Outrageously brave. This series is not centered around love, but rather the sincerity behind love. Cindy's charm, Joon-Mo's heart, Ye-Jin's honesty, and Seung-Chan's caring, these beautiful elements are what make our imagination fertile, and our hearts race. These beautiful elements, are the manifestation of our sincerity. A great drama.
20 Reviews
Start off good but dips in quality
letuannghia8 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The Producers' first two episodes feel fresh and exciting by using a mockumentary style reminiscent of The Office. It focuses a lot on satirizing the entertainment industry. Yet because of the low ratings among South Koreans, the show swaps out the director and it becomes more or less a typical romantic Kdrama, containing all the tropes you can name.
In that way, the characters that seem interesting at first got their development bogged down by the love triangle (or rectangle) that seems really out of place. The only character that is properly developed is Cindy, ironically the most unrelatable character at first. Her arc is the only reason I kept watching (also the fact that I'm a big IU fan).
Overall the show, though bogged down by the romance, has its wholesome and hilarious moments (the cameos are the best), acted by a good ensemble cast, and its 12 episodes length is just enough for a quick watch.
This TV series is very interesting, it is very suitable for watching without meals.
ccandlily17 March 2020
I like watching Korean TV shows very much because Korean TV shows are always easy and fun. Modern people always have all kinds of pressures. After returning home after a day of work, they often don't want to do anything deliberately, just want to rest. At this time, if there is a funny and relaxed TV show, it is best to relax. For me, "Producer" is such a TV series. If you want to understand how Korean film and television works, you can watch this TV series, which describes the Korean film and television circle realistically. But it also has different smiles and tears.
Good enough
PennyReviews29 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Even though the producers is a short drama (only twelve episodes!) and most of the story is occupied by the variety shows and the mentions of the celebrities that were currently the talk of the city, the rest of the drama was satisfying enough. The main story is the struggles of a rookie PD who works on a sinking variety show. Now, the romance was so-so, but, thankfully, it developed the way I wanted it to develop ( I can't describe it better as I'll give away too many spoilers). Anyway, the chemistry between the rookie PD and his senior wasn't that good in order for the drama to have a strong romantic vibe. But I did loved the female leads performance, even though the rookie PD was a little awkward and I would have liked for him to have done a better job if possible. IU was okay, but I haven't watched her yet on other dramas so I don't know if she can do better. Another thing that bothered me was the constant mentions on variety shows and celebs. I knew some of them, so I could keep up, but if someone didn't, I think it would have been awkward for him to watch this drama, though it wouldn't effect the main plot or made it difficult to keep up. But, all in all, I did enjoy the multiple stories that overlapped one another and the drama was entertaining enough to keep the interest high till the end. So, 6 out of 10.
An intelligent and unconventional K-drama that's as terrific as it is polarizing.
cremea20 June 2015
Producer (i.e. The Producers): 12 episode 2015 Korean TV drama centered on the backstage efforts and personal lives of various Korean variety & reality show producers, writers, and stars.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Story: This is an innovative and unusual show; it's a K-drama at heart, but, it's also partly an inner workings glimpse into Korean variety/reality TV programming, and part self-parody of that world. The story follows 4 main characters; two show Producing Directors (PD's) in their mid-thirties, a younger PD intern, and a young singer-idol, that all work in the Korean entertainment industry in some capacity. The show follows the personal & professional lives of these people, and those people around them, while mixing comedy, romance, and drama amongst them.
'The Producers' starts off a little unevenly but everything settles in quickly enough, and this show really takes off during episodes 3-4however, it is important to mention that this show also changed directors around this time (in what has to be one of the most ironic cases of life imitating art I've ever seen). There is a change in tone that comes with the change of directors, but it's not unusual for K-dramas to have tonal shifts like this anyway. I rather liked the basic groundwork the first director implemented, but I really enjoyed where the second director took the story once the baton was passed.
