Happy Tuesday K-poppers. The Uncle Fan is on a mini-diet as I prepare for the all-out gluttony that is Thanksgiving with my family. But before the holiday plans, we have to do another Confessions of an Uncle Fan to see what's happening in the world of girl groups (and other things as you'll see).
Cool Things of the Week
2NE1's New Single Coming Soon... But We Want More!
The tag team duo of Park Bom and Sandara Park announced on their 'Double Park' TV show that the ladies of 2NE1 would releasing the new single "Missing You" this Friday, November 22 (YG Entertainment has also been releasing audio teasers featuring each of the girls which you can find here, here, here, and here). That's great news but honestly, that's not what fans want. Well, speaking for me at least, what I want is a full album with more than 5 songs and a full return for the baddest female and crew. Stop rehashing year old singles ("Do You Love Me" comes to mind) to try and appease the unruly masses because we're not falling for it (although, I kind of did when it first came out)! I've made my feelings known on the way YG conducts their business and how they consistently push back start dates and make announcements without ever backing them up and it's come to the point where I don't ever believe anything that YG says until it actually happens. 2NE1 is the ultimate underutilized asset and that needs to change.
Celebrities Gambling with Their Careers
There have been a number of celebrities in the news recently but for all the wrong reasons as some of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry (Tony An, Andy, and Boom to name a few) have been the target of a large scale investigation of illegal gambling. While there are some exceptions, gambling is prohibited in Korea and these celebs have been accused of betting in the hundreds of thousands of dollars U.S. All of this really got started with well known MC Kim Yong Man admitting to gambling earlier this year and has now reached a peak with the latest indictments. Law enforcement loves to go after celebrities because they're high profile which brings attention to the law and sets an example for the rest (think Martha Stewart and insider trading). We'll see how this plays out but the trickle down effect has already started with many of the accused taking a "break" from working to "reflect" on their actions; which is code for: "I screwed up and need to get me a lawyer".
'Reply 1994' Hitting Its Stride
After a slow and boring start to the much anticipated drama 'Reply 1994', the show is finally starting to get good. With the increased drama and love lines between the characters, we're beginning to see some of the couples form which is setting the stage for what will happen in the future. One of my main problems though is still with the "present" scenes which are largely based on hiding the husband of Go Ara's character. For those who don't watch the drama, scenes will go back and forth from the present day when Go Ara is married to one of the characters to the past when that relationship is starting to form but the catch is, the audience isn't supposed to know who it is. I just think that plot is a little tired but I'm still watching so I guess I don't have that big a problem with it. Overall, I still don't buy the chemistry among many of the cast which I think is the main problem but as I said a few weeks ago, my expectations were just too high so I can only be but a little disappointed.
Previews for K-pop Star 3
The 3rd season of 'K-pop Star 3' premieres this Sunday and I'm looking forward to what has become my favorite of the audition shows. I am sorry to see BoA leave the show because I think she was a critical element but am excited to see what Yoo Hee Yeol will bring to the table. Let's see if the show can find the next big star.
Girl Group Variety Round-Up
A list of all the girl group appearances on variety shows (that I saw) last week
- 'Spring Summer Autumn Winter' - Sojung
- 'Happy Together' - Suzy, Fei, Minah, Eunji - I have a bone to pick with this episode. If you heard this guest line-up, you would naturally think that the episode would have been an uncle fan's dream but let me tell you, it was quite the opposite. Instead of focusing on the girls, the show invited actual uncle fans of the groups and devoted the majority of the show to them... What a waste!!! You have some of the most popular girl groupers in the world and you throw it all away by featuring these uber-nerds and their oily skin?! Uncle fans don't want to see other uncle fans, we want to see the girl groups! What a monumental letdown for what could have been an amazing episode.
- 'Weekly Idol' - IU
- 'Star King' - miss A, SPICA, Girls' Day, Crayon Pop, Hong Jin Young, Kahi
The Taeyeon Experiment
Each week I will post a picture from Taeyeon's Instagram feed in the hopes that one day she'll post a picture of herself reading this column.
We've all taken these kinds of pictures before, flicking friend's heads, squishing them with your fingers, and other strange acts but when you're Tiffany and Taeyeon, it looks like some avant-garde work of visual art... That was a little dramatic I admit but such is my affinity for Taeyeon.
Uncle Fan Mailbag
Sorry. "Nothing about Taeyang's comeback?"
-rideryoung11
I saw the replies to your comment about how I usually only write about girl groups and someone pointed out that I did mention the rumors about the g.o.d. comeback and how I only write about stuff I want to which is true. I write mostly about girl groups but I will throw in a few topics that interest me. As an older K-pop fan, g.o.d coming back interested me. Taeyang's comeback, not so much.
A Few Non-K-pop Related Things
I'm Not Catching the Fire
Maybe I'm not getting it but someone needs to tell me what's so good about the whole 'Hunger Games' phenomenon. I admit that I haven't read the books but I did see the first movie and even though I'm a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence, I thought it was really bland. Now that the sequel is coming out and all of the world is going crazy for it, I'd thought I'd just throw that question out there.
Why Not Just Move Christmas to November 1?
One of my biggest pet peeves is how early corporate America starts to "celebrate" Christmas and the holiday season. This was on full display on November 1 as I entered a local drugstore and saw the entire staff literally emptying the shelves of Halloween candy (yes... I bought a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups) and stocking them with Christmas candy. Then the next week I noticed Coca Cola was already rolling out its polar bear commercials which basically marks the start of the holiday season. It's just too early man.
Top 5 Girl Groupers Right Now
- miss A - Looking good in their new video
- Minzy - What's all the talk about plastic surgery? Looks the same to me
- Taeyeon - Put out a new TTS song or something because Japanese singles don't do it for me
- Kim Ji Min - The comedian is still the hottest funny girl in Korea
- Minah - She just want to buy her dad a new car... Good kid
Song of the Week
Brown Eyed Girls members Narsha and Miryo have teamed up to form the subgroup M&N and they just released their new single, "Tonight". The song is a little different from what I expected and much more of a lighter sound.
That's it for this week and the Uncle Fan will be taking a break next week as I prepare for Thanksgiving with the family, eating turkey and gravy until my stomach explodes. But, I think there might be a special guest writer filling in to get all of your boy band juices flowing so be sure to check in! Have a good one and see you in December.
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