Sponge (TV program)

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Not to be confused with SpongeBob SquarePants.
Sponge
Also known asSponge 2.0
Sponge 0
Hangul
스펀지
Revised RomanizationSeupeonji
Directed byLee Hwang-sun
Presented byLee Hwi-jae
Kim Kyung-ran
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes441[1]
Production
ProducerLee Hwang-sun
Running timeApprox. 60 minutes per episode
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseNovember 8, 2003 (2003-11-08) –
September 21, 2012 (2012-09-21)

Sponge (Korean: 스펀지) is a South Korean television show that aired on KBS2 from November 8, 2003, to September 21, 2012.[2] The show is an infotainment program that deals with factoids and trivia, and tests and proves (or disproves) pieces of knowledge.[3][4] Facts are usually submitted by viewers, though sometimes the TV station finds facts on their own.[3] In 2007, the program was rebooted as Sponge 2.0 and shifted its focus to useful and necessary knowledge for a general audience.[5] It was rebooted again and renamed Sponge 0 in 2010 but returned to its original name in March 2012.[6]

Sponge saw popularity among young audiences; at the peak of its fame, some elementary schools incorporated it into their homework.[3] It was adapted into a book series, the first 3 copies of which sold over 200,000 copies.[7] The show was runner-up for the 2005 Asian Television Awards' Best Infotainment Program prize,[8] and it reached the finals at the 2007 Rose d'Or.[9][10] Sponge ended its 9-year run in 2012 on account of topic exhaustion.[11]

Hosts[edit]

The show had two hosts: Kim Kyung-ran and Lee Hwi-jae. Additionally each week a panel of celebrities is present.

Former hosts[edit]

  • 1st: Hwang Soo-gyeong
  • 2nd: Kim Kyung-ran
  • 3rd: Goh Min-jeong

All of them (from the list) are the KBS announcers.

Format[edit]

Each piece of trivia is introduced as a sentence with a blank missing. A panel of guests including singers, comedians, and actors then attempt to fill in the missing blank.[12] After the guests make their guesses, the answer is revealed and then proof is offered to show how this piece of trivia is true.

Following the video evidence, a panel of 50 judges votes on how interesting the particular piece of trivia was, rating it on a scale of one to five stars. For people that submitted items that received five stars, a cash prize of 1,000,000 won is awarded.

However, the new version, Sponge 2.0, has a different format. Instead of viewers submitting items, professionals from specific fields appear on set to provide intriguing and interesting facts, which are presented with video footage. Instead of 50 judges, the show invites 100 people who usually assist in on-stage polls and demonstrations. The panel of celebrities remains.

The original version of Sponge ended with the week's top internet searches on Naver. In Sponge 2.0, episodes end with a way to develop and stimulate the brain.

Criticism[edit]

Following Sponge's 2003 debut, the Japanese television network Fuji TV accused the show of copying their program Hey! Spring of Trivia, which first broadcast in October 2002.[13] KBS denied the claims, but Fuji TV stood their ground on the two shows' similarity. Fuji TV initially considered taking legal action against KBS,[14] but Fuji TV later stated the claims proved hard to resolve legally.[15] An investigation by the Korea Broadcasting Commission concluded that the accusations lacked evidence.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lee Kyeong-ho (2012-09-22). "'스펀지', 447회로 종영..이휘재·김경란 "시청자께 감사"". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  2. ^ "'스펀지' 종영 "소재고갈로 9년만에 폐비 " 아쉬워". 헤럴드경제 (in Korean). Herald Corporation. 2012-09-23. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. ^ a b c "[방송]KBS 지식 발전소 '스펀지' 10월1일 100회 맞는다". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2005-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  4. ^ Chun, Su Jin (2007-03-19). "[TV review]'Knowledge' is in the eye of the beholder". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  5. ^ "골리앗 '무한도전'에 맞서는 다윗 '스펀지'" (in Korean). OSEN. 2008-05-11. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08 – via Naver.
  6. ^ "'스펀지' 마지막회 소재고갈로 종영 '범죄 대처법 소개하고 굿바이'". Newsen (in Korean). 2012-09-21. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  7. ^ "KBS'스펀지' 방송 100회 맞아" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Francisco, Butch. "More Asian Television Awards". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  9. ^ "KBS '스펀지' 골든로즈상 본선 진출" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08 – via Naver.
  10. ^ "KBS '스펀지' 9월 1일 200회 방송". PD Journal (in Korean). 2007-08-27. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  11. ^ "KBS '스펀지', 소재고갈 등으로 '폐지수순'..'내마오' 편성". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2012-08-22. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  12. ^ "[발견 이채널] KBS 2TV '스펀지'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-08-13. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  13. ^ "KBS2 신설 오락프로 '스펀지' 첫회부터 표절 논란". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-08-13. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  14. ^ "[방송]日후지TV, 표절의혹 한국프로에 법적대응 검토". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2003-11-12. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  15. ^ "日후지TV, 표절의혹 부인에 유감표명". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-08-13. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  16. ^ "방송위 "'스펀지'등 日방송 표절 증거없다"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2003-12-09. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.

External links[edit]

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