Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Episode 13. Unexpected Opportunity (2)
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“Haah…”
Jo Woo-kim PD let out a deep sigh.
Thanks to the headache that had been plaguing him since earlier, he began pressing his temples.
He had been holding back-to-back meetings with the writers in the writers' room, but no suitable countermeasures came to mind for the sudden emergency.
One of the comedians appearing in the popular corner 'Game World'—which had gained considerable recognition on Pobokjeoldo—had abruptly gotten into a car accident and required long-term hospitalization.
Since it was a hot corner, he wanted to continue it by bringing in replacement staff if at all possible.
But among the comedians on Pobokjeoldo, there was no suitable substitute.
That meant they had to bring in outside talent.
“Is there anyone fitting?”
One of the writers voiced their concern.
Several candidates' names were brought up, but nothing clicked perfectly.
Thanks to that, the meeting had already dragged on for three hours.
‘Let me think. Among the comedians I've been keeping an eye on lately, there must be someone decent…’
Jo Woo-kim PD mentally pulled up his network database.
At that moment, one of the writers uttered a phrase that caught Jo Woo-kim PD's attention.
“The comedians active on HSL seem pretty good.”
‘HSL?’
It was one of the programs skyrocketing in popularity lately.
The segment drawing the most buzz on HSL was none other than 4 PM News Table.
“Wait, come to think of it… there is someone.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Jo Woo-kim PD, who had suddenly started muttering to himself, slowly curled up the corners of his mouth.
And then he slowly recited one comedian's name.
“Kang Han-do. The super rookie I've had my eye on for a while.”
* * *
“Man, I'm dying here.”
Yoo Tae-hwan PD, who had pulled an all-nighter in the editing room while stroking his scruffy beard, vented his fatigue.
Countless energy drinks were lined up in front of the monitor.
Yoo Tae-hwan PD was personally editing the footage from the recording shoot, checking every detail with his own eyes.
He had a tendency to micromanage the editing of programs he directed.
As a result, his fatigue was only piling up day by day.
“Maybe I should catch a little sleep.”
The weight of his eyelids was becoming unbearable.
Knock knock.
Just then, a knock came, followed by a familiar voice.
“Yoo PD-nim, still not sleeping?”
“No way, who is this? Jo PD-nim, right?”
Jo Woo-kim PD, known in the BLT broadcasting station as the Midas of comedy, had appeared in the HSL editing room.
“I heard you pulled an all-nighter. Still not sleeping? You'll collapse at this rate.”
“Haha, I was just about to get some shut-eye.”
“Oh dear, did I interrupt your sleep?”
It was the first time Jo Woo-kim PD had visited the HSL editing room.
He wouldn't have come all this way for nothing; there had to be a purpose.
Judging as much, Yoo Tae-hwan PD immediately asked about his visit.
“No, no. More importantly, what's up?”
Jo Woo-kim PD didn't beat around the bush either and subtly brought up a certain name.
“That guy handling the anchor role on 4 PM News Table. Kang Han-do…”
“Han-do, you mean?”
“Yes. I wanted to hear some stories about him from you, Yoo Tae-hwan PD-nim, and also get your permission, so I came by.”
“Permission? I'm not following.”
“Truth is…”
Jo Woo-kim PD finally revealed the real reason for his visit to Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
“Could you lend him to me for a bit?”
* * *
After making plans to visit Choi Ye-hee's place over the weekend.
As he walked back with light steps, Oh Min-tae called Kang Han-do.
Kang Han-do pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and tapped to answer.
“Hello.”
-Is this Han-do? It's me.
“I know it's you. Why'd you call?”
-The writer Lee Yeon-shin asked me to pass a message since you weren't picking up.
“Writer Lee?”
He paused the call for a moment and checked the call log screen. Sure enough, as Oh Min-tae said, there were missed calls from Lee Yeon-shin.
‘Got so caught up talking with Ye-hee that I missed them.’
He felt apologetic. He refocused on Oh Min-tae's call.
“What's the message?”
-Next shoot's guest is confirmed.
“Who?”
-Han Mi-jin ssi. You know her, right?
“Han Mi-jin ssi.”
She was one of Korea's representative actresses and currently making waves in Hollywood as a Korean actor.
For such a superstar to appear on 4 PM News Table.
‘Looks like our program has gained some status.’
He felt sorry for Jeon Yoo-hyeon, but Jeon had drawn a lot of aggro early on.
It was basically noise marketing.
Still, since ratings had gone up, it had worked out in the end.
