Busted! Explained

Native Name:
Hangul:범인은 바로 너
Hanja:犯人은 바로 너
Rr:Beomin-eun Baro Neo
Lk:The Culprit Is You
Genre:Mystery
Thriller
Variety show
Starring:Yoo Jae-suk
Ahn Jae-wook
Kim Jong-min
Lee Kwang-soo
Park Min-young
Oh Se-hun
Kim Se-jeong
Lee Seung-gi
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:28
Runtime:62–97 minutes
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Executive Producer:Jang Hyuk-jae
Cho Hyo-jin
Kim Ju-hyung
Company:SangSang Company
Netflix Services Korea Ltd.
Network:Netflix

Busted! is a South Korean television program on Netflix starring Yoo Jae-suk, Ahn Jae-wook, Kim Jong-min, Lee Kwang-soo, Park Min-young, Oh Se-hun, Kim Se-jeong and Lee Seung-gi. It premiered on May 4, 2018, and concluded on January 22, 2021.[1]

The program is a Netflix Original that is co-produced with SangSang Company, a Korean production company that is responsible for X-Man, Running Man, and Family Outing.[2] The show is Netflix's first original program to showcase an all-Korean cast. During a press briefing, producer Cho Hyo-jin mentioned that Netflix's goal is to create a hit show for South Korea, which can then be "consumed on the global stage".[3] The show mixes both scripted and unscripted lines.[4]

The first season consists of 10 episodes; two episodes a week were released from May 4 to June 1, 2018.[5] [6] On May 30, 2018, Netflix published a press release announcing the program had been renewed for a second season.[7] All ten episodes were released on November 8, 2019.[8] [9] On February 16, 2020, the show was renewed for a third season.[10] Similar to second season, all eight episodes were released on January 22, 2021.[11] Two weeks prior to the premiere of the third season, it was announced that the latter would conclude the show.[12]

Synopsis

Season 1

Seven celebrity sleuths discover that they are a part of an operation called Project D, in which they are implanted with a chip containing the DNA of famous detectives throughout history. Led by a man only known as "K" (Ahn Nae-sang), they are recruited as private detectives and are given a new case in each episode, all the while gradually uncovering the mystery behind Project D and its inception.

Season 2

One year after the incidents of Season 1, the detectives reunite along with a new recruit to unveil the truth of K's death. With different murder cases that are interconnected, they conclude to search for the notorious serial killer named "Flower Killer".

Season 3

With old faces back on the team, the detectives investigate a series of bewildering cases that seem to be linked to Hwalbindang, the secret organization who is responsible for killing the criminals.

Cast

CastSeason 1
2018
Season 2
2019
Season 3
2021
Yoo Jae-sukcolspan=3
Ahn Jae-wook
Kim Jong-mincolspan=3
Lee Kwang-soo
Park Min-youngcolspan=3
Oh Se-huncolspan=3
Kim Se-jeongcolspan=3
Lee Seung-gi

Episodes

Each episode features guest celebrities. Unlike other Korean variety show formats, guests for Busted! play characters many of whom have the same names as the celebrities themselves. The characters are somehow involved in the murder mystery in each episode and/or lead the cast to clues for solving the murder mystery.

Season 3 (2021)

Development and production

Cho Hyo-jin, one of the executive producers of Busted!, stated that he and the other producers pitched a variety show to Netflix where ordinary people can become detectives and solve cases, and Netflix liked the concept. The initial title for the show was "Dumb and Dumber Detective".

Season 1

On September 27, 2017, it was reported that the final lineup for the show would consist of Yoo Jae-suk, Ahn Jae-wook, Kim Jong-min, Lee Kwang-soo, Park Min-young, EXO's Oh Se-hun, and Gugudan's Kim Se-jeong.[13] According to Cho, Lee Kwang-soo and Kim Jong-min were added to the cast to highlight the "dumb and dumber" aspect of the show, while Ahn Jae-wook and Park Min-young were added due to their serious personalities.

Filming for Busted! began on September 27, 2017,[14] with Yoo Yeon-seok being confirmed as the show's first guest.[15] The show was initially set to be released in March 2018. The first two episodes premiered on Netflix on May 4, 2018.

Season 2

On May 30, 2018, Netflix renewed the show for a second season. On September 6, 2018, it was reported that the original cast would return for the second season, apart from Lee Kwang-soo who would not be joining due to scheduling conflicts.[16] In a Netflix event held in November 2018, producer Jang Hyuk-jae announced that Lee Seung-gi would join the cast. Netflix announced that the second season was scheduled to premiere on November 8, 2019.[17]

The episodes are shorter than the first season because "although some of the viewers liked the show's length because it felt like watching a movie, others said that the episodes were too long" according to producer Kim Dong-jin. There are also several fixed guests who appear multiple times during the season and who play a more important role than in the first season.

