‘Whenever Possible 5’ dominates Tuesday variety with rising 2049 ratings

The SBS variety program ‘Whenever Possible Season 5’ is strengthening its presence in the Tuesday variety competition by securing stable viewership metrics from the early stages of the season. Following a peak viewership rating of 4.8% in its premiere, it maintained its position as the number one program in its time slot during the second episode. Expectations for long-term success are mounting as the 2049 viewership rating—a key metric in the advertising and content markets—also continues to rise.

The SBS ‘Whenever Possible’ broadcast on the 18th recorded a peak viewership rating of 4.6%, a household viewership rating of 3.4%, and a 2049 viewership rating of 1.4% according to Nielsen Korea's Seoul metropolitan area data. Both the household and 2049 viewership ratings ranked first among all variety, drama, and educational programs in the same time slot. Notably, the 2049 viewership rating was the highest among all programs aired on Tuesday.

Previously, the first episode of Season 5, broadcast on the 11th, made a smooth start by recording a peak viewership rating of 4.8%, a household viewership rating of 3.8%, and a 2049 viewership rating of 1.1%. Analysts suggest the program's core viewership base is being maintained, as the buzz from the premiere translated into a second consecutive week leading its time slot.

The rise in the 2049 viewership rating is particularly noteworthy. It climbed by 0.3 percentage points from 1.1% in the first broadcast to 1.4% in the second episode. Given that the response from younger viewers is a crucial measure of a program's advertising competitiveness and buzz in the current terrestrial variety market, this increase is significant.

The competitiveness of ‘Whenever Possible’ stems from its format, which centers on everyday spaces and ordinary citizens rather than massive sets or dramatic narratives. The program follows a 'niche attack' variety format, finding short 'gaps' of time in daily life to conduct games with citizens and deliver unexpected luck in the process.

This format differs from traditional observational variety or studio game shows. Instead of celebrities monopolizing every scene, the program utilizes the lives of citizens throughout the city as narrative resources. It expands the scope of variety by combining the stardom of celebrities with the authentic daily lives of ordinary people.

In Season 5, new elements were added to increase game variables. The introduction of 'Niche Chance'—where participants choose one of five chance cards containing lucky or unlucky elements—allows the mission difficulty to shift based on the cast's choices. This adds tension by combining strategy and unexpected situations rather than relying solely on luck.

In the first broadcast of Season 5, Hwang Jung-min and Jung Ho-yeon joined as 'Niche Friends' in Jungnang-gu. They created cross-generational interactions by meeting high school students and night school mothers. In the second episode, actor Jung Hae-in joined Yoo Jae Suk and Yoo Yeon-seok in Dongjak-gu, alongside Heo Sung-tae.

In this episode, Jung Hae-in's role expanded from a simple guest to a local guide.

Having lived in Dongjak-gu for nearly 30 years, Jung actively introduced the area and practically led the program's itinerary. He noted, “I have lived in Dongjak-gu for nearly 30 years. I know many good restaurants,” and took charge of selecting and reserving the dining locations.

His local expertise provided unexpected comedic moments. Jung shared his personal rule of moving to a different restaurant without hesitation if the wait is too long, and showed a meticulous side by pre-selecting a shaved ice shop for after lunch and even preparing a fan for the cast.

When Yoo Jae Suk marveled, “Hae-in is doing great. He is completely invincible,” Yoo Yeon-seok lightened the mood by quipping, “Since he is the son of Dongjak, he is fast in Dongjak.”

Jung also shared a lighthearted family story regarding his manager, who is his biological younger sibling, jokingly referring to them as “the lackey(?) my mom made.”

The missions conducted with citizens highlighted the program's unique field-oriented nature.

The first 'Niche Owner' group consisted of members of a boxing gym preparing for a relocation. Yoo Jae Suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Hae-in, and Heo Sung-tae challenged themselves to a 'Mitt Rally' using boxing mitts to bounce a ping-pong ball.

The atmosphere became increasingly playful as Heo Sung-tae made several mistakes. He joked about his own clumsiness, saying, “I'm a fool. My mom is going to love this.” After gaining the opportunity to use ping-pong paddles through a 'Niche Chance,' the four participants passed the first stage on their seventh attempt but failed at the second stage.

The second location was the 'Blue Dragons' American football club at Chung-Ang University. The cast attempted the 'Reverse Superball,' a challenge to bounce a ball in a relay style to flip target cones.

Despite Heo Sung-tae's initial confidence that they could finish in one go, the game proved difficult. The group successfully passed the first and second stages on their fifth attempt, raising expectations, but ultimately failed at the third stage due to consecutive mistakes.

As tension rose, Heo Sung-tae remarked, “I'm sweating even though I'm not doing anything,” prompting Yoo Jae Suk to joke, “Sung-tae plays the villain often, but he's actually as timid as me.” After failing the mission, Heo provided a warm and humorous moment by telling the club leader, “Send me your account number. I'll pay for the pork belly.”

The strength of ‘Whenever Possible’ lies in its ability to turn even failures into entertaining content. Rather than focusing solely on mission success, the program finds humor in the mistakes, confusion, and spontaneous dialogue that arise. Unlike highly controlled studio shows, the unpredictability of moving through real spaces with citizens serves as a core element of its charm.

The early success of Season 5 is supported by this sustainable format. While the core duo of Yoo Jae Suk and Yoo Yeon-seok provides stability, the show continues to evolve by introducing different locations and guests each week.

Furthermore, the guest characters are not merely used for one-off appearances. While Hwang Jung-min and Jung Ho-yeon met citizens in Jungnang-gu, this episode saw Jung Hae-in's local expertise and Heo Sung-tae's eccentric humor blend with the setting of Dongjak-gu. The changing locations naturally shift the context of the people met, the games played, and the conversations had.

Ultimately, the competitiveness of ‘Whenever Possible’ lies in its ability to transform small, everyday moments into variety entertainment. Finding these brief 'gaps' in the busy lives of urbanites to share laughter and small bits of luck offers a refreshing alternative for viewers fatigued by overly intense programming.

After debuting with a 4.8% peak viewership, ‘Whenever Possible’ maintained its momentum with a 4.6% peak in its second episode. The rise in 2049 viewership from 1.1% to 1.4% further confirms growing interest among younger audiences.

Whether Season 5 can translate this early momentum into sustained buzz and high ratings will depend on future guest lineups and mission designs. However, based on these early results, ‘Whenever Possible’ is proving to be a formidable pillar of SBS's Tuesday variety lineup.