Ahn Jae-hyun lacked fresh appeal and Lee Joo-seung’s calm demeanor divided opinions, with viewers finding the content less engaging for a lively Friday night.
On the November 8 episode, “I Live Alone” aired scenes of Ahn Jae-hyun’s first wisdom tooth extraction and regular cast member Lee Joo-seung visiting wedding venues for the upcoming wedding of his older brother. Ratings for this episode were 5.7%, a decline of 1.1% from the previous week, reflecting an analysis that viewers found Ahn Jae-hyun’s subdued presence and quiet activities uninspiring daily newspapers by Lee Joo-seung.
The show had previously peaked at 7.9% during episode 543, which focused on the “Palm Oil” body presentation, generating considerable interest. In contrast, ratings hit a low of 5.1% in episode 564, featuring the daily life of NCT’s Doyoung and actor Cha Seo-won.
Now, about a month and a half after that episode, the November 8 episode has also underperformed, with Ahn Jae-hyun and Lee Joo-seung’s quiet energy failing to captivate viewers. Considering the nature of the Friday night slot, it’s disappointing that fresher, more dynamic content wasn’t presented.
Since his first appearance on the show in April, Ahn Jae-hyun has appeared in five episodes, including episodes 541, 545, 554, 563, and now 570. While the guest appearances are meant to add freshness, Ahn’s frequent appearances Jae-hyun have led to decreased curiosity among viewers. In the episode that aired in July, he went to hospital for a health check and this time had his wisdom teeth removed – content considered neither special nor particularly interesting.
Likewise, Lee Joo-seung’s episode failed to capture much attention, focusing on the simple process of him visiting wedding venues for his older brother. The calm tone seemed a little boring. Additionally, this episode aired at the same time as the popular SBS drama “The Fiery Priest 2,” which brought more laughter and excitement than the peaceful tone of I Live Alone.
Industry experts note that many celebrities are reluctant to appear on “I Live Alone.” High-profile stars worry about revealing too much about their private lives and some are concerned about excessive fan interest which could lead to stalking problems. Celebrities with more modest lives fear they won’t capture viewers’ interest, and some confess to TenAsia reporters that they fear their lack of activity at home will bore viewers.
As a result, the “I Live Alone” production team faces challenges in finding fresh new guests and is often forced to invite returning guests. Meanwhile, after having been on the air for over a decade since its debut in 2013, viewers are hoping for changes to keep the show fresh and engaging. It’s a time when going beyond the subtle calm and introducing something new seems essential.
Source: Naver
