Birdie Buddy finally gets an airdate
by javabeans
Finally, news of Group 8’s golf drama Birdie Buddy, which has been given a tentative airdate of March 2011, according to one representative from the production company on November 2.
And it’s about time! It’s not that I’ve been looking forward to this show — I haven’t — but it did seem to languish for an awfully long time in production limbo, with no apparent progress. In fact, one cast member left the production early on (Lee Mi-sook) because she’d signed on to another drama, Cinderella’s Sister — which has already aired and been done for months now.
Birdie Buddy was initially planning to premiere in June, but obviously that didn’t happen. Perhaps Group 8 was more fixated on putting all its eggs into its Playful Kiss basket, which seemed to get the lion’s share of the promotional budget. All that had been mentioned of Birdie Buddy was that it was continuing to film despite its lack of a timeslot.
It sounds like a bit of spin to frame this additional delay as a seasonal consideration, but I suppose it could be true; apparently it’s a detractor to air a golf series in winter, and therefore they’re pushing it off till spring. According to that same Group 8 rep, the drama will complete filming in late November or early December, making it a 100% pre-produced drama, albeit not by design. (Unfortunately, those pre-produced shows haven’t had a great track record. Some recent examples: Road No. 1, Friend Our Legend, Terroir.)
Not to be a total downer: Birdie Buddy has managed to attract enough interest to sell to seven foreign countries already. That’s a bit surprising, since there are no big “Hallyu”-level names in the cast and the subject matter isn’t very high-concept, but it’s a good thing for the production. Plus, it IS Group 8, who is big on the export angle.
Birdie Buddy attracted some early buzz for starring pop idol UEE; it’s her first leading role after she’d made her drama debut playing a bitchy antagonist in last year’s bubbly hit comedy You’re Beautiful. It also stars Style’s Lee Yong-woo, Legend’s Lee Da-hee, Gloria’s Oh Hyun-kyung, and child actress Jin Ji-hee (High Kick Through the Roof).
Via My Daily
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Tags: Birdie Buddy, UEE
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1 jangnanseureon
November 2, 2010 at 5:37 AM
Yay!!! I'm glad! I've been waiting for this drama for ages... Go UEE!
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2 am
November 2, 2010 at 6:20 AM
First, I don't even know how they'd read the Korean title because Birdie has the same spelling as Buddy.hehe
Honestly, I felt like this drama already aired and finished. I don't know if I would watch it because the dreadlocks are just too much to watch, but maybe I'll give it a try since it's from Group 8. I bet a lot of people have somehow lost interest in watching it because of the long wait.
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3 Kender
November 2, 2010 at 7:21 AM
Hah, I was just wondering about this the other day. I'm still a bit iffy about the plot (golf? I've yet to find a movie/TV show that makes it interesting) but I might give it a shot for UEE. Assuming it ever actually airs, that is.
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4 Taohua
November 2, 2010 at 7:34 AM
@JB
I know Friend Our Legend didn't do well in terms of numbers, but I thought it was considered a critical success? And Hyun Bin's performance in particular was well received?
It'll be interesting to see how Birdie Buddy does. I have to say I'm a little curious to see UEE do a lead role though I don't care much for the plot.
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5 chichaloca
November 2, 2010 at 8:17 AM
what channel will this drama air jb??
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6 suz
November 2, 2010 at 9:14 AM
i've been wondering what happened to this drama...haha
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7 leonardswench
November 2, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Dare I hope that the delayed air time might mean a better job in the editing and acting and directing departments??
Group 8 is not known for the even tone of their productions, so a little delay could go a long way towards improvements in production quality, which could result in better ratings. Here's hoping!
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8 kaedejun
November 2, 2010 at 9:34 AM
well HALLELUJAH! 'BOUT FRICKIN TIME!
i dont' know why - but i'm kinda looking forward to seeing UEE act in a non bitchy role... just to see...
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supah
November 2, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Yeah, me too.
She's a natural, would love to root for her playing a lead character. Even if we're all a bit meh about everything else, and the uh, lead guy.
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belleza
November 3, 2010 at 3:32 AM
"seeing UEE act in a non bitchy role… "
I think UEE broke a record for English-speaking antis for her performance in YAB. Whenever she appeared, Viikii would have subtitles and bitchtitles (i.e. "die! die! die!", "plastic!! ugly!! antispeak!!", "hide your kids hide your wife") running at the same time!!
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9 John
November 2, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Well....let's finally see how this pans out.
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10 marmar
November 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM
After School fan here but I too wasn't all that looking forward to this drama because the storyline/plot just didn't interest me but I am happy it finally has an air date. I feel bad for the actors/actresses & staff workers that work hard on this drama & it doesn't get aired now we know it is...
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11 alyssia
November 2, 2010 at 11:05 AM
The male lead is such a miscast but i'll watch it for UEE anyways. But we all know it'll suck in ratings anyways. Sport dramas are so boring. Atleast she'll get some acting experience from it.
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12 Lacey
November 2, 2010 at 12:48 PM
wow i thought it finished filming in September! im surprised it takes this long to film a 20 episode drama
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13 thedramaaddict
November 2, 2010 at 1:10 PM
finally! o.o
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14 emm
November 2, 2010 at 1:31 PM
has UEE had a nose job? her left nostril is much bigger than the right. Saw her in "You're beautiful". pitty everything is plastic, an eye job, nose job, what is next...
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alyssia
November 2, 2010 at 3:25 PM
@emm
UEE only has her eyes done. Her nose is natural. You can check her younger pictures. She did admitted that she only did her eyes.
what do u expect! this is the entertainment industry.Looks is everything.
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15 lovepark
November 2, 2010 at 3:32 PM
Happy that it has finally got an (albeit tenative) airdate but sad that I'll have to wait until next year spring. I never saw UEE in anything, and the lead male seems mediocre. But I'm still anticipating since I like golf and Park Sung Woong is in it (YEAH!).
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16 Ams
November 2, 2010 at 9:20 PM
I was wondering what happened to Birdie Buddy. I bet UEE's pissed.
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17 belleza
November 3, 2010 at 3:23 AM
Ideally, this show would be pitched to OCN. It's an idol show and it's a sport show meaning if its ratings exceed 5.0, you might as well call it a national drama. Yet still . . .
Lee Yong Woo's performance in Style haunted my soul. His "Eurodance" number and mumbling glances at Ryu Shi Won and his pouty George Michael "Father Figure"-era relationship with Kim Hye Soo showed he could be an erm "actor" with edge . . . Sigh!!! He was SO in the closet, his mustache had its own closet.
His whole rastafarian getup makes me hope that Birdie Buddy ends up a cross between Caddyshack and Pirates of the Caribbean. UEE fights zombies on a course with her daddy's golf clubs? WITH EDGE!!!
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Jane
November 3, 2010 at 7:36 AM
Now that I would be eager to watch :)
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18 kc
November 3, 2010 at 6:42 PM
gf is so good in the gentle art of talking to ones' self
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