How Korea’s “My Little Television” Became “Celebrity Show-Off” in the U.S.

By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
June 23, 2020

“Celebrity Show-Off” is the latest American TV series based on a Korean variety show. Hosted by Mayim Bialik (“The Big Bang Theory,” “Beaches”) and featuring celebrities from music, television and sports, the series kicks off on June 23.

The variety show is based on the South Korean MBC series “My Little Television,” which stars An Yu-Jin and Kim Gu-Ra.

This U.S. show will feature celebrities — Diplo, Jason Mraz, Ja Rule, Bella Thorne, Action Bronson, Gabi Butler, Dwight Howard, Travis Kelce, Nene Leakes, Kevin Smith, Tori Spelling, and Bruce Willis’ and Demi Moore’s daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis — competing from their own homes to see who can produce the most entertaining content. They’ll showcase their talents online and engage with the public on social media, before having each episode televised.

The better each celebrity does, the longer they will remain on the series and the more money they will raise for their designated charities.

Executive producer Craig Plestis is hoping that lightening will strike twice. He previously had success with “The Masked Singer,” which he adapted from the Korean variety show “The King of Mask Singer.”

On that series, celebrities hidden by masks and costumes sing for a panel of well-known judges, who try to guess each guest’s identity based on their performances, physical manners and hints that are sprinkled through the episodes. My personal preference is the Korean version, which invites a higher caliber of guests on the show to perform than its U.S. counterpart.

Not only have idols such as BTS‘ Jungkook and S59’s Rowoon competed, but guests have included international superstars such as “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds (who later appeared on “Running Man“).

“My Little Television” combines elements of online streaming with a televised variety series. Since its debut in February 2015, the series attracted viewers who were intrigued by the real-time elements. Monsta X‘s Shownu appeared on an episode where he described video of him working out as “slow content” — things that viewers could do to emulate him. After the footage aired online, fans immediately began interacting with the idol. One noted, “It this a gym or the Louvre?” while another described the singer’s body as perfect just like a statue.

You wouldn’t think that such a fun show could cause any controversy. But just a few months after the series premiered in 2015, Twice‘s Taiwanese member, Tzuyu, found herself in hot water for doing nothing wrong. Just 16 years old at the time, she enthusiastically introduced herself to viewers and held up the Republic of China flag (also known as the flag of Taiwan) along with the South Korean flag. A Taiwanese-born but China-raised entertainer named Michael Huang An — who is vocally anti Taiwan — attacked Tzuyu online, accusing her of being anti-mainland China.

That a 52-year-old man would attack a child is bad enough. But he encouraged Chinese netizens to campaign against her. It got so out of hand that Tzuyu lost her endorsements in China, had her activities there canceled and had to release an apology video.