Before it even premiered, MBC’s new variety show The Secret Friends Club generated massive anticipation. The reason? A star-studded cast featuring Jennie of BLACKPINK, Dex from Single’s Inferno, Choo Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, and Lee Soo-ji.
For Jennie, this marked her first appearance on a Korean television variety show in two years — instantly raising expectations. However, despite the high-profile lineup, ratings have fallen short.
Strong Cast, Weak Ratings
The program’s chase-style missions drew comparisons to the legendary variety show Infinite Challenge, a format long associated with producer Kim Tae Ho. Yet many viewers felt The Secret Friends Club failed to recreate the genuine tension and excitement that defined its predecessor.
Online reactions have been harsh:
- “It’s hard to believe they gathered such huge stars and still made something this boring.”
- “Kim Tae Ho seems to have lost his touch.”
- “It feels like a watered-down version of Infinite Challenge.”
- “The editing lacks tension — there’s no thrill at all.”
While some viewers said Episode 2 was slightly better than the premiere, disappointment remains widespread. Episode 1 recorded a 2.1% rating, dropping to just 1.6% in Episode 2 — less than half the 4.4% rating achieved by its predecessor, King of Mask Singer. For a Sunday 6 PM prime-time slot, hovering around 1% is considered underwhelming.
Can Jennie “Save” the Show?
Despite the show’s sluggish performance, Jennie ranked No. 8 in last month’s television personality buzz rankings — making her the most talked-about member of the cast.
Some argue that Jennie is effectively “carrying” the program’s publicity, even if the ratings remain low. This has sparked debate: Is Jennie’s star power declining, or is the show itself simply failing to deliver?
To turn things around, producers announced a wave of A-list guest appearances beginning in Episode 3, including Jung Hae-in, Go Youn-jung, Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Kim Do-hoon, chef Yoon Nam-no, Cha Tae-hyun, Park Bo-young, Lee Sun-bin, Kwanghee, and Kang Hoon. MBC is reportedly hoping that the addition of high-profile guests and stronger comedic chemistry will boost ratings and revive momentum.
Jennie’s Undeniable Global Influence
Questions about ratings aside, Jennie’s status as a global icon remains difficult to ignore. Debuting with BLACKPINK in 2016, she quickly rose to prominence through hits like “Boombayah,” “Whistle,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Kill This Love,” and “How You Like That.” As the group’s main rapper and lead vocalist, Jennie became one of K-pop’s most recognizable faces.
Her 2018 solo debut “SOLO” made her the first female K-pop artist to surpass 300 million streams on Spotify at the time. Beyond music, she earned the nickname “Human Chanel” as a global ambassador for the luxury brand and has established herself as a fashion and cultural influencer.
Recently, Jennie launched her own label, ODDATELIER, to manage her individual activities — further solidifying her independence as a global star. Her first full-length solo album, RUBY, also gained worldwide attention over the past year.
As criticism grows, attention now turns to whether The Secret Friends Club can surpass the 1% rating barrier and stage a meaningful comeback. Will faster editing and more dynamic storytelling restore excitement? Or will even Jennie’s global star power prove insufficient to rescue the show? For now, the debate continues — not just about ratings, but about expectations placed on one of K-pop’s biggest names.
Sources: kenh14