Free Web NovelMr. Producer.
As befits a variety show rivaling Ju Se-han, posts began appearing online in real time.
“Thump thump... thump thump...”
“I almost rewatched an episode, but I °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° finally turned on the TV.”
“Looks like it’s gonna be a blast today.”
“? Who’s on today?? Who’s the guest?”
┖nblr
┖They just started a new special lol—an idol debut project.
“Oooo lol can’t wait.”
Since the show’s fun level varies wildly by guest and theme, viewers were already full of anticipation before it even started.
“Honestly, last week’s preview was hilarious lol.”
“If nblr is on, as a variety fan I’m already pleased.”
“This’ll at least be a moderate hit lol.”
“I’m dying to see Chu Gi-seok’s expression lol—he’s been singing every recording that he wants to do something with NewBlack.”
“He actually got to sing lol.”
Posts speculated how Chu Gi-seok would react, having repeatedly named NewBlack as his dream guest.
Fans of Mr. Producer who’d been eagerly awaiting this project showed overwhelming excitement.
But some worried that expectations were too high.
“It’s a two-month long project—will they handle it?”
“Guest is NewBlack so I’m relieved, but honestly music specials are always dead boring.”
“How can an idol debut project be interesting...?? I can’t picture it at all.”
Those were the fans concerned by the painfully obvious format: could practice and recording alone be entertaining? With a long two-month run, the first impression was crucial. Though beloved as a national variety show, it had just as many haters; any slip, and entertainment reporters and anti-fans would crow that the ratings tanked.
“We’re all nervous about ratings; NewBlack fans must be squeezed out by now.”
“Right... if this flops, they’ll say it was boring all year.”
But the reality was different.
“Guys, let’s not hurt anyone.”
“What’s next, lol?”
“After hunting seagulls, now they’re hunting humans.”
“Our kids turned my hometown into a madhouse on that ‘healing for seniors’ show—now they’re on Mr. Producer.”
“lololol sounds like they came to wreck the show.”
“But seriously, hope it’s well cast 😭 Mr. Producer makes me nervous.”
“222—just behave normally, national variety show or not... though I do wanna see Junghyun mess up.”
These Suffle viewers had no qualms about the cast’s chemistry or comedy. “It’s out of our hands now...” At first they’d wanted glamorous idol stuff, but now they just cheered supportively. Have you ever seen idols talk to cows on a lifestyle show or catch seagulls on a healing trip? The format seems ordinary, but Suffle knows someone will shine—whatever member it is, they’re excited.
As viewers and Suffle waited online, ordinary people at home were finishing dinner and flipping channels.
“Let’s watch Mr. Producer today. They’ve got a new special.”
“I thought it was boring last time... what are they doing today?”
“NewBlack’s on. Some singer special, apparently.”
“NewBlack...? Let’s tune in.”
They responded positively to the keyword NewBlack. As middle-aged viewers, raised on hits like “Masterpiece” and “My Hometown,” pressed the remote, the final ad rolled.
[Speed decides everything.]
With NewBlack striking cool poses in a telecom commercial, the “Mr. Producer” logo slid in. After the age-rating reminder no one watches, the preview began.
[This project is an “Idol Debut Project.”]
[Huh? Idols?]
Mr. Producer members blinked at the PD’s words, then faced the chaotic dance-skill check. As the members flailed hilariously, looking terrified...
“Hello!”
Producers for this project appeared, faces obscured by (??).
“It’s NewBlack.”
“You can tell by their voices oddly enough.”
“Even by build. That big guy over there used to work like a hometown cow.”
Along with fast-forwarded training scenes, the preview cut as the cast joked.
“Think this’ll be fun today?” Viewers deciding whether to switch channels saw the last scene.
[AHHH!]
A buzzing sound. Mr. Producer members in the studio screamed and ran from something.
“Ha ha ha!”
“What was that? What dodged?”
“This looks funny.”
Their panicked, stunned expressions were hilarious. When the preview ended with the “Mr. Producer – Idol Debut Project” logo, channels stayed locked on PBS2.
The first twenty minutes featured no NewBlack. It explained why they’re doing this project. Youngest Hong-seok’s wish at Jeongdongjin—“Becoming an idol is my dream”—played, and the members pledged to find a producer. First, industry figures gathered for a “Who should produce us?” panel. Footage from last November showed everyone bundled in winter fashion.
“Me? Pick me.”
“Is this our only connection? I’ll do it for 500 won. Huh?”
“I’m in a hurry these days.”
KM Entertainment’s CEO pestering by phone was played for laughs. Then entertainment reporter Oh So-hee picked up her pen.
“You need professional producers, but also mentoring by active idols, right?”
“That’s right, reporter.”
“If there were an idol group fulfilling both needs?”
“Pardon?”
