damn MBC!! That annoys me. Strike Love should have had it's run but I think Tamra deserves to keep its original run. It's going to eff up the plot.

I hope enough people protest this move that they will consider taking it back. but who knows?

if you find anything else about this, I hope you update us.

@ belleza

ROFL! It's good to have you back. You've been sorely missed. :D

Yes, I forgot that Chuno is airing on KBS. (It looks like January, 2010)
Plus, PD Kwak Jung Hwan said it was going to be more mainstream than Conspiracy in the Court.

Let's hope Tamna isn't chopped up too badly and that an uncut version will be available eventually.

belleza and JB,

ah, I see. Thanks for that information. I agree with belleza though. I mean, why ask for a certain number of episodes for one drama and then cut it halfway through? Its just not fair to the production company (in this case, Group8) and the actors. oh, the fans too.

and JB, hmm, I guess that's quite true. If I were from MBC I would only think about the ratings and how to further rake in the money. Besides, they didn't make it, so they wouldn't be really attached to it. But then again, they have to consider some factors--the production company (the actors and crew) and the fans NOT just in Korea, but international as well. But then again, we are talking about the ratings, so I wouldn't wonder if they won't think about the international fans. It'll be dealt with the DVD.

for me though, whether I like a certain drama or not, its really disappointing to cut a pre-filmed series. it would be fine if it was currently airing, so it can be edited (though a bit rushed), and also if some factors were considered. but for this one, again, since I am also a fan of the show, its sad. It's not really all about the ratings. its their credibility too as a station. and dignity as well (ok, that might be too much.) not that I have anything against MBC, I mean, I love some of their shows, but its just that, don't they have a saying that you can do a hundred accomplishments, but once you make a mistake, they will find faults in everything you do. (hope that makes sense) take belleza, for example. A Prince's first love was aired in 2004, and until now, she still hates the station for doing that mistake. (though I'm not sure if she likes some of the MBC shows)

and whoever that broadcast station is that said the last statement, I salute you.

NO!!! I'm loving this drama! how could they shorten it?! arghh. i'm sure it would have done much better if it was in another time slot. or aired earlier/later than that queen drama >< it has a cheerful atmosphere and a unique storyline.. <3

JB, i`m hoping, reaaaalllyy hoping that it`s true...i keep my finger crossing really really hard for the uncut version!! SUPPORT TAMRA, THE ISLAND!!

"(hope that makes sense) take belleza, for example. A Prince’s first love was aired in 2004, and until now, she still hates the station for doing that mistake. (though I’m not sure if she likes some of the MBC shows)"

Ahh, I was just being cheeky. I remember watching PFL and thinking "dood, this is a paid vacation masquerading as a drama!" And I was really pissed that she picked the wrong guy in the end.

MBC is still my main station, and because we get MBC-D in SoCal, I even watch the really weird stuff like when MBC has these 30-minute short programs retelling uhhh AMERICAN HISTORY in Korean. Tamra kinda reminds me of those programs.

The truth is, MBC has had a difficult year. Their Mon/Tuesday slot has been gangbusters all year, going from East of Eden to Queen of Housewives to Queen Seon Deok. So for the entire year of 2009, Mon/Tuesday has brought in a lot of money. However, now you look at their Wednesday/Thursday and weekend slots, and nothing's really stuck. ALL of the shows during this slot have done mostly single digit ratings. They haven't found the mania show that could at least perform decent ratings. It would make sense for MBC to want Tamra to run 16 episodes. The real problem was that it made no sense for MBC to have originally ordered Tamra to run 20 episodes.

Having said that, MBC's Wednesday/Thursday slot has had a pretty creative run of shows. No maknae dramas there. During 2008, both KBS and MBC got killed ordering star-driven shows that drew bad ratings. For 2009, MBC has mostly programmed high concept / cult shows. Even Cinderella Man is built on a quirky concept. Even though Tamra underperformed, it didn't suffer the drop that happened for Return for Iljimae, or the indifference that met with Triple.

I think if this show aired at KBS it will run until the end of the Episode. I really respect KBS because KBS respect viewers. I never heard KBS cut down the episode. Well, what we can do? We just can comment about them and the decision is on MBC station.

NOT COOL, MBC. NOT COOL.

tamra has seriously grown on me!! 4 episodes is a helluva lot to chop off, especially at the ending.
im joo hwan!!! what will i do without you?!?!?

sadness- i'm really enjoying the quirky feel of tamna/tamra and although i'm not familiar with korean audiences, i hope MBC can give just a little bit more credit to the people out there in terms of enjoying this drama.

i guess the cutting of episodes in any drama is probably due to higher pressures, profits etc etc. same thing happens in the UK for example, Angel (off Buffy) started airing on channel 4 but kept being pushed back until it was only aired at ridiculous times like 2am or something. then it got relegated to channel five and really, having watched all the Angel eps, I can honestly say that the drama is so good! plot, character, imagery, psychology etc. same with the mighty boosh. they were given teeny slots at 4am on bbc2 and now because of a cult following they have started to air more popularly at say 9pm.

ah...what do they say? money makes the dramas go round. or get cut.

I used to love MBC's dramas but I don't know what happens to them recently, they shorten all low-rated dramas (which I think are very attractive and special as well). Do U still remember "Soulmate"? ohhhh, I was really sad when it was cut down to 12 episodes.
#2 was right, they should count on international net viewers too, I believe Tamna the island is doing well out of Korea.

