Is Her Win TAINTED?

Is her win TAINTED?
Earlier linked to judge Irene Ang, OMG winner is also related to another judge, Tay Ping Hui
By Charlene Chua
November 20, 2010
 
 

cchar@sph.com.sg

THE NEW PAPER, OCT 15

JUST last month, ousted One Moment Of Glory (OMG) contestants had complained about the ‘unfair advantage’ that may have been accorded to fellow contestant Jill-Marie Thomas.

All because she was allegedly good friends with Irene Ang, resident judge of the local Channel 5 reality talent show.

But Thomas survived the talk and has even emerged winner.

The 28-year-old guitar-strumming songbird beat four other OMG finalists – dance acts Luminiq Crew and CJ Crew, singer Sean Harrison and acrobats IFly Prodigy – at the finale on Wednesday night.

Thomas won the grand prize of $50,000 cash after performing her rendition of Alanis Morissette’s You Learn and Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours.

But even as she is trying to savour her win, she has been linked to yet another OMG judge.

This time, it’s the finale’s celebrity guest judge, local actor Tay Ping Hui.

Thomas is Tay’s brother-in-law’s niece.

Tay had mentioned their relationship on his blog entry a year ago when he had posted a video of Thomas performing Wonder Girls’ Nobody and praised her performance.

He told The New Paper: ‘The blog entry is still there. I didn’t delete it as I have nothing to hide.’

The latest revelation threatens to further taint Thomas’ win.

Why?

It also raises the question of why the show producers didn’t simply find another guest judge for the finale.

Ms Jennifer Gwee, MediaCorp TV’s managing executive producer of the Content Creation Division, told The New Paper that Tay was invited back to the finale as guest judge because of his knowledge and ability to comment on the performers’ technical skills.

She said: ‘Jill-Marie Thomas being a distant relative to Tay Ping Hui was not seen as an issue as the judges have always been objective and professional in discharging their roles and responsibilities in the show.

‘Throughout the series, we have not had any reason to doubt the credibility of any of our judges – all of whom are well-known and much respected in our entertainment industry.’

Other contestants: She deserved to win

She added: ‘As the judging format of the show is based 50 per cent on judges’ votes and 50 per cent viewers’ votes, ultimately, it is the quality of the contestants’ on-stage performance and the ability to garner strong public votes that eventually determined the overall winner.’

However, some viewers we spoke to felt that it was ‘unlucky’ that Thomas had both a ‘friend’ and a relative on the judging panel.

Said 52-year-old housewife Stacy Khoo: ‘I think that anyone who has been following the show will agree that Jill is an excellent singer and would have won no matter who the judge was.

‘It’s really an unlucky coincidence that she happens to know Irene Ang and is related by marriage to Tay Ping Hui.

‘For people who don’t watch the show, they will definitely think that there may have been bias in thejudging.’

Tay himself said that he was shocked when he first found out that Thomas was on the show, after he had agreed to be a guest judge on the fourth, fifth and sixth episodes of OMG.

The other guest judges included local artistes Jeanette Aw, Hossan Leong and US singer Debbie Gibson.

Said Tay, 41: ‘When I first saw Jill backstage at the recording of episode 4, I was taken aback. I immediately went to the producers and declared that I was related to her.

‘They asked me if I could be an objective judge and I said I am one. So they said they were fine with it.

‘I’m the sort of person to say it like it is, so for anyone to suggest that I was anything but objective in my judging on OMG, I find that very offensive.’

Tay added that he and Thomas aren’t close and he doesn’t meet her at family gatherings, not even during Chinese New Year.

Tay, who said that he was called back by the OMG producers to reprise his role in the finale, commented during the show that she should write and perform the National Day Parade song next year.

He judged the competition alongside resident judges Ang, Beatrice Chia-Richmond and The Flying Dutchman (Mark van Cuylenburg).

Said Tay: ‘Jill’s the undisputed winner. I would never give her low points when she’s put in a fantastic performance just to prove that I’m not biased.’

Judges’ ranking makes up half of the contestants’ results; public votes make up the other half.

Integrity

Chia-Richmond and The Flying Dutchman (FD) both said that they did not see any reason that Tay should not have been a guest judge in the finale even though he was related to Thomas.

Said FD, 54: ‘Just because he’s a relative doesn’t mean he can’t be an objective judge. People have got to give us credit for being a panel of adults.

‘Integrity. We all understand what it means.’

Added Chia-Richmond, 35: ‘Ping Hui is not afraid to ruffle feathers and he’s not going to give an opinion that he doesn’t mean. All I can say is lucky him, he has a talented relative.’

The judges’ other favourite to win was Luminiq Crew. The group had wowed them with its stylish dance routine that included breakdancing and beat-boxing.

Actress-comedienne Ang, 41, had said during the finale when asked to predict the winner that she would spilt the prize money and award it to both Thomas and Luminiq Crew.

The New Paper was unable to contact her as she left immediately after the finale and did not answer her mobile phone.

In our previous report, Ang, who owns Fly Entertainment, said that given the small entertainment industry in Singapore and her many years of experience in the business, she has met many local entertainers.

She added: ‘My events arm has engaged many entertainers (including Thomas) throughout the 10 years … As judge of OMG, I maintain my integrity by being fair and just to the best of my ability.’

Fly’s subsidiary event company, Running Into The Sun, is run by Chia-Richmond.

Thomas herself told The New Paper that she and Tay are ‘distantly related’ and she rarely sees him.

‘It’s a novelty when I do because he’s Tay Ping Hui, Channel 8 star, to me. I’m not close to him at all.

‘My performances in every episode are enough to show everyone what I can do. I deserve towin.’

Thomas said that Ang and Tay are professionals and ‘would never risk their reputations’ for her.

She clarified that she and Ang are friends on a ‘professional level’ in that she has been hired by Ang’s entertainment company to perform at events.

Thomas plans to give half of her prize money to her mother and use the rest to record an album, something she had wanted to do for a long time but didn’t have the finances for.

When told that Tay was related to Thomas, Luminiq Crew member Daniel Hakim Supani, 23, said on behalf of his group that Thomas won fair and square.

He said: ‘We’ve been through this journey with Jill from the start and we have seen the hard work she has put in so, no, there wasn’t bias in the judges’ decision.

‘She’s excellent at doing song mash-ups. That’s her special talent. We’re not disappointed that we didn’t win, just relieved that we can now spend some time with our girlfriends and friends.’

