chapter 153: enjoy the company

[Wong Family House]

Joey (Bernice Liu) had just finished packing her bags when Ah Biu (Raymond Lam) called her. She leaves the zipper half-way closed as she reaches for her phone on her table.

"What is it?" she asks.

Ah Biu laughs. "Joey, Joey, Joey. Every time I talk to you, you always ask me what my agenda is. I thought we're friends now?"

"We are..." Joey says hesitantly, "But I still need to know what you want when you call me."

"If I called you only when I needed something, then I wouldn't be such a good friend, now would I? In fact, I would be called a 'user.' You wouldn't want to be friends with someone like that, now would you? True friends call for no reason at all."

"You know how to talk your way out of everything, don't you? So, what's up?"

"I wanted to ask if you're ready."

"Yeah."

"Good. What time should I come to pick you up at your house?"

"What?" Joey freaks out. "You don't have to come here!"

"Whoa! Calm down. I take it you don't want me to meet my future in-laws. What's there to be afraid of? I'm sure I'll charm them."

"We'll meet up at the airport. I'll see you in a few hours." Joey quickly hangs up and turns her phone off. If Ah Biu showed up at her house, she knew that 7th sister (Teresa Ha) and her father (Lau Dan) would be all over her with questions. She didn't need that, no, not with Ah Biu involved. She herself didn't even know what their exact relationship was, so how was she to explain herself to her family?

[Airport]

"Are you here yet?" Joey asks Ah Biu once he answered his phone.

"That's cold, what you did."

Joey presses her lips together. "I know I was wrong. I know. I'm sorry."

"You didn't even say 'bye.' What was worse was that you didn't have to turn your phone off."

"You're so persistent. I was afraid that if I didn't end the call then, you would talk your way into coming somehow."

"And what's so wrong about that? I just wanted to save you the trouble of getting here. Besides, my car is so cool. You'd look good in it with me."

"If you drove us here, who would drive your car back?"

"That's not a problem. You just didn't want to be seen with me. I don't know why you want to go away with me."

"Are you here yet or not?" Joey asks again.

"I'm starting to think it was a bad idea to befriend you. You just deal with me when you need something. That's messed up. You're not a user, are you?"

"Stop playing around!"

Joey feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns around to find Ah Biu facing her.

"I'm here." He smiles and hangs up the phone.

Joey stares at him in disbelief. He had a suitcase with him and was looking like he was about to go on a long vacation.

He waves his hands in front of her eyes. "You taken aback by how attractive I am or something? It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other. I mean, I know I look good and all, but I've left an impression with you already, so why are you stunned by my appearance?"

"What do you think you're doing? What's with the luggage? I only have a small duffel bag!" Joey holds it up for him to see.

"Uh, you asked me to accompany you to Shanghai, so I packed."

"Yes, but I never said it was a holiday!"

Ah Biu is confused. "Isn't this our romantic getaway?"

"You've got it wrong! We're going to Shanghai on a business-related manner."

"Huh? Last time I checked, we're not colleagues. How is this business oriented?"

"You know about my 'situation!'"

"The one that's keeping you from loving me?"

Joey sighs. "I don't know how many times-"

Ah Biu laughs, "Okay, okay, I'll be serious. What is this little trip about exactly?"

"I want to see if we can find any new information about the murder," Joey half-admits.

"Hold up. Since when did you join the police force? It's not your concern-"

"Ah Biu, I explained to you how important this is to me. If I don't get to the truth of the matter-"

"Yes, yes, I know."

"Are you still willing to go?"

"Of course. I said it already, for you, I'd do anything. It's dangerous traveling alone - let alone investigating by yourself."

Joey smiles.

"Man, I am so bummed. And I was anticipating sight-seeing and exquisite Shanghai meals!" He pretends to groan. "But no, I'm going to be 'working!'"

[Airplane]

Joey felt her heart pace as the plane left the ground. She was actually going back to Shanghai - to the place where her heart had been broken nearly half-a-year ago when she discovered Ah Nin (Frankie Lam) had forgotten all about "them" and had first met Rose (Kenix Kwok). She wasn't sure exactly what she'd find or how she would find it, but she was certain that she'd find something - she had to. "The heavens are on my side," she says to herself.

"Do you have any specific plans once we arrive?" Ah Biu asks.

Joey blinks a few times before returning to reality. "I'm sorry. I was-"

"Deep in thought, I know. You're always thinking about something. Man, I can't wait for all of this to be over. I hate how you're always contemplating something."

"Oh, I want this to be over more than you do. I really do. Life isn't supposed to be this complicated!"

"Unfortunately, it is."