To #61: Unfortunely international viewers do not pay for the advertising dollars needed to produce these dramas. Most of the international viewers watch these show illegally thru free downloads. MBC does not make money from you guys.

But, cutting these dramas are sad. I really like Jamyung from beginning to end. It was not the greatest series, but Jamyung was very good. The story flowed, and there was plenty of love in the story. I was shocked at the ratings. I am sure SBS is kicking themselves in the butt - cutting Jamyung for Dreams. Ratings for Dreams are even lower than Jamyung.

I like Tamra a lot but I also found that many dramas get a bit draggy in their final episodes. And I don't like watching something only because I like the actors and because everything is so romantic. The plot should make some sense as well. Maybe it's good for the story if they cut it short to 16 episodes. There might be an unintersting subplot they can get rid of this way.
Of course it's a bad thing for the actors. But - who knows - maybe it's a good thing for us?! Let's wait and see.

#62

not everything can be counted with money.
Do you know how famous korean dramas have become outside korea, asia and further because of the internet.
For me, I dont watch american dramas anymore..and I am not asian or american. I cant watch them, and that thanks to asian dramas..espacially korean dramas.
Even Hollywood is aware of this...!

And also, thanks to korean dramas I have fallen in love with its country, its culture, people...espacially the actors.

No politics, no diplomacy can do such a good for its country like this countries dramas did, do and will go on doing...!

So MBC and other channels should not care about illeagel watching via internet, (download or youtube...) of foreigners, but should care more for its own reputation..also its intertnational reputation.

@madita,

"Do you know how famous korean dramas have become outside korea, asia and further because of the internet."

Yeah, but it still goes down to money and investment. Korean stations gauge domestic internet viewership to track the mania dramas (such as Story of a Man), but even so it's difficult to convert those numbers into advertising dollars.

A "Hallyu" show has advantages in that they can get a significant ROI from foreign sales. In addition, there's a lot of investment from Japan or Taiwan. That's what happened with Star's Lover. Show wasn't projected to do well domestically, but they had plans to air it in both Taiwan and Japan.

@gphoenix,

"I am sure SBS is kicking themselves in the butt – cutting Jamyung for Dreams. Ratings for Dreams are even lower than Jamyung."

The thing is, the per episode pricetag of Jamyung was well higher than Dreams. SBS often programs fusion sageuks for the youth market, presumably as counterprogramming against KBS and MBC sageuks. It worked with Iljimae, didn't work with Bilchumoo. Problem with Ja Myung Go is that they went ahead with (what looks like now) an enormously risky investment, and the ratings were just way, way too low for the cost of the show. Really, it had to be done.

@asianromance,

"i wonder if these stations will follow the route of japanese dramas and have their series be only 10-12 "

The few times I've seen K-dramas set up for 6-12 episodes, the quality immediately jumps up. My Lovely Pattzi runs 10 episodes, and the romantic triangle and villain bits were airtight in pacing. Nothing felt like filler, and there was still enough "cute time" to really enjoy the relationships. Also, genres like mystery and police procedurals play better in shorter formats, where you can lay just enough clues to set up the "reveal" and hold the attention of the viewer.

Still, it's bigger risk for the stations, because with their current programming schedule, you'd have to change shows every 5-6 weeks. Also, because shows tend to stack the budget in the first 4 episodes, the effective per episode cost would probably go up.

MBC and KBS are both public stations are they?

I would've thought the detective story aspect alone would've been enough to keep the show going...but in the end it's just business. I've learned the hard way that "Joe and Jane Average" are allowed to have crappy taste in TV shows--simply because they're the ones who pay the bills. (Several canceled gems on SciFi Channel come immediately to mind.) I just hope that MBC doesn't mangle the ending too badly in cutting Tamra down to 16 episodes.

This is the only drama I've been watching, so it kinda sucks to hear this... gotta find something else now.

even Tamra just got 4 or 5 % rating, MBC should have respected 4 or 5 % of viewers who enjoy this drama, My favorite is most of MBC drama, but I don't like the way they are doing. Thanks god that they wouldn't shorten return of iljimae

Hello! I'm Korean Park eun hye.

I'dont write english. But I like very very Dram 'Tamnanundoda'

please I do not want this drama to end soon

Please Spread widely

Thank you for the care of an this writing.
!!!!!!

Good-bye

Hey everyone! You can read tamna the island episode 3 recap at http://kdramafanatic.blogspot.com

The plot had the potential to be quite interesting, but it came off overly shallow. Had difficulty relating to the characters, don't know if it was bad character development or the awkward acting... or maybe it was the cheesiness of it all, though some people like it that way. Maybe it was my dislike of the female lead, she's pretty but I don't like how they made her all airheaded and cutesy. I'm sick of female leads like that.

yyyyaaa....pls don't do it or shortened this drama...u know a lot of the fan of Tamna is around the world ..right, hear us - just like me ..im so frustated to hear the news..mysoju..can viikii make it right...? bcz..evertime im watching this..always stop...it made me mmmaaaddd, can u deal with this or change it with else exp..ning or who ever can do much better....

nohoooo......this is the only drama i'm watching at the moment which really makes my day when i finally come home from a long exausting day -,-

they can't do this....they should think of the fans.... i support this drama in every way the story's different than the others sth. new and the cast's great!! ~yaaaaaaan x3

tamna ftw

Why are MBC doing this to us? Why? :((

So dissapointed to hear shortening like this, especially when it happened to my fav Kdrama. TV station should be more persistent in entertaining, despite how low the rating is. screw MBC too!!