Due to his drunk driving incident in February 2019, Ahn Jae-wook did not promote the second season with the rest of the cast. He was removed from the opening credits and did not appear on the promotional posters.[18]

Season 3

On January 17, 2020, it was reported that Lee Kwang-soo was in talks to return for the third season of the show.[19] On February 16, 2020, Busted! was officially renewed for a third season. Filming began in April[20] and ended in early June.[21] The release date was teased on Instagram by the cast on December 14–16, with the season premiere of January 22, 2021 being officially confirmed by Netflix on December 17. On January 19, the cast and producer Cho Hyo-jin held an online media conference to promote the final season.[22] [23]

Accolades

-- Note: only center align Year and Reference column only -->+ Name of publication, year awarded, name of the record, and the name of the record holderPublicationYearWorld recordRecord holder
Guinness World Records2021The smallest printed magazine advertisementBusted![24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NETFLIX REVEALS THE LAUNCH DATE FOR ITS STAR-STUDDED K-VARIETY "BUSTED!". Netflix Media Center. en. 2018-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20180404200945/https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-reveals-the-launch-date-for-its-star-studded-k-variety-busted#. 2018-04-04. live.
  2. Web site: '범인은 바로 너', PD가 준 단서로 추리한 新예능의 정체. YTN. ko. 2018-11-08. 2018-04-17.
  3. News: Netflix to air first original variety show in Korea. Yonhap News Agency. 2018-05-13. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180514141406/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2018/04/30/14/0701000000AEN20180430007800315F.html#. 2018-05-14. live.
  4. Web site: 'Busted!': This Korean Detective Show Is the Most Fun You'll Have Watching Something on Netflix. Greene. Steve. IndieWire. May 18, 2018. November 11, 2019.
  5. News: '범인은 바로 너' 유재석의 넷플릭스行, 뭐가 다를까(종합). 2018-04-30. 2018-05-10. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511080927/http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201804301325102410#. 2018-05-11. live.
  6. News: [yes+ Culture] '범인은 바로 너!' 출격.. 힌트는 없다, 문제를 못풀면 폭탄이 터질뿐]. 2018-05-10. 2018-11-08.
  7. Web site: NETFLIX RENEWS KOREAN ORIGINAL BUSTED! FOR A SECOND SEASON. Netflix Media Center. en. 2018-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706022830/https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-renews-korean-original-busted-for-a-second-season#. 2018-07-06. live.
  8. Web site: 'Busted!' returns for second season. Lee. Jae-lim. Korea JoongAng Daily. November 9, 2018. November 11, 2019.
  9. Web site: Netflix's first Korean variety show 'Busted' returns with second season. Lee. Gyu-lee. The Korea Times. November 11, 2018. November 11, 2019.
  10. Web site: '범인은 바로 너' 시즌3 제작 확정 '돌아온 이광수'. Busan Ilbo. ko. February 25, 2020. February 17, 2020.
  11. Web site: 2020-12-17. [공식] "전세계 사로잡은 'K-예능' 컴백"…'범인은 바로 너!' 시즌3, 내년 1월 22일 공개]. 2020-12-17. Sports Chosun. ko.
  12. Web site: Netflix 'Busted!' to stream final season on Jan. 22. Lee. Gyu-lee. The Korea Times. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021.
  13. News: [공식입장] '범인은 바로 너' PD "유연석, 게스트로 함께 촬영 중']. OSEN. 2017-09-27. 2018-11-08. ko.
  14. Web site: [공식입장] 넷플릭스 측 "'범인은 바로 너!' 오늘(27일) 첫 촬영…내년 공개"' ]. OSEN . September 27, 2017 . 2018-06-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180405125709/http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110740816# . 2018-04-05 . live .
  15. News: [단독]유연석, 넷플릭스 ´범인은 바로 너´ 첫 게스트]. 2018-11-08. ko.
  16. News: [단독]유재석·박민영·세정, ´범인은 바로 너2´ 출연 "이광수 하차"]. 2018-11-08. ko.
  17. Web site: Moore . Kasey . 'Busted!' Season 2 Coming to Netflix in November 2019 . What's on Netflix . Netflix News . August 27, 2019 . Are you excited? Yes, the detectives are back on 8 Nov! Busted! S2 only on #Netflix. #Busted #KVariety #BustedSeason2.
  18. News: 안재욱, 음주운전 사과…'영웅' 측 "향후 일정? 확인 중" [공식입장]]. 2019-11-10. ko.
  19. News: 이광수 측 "'범인은 바로 너!' 시즌3 출연 긍정 논의중"(공식입장). May 21, 2020. ko.
  20. News: 박민영, '범인은 바로 너' 시즌3 촬영 앞두고 '찰칵'. May 1, 2020. ko.
  21. News: [단독]유재석X이승기 '범인은 바로 너3' 시즌3, 지난 주 촬영 완료]. June 9, 2020. ko.
  22. Web site: Netflix's 'Busted!' stars and producer share glimpse of finale. Lee. Gyu-lee. The Korea Times. January 20, 2021. January 20, 2021.
  23. Web site: Netflix's 'Busted!' to return for final season. Lee. Jae-lim. The Korea Herald. January 20, 2021. January 21, 2021.
  24. Web site: [공식] "세계서 가장 작은 광고"…'범바너' 시즌3 메인 포스터, 기네스 월드 레코드 등극]. Sports Chosun. ko. Jo Ji-young. January 25, 2021. January 26, 2021.