Mr. Producer members widened their eyes while industry figures exchanged looks.
“Is there such a group?”
“...Do you know NewBlack?”
“Who doesn’t know NewBlack?”
When variety stars thought she meant an unknown group, they laughed awkwardly.
“I know their names: Sun Woo-ju, Kim Bi-ju, Kim Junghyun, Seo Ri-hyuk... what was Ji-ho’s surname?”
“Was it Hwang? Aah, if I say it wrong, heads will roll. Sorry, NewBlack fans!”
“There was a ‘nature person’ guest once; a hermit in the mountains watches NewBlack TV.”
The quips continued, then experts turned serious about NewBlack.
“Woo-ju is famous in the industry for composing. It’s no joke—really famous. He wrote every track for NewBlack’s title songs.”
As they mentioned hits “Windflower” in the first half of last year, “Nine” in the latter half, and “Winter Sleep” early this year—with “Nine” as BGM—“Thousand Dreams” from the movie Nostalgia, on the Billboard Hot 100 for nearly twenty weeks, played. Both Mr. Producer members and home viewers gaped.
“He really made all that?”
“It’s real. I checked Mango, his name’s in the credits.”
“So how much money is that? He could buy a building.”
On-screen cast marveled “He must have made a fortune.” Viewers in their twenties and thirties, who’d heard NewBlack’s songwriting prowess on social media, reacted with fresh shock. Those who knew them as just good singers from hit song panels felt revealed. Experts continued.
“You may know them for stunts like one-wheeled unicycles or special forces gags, but they’re an industry-renowned self-producing idol group.”
“Seriously. So many NewBlack album-making videos on MiTube. I was stunned watching the Winter Sleep making-of.”
When music critic Hwang Ho-cheol finished, a clip labeled “Source: MiTube NewBlack TV” played. The discussion panel’s footage explained “Why NewBlack?” before the project launch.
-Thought they were booked for laughs, but there’s depth here;; lol
-They had a big purpose with Murok
-Wow lol those work-in-progress clips are unique lol Winter Sleep came out after they’d already blown up? That stare is deadly
-In cartoons, funny characters look coolest when serious
-Top picks always have reasons, IMO
-Kinda felt like a YOLO MiTuber, but it’s embarrassing; they’re hardworking
Reactions full of surprise from non-idol fans. After the expert panel, news clips announcing NewBlack’s booking scrolled in.
[April 5] showed members visiting Lemon Entertainment. While inspecting MiTube plaques in the lounge, they complained.
“When are they coming~?”
In mock-poor acting, the camera caught the five standing behind the equipment. With an “Yay!” they struck cheerful poses, their bright smiles winning viewer hearts.
“Wow! NewBlack~!” Handsome five greeted by other handsome stars. Viewers felt the same.
-Handsome+handsome is great... I love when Mr. Producer brings in stunning people
-Sorry, Hong-seok oppa, Sun Woo-ju is my bias from now on
-They look similar lol handsome celebs vs variety idols
-Suddenly it’s okay if it’s boring
-lol how are their faces all so different—amazing
Fans marveled at NewBlack’s distinct yet picturesque visuals.
“They’re funny but handsome, right?”
“Da-young, find me sons-in-law like these—good-looking and obedient.”
“...Yes.”
While NewBlack chatted with the cast, viewers felt a strange catharsis at no stage clips so far—it implied “Everyone knows them; no intro needed.” Meanwhile...
“I’m from the NewBlack TV fan club! Fake fans!”
Chu Gi-seok’s crazed joke lit up viewers and Suffle alike.
-Live broadcast of fandom name nationwide lololol
-I’m dead lol my mom asked if I’m holy bone elite hearing that
-Suc-cle lol Q_Q
-Mr. Gi-seok’s proud “holy bone” gaze at us lol
-Suddenly holy bone status lolol
-Biggest life achievement: fangirling NewBlack since fireworks
-But that’s accurate... if you started at fireworks, you’re at least a jinhungwang
-I joined at Winter Sleep so I’m no clan bone
The self-intro reading of cue cards turned into a sea of laughter, especially the “idol I’d date” ranking. When they said someone’s out of the top ten including personality, living rooms and online exploded in laughter.
-lol they must be genuinely shocked freewebnovёl.ƈom
-Ah, I get “including personality” now
-NewBlack used “moo like a cow” skill..! Effect was huge..! Charm –100
-But seriously, personality is known by all so I get it. Unless someone’s like Kevin always on variety, how would norms know an idol’s personality?
-tmi: Kevin was Sun Woo-ju’s junior in the military
Amid small talk, edited clips showcased NewBlack’s charm: polite confidence, sweet glances, cute youngest-being-bullied-by-uncle vibe. Even casual viewers warmed up. Then they moved to real skill evaluation.
And...
“Ooo....”
