The U.S. Version of <Grandpas Over Flowers> Premieres on NBC

‘Grandpas Over Flowers’ has received a lot of attention not only in Korea but also in the U.S. NBC's 'Better Late Than Never,' a remake of tvN's 'Grandpas Over Flowers' premiered successfully, logging high ratings amid favorable reviews.

'Grandpas Over Flowers' became the first Korean entertainment program to sell its format to NBC, generating a lot of buzz. After two years of production and programming, the U.S. version of 'Grandpas Over Flowers' entitled 'Better Late Than Never' was aired in the U.S. for the first time among Korean broadcasting contents. Broadcast in prime time, the reality show received enthusiastic response.

According to Nielsen, the first episode of 'Better Late Than Never' aired on NBC TV at 10 PM (local time) on the 23rd, recorded 7.35 million viewers aged 18 to 49, taking the top spot among all channels in that time slot. In the daily ratings, it ranked second after NBC's 'America's Got Talent' (11.07 million viewers). Among the newly launched programs in the summer of 2016, 'Better Late Than Never' was the most-watched program at a premiere, signaling smooth sailing ahead. 

The original version of ‘Grandpas Over Flowers’ was cast by four national actors Lee Soon-jae, Shin-Gu, Park Geun-hyung, and Baek Il-seop, with Lee Seo-jin serving as a ‘porter.’ 'Better Late Than Never' features actor Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman, with comedian Jeff Dye taking on the role of a 'bag carrier and human navigator.' Consisting of four parts, the reality-travel show was filmed in six cities in four Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.  

In the first broadcast, the five celebrities visited Japan and experienced a new Asian culture with the unique accommodation and food culture while traveling around Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. In addition, their real-life episodes including minor bumps in personality differences while traveling together or enjoying small games captivated the audience’s attention. 

CJ E&M's producer Na Young-seok, who produced 'Grandpas Over Flowers,' said, "I'm really happy with the results. I was worried whether American viewers would be able to sympathize with the desire of elderly people to travel in their old age, as there is a somewhat Asian aspect to it. It is refreshing to witness that it is something that people can enjoy all over the world.”

Meanwhile, CJ E&M is taking the lead in exporting Korean broadcasting and programming formats: In addition to the American version of 'Grandpas Over Flowers,' it has sold a number of formats including those for 'I Can See Your Voice,' 'Let Me In,' and 'Misaeng: Incomplete Life,' among others, which have been enthusiastically received by international fans.