Can this B-Grade Drama Fill the Void Left by 'When The Stars Gossip’s' 1% Ratings Flop?

Following the underwhelming performance of 'When The Stars Gossip’, which struggled with ratings in the 1% range, tvN is making a bold move to restore its reputation with a new B-grade romance comedy.

The network’s latest weekend drama, 'The Potato Lab’, is set to premiere on March 1. Ahead of its debut, a press conference was held on February 27 at Ramada Hotel in Sindorim, Seoul.

The event was attended by lead actors Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh, along with cast members Lee Hak-joo, Kim Ga-eun, and Shin Hyun-seung, as well as director Kang Il-soo. The team expressed their excitement and confidence in the upcoming series.

A Lighthearted, Offbeat Romance Comedy with a Familiar Charm

'The Potato Lab’ is the follow-up to 'When The Stars Gossip’ and centers around a heartwarming love story set in a potato research facility. The drama follows Mi-kyung, a passionate potato researcher, and Baek-ho, a strict, by-the-books scientist, as they navigate their growing relationship. Their evolving chemistry is expected to be a major highlight.

Director Kang described the drama as a "B-grade romance comedy", emphasizing that its quirky, potato-themed premise will deliver plenty of laughs.

Lead actress Lee Sun-bin shared her enthusiasm for the project, saying, "I was drawn to this role because it allowed me to showcase a more natural, everyday acting style. Beyond Mi-kyung and Baek-ho’s love story, the drama features a diverse cast of lively characters, making it incredibly fun to film."

Kang Tae-oh added, "The combination of ‘potato’ and ‘lab’ intrigued me, and I was excited to take on a fresh new character different from my past roles."

Director Kang has set an ambitious target for the drama’s ratings, aiming for double digits. The stakes are particularly high given that 'When The Stars Gossip’—which had a massive production budget of over 50 billion KRW—failed to surpass the 4% mark, plummeting to as low as 1% in later episodes.

Despite premiering in a prime weekend slot with a staggering 50 billion KRW budget, 'When The Stars Gossip’ failed to captivate audiences. The series boasted a unique premise set in Korea’s first space station and starred top actors Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho, but ultimately fell flat.

From the start, viewers criticized its erratic storytelling, messy directing, and lack of emotional depth in character arcs, all of which hindered immersion. The show ended with dismal ratings, earning the unfortunate title of tvN’s worst-performing weekend drama of the 2020s.