When it comes to reality shows, Mnet has a reputation for churning out viral hits. This time, Mnet’s YouTube channel M2 is joining the roster with “ChoCo In Hollywood” – a show that follows the official trainees of ChoCo Entertainment as they undergo special training and prepare to become full-fledged artists.
The trainees in question are Jake, Anpan, TJ, and Sean – all of who are in the trainee group called ChoCo. The male trainees – Jake, TJ, and Sean, are teamed together as ChoCo1, with Jake as the leader, whereas Anpan is the leader of the girl group division – ChoCo2. “ChoCo In Hollywood” thus charts the journey of these young dreamers.
So far, two episodes of “ChoCo In Hollywood” have already been released on YouTube. If you haven’t tuned in yet, here are five reasons why you should!
1. Lights, Camera, ChoCo: Meet The Future
ChoCo is an Alpha Gen group, in the sense that all the trainees belong to that generation. As such, they aim to represent the identity, aspirations, and worries of the youth. To do so, ChoCo Entertainment is training them under a special curriculum that encourages the trainees to explore their originality and unique musical aesthetic, write their own lyrics, and compose their own music.
In the first episode of “ChoCo In Hollywood”, the trainees are seen sharing their self-written lyrics with ChoPD (Head Producer of ChoCo & Founder of ChoCo Entertainment), who provides them with feedback and motivation. In this way, the trainees are not only preparing to stand in front of the world as idols but as self-produced, well-rounded artists who can boast that the future of K-Pop is in safe hands.
2. Star-Studded Mentorship Of “ChoCo In Hollywood”
With 1st generation Korean hip-hop legend ChoPD and star producer Francis Kim a.k.a Benjamin 55, who has worked with TWICE and NCT DREAM, leading the ChoCo production team, the trainees are well-guided with first-hand experience. In addition, they are also seen taking dance lessons from John Silver, a renowned choreographer known for working with Usher and Justin Bieber in episode 2 of “ChoCo In Hollywood”. If you thought that was impressive, wait till you watch the following episodes, where several prominent Hollywood stars, including Jamie Foxx, will mentor the trainees!
3. Great Talent, Greater Personality: ChoCo’s Motto
As you’ll see on the show, Jake is a mature and composed trainee, TJ is a rebellious and confident one, Sean has a quiet but quirky personality, and Anpan exudes elegance and innocence. It’s genuinely enjoyable to get to know the trainees and their dynamic with each other, which raises anticipation about how it would translate into their music.
All the trainees have their own strengths, and in the process of growing together as artists, they’re able to expand their horizons even further, learning from each other as they go. In one scene from episode 1, TJ is seen producing a track and guiding Sean while he records. Despite both being trainees, TJ appears immensely reliable and helpful, while Sean takes his feedback to improve.
While work is all well and good, the playfulness of the trainees remains intact regardless, as the boys tease each other during practice. You simply can’t help but root for them!
4. Music Sneak Peek: ChoCo’s Trainee Album
Throughout the show, we will see the production process of ChoCo’s trainee album, and luckily, we won’t have to wait long for the final results. At the end of episode 2, the music video for ’85 IN’, a song that ChoCo1 trainees had been preparing, was revealed for the first time. True to the hard work that was shown in the episode, the finished product was refreshing and commendable, giving viewers a glimpse of ChoCo’s potential. It will be interesting to see what comes next for ChoCo.
5. Redefining The Trainee Experience: ChoCo Entertainment Sets a New Standard
The toils of trainee life have been something that idols and fans alike have raised their concerns about. “ChoCo In Hollywood” proves that gone are the days when trainee life would be restrictive and hellish.
In episode 1, trainee Sean, in particular, is heard gushing over how ChoCo Entertainment urges them to take in-house drumming, DJ-ing, guitar lessons, and more to nurture their natural talents and develop their personal knacks for music.
This allows them to pursue their inherent interests and improve their skills at their own pace. The trainees are visibly thrilled at the variety of fields they can tap into, which shows in their prompt artistic growth.
If you’d like to join ChoCo on their journey, don’t forget to tune in to episode 3 of “ChoCo In Hollywood”, coming on May 26, 2023 at 7 PM KST, only on M2!
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