[UPDATE] “Produce48” Episode 8 – Elimination Episode – 30 trainees will continue on, 28 more trainees to be eliminated – Jang Wonyoung takes #1, HKT48’s Yabuki Nako at #2

Episode 8 will be airing in South Korea tonight (in the USA, it’s 7:10 a.m. PST). Please watch here:

[STREAMING LINKS] 180803 ‘PRODUCE 48’ EP.8, stay tuned tonight @ 11pm KST!

Download ‘TVing Global for PRODUCE 48’ on App & Play store!
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http://www.skpblive.com/2016/10/live-stream-poplertv.html … #PRODUCE48 #프로듀스48 #プロデュース48

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The 58 members do another introduction before the elimination round…

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Mnet’s “Produce48” episode 8 will be airing in an hour.

The show originally began with 48 trainees from South Korea (from CNC Entertainment, YGKPLUS, Cube Entertainment, FNC Entertainment, MNH Entertainment, RBW Entertainment, Million Market, Banana Culture Entertainment, Well Made Yedang, HOW Entertainment, Urban Works, YueHwa Entertainment, A Team, MMO Entertainment, MND17, FENT, Woollim Entertainment, Music Works, 8D Creative, WM Entertainment, Block Berry Creative, STARSHIP, STONE Music, PLEDIS and ZB Label) and 48 trainees from Japan (AKB48G: AKB48, AKB48 Team 8, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48 and NGT48),

The trainees were then trimmed down to 57 (Matsui Jurina of SKE48 had to bow out due to poor physical condition) trainees.  But today’s episode will feature the trainees trimmed down to 30.

“Produce48” features a collaboration between Mnet’s “Produce 101” of South Korea (a show which features hopeful singers/dancers who want to become members of a pop group) and members of Japanese idol groups of AKB48G .

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The episode has begun…. Everyone did their introductions for the elimination round but the NMB48 members (Shiroma Miru and Murase Sae) didn’t make it?

The latest voting received 27,553,709 Total Votes.

The trainees (before elimination was shot) go into a theater and Cheetah’s has producers showing the concept song to the girls. It appears that the girls will be be perform certain genres of songs depending on their votes.  Looks like we are going to have vocals/dance units again to compete in a Concept Evaluation.

We then see Wanna One member Lee Daehwi (a trainee from “Produce 101” Season 2 – who made it into the top 11) and it appears he will be a producer for a concept song.

Winners of the Concept Evaluation can win 135,000 points.

Groups are now being selected and they are not sure what songs they are going to be performing.  1st group is led by Wonyoung, 2nd group by Chaeyon, 3rd group Kang Hyewon, 4th group is led by Motomura Aoi, Miyawaki Sakura and others who were not selected will be in a group.

The groups are big and looks like the larger groups will split up nominating centers for each group performing the same song.  But I think that when the eliminations happen, a lot of readjusting will be taking place.  This will be sad as you can see certain members have created friendships and wanted certain people on their team.

Group is asking who wants to be center for the New Jack Swing group.  Chaewon, Kim Minju, Sakura and Nako tried and it went to Chaewon, who did a great job.

For “Rollin Rollin'”, Honda Hitomi and Jang Wonyoung has been voted as centers.  Both are known for their dancing, but which one of them will the producers prefer?  For dancing, Shiroma Miru is not doing well.  She didn’t memorize her dances.  Jang Wonyoung’s timing is off.  It’ll be a big test to see if the 13-year-old can be a leader.  It’s no doubt going to be a task.  She is stressing out and is in tears!

After practicing, we are seeing the team come together.

#4 group is now being featured and a lot of people are volunteering to be a center.  Aramaki Misaki of HKT48 and Wang Yiren are voted as centers.

We are seeing a special bonding moment between Sato Minami and Hyewon, who grown very close in the show.  Minami felt that being “58”, she is preparing herself for being eliminated and Hyewon is sad.

Rumor team…wow…everyone is qualified to be center!  Kim Sihyun and Go Yujin are chosen as centers.  Go Yujin’s group are members who have lower rankings and they know they have to do their best and sure enough, they do very well!

Trainer felt Go Yujin fit the concept very well.  But he also said that since a few of them won’t be around after elimination, he wants to make sure he can train them as much as possible.