Samantha Mun, a 22-year-old member of CJ Crew, which the judges had ranked third after Thomas and Luminiq Crew, also agreed that the judging had beenfair.

She said: ‘Besides, 50 per cent of the votes are from the public. Jill wouldn’t have won if the public didn’t want her to win.’

 

The NewPaper

Weddings Make Her Lose Appetite

Weddings make her lose appetite
Taiwan actress-singer Rene Liu has attended one wedding in 10 years
November 14, 2010
 
 

IS TAIWANESE actress-singer Rene Liu impulsive enough to ever pull a Barbie Hsu?

Said the 41-year-old: ‘I’m not the person concerned and I can’t speak for her…

‘As long as you feel the person is the one for you, it doesn’t matter how long the courtship is.’

Taiwanese singer-actress Hsu recently announced her engagement to Beijing-based restaurant empire heir Wang Xiaofei after a whirlwind courtship.

Liu – who’s filming Jingle Ma’s new movie Dynamic Angel in Shanghai – has had many suitors over the years but has not yet found her Prince Charming.

Is she too cautious when it comes to matters of the heart?

She said: ‘I beg to differ. I can be rash in certain areas too.’

Such as?

There was a moment of silence before Liu replied: ‘Like driving a car. When I get angry with other drivers, I can forget who I am and just rant at other motorists.

‘While there are many grey areas in modern times, you yourself must know what is right and wrong. There must be black and white in your line of thought.’

It has been quiet on the love front for Liu for several years – until a few months ago, when she was rumoured to have caused her good friend, Taiwanese singer-actress Tarcy Su, to split from Taiwanese director Chen Kuo Fu.

Su and Liu denied the reports and have stayed mum on the incident.

Hiatus

Knee surgery kept Rene Liu out of action for a year.

She did not have a serious relationship during her long break.

She said: ‘So this means that romance has nothing to do with whether you’re busy with your career or not.’

Last year, Liu returned to showbiz and immediately had to face the daunting challenge of preparing for a concert.

She kicked off her Take Off Your High Heels concert tour of China in Shanghai and did no fewer than 15 shows.

It was staged like a musical, with dancers doubling up as actors and multiple scene changes.

Take Off Your High Heels featured four emotions that women experience when they are in love.

When asked if her fans understood what she was trying to express, Liu said that her message transcends all cultures.

Liu said: ‘I’m sure my audience understood what I was doing.’

When Liu performed in Chengdu in August, a middle-aged man dressed in a white suit dangled a wedding ring and proposed to her from below the stage.

Liu was caught off-guard by the gesture and appeared distracted for a while.

When asked about the incident, she said: ‘My male fans usually give me ‘face’. And after that incident, I realised that while some male fans may not know me, they feel they know me well.

‘This is because when I’m on stage, I tend to acknowledge my fans because I don’t want a barrier between me and them.’

Appeared uncomfortable

Yet, when Liu performed on home ground in Taipei in August, she appeared uncomfortable because her relatives and friends were among the audience.

She explained: ‘I’m usually dressed like a homebody when my relatives see me and I’m not used to them seeing me on stage, in formal attire.

‘But one of my favourite costumes during the concert was a red wedding dress.’

But in real life, Liu makes it a point to avoid weddings.

She said: ‘In the last 10 years, I’ve only attended one wedding so I’ve not had any problems.

‘I’m afraid of attending weddings because they make me lose my appetite.’
 

The NewPaper

Working His Magika

FIRST INTERVIEW
working his magika
What’s retired former boy band member Edry Abdul Halim doing?
By Juliana June Rasul
November 12, 2010
 
 

Why, making a musical, of course.

Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Cicakman director Yusry, former KRU member Edry Abdul Halim, 34, has released his directorial debut.

The colourful musical Magika, which opens here today, is chock-a-block with Malaysian stars like Ziana Zain, Diana Danielle, Mawi, Ning Baizura, and even a special appearance by M Nasir.

Taking its cue from the magical worlds of Harry Potter and The Lord Of The Rings, with some Malay folklore thrown into the mix, the story follows a young girl, Ayu (Diana), who stumbles into a fantasy world of warriors and witches when she goes in search of her lost brother.

Speaking to FiRST a week after his movie’s big win at the 23rd Malaysian Film Festival, which included a trophy for Best Film, Edry said he was ‘on cloud nine’.

‘When the film was released, I was a total newcomer to the scene, fighting for my film,’ he said. ‘And now, months later, it’s all been worth it.’

Edry also took home a trophy for Most Promising Director.

Musical format

Despite the big names attached to the film, Edry was concerned that Malay movie audiences, used to horror films and action flicks, would be puzzled by the musical format.

‘Even my actors took some time to get used to it,’ he said, recalling a scene with singers Mawi and Ziana, in which they had to sing while fighting.

‘Mawi asked me, ‘So, I have to sing this line while trying to punch her?’

Make no mistake, Magika is more Andrew Lloyd Webber than Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

While Bollywood films are a big thing in Malaysia, Edry stressed that the songs in Magika are not just ‘interlude music’, which is the case for most of India’s three-hour film spectacles.

‘Everyone’s used to the Bollywood film, or the P Ramlee film, where people take a break from the scene, jump to some other location, and start singing,’ he said.

‘One of the challenges I had when making this film was wondering if the audience would look at it and ask, ‘Why must they sing during the scene?’

His fears, however, were unfounded.

The film has raked in RM3.4 million (S$1.4 million) at the Malaysian box office so far.

‘When you do something out of the box, you don’t really expect everybody to take to it easily,’ he said.

‘I think the toughest thing was convincing people that I could do it.’

In trying to ease his audience’s transition into this new format for Malaysian cinema, he decided to fill the story with figures from Malaysian history and folklore, like strongman Badang (Mawi), who becomes Ayu’s love interest, and Puteri Gunung Ledang (Ning).

Playing against type

The twist? The characters are played against type – Puteri Gunung Ledang, commonly known as a lovely fairy princess, is fat and depressed.

Ziana’s witch is not an old hag, but a rather sexy kebaya-clad lady.

‘The actors were intrigued because it was a different take on things,’ said Edry.

Assembling such a star-studded cast wasn’t that difficult for Edry, who’s known some of them since his KRU days.

And the group’s mutual friendship made sure things on set were pleasant.