Joey sighs. "Actually, I don't know what we're going to do exactly."

"You're making me miss a couple days of pay for random nothingness?!" Ah Biu teases. "Come on, Joey, you must have a game plan."

Joey thinks for a few moments before answering him. "First, we're going to visit the jail."

"The jail?! Man, this trip is becoming worse and worse."

"I... I want to find someone."

"You have a family member in jail?"

Joey shakes her head. "No, not at all. In fact, I don't even know this person. I don't even know what he looks like. I just know his name."

"Oh, who is it?"

"Heung Hoi."

Ah Biu blinks in surprise. "Erm, Joey, he was killed a few days ago. You should know. You were at the crime scene, albeit unconscious." He laughs.

"Yes, the real 'Heung Hoi' is dead, but his brother is still serving time in his place in the jail."

"You lost me again."

"I'm not sure exactly what happened myself... I just know there's a Heung Hoi there and we have to find him."

"This is getting stranger by the minute."

"I'm sorry to have drawn you into this mess."

Ah Biu places his hand on top of Joey's. "It's okay. Don't worry. I'm here for you. You're not in this alone. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Joey returns his statement with a smile. She didn't withdraw her hand from his this time. In fact, she enjoyed the company.

programme highlights '07 - issue i

The first TVB Programme Highlights for this year is out! (The last Programme Highlights post actually wasn't the first issue, but just a booklet with an overview of most of the 2007 series.) Much thanks to Ron Online for the great, high-quality scans! Now, let's go through the nine series included in this quarter's installment...

Without-a-doubt diamonds...


Heart of Greed
(Moses Chan, Bosco Wong, Raymond Lam,
Linda Chung, Tavia Yeung, Yoyo Mung)

In my opinion, the best cast of the year. I love all of the main players in Heart. TVB's design for the poster is really nice - very mysterious and it just exudes the whole "grand production," "must-watch" feeling. Everyone looks great! I'm a sucker for family drama. However, I have to say that the soap opera genre with feuds over money and relationships is really getting over-played this year by TVB. I just hope Heart will have something special to make it stand out otherwise it may be forgotten and overshadowed by The Drive of Life and Jewel's Splendor. Nevertheless, I will probably enjoy it more than Drive (if I even decide to watch it) as I'm just much more fonder of everyone in Heart. I'm a little worried about Linda's performance, but she looks amazing in the poster, so I'm sure it won't be too bad. I can't wait for all of the sweet Raymond and Linda scenes. He crushes her and totally breaks her heart, but good thing she will have Moses. I'm not too thrilled that she's officially listed as the female lead, but it all depends on screen time since this is a "huge" 40 episode series, so it doesn't really matter. Tavia looks gorgeous - this girl has really been cleaning up and looking so beautiful since getting "bigger boobs" (not that I'm implying there's a direct correlation between the two events).



Best Bet
(Michael Tse, Linda Chung, Wayne Lai, Anne Heung, etc.)

Great producer, great cast, and just the perfect series for the New Year! From what I've seen, Bet is funny and entertaining and Michael and Linda actually make a good pair - their interactions are so funny and sweet. Hopefully the momentum is maintained throughout and Producer Li will have delivered another classic.

Oh, possibilities...


The Family Link
(Sheren Tang, Kiki Sheung, Cecilia Yip, Kenneth Ma, etc.)

The poster is hilarious! TVB is really taking the "army" in the Chinese title literally, huh? TVB declares this to be their version of Desperate Housewives, so we'll see... Sheren is in this series, so it cannot be too bad. I'm so glad Michael and Sheren get to play husband and wife in this series. Their chemistry from La Femme Desperado was great. I'm skeptical about the storyline and am not that keen on the other cast members, but I will keep Link on my radar.



A Change of Destiny
(Steven Ma, Benny Chan, Shirley Yeung, Selena Li, etc.)

Producer Tsui, Producer Tsui... what am I going to do with you? He just hasn't delivered a great series since ending Virtues of Harmony, so I'm very doubtful that Change is any different than the mediocrity of The Biter Bitten. I have yet to see The Price of Greed, but I don't hold much hope on it judging from the rather poor reviews... I'm just so disappointed in Producer Tsui. However, I wonder if it's the "curse of Shirley" that's causing him to have bad series back-to-back? Seriously - Biter, Price, and Change all have Shirley in them... Haha. He has two male and female leads for all of his series lately and messy love triangles among the four, so it's getting a little tiring and predictable. Nevertheless, I have to compliment whoever made this poster! It looks really good and makes Change seem like a good series. Still, I'm not sold on the series because the theme seems like nothing new (fighting for the throne, messing with fate)... Please improve Producer Tsui! Where did the magic and creativity go? Better yet, just get back to doing the sitcom and then "everyone is happy."



