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Star Café Star

Many variety shows were losing ground to YouTube and cable channels, which provide more satisfying content because they are exempt from various Korea Communications Commission regulations. However, this show still maintained its popularity. 

Usually, talk shows were frantic about inviting top celebrities, focusing on what the stars wanted to say over what the audience wanted to hear. But the show 'Star Café Star' had a casual atmosphere, like they were actually in a café talking about gossip or other things that the audience wanted to know. 

The show's unique strength is that it boldly invites attractive rookies, not just well-known stars, and asks them questions that no other show dares to ask. 

'Fastball' questions were the main feature of this show, and they helped it survive while other talk shows were closing down. 

The producer of this popular show, Jang In-soo, has recently been pondering on 'change,' as media trends were changing rapidly, and he believed that the broadcasting system has to keep up with them. 

However, as various laws constrained the official broadcasting system, he came up with the idea of inviting various guests as a workaround. 

He focused on inviting guests rarely seen in other media, 'discovering' new figures by drawing out their unique sides.

And Kyu-ha was on his radar. 

After the show’s meeting, someone brought up the popular recently released movie 'In the Name of the Devil' during lunchtime. 

"Did you watch 'In the Name of the Devil'? I went to see it with my husband last weekend. Oh my god! It's soooo exciting. You should watch it too!!"

The show’s writer Choi Su-jin, known as the "Big Sis," was talking excitedly to the junior writers.

"Oh, my. Unni, did you also watch it? I also heard it was great and went to watch it. I was sooo into it. Producer Jang, did you watch it?"

"Nah, I don't have time to go to the cinema. But it sounds like I should give it a try. I'll check it out after work today."

Jang In-soo went to watch 'In the Name of the Devil' as a late-night movie after he got off work. He sat on the H8 seat, the best spot. 

"This is a hit!"

As one would expect, he imagined the cast of this film on Star Café Star.

"This is so fresh! Something new! I'm going to make it happen."

During their meeting the next day, they planned a special episode for 'actors yet nobodies' and called the agencies of the actors in 'In the Name of the Devil,' Jung Se-ho, Lee Seung-ku, and Song Kyu-ha. 

All three eventually agreed to be on the show, and the team began to gather information about them to prepare a pre-interview.

Usually, the Star Café startup team researches their guests thoroughly and digs up such massive information that leaves even the guests themselves astonished. 

Then, they conduct the pre-interview after collecting a certain amount of data.

Choi Su-jin, the chief writer, usually leads the pre-interview as she is attentive and can tell a lot about a person when she does their pre-interview due to the experience she has gathered from interviewing many people. 

'This person is the star of this episode.'

She conducted pre-interviews with Jung Se-ho, Lee Seung-ku, and Song Kyu-ha from 'In the Name of the Devil,' who had confirmed their appearance previously. The first two ended smoothly.

Actors typically behave rudely as if their status as celebrities confers power on them. Still, these two were polite throughout the encounter, leaving Choi Su-jin with a good feeling.

Jung Se-ho didn't talk much but was a good listener with a unique sense of humor that made people laugh occasionally. 

Unlike how he seems, Lee Seung-ku is talkative and a bit awkward with everything, a characteristic that makes him beloved in a variety show. 

And lastly, Song Kyu-ha. 

The Star Café Star writers, with the wealth of information resources at their disposal, could not get much on him. 

They knew his debut was 'Palace of Blood Sea,' but couldn't figure out how he had gotten the role or what his job was before becoming an actor. 

They eventually gave up on gathering information about him through research, and Choi Su-jin decided to find out through the pre-interview session.

Tut-tut

The phone rang, and Kyu-ha picked it up. 

"Yes, hello."

"Hi! This is Choi Su-jin, the writer of Star Café Star."

"Ah, thank you for calling. I'm Kyu-ha Song. I was informed that you would call me."

"Right. Can I do a pre-interview session with you in preparation for the next week's show?"

"Yes, sure."

"Okay. I'll start."

Choi Su-jin began to list all the questions she had prepared in advance. 

The first was the most common question, but it was a must-ask. 

"When and how did you start acting?"

"Um… Where should I start… Director Ji Yeong-seok is a friend of my former boss, and he asked for help filming a double. And that led to everything."

Choi Su-jin was eager to discover anything she could about him as she knew little about Kyu-ha. As time passed and more questions were answered, Su-jin began to better understand the type of person Kyu-ha was. 

And the more she knew him, the more she realized his life was extraordinary. 

She admired his resilience because he had lived a life that would have caused others to collapse. 

With a bright tone, Choi Su-jin asked a question, interrupting the solemn atmosphere. 

"Ah! Mr. Kyu-ha, do you have any personal talent that you can show? If there's none, you don't have to do it."

"Tricks… Well, sculpting… um.. playing violin, throwing chopsticks… leaf flute… do those count?"