‘It was like hanging out with friends,’ he said, stressing that there was ‘no diva behaviour’.

The actors probably took the lead from their humble director, who, despite his own musical past, was reluctant to go in front of the camera.

His only concession was to appear as part of a trio of singing trees – backed up, of course, by his two KRU brothers Yusry and Norman – who try to placate the protagonists with a song about family values.

‘For (Yusry) and I, our policy is, if you’re casting something, you don’t need to be on the screen. We were active, like, 18 years ago!’ he said with a laugh.

‘I think now, we’re more comfortable behind the camera, and being credited for the art.’

He dreams of doing a ‘full musical’ one day, with little to no dialogue.

‘With Magika, it’s still 60:40 – there’s still more talking. Hopefully, with the success of the film, I can explore pushing more boundaries,’ he said.

 

The NewPaper

UPSET At Not Getting Young Stars To Groom

Celebrity hairstylist David Gan claims rising stars stopped from going to him because of his ‘mothering ways’
UPSET at not getting young stars to groom
By Charlene Chua
November 10, 2010
 
 

HE BELIEVES he’s a star-maker.

FRUSTRATED: David Gan with a photo portrait of his star client Christopher Lee in his salon.
TNP PICTURE: KELVIN CHNG

That’s why he doesn’t understand why he hasn’t been given the chance to make young talent shine.

David Gan, owner of Passion Hair Salon and ‘mother’ to some of MediaCorp’s biggest stars like Fann Wong and Zoe Tay, is upset that artiste managers are no longer sending their young MediaCorp charges to him for hair styling services.

The celebrity hairstylist’s theory?

That they are not doing so perhaps because they don’t like his ‘mothering ways’, constantly fussing over them and giving them advice.

Gan, 49, is known to be a fairy godmother of sorts who dishes out home-brewed birds’ nest backstage at the annual Star Awards and diamond jewellery as wedding gifts to his fiercely loyal stable of favourites.

He also takes it upon himself to act as their fashion stylist, image consultant, career adviser and all-round mentor, cheerleader and confidante.

It’s his all-pervasive approach that has apparently got some artiste managers worried, it seemed.

A MediaCorp artiste who has her hair done by Gan and who declined to be named, admitted that she would at times take Gan’s advice over her manager’s as he was more fashion-forward.

This occasional ‘slighting’ of her manager in Gan’s favour, she said, was her guess as to Gan’s current plight.

Celebrity hairstylist Shunji Matsuo also revealed that two years ago, some artiste managers had told him that they would ‘give’ the newer artistes to him as they didn’t like Gan’s gift-giving antics.

Said Matsuo, 60: ‘The MediaCorp managers said that they will put the young artistes at my salon and these artistes will eventually become veterans.’

A spokesman for MediaCorp told The New Paper in an e-mail: ‘There is no such ban on David Gan. In fact, our make-up unit is working with him on his salon’s sponsorship of services for (new TV drama) Love In Two Cities which is currently in production.’

Gan, however, said that what he wants is the chance to sponsor all of a star’s hair services and not only for ad hoc shows.

He said: ‘What I do is cultivate a star’s confidence by always being there for them so they have this sense of comfort and security.

‘When I’m with them, I make myself a zero. I pamper them too because in order for them to become (bona fide) stars, you have to treat them like one in the first place.’

He added: ‘I won’t say that I groom stars but I do give them a good environment for them to become stars.

Chris Lee, Joanne Peh fought to stay with me

‘Yes, I’m upset because guiding talent is what I do best. If these young artistes were to be styled by me, I’m confident of producing the next Christopher and Fann.’

One actor who’s not styled by Gan is Elvin Ng, 30.

When asked, Ng said he had been approached by Gan two years ago but his hair services at that time were already sponsored by Matsuo.

After talks with his manager and Matsuo, they decided that the timing wasn’t right to switch salons.

But that may not be the case now.

Said Ng: ‘My salon is very good to me and I’ve been with them for four years. The boss was also very understanding then and said he would respect whatever decision I make. I have no contract with them. I stuck with them out of loyalty.

‘But now, my manager has changed so I may consider a switch. I’m of course very flattered that David wants to work with me and the truth is I may need advice on fashion and the like as I’m going it on my own right now.’

When told of this, Matsuo, who was in Paris, said: ‘I respect David Gan as he has been doing hair in Singapore for a long time. I would say we are different as my main clientele (comprises) professionals and executives.

‘If David were to approach Elvin (Ng), I certainly hope Elvin stays with us. We have had a very good working relationship thus far.’

Interested

Another young actor, Dai Yang Tian, also said he has heard from friends that Gan was interested in working with him.

Said Dai, 26: ‘As a guy I don’t really care about things like hair. My management arranged for Kim Robinson to take care of my hair and so far I’m happy with their services.

‘I’ve heard good things about David from Fann Wong and Felicia Chin. If he were to approach me now, I would still leave that decision to my management.’

Celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee, who counts Michelle Chia and Quan Yifeng as his clients, said MediaCorp managers used to direct new artistes to his salon but haven’t done so in recent times.

Lee, 39, said: ‘What happens now is that we do hair for artistes like for a certain show and if they like it then we will sponsor them.

‘I don’t have the practice of going up to artistes and asking them to join me. If you are good, they will come to you naturally.’

He declined to comment on Gan’s supposed star-making abilities.

Gan himself admitted that some artistes had told him that they wouldn’t ‘follow’ him, lest he gets to ride on their coat-tails.

But he also said that there were two artistes who had fought to stick with him – Christopher Lee and Joanne Peh.

Lee, 39, told The New Paper: ‘Hair is best done by one person. That’s why if I’m asked to change hairstylist, I’ll say no. I’ve had my hair done by David since 1996.’

He added that Gan has the chops to build up a celebrity’s image as he ‘knows his fashion’.

Nag non-stop

Gan is also a stickler for discipline and would nag him non-stop to get him to lose any extra weight he had put on.

Peh, 27, who switched from Matsuo to Gan, said that she and Gan have a strong mutual desire to better the local entertainment industry.

‘With him, you are always working to be better at your craft,’ she said.

Other MediaCorp celebs like Tay Ping Hui, Kym Ng and Ann Kok who have had their tresses coiffed by Gan for more than a decade, said they have never been asked by their managers to jump ship.

They also said there is good reason for them having stuck with Gan till now.

