2009 TVB Anniversary Awards: Fashion Flair or Fashion Faux Pas?

I do apologize for my lack of updates. What’s worse is that when I actually do get around to updating, they aren’t even timely. This is a fashion post on who I thought the winners and losers were when it came to fashion on the red carpet TVB Anniversary Awards night. I know it’s been way too long ago to even be still thinking about it now but I’ve had this post under drafts for so long that I thought it was high time that I completed and published it. So, here we go… 

Fashion Flair or Fashion Faux Pas? 

Here in this fashion feature, we have five categories. The Honourable Mentions who all came out in their A-game, ready to razzle and dazzle up the Awards with their clever fashion choices. Then we have the Neither Here Nor Theres who aimed high but ended up falling somewhere in the middle of the crowd, vowing to do must better next year. Then, coming in after that part of the pack, are the The I’m-Not-Gonna-Win-So-This-Is-Really-Boring group. They didn’t think they’d get any recognition this year but as to not offend TVB, attendance was compulsary. Hence, they just threw on something they had and showed up. Next, there’s the OTT Award winners; they just don’t seem to get that less is more. And last but not least, we have the very special Heidi Montag award. Heidi Montag, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the name, is an American reality TV star who seemingly does a lot for attention. You get my drift.

The Honorable Mentions:

Tavia Yeung
 

 

My favourite dress of the night has to be what Tavia wore. The design and fit is absolutely perfect. The various shades of lovely blue in layers of chiffon gracefully panned out around her when she walked. I adore the tube bodice with the embedded silver bits, just to throw in a little more glamour to the otherwise ethereal Grecian-like dress. The dress (coupled with the elation she was undoubtedly feeling that night) made her look so radiant. I would love to own something like this. A brilliant fashion choice.

Sheren Tang

This dress is truly something different and I’m a fan. Showing off a single bare shoulder with a toga-inspired dress makes things slightly flirty. The silver adornment on her right shoulder and the silver neckline balances out the fun and playful tuile A-line bottom with a bit of glamour. I like how the black sash and the black peeptoe heels complete the whole look. Nice play with the three colours and a well-deserved win!

Nancy Wu 

 

Ooh, I love the vintage feel of this gorgeous chiffon-looking dress (I wish I could reach out and touch that material) and the way it tapers inwards, giving her a bit of an ethereal mermaid look. She’s got the whole classy vintage thing going on; from the side-sweep of that hair-do to the fire engine red lipstick. May not be a favourite, but I think it’s lovely. A more mature look as compared to last year’s Most Improved Actress winning dress. 

Derek Kwok

Not an honourable mention but since he’s here… I love Derek, but ugh. Is that velvet he’s donning? At least his bow matches her lips.

Kara Hui 

First up, let me just say that I think Kara‘s extremely gorgeous and classy. This dress is sleek and simple, and age-appropriate for her. I think the chandelier earrings and bangle match it perfectly. Can’t quite figure out if the ruby adornment on the front of her dress is a brooch or part of the dress, but either way, it kinda works. This dress looks awfully familiar. Has someone else worn it to any other event before this?

Myolie Wu

There’s something about Myolie that doesn’t quite conform when it comes to fancy evening galas. She’s not your average girly girl and I respect that. She’s had some pretty questionable outfits before but this time I’m gonna come right out and say that I love it. It’s fun, flirty and fresh. The only alarm bell sounded when I realized the shoes were also leopard print. And then, I cringed. Other than that, I think she looks great.

Koni Lui 

Ooh la la, Koni. There’s something about Koni I like. She’s healthy looking, seems to have a fun-loving personality. Girl’s got curves and flaunts it very well in this daring evening dress. The champagne tones of the dress are rare on the TVB carpet and it complements her very nicely. For some reason or other, it looks like something Bernice would don and also very reminiscient of what Tavia wore last year. My only grouse is that I would’ve downplayed the jewellery a little.

Joe Ma

Again, not part of the honourable mentions, but just cause he’s in the picture. Heh. Next to Koni, Joe’s attempt to be hip or cool just pathetically fizzles and dies off. Sigh. I’m awfully attracted to him on screen but off-screen he just doesn’t do it AT ALL. Maybe he should’ve hired Born Rich’s stylist to put him in one of those awesome tailored suits he was born to wear for this awards show.

Queenie Chu

This last pick rounds up my Honourable Mentions list, which I’m sure, may cause a few eyebrows to be raised. This may not be a very popular opinion, but I actually really adore this piece. It’s edgy and kitschy and yet manages to be cute and flirty at the same time. The ruched bust area with the scattering of sequins softens the wild black and silver mod bottom which is complemented very nicely with a peek of an underlying layer of something (Lace? Tuille? Can’t really tell). She’s chosen a perfect frock that accentuates her waist and shows off her mile long legs (Speaking off, I love those black peep toes as well). The whole glam rock music box ballerina look is topped off with her long hair tumbling free. Beautiful.