The main cast is great. The 2 older PD's are played by actor Cha Tae Hyun and actress Gong Hyo Jin. The young PD intern is played by actor Kim Soo Hyun, and the idol-singer is played by idol-singer IU. If you don't recognize all 4 of these people, you're not paying nearly enough attention to the Korean entertainment industry as you should be. Tae Hyun & Hyo Jin are both highly experienced and seemingly so at ease with any role they are tasked with; as expected, they each do very good work here, both separately and together, and they play off one other extremely well. As for the younger stars; all the Korean girls know who Soo Hyun is by now, and every Korean under the age of 50 knows who IU is at this point. I particularly enjoyed watching these two play mostly against type; he as the shy & awkward guy, and she as the alter ego version of her own public persona.
Supporting cast is rock solid, as is the story, writing, direction, production values, and just about everything else going on with this show. The soundtrack is terrific and very well implemented, and the endless amount of guest stars, cameos, name dropping, career stories, inside jokes, and so forth, is nothing short of spectacular. The camera angles can be a bit off putting at times due to the purposeful intent to portray a typical K-drama as some sort of reality show about people working on reality showsit's often reminiscent to how the British/American show 'The Office' was shot in this aspect.
The last K-drama I can think of that was similarly hyped as 'The Producer' was 'You Who Came From The Stars', and ironically, both shows feature Kim Soo Hyun in a leading role. Both shows share a common quality aside from that actor though, and that is they are each somewhat polarizing "Love It or Hate It" type shows. I wasn't particularly a fan of 'You Who Came From The Stars', though I didn't outright hate it nor did I give it a scathing review. I've heard and read a lot of comments from many viewers who loved 'YWCFTS' (and similar type shows) however, that just do not like 'The Producers' at all; they find 'The Producers' boring, not melodramatic enough, don't like how Soo Hyun's character is portrayed, etcthey don't think 'The Producers' is as good as everyone thinks it is. But, these people are wrong, because 'The Producers' is goodreally good.
This show seems not to care which direction the audience wants the show to go in...it's going to tell its story the way they want. Of course, if the ratings would have stunk, that wouldn't have been the case. I like this approach A LOT and I'd like to see it done more often. It pleases me greatly that this show was well received by many viewersnot just because I liked it and want others to agree, but because Korean TV desperately needs dramas like this to be successful. I've always felt that more diversity was in order within the K-drama world, and this show is quite different from the norm in so many ways. It still retains a K-drama feel and format, but I think this could be a pivotal show in helping change the industry for the better. Not every K-drama show needs to be (virtually) the same story over and over again in order to be accepted, and KTV land might find an audience they never even knew existed if they continue to try taking a more intelligent and adult approach to some of these shows. As for those of you who didn't like the show for the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraphGet over it!...There are hundreds of shows that fit your preferred criteria both past & present, and I can assure you that's not going to change (nor should it) anytime soon.
Summary: Personally, I loved it!...There's no question it's quite well done overall, and it is jammed packed full of extra goodies for long time fans of the Korean entertainment industry. And, if you happen to like both Korean variety/reality shows & K-dramas, it's a real treat. It might not work all that well for the younger generation or those expecting a traditional K-drama format; it is often dialogue heavy, story driven, and very light on the flashiness and epic love story melodrama. In the end, it's just different, and that is perhaps its greatest attribute.
Bottom Line: 8.5 out of 10 stars!...VERY WELL RECOMMENDED!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Story: This is an innovative and unusual show; it's a K-drama at heart, but, it's also partly an inner workings glimpse into Korean variety/reality TV programming, and part self-parody of that world. The story follows 4 main characters; two show Producing Directors (PD's) in their mid-thirties, a younger PD intern, and a young singer-idol, that all work in the Korean entertainment industry in some capacity. The show follows the personal & professional lives of these people, and those people around them, while mixing comedy, romance, and drama amongst them.
