Casual TVB: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

The Executioner Promo Clips

Overview - The Executioner

Promo #1

Promo #2

Promo #3

Promo #4

Extended Trailer

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Overview - Angel in the Making

A class of nurses-to-be are sent to the hospital for clinical training. Among them, Eliza Sam, Moon Lau and Jinny Ng are assigned to work in the "Ward of Hell" with registered nurse Tony Hung as their supervisor. Although Tony, whose nickname is "the God of Death", is an experienced and skilled nurse, he has a sour personality and mysterious background. Everyone at the hospital tries to keep their distance, but the kind-hearted and brave Eliza develops an inexplicable curiosity towards Tony and tries to find opportunities to understand him better. She discovers that he has a story that no one knows about. The devil instructor Tony sows discord among the trainee nurses, causing an intense conflict within the ward. The trainees must face many challenges under pressure, while also preparing for their final exams. Is Tony really an angel or devil? How will the trainees escape his clutches and learn to save themselves and others?

Friday, November 27, 2015

Marco Polo Bridge Incident

The July 7 Incident, also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, marks the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Marco Polo Bridge is an eleven-arch granite bridge located near Beijing. It was an important strategic location because it was the only link between Beijing and southern regions of China. On the eastern end of the bridge is a walled town, Wanping.

The Boxer Protocol of 1901 permitted foreign nations to station guards along the railroads near Beijing. As a result, the Japanese had between 7000-15,000 troops stationed in the area in 1937.

On July 7, 1937, the Japanese army was conducting nighttime military exercises in the area. They reported that one of their soldiers were missing and requested to enter Wanping to conduct a search. The Chinese denied permission. Shots were fired (it is still not entirely clear who fired the shots).

Later, Japanese infantry tried to forcefully enter Wanping. The Chinese repelled their attacks. Both sides called for reinforcements. In the wee hours on July 8, the Japanese overtook the bridge with tanks and infantry. The Chinese tried to defend the bridge with just 100 men. On July 9, Chinese reinforcements arrived and drove the Japanese off the bridge. The two sides negotiated a ceasefire. They reached an agreement on July 11, in which the Chinese agreed to apologize for the incident and the Japanese agreed to withdraw its troops from the immediate area.

Although the ceasefire was in place, the tensions between the two sides continued to escalate. Both sides sent additional troops into the area. On July 20, the Japanese shelled Wanping. By July 27, the Chinese troops were forced to retreat. The Japanese were able to move in to surround Beijing and Tianjian. Full-scale war broke out on August 9 with the Battle of Shanghai.

This incident was mentioned in the synopsis for Lord of Shanghai, but I'm not sure which episode it actually appears in the drama.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Upcoming Movie: Return of the Cuckoo

Release Date: November 20, 2015
Cast: Julian Cheung, Charmaine Sheh, Nancy Sit, Joe Chen, Michael Tong

After more than a decade of separation, Julian Cheung and Charmaine Sheh reunite in Macau. Charmaine's husband, Steven Ma, and children have died in an accident. Looking back, Julian, who has always deeply loved her, is still silently waiting for her. The pair finally allow the feelings that they have buried in their hearts to come to fruition. At this time, Julian is diagnosed with a terminal illness and his life enters the countdown stage.

Promo #1

Promo #2

Promo #3

Promo #4

Theme Song MV:

Thursday, November 19, 2015

TVB Anniversary Awards 2015 Nomination List

It's the time of the year again for TVB to release their ridiculously long list of nominations for the Anniversary Awards and still manage screw it up in some way.

Best Actor
Evergreen Mak - Come Home Love
Johnson Lee - Officer Geomancer
Edwin Siu - Madam Cutie on Duty
Ben Wong - Raising the Bar
Him Law - Young Charioteers
Kevin Cheng - Eye in the Sky
Joe Ma - Smooth Talker
Damian Lau - Limelight Years
Moses Chan - Ghost of Relativity
Vincent Wong - Brick Slaves
Chin Ka Lok - The Fixer
Louis Cheung - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Ruco Chan - Captain of Destiny
Tony Hung - Captain of Destiny
Bosco Wong - Under the Veil
Bobby Au-Yeung - With or Without You
Anthony Wong - Lord of Shanghai
Wayne Lai - Lord of Shanghai
Kent Tong - Lord of Shanghai
Kenneth Ma - Lord of Shanghai