The Ones That Are Neither Here Nor There:

Sharon Chan

In what should’ve been the best night of her career, I presume Sharon went all out to find a dress that would wow everyone. Unfortunately she didn’t walk away with her deserved Most Improved Actress and sadly to say, I wasn’t wowed by this dress either. It’s the snake-like glittery print that doesn’t do it for me. She’s also got a fabulous body that wasn’t at all flattered by the cut of this dress – the “cut-in sleeves” have always been very hard to pull off because they tend to make your shoulders a little manly. Showing back instead of baring front is always a welcome change in my book, but I don’t fancy the bondage like twists. Perhaps if it were a different colour or made out of a different fabric, I may like the design better.

Joel Chan 

 

Joel exudes retro to me. I like the pinstriped suit where the stripes are slightly wider than usual; it’s a little daring but it works for him. What’s a no-no is stripes with a polka-dot bow tie.

Charmaine Sheh

Don’t get me wrong. I was up on the fence with this one, nearly putting it in Honourable Mentions but something just doesn’t do it for me. I love lace and I don’t think people wear it enough but I don’t fancy it with the black bust and the black flap down the side. Also, if the cut had been more flattering, Charmaine would’ve looked a lot better in it. The whole bodice just looks very “straight down”.

The I’m-Not-Gonna-Win-So-This-Is-Really-Boring:

Aimee Chan 

I’m going to bet that if Aimee Chan knew that she was going to take home the Most Improved Actress award, she would’ve put a little more effort into her dressing that night. Her makeup looked a little bland for an event of this stature. Her dress was plainly boring and looked like it was made for maternity wear. Very bad effort.

Ron Ng

Ron’s looking good. Not sure what that jacket is made out of, but on a whole, he’s looking better compared to some of those poor fashion choices he’s made in his younger lifetime.

Kevin Cheng

Kevin… just looks stoned. He looked stoned during the Anniversary Gala during the ‘My Girl’ performance and throughout the Awards Ceremony, continued to look pretty stoned. Especially in his disheveled white suit and unshaven face. I think he looks pretty strange, especially with that… carrot as a brooch? What on earth is that… thing?

Maggie Siu & Kenny Wong

I think Maggie might be the only TVB (whether this is contractually correct, I have no clue) artist who pulls off a ‘fro. Love the colour of her dress, but the fit is horrible. Kenny doesn’t look too bad. Still staying within my acceptable boundaries of male evening wear.

Fala Chen

I think Fala is exceptionally beautiful. But she always ends up in very sub-par dresses. (The only that I liked recently was the one she appeared during that duet with Steven Ma during the Anniversary Gala in a nice shade of canary yellow.) This one is no exception. The brown is especially unflattering and unforgiving to her body. The material catches light in all the wrong places, even making her look like she has a little bulge. The cream halter-like straps look strangely out of place. The only thing I like is her hairdo and the understated jewellery. An evening out on the red carpet does not mean you need to wear a jewellery shop.

Edit: TkN, mango/taecnyy (Did I get the spelling right? :-S) & Rachel kindly pointed out to me in the comments that Fala initially showed up in the same gorgeous blue dress that Tavia did. The brown dress she’s wearing which I don’t like is actually a back-up dress that TVB had. I had no idea. I personally think that’s very commendable and a very classy selfless move on her part (smart on TVB’s part too, but horrible taste) So I applaud Fala, for being so beautiful both in and out. I do apologize if I’ve hurt any of Fala’s fans; sorry for being so outdated with TVB news. 🙂

Michael Tse

Or should I say Laughing Gor, formerly known as Michael Tse? Heh. Okay, he doesn’t really belong in this category since he was pretty much a shoo-in for his award. But he partnered Fala, which is how he ended up in his division. Michael has always had a rather campy style, being rather metrosexual himself. But honestly, what is with the plunging neckline? Plunging necklines (Bosco, you may need to pay attention here too) are only for ladies in my book. Michael may beg to differ albeit this being a terrible look for him. The dress pants look like he stole them from Jay-Z’s closet. I know harem pants are in, but again they’re for ladies (And neither am I a fan of them).

Christine Ng

Surely it must be illegal to be that age and still look ten years younger? Christine Ng seems to pull off every pretty evening gown she dons. This one is no exception. The horizontal gathers along the length of the dress are difficult to pull off because lines of that nature make you seem wider than you actually are. However, besides wearing it well, nothing’s very special about the dress. Very Barbie and very plain.

The OTT Awards:

Mary Hon Ma Lei

 

Sigh Mary, I love you so. I really do. But why did you have to wear Michelle Yim‘s wig from Moonlight Resonance and give it a perm?

 

Roger Kwok

Dapper as always. But, this is not about him.

Liza Wang

Gosh. It’s painful to look at this one. I cringed when she stood up to do a twirl during the Awards. It looks like she cut out holes in a drinks carton, splashed some metallic pink paint over it and then got someone to draw a peacock on. She is fast becoming the Asian version of Bjork.