On The First Beat
(Ron Ng, Sammul Chan, Joey Yung, Michael Tao, etc.)

The Academy blew me away. No, it wasn't a spectacular or stunning series. I had absolutely no expectations from it, so when I actually watched it and liked it a lot, I was very impressed. It is much better than Triumph In The Skies. It's kind of like Always Ready; I expected the worst and got much, much better than I could have imagined. I'm very iffy about Beat though. They changed most of the cast on us! Also, the "poster" is horrible. I really doubt this is the final one. If it is, it's really bad... To be honest, Michael Miu was the reason why Academy was so great, so I'm doubtful that I'll enjoy the sequel as much (or if at all). I do like Sonija though and you know, I've seen "Chung Lap Man" and "Li Pak Kiu" go through their 27 weeks of training, so I kind of want to see the next chapter of their lives... I'm sad that Tavia Yeung and Fiona Sit are "written off" in the beginning. We'll see, I guess...



The Slicing of the Demon
(Sunny Chan, Bernice Liu, Michael Tse, Angela Tong, etc.)

The poster makes Demon look appealing. I'm not into horror or supernatural series, but this series has potential to be interesting if it's anything like Dark Tales. [I don't remember much of it since it's been so long and I wasn't allowed to watch a lot of scenes, but I recall vaguely liking it.] I just don't like series that are too "out there." The plot and reviews will seal the deal whether or not I give it a try. I like the leads - and that's always a good start.

Series I'm passing on...


Life Art (Kevin Cheng, Gigi Lai, Natalie Tong, Paul Chun, etc.) - Gigi looks great in this series... but the plot seems way too simplistic and predictable for my taste. I do like the whole "art" and calligraphy theme that this series will focus on, but nope.

The Ultimate Crime Fighter (Yuen Biao, Moses Chan, Gigi Lai, Yoyo Mung, etc.) - This series doesn't interest me at all and 35 episodes is too much (for a series I'm unwilling to watch).

Devil's Disciples (Bosco Wong, Kevin Cheng, Bernice Liu, Sharon Chan, etc.) - Uh...

What series are you guys looking forward to?

h.a.t.e.

Hate - it's an ugly thing. No one likes it and it is the root of many conflicts... yet, why do so many people hate? In one way or another, we all "hate" and have "haters." I won't deny it... heck, I have haters too! Hate is especially prominent in the entertainment industry. Name any star and you will find at least one hater. Hate is thus sadly inevitable.

Hate is not the opposite of love
Some people like to say the misinformed notion that the opposite of "love" is "hate." Well, it's not. The opposite of "love" is "indifference." "Hate" is really "love" to a negative extreme. Why? Because we're still investing time, attention, and immense emotion when we hate whereas with indifference, we honestly don't care what happens and devote no time, attention, or emotion. Therefore, how can "love" and "hate" be considered opposites when they're the same thing differing only in direction?

Why do people hate?
There are a number of reasons why people hate, from feeling betrayed to conflicting personalities. However, when it comes to stars, I think there are three main reasons that cause people to declare hatred against someone they've never met and don't know.

Jealousy

Celebrities are celebrities because of us. Without people adoring and supporting them, they wouldn't be stars. We feed the media and fuel the industry with our money. We give them fans. Without us, they wouldn't be celebrities, but just another actor, singer, or what-have-you. It's great when stars shine bright... but this triggers something in the human mind - jealousy.

Who wouldn't want to be a celebrity? Who doesn't want to have paparazzi following their every move, capturing every moment, and fabricating stories from pictures? Who doesn't enjoy the limelight? Who doesn't want popularity? Who doesn't want to have fans and be supported and loved? Stars enjoy all of these great things. At some point or another, we have all wished to be a celebrity. Consequently, because stars are so elevated to the status of almost being "non-human," some people, being so "common," start to feel envious.

In order to make themselves feel better, some people start criticizing those stars on a microscopic level. They gleefully point out flaws, laugh at make-up-less pictures, and criticize and even doubt their talents. The hate makes them feel better. It tears the star down from his or her high pedestal and they can say happily, "Ha! He/she isn't that much better."

Yes, jealousy is a vicious monster that can cause some people to hate some stars for no good reason at all other than the fact that they're "so popular."

Hence, the notion that "everything popular has haters." There's even a joke that you know you've "made it" not when you have your first fan, but when you attain your first hater.

Of course, not everyone is jealous because they fail to be stars themselves; some people are jealous for their idol(s). They're jealous that their idol(s) is/are not getting conquerable popularity, rave reviews, awards, and so on, so they hate on them. This directly leads to the next reason why some people hate on certain stars...

