Archive for the ‘Ezlynn’ Category
Amboi… A New Show In Town
Azwan Ali (left) with Mas AF.
A new not-so-blunt talk show replaces the notoriously famous, Cit Cat. HIZREEN KAMAL writes.
SO long Cit Cat, hello Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…
After 10 years and 11 seasons, Azwan Ali’s Cit Cat programme which has enjoyed high ratings over Astro Ria - thanks to its sensational content about the local entertainment scene - bids farewell.
And just when we thought there would be no more talk shows zeroing in on controversial issues surrounding local artistes and celebrities, here comes another one, but with less “in your face” bluntness.
Promising to be highly entertaining, Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, a 13-episode entertainment talk show makes its debut with a special episode on Oct 1. It will be aired over Astro Prima (Astro Channel 106) at 11.30am. This special episode will feature Dafi of Akademi Fantasia 5, AF 5 champion Mila and actress Rozita Che Wan as guest artistes.
The weekly episodes will start on Nov 6, every Thursday at 9pm, over the same channel.
Astro Prima channel manager Khairul Anwar Salleh said that Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… is an extension of Cit Cat. After all, it is produced by Azwan Ali Productions, which also produced Cit Cat.
Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…’s approach is different since the channel is targeting mature audiences from the sub-urban and rural areas.
“The concept remains unchanged. It’s subtler for family viewing, and there will be comic elements to soften the issues discussed on the show.
“However, we will not sacrifice the show’s main aim to provide answers to the controversies surrounding the guest artistes,” he said, adding that this talk show is among some of the more exciting programmes that the channel has lined-up.
“Astro Prima’s main contents include quality movies, telemovies and drama serials. But, we have noticed that we do not have a talk show, so we asked Azwan to come on board to produce a talk show similar to Cit Cat.
“So, with the migration, it was only natural that we gave it a new title, hence Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, a phrase which Azwan always uses when interviewing the artistes,” he said.
“Controversy and gossip is part and parcel of the entertainment industry. We are confident that the programme will have a strong following as we have a strong content,” he said.
Khairul Anwar also said that they are planning to come out with more signature programmes like the highly popular reality show Akademi Fantasia and Raja Lawak.
Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… will have more than 40 artistes on its show including Jaclyn Victor, Dafi, Mila, Rozita Che Wan, Hans Isaac, Aaron Aziz, Zahida Rafik, Jehan Miskin, Jue Aziz, Sarimah Ibrahim, Datuk Aziz Sattar, Azharina, Ezlynn, Sarah Raisuddin, Farawahida, Iqram Dinzly, Raja Farah, Julia Ziegler, Raja Azmi, Elly Suriaty, Dina, Izwan Pilus, Fauziah Ghous, Rosnah Mat Aris and Julie Dahlan.
Apart from that, the show will also see popular artistes from the ’80s such as Zarina Zainuddin, Dee of Jangan Ketawa fame and Leina Hangat.
The comic relief will come in the form of Mas of Akademi Fantasia, who will act as Azwan’s maid, Bulan Jamaica.
Azwan who is excited about Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… said the show will be more in-depth.
“Since it is an hour-long show, the interviews with the artistes are more in-depth,” he said.
He is not too concerned about his “migration” from Astro Ria to Astro Prima, since his fans had always been from the mature age group.
However, he admitted that letting go of Cit Cat was difficult as it was that show that paved the way for his Astro stint.
“I’ve made my name through Cit Cat. It’s part of me, but it’s time to let go. It is high time that I came out with a different product.
“I’m honoured that Astro Prima asked me to produce Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, and hopefully this new talk show will get the desired response from the viewers,” added Azwan.
New Straits Times
A Golden Effort
One Nation Emcees comprising (from left) Kozae, Jojoe, Mimie and Zydee with their trophies and mock cheque.
Local act One Nation Emcees did Malaysia proud at the recently-concluded Gang Starz contest. DENNIS CHUA writes.
ON the very day when the Beijing Olympics came to a close with host China deemed the overall winner, TV3’s annual “Asean Pop Olympics” or Gang Starz heralded host Malaysia’s first “gold medal”.