'The Producers' starts off a little unevenly but everything settles in quickly enough, and this show really takes off during episodes 3-4however, it is important to mention that this show also changed directors around this time (in what has to be one of the most ironic cases of life imitating art I've ever seen). There is a change in tone that comes with the change of directors, but it's not unusual for K-dramas to have tonal shifts like this anyway. I rather liked the basic groundwork the first director implemented, but I really enjoyed where the second director took the story once the baton was passed.
The main cast is great. The 2 older PD's are played by actor Cha Tae Hyun and actress Gong Hyo Jin. The young PD intern is played by actor Kim Soo Hyun, and the idol-singer is played by idol-singer IU. If you don't recognize all 4 of these people, you're not paying nearly enough attention to the Korean entertainment industry as you should be. Tae Hyun & Hyo Jin are both highly experienced and seemingly so at ease with any role they are tasked with; as expected, they each do very good work here, both separately and together, and they play off one other extremely well. As for the younger stars; all the Korean girls know who Soo Hyun is by now, and every Korean under the age of 50 knows who IU is at this point. I particularly enjoyed watching these two play mostly against type; he as the shy & awkward guy, and she as the alter ego version of her own public persona.
Supporting cast is rock solid, as is the story, writing, direction, production values, and just about everything else going on with this show. The soundtrack is terrific and very well implemented, and the endless amount of guest stars, cameos, name dropping, career stories, inside jokes, and so forth, is nothing short of spectacular. The camera angles can be a bit off putting at times due to the purposeful intent to portray a typical K-drama as some sort of reality show about people working on reality showsit's often reminiscent to how the British/American show 'The Office' was shot in this aspect.
The last K-drama I can think of that was similarly hyped as 'The Producer' was 'You Who Came From The Stars', and ironically, both shows feature Kim Soo Hyun in a leading role. Both shows share a common quality aside from that actor though, and that is they are each somewhat polarizing "Love It or Hate It" type shows. I wasn't particularly a fan of 'You Who Came From The Stars', though I didn't outright hate it nor did I give it a scathing review. I've heard and read a lot of comments from many viewers who loved 'YWCFTS' (and similar type shows) however, that just do not like 'The Producers' at all; they find 'The Producers' boring, not melodramatic enough, don't like how Soo Hyun's character is portrayed, etcthey don't think 'The Producers' is as good as everyone thinks it is. But, these people are wrong, because 'The Producers' is goodreally good.
This show seems not to care which direction the audience wants the show to go in...it's going to tell its story the way they want. Of course, if the ratings would have stunk, that wouldn't have been the case. I like this approach A LOT and I'd like to see it done more often. It pleases me greatly that this show was well received by many viewersnot just because I liked it and want others to agree, but because Korean TV desperately needs dramas like this to be successful. I've always felt that more diversity was in order within the K-drama world, and this show is quite different from the norm in so many ways. It still retains a K-drama feel and format, but I think this could be a pivotal show in helping change the industry for the better. Not every K-drama show needs to be (virtually) the same story over and over again in order to be accepted, and KTV land might find an audience they never even knew existed if they continue to try taking a more intelligent and adult approach to some of these shows. As for those of you who didn't like the show for the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraphGet over it!...There are hundreds of shows that fit your preferred criteria both past & present, and I can assure you that's not going to change (nor should it) anytime soon.
Summary: Personally, I loved it!...There's no question it's quite well done overall, and it is jammed packed full of extra goodies for long time fans of the Korean entertainment industry. And, if you happen to like both Korean variety/reality shows & K-dramas, it's a real treat. It might not work all that well for the younger generation or those expecting a traditional K-drama format; it is often dialogue heavy, story driven, and very light on the flashiness and epic love story melodrama. In the end, it's just different, and that is perhaps its greatest attribute.
Bottom Line: 8.5 out of 10 stars!...VERY WELL RECOMMENDED!
Producers produce production
alaningle76 August 2020
With an outstanding cast like this I had high expectations but did not enjoy it as much as I hoped. The documentary style of individuals being interviewed and asked how they feel is overworked and just breaks up the story and flow. It is of course well acted with the quality of the cast and the parts where they interact without talking to camera makes it watchable.
