Yum Jung Ah and Earth Arcade cast set to launch tvN's summer variety lineup
tvN is set to take on the summer variety show season with Sister's Farm Direct 3 on the 30th and Cosmic Rice Cake Shop on the 31st.
tvN has finalized its variety show lineup targeting the summer season. The lineup is headlined by ‘Sister's Farm Direct 3,’ which premieres on the 30th at 8:40 PM, and ‘Cosmic Rice Cake Shop,’ which makes its debut the following day, the 31st, at 8:35 PM. This lineup is built upon a two-pronged strategy of expanding existing IPs and implementing a seasonal format.
With its predecessor, ‘Sister's Farm Direct 2,’ proving its success by recording a peak viewership rating of 3.2% (according to Nielsen Korea), anticipation for Season 3 is high. tvN aims to capture the summer variety market by simultaneously launching a seasonal series that adds depth to a proven format and a spin-off that expands the universe of an existing program.
The New Four Siblings' Seasonal Table: ‘Sister's Farm Direct 3’
Returning for its third season, ‘Sister's Farm Direct 3’ captures the process of harvesting seasonal crops from various regions across Korea and preparing meals using them. This season features a change in the cast lineup. While maintaining the original format, a new group of "four siblings" has joined to showcase fresh chemistry.
Led by the eldest, Yum Jung Ah, the new combination includes Kim Sun-young, Kang You-seok, and Roh Yoon-seo. They will show their daily lives of sourcing ingredients directly from the source, cooking, and sharing meals together. A tvN official stated, “These two programs are content that adds new relationships and stories to the charm that viewers have already come to love.”
From ‘Earth Arcade’ Penalty to Independent Program: The Birth of ‘Cosmic Rice Cake Shop’
‘Cosmic Rice Cake Shop,’ airing on the 31st, is a spin-off that expands the universe of ‘Earth Arcade 2.’ The penalty the members received after failing an escape room mission during the broadcast of ‘Earth Arcade 2’ has evolved into a standalone program.
The cast features the original ‘Earth Arcade crew,’ consisting of Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young Ji, and An Yu-jin. The program is conceived as a “forced employment restaurant labor adventure.” Trapped by Torong's schemes, the members become part-time workers at a rice cake shop, depicting their journey of making rice cakes from dawn and welcoming customers.
tvN's Two-Track Strategy Using Seasonal Formats and Spin-offs
This lineup clearly demonstrates tvN's approach to utilizing existing IPs. ‘Sister's Farm Direct 3’ adds depth to the format through a seasonal structure. By introducing new individuals to a proven format, the series seeks to evolve interpersonal dynamics and extend its longevity. On the other hand, ‘Cosmic Rice Cake Shop’ utilizes a spin-off format to expand stories derived from an existing program into separate missions.
The broadcast times for the two programs are 8:40 PM (on the 30th) and 8:35 PM (on the 31st), respectively. tvN has built its summer variety lineup through the new four siblings' life in the countryside and the expanded universe of the Earth Arcade crew.
Cast Composition: From Yum Jung Ah and Kim Sun-young to the Earth Arcade Crew
The four siblings of ‘Sister's Farm Direct 3’ consist of Yum Jung Ah, Kim Sun-young, Kang You-seok, and Roh Yoon-seo. They will build relationships while working and eating together at the source. ‘Cosmic Rice Cake Shop’ features Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young Ji, and An Yu-jin. Within the program, they fall into Torong's trap and take on the roles of making rice cakes and preparing meals starting from the early morning.