Crowd favourite One Nation Emcees, a Kedah-Sabah hip-hop/pop act affectionately called Malaysia’s answer to Black Eyed Peas, emerged as the second annual winner of Gang Starz, beating fellow home team Akasia, Indonesia’s D’Reborn and the Philippines’ 3.5 and Paragon Child.
During the finals at Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam at 9pm on Sunday, the energetic group comprising Kedahan beauty Shamimi Amalina Norhisham (Mimie), 21, and Sabahans Fareezan Murtaza (Kozae), 25, Norzaidi Edris (Zydee), 26, and Hasan Baias (Jojoe), 32, clearly impressed all the four judges.
Permanent judges Ajai and Sheikh Haikel as well as guest judges Syafinaz Selamat and Filipino producer Audi Gemora gave them 35 stars (or points), the highest score for the evening, while fans delivered them the lion’s share of Short Messaging Service (SMS) votes.
The charismatic quartet not only took home the grand prize of US$100,000 (RM320,000) and a recording contract, but also a four-day/three-night holiday in Bali, awarded to the most popular group in terms of SMS votes.
Lead vocalist Mimie, who joined the group this year, said its victory was for all Malaysians.
“We thank all our fans in Malaysia and Asean. We had a great time and made a whole new bunch of friends,” she said, adding that the other four finalists gave them a tough fight, especially Indonesia’s D’Reborn.
Group leader Kozae, who formed the group with Zydee four years ago and recruited Jojoe in 2006, said: “Our trainers and advisers, especially Azmeer, pushed us hard to come this far. We’d like to dedicate this victory to them.”
Media Prima Bhd group chief executive officer for television networks Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan said One Nation Emcees received 40 per cent more SMS votes than its nearest contender.
“The group clearly showed us it was the crowd favourite for the evening. Together with the other four finalists, it has set high standards of performance for its successors,” he said, adding that the show was likely to be back next year.
One Nation Emcees and its competitors performed in two sets each.
For its first act, the winning team sang a medley of Give It To You, Kuda Hitam, Madu Dan Racun and Don’t Phunk With My Heart.
Its stylish, energetic dance moves complete with leap-frogging acts had the crowd roaring and cheering.
Sheikh Haikel and Gemora praised the group’s creativity in fusing traditional pop and hip-hop, while Ajai hailed it as a truly Malaysian and Malay hip-hop sound.
Syafinaz praised Mimie for her strong vocals and described her as the “show stealer” of the evening. However, she advised the quartet to improve its overall vocal prowess.
The group’s second set was a collaboration with pop yeh-yeh king Jeffrydin which featured his hits Mas Mona and Kenanganku.
Sheikh Haikel, Ajai and Gemora described the performance as spot-on while Syafinaz described it as “strange but very entertaining”.
All-boy group Paragon Child comprising Rainner Melgarejo, 24, Jerwin Nicomedezi, 18, and Julius Lacandula, 20, failed to “blaze” in its first set, a collaboration with Ezlynn featuring Hi Hi Bye Bye and Hips Don’t Lie.
All four judges felt that the group “held back” too much and allowed the Ipoh-born singer and former Mentor host to shine.
Rainner, Julius and Jerwin redeemed themselves in their second set, singing a medley of Sayang Sayang, Seribu Tahun, It’s Gonna Be Me and Impossible Dream.
Syafinaz said the trio clearly shined in ballads, with group leader Rainner possessing the best vocals.
All-girl trio 3.5 sang two duets, Ceritera Cinta and Endless Love with Abdullah “Lah” Ahmad of V. E.
Sheikh Haikel found the singers Stephanie Lazaro-Bainbridge, 28, Sherylad Deza Virgen, 27, and Jellica Mateo, 24, a “little nervous” but hailed their great on-stage chemistry with Lah, whom Gemora likened them to Jim Carrey at certain stages of the duets.
Stephanie, Sherylad and Jellica also performed commendably in their second set, singing Survivor, Power Of Love, Deja Vu and Proud Mary.
However, Syafinaz and Ajai cautioned them about “screaming” too much.
The sole Indonesian group D’Reborn comprising siblings Christy Marian Marcelona, 23, and Raymond Colliam Loke, 22, and their close pals Alex Nubatonis, 23, and Daniel Tomodok, 28, had a slightly “messy” start in the eyes of the judges.