Ng, who’s in her 40s, told The New Paper: ‘For the young artistes, not getting to know David, they will know one fewer person who has had vast experience in this entertainment industry and can share that experience in terms of giving good advice. This could perhaps make or break your career.’

Agreed Kok, 37: ‘If it’s nothing against the company, the young artistes should speak up if they want their hair to be done by David.’

But Tay, 39, couldn’t say if the new generation of talents will definitely be at a loss if they don’t get to associate with Gan.

Hype Records boss Ken Lim, who signed popular MediaCorp princesses Jeanette Aw and Rui En, said he believes hard work is what contributed to both their successes – and that should be what young artistes should focus on.

He said: ‘Rui En and Jeanette’s success did not come overnight. Between them, there’s been 20 years of hard work.

‘Whether a star makes it or not depends on more than just a hairstyle or looks as looks are subjective.

‘It’s all about their attitude and commitment to their work. You can have the best managers and stylists but there’ll be no point if you don’t work hard yourself.’

So who’s doing whose hair? Here’s a list of local celebs and their crimpers of choice

DAVID GAN
Passion Hair Salon
Haircut by David: $339
Fann Wong
Christopher Lee
Zoe Tay
Tay Ping Hui
Jacelyn Tay
Fiona Xie
Joanne Peh
Qi Yuwu
Felicia Chin
Dawn Yeoh
Kym Ng
Ann Kok
Apple Hong
Eelyn Kok
Chen Hanwei
Ivy Lee
Phyllis Quek

KIM ROBINSON
Haircut by Kim: $2,580
Haircut by stylists that do artistes’ hair: $238 – $700
Dai Yang Tian
Jeanette Aw
Rui En
Andrea Fonseka

SHUNJI MATSUO
Shunji Matsuo Hair Studio
Haircut by Shunji: $80
Elvin Ng
Jesseca Liu
Michelle Chong
Kola Zhou
Zzen Chong
Zhang Zhenhuan
May Phua

ADDY LEE
Monsoon Group
Haircut by Addy: $289
Michelle Chia
Pornsak
Vivian Lai
Mark Lee
Quan Yifeng
Dasmond Koh
Lynn Poh
Bryan Wong
Guo Liang
Ericia Lee
Priscelia Chan
Lee Teng
 

The NewPaper

BORN TO BE BAD?

FIRST FEATURE
BORN TO BE BAD?
Villainous misfits, outcasts and losers like the blue-skinned, bobble-headed Megamind are the new heroes. And it’s about time
By Jason Johnson
November 05, 2010
 
 

Imagine you were blue. We don’t mean sad blue, but blue blue, like the colour of a Subaru.

Though chances are if you were blue blue, you’d be sad blue too, like Megamind, the titular villain – more accurately, the anti-hero – of DreamWorks’ latest animated superhero comedy which opens here today.

A refugee from a dead planet, Megamind – voiced by Will Ferrell – is rejected by his peers as a young boy owing not just to his peculiar looks, but to his brainy eccentricity.

In addition to his unique skin tone, he has a head the size of a party balloon.

‘Because he is an alien to our world, people judged him differently,’ said Megamind director Tom McGrath.

‘They looked at the way he looked, and they put him in a category as the oddball. You know, the black sheep, the bad boy. So he embraced this role, and thought if I’m going to be the bad boy, I’m going to be the baddest boy of them all. And it launched him into a lifelong career of fighting his nemesis.’

His nemesis is Metro Man.

Handsome, athletic and charismatic, Metro Man (voiced by uber-star Brad Pitt) was not only the most popular kid in school, but raised with every advantage.

‘Metro Man has had it too easy his whole life,’ said Tina Fey, who voices Megamind’s love interest, TV reporter Roxanne Ritchi.

‘You can tell he’s a guy who’s been everyone’s favourite person since he was a baby, and he carries a bit of that cockiness with him.’

In a nutshell, Megamind is the geek, and Metro Man is the jock.

As in most superhero stories – from the old Flash Gordon serials up to more recent flicks such as Unbreakable, Sky High and The Incredibles – brains cause all the trouble and brawn is used to put things right.

Classic match-up

Megamind, then, is a classic good versus evil match-up, very much in the tradition of Superman and Lex Luthor.

But at the same time, it’s not, because in this case, the bad guy is a fine fellow.

Certainly, Megamind isn’t the only film in recent months to explore the idea that villains are people too.

Despicable Me, the animated box office hit which just managed to beat Megamind to the firsties punch, tells the story of a cynical old villain named Gru (Steve Carell) whose heart awakens after he adopts three little girls to use in his nefarious plot to steal the moon.

Like Megamind, poor Gru also had a troubled childhood, though in his case it was his cruelly indifferent mother who set him on the path to villainy.

‘We got the idea that villains really are the ultimate underdog,’ said Megamind writer Brent Simons in an interview with the website SuperHero Tooniverse.

‘In every movie you see, they never win. And there was something there, … a story about a villain who kind of redeems himself.’

It’s a sentiment that could be applied equally well to both Megamind and Gru, or to a growing number of ostensible baddies.

Think of the character arc of Darth Vader – the most obvious example – who evolves from a genius emo kid into a dark lord, and finally saves his soul by killing the evil emperor.

Over the past year or so, we’ve seen the rise of many atypical heroes.

Nerdy ones like Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim. Morally ambiguous ones like those from Watchmen.

All of these films have been hinting at the idea that the traditional idea of a superhero – a man’s man in tights – is somehow bogus, and that it’s the smarter, nicer guys who deserve to be put on that pedestal.

Megamind takes the Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth idea and makes it explicit.

‘Megamind, as a villain, he really is kind of a sweet guy,’ Ferrell said.

‘He’s trying his best to be tough and evil… he thinks of some pretty cool stuff, but at the end of the day no one is really that afraid of him.

‘I think he just wants some kind words thrown his way. But when you’re the bad guy, no one will ever give that to you.’

Strangely enough, The Social Network, a film which at first glance would appear to have much less in common with Megamind than Despicable Me, seems an even closer relation.

Emotionally vulnerable and socially insecure, yet possessing a powerful mind capable of concocting all manner of devilish schemes, Mark Zuckerberg – the founder of Facebook and the subject of The Social Network – could be Megamind’s twin.

Unidentical twin, obviously; he’s a paler shade of blue.

