According to Nielsen Korea, the episode of 'Whenever Possible' aired on the 29th recorded a 2.6% viewership in the 2049 demographic, 5.0% in metropolitan households, and 4.3% nationwide, setting a new record for the season. Particularly during the slipper mission scene, the show spiked to 3.6% in the 2049 demographic and 7.3% in metropolitan households, marking 'the highest minute' and proving its strong influence in both ratings and buzz.
In the latest episode, MCs Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok, along with 'Gap Friends' Cho Yeo-jeong and Cho Jung-seok, visited the Bundang area, filling viewers' spare moments with non-stop banter.
Cho Jung-seok, reuniting with the 'Three Seok Brothers' Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok, immediately triggered laughter with their talk. When Cho Yeo-jeong complimented Yoo Yeon-seok's visit to the set by saying, "He has a great personality," Yoo Jae-suk and Cho Jung-seok humorously sealed their lips as if on cue. Yoo Yeon-seok's playful complaint, "Why won't you affirm it?" led Cho Jung-seok to jest, "There's nothing more to add. I didn't deny it," while Yoo Jae-suk playfully added, "If Yeo-jeong said it, that's enough. Everyone knows," turning the set into a sea of laughter.
The first 'gap' location the four visited was a public institution overseeing international cooperation. The gap game was 'Da Cau,' a Vietnamese shuttlecock game, which was a mission Cho Jung-seok narrowly failed during Season 1, adding tension as Cho Yeo-jeong confessed to being a shuttlecock novice. Yoo Jae-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Cho Jung-seok succeeded in the first stage during a bonus round with the gap owner. Before the second stage, they dived into intense practice, with Cho Yeo-jeong even borrowing Yoo Jae-suk's boots to fuel her determination. Despite a disappointing result, Cho Jung-seok humorously pleaded with the production team, "Yeo-jeong was the only one who shouted for a challenge," bringing laughter to the end. The gap owner thanked Cho Yeo-jeong for her hard work by presenting her with an MVP gift, adding warmth to the moment.
During a brief lunch break, close friends Yoo Jae-suk and Cho Jung-seok teased younger brother Yoo Yeon-seok. Recalling their first meeting during the movie 'Architecture 101,' Cho Jung-seok playfully called Yoo Yeon-seok "an annoying senior." Yoo Jae-suk's mock anger, "Why did you bring Suzy into it? That's the problem!" and Yoo Yeon-seok's defense, "I was just following the script. I was a newbie then," led to playful banter, with Cho Jung-seok adding a realistic touch, "You should've talked to the director," causing an uproar of laughter. Moreover, Cho Jung-seok's blunt advice on Yoo Yeon-seok's variety show dilemma, "Calculating how to eat noodles isn't fun," with Yoo Jae-suk acknowledging, "You guys are genuinely close, for real," highlighted their legendary chemistry.
The final 'gap' location was a cheerleading academy. The game to bring luck to the second-generation cheerleading 'gap' owner and her daughter involved throwing slippers onto a yoga block from a balance ball. Cho Jung-seok's keen eye for the elasticity of slippers led him to declare, "We need to find a soft one," successfully finding the optimal slipper and completing stages one and two, with Yoo Jae-suk cheering, "Jung-seok is on fire." Eventually, Cho Jung-seok offered to showcase his attempt to the hesitant gap owner, triumphantly succeeding and filling the room with laughter.
Facing the third stage, the four were tasked with a mission where "two out of four must succeed." Cho Jung-seok, without hesitation, dived into finding another 'soft slipper,' adding more laughter. Ultimately, the two soft slippers discovered by Cho Jung-seok led to him and Yoo Yeon-seok successfully completing the third stage, with Yoo Yeon-seok joking, "These are lucky shoes. Wear them for your stage greetings," ending the episode on a humorous note.
MCs Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok, offering a slice of luck in the brief moments of everyday life, continue to charm viewers with the 'Gap Strategy' variety show 'Whenever Possible,' airing every Tuesday evening at 9 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)