 

Michelle Yim

Michelle! Why’d you have to do this to me? You always look so amazing in all your choices of evening gowns. This one, however, is just really OTT. Very much so like how her Beyond‘s Chung Siu Ha is. Purple’s my favourite colour but this shade is painful on the eyes. To top things off, those dirty yellow lace-trimmings completely clash with the purple.

Ram Tseung 

On another note, Ram Tseung looks very nice. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him at one of these awards!

Louise Lee

I’ve never once liked what Louise Lee wore to an awards ceremony and surprise surprise, this year isn’t any different. Overly glitzy. I know it’s not easy finding something that fits your age once you’re above a certain number, but I’m sure something’s out there.

Susanna Kwan

I love Susanna‘s spiky do. She pulls off spiky way better than the up and coming male stars and looks hotter to boot. Heh. The red is nice but the dress a little boring, I guess. She belongs in the Neither Here nor There category but the fur just pushes her over the edge into OTT-land.

The Heidi-Montag Award:

Linda Chung 

Why a treasured TVB fadan would come dressed to the most important event of the year dressed like a Z-list “celebrity” is really beyond me. The coiffed do, the alienesque wings, and a pole dancer’s sequinned corset? I mean, really? Someone fire whoever it was that thought the entire getup was a good idea.

Oh, and poor Kenneth. Those shoulder pads must’ve hit him quite a few times.

* 

Liked the same ones I did or complete disagreed with my fashion choices? Feel free to compliment, comment, vent or rant at all their fashion flairs & faux pas-es. 🙂

Nominees, Schnominees.

So, it’s been a crazy half a year! I just finished my final paper yesterday and if everything goes as expected, it will be the final undergraduate paper of my life. Wow. We’ll see how things go because I don’t wanna jinx myself just yet by saying I’ve graduated when results aren’t even out yet, so just keep your fingers crossed for me!

*

All throughout my absence, I’ve of course still been watching TVB, silently following TVB news online but just abstaining from blogging about my thoughts because I just simply didn’t have the time. This of course has changed since I’m now on holidays and awaiting results so there’s really no better time than to get my two cents out on something I’ve been dying to write about. And well really, the only thing that’s on anyone’s mind in this final run down… The 41st TVB Anniversary Awards.

Last year, Heart of Greed walked off with the awards that mattered the most. The top four coveted Best Actor/Actress and Favourite Character accolades were won by Moses Chan, Lee Sze Kei and Susanna Kwan. Louis Yuen added to the count with his Best Supporting Actor and collectively, the whole cast came out for Best Series. Of course, a TVB Anniversary would not be complete without its surprises, and there certainly weren’t any shortages last year.

Another pic of Mo, just cause. 😉

A night of fun, splendour, jewellery, gorgeous dresses and eyebrow-raising award winner choices by TVB – isn’t this what we all wait for every year? Let’s take a look at the nominees, courtesy from TVB Chinese News.

*

Best Actress

1. Liza Wang – Wars Of In-Laws II
2. Sonija Kwok – D.I.E
3. Linda Chung – A Journey Called Life
4. Nancy Sit – The Silver Chamber Of Sorrows
5. Charmaine Sheh – Forensic Heroes II
6. Kate Tsui – Speech Of Silence
7. Louise Lee – Moonlight Resonance
8. Susanna Kwan – Moonlight Resonance
9. Michelle Yim – Moonlight Resonance
10. Sheren Tang – Your Class Or Mine

My Missing-in-Action: Anita Yuen. Not that I think that she’d win given the strength of acting and popularity of some of the other dramas these actresses come from but I thought she was really good in Love Exchange which should at least have warranted a nomination. Tavia, Tavia, Tavia; which unfortunately had to give such a splendid performance amongst a heavily female-studded, equally strong cast in Moonlight Resonance that she is now regarded as supporting. That kind of performance in any other should’ve easily gotten her a Best Actress nom. And where’s Myolie? I loved her in War of In-Laws II. Christine Ng, who was great in Silver Chambers?

Ehhhh…: Seriously, what is Kate Tsui doing there? A best actress nomination before Tavia? Out of the younger generation, at least I can say Linda deserves a nomination because she was good in A Journey Called Life. I reckon even Niki should’ve been nominated over Kate for The Seventh Day.

My Favourites: Hands down, Michelle Yim. I loved her in Heart of Greed and here, in Moonlight Resonance, its no exception. She just always amazes me with her acting, versatility and beauty.

Other Favourites: As always, Louise Lee and Susanna Kwan in Moonlight were spot on. Liza Wang in War of In-Laws II too but I don’t know why, there’s just always been something about her style of acting that never appealed to me. Sonija actually did a great job in D.I.E. as well. And I adore me some Sheren Tang but unfortunately Your Class Or Mine wasn’t anything special.

So Who Should Win? Michelle Yim.

And the Award Goes To: I have a sinking feeling that Michelle won’t win for some reason and they give it to Lee Sze Kei or Susanna. Not that they’re any less deserving, but I just really think Michelle is the one to beat this year after she got no recognition from TVB last year in the final five nominees with Brink of Law. But then again, I really suck at calling the awards. I don’t think my success rate was very high last year. Heh.