Threat

It's human nature to react when threatened. When it comes to stars, we all have our own preferences and favorites. Not every star is the same. Some shine brighter and others dimmer. When our favorites aren't shining the brightest and have some competition, we feel threatened. Because we're powerless in determining who gets promoted, who leads, and so on, the only thing that we can do for our favorites is to hate those that threaten their status.

I've seen so many messages where angry fans say things to an extent like "I hate so-and-so because TVB promotes him/her too much!" and "I wish TVB would promote [insert favorite's name] instead of so-and-so, he/she sucks, can't act, is over-promoted, I hate him/her! [Insert favorite's name] is so much better in every aspect and should get the promotion instead!" This leads to feuds and rivalries among fans.

Yes, some people turn to hating some stars simply because they view them as a threat for their own idol. They hope that by hating, they can somehow bring that star down and push or maintain the status of their idol.

They can't distinguish between reality and fiction

Mostly all series have protagonists and antagonists. Naturally, not everyone can play the "good" guy. There must be baddies... otherwise the series would be rather dull and uneventful should the protagonist always have his or her way. Unfortunately, some viewers take certain stars for the roles that they portray.

For some people, the most exposure they get of certain TVB stars is through the series that they act in. They don't know much about their real lives, so the impressions that those stars leave are based on their roles. Sadly, this means that some take people who act as villains in series and define them with those traits. They end up not being able to distinguish between the "actor" and the "character" and their opinion of the star is biased and wrongly based on the character.

I've seen too many times this unfortunate thing happen throughout the TVB community. I've seen comments like, "I hate (insert name) so much! He/she was so annoying/evil/stupid in (insert name of series)!" for a totally unrelated series and role. Then there is the classic, "Ugh! I hate (insert name) because he/she broke up (insert name of person's favorite couple)! It's so unfair. He/she is so annoying. I hate him/her! (Insert couple) should have ended up together! Argh. It's all (insert name)'s fault!" when someone hates on an actor/actress simply because the role required him/her to act as a "third person" in a relationship. It's also ridiculous when they criticize certain stars for simply acting out their roles. For example, "Oh my god! (Insert name) is so stupid/irritating! I hate his/her acting. How can he/she be so dumb for (insert action)? It makes me so mad!"

It's sad and greatly unfortunate that certain stars are hated on simply because of "poor" roles. Some people are really stubborn and just refuse to give second chances and watch series with an open mind. Yes, TVB uses mostly the same people in all of their series, but when we watch a series, we are suppose to see the characters. The mark of a great actor and actress is when the "actor" disappears and all we see is the character. That is how it should be. Of course, that's not the case (especially these days). Nevertheless, it is still so absurd and bordering the line of ridiculousness when hate stems from "bad" roles.

[On a completely unrelated note, I have to say something about the classic line, "If (insert name) made you hate him/her in the series, this means he/she acted well!" That is certainly not true and is way too overly simplistic! What prompts an audience to hate or feel anger towards the villain is due to the characterization and the writing. If an actor or actress is truly good, he or she will make the audience feel for the character - not just simply be annoyed or frustrated. They will be able to twist and manipulate the audience's emotions along with the characters in the series. That is when someone has done his or her job at effectively portraying a villain.]

Hating is not constructive criticism
There's a big difference between "constructive criticism" and "hating." People who give "constructive criticism" have valid points and offer improvements and suggestions. "Haters" simply "hate" for no logical or justifiable reason besides the three mentioned earlier. People who offer constructive criticism are not haters. They just give honest opinions. Not everyone has the same opinions, so of course there are bound to be differences in thought. If everything was sugar-coated and we all heard what "pleased" the ears, it wouldn't be good for anyone. We need to hear about weaknesses. That is how improvements are made. Constructive criticism is more than welcomed, but hating is simply nonsensical. Haters wish to tear whoever or whatever they hate into pieces whereas people who give constructive criticism either want to see improvements or simply just have their honest and valid opinions, with no dire or hopeful wishes.

Pity the haters
If you ask haters why they hate whoever they hate, they won't tell you the real reason. They'll go on and on about how their bad their anti-idol is and how he/she sucks in every aspect. If they care enough to "hate," this means they still ironically "care." Most "hate" towards stars boils down to either a root of jealousy, feeling threatened, or wrong impressions. Haters go out of their way to bash at every chance - obsessively monitoring their anti-idol. Seriously, if they really didn't care for a certain someone, why would they waste their time to check out their news, sites, forums, and so on and then go on and on to bash? Indifference is really what you should feel if you don't care for someone. The next time you encounter "haters" bashing your idol, pity those "haters" who put themselves through such strong, negative emotions and waste time and energy "hating." Don't counter-act and hate or become upset. Take the high road!