Awe inspiring
emoretejiri8 January 2021
What an amazing show this was. The humor was brilliant. Not slapstick but rather understated and relied more on timing and the interactions of the leads in almost normal circumstances ie ones that seem natural. The leads where absolutely brilliant. A great show with amazing production given the filming concept too almost office like.
Overall, a very light hearted drama
Hamburgersandsprite4 April 2023
To be honest it's not very amazing and stuff, I'd rate it a 7 out of 10.....It's a very light hearted drama with no major plot twists.... I would recommend it's a good drama to watch after you have watched something very intense and emotional 🤷♀️, so in that way, this drama would help you forget about it and also help to recover from the K drama withdrawal syndrome😂and I think that Seong Chan and and Cindy did end up together though it was not shown clearly in the ending, but let's just keep it that way...😂 A pretty good drama with great humour....really liked the cast, and great acting...! I really loved IU throughout the drama loll.
Wonderful Story-telling
mysafeshop7 October 2020
If I had given up after the first episode I would have missed out on a wonderful experience - luckily I gave it 11 more chances and ended up laughing, giggling, and smiling through tears through the different episodes following the main characters evolving from being overly cynical and mischievous to more wholesome and considerate - and a bit less mischievous.. There are so many fine and tender moments in the visual story-telling as well as good old-fashioned comedy scenes I wont mind revisiting this comedy drama a couple more times - much like picking up a good book again which you know wont disappoint you.
I love the natural settings, as well as the score and needless to say I find the actors deliver a great performance be it comic, tender or serious in nature. Much appreciated.
Awkward sometimes
vircosglm8 May 2023
Awkward sometimes. Why? The movie was not bad. This "newbie", although in his role he is presented as a smart guy, they took his shyness to stupidity. I think he play very badly in this movie. His smile, his walk his way of being around people, made me rate this movie with only 7 stars. I know it's not his fault, but because of the way he play, he made the movie difficult and unpleasant to watch for me. He wasn't the only problem. I like their movies. I follow them. ...but I think they exaggerate their gestures, the way they speak and a few other things, which make them seem like weak actors. There are some among them who shine as actors, but I think the problem is the way they think they should act in movies, especially in comedy roles.
Edgy for Korean dramas
benny-7283524 May 2021
Depicting stories in a fake documentary way was always brilliant to me, though that may be common for American drama, it indeed is a rare element for Korean dramas. I admire the courage of the crew for making it edgy, and the result was they did an amazing job. It not only reminds me of the light and cozy atmosphere I felt in "the office" but it also showed me again of Koreans' nature, emotion's magicians, how good they are in making ppl cry.
Perfect
johnpalancarey7 December 2020
I love the ending!!
iamangeldiamond6 December 2020
I love this kdrama, changing my perspective on the world of work. Currently I will graduate and start entering the world of work. I felt that I chose the wrong course in the past. but after watching this, I have a new view.
One of the most charming and sweet Korean drama and very different Korean drama please watch till the end you will not be disappointed
nmsahu-8519324 September 2020
It has a very very amazing cast and parade of cameos this series is very unique from other Korean dramas it's very unique its bit slow but you will love and want more from this series this series has one of my favourite actors and actresses one of the sweetest series I ever seen
Intelligent Drama. Motivational. Funny and Edgy
11ovz116 September 2021
This kind of reminded me of The Office. The interview/documentary perspective made it feel like these characters were very real.
The drama is unique. The characters were not black or white and actually had many edges and depths to them. Loved Baek Seungchan character of Kim Soohyun. He was the comedic relief in the drama. He was very charming yet childish and naïve with a sly trolling side to him. If you are a Kim Soohyun fan, this character is really different to all the other roles he had played.
I really liked Gong Hyojin's character as well. She is not your typical female lead who is very feminine and helpless. She was bossy and an alpha female.