*

Best Actor

1. Kenneth Ma – Survivor’s Law II
2. Roger Kwok – D.I.E
3. Damian Lau – Catch Me Now
4. Frankie Lam – Forensic Heroes II
5. Michael Miu – Love Exchange
6. Ha Yu – Moonlight Resonance
7. Moses Chan – Moonlight Resonance
8. Raymond Lam – Moonlight Resonance
9. Bobby Au Yeung – Your Class Or Mine
10. Kevin Cheng – Last One Standing

My Missing-in-Action: Steven Ma. He churned out a good, solid performance in A Journey Called Life as he always does. And while he was great in D.I.E., I really wish Roger had been nominated for Last One Standing. I haven’t finished it yet but he’s been spot on so far. And well, I’m not really missing him but I’m surprised Joe Ma isn’t here. He wasn’t bad in Catch Me Now and didn’t he just sign with TVB? And Dominic Lam‘s acting in Money-Maker Recipe was fantastic.

Ehhhh…: Okay, I’m going to be very honest here. Kenneth is popular, I know, but he’s never really grown on me until The Four. I really like him in it. But really? Best Actor nomination?

My Favourites: Sigh, I enjoyed all three Moonlight nominees. Ha Yu was perfect as Jo Ba from the get-go till the very end. The transition from cold, lying cheater to the repentive father; he was so good through out it all. Raymond as always was solid, and of course, his Koon Ka Jai melted the girl in me (and of course, it’s Raymond, who also manages to melt me everything his subtheme song plays in the series, heh) but it wasn’t nearly on par with Ha Yu. And Moses with his unfortunately reduced screen time but still was perfect in every episode.

Other Favourites: Moonlight aside, c’mon now, we can’t be forgetting Damian Lau in Catch Me Now who was absolutely superb. I never thought I’d hear myself saying this, but I’m finding Kevin in Last One Standing really good too. TVB award winners really have a way of giving out great performances the year after they win the awards (IMO, Linda, Kate and Fala all gave much better performances after they’d won their respective awards in the previous years.)

So Who Should Win? Ha Yu.

And the Award Goes To: Raymond Lam.

*

My Favorite Female Character Award

1. Charmaine Sheh – Word Twisters’ Adventures
2. Liza Wang – Wars Of In-Laws II
3. Myolie Wu – Wars Of In-Laws II
4. Kitty Yuen – D.I.E
5. Christine Ng – The Silver Chamber Of Sorrows
6. Kiki Sheung – The Money-Maker Recipe
7. Louise Lee – Moonlight Resonance
8. Susanna Kwan – Moonlight Resonance
9. Fala Chen – Moonlight Resonance
10. Linda Chung – Legend Of The Demigods

My Missing-in-Action: I have tons of favourite female characters from the series aired this year, but unfortunately none of them are on here. Geez. Tavia as Kam Wing Yuet in Moonlight is definitely one. Anita as Chi Yiu in Love Exchange because I loved witnessing the growth in the character. Krystal Tin as Jackie, also in Love Exchange, which I thought was a great strong, complex, three-dimensional character. I enjoyed Sonija‘s Madam Ying in D.I.E. which is the first time I’m enjoying any character of hers. Natalie in The Seventh Day whose feisty Sasa I really enjoyed. Selena Li as loyal, stubborn Yeuk Fei in The Four. I actually also really liked Linda in A Journey Called Life but I don’t watch Legend of the Demigods, so I wouldn’t know which character’s better. I liked Bernice‘s character in Wasabi too but I think I’m amongst the minority there. Sheren‘s A San in Your Class or Mine. Joyce Tang in Money-Maker Recipe. Whew, that’s quite a list.

Ehhhh…: Kitty Yuen?! Kitty Yuen?! As the absolutely annoying Siu Yi ghost thingymajig with the strangest clothes in D.I.E.? You have got to be kidding me. Kitty Yuen! Gah.

My Favourites: Off the list, my favourite character is probably Myolie‘s Chow Lai Man. And maybe Fala‘s Moonlight Resonance. Her Ah Hing was just incredibly sweet, demure and kind despite her circumstances.

Other Favourites: Louise was obviously great and while I felt it was nothing different from Heart, I did enjoy Hor Ma better than last year’s Dai Kai. I really wouldn’t call her my favourite but that’s probably just because I can’t identify with the character itself.

So Who Should Win? Tavia as stubborn, resilient, caring Ah Yuet. Heh.

And the Award Goes To: I don’t know, my favourites are mostly who I identified with, and mainly just characters I enjoyed watching on my screen. Isn’t this a really difficult one to call? I mean you can judge acting with a yardstick but my “favourite”, now that’s something really subjective. Susanna Kwan‘s character got really popular. And while I’m not denying the fact that she’s a great actress, Sa Yee really did annoy the hell out of me. But could it be two favourite female character awards, two years running? Nope, I think I’m going to go out on a limb and say Liza Wang with O Jeh instead.

