Friday 9 October 2015

I am into Muhan Dojeon ( Infinity Challenge ) and why you should too!

When I finally get the chance to watch MuDo, I know I am one of those audience that is meant for MuDo, lols. As much as I love Running Man, for some time now, MuDo has become my favourite 'would be crazy if I miss an episode' kind of show. Now I don't even mind if I miss Running Man episode as long as I got to watch MuDo.

MuDo or Muhan Dojeon a.k.a Infinity Challenge is one of the most long-running entertainment shows from MBC. Now I say 'long-running' it doesn't mean it is always the best rated. Most of the time, I understand it got knocked down by it's time slot rival, Star King from SBS and 2 Days and 1 Night from KBS.  While its popularity does not suppress the popularity of Running Man, still being a Yoo Jae Suk's weekend show, it is a very very good show. While Running Man reached its 5th year anniversary MuDo has actually reached its 10th anniversary, can you believe this has been around for 10 years, with 448 episodes. Given that, MuDo does have its own group of followers.

Why did I decide to suddenly post about MuDo? 
I just thought that it is about time. Given now that MuDo finally has regular subbing I finally can recommend this show strongly. Another reason is that I see that even after how many 'crisis' and scandal MuDo went through lately and finally getting stable again I want to share how much I love this show.

If I remember correctly the first ever episode of MuDo I watched would be episode 248 (back in 2011) for no other reason than just to watch G-Dragon featured in. I totally fall for the all the regular cast/member... and Oh my God! They're freaking funny!! I thought I should watch older episodes but I realized they don't have regular subbing, even the DDDsub group was still in the process of subbing older episodes. At one point I gave up... because it was just so hard to find other episodes (the only subtittled was those featured people like Big Bang etc). But that is now old story, I think MuDo now finally found its place among international audience.

WARNING: This post will be picture heavy and I am big fan of GD, I mentioned GD a lot of time.

Muhan Dojean is a real-variety show that has its regular member/cast to take on challenges using DDD as their moto ' DIRTY, DANGEROUS, DIFFICULT'. As time goes by being 'Infinity Challenge' you will be surprise by the things they come up with. There's no simple way to describe MuDo as it is very narrative and depend on type of project. Even the episodes are not usually broadcasted chronologically, for example longterm project would usually broadcasted in parts and even postponed toward the actual end of the project (after a few months for example) so sometimes they have 'filler' episodes which feature a simple in-studio broadcast or 1 day race/game.

Now if you go to its Wikipedia page  you can find out details of its origins and main cast etc. When I started watching it the main cast were Yoo Jae Suk, Park Myungsoo, Haha, Jung Junha, Jung Hyungdon, Noh Hong Chul and Gil. When Haha enlisted for the army, Jun Jin Shinhwa was cast to replace Haha and that last for about 1 year and half. Then Gil from LeeSsang (yeah the one with Gary Running Man) become a permanent cast. After Haha discharged from the army, he was still casted making MuDo as 7 members show. But around late 2014, 2 of the member left (Gil and Noh Hong Chul) after got arrested for drunk-driving. It was heartbreaking for me, because thinking that they are finally getting bigger, now this happen.
Last April, Hwang Kwanghee from ZE:A joined through an audition project they ran as "Sixth Man" , yes... they parodied the movie 'Kingsman', you'll be surprise how much effort they put into making the parody... lols.

THE MEMBERS AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP
PD Kim TaeHo as SnowWhite, and Members as the dwarves from left; Gil, Jun Ha, Haha, Jaesuk, Myungsoo, Hong Chul and Hyung Don. Note that there is Haha's mom top left side of Gil's head, Jang Yoon Ju with the apple basket, Jun Jin as the Prince.
The main reason I watch the show is really because the dynamic of the relationship between the casts and images they put up in the show which at some point interface with their actual personality. Apparently given how usually 'sudden' the filmings were the cast wouldn't even bother to play up their character anymore, eg. camera showing up at home, cameras during brainstorming meeting. Even Kim Jong Kook as guest said that he had to control his 'temper' since MuDo doesn't really edit things out. I remember at some point Noh Hong Chul accidently pull down his pants... together with his underwear... o.O... of course they put a mosaic on, it still a family show. 
They don't mind making fun of each other at all on everything... From Junha 'Opposed Marriage', Myungsoo's 'No-kissing' marriage policy, Haha's and Hong Chul's actual breakup, Hyung Don 'Leaking house' to even Jaesuk's 'Lower Nipple' ... OH MY GOD!! after all that, Running Man making fun of Suk Jin's Big Nose is nothing... seriously...

