Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Episode 5. Audition (3)
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After the BLT 16th public recruitment comedian selection exam had passed.
"We should probably start recruiting some new talent ourselves soon."
Yoo Tae-hwan PD, who oversaw HSL, casually asked the main writer about holding auditions.
The young woman with long hair, who was brushing it back—Writer Lee Yeon-shin—turned her head and stared at Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
"Did any rookie comedians catch your eye?"
"It's not so much that they caught my eye, but with the revamp season coming up, it'd be good to bring in some fresh faces for a change of pace. That's what I was thinking."
"Ah, if that's what you mean, I'm all for it."
No matter how famous the performers on a program were, filling it with the same people over and over got boring.
It lacked freshness. Yoo Tae-hwan PD had nailed it.
Especially in variety and comedy shows, freshness was crucial.
The easiest way to give a program that fresh feel was to put new faces in front of the public.
And if those new cast members or guests had real talent and charisma, it was perfect.
"I thought the level of this 16th batch of comedian hopefuls was pretty decent, but Jo Woo-kim PD didn't seem to think so at all."
Yoo Tae-hwan, who generally had a mild personality, tilted his head and briefly recalled the past.
* * *
During the 16th public recruitment exam.
As the evaluations of nearly all the applicants were wrapping up, Jo Woo-kim PD said this.
"The Korean comedy scene is in real trouble."
"What do you mean by that?"
Yoo Tae-hwan, who was sitting right next to Jo Woo-kim PD filling out evaluation sheets, casually asked him.
Jo Woo-kim PD paused his scribbling with the pen and made an indifferent expression, as if it were no big deal.
"I just don't think the overall level is that high. These comedian hopefuls applying today are supposed to be the ones leading Korea's comedy in the future... but looking at their gags, I can only sigh."
"Is that so? I thought they were pretty good myself."
"......"
Jo Woo-kim PD carefully shut his mouth.
He couldn't outright deny Yoo Tae-hwan PD's words.
People aren't objective.
They're subjective, so everyone's humor code is inevitably different.
It might not have been funny to Jo Woo-kim PD, but to Yoo Tae-hwan PD, the 16th batch might have seemed a step above past groups.
Because of that, Jo Woo-kim PD didn't strongly argue back.
With subjective views, there was no right or wrong that mattered.
But.
There were answers closer to the right one.
All you had to do was deliver gags that matched the laughter code of the absolute majority.
If you could make the masses laugh, that was the shortcut to success.
What Jo Woo-kim PD needed to find were comedian hopefuls with the ability to stimulate that 'humor code for the masses.'
Yoo Tae-hwan PD, on the other hand, was different.
He didn't like gags that just pandered to the majority's laughter. He preferred ones that made you think once, open to multiple interpretations—gags with an experimental edge.
Their tastes clashed sharply, so their evaluations naturally differed.
"Does Yoo Tae-hwan PD-nim have any rookies you've got your eye on?"
"Yes, I do."
Yoo Tae-hwan PD gave a clear answer.
Hearing that would naturally pique anyone's curiosity.
"Who is it? Can you tell me?"
"Haha. If I say, Jo PD-nim might snatch away the applicant I'm interested in, so I'll hold back on purpose."
"I see."
"Don't take it personally. Haha!"
Yoo Tae-hwan PD preemptively blocked any potential misunderstanding.
But Jo Woo-kim PD didn't mind much.
"I've worked with you for years, Yu PD-nim. I'm not going to get weird ideas over something like this."
"Haha, good to hear then."
He said that, but in Jo Woo-kim PD's mind, Yoo Tae-hwan PD's words kept circling.
The promising talent Yoo Tae-hwan PD had his eye on.
Who could it be?
* * *
Writer Lee Yeon-shin, who had received orders from Yoo Tae-hwan PD to recruit talent through public auditions.
She started drafting an official notice detailing the talent HSL was looking for.
Of course, the recruitment targets were BLT's public recruitment comedians.
When a program seeking new talent made a request, the BLT network would notify their affiliated public recruitment comedians via text.
Along with the list of programs undergoing major revamps, they included the number of comedians needed, preferred styles, and more, sending it to the comedians.