*

My Favorite Male Character Award

1. Kenneth Ma – Survivor’s Law II
2. Bosco Wong – War Of In-Laws II
3. Roger Kwok – D.I.E
4. Derek Kwok – D.I.E
5. Michael Tse – The Money-Maker Recipe
6. Ha Yu – Moonlight Resonance
7. Raymond Lam – Moonlight Resonance
8. Sunny Chan – Legend Of The Demigods
9. Ron Ng – The Four
10. Kevin Cheng – Last One Standing

My Missing-in-Action: Where is Mo!? I loved, loved, loved, loved Johnson Lee‘s unorthodox, offbeat BT in Catch Me Now. I honestly cried buckets when he died. And Damian’s Jack Ko! And come on, Sammul Chan in The Four as Zhui Ming is a hilarious and oh-so-likeable character. Oh wait, I forgot, he’s not a TVB artiste, is he? Heh. Kenneth Ma‘s Tit Sau is actually also a very likeable, respectable character but then again I hear his MK Sun in Survivor’s Law II, which I didn’t watch, is a crowd favourite? I also absolutely loved Steven Ma‘s great Shing Yat Onn in Journey. I must say however, I much preferred Derek Kwok‘s CC in War of In-Laws II. And oh another favourite complex character to watch was Dominic Lam from The Money-Maker Recipe. And oh, I also like Kevin‘s Yau Chi Wing in The Seventh Day.

Ehhhh…: Ron Ng? Erm, you mean people actually like… Lang Huet? Wow. That’s really a surprise to me.

My Favourites: Off the list, again, it’s gotta be the Moonlight duo for me. Pretty self-explanatory, I guess. And Roger Kwok in D.I.E. left me giggling every episode. Only he could pull off something like that.

Other Favourites: I’m surprising myself by saying that I like Kevin Cheng‘s Cheung Sing Hei too. Honestly, Last One Standing single-handedly turned my impression of Kevin around this year.

So Who Should Win? I’m going to have to say my personal pick is Koon Ka Jai.

And the Award Goes To: Like a lot of people, and unfortunately for Moses, I honestly believe it’s gonna be one of those trade-offs between Ha Yu and Raymond Lam where one wins Best Actor and the other gets My Favourite Male Character and I’d really have no problems with that because I enjoyed both their acting and like both their characters. I’m going to say Roger will be a dark horse with D.I.E. though.

*

Best Supporting Actress Award

1. Joyce Tang – Wars Of In-Laws II
2. Bernice Liu – Wasabi Mon Amour
3. Sharon Chan – Catch Me Now
4. Nancy Wu – The Silver Chamber Of Sorrows
5. Claire Yiu – Speech Of Silence
6. Krystal Tin – Love Exchange
7. Tavia Yeung – Moonlight Resonance
8. Fala Chen – Moonlight Resonance
9. Kate Tsui – Moonlight Resonance
10. Lee Heung Kam – Moonlight Resonance

My Missing-in-Action: Rosanne Lui and her fantastic portrayal of Leng Ma, who has Parkinson’s, in Last One Standing. Come on, how on earth can she possibly NOT be on this list? I really think it’s an injustice to her. And Rebecca Chan in The Silver Chamber of Sorrows? And oh, how about Elaine Yiu for just about ANYTHING she’s done this year? That girl has given good supporting performance after good supporting performance this year. I also enjoyed Selena Li as Chui Kiu in Tai Chi and how she actually played her with a gentle twang in her speech to suit the period of the series.

Ehhhh…: Surprisingly, but well I’m pretty okay with this list. I dug out an old post to see what I said about last year’s anniversary winners and I wrote this about Kate “…Hopefully, she does come into her prime and leave us all with a good performance like Linda after she won Most Improved. Hopefully.” And I think she kinda did. You know, I questioned Kate in the Best Actress list, but I’m okay with her being here. She really did manage to hold her own against the veterans in Moonlight Resonance. She did good in all the screaming matches and devious scenes but unfortunately failed in the final press conference where she broke down. I would probably switch Bernice and Claire out of the nominations for my missing-in-action picks though.

My Favourites: Tavia, hands down. My second choice would be Krystal Tin though. I thought she was splendid as Jackie in Love Exchange which is probably one of the harder female roles this year to tackle and she did it well. It’s quite sad though, she was the second female lead with wayyy more screen time than some of the other supporting nominees had in their series (I mean, I barely got to see Nancy and Sharon on screen in Silver Chambers and Catch Me Now) but still got nominated in this category. I know she wouldn’t have a chance in the Best Actress running but it’s just really weird.

Other Favourites: Definitely Joyce Tang. She was great as Coco. I really do like Nancy Wu and think she was great holding her own as the opportunistic, self-interested, cocky Fei Fei against the other females in Silver Chambers of Sorrows (Although the rest of the time, my memory of her character was her rolling around with Eric Li on a pool table and kissing in the river. Lol.). I also quite liked Sharon‘s Kwong Kiu but I think that was more about the character and not so much the acting.

