Beneath the stage where the TOP 8 round was underway, a man was overseeing everything.
Chief producer Go Hyeon-deok.
With arms folded, he kept glancing around as though something did not sit right.
“CP Go, is there some kind of problem?”
Assistant director Kim Yeong-ho, who was standing beside him, asked cautiously.
“Hmm…”
Go made a low sound, then, instead of answering, threw back a question.
“We eliminate five people today, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
When today’s TOP 8 round ended, the three who would move straight on to the semifinal would be decided. Those three were already fixed in advance.
Of course they were contestants skilled enough to satisfy viewers, and the preliminary online vote had also been considered, so there would be no outcry about manipulation.
Even so, Go Hyeon-deok was racking his brain, wondering if there was no more stimulating scene or arrangement to squeeze out. Something felt lacking. Was there no scene he could milk further with these contestants?
Although the show was recording ratings worthy of the history books for an audition program, it would need even firmer numbers if it was to become a franchise solid enough to run season after season.
“Sigh…”
Running his fingers through what little hair he had, Go fell deep into thought. A picture he could milk from the contestants…
Wait a minute. He did not necessarily have to milk the contestants, did he?
Go whipped his head toward the judging panel and looked over their faces. Every last one was a first-class musician or producer in Korea.
Right, he could use them.
“PD Kim, tell the head writer to revise today’s script.”
“Sir? Revise it how…?”
“The next round won’t be TOP 3, it’ll be TOP 5.”
At that Kim Yeong-ho pulled a troubled face.
“CP, with all respect, adding another round means we’d have to schedule another live broadcast slot; there are lots of issues with that.”
“It’s fine. We make the next TOP 5 round the semifinal, then run the final with a TOP 2 right after. No extra slot needed.”
Go answered without the slightest hitch, as though he had already decided. His eyes gleamed as if he could already see the headline “K-Singer Star Breaks Rating Records!”
He slipped an arm round PD Kim’s shoulders and pointed at the judging panel, speaking with insinuating emphasis.
“PD Kim, are we going to let those high-and-mighty judges just sit there and make soup?”
“Sir?”
“It feels like we’ve focused too much on the contestants till now.”
With the sly smile of a schemer, Go explained his idea.
“We have the judges each mark one contestant and coach them for the semifinal.”
“Ex… excuse me?”
“They’ll have their pride on the line, so imagine how hard they’ll work.”
Satisfied that Kim had understood, he patted the younger man’s shoulder.
“Film the coaching sessions and they’ll make great inserts, and we’ll get much higher-quality stages into the bargain.”
“You’re right, sir, that would look fantastic. I’ll go and ask the judges for their views immediately.”
“What views are you asking?”
Go narrowed his eyes.
“Those stuck-up judges will flat refuse at first. But even if we have to double their fees, make sure you bring back a yes.”
Kim’s thirst for ratings was second to none; the proposal felt like a juicy fruit. No, it was definitely a good idea. Nothing wrong with it. It promised dramatic footage and better stages.
“Understood. I’ll get the OK no matter what.”
As PD Kim turned away, Go thought his back looked like that of a well-trained hunting dog.
“Results will be revealed in sixty seconds.”
The TOP 8 performances were over. For some, it was a satisfying stage; for others it was full of regrets. But the three contestants with the lowest online pre-vote scores had already been earmarked for elimination, so there was no tension among the judges.
When commercials rolled, PD Kim approached the panel.
“Everyone, I have an announcement.”
He relayed the changes Chief Producer Go had just outlined.
“PD Kim, that condition wasn’t in the original agreement, was it?”
Veteran judge Won Jin-seop was first to object.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Kim spoke calmly.
“However, there is a clause in your contracts stating you will cooperate with production requests.”
This time producer Jayble challenged him in a sharp tone.
“But this request is unreasonable, isn’t it?”
“Right. You’re just notifying us?”
Judge Lee Yeong-a chimed in, and the other judges nodded—except Hyunseung.
Indeed, from their standpoint it was outrageous. If they’d been told at the start, it could be different, but asking them out of the blue to coach contestants one-on-one, and not even letting them choose whom…
I don’t really care either way, thought Hyunseung, casting a sidelong glance at the row of judges beside him and shaking his head slightly.
So they want to set up a dogfight among the judges. Whoever dreamed this up, if the panel agreed it would certainly produce juicy footage.
“I understand you feel that way,” Kim went on without fluster.
“But that is why you were paid large signing bonuses and high appearance fees per episode. I believe none of you can deny that.”
