After “The Sea of Hope”, “Le vie del gusto” also struggles to reach decent ratings, remaining around 1% despite its star-studded cast. The program has been criticized as yet another example of celebrities indulging under the guise of variety entertainment.
Kim Go-eun and Lee Ji-ah are known as close friends in the entertainment industry. Despite their significant age difference, they became close after a chance meeting in the United States, often showcasing their friendship through SNS posts of meals and trips. Since they share the same agency, they even posted vlogs of their joint trips to Las Vegas and Los Angeles through the agency’s official YouTube channel.
Three years ago, the two collaborated for a variety show titled “Sea of Hope”, in which celebrities such as Yoon Jong-shin, Onew, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun and Lee Ji-ah opened a small live bar in Pohang. by the sea, serving food and music to visitors.
However, despite its impressive lineup, “Sea of Hope” struggled with ratings, dropping as low as 0.9%. Critics attributed its failure to the show’s overly ambitious attempt to combine beautiful scenery, music, cuisine, and even ocean cleanliness, resulting in a lack of clear direction and a chaotic viewing experience.
Now, three years later, Kim Go-eun and Lee Ji-ah have reunited for “The Ways of Tasting,” marking their first regular variety show appearance since “Sea of Hope.” “The Ways of Tasting” shows the actresses’ special trip to visit famous restaurants and bars in Korea and Taiwan, pairing whiskey with food.
As of the second episode, the show has maintained a disappointing 1.1% viewership rating for two consecutive weeks. Airing on Sundays at 10.40pm with a rating of 19+, the programme’s performance is disappointing given the star power of the actresses.
“The Ways of Tasting” falls into the category of “celebrity indulgence” shows. The premise centers on Lee Ji-ah and Kim Go-eun eating and drinking at upscale restaurants and bars, but neither has in-depth knowledge of whiskey or culinary skills. Their one-line pairing ratings are predictable and lack depth.
Personal conversations between the actresses are also absent. The show simply features them tasting 16- or 21-year-old whiskeys and offering basic commentary, such as: “This whiskey pairs well with this dish.” Even the details of how they became friends – meeting by chance in the United States – are revealed by narrator Lee Sang-yeob rather than by the actresses themselves.
Focusing exclusively on high-end dining and exclusive menus, the show fails to spark interest in either the food or drinks. While Lee Ji-ah sheds her enigmatic image by performing a rap at “MAMA,” her unique charm is nowhere to be found in “The Ways of Tasting.” With no entertainment value or informational content, the show offers little to viewers, resulting in a painful setback for both actresses. It seems likely that this variety venture will once again end in failure for Lee Ji-ah and Kim Go-eun.
Source: Naver