There’s a beautiful scene in the film that might have been lifted right out of Megamind in which a sympathetic female lawyer says to Zuckerberg: ‘You’re not an a”hole, Mark. You’re just trying so hard to be.’

Both Megamind and Zuckerberg are sensitive outsiders whose outsized schemes are nothing more than desperate attempts to fit in, get noticed, be cool.

Sometimes, just sometimes, those crazy plans actually work. Even better, every once in a while, the misfits, outcasts and losers really do get the girl.

Said Fey during the Megamind press conference in Los Angeles: ‘I think I would go for Megamind because he’s very smart and I really do find the purple undertone of this blue skin very attractive. I really do. I think he has beautiful, beautiful skin.’

Hear that, little boys blue?

Come blow your horn.

WICKED FUN

The battle between good and evil has never been so much fun.

Just ask film-maker Tom McGrath who, along with 60 animators, devoted the last two years of their lives to bring Megamind, a hilarious and affectionate take on the superhero genre, to the big screen.

McGrath is vastly experienced in the world of animation.

He has worked as an animator, storyboard artist and layout artist on numerous TV and film projects, and co-directed Madagascar (2005) and its sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) with Eric Darnell.

The 45-year-old American also knows a thing or two about voicing animated characters, having performed the voices of Skipper the penguin in the Madagascar series and Artist the rat in Flushed Away (2006).

You’ve got some of the very best comedians working today in Megamind.

Not only are they great comedians but they are also great actors.

There is a heart to this film and a love story within it. Will (Ferrell) really played it so well. It’s nice to have them being funny yet have the acting chops, which are fantastic for the story.

For me, it’s a pleasure to be able to work with them – and Brad (Pitt) as well, he was just great.

How did Brad Pitt’s casting come about?

He has a great voice and he is very funny. We pitched the idea of him playing Elvis Presley to Will’s Alice Cooper…in a ‘battle of the bands’ superhero world, and he just had a lot of fun with it and brought a lot to it.

Who is your favourite villain of all time?

There are so many. Some of the Disney villains are so memorable. I think it was Sleeping Beauty where the Queen turns into a dragon at the end and there’s a line about the ‘powers of hell’, which for a kid’s movie is really frightening.

But I also love the Star Wars villains, because there is an aesthetic appeal to them.

I wanted to let the characters in this movie define themselves through their look and appearance, particularly for Megamind with his high collar and studs.

It’s really for appearance’s sake and when he takes over the city, he blasts AC/DC (music). It’s all about the showmanship of being a villain.

Why AC/DC?

Because it intimidates parents (laughs). I remember when I grew up in the 70s it was like ‘don’t listen to that devil music!’ So for me it would make sense that he would play that devil music to evoke fear.

How much improvisation is there in the film?

A lot. What’s great is that you can have a direction for a scene and an objective for a character, but then the words used in how you get from A to B can be played with.

For example, with the character Space Dad, Will came up with the whole Marlon Brando riff.

We were laughing so hard when we were recording it that I decided I wanted to put that in the movie.

So we went back and re-designed the character and added more scenes with Space Dad so we could play around with that character. How we develop is pretty malleable.

The great secret about animation is that you can see the film before you make it, with the storyboards and the voices, and you can change it for the better.

 

The NewPaper

CAPTAIN AMERICA IN THE FLESH

FIRST BITES
CAPTAIN AMERICA IN THE FLESH
November 05, 2010
 
 

The year 2011 will belong to superheroes like Thor, Green Lantern, the X-Men and the much-anticipated Captain America.

These early photos show us a super-buff Chris Evans bearing the Cap’s iconic shield and Hugo Weaving as the villainous Johann Schmidt aka The Red Skull.

Captain America: The First Avenger (opening next Aug 4) is the story of how a scrawny arts student named Steve Rogers (Evans) becomes the star-spangled hero and eventual living symbol of freedom, thanks to the experimental ‘super soldier serum’.

Directed by Joe Johnston, the World War II film also stars Samuel L Jackson, Stanley Tucci, Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell.

 

The NewPaper

Dress To Die For

Fashionistas pull out all the stops at Halloween party at Monu At
Dress to die for
By Sylvia Toh Paik Choo
November 03, 2010
 
 

IT WAS not a dark and stormy night…outside.

Inside…it was a thriller.

Oh horrors, said the beautiful girl, I’ve got this gorgeous dress, but nowhere to wear it to.

Hmmm, thought her cohort of forward fashionistas, what if we threw a party round your gothic gown and then everybody could come suitably togged in their own version?

Monstrous idea, luv-it-luv-it-luv-it!

And thus arose The Haunted Mansion, Designare magazine’s to-die-for Halloween party held at Monu At Nomu on Sunday night.

You see, at the Audi Fashion Festival Singapore in April, leading light of the lovelies Dr Georgia Lee had her eye on a sensational gown off DSquared’s runway show – which ended up in her possession.

You have only to look at the back of the black number, and, oh eat your heart and other parts out, Spider-Man!

She was accompanied by her apparent Mini-Me, sporting the same long hair, big black shades and muted checked dress.

It’s celebrity hairstylist David Gan!

Everyone gasped, oh, so cute, so pretty, so stylish as ever.

‘Long skirts for men is now the in thing’

Gan, 49, told The New Paper: ‘Georgia and I didn’t agree beforehand to come in long dresses. I would never dress up as some movie character also. I came as my own unique creation.

‘My outfit is actually a man’s shirt dress from Club 21. Long skirts for men is now the in thing in fashion.

‘First time I ever wore a wig in my life. It was so warm!’

Gan added that he paid more than $1,000 for his dress and forked out $1,500 for his glasses and $900 for his wig.

We don’t know what’s scarier – his Halloween look or the moolah he spent on it.

As for the dream aesthetics doctor to the stars – we all dream of having her complexion and her clothes – she made the loveliest and most beautiful Morticia Addams you’d wish to encounter down a dark alley.

Said Dr Lee, 41: ‘A dear guy friend had bought the dress as a gift for me two weeks ago as he thought it would fit me nicely. Then another guy friend decided to throw a party for me so that I could wear the dress.

‘This dress needs a party’

‘He said ‘this dress needs a party’. I have very nice friends.’

She added: ‘Life is short (so if there’s something you feel like doing), you have to act on it.’

But to get to that party, you had to take the lift first, and eeeks!

The lift attendant made your hair stand, she was the ghost from The Ring (original version) and is she crying ever so softly, oh thank the stars we’re here, out! out!

