According to Nielsen Korea, KBS' "Producer" recorded 12.6 percent for its June 12 episode. The broadcast of episode 9 recorded 0.8 fewer percentage points than the eighth episode, which captured 13.4 percent of the nationwide audience.
A report published by Sports Chosun analyzed the ratings of "Producer," since its premiere, noting that the series has consistently yielded higher ratings for its Saturday broadcasts, as opposed to its Friday episodes. Episode 9 ranked the highest of any of its Friday broadcasts, with the program placing third out of terrestrial programming in its relative time slot.
The ninth episode carried a prevailing theme of the effects of new or novel things on the old and familiar. Baek Seung Chan (Kim Soo Hyun) was faced with the challenging decision meeting Cindy (IU) or Tak Ye Jin (Gong Hyo Jin). He demonstrated his love for Ye Jin by meeting her, before attempting to talk with Cindy.
Prior episodes alluded to the downfall of Yuna, a female idol who preceded Cindy and served as her role model. Her backstory is seamlessly interwoven into events surrounding Cindy, as she witnesses the parallels between Yuna, herself and a newly debuted vocalist. As she struggles for relevance, it is apparent that she may not be able to form a romantic relationship with the Seung Chan, but there is great potential for their friendship.
One of the most interesting aspects of the episode was the revelation that Seung Chan harbored a childhood crush for Ye Jin. Their prior interactions, while brief, make their playground scene more poignant. However, his tenuous ties to her may not be enough to prevent Ra Joon Mo (Cha Tae Hyun) from confessing his feelings to Ye Jin.
With only three episodes remaining, it is difficult to figure out who Ye Jin will end up with and whether or not Cindy will receive a happy ending.
----------------------------
About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramastars. She is also a contributing writer for Kpopstarz, MTV Iggy and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
