Stray Kids (TV program)
Stray Kids is a 2017 reality show created by JYP Entertainment and Mnet. It was created as a male idol debut project with the concept of "trainees versus JYP", the goal of which being the survival of all nine members to debut as a team. It was broadcast on Mnet from October 17 to December 19, 2017, on Tuesdays at 23:00 timeslot for ten episodes.
Background and concept
In late July 2017, it was reported that JYP Entertainment, was set to premiere a new season of their 2015 reality show Sixteen — which debuted Twice — in the second half of the year. However, it was revealed the next month that the agency would launch a male idol debut project with a completely different concept from Sixteen. The show began airing in October 2017 and the line up of the group was finalized in December, with the group having their official debut showcase in March 2018.Rather than individuals surviving to form a team, the team was pre-selected and trainees would perform self-composed songs, working towards the goal of debuting together. They were judged based on individual abilities and teamwork through various missions. The show also featured the behind-the-scenes look at the daily lives of trainees and their yearly showcase held in August.
On September 21, JYPE revealed the show's title, Stray Kids, along with its logo and social media channels. Featuring the originally nine members, now eight members, the first image teaser was unveiled on October 9.
Original songs
Over the course of the 10-episode series, the members were tasked with writing original music as part of their missions. Each song was later released on their pre-debut EP Mixtape."Hellevator"
On September 26, 2017, a music video teaser of a song titled "Hellevator" was uploaded online. The full version was scheduled to be released on October 3 but was pushed back to the 6th. The song, co-composed and co-written by 3Racha, was later released as a digital single on November 1.Contestants
| Name | Hangul | Birth date | Notes |
| Bang Chan | 방찬 | The group's leader; he joined JYPE in 2010 after passing an audition in Australia. He used to train with the members of Got7, Day6 and Twice. | |
| Kim Woo-jin | 김우진 | A former SM Entertainment trainee for a year where he used to train with NCT members. | |
| Lee Min-ho | 이민호 | A dancer of 4–5 years and was once one of the dancers for BTS's concert tour. | |
| Seo Chang-bin | 서창빈 | A trainee for two years at the time of the show's premiere. | |
| Hwang Hyun-jin | 황현진 | A trainee for two years at the time of the show's premiere. | |
| Han Ji-sung | 한지성 | He used to live and study in Malaysia. | |
| Lee Felix | 이필릭스 | Like Chan, he joined JYPE after passing an audition in Australia, where he was born and raised. | |
| Kim Seung-min | 김승민 | Joined the company in 2016 after winning second place in JYPE 13th Open Audition. | |
| Yang Jeong-in | 양정인 | The youngest of the trainees; he was born in Busan. |
3Racha
Bang Chan, Seo Chang-bin and Han Ji-sung are part of a pre-debut group called 3Racha. The trio released several self-composed mixtapes that were uploaded online.Episodes
Episode 1 (October 17, 2017)
In the first episode, JYPE decides to select the new debut group by having two teams compete. The female trainees form a team called 2team, consisting of Yeji, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna, all chosen by the agency. The male trainees form the Male Project Team, created by long-time trainee Bang Chan, which includes Bang Chan, Kim Woo-jin, Lee Min-ho, Seo Chang-bin, Hwang Hyun-jin, Han Ji-sung, Lee Felix, Kim Seung-min, and Yang Jeong-in. Both teams perform at the trainee showcase and receive positive feedback. However, Park Jin-young ultimately selects the Male Project Team as the winning group with their performance of the song "Warrior's Descendant" by H.O.T.Episode 2 (October 24, 2017)
The first mission is revealed; the nine members of the Male Project Team are challenged to compose their own song, as well as perform it, to determine if they can debut altogether without eliminations. One week prior to their performance, the members living outside the dorms move in. After they settle in, the group goes to the arcade to spend some free time. At the JYPE Training Center, the group selects the track they will use for the mission evaluation and starts practicing. On the day of the evaluation, the group announces their name, Stray Kids, and their song titled "Hellevator." After the performance, Park praises the song's lyrics, arrangement and melody, but mentions that the key is too high for male singers. He also notes that there are members who did not meet Park's standards and expectations, which leads to an elimination round.Episode 3 (October 31, 2017)
Min-ho, Jeong-in and Hyun-jin are at risk of elimination. After giving criticisms, Park re-arranges the members' parts in "Hellevator." For the next mission evaluation, they are tasked to divide the group into three teams for "3:3:3" stage performances. The members decide their own teammates: Min-ho picks Felix and Chang-bin, Hyun-jin picks Seung-min and Chan, and Jeong-in picks Woo-jin and Ji-sung. Five days prior, the teams spend a day off. Min-ho's team have a picnic at Hangang Park, Hyun-jin's team goes to a bowling center, and Jeong-in's team heads to a karaoke room. During the episode, the behind-the-scenes filming for the music video of "Hellevator" is also shown.Episode 4 (November 7, 2017)
The three teams show their performances to other members for comments and advice. During the second mission evaluation, Hyun-jin's team is first, performing a song titled "4419," which is based on Bang Chan's experiences while riding bus No. 4419 as a trainee in Seoul. Park praises their overall performance. Min-ho's team next performs a song titled "Glow," lyrically about a hardworking team who is practicing until dawn. Chang-bin receives compliments but Felix gets criticized for being unconfident, while Min-ho mixes up his lyrics while performing. Jeong-in's team performs "School Life," a song about students' days and slight rebellion. Ji-sung and Woo-jin both receive compliments, though Park points out their lack of stage presence and dancing skills respectively. Jeong-in is criticized for his rap and dance skills. Jeong-in, Felix and Min-ho are now at risk of getting eliminated. In the end, Min-ho is eliminated from the group.Episode 5 (November 14, 2017)
Park remarks that Min-ho's skills are still lacking due to a shorter training period compared to the other members. Stray Kids continues with eight members. A few days after Min-ho's elimination, Park gathers the group for a talk and lesson about things to remember while achieving dreams. Afterwards, the group is given a special vacation in Gangneung. They go to the sea, eat at the central market, and play relay skating at the ice rink. At night, they camp out and chat about the hardest mission they've gone through so far, the person who they are most grateful to, and talk about Min-ho. In the end, they watch a video message that Min-ho has prepared.Episode 6 (November 21, 2017)
Park reveals the third mission: "JYP vs. YG", a longtime tradition of putting trainees from the two agencies against each other, like the battle in the 2013 Mnet reality television program Win: Who is Next. A week before the battle, Stray Kids picks their representatives for the vocal, dance and free battle teams. For the vocal team, they are tasked with performing a song by one of YG Entertainment's girl groups. Chan, Woo-jin, Ji-sung, and Jeong-in decide to sing Blackpink's "As If It's Your Last," and remix the song to fit Stray Kids' concept. 3Racha prepares an original rap performance titled "Matryoshka", a rap about staying true to yourself using the motif of Russia's traditional dolls. Park reviews the prepared performances and decides to remove Chan from the rap performance and Jeong-in from the vocal performance.On the battle day, the team heads to YG Entertainment headquarters where they meet the other agency's trainees for the first time - including Bang Ye-dam from K-pop Star 2. In the free battle round, Chang-bin and Ji-sung perform "Matryoshka" without Chan. Yang Hyun-suk and Park praise their performance. Bang Ye-dam of YG performs Shawn Mendes' "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" and receives compliments from Park.