Moreover, the episode with Jang Han-seon as a recent guest had generated a lot of buzz among viewers.
Overall, HSL Season 2 felt like it was going strong.
Of course, that was the entertainment industry for you—one scandal could bury even the hottest show.
The higher the ratings and attention, the more cautious everyone had to be.
That included celebrity guests.
‘Han Mi-jin isn't the type to stir up backlash. No worries there.’
Kang Han-do, having assessed her himself, replied to Oh Min-tae as if he got it.
“Yeah, Han Mi-jin ssi? Got it.”
-Good. By the way, what were you doing that you missed Writer Lee's calls? Not like you to be sleeping at this hour. Sounds like you're outside?
“Met up with Ye-hee ssi and heading back.”
-You bastard. Already dating?
“No, I'm telling you.”
He wasn't a full-fledged star yet, but he still needed to be careful about dating rumors.
It was true that Kang Han-do liked Choi Ye-hee.
But there was no need to jump straight into a relationship.
He could take it slow, building their bond step by step.
For now, both he and Choi Ye-hee needed to focus on their growth.
“No more to say? Hanging up.”
-Wait, one more thing.
As Kang Han-do went to end the call, Oh Min-tae spoke urgently. Kang Han-do brought the phone back to his ear and urged him on.
“What? Spit it out quick. I'm busy.”
-Yoo Tae-hwan PD-nim said to call him when you have time.
“Call? Me?”
-Yeah.
“For what?”
-Dunno. Seemed like he had something to discuss with you privately.
What could Yoo Tae-hwan PD have to say only to him? No matter how much he racked his brain, nothing specific came up.
Well, one thing.
The favor regarding Ye-hee.
But until he heard it directly, he kept his options open.
-Anyway, I passed the message. Hanging up.
“Got it, thanks.”
-No prob. But if you start dating Ye-hee ssi, you gotta report back later.
“Stop drinking that kimchi soup.”
-Got it, got it. Jerk. Anyway, wishing you the best.
“…”
It seemed Oh Min-tae had already pegged him and Choi Ye-hee as an item.
After hanging up, Kang Han-do looked up Yoo Tae-hwan PD's number.
He soon pressed call and listened to the ringtone.
Before long, the voice he wanted came through the phone.
-Hello.
“It's me, PD-nim. Min-tae said you were looking for me…”
-Oh, right.
His voice sounded like he'd just woken up.
Feeling guilty for calling at a bad time, Kang Han-do heard something shocking from Yoo Tae-hwan PD.
-You got a free schedule by any chance? Wanna appear on Pobokjeoldo?
“…What?!”
The unexpected opportunity came not just to Choi Ye-hee, but to Kang Han-do as well.
* * *
Pobokjeoldo could truly be called Korea's top gag program, boasting massive recognition from the public.
It was the dream stage for all comedians.
That was why aspiring comedians paid extra attention to BLT's public recruitment auditions over others.
Of course, Kang Han-do had been the same at first.
When he first became a comedian, just standing on the Pobokjeoldo stage had filled him with immense elation.
But despite appearing on Pobokjeoldo, Kang Han-do had endured over ten years as an unknown.
Thanks to that, he belatedly realized one fact:
Not every comedian on Pobokjeoldo became a superstar or lived a successful life.
So when he returned to the past, Kang Han-do deliberately avoided going all-in right away and chose the HSL audition instead.
He figured that if he hustled across various fronts, Pobokjeoldo would come calling first.
He just hadn't expected the offer so soon.
“…”
Kang Han-do lay flat on his living room floor, staring at the ceiling.
He recalled what Yoo Tae-hwan PD had said.
At a time when Pobokjeoldo urgently needed talent, Jo Woo-kim PD had picked Kang Han-do.
He couldn't even properly remember how excited that had made him.
“Jo Woo-kim PD-nim picked me…”
During HSL Season 2, it seemed Jo Woo-kim PD had taken a liking to him.
Either way, it was undoubtedly good news.
“Still, better to hear the details first.”
He started getting ready to head out.
Through Yoo Tae-hwan PD, he'd scheduled a brief meeting with Jo Woo-kim PD at 3 p.m. today.
He planned to get specifics on the role and the corner.
If it didn't suit him, Kang Han-do intended to boldly turn down Jo Woo-kim PD's casting call.
From his ten-plus years as an unknown, he'd learned firsthand that mismatched roles meant no spotlight.
The role had to align perfectly with his style.
That was the prerequisite for Kang Han-do accepting Jo Woo-kim PD's offer.