Calling others bad won't make your idol any better, criticizing others for "over-promotion" won't make your idol get any more promoted... hating gets you nowhere and only ends up hurting all parties involved. When it comes down to it, TVB is the only one who has the say and only popularity speaks. If you truly can't stand someone, just ignore - it's far more effective. Why hate?

series 411: "devil's disciples"

English Title: Devil's Disciples
Cantonese Title: Keung Gim
Vietnamese Title: Thanh Kiem
Casts: Bosco Wong, Kevin Cheng, Bernice Liu, Sharon Chan, etc.
Length: 20 episodes (Cantonese) // 16 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: February 2007 (Canto) // March 2007 (Viet)
Genre: Costume Drama/Martial Arts/Fantasy

Synopsis:
Good and evil, who can determine;
Love and hate, who can distinguish

Wulin's [ancient world of martial arts] top righteous swordsmen clan, the School of the Sacred Swords, was recruiting students to learn, practice and train in a specific formation that had been lost years ago. An easygoing fellow, Sing Fung (Bosco Wong Chung Chak), and the cool and solitary Ging Nui (Kevin Cheng Ka Wing) were both successfully admitted into the school.

At the same time, the evil Bloody Shadow Clan was rising up. The new leader of the clan, Mok Man (Sharon Chan Man Chi) led its members on an attack to Sacred Swords. Fung suffered severe injures, but was fortunately rescued from the doors of death with the help of a good friend and a member of the Sky One Tribe, Sui Ling (Shirley Yeung Sze Kei).

After Fung recovered from his injuries, his martial arts powers grew immensely, and was appointed the master of the school. Bak Tong Oh (Eddy Ko Hung), whom people call the "master of swords," married his daughter Bak Tong Chi Lung (Bernice Liu Bik Yi) to him. However, on the day of the big wedding, someone revealed that Fung and Man were siblings, and he was actually the offspring of the evil clan! Fung, who had always been raised admiring Sacred Swords painfully struggled between the idea of good and evil. Nui, who both loved and hated Man, was also trapped in a big dilemma...

Credits: B O S C O - W O N G . C O M

happy lunar new year

TVB Musings extends a warm and sincere "Happy New Year" to everyone! May the new year bring blessings to everyone with lots of happy and prosperous events with good fortune and let everyone's wishes be granted! No one says "Happy New Year" better than the colorful Virtues of Harmony family, so I'll let them serenade you guys with their wishes and cheerful singing and dancing.

series 411: "best bet"

English Title: Best Bet
Cantonese Title: Ying Chai Jip Fook
Vietnamese Title: Nghia Vo Tinh Chong
Casts: Michael Tse, Linda Chung, Wayne Lai, Anne Heung, etc.
Length: 20 episodes (Cantonese) // 15 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: February 2007 (Canto) // April 2007 (Viet)
Genre: Period Comedy/Drama/Gambling

Note: Please credit "MetalAZNWarrior" and/or this site if you should use my translation of the series' plot! I worked hard to translate it, so please don't just steal or use it for another site without my permission and/or credit. Thank you!

Synopsis:
Love the wife enough,
Wealth and fortune naturally comes!

Young master Hor Yi (Michael Tse Tin Wah) is the son of a prosperous Foshan pawn shop owner. Since childhood, if he doesn't gamble, he won't be happy. Furthermore, if he gambles, he must win. One time, he gambled for three days and three nights. As a result, he collapses due to exhaustion. Luckily, Do Lai Ying (Linda Chung Ka Yan) passes by and saves him.

Yi searches for Ying because he fell in love with her at first sight. She deeply detests gambling. However, things are unpredictable and by mistake, Ying later on becomes Yi's wife! After marriage, Yi is determined to give up gambling. Unfortunately, Yi can't let go of his addiction. Ying is very disappointed at Yi. Who could imagine that he still doesn't repent and even blames her for his losses!

Ying decides to leave Foshan for Hong Kong to study medicine. After repenting his past mistakes, will Yi be able to win back his wife's heart and receive her blessings?

My thoughts: The synopsis doesn't sound too good... I don't like how it was so simplistic and just focused on Michael and Linda's characters. I don't think a "full" picture of the series was really painted. Therefore, I still have my faith in Best Bet and think it won't just be about the marriage between "Yi" and "Ying" and the problems that result from his gambling addiction and end with him fighting to win her back. I'm curious to see how and why "Ying" will marry "Yi" since she hates gambling so much and of course to see how their relationship develops and how he will win her back. TVB is really pushing the "wife" theme for the New Year in this series. I'm also interested in the other characters - it should be a very entertaining and hopefully hilarious and touching series, seeing how it comes from the producer of one of 2006's best series and unexpected gem, Safe Guards.