“I AM” team. Lee Kaeun and Takahashi Juri are chosen as centers.  Judges are complimenting Takahashi as center and hard she is practicing and learning the lyrics.  Choi Yena receiving props for her singing.  She was often flying under the radar, overshadowed by others.  But now she can shine!

1000% team are choosing centers, but Nakanishi Chiyori is sad, she never received any votes.  But in the next round for the next group, Chiyori was voted as the main vocalist.  Chiyori was stressed about it.  Trainer is working with Chiyori to achieve certain vocals and she is seen working hard in achieving that.

The sad part as trainees know they might not be with their team because of their low ranking.  Many are in tears knowing that this is their last time in training.  Trainers give a hug to group members.

Elimination Round begins!

Rank 29-21 to be announced first!

30.  Takeuchi Miyu – AKB48

29.  Na Goeun – RBW

28.  Goto Moe – AKB48

27.  Miyazaki Miho – AKB48

26.  Jang Gyuri

25.  Murase Sae – NMB48 (if she didn’t get the 100,000 benefit votes from winning the dance competition, she would have been eliminated)

24.  Kim Sihyun

23.  Kim Doah

22.  Shitao Miyu – AKB48

21.  Kim Nayoung

20.  Takahashi Juri – AKB48

19.  Lee Sian

18.  Park Haeyoon

17.  Lee Chaeyon

16.  Choi Yena

15.  Kim Chaewon

14.  Wang Yiren

13.  Shiroma Miru – NMB48

The trainees are shown at the dorms, having fun and trying on facial masks.

Now the Top 12

12.  Honda Hitomi – AKB48

11.  Heo Yunjin – Pledis

10.  Jo Yuri

 

9.  Han Chowon

8.  Lee Kaeun – Pledis

7.  Miyawaki Sakura – HKT48

6.  Kim Minju

5.  Kwon Eunbi

4.  Ahn Yujin – Starship

3.  Kang Hyewon

2.  Yabuki Nako.- HKT48 (947,642 votes)

1.  Jang Wonyoung – Starship (1,010,555 votes)

Now the #30 spot…Takeuchi Miyu vs. Go Yujin…..

Takeuchi Miyu takes the final spot!!!  People in their seats run to congratulate Takeuchi Miyu who is in tears!

Now is the sad part…everyone saying goodbye to those who were eliminated.

Next week’s teaser, because of the eliminations, many concept teams will need new members, so people who have trained hard in one concept group, will now need to move to another team.  But to determine that, it will be done by each trainee voting.

MY THOUGHTS:  Wow!  I don’t think anyone could have predicted how the top 30 rank would be.  Takeuchi Miyu, I expect a slight drop, but not from #11 to #30…I didn’t expect that.  I didn’t expect Goto Moe to take one of the largest drops from #6 to #28.  The biggest surprise was to see Kang Hyewon to #3.  That was an incredible jump.  But the votes that young Jang Wonyoung received.  Incredible!    The question is… Can she stay at #1?  So far, no one has.   And it’s great to see Yabuki Nako continue to rise at #1.

What’s sad is that you had the buildup of teams taking part in the concept evaluation and really putting a lot of work and starting to shine!  Unfortunately, that first half while great for viewers, didn’t mean all that much because now the teams are going to change.  Episode 9 is no doubt going to be a significant test for a lot of the women to push them out of their comfort zone and do something new.

My highlights for this episode…there are two.  Han Chowon no doubt has the voice and those points helped her get to #9 but I was so pleased to see the Boombayah team come out and support her once she went down the stairs to go up the stage!

The other was Takeuchi Miyu winning #30 and to see both Korean and Japanese trainees leave their seats to comfort her, while she was in tears.  That is RESPECT right there that is earned!  And to see the women who were eliminated rising to their feet to show their support for her, that’s classy!

But I do have some concerns now.  This latest elimination got rid some of the better dancers and rappers, so we’re going to see if those who are typically not in that role, rise to the occasion.

Last, I know a lot of viewers are hurt after watching this episode.  There were trainees they have been emotionally supportive of and this episode serves as a reminder that no one is safe.

And one will realize…next elimination round will be even more heartbreaking!  So, let’s all hope that we see a fantastic performance in the Concept Evaluation for Episodes 9-10!

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