There was something Tim Burton-ish about the night, hey, Beetlejuice, you got any, I’m kinda thirsty over here.

Oh you’re the Corpse Bride, I could die laughing, and you must be the Count, can I count on you to get me one of those Bloody Marys?

Guests came not in a shy way.

They pulled out all the stops and we’re talking the screws in their necks and ball and chain at their ankles and nails in their, er, fingers and toes, in their funereal best to out-ghoul each other.

No bats nor webs nor tombstones nor body parts nor moving pictures were spared.

The third storey in a building on Handy Road, next door to Cathay cinema, was decomposed into a house of horrors, including a library ill-lit by candelabra and a gallery of portraits whose eyes followed you everywhere you carefully trod.

Dr Lee said she did ask her two sons to attend, ‘but they didn’t RSVP’.

Maybe they didn’t have anything to wear.

‘I’m Emily,’ the Corpse Bride introduced herself, ‘And this is Jack, the nightmare before Christmas.’

The always game husband-and-wife Marya and Kirill Zhuckovs (Russian Singapore PRs, can you blame them, we’re so much more fun) took a day to stitch up their costumes.

‘Very cheap too.’

Former TV host Benedict Goh looked more matinee idol than Count Vlad The Impaler.

Are you in charge of skewering the satay (buffet spread, what, no fright potatoes)?

Dr Frankenstein was the host, MTV VJ Utt was presenter and never looked lovelier; there was the butcher, a real cut-up, the asylum inmate on the lam in his pyjamas and pillow, a quite sharp Edward Scissorhands, a real-life Alice Oei who came as Alice in Wonderland (her prop leg came separately).

The two best in show were Mr Franck Manichon of Paris Bijoux and MediaCorp actress Patricia Mok, who posed with fellow entertainer Irene Ang (surprisingly underdressed for a ghoul’s night out).

Mr Manichon always knows how to enjoy himself, importing his suit of bandages and a macabre mask (the night before he was Freddy Krueger).

Mok was Beetlejuice down to body language.

She said: ‘When you are a character you must play it to the full, especially your eyes, they have to be fearsome.’

To be hauntinued…

Additional reporting by Charlene Chua

 

The NewPaper

JELLY BELLY

JELLY BELLY
Bellydancer Serkan Tutar teaches belly haver Jason Johnson how to cut an Oriental rug
By Jason Johnson
November 01, 2010
 
 

MALE nurse. Male model. Male flight attendant.

Any time you have to add the word ‘male’ to a job description, you’re obviously dealing with a female-dominated field.

We may have grown accustomed to the concept of men moving into areas traditionally associated with women – and vice versa – but the idea of a male bellydancer still comes as something of a shock.

To be sure, when my editor informed me that professional male bellydancer Serkan Tutar would be giving me a bellydance lesson, I was SHOCKED.

Perhaps ‘terrified’ would be a more accurate description.

The lithe and foxy Mr Tutar, who will perform here on Nov 5, is so light on his feet that one wonders if he keeps lead weights in his pockets to give gravity a fighting chance.

The winner of the Male Bellydancer Of The World 2008 award, he was obviously born to dance.

As for me? No.

But when we met at the Bellydance Discovery studio founded by local bellydance choreographer Yuki Chua, Mr Tutar quickly put me at ease.

When I told him that I was nervous about the bellydance, he told me that he was the one who should be nervous.

‘You’re the journalist,’ he said.

Frankly, he had a point.

As we got down to business, Mrs Chua suggested I should dress the part, which made me a tad apprehensive.

Spangles are generally not a good look for tall, beefy dudes.

He got me a green ‘hip scarf coin belt’, which was okay, since it matched the stripes on my Adidas polo shirt.

Sigh…

It’s not every day that you endeavour to do something impossible, but trying to keep up with Mr Tutar’s flowing, sinewy moves was exactly that.

Grace

To the rhythm of traditional Middle Eastern music, the remarkably well-preserved 37-year-old danced with an undulating, boneless grace that, short of removing my own bones, I could never in a million years have imitated.

His head bobbed, his shoulders rolled, his fingers flexed, his torso contorted, his feet flitted and his bottom shook.

As for me? No.

I have the approximate dexterity of a muppet.

When I tried to shake my hips, I found that my head would also shake, which apparently isn’t supposed to happen.

The coins on the hip scarf would make a ‘ching-ching’ sound every time I moved my butt, which was alarming.

Most men would prefer a quieter butt that doesn’t draw attention to itself.

I found I could almost keep up with Mr Tutar’s arm movements, but while his gestures were fluid and expressive, mine looked like the desperate flailings of a Frankenstein monster – ‘Rrrrrr-RRRRR!’

Worst of all were the intricate belly movements – my round gut was simply incapable of any sort of intricacy. His torso was like an ocean, mine like a hill.

Thing is, even though I knew I was horrible, I still had a great time. I didn’t feel unmanly, I simply felt untalented.

‘This is in our blood, Turkish people,’ he said, explaining his love for dance.

‘We always have in us our rhythm, our music. At wedding parties, at friend’s parties, we always have the music.’

Having picked up an appreciation for bellydance as a child while his family was living in Saudi Arabia, Mr Tutar trained himself by watching video tapes of his hero, bellydance icon Nesrin Topkapi.

At 22, Mr Tutar actually got the chance to train with her in the flesh.

‘She’s amazing, both as a person and as a dancer. She’s a legend, the most famous and respected bellydancer in Turkey.’

In many parts of the world, being a male bellydancer would obviously raise eyebrows, but Mr Tutar said that in his native Turkey, it’s relatively common, and he never received much flak from friends or family members.

His mother is a fan, and was there with him when he won his world title in 2008.

The one person who seems to give him any sort of grief, strangely enough, is his accountant.

‘When I started as a professional dancer, I was, of course, not working as much, and my accountant would get angry with me and would be giving me advice: ‘Serkan, stop the dancing and go find a job.’

‘But I told him that if I had to work eight hours a day, I would quickly get old.’

As we continued talking about bellydancing, and about male bellydancing in particular, it was inevitable that sex would enter into the discussion.

To the uninitiated, bellydancing would seem to be all about sex, but having learned his skills at the feet – and hips – of an exquisitely tasteful bellydance master, Mr Tutar has a much more nuanced view.

