"Did I ever have a time like that?"… Hwang Jae-gyun and Jung Ye-in, who took on their first "dating reality" challenge, get fully immersed in "The Enemy is in the Outfield Seats" [★FULL INTERVIEW]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Hwang Jae-gyun and Jung Ye-in, who took on their first "dating reality" challenge, also became deeply engrossed. As "The Enemy is in the Outfield Seats♥," which features a unique romance unfolding at a baseball stadium, has been drawing viewers' attention, the PD and panelists directly revealed the program's appeal and behind-the-scenes details of the filming.

At an interview for Tving's dating program "The Enemy is the Outfield Seats♥" recently held at a cafe in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, PD Lee Gi-yeon, who directed the show, along with panelists Hwang Jae-gyun, a former professional baseball player turned broadcaster; Lee Yong-jin, a comedian; and Jung Ye-in, a member of the group Lovelyz and actress, gathered to share their thoughts.

"The Enemy is in the Outfield Seats♥" is a dating reality show that follows the process of men and women who support different teams finding love while watching games together at an actual baseball stadium.

Since its broadcast debut, it has continued to receive enthusiastic responses. Subscription contribution in the second week after launch increased by 68% compared to Jeonju, viewing time rose by 25%, and viewing UV also increased by 8%. In particular, with a male viewership ratio of 30% among the 20-39 age group, it ranked second among Tving's major works, following ENA's drama "Privatee 4: Sabotage," while the male viewership ratio for the 40s age group was 15%, ranking first on the platform.

PD Lee Gi-yeon expressed gratitude for the rising response. PD Lee stated, "So far, four episodes have aired, and I understand that it is receiving a good reaction even within Tving," adding, "Viewing metrics are also increasing."

The criteria for casting participants to capture the vibrancy of the scene were also revealed. PD Lee said, "I wanted them to enjoy the baseball excitement together," explaining, "We looked at various things, but we placed great importance on whether they liked and enthusiastically enjoyed baseball, and whether they could help raise the tension on site."

One of the unique features of "The Enemy is in the Outfield Seats♥" is the broadcast booth. It has a differentiated system where the booth serves as a studio for real-time intervention. PD Lee stated, "What we did not want to give up on was doing it from the broadcast booth," revealing, "We insisted on real-time because, while watching dating programs, I wanted to try coaching at frustrating points along the way."

He added, "At first, I thought it would be good if all the stories unfolded inside the stadium," noting, "I had envisioned a format that concluded within that space, but as episodes progress, I am considering how to convey the story to you."

The live-broadcast-style format was a fresh stimulus. Lee Yong-jin said, "In other programs, we comment while watching edited footage, but watching it live was so fun," adding, "We approached it in a fresh and enjoyable way."

Lee Yong-jin emphasized, "The baseball cheering sounds are really loud, so sometimes the participants' voices are hard to hear. So I have to check and listen several times," noting, "There is also the advantage of concentrating so as not to miss a single word."

The panelists also revealed why they decided to appear on the program.

Hwang Jae-gyun replied, "It was my first time on a dating program, and since it was being done at a baseball stadium, I thought I absolutely had to do it. We are filming it enjoyably." Lee Yong-jin said, "When I heard the planning intent, I instinctively felt it would be fun. As someone who ends their day watching baseball highlights, I wondered if we could provide an element of fun for many people, so I didn't want to miss out."

Jung Ye-in shared her joining process, saying, "Hwang Jae-gyun was a baseball player and Lee Yong-jin is a Hanwha fan, so I had the burden of wondering if I might be lacking in the baseball aspect compared to them," adding, "But when I met with the production team, I found the format interesting. I also like watching dating programs usually. So I wanted to try participating."

The pleasant chemistry among the three also shone. Lee Yong-jin praised Hwang Jae-gyun's broadcasting sense. Lee Yong-jin said, "Hwang Jae-gyun tells us necessary explanations and points. I realized he is a talented person," adding, "It was really fun. His comments are interesting, and I wondered if he became a baseball player to become a broadcaster. I wonder how he endured that talent and devoted himself to baseball. He is really helpful." In response, Hwang Jae-gyun playfully retorted, "I retired to do broadcasting."

Hwang Jae-gyun, who has been active as a broadcaster after retiring from professional baseball, shared his recent status, saying, "It is a completely different life from when I was a player. I like filming and meeting new people, and I also like talking," adding, "I am very happy these days and doing well."

Jung Ye-in also expressed trust in the two people she worked with. Jung Ye-in said, "I thought Hwang Jae-gyun would be very taciturn, but working on broadcasting together, he has a chatty feel to him, which was a surprising charm," adding, "Lee Yong-jin is a professional broadcaster, so I rely on him a lot."

Lee Yong-jin, who had been active as a panelist on Tving's flagship dating variety show "Ex-Files," cited the refreshing pace as the program's differentiated appeal. Lee Yong-jin explained, "What was attractive about 'The Enemy is in the Outfield Seats♥' was that meetings and decisions are all contained within one episode, happening in a single day," adding, "They say it is the era of short-form content these days, so being able to resolve curiosity immediately is an advantage."

He continued, "Dating programs have the fun of watching them over a long period, but I think they will also be good for those who prefer shorter content," noting, "I feel that the fun has doubled by combining it with the sport of baseball. First of all, it is fast, which is good." He further added, "The participants actively capture their own appearance for about five hours if it is long. There are interesting elements to see within that."

The intuitive attitude of the bold and direct current generation's participants is also a point of interest. PD Lee shared, "Sparks fly incredibly fast. It was amazing, making me think, 'Is this how people date these days?' In the past, people would worry, 'What if they don't choose me,' but nowadays, they don't care about that. They actively appeal by saying, 'I like this person.'"

Jung Ye-in also did not hold back her admiration for the participants' bold attitude. Jung Ye-in marveled, "It was amazing that their methods were different. Even though their ways of appealing are active, they are strangely different," adding, "I thought, 'So you can be that active.' I thought it took courage."

Hwang Jae-gyun, who had expected professional game commentary as a former baseball player, also confessed that he soon became deeply immersed in the immersion of "direct-viewing blind dates." Hwang Jae-gyun said, "At first, I asked for explanations from the baseball side, but there was actually nothing to explain with baseball," adding, "It is really just us talking about the blind date itself, so it was fun throughout the filming rather than relying on professional knowledge."

He added, "When we filmed episode 1, I watched the baseball. As episodes progressed, the participants were so interesting that I stopped watching the baseball," noting, "I didn't even know when the score changed. I focused on the participants."

Watching the sincere eyes of the participants also became an opportunity for him to reflect on himself. Hwang Jae-gyun said, "Watching recent episodes, I saw pure love. I wondered if I ever had a time like that," adding, "I realized that when you like someone that much, you feel shy, excited, and self-blame. It is pure. I reflected because I wondered if I had ever been like that." He further revealed his inner thoughts, saying, "I thought I wanted to have that kind of pure heart too."

Amid the program's popularity, PD Lee also hinted at the possibility of a Season 2. PD Lee said, "The timing is good and it is fun, so we are in a situation where it is regrettable for the season to end. We are discussing it with Tving," adding, "I am thinking about how it goes after the end, and whether we should handle the story that follows. The people who choose each other can have a drink when it ends at 10 p.m., right? I am thinking about how to expand the scale."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original