So Who Should Win? Tavia Yeung. Is there any doubt? If it’s not Tavia, it has absolutely gotta be Lee Heung Kam or Joyce. Please?

And the Award Goes To: I’m going to give TVB the benefit of the doubt and say Tavia is going to win. Please don’t let me down, TVB.

*

Best Supporting Actor Award

1. Tsui Weng – Best Selling Secret
2. Stephen Au – Best Selling Secret
3. Derek Kwok – Wars Of In-Laws II
4. Wayne Lai – The Gentle Crackdown II
5. Paul Chun – Wasabi Mon Amour
6. Kenneth Ma – The Master Of Tai Chi
7. Johnson Lee – Catch Me Now
8. Chow Chung – Moonlight Resonance
9. Oscar Leung – Your Class Or Mine
10. Him Law – Your Class Or Mine

My Missing-in-Action: Raymond Cho, whom I really enjoyed in Forensic Heroes II. And this may come as a surprise but Ellesmere Choi‘s acting is very effective in Last One Standing as the scared, sissy brother-in-law of Kevin Cheng.

Ehhhh…: Honestly, Him Law and Oscar Leung. Now most of you would know that I like Oscar (and Fred!). But Best Supporting Actor? Really? Wow. And Him Law. I did think he wasn’t too bad for a newcomer when I watched Your Class or Mine but still… Wow. Are they TVB’s next choices for super stardom?

My Favourites: Making me choose between Wayne, Derek and Johnson, all of whom I’ve loved and hoped for recognition all this while (along with Benz who unfortunately isn’t nominated this year and who really should have won for Dicey Business last year), is just not fair. Really! How am I to choose?

Other Favourites: Omg, and Paul Chun too, another favourite of mine! He’s unfortunately not going to win because of Wasabi‘s horrible ratings, but the Family Man father will always have a place in this heart of mine. (But why he wasn’t nominated for Silver Chambers where he was great as the villain of the show, is beyond me.)

So Who Should Win? I can’t decide. This is torture.

And the Award Goes To: Wayne Lai. It’s his time to win it. I didn’t watch The Gentle Crackdown II (in fact, this is the only person I’m advocating where I didn’t watch the entire series!) but he absolutely deserves it because its been a long time coming. I know I’m supposed to judge based on the series that he’s nominated for, but I really can’t help it. And with his first leading roles coming soon next year, there’s no better time to win the Best Supporting Actor category and cap off this chapter of his acting career with a big bang. 🙂

*

Most Improved Actress Award

1. Selena Li
2. Sharon Chan
3. Tavia Yeung
4. Toby Leung
5. Nancy Wu

My Missing-in-Action: Okay, this is really stupid. Why isn’t Natalie Tong here after her great performance as joint lead in The Seventh Day? I thought she more than held her own against the other three more seasoned leads. So just because a series has crappy ratings, an actress is suddenly not qualified to be “Most Improved” anymore? And Elaine Yiu, seriously. Anyone who’s been watching TVB this year would know that if anyone, she has improved by leaps and bounds (and many leaps and bounds more) since her early days as the unbearable Chloe in Revolving Doors of Vengeance.

Ehhhh…: TVB has finally answered my prayers by not insulting Bernice and Leila (okay, so she didn’t have a series this year, but you know what I mean) any further by nominating them for Most Improved Actress year after year after year. But Tavia? I mean, really? Are you on crack, TVB? She so far ahead of this category that it’s not even funny. And what on earth is Toby doing there year after year too?

My Favourites: Selena, for sure! She has improved so much and it’s been so nice to see her come into her own as an actress this year, getting second female leads and garnering recognition for her cameo in Forensic Heroes II. She’s already on my favourite list.

Other Favourites: Nancy Wu.

So Who Should Win? Most definitely, Selena. I feel so torn because I adore Tavia but it’s a Most Improved category which I really think is beyond Tavia.

And the Award Goes To: Man, if Tavia doesn’t get Best Supporting Actress, I hate to think that they would give this to her as a consolation prize. Which would effectively rob Selena of her well deserved Most Improved prize. And if Toby wins, I will just feel like slitting my wrists. She’s improved in Money-Maker Recipe, but she’s still so far behind everyone else here.

*

Most Improved Actor Award

1. Wong Cho Lam
2. Tsui Wing
3. Derek Kwok
4. Johnson Lee
5. Oscar Leung

My Missing-in-Action: Someone needs to give Fred a good breakthrough role, larger than the one he usually gets to play so that one day I can see him nominated in this category. I’m surprised not to see Chris Lai, Matthew Ko or either Stephens on this list though. Chris will probably join the Sammul, Bernice and Leila fate of never winning an Improved award but I thought TVB loved Matthew Ko.

Ehhhh…: Okay, TVB is on crack. Derek Kwok? Johnson Lee? It’s not that they’ve improved TVB. It’s just that you’ve never paid enough attention to them before to know that they’ve always had that high level of supporting actor standard which you’ve relied upon time and time again for a strong dependable supporting cast without knowing it.