BLT public recruitment comedians without steady gigs checked these notices for programs that might suit them and auditioned there.
Since BLT had recruited them publicly themselves, this system gave them more solid opportunities.
Ding!
The list of programs holding auditions arrived via text.
Kang Han-do stared at his smartphone screen, absorbing the info, and clicked his tongue briefly.
"As expected... with revamp season, a ton of programs are looking for talent."
Just as he'd predicted.
From Pobokjeoldo on down, all sorts of variety and comedy shows wanted reinforcements.
With almost every program except a couple announcing auditions, he had to seize this chance.
He wanted to audition for Pobokjeoldo, but it was too late for that. He'd already told Oh Min-tae, so they'd settled on HSL.
Even with six years bought, there was no need to rush blindly into Pobokjeoldo.
And honestly, even nailing a corner there didn't guarantee success.
Success didn't depend on timing or place. It came from how much effort and time you invested.
Just give your all, anytime, anywhere.
To do that, he needed to prep for HSL early.
"First, I should tell Min-tae to submit the application right away."
He could strategize later, but not delay applying.
Kang Han-do sent Oh Min-tae a message to apply for the HSL audition.
Then he started pondering how to stand out against senior comedians and win Yoo Tae-hwan PD's favor.
* * *
Writer Lee Yeon-shin checked the HSL audition recruitment status and compiled the applicant list.
Unlike the public recruitment exam with over 700 applicants, this was easy—no list to make really.
Only about 20 applicants total.
But while public exams pitted amateurs against each other, auditions were pro vs. pro. Different difficulty.
Pro against pro.
Though if you knew the inside story, it was veterans vs. rookies.
Knock knock.
Yoo Tae-hwan PD knocked on the meeting room door, entered, and handed Writer Lee Yeon-shin a canned coffee.
"Here, drink this while you work."
"Thank you, Yoo PD-nim."
"So, any standouts among this batch of applicants?"
"Standouts... they're all people we've seen around the station at least once. Like Do Hae-jin or Kim Tae-soon."
"Ah, those guys."
All of them had pro experience, having worked at least one program with Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
"We'll have to see if they'll fit the corner we're planning."
"Yeah."
Writer Lee Yeon-shin tilted her head too.
Individually, none were bad.
But fame aside, you had to cast comedians matching the program's direction, purpose, and style. Bringing in someone with a mismatched gag style could ruin the whole corner.
Yoo Tae-hwan PD wanted to avoid that.
The new HSL corner they aimed to launch had heavy social satire vibes.
They were planning skits indirectly lampooning the incompetence of high-ranking officials. They needed comedians who fit.
"Oh yeah, during this 16th public recruitment comedian exam, there were some promising kids."
"What's their names? They might be on this applicant list."
"What was it... One had a unique name I remembered."
"You're not that old to have short-term memory loss, Yoo PD-nim. Think hard."
"Hey! Someone might mistake me for an old geezer."
"By experience, you could be called one. No offense."
"Ahem, is that so."
He outranked even Pobokjeoldo's Jo Woo-kim PD.
Even the stubborn, headstrong Jo Woo-kim couldn't talk down to Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
Yoo Tae-hwan PD wasn't the same star PD caliber as Jo Woo-kim. Jo Woo-kim had walked the major path nonstop with mass-appeal gags. Yoo Tae-hwan leaned niche. Less broad impact, but his core fans loved his style—and surprisingly many. Maybe that's why, despite being niche, he'd launched quite a few hit programs.
Plus, he was one of the PDs adored by juniors. He'd genuinely worked and dedicated himself to Korea's comedy industry.
As he rose higher, he stayed humble, always crediting the performers on stage.
If there was such a thing as a true industry man, it might be Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
Kang Han-do rated him highly too. That's why he'd boldly decided on HSL.
"Hmm......"
He racked his brain. What was the name of that super rookie Yoo Tae-hwan PD had noticed?
He finally seemed to recall and slowly opened his mouth.
"What was it... I think it was Kang Han-do."
"Kang Han-do... Oh, there he is."
"Ooh, really?!"
A smile spread across Yoo Tae-hwan PD's face.
Kang Han-do, who'd once performed the exact satirical gag Yoo Tae-hwan PD wanted on stage.
He wanted him.