Reality show seeks to celebrate life through death

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

What if you only had 48 hours to live? What would you do and who would you spend those last hours with?

On the new reality show "My Last 48 Hours," three celebrities in their 20s to 50s reveal what they would do. From eating their favorite food to tidying up their surroundings, the imaginary situation prompts them to reflect on their lives and examine their true selves.

"I'm an optimistic person, but I often wondered why the theme of death isn't dealt with (on TV)," Jun Sung-ho, the show's producer, said during a promotional press conference in western Seoul on Wednesday. "There are negative things about death, but I thought we should candidly talk about it."

The show opens with an MC delivering a message of death to each of the cast members. Sung Si-kyung, a popular ballad singer and TV host, took on the role of the messenger, while actresses Lee Mi-sook and Park So-dam, and singer-entertainer Tak Jae-hoon lived out their "last" 48 hours on Earth.




"I always thought that acting was very difficult," said Lee, who at 56 is considered one of the leading actresses of her generation. "In this role, I could see myself very clearly. I couldn't make any calculations or think about how I would look to viewers. I thought, 'If this really happened to me, this is how I would act.' I was honest with myself."

In a teaser shown during the press conference, Lee often choked up and showed tears while watching a video of her old school through a pair of virtual reality (VR) goggles or holding her dogs on her lap.

"Rather than feeling regret, I feel a bit of sorrow," she said. "I feel like I still have a lot to do and a lot of attachment to life."

Tak, 48, said he initially turned down Jun's offer to appear on the show because the idea of dying seemed farfetched to him. After meeting with the producers, though, he came to accept the reality of death and decided to prepare himself, albeit temporarily.

"Actual filming took place over 48 hours. We got up early in the morning and our alarms would go off every two hours," the entertainer said. "At first, I was in denial and dismissed it as nothing serious. But after a day and half, I felt like I was self-hypnotized. I was slightly depressed before I got over it during our group dinner."

Jun expressed immense satisfaction with the cast, saying he never imagined them together and couldn't expect a better mix.

"I think they're brave people," he said. "They're all wonderful people. But I don't think it's just them. Everyone is a good person. My biggest focus was on helping people realize how good they are. I wanted our viewers to realize how precious they are. I think we all need that kind of comfort."

Viewers could also think about how to spend the rest of their lives and take hints from the cast members, he added.

"My Last 48 Hours" is scheduled to premiere on cable channel tvN at 11 p.m. Wednesday. It will air at the same time every Wednesday for a total of 12 episodes.


idk, it seems kinda weird to me.

Yonhap News

Comments

[mamamoos.livejournal.com]

ok me and my mum are actually big into death awareness and i think it's vital for our society but i wasm't expecting to see it being touted like this it could go well tho

let me take this opportunity to ask if anyone else has ever been to a death cafe?

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

Whats a death cafe?

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

What is that?

[cimelleh.livejournal.com]

oh this seems v interesting and the kind of pathos i am sometimes drawn to~

i want to watch lee mi sook's episode

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

All this makes me think is that humans are obsessed with death....I understand way since it because we don't really know what happens and blah blah blah blah, but sheesh biscuits.

[justkyhdding.livejournal.com]

idk my bucket list includes having sex with chen would the show let me do that

[premonitioner.livejournal.com]

I think we need to be more open about death to be honest. however, I'm not exactly sure that this is the best way to discuss death and think about it because it feels like emotional exploitation (but lol that's just what media does)

[sodapab.livejournal.com]

just reading about this makes me distressed, so I can't imagine myself watching a show like this

[jasmineakaiumi.livejournal.com]

same;;

[rosiemotleymind.livejournal.com]

I'm reluctantly morbid but I don't think I would want to watch this show.

[violentiak.livejournal.com]

I don't find this that weird idea at all. I think it could be done beaurifully and show what those people think are the most important and dearest things to them. And maybe make the audience realise them too.

Then again, I'm from a culture where death isn't exactly a tabu, we visit and decorate the graves of our loved ones a lot and so on.
There was actually a tv show in here a few years back thar followed terminally ill people who only had months left to live. When they died, they showed their families a video where those people left their final goodbyes and said the impirtant things they wanted the family to know and remember. It was actually very touching and beautifully done.

[baekpedaling.livejournal.com]

Every now and then I'm reminded by something random(like seeing a date in the future that I know I won't be alive for) and I'll have basically a panic attack. And how to calm myself down for several minutes.

So fuck no I won't be watching this

[10135.livejournal.com]

Not gonna watch but it looks interesting I guess?