My Favourites: I really don’t know what to say. I like Derek, Johnson and Oscar, but something doesn’t feel quite right.

So Who Should Win? …isn’t it really sad that TVB doesn’t have enough quality new actors to nominate?

And the Award Goes To: Wong Cho Lam. I do love his dead-pan expressions but far from my pick for a Most Improved. Heavily-promoted, heavily-coveted. Amigo Chui ring a bell?

Best Series

I don’t know who the nominees are but… Moonlight Resonance? I really don’t think I need to say more.

…so, I usually get most of them wrong. Last year I only got Moses and Lee Sze Kei right! Haha. Let’s see just how much luck I have this year.

Tell me, who are YOUR favourites? Who do you think will walk away with the awards which are apparently not made out of gold anymore because the whole world is hit by the economic slowdown? Who do you think should have been nominated but lucked out? Why is TVB still on crack?

Heart of Greed – At First Glance

I know I said that part 2 of the foreword would be next, but I fully blame it on the addictiveness of TVB. Three words:

Heart. Of. Greed.

So, finally, after so much hype and news about this series, I’ve finally started to give it a go. I had the first twenty episodes in my hard drive, but I refused to start watching because just from its opening theme, you can tell it’s one of those series you just have to continue watching and watching…and watching. Yesterday, I finally got the complete series from a friend of mine, and have been hooked every since.

I enjoyed Brink of Law and Dicey Business, but just after watching nine episodes, I think Heart of Greed is going to trump them both. Why?

In my opinion, this has got to be one of the best family ensembles that TVB has put together in recent years that I’ve seen. (Other notable mention could possible be the Virtues of Harmony cast, but I didn’t watch that, so this is it for me) If you asked me, I could not think of a better actor to play anyone of the roles. The chemistry is apparent between each and every member, and it is believable. The heart-warming moments are a joy to watch, and the rifts keep me glued to the screen. Kudos, TVB.

Lee Sze Kei as Ling Hao/Dai Kai

The voice of reason within the family, is a perfect role for Lee Sze Kei’s comeback. She did it so well in Kindred Spirit, and here she is again, only this time the difference between Dai Kai and Kindred Spirit’s Sin Yee, is that Dai Kai is more worldly and the animosity between family members that she has to deal with is on a larger, more dramatic scale than that of Sin Yee’s.

 

Ha Yue as Tong Yan Kai/Tai Bao

So far, in the other comedy series I’ve seen him in, Ha Yue tends to overact, but here, it actually works in this series and with the script he’s been given. Tong Yan Kai is just a man, with a simple wish- for this family to live harmoniously under one roof. He enjoys the simple pleasures in life, and of course, the occasional abalone. But it’s never so simple, is it? Ha Yue plays Tong Yan Kai, the pushover husband and father so well, that when in the rare moments that Tai Bao actually explodes in anger at his family, it’s great to watch.

Michelle Yim Mai Shuet as Ling Lei/Lei Yee

I watched Michelle Yim in the ‘Tai Nui Fa‘ drama ages ago with my mother and I felt she was much a better Princess Cheung Ping than Charmaine Sheh was in Perish in the Name of Love. I also remember her in a long-running comedy whose name eludes me now, but it also starred Waise Lee, and had characters named “Wah Di“. Can anyone remember that? But anyway, back to the point, Michelle has been one of my favourite veterans since. She was magnificent as Sung Kam Chi in Brink of Law, and I was afraid that she would play the same role again (because let’s face it, every drama like this one here needs a villain). But she didn’t, and her Ling Lei is a joy to watch. Ling Lei is strong, straightforward, capable and caring on the outside, but already from the beginning, you can tell that that’s not all there is to her. She is a character with many layers and possibly an unexpected history, and Michelle brings that to life. A lesser actress definitely couldn’t.

Susanna Kwan as Wong Sau Kam/Sai Kai

Wow. I’ve never watched Glittering Days, so this is the first time I’m seeing her in action. A very effective villain. I judge how good villainous acting is by how much you feel hatred for that character that is being played, and Susanna has got it in the bag, because I can’t stand Wong Sau Kam, for her greed and her jealousy. Sai Kai has plenty of pointed lines, in which the words are masked knives, and Susanna does them all with conviction. She plays a woman scorned very well. Brilliant. I enjoyed the fighting scenes between her and Michelle when Sai Kai and Ah Lei were at odds. The chemistry was so apparent.

Moses Chan Ho as Tong Chi On/Dak Dak Dei/Sai Bao

I must say, I never envisioned Moses in a role like this when I heard about it. But now, when I watch the series, and I see how perfectly he immerses himself in Sai Bao’s character, I simply cannot think of anyone else. I’ve always said Moses was a brilliant comedic actor, and this series further cements that. He’s made me laugh like a lunatic so many times just in the first nine episodes (my housemate thought I was going a little insane, lol) and I’m sure there’s more to come. All his scenes are a joy to watch; with every member of the Tong family, Sheung Joi Sum, even the Filipino woman who was teaching him to sing!