"best bet" themevideo

Wow! First and foremost, I was really surprised that the themesong was a solo by Linda Chung. She had told us that her upcoming songs for series were both "duets" so I don't know why the themesong turned out to be just her. I was waiting and waiting for Michael Tse to pop in and sing with her, but it was the end of the song and still no Michael. I checked the ending credits and it only lists Linda as the singer. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. Series like Best Bet are best with a themesong that has the main couple bantering. However, I'm not complaining - I really enjoyed Linda's singing. It sounds really cute. Besides, Bet's main "theme" is about appreciating your wife because she brings blessings, so it's appropriate regardless for Linda to sing it. Now, let's talk about the themevideo. I don't like how it's so "animated." Yes, it looks funny and cute, especially the scenes with the couples. However, I think it's a bit too much. I know it's for Chinese New Year and all, but sheesh. Nevertheless, I think the "theme" and design for the themevideo is creative and fresh and goes well with Linda's song.

recasting "will & grace"

Since Virtues of Harmony concluded, the "sitcom" has been a dying effort for TVB. None of its trials have worked. Nothing is clicking with the audience. Women On The Run and Welcome To The House both pulled horrible reviews and poor ratings and failed to garner any following at all. TVB is truly feeling desperate at the moment trying to resurrect the "sitcom." TVB is so desperate that TVB Executive Producer Catherine Tsang is the one producing the new series starring Esther Kwan. Producer Tsang was a big supporter of Virtues and she has a say on most series, so I think she has a shot at possibly launching a decent sitcom. Esther is already enough to give it some buzz, but whether or not the momentum can be kept is up to the writing, plot, and the other cast members - Esther alone is not enough for a long-running success.

In my opinion, HK is bored of the "same old thing." Virtues already depleted a lot of family-oriented situational comedy plots in both modern and ancient settings. I think it's time for a change. Hong Kong and the rest of us overseas want something fresh, daring, and witty. If TVB is willing to take the risk, I think a Hong Kong version of the hit American sitcom Will & Grace (W&G) will be able to do the trick.

W&G is a truly innovative and daringly hilarious comedy about a dysfunctional and totally inappropriate relationship between a gay man ("Will") and his best friend ("Grace") and their friends ("Jack" & "Karen"). In the 80's, "Will" and "Grace" actually used to date - until "Will" realized he was gay. The two grew apart and fatefully met up once again and bonded, eventually living together. The couple shares such a strong bond; essentially, they are "soul mates," often finishing each other's phrases. In fact, one critic said the pair was like "a marriage without sex." I actually didn't watch W&G until some time in late 2004. I had heard about it, but thought it was some "gay" show, so I didn't watch it. I was flipping through the channels one day and caught a re-run of it [at that time, I didn't realize it was W&G] and thought it was hilarious. I became interested in the show and would watch it every day since each re-run was a new episode to me. I fell for the show - W&G is such an ingenious half-hour of hilarity and hysteria.

The chance that TVB will produce W&G is so unlikely [the American version has never even aired in HK] because the premise is so "controversial." Besides, I don't think they could ever come up with the zingy, animated, and insane comedy that W&G has. However, if they were to, who would be best to play the 4 main characters? The following are my perfect cast selections for W&G.

Michael Tse as Will Truman

"Will" is an insecure, obsessive-compulsive neat freak. He loves to cook and clean. "Will" grew up in a conservative, wealthy family, so there are obviously conflicts because of his sexuality. Although he's a very capable lawyer and intelligent, he isn't so efficient in his love life and is thus often teased for his numerous failed relationships. "Will" is the most "sane"/"serious" of the group and keeps "Grace" in check. For some reason, Michael seems perfect to play "Will" to me. Michael is a very good actor and he is surely capable of doing "Will" justice. He possesses the comedic talent, charm, wit, and intelligent air to play "Will." Michael Tong seems suitable to play "Vince" - "Will"'s eventual life partner/husband/lover. "Vince" is a gay policeman who's kind of goofy, a bit shy, and not good with words. The role is similar to the typecast roles that TVB used to give Michael Tong before he left, so I think he would fit it nicely.