"Huh? Hahahaha, you're funny. Sure, they do! The audience loves when the guests do something hard but awkward. We'll make it simple, so please feel free to show us."

The pre-interview went longer than planned, but it was finally done after three hours. 

"Mr. Kyu-ha, thank you so much for your time. We'll see you next week."

"Yes, thank you."

Choi Su-jin clenched her fist after she hung up. She could sense that he would be a great hit with the audience. 

"Next week is going to be a hit. The guests are brand new, and there are many stories. How should I write the script? First, I'll summarize the interviews and report them to Producer Jang."

Choi Su-jin hurried to the meeting room excitedly. 

***

Filming day of Star Café Star

The three show hosts were seated after checking their clothes. 

They were Choi Jong-hwan, the nagger; Kwak Kyung-ho, the smasher; and Tak Seong-min, the leader who controls the whole flow. Three of them cross checked their scripts to be sure they were ready. 

Producer Jang In-soo soon shouted out the signal to start. 

"Okay, camera on the roll!"

The opening of the Star Café Star began playing after his call. 

Choi Jong-hwan: Today, we'll start the show with a letter from our crew.

Sorry… We've been harsh to you recently, saying that you're not funny enough.

You're not one of the top-rated stars… We must have thought wrong.

Don't feel the pressure; just do what you're good at.

They described the Star Café Star show as second-tier, with a self-deprecatory sense of humor.

Kwak Kyung-ho: I mean, our crew is losing faith in us? Don't say things like this in front of our guests, for goodness' sake!

Tak Seong-min: Alright! Let's introduce our guests! They are supporting actors here to promote a film without the lead actor, and all three are hardly seen on TV variety shows!

Jung Se-ho! He has returned with a film after his rise in drama, 'Rolling in Wreck'!

Lee Seung-ku! It's hard to find movies without him these days after '12 Years of Anonymous Life,' our all-time best-seller! 

Song Kyu-ha! Our mysterious actor! Who the hell is this person?

After the brief introduction, the three of them sat down in order. The awkward ambiance made Jung Se-ho and Lee Seung-ku visibly nervous. 

"I can tell that you are new to the entertainment show. By the way, we love these kinds of prey. Please introduce yourselves."

"Nice to meet you all! I played Ahn Kyu-nam in the movie 'In the Name of the Devil,' who is a reclusive killer."

"Hi, all! I'm charming Lee Seung-ku, who plays the cold-hearted killer boss Cha Ki-pyo of 'In the Name of the Devil.'"

"Let me introduce myself. I'm the new actor Song Kyu-ha, who plays the role of a mad killer Jung Won-geun,"

The malicious Kwak Kyung-ho had been staring at the guests fiercely, and he pointed at Kyu-ha.

"Oh my, look at your eyes. They're different. Unlike a rookie, you aren't nervous, are you?"

"Haha. I don't show much, even when I am nervous. Thank you for cutting me some slack."

"See that? The rookies usually feel embarrassed when I suddenly talk to them, but you remain calm."

The hosts thought rookie actor Kyu-ha would be an easy target, so they directed the bulk of their questions at him, only to be surprised that he answered them without fuss. This made them turn their focus to Lee Seung-ku.

"Mr. Lee Seung-ku, your film from last year has largely failed, right? What do you think was the reason?"

"Um… that's not my fault…."

"Ah, so you're saying you did well. So was it because of the main actor?"

"No! Not at all! I respect actor Lee Sung-min a lot."

After several unreciprocated attacks, Jung Se-ho and Lee Seung-ku began to adjust to the vibe, and the show’s flow started to heat up as they counter-attacked, making it more lively and fun. 

"Alright! Let's see most of you today, as we'll be hard-pressed to get in touch with you after the film-promoting season. Please show your talents. Let's start with Mr. Jung Se-ho!"

"Oh?! I haven't prepared anything… I can sing something!"

"Singing it is! Open the stage, please!"

The iconic stage of the Star Cafe Star opened up, and Jung Se-ho stepped nervously onto it. As he was a calm actor, the hosts expected him to sing a ballad, but they burst into laughter when he started singing the melody of a funny, loud song.

"Ahhahaha, this is so fun. Mr. Jung Se-ho, you can release an album. This is a great start. Next up, Mr. Lee Seung-ku?”

Lee Seung-ku mimicked the senior actors in the industry. He mimicked their features well but was somewhat awkward in his presentation, which made it more fun to watch.

"It would have been a shame if we didn't see all these. The last one is Mr. Song Kyu-ha…. Are you feeling the pressure?"

Kyu-ha smiled calmly and responded. 

"I’m not good at making people laugh like the other two, so I’ll show you some things I’m good at.”

“Oh?! What's your specialty? Let's see."

Jong-hwan looked down at his script and looked astonished.

“Swiftly cutting meat, sculpting other people's faces, putting out candles with chopsticks, playing the leaf flute..."