Bosco Wong Chung Chak as Tong Chi Yat/Gilbert/Gil Gil

Can I just first say that I love this look for Bosco? He looks every bit like what you would imagine the MBA-holding son of a rich family would look like. So far, I haven’t seen any of the wooden acting that everyone’s been complaining about, but that could be because the first nine episodes have been pretty comedic thus far. Even when the women are at odds with one another, the three Tong boys have been trying to add humour to the situation to solve things. The few dramatic scenes he’s had have been with Tavia, and I found those great. They’ve been acting together long enough, so there’s none of that inconsistent chemistry with the both of them.

Chris Lai Lok Yi as Tong Chi Foon

I know I’ve said this a lot of times, but here it is another time- I cannot picture a better actor for this job. Heart of Greed succeeds because the producer understood the acting capacity of each actor and casted them appropriately. Chris is not by any means the best young actor on the block, but what he can do is perfect for the character of Chi Foon. Chi Foon is your average university student- he just wants to have fun… and pass all his units at school; not having his mother at odds with the rest of the family. Chris Lai does the unaffected young adult well.

Fala Chen as Tong Chi Yan

Again, I have to commend the casting. I can only think of one other actress who would have suited this role- Natalie Tong, which I really like. But Natalie has played the youngest sister so many times, that she could do it in her sleep. Casting Fala was a wise choice, because the audience has seen Natalie so many times. Fala is a breath of fresh air, and again, does the whole unaffected teenager thing very well. I have to admit though, she such a rumour magnet, but if you ignore all that and just watch her, she’s very pleasant to watch as Ah Yan. Yet another thumbs up for the casting. This is a great break for both her and Chris Lai.

Linda Chung as Sheung Joi Sum

First of, a completely random thought; I really like her character’s name in this series, and the way they keep on saying it in whole, hee. As for Linda, I’ve never been a fan. I saw bits of Always Ready and The Bitter Bitten, and she didn’t impress me. However, she has most definitely improved since then. Her acting in Heart of Greed is better and her role is of more substance. This year would be a great year for her to win Most Improved Actress instead of last year, IMO. I still don’t see any semblance of romantic chemistry between her and Moses, but, I think she’s a great choice for this role.

Tavia Yeung as Cheuk Man Lei/Jackie

I haven’t seen much of Tavia, but what I’ve seen, I’ve liked. You can already tell that there’s a bit of a stubborn streak in her character, judging by her actions. That scene the screencap is from, between her and Bosco was so bittersweet and angsty, but very well done by the both of them. Tavia’s also come a long way in her crying since Golden Faith where she ran down the street wailing. She’s managed to master the art of crying beautifully, which not a lot of actresses can do. Again, great casting.

Yoyo Mung as Shui Mak Mak

That’s a truly awful name; someone please tell me it’s just her nickname and not her birth name? Because I would be really annoyed at my parents if it were me, hah. This is the first I’ve seen Yoyo in such an independent, extroverted, sexy character. I’ve always seen her in more subdued roles, so this is a nice change. I liked her in Burning Flame II but since then she’s neither been a like or dislike for me, but it’s a nice change to see her playing a character like this. TVB needs to mix it up more often like this.

Raymond Lam as Alfred

Yes, that’s the only glimpse of him that’s in the first nine episodes, save for the opening credits. Incredibly sad, isn’t it? I’ve been told that his scenes with Linda are adorable, and I really want to watch those. That aside, Raymond always, always delivers a solid performance and this should be no exception. It’ll be interesting to watch him act as a two-timing ass.

Louis Yuen as Ling Bo/Kau Fu Bo

Couldn’t find a screencap of him, unfortunately. As always, Louis Yuen is a great reliable supporting character. He is so annoying and irritating as Ah Bo, that you know it’s great acting, like I said about Susanna above. Again, great selection of actor (are you getting bored with me saying this yet?); I read from Lavendar_Bluez that it was initially supposed to be the equally formidable Wayne Lai in this role, but I think Louis Yuen would have been better, because the audience has gotten so used to him in his long-running part in Virtues of Harmony and this would be an intriguing change.

Again, I love the family camaraderie these actors share as a family. It’s obvious that they all get along in real life, and I love how that transpires onto film. It’s a joy to watch, and I might be saying this too early with Drive of Life and Jewel’s Splendour not even out yet, but I feel that at least one or two from this cast deserve an award at this year’s TVB Awards. But then again, who knows? TVB loves to spring us surprises during its awards ceremony, and I don’t mean that in a good way.

Also, the script is great. That’s another huge aspect as to why I’m enjoying it so much. It is smart, has heart and is witty. There’s a difference between lame humour and wit, and thankfully, it is the latter that is apparent here.

What do you think? Is all the buzz from watching the first few episodes getting to me? Do you agree with the casting choices in Heart of Greed? Come on, don’t keep quiet like the picture above (which I love, btw).

Oh, but no spoilers, please! Don’t ruin the ending for me!

P/S: All the wonderful screencaps courtesy of the lovely K for TVB. Visit her site for more insightful recaps of Heart of Greed!