 
Good example of trolling each other: making name for character on WM7 special ep 213

Haha mocking Hyung Don house

Hyungdon heard it


Noh Hong Chul's nickname, note: he had I think anal fistula, which the others make fun of.

this was before Junha was married...

Haha was referring to Jae Suk

Talk about relationship dynamic, funny how JaeSuk and Haha supposedly arguing like kids in RM like it's a thing, while in MuDo, Haha actually worshipped JaeSuk, like literally... he even said 'Jae Suk religion' and show all kind of natural 'kiddie' 'aegyo',haha!







 

Jaesuk baby-ing Haha... I ROFL watching this
 And to that, Jae Suk actually practice 'favouritism' with the other member as he always gives preferential treatment toward Haha... I can't even describe how hilarious when these situations comes up especially during brainstorming when other members ideas are ignored and rejected except for Haha... there is one occassion HyungDon's idea was rejected but when Haha said it, Jae Suk accept it! One among the many things I also enjoy seeing them doing parody and cross-dress... hahahahah!

 
Haha : *Merong*

CHARMING PROJECTS / Challenges
I also respect how the show has its own 'grace' and charms in terms of making project like for example after Gil and Noh Hong Chul got DUI, they actually did an episode 'testing' or prank the member to drink the night before scheduled filming.. like for real.. (ep 408 The Giant of Seduction)
From simple conversation and random comments, they actually led to crazy projects.. now this might be scripted but seriously, who cares if it was executed sooooo welllll!!!
Another thing is I am just genuinely impressed, at times speechless at just how random and wide ranged the projects are...like Haha's guerilla concert the day before he is actually went to the army, going to Alaska just to find someone with the name 'Kim Sang Duk' afterJae Suk mention this name 'jokingly' and then random sports like racing car and bobsled and even deliver foods around the world, Myungsoo actually almost
reach to South Pole, but he only manage as far as Puntas Arenas, Chile and only 'post' the item.... AMMMAAAZZZIIINGGG! I just thought, "you know these guys are no jokes.."Their PD Kim Taeho is such a genius to have this show.

Fun GUESTS
Lastly.... the guests!!! Amazed that they actually has Paris Hilton on the shows once...Thierry Henry... MC Hammer ... and Haha even went to Jamaica with Hong Chul, Hyungdon, and Skull (Haha's singing partner), to meet Usain Bolt. Not just that, I also really like how fun and variety is MuDo's network, from singer like G-Dragon (AHHHHH!! yes GD loves MuDo), actors like So Ji Sub, Jo Insung, Cha Seungwon (OMG again!!) model Jang Yoon Ju (I just love her), Hong Jin Kyung and of course lots and lots of comedians Kim Yeong Chul, Kim Jae Dong, Defconn and many more...They love to treat guest like regular members so obviously these guests does not get away from the constant 'mocking' and 'skull bomb icon' for trolls they get by MuDo.
Making fun of Yoon Ju

Jang Kiha and The Faces

GD Big Bang

Park Jisun (KBS Gag Concert)

Daesung Big Bang

Add caption

Baro B1A4

Jung Il Woo


Zion T (parody King of Masked Singer for 2015 Music Festival)

Oh Hyuk of Hyukoh

In Conclusion
I realize given the show's style, it can be difficult to follow, and it's not a show you fall for after 1 episode. A lot of mistake people do is actually watching their 1 day filler episodes, which usually quite lacking as they like to include conversations and jokes from daily lives which might not be relatable unless you're a MuDo fan.

I recommend that if you really new, have no idea at all about MuDo, start off with episode 400 and catch up to recent episode. While episode 400 did not features any 'fancy project' it reflect on the cast relationship and you got to see the casts reflect on how much they changed since starting on MuDo. From there you can continue to watch how they come up and organize ideas and execute them, and that was also around recent members changes.

You can start with the recent episode 449 as well, as it is again a 'project-planning' episode but I thought you might want to watch more materials to judge the show.
If you ambitious try to follow from when the show become big which was MuDo's 2013 Music festival which had GD and Boa (episode 346, 349, 351 to 354)... I think from there MuDo was subtittled regularly...

Then if you really fall for the show you can be like me scavenging for old episodes...

My Favourites:
I truly can't really shortlist my favourites, because it's too many, here is my top 5 in random order with some screen cap and I will also list some other worth to watch episodes.