The group which performed Because Of You, Taman Rashidah Utama and Roman Picisan in its first set was described by Syafinaz as “rather nasal” and “too controlled”.
However, it impressed the judges in its second set, a duet with Dayang Nurfaizah that consisted of the songs Seandainya Masih Ada Cinta, London Bridge and Baby Boy.
Sheikh Haikel said the group’s performance went “up one notch” and he and Syafinaz agreed that Dayang brought out the best in the quartet.
Finally, the other Malaysian group Akasia comprising Suria Ramlan, 26, Siti Halijah Dolah, 27, Noorhafizah Sulaiman, 20, Nurul Ahmad, 25, and Ezdianie (Nanie) Omar, 22, appeared to have found its identity in both sets.
Performing Layar Batuta, Salam Terakhir, Destinasi Cinta and Joget Siapa Dia in its first set, the all-girl quintet was criticised by Syafinaz and Ajai for lacking intensity despite its vocal harmony.
In its second set, which comprised a medley of Ting Ting, Dondang Dendang and Hatinya Tak Tahan performed together with ethnic pop queen Noraniza Idris, the quintet was praised by all of the judges for giving its best performance.
The 13-programme Gang Starz 2 began on May 11.
The process for determining the winners remained the same as last year - 50 per cent was based on the judges’ marks and the remaining half on viewers’ SMS votes.
Hosted by award-winning rocker Faizal Tahir of One In A Million fame and award-winning television and radio personality Fara Fauzana Mohd Fadzil of Hot FM and Melodi fame, it also saw performances by guest artistes Matta and Season One champion The Lima, both from Indonesia.
The contestants’ team of advisers comprised composer and lyricist Azhar Abu Bakar (or Azmeer), singer Damien Seet of V.E. and choreographer Sazlan Mat Adnan.
The concert was televised live over TV3.
More than 10,000 people attended the event.
Azmeer said One Nation Emcees had been one of the most consistent groups in the contest and had a strong chance of winning from the start.
He said Paragon Child and D’Reborn were also outstanding competitors, despite occasional hiccups in some of their weekly Sunday concerts at the Shah Alam City Council.
New Straits Times
KMA 2008 Penuh Kenangan Manis
Oleh FUAD HADINATA YAACOB
hadinata@hmetro.com.my
SEKADAR mengambil beberapa komen: “Kembara Metro Ahad (KMA) 2008 menarik dan menyeronokkan,” “Pelbagaikan cabaran” serta “Adakan aktiviti bersama kakitangan Harian Metro/Metro Ahad (HM/MA).”
Selain itu ada yang meluahkan kata-kata berikut: “Banyakkan aktiviti untuk kanak-kanak dan dewasa,” “Terima lebih banyak penyertaan dan hadiah” dan “Tambah masa atau hari untuk kembara.”
Itu antara pandangan peserta KMA 2008 yang berlangsung akhir minggu lalu bermula dari Balai Berita, Bangsar dan berakhir di Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort (CSGCR), Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Apapun pandangan atau luahan yang akan diberi perhatian, KMA 2008 melabuhkan tirainya dengan 1,001 kenangan dan pengalaman kepada 400 peserta dari seluruh negara.
Penganjuran kali kedua tahun ini dilihat berjaya mendekatkan pembaca dengan Metro Ahad (MA); mengeratkan hubungan silaturahim sesama peserta dan ahli keluarga serta memberi peluang bercuti dalam negara sambil menyusuri Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (Plus).
Dengan semangat berkobar-kobar, seawal jam 6.30 pagi lagi ada yang ‘terpacak’ di pekarangan Balai Berita untuk menunggu masa pendaftaran yang hanya dibuka jam 7 pagi. Berbanding tahun lalu dengan 50 kenderaan, KMA kali ini menerima 89 kumpulan atau kenderaan yang tiba dari pelbagai pelusuk tanah air.
Kenderaan dengan nombor pendaftaran 10 dari Kerteh, Terengganu yang diketuai Ahmad Faizul Hamid, 28, tidak mahu ketinggalan mengikuti program yang menawarkan hadiah lumayan serta aktiviti menarik.
Dia sanggup berulang-alik dari Kerteh ke Bangsar bagi memastikan kumpulannya tidak kecewa untuk menyertai KMA kali ini selepas gagal berbuat demikian tahun lalu.
