I understand from other Kpop fans, the pop industry has kind of been fizzling a little bit for the past two years. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there.

        I tend to ignore “fangirls/boys” because they’re completely irrational, not able to see any faults in their idols whatsoever…or to even understand WHY they love them so much without going all OHMYGODUSNILOVETHEMRAWR on your face…so, yeah…I can see how that could be a major turnoff for outsiders taking a peek in…HaHa.

        On a side note…I think someone should explore the fangirl/boy culture…especially what’re called the sasaeng fans and the anti-fans. I’m pretty sure those crop up in all cultures, but it’s especially frightening in Kpop…anyway, you’re right, another conversation for another time.

        Sorry this response was so long…trying to hit all the points…HaHa.

        • amy says:

          @Camiele White, you are really too far gone. LOL Sasaeng fans? xD

        • Rodrigo says:

          @Camiele White, I said pop isn’t my favorite genre. I’m not going to succumb to Kpop anytime soon – at best I might listen to a few songs if I feel bored. Their production values are great from the little I heard, but their lyrics might be another story.

          Wtf is a sasaeng? To me, the word itself sounds lke a beverage, lol.

  3. Camiele says:

    @amy, look! I just read about it like a week ago. I didn’t realise there was actually a name for it until then, so :-P

    Of course, you’re completely right. I’m absolutely too far gone! HaHa!! Look, I’m a fast learner. What can I say?

  4. Camiele says:

    @ Rodrigo, a sasaeng is an obsessed fangirl/boy who camps out at their favourite idols’ homes, snaps photos of them every single where they go, sends them bloody letters and samples of their hair…you get the gist. Basically, fucking nuts as fucking fuck! Though, these chicks and dudes may be drinking a little too much special sauce in the first place…so maybe that’s why the name sounds like a bad cocktail…? HaHa.

    Anyway, yes stay AWAY from Kpop. Save your soul…please! Lyrically…tain’t too bad. From the one group that I listen to (so, techincally, I guess I’m not THAT obsessed with Kpop), their lyrics tend to be VERY metaphorical and dramatically poetic. But, please, save yourself from the madness, because it can (and does from what I’ve seen) get ugly. HaHa.

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