Best Actress
Priscilla Wong - Madam Cutie on Duty
Elaine Yiu - Raising the Bar
Grace Chan - Raising the Bar
Nancy Sit - My Spiritual Ex-Lover
Sisley Choi - Young Charioteers
Kate Tsui - Smooth Talker
Elena Kong - Smooth Talker
Liza Wang - Limelight Years
Linda Chung - Limelight Years
Kristal Tin - Ghost of Relativity
Nancy Wu - Ghost of Relativity
Selena Li - Brick Slaves
Mandy Wong - The Fixer
Myolie Wu - Every Step You Take
Tavia Yeung - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Rosina Lam - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Eliza Sam - Under the Veil
Joey Meng - With or Without You
Louisa So - Lord of Shanghai
Alice Chan - Lord of Shanghai

Favourite Male Character
Oscar Leung - Officer Geomancer
Edwin Siu - Madam Cutie on Duty
Ben Wong - Raising the Bar
Him Law - Young Charioteers
Kevin Cheng - Eye in the Sky
Damian Lau - Limelight Years
Moses Chan - Ghost of Relativity
Vincent Wong - Brick Slaves
Benjamin Yuen - The Fixer
Louis Cheung - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Matt Yeung - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Ruco Chan - Captain of Destiny
Tony Hung - Captain of Destiny
Bosco Wong - Under the Veil
Joseph Lee - Under the Veil
Bobby Au-Yeung - With or Without You
Anthony Wong - Lord of Shanghai
Wayne Lai - Lord of Shanghai
Kent Tong - Lord of Shanghai
Kenneth Ma - Lord of Shanghai

Favourite Female Character
Priscilla Wong - Madam Cutie on Duty
Mandy Wong - Madam Cutie on Duty
Stephanie Ho - Raising the Bar
Angela Tong - My Spiritual Ex-Lover
Liza Wang - Limelight Years
Linda Chung - Limelight Years
Kristal Tin - Ghost of Relativity
Nancy Wu - Ghost of Relativity
Vivien Yeo - Ghost of Relativity
Selena Li - Brick Slaves
Tavia Yeung - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Rosina Lam - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Grace Chan - Captain of Destiny
Elaine Yiu - Captain of Destiny
Eliza Sam - Under the Veil
Joey Meng - With or Without You
Jacqueline Wong - With or Without You
Louisa So - Lord of Shanghai
Alice Chan - Lord of Shanghai

Jade Leung - Lord of Shanghai

Best Supporting Actor
Owen Cheung - Come Home Love
Jerry Koo - Sour Lady
Raymond Cho - Madam Cutie on Duty
Anderson Junior - Madam Cutie on Duty
Ram Chiang - Raising the Bar
Timothy Cheng - Raising the Bar
Jason Chan - Romantic Repertoire
Tommy Wong - Smooth Talker
William Chak - Limelight Years
Jonathan Wong - Limelight Years
Eddie Kwan - Ghost of Relativity
Pierre Ngo - Ghost of Relativity
Timmy Hung - The Fixer
Lau Kong - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Hugo Wong - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Henry Lee - Captain of Destiny
Joel Chan - Captain of Destiny
Joseph Lee - Under the Veil
Vincent Wong - With or Without You
Willie Wai - Lord of Shanghai

Best Supporting Actress
Helena Law - Officer Geomancer
Rachel Kan - Madam Cutie on Duty
Natalie Tong - Raising the Bar
Stephanie Ho - Raising the Bar
Jeanie Chan - Raising the Bar
Elena Kong - Raising the Bar
Ali Lee - My Spiritual Ex-Lover
Samantha Ko - Eye in the Sky
Michelle Yim - Limelight Years
Vivien Yeo - Ghost of Relativity
Celine Ma - Ghost of Relativity
Mimi Chu - Ghost of Relativity
Tracy Chu - The Fixer
Cilla Kung - Every Step You Take
Elaine Yiu - Captain of Destiny
Kelly Fu - Captain of Destiny
Susan Tse - Captain of Destiny
Katy Kung - Under the Veil
Jacqueline Wong - With or Without You
Jade Leung - Lord of Shanghai

Most Improved Actor
William Chak, Tony Hung, James Ng, Hugo Wong, Matt Yeung, Benjamin Yuen

Most Improved Actress
Grace Chan, Tracy Chu, Rosina Lam, Ali Lee, Jacqueline Wong, Rebecca Zhu

Best Series
All TVB series aired since the last Anniversary Awards, starting with Lady Sour, up to Lord of Shanghai, including Come Home Love, but excluding The Empress of China.

