Ahn Jae-hyun and Lee Joo-seung’s Appearances Backfire: Ratings for “I Live Alone” Plummet, Leaving Production Team in Dilemma
Ahn Jae-hyun lacked a fresh appeal and Lee Joo-seung’s calm demeanor divided opinions, with viewers finding the content less engaging for a lively Friday night.
On the November 8 episode, “I Live Alone” aired scenes of Ahn Jae-hyun’s first wisdom tooth extraction and fixed cast member Lee Joo-seung visiting wedding venues for his older brother’s upcoming marriage. The ratings for this episode were 5.7%, a drop of 1.1% from the previous week, reflecting an analysis that viewers found Ahn Jae-hyun’s subdued presence and Lee Joo-seung’s quiet day-to-day activities unexciting.
The show previously peaked at 7.9% during episode 543, which focused on the “Palm Oil” body presentation, sparking significant interest. In contrast, ratings hit a low of 5.1% in episode 564, featuring the daily lives of NCT’s Doyoung and actor Cha Seo-won.
Now, about a month and a half after that episode, the November 8 installment similarly underperformed, with Ahn Jae-hyun and Lee Joo-seung’s quiet energy also failing to captivate viewers. Considering the nature of the Friday night slot, there’s disappointment that more fresh, dynamic content wasn’t presented.
Since his first appearance on the show in April, Ahn Jae-hyun has featured in five episodes, including episodes 541, 545, 554, 563 and now 570. Although guest appearances are intended to add freshness, Ahn Jae-hyun’s frequent appearances have led to declining curiosity among viewers. In the episode that aired in July, he went to the hospital for a health check-up, and this time, he had his wisdom teeth removed—content considered neither special nor particularly interesting.
Similarly, Lee Joo-seung’s episode failed to capture much attention, focusing on the simple process of him visiting wedding venues for his older brother. The calm tone felt somewhat dull. Moreover, this episode aired at the same time as SBS’s popular drama “The Fiery Priest 2”, which brought more laughter and excitement compared to I Live Alone’s peaceful tone.
Industry insiders note that many celebrities are reluctant to appear on “I Live Alone”. High-profile stars worry about revealing too much about their private lives, and some are concerned about excessive fan interest that could lead to stalking issues. Celebrities with more low-key lives worry they won’t capture viewer interest, with some confessing to TenAsia reporters that they fear their lack of at-home activities might bore viewers.
As a result, the “I Live Alone” production team faces challenges in finding fresh new guests and is often compelled to invite returning guests. Meanwhile, after airing for over ten years since its debut in 2013, viewers are hoping for changes to keep the show fresh and engaging. It’s a time when moving beyond subtle calmness and introducing something new seems essential.
Source: Naver