The second lead, Cindy's character was not very well acted( Given it's an earlier role of IU this is passable. She only becomes better with each drama and her acting in My Mister is top notch!) but had a great story line. This character is our peek into the behind the doors of the celeb life. Also loved how the writers handled the "romance" between her and Baek Seunchan.
My favourite was the chemistry between Cha Taehyun's Junmo and Seungchan. They were hilarious together. Cha Taehyun had an excellent comedic timing. He was effortlessly funny.
It was a refreshing drama. There are many flaws in the drama of course. But overall it was nicely done.
The drama is unique. The characters were not black or white and actually had many edges and depths to them. Loved Baek Seungchan character of Kim Soohyun. He was the comedic relief in the drama. He was very charming yet childish and naïve with a sly trolling side to him. If you are a Kim Soohyun fan, this character is really different to all the other roles he had played.
I really liked Gong Hyojin's character as well. She is not your typical female lead who is very feminine and helpless. She was bossy and an alpha female.
The second lead, Cindy's character was not very well acted( Given it's an earlier role of IU this is passable. She only becomes better with each drama and her acting in My Mister is top notch!) but had a great story line. This character is our peek into the behind the doors of the celeb life. Also loved how the writers handled the "romance" between her and Baek Seunchan.
My favourite was the chemistry between Cha Taehyun's Junmo and Seungchan. They were hilarious together. Cha Taehyun had an excellent comedic timing. He was effortlessly funny.
It was a refreshing drama. There are many flaws in the drama of course. But overall it was nicely done.
A look Into The World Of Variety Shows
Chaokage8 August 2021
This one falls under the category of specialized series. It's like Start-up and Search WWW. I can say that those two were better than this one though. Still this series still worth the watch. You get an inside look on the lives of producers and their jobs. We also get to see an inside look in the lives of idols through IU's character. Overall, the series is worth the watch.
Not for the formula-dependent, vicariously self satisfaction seeking consumer
bricslove5 October 2023
The kind of person I described in the title is exactly the type to give a low rating to this show.
To me, the best though not the only indicator of a good show is this feeling you get early on that the staff, from the director to the script writer(s) to finally the cast have been on the same page and also on par in terms of their respective abilities and skills.
The people who came up with this show knew exactly what they had in their minds: what story they wanted to tell and how they wanted to tell it.
You have to have that down in the first place for there to be anything that cast is to understand.
There were two stories told in parallel and yet in touch with each other, often times through a third person's type of narration that blatantly drew that parallel and yet refrained from pedanticness.
What is love, what leads to it or how it starts, what kills it or feeds it, what it transforms into and the kinds of relationships that are just too complex for us to mold them into the tangibly limited contexts/worlds that words we try to represent them with allow us... are the questions that this show deals with as masterfully as a lighthearted show could while also uncovering some of the many layers of show business through the story of an agency as we peep into its bits through said agency's collaboration with the producers of a particular show on a popular national channel.
The inner workings of show business and variety shows have been successfully shown in this dramedy to an extent that's just the right amount for all of it to remain relevant and pertinent, with the aforesaid questions, never straying out of focus.
The story is realistic yet not boring. It doesn't impose, it asks and it explores. The direction is very skilled, the pacing is very nicely done, the actors are talented. The actors... they were simply breathtaking, including IU. They made their characters almost three dimensional.
Anyone who has a story to tell will not pander to the audience when all they ask for is another stupid romcom with 2D characters whose shoes they want to fill so much that they are not even properly developed or they are changed in design midshow just because the audience didn't like the story or the character for the kind of reasons that make you question their awareness as to its being someone else's work, art, and creative decision.
To me, the best though not the only indicator of a good show is this feeling you get early on that the staff, from the director to the script writer(s) to finally the cast have been on the same page and also on par in terms of their respective abilities and skills.
The people who came up with this show knew exactly what they had in their minds: what story they wanted to tell and how they wanted to tell it.