Best Classic Series
Lives of Omission, Brother's Keeper, Triumph in the Skies, The Greed of Man, The Justice of Life, The Final Verdict, Time Before Time, War of Genders

Best Theme Song
Come Home Love - Walk With Love (Fred Cheng)
Lady Sour - Is That You (Ron Ng, Myolie Wu)
Officer Geomancer - Rebel (Fred Cheng)
Madam Cutie on Duty - I'll Always be Yours (Edwin Siu)
Raising the Bar - Me and You (Stephanie Ho); Person in Front (Louis Cheung, Grace Chan)
My Spritual Ex-Lover - Repay Kindness (Nancy Sit, Edwin Siu, Evergreen Mak
Young Charioteers - The Best Time (Jinny Ng)
Eye in the Sky - Truth (Alfred Hui, Hubert Wu)
Romantic Repertoire - Seamless (Anthony Lun, Joyce Koi)
Smooth Talker - Speak (Johnson Lee, Justin Lo)
The Empress of China - Queen (Joey Yung), Secret of Tears (Jinny Ng), Reckless (Linda Chung)
Limelight Years - Gorgeous Turnaround (Liza Wang), Galaxy (Liza Wang), Flashing Appearance (Liza Wang)
Wudang Rules - No Fear (C AllStar)
Master of Destiny - Rumbling Skies Moving Earth (Edwin Siu)
Ghost of Relativity - Daylight (C AllStar)
Brick Slaves - 400 Feet (Edwin Siu)
The Fixer - Maze (Alfred Hui)
Every Step You Take - Angel (Myolie Wu)
Momentary Lapse of Reason - Silent Moon (Louis Cheung)
Captain of Destiny - Sail (Fred Cheng), Next Century (Ruco Chan), A Never-Changing Heart (Linda Chung)
Under the Veil - Unique (Vincy Chan)
With or Without You - I'm Not Good Enough (Linda Chung)
Lord of Shanghai - Age of No Regrets (Alfred Hui)

Best Host
Sidewalk Scientist - Ali Lee, Kaki Leung, Jacqueline Wong, Mayanne Mak, Sammi Cheung, Roxanne Tong
Sze U Tonight - Johnson Lee, Pal Sinn
Sunday Songbird - Liza Wang, Adam Cheng, Jerry Lamb
Am I Healthy? - Lawrence Cheng, Kaki Leung, Steven Cheung
Neighbourhood Gourmet 3 - King Kong, Kitty Yuen
Good Cheap Eats 3 - Maria Cardero, Luk Ho Ming
Helen To-Kyo! - Helen To
Four Amigos Bon Voyage - Kenneth Tsang, Patrick Tse, Wu Fung, Joe Junior
Not Far But Away - Tony Hung
DoDo Goes Shopping - Carol Cheng, Priscilla Wong, Fama, Sammy Sum, Sharon Chan, Fred Cheng, Oscar Leung, Kenneth Ma

Best Variety Show and Special Programme
Sze U Tonight, Sunday Songbird, Street Sorcerers 3, Good Cheap Eats 3, Helen To-Kyo, The Million Dollar Minute, Four Amigos Bon Voyage, Miss Hong Kong Pageant 2015, DoDo Goes Shopping,
The Internet Of Things On TV, TVB Anniversary Gala

Best Informative Programme
Sidewalk Scientist, Am I Healthy?, Big Big World II, World's Greatest Parties, Not Far But Away

TVB Sales Presentation 2016

Long Time No See

Legal Strongman - Liu Kai-chi and Alex Fong return to TVB in this legal thriller.

Alex Fong is well-known inside and outside of the courtroom as an undefeated lawyer. In order to reap greater benefits, he joins Hong Kong's largest Chinese-owned firm. The reserved and introverted Liu Kai-chi is the managing partner of the firm. He faithfully fulfills his responsibilities while secretly cultivating power with an aim for the firm's highest position. With the firm's chairman position open, the two of them fight over life and death to fill the position.

Interest Level: 4.5/5. Big fan of legal thrillers. Some of the trailer sounds eerily similar to HKTV's The Election.

Triad Leader Under the Line of Fire - Kent Cheng and Kingdom Yuen have been lured back by Producer Leung Choi-Yuen. The three of them last collaborated in King Maker.

The underworld is a battleground for gangsters... A former triad boss has stepped down and is operating a neighbourhood restaurant, but his buddies want to make a comeback! I want to sell tofu pork-belly rice, but you want me to fight again. Brotherhood in this day and age, is there still a say?

Interest Level: 2/5. Looks like a lame gangster comedy. Wished TVB could have used the star power for a harder-hitting drama.

Obligatory Police Series

K9 Cop

He is a police officer who abhors evil and protects the weak. He is a police dog who is loyal, courageous and obedient. He helps him, once a guard dog for the triads, turn over a new leaf. Human and dog become the police force's best team.

Interest Level: 2.5/5. Not the thriller type of police series.

EU Overtime Mission

The EU's new female sergeant has discovered a portal to travel through time. She thought she could save lives, fight crime, repair her relationship and rewrite history. But history becomes more and more messed up and the situation spins out of control. In the end, how can she reverse the situation?

