The Jan. 20 episode of SBS’s "Whenever Possible" hit a peak minute rating of 4.7% and a 1.5% rating among viewers 20-49, ranking No. 1 among Tuesday variety shows in that key demo. (Nielsen Korea, Seoul Capital Area)
Co-hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok teamed up with “gap friends” HAEWON and SULLYOON of NMIXX, spreading good vibes as they visited the KAIST film club, a nuclear research lab, and students at Daejeon Girls’ High School.
From the jump, HAEWON and SULLYOON came in fired up. HAEWON―already hailed as a next-gen variety ace―playfully hyped her bandmate as “one of Daejeon’s Big Three attractions,” introducing Daejeon native SULLYOON with a wink. Her spot-on reactions delighted Yoo Jae-suk, and when HAEWON joked she now “does reactions at home,” Yoo laughed that he does the same―teasing the sparkling chemistry to come.
Their first stop was the KAIST film club. For a self-professed NMIXX superfan there, HAEWON and SULLYOON threw a mini fan-meet, melting hearts. The mission, “Runaway Ping-Pong Ball,” challenged them to roll a ball down a tilted table and sink two goals to clear it. Using a math-based strategy devised by the segment’s host, SULLYOON and Yoo Yeon-seok nailed Stage 1 on their third attempt. In a hilarious twist, the host gave up ace player Yoo Yeon-seok for a bonus chance just to team with NMIXX―only for the group to stall out at Stage 2. HAEWON sent the sweetest shout-out―“I’ll be waiting for you at the venue”―prompting Yoo Jae-suk to marvel at her next-level fan service.
Next up: a nuclear researcher’s lab. Determined to snap Daejeon’s losing streak, Yoo Jae-suk vowed to get a win. The game, “ONE Magnetic Force,” required placing four magnets inside a shrinking circle while avoiding two magnetic beads. SULLYOON showed uncanny control, clearing Stages 1 and 2 in just two tries. “She’s a magician,” Yoo cheered with a big thumbs-up. Even as the circle tightened, SULLYOON’s steady, piece-by-piece strategy delivered Daejeon’s first Stage 3 success―cue celebrations. True to her “Daejeon Big Three” rep, she’d also pre-scouted a famed knife-cut noodle spot and mapped Plans A through C to beat the wait, impressing both hosts.
Their final stop featured senior-year students, where a funny generation-gap moment broke the ice: told that Yoo Yeon-seok was born in ’84 and the student’s dad in ’82, Yoo cracked, “I’m earning money for dog food, not baby formula,” sending Yoo Jae-suk into stitches. The mission, “Goodbye! High School,” tasked the quartet with flicking student IDs so all four landed face-up. As successes and slip-ups alternated, HAEWON admitted the pressure was real, while SULLYOON kept spirits high with a steady “We’ve got this!” Despite falling short at Stage 1, the students said they’d gained memories more precious than any prize.
Powered by relentless positivity, Yoo Jae-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, HAEWON, and SULLYOON shattered their Daejeon jinx with a proud Stage 3 finish. NMIXX’s duo proved their variety chops, steering smooth, lively banter and playing crowd-pleaser to perfection―filling Daejeon’s in-between moments with laughter.
"Whenever Possible", a “spare-moment surprise” variety show where the two MCs drop into everyday lulls to deliver good fortune, airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. KST on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)