SBS Takes It Back, Running Man Not Cancelled!

After much drama before 2016 ended, SBS has just announced that the 7-year old variety show Running Man will continue filming despite the agreed cancellation of the show next month.

I learned about the news when I checked my Instagram account and the first post to appear on my feed was an announcement made by SBS on Running Man's official Instagram account of the show's retention.

🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏻 [‘런닝맨’ 제작진 공식 입장] 런닝맨 종영을 아쉬워하는 국내외 런닝맨 팬들의 목소리에, SBS와 6인의 런닝맨 멤버들은 현재 멤버 그대로 런닝맨을 계속 이어가기로 결정했습니다.  지난 2010년 런닝맨을 최초로 기획한 신임 남승용 SBS 예능본부장은 올 초부터  최근까지 런닝맨 멤버를 모두 만나서 진솔한 대화를 나눴습니다.  멤버들과의 대화를 통해 그 동안 런닝맨 개편 과정에서 일어난 일들에 거듭 사과했고, 이에 6인 멤버들은 런닝맨을 지속하기로 합의했습니다. 남승용 신임 본부장은 “쉽지 않은 결정을 내려준 런닝맨 멤버들께 진심으로 감사드리고, 또한 지난 7년간 런닝맨을 사랑해 주신 국내외 팬들께 보답하기 위해서라도 앞으로 더욱 재미있는 런닝맨으로 시청자 여러분을 찾아갈 수 있도록 최선을 다하겠다”라고 포부를 밝혔습니다. 🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏻 [RunningMan Staffs' official announcement] SBS & 6 RM members decided to keep going on RunningMan without stopping in consideration of RM fans' wishes for RM to be continued. NamSeungYong, new Vice President of SBS Entertainment Headquarters, who had planned RM firstly in 2010, has had sincere conversations with 6 RM members from the beginning of this year to up until now. He offered apology to 6 RM members again for the past things on the way of RM renewal and 6 RM members agreed to continue RM without stopping. He expressed sincere appreciation to 6 RM members for their difficult decision and he announced that he would do his best to make RM more enjoyable to return RM fans around the world who had been showing endless love for RM for 7 years since 2010. ••• #런닝맨 #RunningMan #RM

A photo posted by RunningMan (@sbs_runningman_sbs) on Jan 23, 2017 at 11:31pm PST

[RunningMan Staffs' official announcement] SBS & 6 RM members decided to keep going on RunningMan without stopping in consideration of RM fans' wishes for RM to be continued. NamSeungYong, new Vice President of SBS Entertainment Headquarters, who had planned RM firstly in 2010, has had sincere conversations with 6 RM members from the beginning of this year to up until now. He offered apology to 6 RM members again for the past things on the way of RM renewal and 6 RM members agreed to continue RM without stopping. He expressed sincere appreciation to 6 RM members for their difficult decision and he announced that he would do his best to make RM more enjoyable to return RM fans around the world who had been showing endless love for RM for 7 years since 2010. ••• #런닝맨 #RunningMan #RM

I can clearly remember how all of these started. Kang Gary filmed his last Running Man episode and a few days after, news about Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook being booted out (voluntary exited, whatever you call it) of the show surfaced. It just did not make sense to me as to why these two will decide/be removed on the show without any pre-empt or advance notice. And then news about ending the show and starting a new season hosted by Kang Ho Dong began to get the spotlight (KHD respectfully refused to do the show though.). Much talk must have happened behind closed doors, until the news broke out that SBS has the final decision to finish the show with a couple of episodes until February. With this in mind, the hosts agreed to finish the last few episodes, and the producers even dedicated those to be a member's episode per week. The news of KJK and SJH's removal from the show disappointed so many fans in Korea and much more overseas where Running Man has gained a great percentage of its fan base. But the disappointment turned into anger for some when the final decision to end the show for good was announced. They started to hate the SBS network, the producers or anybody who might be responsible for this mess,

A few episodes more until February, SBS retracted its decision and  we get the news of Running Man continuing the fun this year!

I maybe spoiling and being negative, but the retraction of the cancellation is a bit fishy for me. At one point I am happy that the show will continue. I have heard about Running Man since I was in college, but I never get to watch it until just last year. It really entertained me and even made me a fan of the show just in a couple of months of binge-watching the episodes. I even have picked my favorites, too! On the other I am kind of doubting the purpose of keeping the show going. I am not sure what SBS realized after pounding the "End the show" verdict to Running Man last December and what or who made them change their mind. What were they thinking?!?!?!?

Anyway, let's leave it on a positive note. Let's be happy that our favorite 7012 (or 6012?) will continue together and will put their best every episode to give us fun and laughter every Sunday. Let's wish that they always be in good shape and no one gets ill so that we can see them complete every week.