Interest Level: 3.5/5. Interesting twist to the time-travelling plot that TVB has used too often lately. Reminds me of the film "Edge of Tomorrow".

Misrepresented History

The Last Healer in Forbidden City - Empress Dowager Cixi was obviously a kind, loving woman, right?

The death of the Guangxu Emperor is one of China's historical mysteries. Did Cixi poison him? Was is Yuan Shiki's plot? An act of the Revolutionary Party? Or did he die from purely natural causes? Guangxu's most trusted imperial physician will unravel one of China's greatest mysteries!

Interest Level: 5/5. Excited to delve into the rich historical context of this series!

Omg, the cast...

Love as a Predatory Affair - No, you are not looking at the variety show section.

Love is like the food chain. At the top, there are the "tall, rich, handsome" and "white, rich, beautiful" who sweep the playing field in the competition for love. At the bottom, there are the "leftover ladies", "poison males" and "poor, short, ugly" who are secretly planning a revolt! This openly secret battle is both ridiculous and hilarious, and also reflective of reality.

Interest Level: 0/5. Zip.

Fashion War - A chance to learn who all the third-tier actresses at TVB are.

A top fashion magazine editor, a god within the fashion industry, has pegged a MK girl as his successor?! The fashion industry appears to be glamorous, but behind the glamour is a dark and ugly arena that is full of schemes. To survive, everyone puts on a fake mask and has ulterior motives.

Interest Level: 1/5. Moses Chan has been so terrible lately.

Peculiar Taste - Someone certainly had a peculiar taste in choosing the cast.

The golden lotus flower, awarded by the imperial court, is a symbol for a top restaurant. Having it equals to having money, fame and status. He is a food critic from hell who naturally possesses a golden tongue. He is a rising celebrity chef. The two of them are both rivals and friends, competing with their cooking and using taste to determine who is better.

Interest Level: 0/5. Can't decide if the cast is worse or the costumes.

TVB Ran Out of New Ideas

Brother's Keeper II - How much money do you need to give for TVB to make a series about you? Ask Ko Kei Bakery.

"When buying souvenirs in Macau, I only buy from Lo Shun Kei." Edwin Siu and Kristal Tin travel to Japan to find quality ingredients. Facing malicious attacks from their competitors, Edwin and Kristal must make choices. Will they stick to their principles? Or will they take measures to survive in the face of adversity? The challenges start once again...

Interest Level: 3/5. Ruco Chan was the main appeal in the original.

You From Kitty Star - A spin-off with the original cast of Ghost of Relativity.

In 2015, Ghost of Relativity used brainwaves to explain the existence of ghosts. Through its witty and humorous style, the story of a love triangle between humans and a ghost became popular among the HK audience. Now, the original cast and production team of Ghost of Relativity will make a brand new comedy "You From Kitty Star". It will use a half-scientific theory to explain cat-aliens who come to Earth. Their contact with people on Earth will lead to many surprising stories.

Interest Level: 1.5/5. Ghost of Relativity was aptly named. It was good relative to the other crap series. That doesn't mean it needs a spin-off.

House of Spirits - A remake of 1980 TVB drama Don't Look Now.

Using supernatural and fantasy in a relaxed way, this series conveys how modern people are focused on their jobs and forget about the value of family. A pair of happy ghosts who love helping people lend their superpowers to help a big brother who strives to protect his younger siblings and link the family together with love. A heart-warming comedy with surprises, joy, laughter and tears.

Interest Level: 2/5. The trailer looks really stupid.

Now I've Ran Out of Creative Category Titles

Presumed Accidents - Presumably the Lawrence Ng-Sisley Choi pairing is an accident?

An "accident" causes a father to be separated from his daughter, but through another series of "accidents", their fates are brought back together. Are "accidents" purely coincidences or a carefully arranged conspiracy?

Interest Level: 4/5. I like the dark and shady feel.

A Fist Within Four Walls

The Kowloon Walled City in the 1950s was an unpoliced area and a source for crime. "Eight Extremities Fist" is a powerful style that forces close-range attacks which are rapid in succession and able to change quickly. Two youths who are trained in martial arts search for the truth of their father's murder, while carrying out his last wish to drive out evil from the Walled City!

Interest Level: 3.5/5. Only for Ruco Chan and Nancy Wu. Grace Wong and Moon Lau look so out of place in the trailer.

3 of Honour - A TVB-Mainland collaboration, featuring Wong Cho Lam and Linda Chung. Wong Jing is the producer, so be ready for god-awful dubbing again.

Interest Level: 1/5. We all know how Wong Jing's last production turned out to be.