You have to have that down in the first place for there to be anything that cast is to understand.
There were two stories told in parallel and yet in touch with each other, often times through a third person's type of narration that blatantly drew that parallel and yet refrained from pedanticness.
What is love, what leads to it or how it starts, what kills it or feeds it, what it transforms into and the kinds of relationships that are just too complex for us to mold them into the tangibly limited contexts/worlds that words we try to represent them with allow us... are the questions that this show deals with as masterfully as a lighthearted show could while also uncovering some of the many layers of show business through the story of an agency as we peep into its bits through said agency's collaboration with the producers of a particular show on a popular national channel.
The inner workings of show business and variety shows have been successfully shown in this dramedy to an extent that's just the right amount for all of it to remain relevant and pertinent, with the aforesaid questions, never straying out of focus.
The story is realistic yet not boring. It doesn't impose, it asks and it explores. The direction is very skilled, the pacing is very nicely done, the actors are talented. The actors... they were simply breathtaking, including IU. They made their characters almost three dimensional.
Anyone who has a story to tell will not pander to the audience when all they ask for is another stupid romcom with 2D characters whose shoes they want to fill so much that they are not even properly developed or they are changed in design midshow just because the audience didn't like the story or the character for the kind of reasons that make you question their awareness as to its being someone else's work, art, and creative decision.
Good exploration of relationships
jaldred-6612031 December 2021
For a westerner the title sounds like a well known film. This is a comedy of relationships. Set in a TV station it explores relationships and the characters are well rounded, all having their good and sneaky momeents.
Well acted and the comedy came from the main characters not just the comic additions. Not sure why this has been overlooked. Less flashbacks than many even if the to camera moments are irritating. Well worth watching if you are looking for light entertainment.
Well acted and the comedy came from the main characters not just the comic additions. Not sure why this has been overlooked. Less flashbacks than many even if the to camera moments are irritating. Well worth watching if you are looking for light entertainment.
Worth Watching For Sure
davidcowley5110 September 2023
I have been intending to watch this show for quite a while now, mainly because of Lee Ji-eun (IU). Why her? I have watched "My Mister" twice and she is absolutely wonderful in that so I thought to myself 'How good was she in an earlier production?' Answer? She was very good in this. Cast as a pop idol she is perfect.
But the performances of the other cast members are also very commendable especially Kong Hyo-Jin. She is simply brilliant. As for the plot, well it drifts a bit hence the 8 star rating. And Kim Soo-Hyun is really overly shy to point of being madly so. His character annoyed me a lot because of his persistent apologising.
The humour was entertaining, the cast well chosen, acting quality was superb so overall a show well worth watching.
But the performances of the other cast members are also very commendable especially Kong Hyo-Jin. She is simply brilliant. As for the plot, well it drifts a bit hence the 8 star rating. And Kim Soo-Hyun is really overly shy to point of being madly so. His character annoyed me a lot because of his persistent apologising.
The humour was entertaining, the cast well chosen, acting quality was superb so overall a show well worth watching.
Come for IU, stay for the story.
shenxiaoting28 February 2024
I like a lot of people picked this drama up because It contains a favourite soloist of mine, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well put together it proved to be.
The characters are well written and interesting, and while the story is a little odd it's certainly a fun take on the standard romance genre.
The little dives into how broadcasting works in Korea also provided some good value and gave the show and even more unique feature.
Overall I quite enjoyed it; thus my rating of 8 stars out of 10, certainly a worthwhile drama if you are a fan of IU as-long as you don't mind a rather timid male lead (which lets be real you don't).
S. H.
The characters are well written and interesting, and while the story is a little odd it's certainly a fun take on the standard romance genre.
The little dives into how broadcasting works in Korea also provided some good value and gave the show and even more unique feature.
Overall I quite enjoyed it; thus my rating of 8 stars out of 10, certainly a worthwhile drama if you are a fan of IU as-long as you don't mind a rather timid male lead (which lets be real you don't).
S. H.
See also
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