Home Alone ranks #1 in 20-54 viewership rating for 4 straight weeks after Kim Shin Young joins

While MBC's variety program 'Home Alone' is receiving critical acclaim from viewers for "recovering its early vibes," it has once again proven its position as the strongest Friday variety show by maintaining an upward trend in both buzz and viewership ratings. Following the recent addition of new member Kim Shin Young, the program has seen positive responses to content that highlights the small charms of daily life, achieving the feat of ranking first in viewership ratings among the core audience for four consecutive weeks.

MBC announced that 'Home Alone' reached the top of the variety program rankings based on the 2054 viewership rating (the 20–54 age group) for the first week of July 2026, marking its fourth consecutive week at number one. In particular, the special project 'The 1st Rainbow Summer Retreat,' featuring all 13 Rainbow members, drew praise from viewers for showcasing the program's signature natural chemistry and cheerful teamwork.

The broadcast on the 3rd revealed the Rainbow members gathering in one place to enjoy their first summer retreat. As it was the first time the entire group had gathered in a long while, unexpected combinations among members and impromptu situations ensued. The episode was evaluated as once again demonstrating the program's strengths by creating natural laughter through every process, from games and meal preparation to conversations.

Viewership ratings also continued their upward trend. According to Nielsen Korea, the broadcast recorded a 5.7% viewership rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking first among Friday variety programs in the same time slot. The 2054 viewership rating, considered a key metric for advertisers, also reached 3.8%, placing it at the top of Friday variety shows and continuing its four-week streak as the highest-performing variety program in the first week of July. The peak viewership rating during the broadcast rose to 6.8%.

The scene that recorded the highest viewership rating of the day was the 'Random bibimbap' making during the retreat's first mealtime. The episode depicted the process of members adding ingredients they prepared one by one into the bibimbap without revealing them to each other, before sharing the meal together. Laughter erupted at the unexpected ingredient combinations, and the sight of members naturally becoming one while breaking the awkward atmosphere created a heartwarming mood.

In particular, Kian84 added to the laughter with his signature unpretentious manner, making sure to finish even the remaining bibimbap, and this scene drew the most attention, recording the peak viewership rating of 6.8%.

Recently, the program has been focusing on a composition that captures the small happiness of daily life and realistic living situations, centered around Kim Shin Young, who joined as a new fixed member. Evaluations continue to suggest that the early concept—showing ordinary days, home-cooked meals, hobbies, and human relationships rather than exaggerated settings—has been revived. Online reactions include comments such as, "The old 'Home Alone' vibes are back," "It's better because it's comfortable to watch rather than forced laughter," and "The combination of members provides a sense of stability."

In this way, 'Home Alone' is drawing empathy from viewers by reorganizing the program's color to focus on the natural daily lives and relationships of the cast rather than flashy events. Having secured both viewership ratings and buzz, the program is further solidifying its position as a representative Friday variety show based on the assessment that it has recovered its original intention.