“Apabila keluar saja iklan hari kedua di akhbar ini, saya terus ke Kuala Lumpur dari Kerteh untuk membuat pembayaran dengan mendapat nombor 10,” katanya.
Sejurus dilepaskan Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian Sdn Bhd (BHSB), Datuk Manja Ismail, jam 8.30 pagi Sabtu lalu, deretan kenderaan peserta yang lengkap dengan pelekat program berlepas bagaikan ‘peluru’ menuju sasaran, meskipun masa ketibaan ditetapkan sebelum jam 5 petang.
Di sepanjang lebuh raya, peserta dikehendaki berhenti di tiga lokasi utama, iaitu Kawasan Rehat dan Rawat Tapah, Sungai Perak dan Hentian Bukit Gantang. Dalam perjalanan, mereka dikehendaki menjawab soalan mengenai HM/MA; Plus; CSGCR dan Kedah sebelum diserahkan kepada petugas di lokasi berkenaan.
Suhaili Shamsudin, 35, dari Rawang, Selangor yang sarat mengandung dan dijangka bersalin 1 Julai ini, ada cerita menarik untuk dikongsi bersama.
Seperti peserta lain, ibu dua cahaya mata itu bersemangat melakukan aktiviti, antaranya membeli barangan berharga RM5 di kedai mesra Petronas di Tapah, selain mencari jawapan untuk soalan diberi.
Namun, antara cabaran getir yang ditempuhi keluarganya ialah mengalami kebocoran tayar di Ipoh akibat terlanggar besi di tengah lebuh raya.
“Dalam perjalanan, tayar depan kereta kami meletup kerana terlanggar besi yang jatuh dari sebuah lori, namun saya bersyukur tiada kejadian buruk berlaku.
“Saya menyertai KMA pertama tahun lalu dan kali ini program lebih tersusun dan teratur. Ia sangat menarik,” katanya.
Satu-satunya peserta bukan Melayu, V Umatharan, 32, boleh dikatakan peserta bertuah kerana selain berjaya menduduki tempat kesembilan, peserta dari Pulau Pinang itu juga penerima cabutan bertuah.
Kejayaan itu berbaloi bagi kumpulannya yang sanggup bertolak dari Pulau Pinang ke Kuala Lumpur sehari sebelum cabaran bermula dan bertolak semula ke Sungai Petani.
Selain itu, kumpulan yang menggelar diri mereka ‘Kenyah and The Gang’ dari Klang juga sentiasa mencuri tumpuan bukan saja peserta tetapi orang ramai dek kerana berambut afro.
‘Penyeri’ dimaksudkan, Mohd Fairuz Abd Aziz, 22, sentiasa mengundang senyuman dan gelak tawa orang ramai, termasuk petugas, dengan sikapnya yang ’selamba’ dan lucu.
“Sebenarnya saya meneruskan kesinambungan berambut afro ini untuk rakan kami, Hafizal (Baharuddin) yang kini terlantar akibat kemalangan. Jika kaki dia tak patah, dia pasti ikut KMA kerana ini kali kedua kami sertai selepas Johor tahun lalu,” katanya.
Mohd Radzi Ibrahim, 65, dari Seremban Jaya yang menyertai KMA bersama 15 ahli keluarga pula menyuarakan supaya pelbagaikan aktiviti dan cabaran untuk peserta dan kanak-kanak.
KMA 2008 turut melakar sejarah tersendiri apabila penganjur menerima pendaftaran untuk tujuh kereta sekali gus daripada Kelab Citra Malaysia membabitkan 35 peserta.
Presidennya, Abdul Khalil Muhammad, berkata program itu sangat menarik kerana menyediakan pelbagai hadiah selain konsep pengembaraan yang digabungkan dengan ciri-ciri pencarian harta karun.
“Ini kali pertama kami sertai KMA dan nampaknya perjalanan program kemas serta lancar. Ia sangat menarik, malah merapatkan hubungan sesama ahli kelab. Akan datang, kami pasti masuk lagi, mungkin lebih ramai,” katanya yang mempunyai 780 ahli dari seluruh negara.