The judges fell silent; they had no retort. Adding up all fees for every episode plus the contract money, each of them was pocketing enough to buy a 130-square-meter apartment in the Seoul suburbs.
Having accepted payments in the hundreds of millions, no top musician could simply plead ignorance.
Seeing them hesitate, Kim pressed on.
“Of course, additional remuneration for coaching will be included in your fees.”
He bowed ninety degrees.
“We ask for your generous understanding this one last time.”
The judges looked at his lowered head, exchanged glances and cleared their throats.
“Thank you,” Kim said, sensing their silence meant consent, and backed away. They offered no objection but no approval either: unable to refuse, yet far from pleased.
Only HS’s reaction was unreadable; with that helmet on and a vow of silence he gave nothing away. Recalling past meetings, Kim doubted HS would simply sit mute. He stepped closer and asked quietly.
“Mr. HS, may we count on your cooperation too?”
“Do whatever you like.”
The flat, bored reply surprised Kim, but he stepped back, bowed to the group again and left, relieved that the hardest nut had cracked unexpectedly easily.
Eight contestants stood in a line on stage, tense faces waiting for the MC to announce the results.
“All right, the scores are in.”
Kang Hajun was just as nervous. He wet his dry lips and clasped his hands tight.
He felt his performance had gone well; the judges’ scores were decent and he had been high in the pre-vote. But in a contest, anything could happen, schedules could shift at a whim, agencies could intervene.
So he could not relax.
“After adding the week-long pre-vote, the judges’ points and the live text vote, the top five will advance to the semifinal.”
Top five?
Had he misheard? He thought he had been told they would go straight to a TOP 3 semifinal; it must have changed. That was why contests were unpredictable. Still, if it was TOP 5 he was safely inside, so he relaxed a little.
“First we will unveil fifth place.”
The MC gestured to the screen; a table of names and categories appeared.
“Fifth place goes to Kim Seok-hun.”
“Fourth, Sim Da-in.”
“Third, Lee Yuju.”
As each name was called, their blanks filled with scores.
“Now only first and second remain. We will reveal them simultaneously.”
Kang glared at the screen as if to pierce it. With the top five fixed he would be either first or second, but Yoon Jaeyi would surely be in that pair too. He did not want to lose to her. Again, his lips went dry.
“Ah!”
At the MC’s cry the audience erupted.
“Favorites Yoon Jaeyi and Kang Hajun have taken second and first!”
Kang’s name appeared with a big number 1, but he could not be truly pleased, because Yoon had outscored him with the judges. Without the votes, he might have lost again.
“The uncalled Lee Bo-yeon, Im Ho-jin and Cha Tae-hui are unfortunately eliminated. Thank you for your hard work.”
As their names were read, the surviving contestants comforted them with sorrowful faces – making an image they had been thoroughly schooled in. The eliminated singers, too, would not be utterly crushed; they likely already had agency contracts and could prepare for debut.
“Now, for the TOP 5 who advance, we have good news.”
Hearing this, Kang pricked up his ears: it concerned the next round.
“In the semifinal, each judge will become a mentor, coaching one contestant.”
Kang’s eyes shone; he bit his lip. That meant HS might coach him.
Please…
Hands clasped, he prayed fervently.
“Starting with first place Kang Hajun, please draw a ball with a judge’s name.”
He plunged his hand into the box, swirling it while begging every bit of luck to pull out HS. After long deliberation he chose one.
MC checked the slip and smiled intriguingly.
“The mentor for Kang Hajun is…”
“…the nation’s top female vocalist, Judge Lee Yeong-a!”
Kang forced a smile. He liked Lee Yeong-a, but disappointment washed over him: it was not HS.
Polite applause rose from the crowd.
“Next, second-place Yoon Jaeyi will draw.”
She timidly reached in and quickly pulled a slip.
“Oh!”
The MC unfolded it, relishing the suspense.
“This looks like fate.”
Surely not HS.
“The mentor for Yoon Jaeyi is…”
It can’t be…
“…the hotshot composer HS!”
Kang failed to keep his face straight; regret twisted his features. Applause again rolled over the audience, oblivious to his feelings.
The others drew next; the screen flashed up the pairings:
Kang Hajun × Lee Yeong-a
Yoon Jaeyi × HS
Lee Yuju × Jayble
Sim Da-in × Kim Gwang-jin
Kim Seok-hun × Won Jin-seop
Thus, the mentor assignments for the last hurdle before the final were set.
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