Sixthman project: Parody on Kingsman to do audition for a new member since Noh Hong Chul left. Candidates are actually suggested from twitter post by fan and other than Kim Yeong Cheol, even  Siwon Suju also tweet to suggest himself as candidate, lols!! From finding the candidates to the actual challenge, you can't help but ROFL at how eager the candidates were (episode 419-424).



Kingsman "Manner makes a  man"

If only he was not on 2 days and 1 night, I did believe Defconn could make a great MuDo member

I never thought of Kwanghee before because he never been a guest on MuDo, but I do like him personally and with his 'very' frank remark and imperfectness, he fits just right with the other members.

WM7 : Wrestling special. Amazing how far they went to deliver a spectacular shows and actually do these crazy stunts... they actually practice for at least a year. Haha even join in halfway when he got discharged from army duties. (episode 205-211, 213-215). 














The Finale!

Calendar Model (2010):Parody on 'Next Top Model' for the annual MuDo's Calendar. This is how Haha and JaeSuk got closed to the model Jang Yoon Ju if you remember Running man ep. 47 and 259). Jang Yoon Ju is a charming 'variety'-like model and it was hilarious to see how 'serious' members tries to model. (ep 202-203, 218-219, 224-226)

One of the challenge including imitate actual painting


LOL!

Theme: Tough man


can you believe this was actually Noh Hong Chul



"If We Got Married" :supposedly parody of 'we got married' follows  as members matchmake Noh Hong Chul and Jang Yoon Ju (when she was still single of course!) and Gil with Song Euni and Kim Sook. Obviously my favourite was Jang Yoon Ju!(ep 363-365) 



Highway Music Festivals (every 2 years): this started out as a challenge to the members to come up with a song and do guerilla concert. After doing about 5 concert I think, now it has become the biggest music festivals to look forward to every two years with some big names and even new names that actually rose to popularity after casted in MuDo's Highway Music Festival. The latest 2015 one was in August held in Pyeonchang, where people actually camp out 3 days before official announcement of the venue was made, remember it was supposed to be a guerilla concert... talk about information leaks. G-Dragon of Big Bang was featured in the last three concerts and my favourite was the 2013 Free Highway Music Festival which he partnered with Hyung Don and they redefine "Bromance" on a new level and even won MBC's Best Couple award... like seriously...the award that usually won by male-female lead of a drama or from We Got Married... LOL! GD was obviously enjoying this given how much of his pink gum exposed when being with Hyung Don.


GD's laughing gum

Defconn was the best!
 


From the beginning, they embark on this weird bromance which even include game push and pull.


LOL




Other episodes worth to watch:
Infinite Company with G-Dragon (Underwear Challenge) ep 297-298 
My Ugly Buddy Festival ep 304-306
My Lonely Buddy Festival ep 360-362
Jamaica Special ep 369-371
Oh! My Tent Special - Where in the World is Kim Sang-duk (Alaska) ep  195-197
Saturday Saturday I am a Singer (TOTOGA) - it's a parody of one music show and they feature 90's singer including Kim Jong Kook's Turbo, Jinusean and Uhm Jung Hwa ep 409-411

Other  moments I thought I share as I was printscreening through some of the videos, 
*I thought why not*:
2013 Music Festival
At YG, Haha brought Jang Kiha and the faces to eat at YG cafeteria.
This time was when the rumours of how goodYG cafeteria exploded.





Haha forever GD's fan
 My Lonely Buddy Festival

Kim Jaedong parodied Top's Doom Dada


Ep 371 - Protect the Earth. Mixed of Startrek and Junha wearing Lee Hyori's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang look
 Episode 390 - Midnight in Seoul. They just basically call a few people to hangout and since it was hot summer night they want to scare the guests so they feel a bit cooler. hahah!

This was when I know and start to love Lee Gukjoo

Haha trying to scare Joon Park GOD

But Joony was unfazed instead he greet Haha happily ( I think this was his recent comeback)

Joon Park
 More Cross-dressing... this time as classic princess



Muhan (infinite) Company with G-Dragon

Interview session

First day at work


yes... that is GD and he design that underwear... lols
Election 2014 Episode 378 - This parody of Secret Affair by Jae Suk and Kim Yeong Cheol as part of his campaign,



So I am sorry for the very heavy post, especially with the pictures I might have included some spoilers... but I thought a picture or 'pictures' I guess say a thousand word.

note: Most pictures are printscreen from videos uploaded by others, not mine, thanks to a number of site (logos on the picture, some of the site has shut down) that provided me with this entertainment. You guys can watch MuDo at kshowonline or download from AvistaZ (new site of asiatorrent).