Perfect Man's Monster Ratings

I'm so bored by your lame level that I want to die. [Yes, as you know, baseball is by far the most popular sport in our country, right?] "…Yeah." [So, we're planning to make a serious baseball variety show with retired pros, college players, and indie league guys.] "……Yeah." It was a format that didn't suit Na PD, who handled the outdoor meal segment on Overnight Dinner Table.

Anyway, the plan was to gather retired players and male celebs with good physiques, train them hardcore, and ultimately aim for pro entry and games against farm teams.

But will this even work?

In my opinion, it seemed iffy. So while chatting with Na PD, I searched up sports popularity in this world.

"…Huh?" [Yes?] "Oh, nothing."

I figured sports would be a wasteland in a gender-reversed world….

This is insane!

Last year alone, baseball drew over 27 million total attendees. Way more popular here than the baseball I knew. British pro soccer and MLB could eat its dust.

The Jamsil Stadium I remembered had maybe 25,000 seats tops. Here? A whopping 55,000.

"So, what's the program title?" [Ultimate Baseball.] "…Is it the format where retired league-dominating players wander post-retirement, then join a team?" [Huh, how'd you know?!]

Yeah, I've seen that one. It was legendary among fans—the title song was a total banger, hailed as a masterpiece.

Fun fact: Na PD planned to cast Lily too. She's the baseball goddess among fans, so he figured her name value would draw eyes early on.

…Nice. Not bad for me, since I need to get closer to Lily.

Problem was my baseball skills. Unlike Lily, who'd look great as a cheerleader, they weren't casting me for that.

"So, I'd be mixing with the retired pros?" [Yes. We've locked in KBO-veteran director and coaches.] "…You're serious. But can I even join? I'm just a normie."

Even with physical gaps, the pro-amateur wall is huge. And I've barely played— just messing around in school a few times.

[No worries. Han Jimin's name alone pulls ratings.] Na PD brushed it off like it was nothing. His voice dripped with faith that fans would tune in just for my face.

[Viewers love growth stories these days too.]

Hmm… so, basically, "train hard at baseball"?

I hung up and checked the IP ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Shop right away. Looking for skills to boost baseball, or at least stats like strength or agility to save face. A guy's gotta have pride—getting wrecked at sports by girls would be mortifying.

"…Nothing?"

I scrolled the hologram, eyeing buyable skills. Composing, lyrics, acting, dance—all idol essentials. But sports….

"Oh, there it is!"

Tucked at the very end, luckily.

Han Jimin left a killer impression on Overnight Dinner Table. With his starring drama Perfect Man set to air soon, drama fans' hype was through the roof.

Expectations exploded over how his shining face from variety would look in drama.

KBC was buzzing too. Despite the rush, rumors of it being top-notch had spread, so execs were pumped.

"Broadcast prep good?" "All set!" "Double-check anyway. See how hyped viewers are?"

They figured 10% average was fine for a filler slot. Park Sujin's name might push 15%+. That'd let them aim for 20% peak.

But Jimin's acting chops during filming, chemistry with lead actress Lee Seoyeon, plus Overnight Dinner Table buzz? Ratings were a wild card.

Reactions were scorching hot.

"…13%." "Pfft, 15%!" Choi PD grinned, wallet out, at Park Sujin's cautious bet. He pegged episode 1 at low teens too. But go big or go home—15% would be jackpot.

As airtime neared, graphs ticked up meaningfully.

"Three minutes to drama! Uh…, 16% now!" "…Wait, isn't it still ads?"

Start vibes were off the charts. Ratings topped 15% pre-show.

"Up more! 16.4!" Choi PD gulped at the steep real-time climb. Park Sujin gaped, stunned. Directors chugged water nonstop.

"Hitting 17% on entry?" "What drama last opened at 17%?" "…Moon-Hugging Sun?" "……."

Tech director named the blockbuster that peaked 42% on explosive acting—MBS's top 3 in 20 years, impossible in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this OTT era.

Then—boom—control room door flew open amid thuds. Drama division chief.

"Choi Siyeon!" "What?! Busy here!" "Busy? 16%?!" "16.7 now!" "16.7?!"

Chief whipped out wallet, slapped ten checks down.

"Here! Beef tonight, got it? Pork and I'm pissed. You eat beef!"

Staff snickered at the chief's total 180 from pre-drama grumbles.

Perfect Man launched at 17%.

And….

Seo Do-yoon's (Han Jimin) marble-sculpted face oozes bluntness, laced with delicate care that sets hearts racing.

Han Yu-jin (Lee Seoyeon) catches the warmth, wipes tears, spills her fan prep.

Seo Do-yoon claps curtly post-report, bows out of the waiting room.

And….

He hangs up, kicks the "fair competition" panel, strides out coldly. Episode 1 ends.

Ratings? A shocking 25%.

With scorching viewer reactions, even snooty broadcasters called BOZ direct. Episode 1 at 22%—perfect launch, word-of-mouth bound to climb. Unless Jimin sparked a drug scandal, Perfect Man's success was locked.

BOZ CEO Cha Serin fielded congrats calls nonstop.

She hung up, smiling, stood.

"Our producer's skills are beyond expectations?"

Choi Nahee mentioned his genius composing. She'd signed him for group global pushes, but clearly more talents lurked.

Quick net check: acting praise dominated.

"Even better."

Perfect Man buzz scorched her ears—chaebol drama, noisy among 2nd/3rd gens. Plenty wanted Jimin meets; she blocked 'em all. No filth on her dream asset.

But this windfall exceeded estimates.

"Gotta see for myself."

Click, click. Skipped live yesterday for work, but net pay-per-view fixed that.

As Cha Serin watched Perfect Man episode 1….

Thwack!

"……????" "Huh?" "W-What velocity? What'd it clock?!"

Jimin was pre-testing for the new variety with Na PD and retired pros.