Cutie Mui as Grace Adler

"Grace" is unlucky in love, very tomboyish, and ungraceful. She's the anti-feminine woman while at the same time still holds onto feminine desires. "Grace" longs for acceptance and love. She's also a little crazy and needs "Will" to help her put things in perspectives. To me, Cutie is the only actress at TVB who can play "Grace." Cutie isn't afraid of making fun of herself [which is a must to play "Grace"] and she can also be loud and crazy like the character. She's awesome in comedy and can do all of the physical comedy and insane antics that "Grace" does. She just fits "Grace" so perfectly. Michael and Cutie have wonderful chemistry as evident from Virtues of Harmony. Chemistry between "Will" and "Grace" is a must; they act like a couple but aren't. For the role of "Grace"'s theatrical mother, I think Nancy Sit would be awesome. Nancy loves to sing and her performances are always so theatrical. I would pick Ronald Cheng to play "Leo" - "Grace"'s husband and eventual true love simply because Cutie & Ronald have nice chemistry and Ronald is also good in comedy.



Louis Yuen as Jack McFarland

"Jack" is the shallow, vain, stereotypical, super flamboyant gay man. He dances, he sings, he acts - he's basically a busybody with really nothing to do and has no goals but to sleep with men. He's very self-centered, narcissistic, and full of himself. He's kind of dumb and bitchy too and obsessed with being gay. The actor who plays "Jack" must be very flexible and comfortable with himself because "Jack" does a lot of crazy physical actions and is very gay. I think Louis is the best man for the job. He is so comfortable in his acting and is willing to do anything when it comes to comedy. I loved it when he dressed in drag or acted as a woman in Virtues - he's too funny! Of course, the subplot when his character turned "gay" in the modern version also caused me to choose him for "Jack." Louis' character turned from super macho to super feminine - and the transition was so natural on Louis' part. Therefore, I'm confident he's the only one at TVB who could do "Jack" justice and bring in a lot of laughs.



Stephanie Che as Karen Walker

"Karen" is a gold-digging, pill-popping, alcohol-drowning, money-loving, and just all-around nut. She loves criticizing people, especially "Grace," and has a wonderful sense of humor. She leads a rich life thanks to her obese, never-seen, billionaire husband. Although Karen can seem insensitive, obnoxious, selfish, mean, and doesn't care about anyone's problems but her own, in truth, she cares about her friends and has a soft side that she hates to show. She may act like a flake and say one thing, but she'll do another and pull through for the people she cares about. She "works" for "Grace" to amuse herself and get some time away from her husband and step-kids. Stephanie would be wonderful as "Karen." She can pull off the wacky expressions and zingy lines that the character has; she has such a knack for comedy! Stephanie is a delicious comedian. The only downside to Stephanie is that she lacks the "killer rack" that is signature of "Karen." However, I suppose they can reuse the hilarious "42-inch legs" joke [about her] from Virtues rather than the "killer rack." Celine Ma would be perfect for "Rosario" - "Karen"'s maid. "Rosario" and "Karen" always get into hilarious fights and their bantering is so funny - they share this love/hate relationship. Celine and Stephanie had such great comedic chemistry in Virtues that is so perfect for the maid/boss relationship of "Rosario" and "Karen." "Jack" and "Karen" form their own version of a "Will" and "Grace" pair of sorts, so the two must have great comedic chemistry. Stephanie and Louis were hilarious in their scenes together in Virtues [the time when her character fell in "love" with his] and I think they can definitely pull off the hilarious "Jack"/"Karen" relationship and chemistry.

I would love to see TVB do this series with the cast members I've chosen. The comedic talents of the leads are just great and everyone blend in and work wonderfully together, hence Virtues' own 4-year success. If only... Who would you guys choose for an HK version of Will & Grace?

"best bet" promotion #2

Credits: pokeanson

meet the "best bet" players

Hor Yi - Michael Tse
Age: 26

Characteristics: Hor Yi is very intelligent and knows how to sweet talk his way through things. Yi knows how to manipulate people and is a playboy. He looks down on people and views that gambling is like life; he cannot let one day go by without gambling. After Yi has won a great sum of money, he will intentionally let his opponents win so that they can release their anger [from losing to him]. Actually, Yi isn't calculating towards monetary gains at all. He just wants to pursue the euphoric sensation of winning and the adrenaline rush that he gets gambling.



Do Lai Ying - Linda Chung
Age: 20

Characteristics: Do Lai Ying grew up at an orphanage. She has principles, has her own opinions, and works diligently. She believes in the idea of the new woman - that women can lead independent lives and not depend on others. With patients, old people, and children, Ying has love and compassion for them. She hopes to become a doctor. Her nature is easy-going; she doesn't resent the heavens or people. Because she doesn't have a father or mother, she works very hard to enhance her value. Ying is even fluent in a foreign language. Because her father was a gambler and caused her family to fall apart as a result, she hates gambling. Ying's exterior is hard, but inside, she's tenderhearted. She's forgiving. Her nature is very strong - she isn't afraid of facing difficulties.