Bagi peserta dari Kelantan, Suriani Eh Chan, 25, yang berbangsa Siam, meskipun tidak berjaya, dia bersama tiga rakan lain seronok mengikuti perjalanan KMA 2008.
“Ini kali pertama saya ikut serta, seronok dan menarik, tahun depan jika dianjurkan lagi saya bersama tiga rakan lain sepakat nak sertai lagi,” katanya.
Peserta dari Rawang, Mohd Hafiz Mohd, 37, seharusnya tersenyum bangga selepas dinobatkan juara, sekali gus membawa pulang wang tunai RM2,000. Tempat kedua dimenangi Ahmad Faizul Hamid, 28, dari Kerteh yang menerima RM1,000, manakala tempat ketiga pegawai kerajaan dari Putrajaya, Mohd Noor Harun, 55, yang membawa pulang RM700.
Corat-coret KMA 2008
1) Peserta paling ramai penyertaan didaftarkan ialah daripada Kelab Citra Malaysia dengan jumlah kenderaan tujuh bersama 35 orang.
2) Mohd Radzi Ibrahim, 65, antara peserta warga emas yang turut serta dalam KMA kali ini. Beliau bersama 15 anggota keluarga, termasuk cucu, datang dari Seremban, Negeri Sembilan bersama tiga kereta.
3) KMA 2008 mencatat sejarah apabila sekurang-kurangnya tiga wanita hamil turut serta, antaranya Suhaili Shamsudin, 35, yang sarat mengandung sembilan bulan, malah ada yang masih berpantang tidak ketinggalan sama.
4) Peserta dari Klang yang menggelar diri mereka Kenyah and The Gang mencuri perhatian ramai dengan gaya rambut afro seorang daripada mereka sepanjang masa.
5) Setiap kali berhenti di tiga kawasan rehat dan rawat sepanjang lebuh raya, tauke restoran pasti tersenyum lebar kerana di samping menjawab soalan, peserta yang berpakaian rasmi KMA menyerbu gerai mereka sehingga ada yang tidak menang tangan melayan kerenah peserta, selain mengambil gambar.
6) Suasana di kedai mesra Petronas di Tapah, bagaikan pasar apabila peserta dikehendaki membeli barangan berharga RM5 dalam satu resit. Malah ada yang memberi resit minyak RM30 untuk memenuhi syarat.
7) Ada peserta yang tidak pernah sampai ke Sungai Petani, Kedah mengucapkan terima kasih kepada penganjur kerana melalui KMA dia berjaya menjejakkan kaki buat pertama kali.
Info KMA 2008
1) Peserta membabitkan 400 orang dengan 89 kenderaan bertolak dari Balai Berita, Bangsar jam 8.30 pagi melalui lebuh raya Plus dan tiba di Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort (CSGCR), Sungai Petani, Kedah seawal jam 4 petang.
2) Sepanjang melalui lebuh raya, peserta perlu berhenti di tiga kawasan rehat dan rawat (R&R) Tapah, Sungai Perak dan Bukit Gantang. Sepanjang perjalanan, peserta diberi tugasan menjawab soalan mengenai Harian Metro/Metro Ahad; Plus; CSGCR dan Kedah.
3) Di CSGCR, peserta dikehendaki melakukan aktiviti memanah (archery) dan ‘driving range’.
4) Pada jam 5 petang, peserta diraikan dengan persembahan percuma artis, antaranya Haiza, Que Haidar, Sherry Ibrahim, Lisa Surihani, 6ixth Sense, Nubhan (AF6), Aizat, Ezlynn, Farid Kamil dan Ainul Aishah.
5) Pada sebelah malam pula, peserta diraikan dalam majlis makan malam di taman tema The Carnivall. Pelbagai acara disediakan sebelum penyampaian hadiah antaranya persembahan permainan api daripada kakitangan CSGCR, silap mata dan nyanyian. Ganjaran wang tunai dengan jumlah keseluruhan RM5,000 diberi kepada pemenang pertama hingga ketujuh, manakala tempat kelapan hingga 10 menerima hamper.
6) Sumbangan atau tajaan turut meningkat, terutama penaja seperti Plus; Petronas; Proton; Honda; CSGCC; Gardenia; Bernas dan FG Group.
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