Viewers burst out laughing at the unimaginable dance skills.
“Unreal.”
Even the worst dancer would feel confident—such terrible moves. Seeing NewBlack’s poker faces as they watched was astonishing. Antis mocking “They’re just here to promote an album, right?” fell silent.
“Wow... how do they debut these guys?”
“They stepped in it. Stepped in poop.”
“Please don’t talk about poop while eating.”
So when Bi-ju joked “Dance skill: S-rank,” everyone laughed, convinced.
“S-rank must be generous.”
Curious about Bi-ju calling himself C-rank, they pushed him to perform. And...
“He really can dance.”
Mr. Producer members’ reactions—“Where’s the C-rank?”—resonated with viewers. Gentle, cute-looking Bi-ju transformed with dance energy. Whether ripping it up to the sudden Nationwide Singing Contest remix or giving his all on a simple stage, he impressed.
-Sudden nationwide singing contest!! lol
-Wasn’t that remix trending hot on MiTube? Seeing it here again
-Remix was dope
-Nine sounds bland after that
On-screen Woo-ju grinned brightly.
[You made that so well? Wow.]
[I’m in awe, really.]
[No joke, if the producer of this remix sees this, please contact us.]
[For sure~!]
Woo-ju said he’d love to collaborate, and a stylish “NewBlack awaits you” subtitle appeared. As real-time comments like “Pilgrimage complete” and “Hey you! Watch Mr. Producer!” streamed, episode 1 raced toward its end.
“It’s fun.”
Viewers’ impressions converged: cast chemistry was solid, and though the project hadn’t truly begun, episode 1 promised plenty ahead. It wasn’t an instant laugh riot, but this level of fun from the first episode meant a successful special. As community posts lauded today’s episode and expressed anticipation, the final five minutes played: NewBlack’s choreography video guided Mr. Producer members’ practice.
-??? Usually they end with “Let’s work hard from here! Fighting!”—isn’t that the rule?
-Feels like it’ll cut off awkwardly
-That routine NewBlack made is hilarious lol
Viewers were invited to follow along. Halfhearted practice turned to exhaustion: hours later, the screen skipped to weary members collapsed on the floor, giving one last laugh. Against a tranquil backdrop...
[Peel-ril-ril-ril-ril]
The sudden recorder note startled viewers.
“...?”
On-screen Woo-ju played the recorder peeling away and vanished. Then Bi-ju appeared, saying he’d been watching live—everyone laughed.
-lololololololol
-So funny lololol
-Cast reactions lol
-Their practice is insane lolololol
-Exactly like NewBlack lololol
-??? What’s happening on Mr. Producer?? Why are they all laughing
-Did a legend drop today?
As “ㅋㅋㅋ” flooded live chat and communities, a legendary scene was born.
Ziiing—
[AHHHH!]
A wheeled TV chased people across the studio.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Across the nation, TV watchers laughed so hard they choked, spit out food, and turned dinner tables into chaos—laughter didn’t stop.
After the broadcast, TF Team’s Manager Hong Seo-young summarized viewer reaction in three words: “They came~ They saw~ They exploded!” Exploded was apt: phones buzzed nonstop, angelic editing played us well, but Bi-ju’s finale was the real highlight. Immediately after, phones buzzed like crazy.
“I finally... did it, hyung!”
“Bi-juaaa!”
“Yeeeaaah!”
Surrounded by teammates dancing the twist in celebration, cheerful Bi-ju basked in having delivered a true laugh bomb.
“And next episode is my vocal lesson.”
“Waaaaah!”
They patted Ri-hyuk’s back in celebration as he gleefully claimed he was next week’s highlight.
“Ow! Ow! Stop hitting me!”
“Waaaaah!”
After concert and album prep fatigue, this variety show gave them huge laughs. They’d heard positive buzz everywhere.
Mr. One asked to appear on Mr. Producer; Kim Deok-soon encouraged them, saying they did great. Even during dance practice, when they peeked at phones, their names topped real-time search. A national variety show nearing 20 percent ratings—just watching online felt the momentum.
“Wow...”
But they’d do post-show monitoring later. With excitement so intense, they’d review through the PR team once things settled. Most importantly...
“All right! Let’s practice! Practice!”
They pried phones from their siblings, calmed down, and pressed on with concert rehearsal.
The next day, the Producing Team beat the PR team with news.
“Guys!”
“...?”
When they looked puzzled, Producing staff beamed like they’d won the world.
“Why so serious?”
Staff replied excitedly:
“The remix producer is coming to the company!”
“He’s walking in on his own! Hot!”
“Hey! Is a newbie joining today? Come on in, newbie~?”
News that the unknown composer of Nine’s remix would visit had them all smiling.
“Eek!”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
They burst into joyful laughter alongside the Producing Team.