Tsang Dak Sing - Wayne Lai
Age: 28

Characteristics: Tsang Dak Sing is boastful and loves to win. He's concerned with "keeping face" and is very calculating and manipulative. Sing is farsighted and believes that success is utmost. His heart is black. On the exterior, he smiles, but when he has power, he won't acknowledge people. His ambition is great. He wants to become the king of all gamblers. He doesn't care about love and pursues a rich wife so that he can raise his value.



Kwong Ma Lei - Anne Heung
Age: 22

Characteristics: Kwong Ma Lei comes to Foshan after her family in Shanghai faces some difficulties. She's a cousin of a member of the Hor family. She also ran away because she was regarded as promiscuous in Shanghai. Her manner is highly critical and mean. She likes to nitpick, will only accept the very best, and is frank and selfish. However, Lei, who values money as her life, will give up her gold and riches for love.

first look @ "best bet"

(Click on the thumbnail to enlarge)

"best bet" promotion #1

I'm really excited to watch Best Bet. It sounds and looks hilarious. I'm loving the cast and producer. The promotional clips were really funny. Linda Chung's character in this series is called "Sheila." It looks like her character either came back from overseas or is heavily influenced by western culture. I am so thankful that her character is not docile and soft [from the looks in the clips]. I was worried that she would be that "good wife" who does nothing wrong and lets her husband just gamble her away and wallow in pity. However, it seems like she has a backbone and perhaps may even be a little "fierce." I am so pleased with Linda these days. Her acting improved a lot as of late, which makes me really proud of her. I'm eager to see her performance in Bet as it is her most recent work - she just finished filming it maybe two months ago. I have to say that Michael Tse and Linda look quite cute together in the clip. I'm not a fan of the pairing, but I think that, like Heavenly In-Laws, the interactions of the characters will make the two a nice couple. I'm also interested in Wayne Lai and Anne Heung's characters. There are a lot of Virtues of Harmony alumni in this series [including the two leads!] so I am really happy about that. This should be a very funny and entertaining series.

Just a little tidbit about the Chinese title... Originally, the series was called Laan Doh Yi Dong Lo Por, which is translated to mean "Gambler Yi Pawns His Wife" - which means that he gambles her away. The official title of Bet is now Ying Chai Jip Fook, which carries a meaning that "you receive blessings when you receive/welcome your wife." The original title is funny, but I think the new title is much more suitable for the New Year.

Stay tuned for more pictures and information as the series nears its release date on February 12 [and of course for sustained updates once the series is out].

valentine's day 2007 clip

TVB 2007 Valentine's Day Clip
featuring Bosco Wong & Linda Chung


Credits: stickybutt06 & LoveBosco.com & popcorn


Interesting clip - TVB fast-forwarded life to the 22nd century. Haha. I think it's nicely filmed, acted, and put together. In this clip, Linda gets to be a modern "hot granny." LOL. It's nice that this clip gave us a preview of how Linda and Bosco would be acting as a couple in the 80 episode series and I like what I see. I can't wait to watch it!

comic tease / issue.2

Issue #2 featuring War and Beauty

... i'm back

First and foremost, I want to apologize for making all of you guys worry. I was really touched to see all of the messages, so thank you. I'm fine. Nothing happened at all. So why did I disappear? Well...

Do you ever feel like you just need to get away?

Well, the past 10 days have been that for me. I was feeling really burnt out about maintaining the site. I was tired and needed to break away. I really didn't want to think about the blog or visit it. Lol. I swear I set the bars for myself so high that it's hard for me to maintain the quality that I want all of the time.

Yes, I know it was irresponsible and reckless of me to not say I was taking a break, but I just had to get away. I hope you guys understand and aren't upset with me. I would never close down - I made a promise and I'll see it through.

Just sometimes, just know that it's hard to have everything that I do be "hits." I want them to be, but I really can't. It's too hard. Lol. If TVB is allowed to churn out only one diamond every so often in all of their coals, I should also be given such leniencies as well. Haha.

It's a new month, so I'm ready to start fresh again. I absolutely love the new layout. It's my favorite out of the ones that I've done thus far [aside from the very first one]. The wedding ads that Ron Ng and Linda Chung shot are breath-taking and beautiful - they look so natural and wonderful as a couple. I might even keep this layout for two months because I love it so much. It's really romantic, soft, and sweet.

So I've returned - you guys ready for my comeback?

P.S. I really missed everyone and posting.