Salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, bringing you the scoop on the upcoming MediaCorp TV Channel 8 drama, My School Daze. This new show starts next Wednesday on April 29 and, as you can divine astutely from the title, it’s about that lazy stupor that settles over you when you’re faced with teachers, textbooks and tests.



It’s a Clash of the Teachers between Rui En and Chen Hanwei, who both play pedagogues, but with vastly opposing styles.

“She’s less conservative. And she believes there shouldn’t be any distance between the students and the teachers. She believes that she should treat the students like her friends and that way, she’ll win them over,” Rui En said of her role as the hip, new-age, sports car-driving Miss Zhang.



Did the lovely Rui En ever want to be a teacher when she was a child? “Honestly, I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be in space. Doesn’t every kid dream of that? Every little boy, lah.”

“So,” Showbiz Sista asked, “You were more like a little boy than a little girl?” “I was, I was,” Rui En said emphatically. “I grew up like a boy. I hung out with my cousin, who was one year younger than me, but was a guy. So I was into cycling, playgrounds, WWF.” No Barbies or My Little Ponies for this tomboy!

“The emphasis of the show is on the difference between me and Hanwei in terms of our ideals and values,” Rui En added. That’s right — Hanwei, who’s seen his fair share of dorky roles lately, plays the schoolmarm.

“I don’t think students will like the kind of teacher I play,” Hanwei told Showbiz Sista. “He’s very straightforward and old-fashioned, with an emphasis on rote learning. Very boring.”

Did Hanwei have teachers like himself when he was young? “Yes! A lot!” the actor exclaimed. ““Even my father, who was a teacher. Once, when I was nine or 10, we had a small test and I tried to cheat. My classmate wouldn’t let me to copy off him, so I hit him. So my father, who was also my teacher, caned me in front of the whole school. I didn’t speak to him for two years. But after I grew up, I appreciated my father because I think he did a good job. If, during that period, he had tried to protect me, I think I would still feel the shame today. After that incident, my father apologized to me, but I think I have to say sorry to him.” Aww.

Hanwei also thinks there was great chemistry between him and Rui En. “At first, I didn’t think she could act,” he said solemnly. “I thought she was a young girl who could only sing. But after working with her on By My Side recently, I think this young girl has really improved a lot. You can really feel her emotions when she’s acting. That’s why I’m very happy to work with her, and would like to work with her more. I think she can make it. Sooner or later, she will win a Best Actress award.”

With the Star Awards coming up this Sunday, Showbiz Sista will be crossing her fingers, too!

Also look out for Ann Kok as Hanwei’s wife, Terence Cao as Rui En’s love interest, and Cynthia Koh and Darren Lim paired up once again as that loudmouthed couple who gets under your skin.

Showbiz Sista, signing out. Live long and pop corn!


Catch My School Daze starting Wednesday (April 29), weekdays at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.

Source: TodayOnline

Labels: My School Daze, TODAY

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SINGAPORE: It’s less than a week until the Star Awards on Sunday evening, where the best of Mandarin television will be honoured, and the polls are heating up as the public vote for their favourite artistes.

Most of the Seven Princesses have claimed their spot in the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes, with Jesseca Liu, who had been trailing behind, catching up this week and edging out Quan Yifeng. Fans of the chatty host had better buck up if you want Yifeng to remain in the competition.

Meanwhile, there’s also an exciting fight on the guys’ side of the warring fence. After getting bumped off the list last week, Christopher Lee has regained his position in the Top 10. The big news? Mark Lee has kicked Pierre Png out of the elite club. Meow.

The female artistes currently leading the pack are Felicia Chin, Fiona Xie, Ivy Lee, Jeanette Aw, Joanne Peh, Rui En, Vivian Lai, Xiang Yun, Yvonne Lim and late-bloomer Jesseca.

In the running for Most Popular Male Artiste are Christopher and Mark, Bryan Wong, Elvin Ng, Marcus Chin, Pornsak, Qi Yuwu, Tay Ping Hui, Zhang Yao Dong and Zheng Geping.

Artistes like Adrian Pang, Chen Hanwei, Dawn Yeoh and Michelle Chia are trailing behind — but it’s not too late for you to change their fate.

Public voting makes up 50 per cent of the Star Awards results, and the lines will remain open until 9pm on Sunday. Carpe diem!

Catch the Star Awards 2009 live this Sunday at 7pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8. Poll numbers are available at starawards.mediacorptv.sg.

Source: TODAYonline

Labels: TODAY

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By May Seah, TODAY | Posted: 21 November 2008 1409 hrs

SINGAPORE: It may not be the kind of reunion where you get to check out who’s now balding with three divorces under his belt, but this mega-reunion promises to be twice as extravagant. After all, would you expect any less from the illustrious, prolific Channel 8 on the grand occasion of its 45th anniversary?

On Sunday, MediaCorp TV Channel 8’s Anniversary Gala will be telecast live. Hosted by Guo Liang, Quan Yifeng, Dasmond Koh, and Michelle Chia, the show will recount all the significant and groundbreaking programmes in each of the categories of variety, drama, news, and current affairs.

And, of course, there’ll be song-and-dance routines, comedy sketches, and awards presentations, peppered with familiar faces from past and present.

Like any reunion, it’ll also be a huge nostalgia trip. Seeing all your favourite characters come alive again will undoubtedly take you back to a time when life was simpler and purer. It does for Rui En, who, despite being such an established actress, is still occasionally unnerved by what a significant role Channel 8 played in her formative years.

“When I was a little kid I would come home after school and watch Channel 8 dramas,” she told TODAY. “It’s surreal when I’m acting with people like Chen Hanwei, whom I’ve been watching since I was a kid.”

Go on, put on your tasselled moccasins and take a stroll down memory lane with these artistes.

Source: CNA

Labels: 45th Anniversary Gala, channelnewsasia.com, TODAY

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