‘I try my best to show that dance is not just about sex. For myself as well as my students I say please, whatever you are doing, don’t do it in a cheap way.

‘You can be a table dancer or a lap dancer or a go-go dancer, but do it with quality.’

Divorced three years ago from a wife who supported his unconventional career choice, Mr Tutar now lives in a country house on the outskirts of Ghent, Belgium.

He raises his own chickens, grows tomatoes and teaches bellydance classes in the city.

While most of Serkan’s students are Belgian women (the Middle Eastern women who’ve emigrated to the region think they know it all already, he said), he has had some male students.

Love

However, not all of them have been as comfortable going public with their love of bellydance as Mr Tutar would like.

‘There are a lot of male dancers now, much more than before, but still, some of them write me e-mails asking me not to show their faces in the videos.

‘I always say, ‘Talk with your family, don’t do anything in secret. It’s not fair.’

‘Why do you want to do bellydance? To make you happy. But are you going to be happy if you do it in secret, behind your family’s back?’

As part of his regional tour, which has also included a performance in Hong Kong, Mr Tutar will be conducting a series of open classes for those – including men – who are interested in learning to bellydance.

The classes will be held from Nov 2 to 7, and you can register or find out more at www.bellydance.com.sg.

A couple of the timeslots have already been filled, with bellydance enthusiasts coming from Taiwan and Thailand.

You can also visit Mr Tutar’s own website, www.serkan.be.

Having gone to meet Mr Tutar with my own preconceived notions of what a male bellydancer might be like, I can say that he lived up to none of them.

Not that there’s anything wrong with being effeminate or eccentric or flamboyant, but Mr Tutar wasn’t any of these things.

He’s just cool.

‘You can be whatever, it’s nobody’s business,’ he said, ‘but you don’t have to imitate something. It’s not natural.

‘How much can a man be like a woman? Men are naturally different. The muscles are different. The bones are different.

‘You can try to dance like a woman of course, but to what per cent? You don’t have to make yourself silly.’

Yeah, but he could have told me that before I put on the hip scarf.

FYI
WHAT: Sultan Of Bellydance
WHEN: Nov 5, 4pm
WHERE: Scarlet City (opposite Ang Mo Kio MRT station), Ang Mo Kio Hub, 53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #04-01/03
TICKETS: $30 (inclusive of one drink) from www.bellydance.com.sg or at the door
 

The NewPaper

Pitting Host Against Host

Pitting host against host
Dee Hsu leads the pack among Taiwan’s TV show comperes
October 31, 2010
 
 

Each copy of U Weekly comes with a free Hao Liao supplement next month. For four consecutive issues starting from #256, readers who buy their copies at Buzz pods will get a free collectible Fortune Cat mobile phone charm that comes with a set of four-digit heavenly numbers. Readers also stand a chance to win a multi-cooker worth $60, if they find a winning voucher in their copy of UW magazine.

TAIWAN is known for churning out weird and wacky variety programmes, some of which have gained a following regionally.

The shows’ comperes have also become household names both in and outside of Taiwan.

They include showbiz veterans Piggo Liang and Pai Ping Ping, who appeal to older viewers, and younger ones like Dee Hsu, who keep themselves up-to-date on the latest trends in fashion and popculture.

Here’s the lowdown on who’s leading thepack…

1. Here Comes Kangxi
Hosts: Dee Hsu, 32, and Kevin Tsai, 48
Appearance fee: Hsu makes NT$120,000 (S$5,000) per episode
Target viewers: Adults aged 35 years and younger
Fame outside Taiwan: Five stars
Influence: Five stars

Since the show aired in January 2004, Hsu has interviewed Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, and former Taiwanese vice-presidents Annette Lu and Lien Chan – something no other Taiwanese variety show host has done.

Hsu is a talented presenter who is able to discuss any topic. Known for her outspoken and straightforward ways, Hsu has rubbed shoulders with many artistes from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Recently, when Hsu interviewed Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau, she spontaneously sat on his lap and stroked his legs.

Another unforgettable moment was when Hsu threw herself into the arms of actor Geoffrey Gao. Not only did that episode generate high ratings for Here Comes Kangxi, it also increased Gao’s fame.

As for Tsai, his confession of his homosexuality has earned him support from Taiwan’s gaycommunity.

2. Variety Big Brother
Host: Chang Fei, 58
Appearance Fee: NT$250,000 (S$10,000) per hour
Target Viewers: Adults aged 35 and above
Fame Outside Taiwan: Four stars
Influence: Four stars

Although Chang has been in showbiz for 40 years, Variety Big Brother is his most important vehicle todate.

He has been hosting the show for eight years, and although its viewership has dipped over the years, Variety Big Brother remains a popular avenue for up-and-coming singers to gain exposure.

Chang’s hosting style differs from other male hosts in that he does not tease female celebrities or criticise other artistes, preferring to put his guests at ease.

This has made the show palatable to wannabes who need positive publicity.

In the middle of this year, Piggo Liang’s concert in Kaohsiung wasn’t sold out.

But strangely, after appearing on Variety Big Brother, ticket sales skyrocketed and 700 tickets were sold immediately after Liang’s interview wasaired.

3. Piggo Club
Hosts: Piggo Liang, 63, and Rene Hou, 33
Appearance Fee: Liang makes NT$200,000 (S$8,000) per hour
Target Viewers: Adults aged 45 and above
Fame Outside Taiwan: Three stars
Influence: Three stars

Piggo Club has broken viewership records even though it has been on the small screen for less than two years.

The show also enabled Liang and Hou to win the Best Variety Show Hosts awards at the Golden Bell Awards last week.

The award marked a major milestone for Liang after he had disappeared from the small screen for over a decade because he was on the run from hiscreditors.

Back when he debuted, he exercised more restraint. But he soon realised that to gain a following, he had to keep up with the times.

Once Liang learnt the game, he wasted no time in getting celebrities like singer A-mei to guest on his show, and his gimmicks paid off.

What makes Liang stand out is his ability to connect with his Taiwanese viewers, opting for shorts and a unique hairstyle that have endeared him to viewers.
 

The NewPaper

S.H.E’s Hebe Is Here But… Fans Are Thinking Of SELINA

S.H.E’s Hebe is here but… Fans are thinking of SELINA
By Tan Kee Yun
October 31, 2010
 
 

keeyunt@sph.com.sg

GO, GO Selina! The Chinese words of encouragement were big, bold and welcoming.

One would have thought, looking at the sea of posters and portable light boards held by frenetic fans at Changi Airport, that Selina Jen from Taiwanese pop gal group S.H.E had swung into town.

But as these young people cheered, their 29-year-old idol was, in fact, bedridden and going through – what’s likely to be – a long process of recuperation at Taipei’s Linkou Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital.

It was her fellow S.H.E member Hebe Tien, 27, one of several guest artistes at last night’s music event Singapore Hit Awards, who came through the arrival gates at noon.

Decked out in shades and a black jacket, the pixie-faced Tien looked glum and sullen.

Who could blame her?

TNP PICTURES: KUA CHEE SIONG

Last Saturday, Jen suffered serious burns after a series of planned explosions went horribly wrong on the set of I Have A Date With Spring, a musical drama she was filming in Shanghai.

According to her record label H.I.M International Music, 50 per cent of her body – mostly her back, limbs and waist – was affected. Her face, while not burnt, was slightly scorched.

Her male co-star, China actor-singer Yu Haoming, was badly injured too. (See other report.)

Little wonder that the mood within the S.H.E camp at Changi Airport wasn’t exactly upbeat.

Some of those present were members of the local fanclub S.H.E Ambience.

‘When the news of Selina’s accident broke, we were totally shocked,’ said a sombre Miss Cai Jiaxin, 23, who recently graduated from a private university.

‘It was hard to believe that something so awful had happened…we were so worried we started following the news closely, paying attention to every single update on her (Jen’s) condition.’

Angry

Fans were also angry and perplexed that such an accident could have happened on a film set.

Miss Sim Yiwen, 21, who works in logistics, said she had read in a Taiwanese news report that old and faulty equipment had been used to shoot the explosion scene.

‘Also, the actors weren’t provided with any protective gear to cover their bodies. That scene dealt with fire, it’s very dangerous and more precautionary measures should have been taken,’ she said.

Putting their anger aside, the fans decided to pour their hearts into making gifts for Jen.

At a press conference yesterday evening, representatives from S.H.E Ambience handed more than 5,000 colourful paper cranes to Tien.

‘We set out to fold 1,000 cranes, as there is a Japanese traditional belief that 1,000 cranes will bring patients speedy recovery, good health and a long life,’ said polytechnic student Serene Law, 19.

‘She’s in pain but still strong’

But they were overwhelmed with response from the public after posting their project details on their website.

‘So many people voluntarily joined us in our crane-folding session on Thursday night…we made 5,236 cranes in all,’ she said.

In an interview with local media, Tien acknowledged the seriousness of Jen’s injuries candidly.

‘Her condition is definitely not good,’ she said.

‘I visited her on Thursday before I set off for Singapore and I could see that she was in pain, even with the morphine injected.

‘Though she might be physically weak now, her mental state is extremely strong. She is still optimistic about life and, at times, it seems like she is comforting me instead of me comforting her.’

With an emphatic pause, Tien added that Selina has described the pain as ‘the worst she has ever experienced’.

‘As she suffered third-degree burns, it’s likely that there will be (scars).

Scrapbook

‘But I don’t think she is even thinking about whether there will be scars on her body in the future. She just wants to get well soon.’

Fans also passed Tien a scrapbook of wishes they had penned for Jen, as well as a get-well video clip they had filmed and edited themselves.

‘It’s so sad that tomorrow is her birthday and she has to spend it in the hospital,’ Miss Cai said with a sigh.

Fans can take comfort in the steely determination the other two members of S.H.E – Tien and Ella Chen, 29 – have shown following Jen’s mishap.

‘The girls were slated to perform together as a trio in Jiangsu province on the day of the accident,’ said Mr Darren Ang, 24, a web designer.

‘After Selina’s accident, Ella and Hebe were extremely professional, they controlled their emotions and went on with the show.

‘But from the online clip of that particular performance, it was evident that they were saddened by their friend’s injuries.’

Miss Law agreed, adding that Tien and Chen’s professionalism have made her admire S.H.E even more.

A few days earlier, Tien confirmed on her Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) account that her mother intended to do her part in Jen’s upcoming skin graft operation, by becoming a skin donor.

‘I was very touched when I read that,’ said Miss Law.

‘She (Tien’s mum) is so willing to help, even though Selina is not her flesh and blood.’

Tien clarified during her press conference that her mum was ‘expressing her feelings’ as a concerned, worried guardian of Jen.

‘My mum treats Selina like her own kid. These few days, whenever the topic of Selina is brought up, she breaks down and cries,’ said Tien.

‘But the truth is, my mum is not medically trained and as much as she wants to donate the skin, I don’t think it’s possible. You’d need to use your own skin for the (skin graft) operation, so that the cells would be able to match.’

The New Paper understands from doctors that besides the procedure of taking one’s own skin for grafting, a transplant using sking from a donor is ‘possible’, but ‘tests have to be conducted beforehand to make sure the cells match perfectly’.

Immediate family members will have a higher chance of a match.

Fans also rubbished the speculation in some Chinese media that Jen’s tragedy could spell the end of her career.

News portal Sina.com said that Jen is likely to be out of showbiz action for at least a couple of years.

‘We will continue to support S.H.E even if Selina cannot be part of the group for now,’ said Miss Sim. ‘Selina will definitely not be forgotten.’

WHO is Yu Haoming?

Over the past week, that has been the question on folks’ minds, with the constant updates on Selina Jen’s condition.

The Guangzhou native, Jen’s co-star in the musical drama I Have A Date With Spring, had third-degree burns on his body, mostly on his limbs and back.

He reportedly shielded Jen by hugging her tightly when the explosions occurred.

Fans of S.H.E have lauded his heroic effort, which saved their idol from facial injuries.

Yu, 22, little known to audiences in Taiwan and Singapore, has become a household name in mainland China since he took part in the all-male singing competition Superboy in 2007.

The show, held by Hunan Television, was Yu’s big break.

He came in sixth, wowing the crowd with his boyish charm.

In the same year, he signed a contract with Chinese record label Doremi Media and released his debut EP, If I Can Love You. His first full-length album, Hug, was released at the end of last year.

He has branched out into acting and hosting.

He starred in Let’s Watch The Meteor Shower Together, China’s remake of classic Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden and hosted the Hunan Television talkshow Improving Everyday.

Idol saviour popular in China

 

The NewPaper