I was reminded by a person that leaves a comment to me here that the nomination list for the Singapore’s Starhub TVB Awards 2017 is out and asking me whether I will be writing a post about it and putting in my thoughts and predictions. I didn’t realize that the nomination list is out and it marked the first of the three annual major awards presentation honouring the best of TVB series and programmes (the other two awards that will come later are the TVB Star Awards Malaysia and Hong Kong’s TVB Anniversary Awards).
I find that it is a bit too early for Starhub TVB Awards to be held in October every year. This automatically puts those usually better series released in November and December to be placed in contention for the next year’s awards. This is a huge disadvantage to these series. However, in the same time, I find that Hong Kong has been very biased and putting too much of their attention to their anniversary dramas while forgetting other good dramas released in early parts of the year. As for Malaysian voters, they tend to just simply vote for their favourites without really judging wisely which one is truly the best in terms of performance. Pros and cons to these 3 respective awards.
Let’s get back to this coming Singapore’s Starhub TVB Awards 2017. It is going to be held on 21 October 2017 and the nomination list is out two days ago. Only Singaporeans are eligible to vote for this awards. Malaysia and Hong Kong citizens will have their turn later on. Here below is my predictions for each categories: (There’s asterisk marks (*) that indicate my top 5 predictions for several categories)
Nomination list for Singapore’s Starhub TVB Awards 2017
My Favourite TVB Drama Theme Song:
Sand in Hand – Hana Kuk (My Unfair Lady)
I Would Not Pout – Stephanie Ho (My Unfair Lady)
Walk With You – Kayee Tam (My Unfair Lady)
King – Hubert Wu (Two Steps from Heaven)
That’s The Way I Am – Nancy Wu (The No No Girl)
Insight – Vincent Wong (Legal Mavericks)
In Front Of Love – Stephanie Ho (Legal Mavericks)
The End Of The World – Fred Cheng (Provocateur)
Trigger On – Ruco Chan (The Unholy Alliance)
Alone – Gallen Lo (Provocateur)
Conquer – Fred Cheng (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Skynet – Pakho Chau (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Forgot Myself – Hana Kuk (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Behave Oneself – Vivian Koo (Line Walker: The Prelude)
After Graduation – Mag Lam (Oh My Grad)
My Pick: Walk With You – Kayee Tam (My Unfair Lady)
Opinion: I hardly remember most of the nominated theme songs above. Looks like ‘My Unfair Lady’ and ‘Line Walker: The Prelude’ is overwhelming the list. I have not even heard anything from the latter since the drama is not released yet. So far the most beautiful song this year is ‘Walk With You – Kayee Tam’ that is always playing whenever there is a romantic scene between Vincent Wong and Natalie Tong in ‘My Unfair Lady’.
My Favourite TVB On-Screen Couple:
Tony Hung & Priscilla Wong (Married But Available)
Frankie Lam & Jessica Hester Hsuan (My Unfair Lady)
Vincent Wong & Natalie Tong (My Unfair Lady) *
Ruco Chan & Nancy Wu (The Unholy Alliance) *
Ruco Chan & Rosina Lam (Burning Hands)
Edwin Siu & Priscilla Wong (Two Steps From Heaven) *
Joel Chan & Elaine Yiu (The Unholy Alliance) *
Eddie Cheung & Adia Chan (The No No Girl)
Kenneth Ma & Charmaine Sheh (Bet Hur)
Vincent Wong & Ali Lee (Legal Mavericks)
Raymond Cho & Grace Wong (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch) *
Matthew Ho & Rebecca Zhu (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
My Pick: Joel Chan & Elaine Yiu (The Unholy Alliance)
Opinion: I feel like Ruco Chan & Nancy Wu will win this since their relationship is very much hyped now eventhough obviously there is nothing happening between them. Vincent Wong & Natalie Tong may win this too since I remember their romance outshine even that of the main leading pair in ‘My Unfair Lady’, Frankie & Jessica. They missed out Edwin Siu & Kristal Tin pairing in ‘A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch). I prefer this pair to replace Matthew Ho & Rebecca Zhu. Very tough competition.
My Favourite TVB Variety Show Host:
Pauline Lan – Lady First Singapore Season 5
Alice Chan – Wai Gor’s Wok
Tony Hung – Retiring in Paradise
Kenny Wong, Brian Tse, Chris Leung, Mayanna Mak, Alychia Chan, Ashley Chu – Peak to Pit
Benjamin Yuen, Mat Yeung – All Work No Pay Holidays (Series 2)
Lee Ka Ding, Helen Tam – The Ahistoric Grandpa Cooking Show (Series 2)
Samantha Ko, Auston Lam – Chef Minor in Singapore
Maria Cordero, Luk Ho Ming – Good Cheap Eats (Series 6)
Gigi Wong – Eating Well With Madam Wong (Series 3)
King Kong, Kitty Yuen, Jarvis Chow – Neighborhood Gourmet (Series 4)
My Favourite TVB Infotainment Programme:
Big Big World III
Retiring In Paradise
Easy Come, Easy Health
Belt And Road Initiative
Cantoxicating!
My Favourite TVB Variety Programme:
Wellness On The Go Singapore *
Lady First Singapore Season 5 *
Chef Minor In Singapore *
The Ahistoric Grandpa Cooking Show (Series 2)
Spirits On Vacation
Peak To Pit
50 Golden Classics *
Good Cheap Eats (Series 6) *
All Work No Pay Holidays (Series 2)
Side Walk Scientists (Series 5)
TV Awards Presentation 2016
Dinner Ma’s
My Pick: Anything that has ‘Singapore’ name in it.
Opinion; I didn’t watch most of the nominated programmes. I enjoyed watching ‘Spirits On Vacation’ but I don’t think it will have any winning chance. I heard many have been enjoying the ’50 Golden Classics’ particularly in Hong Kong because those classic Hong Kong songs are mostly great (unlike now).
My Favourite TVB Supporting Actress
Elaine Yiu (The Unholy Alliance) *
Samantha Ko (My Unfair Lady)
Katy Kung (Two Steps From Heaven) *
Rebecca Zhu (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Koni Lui (Tiger Mom Blues) *
Alice Chan (Two Steps From Heaven)
Kelly Fu (Burning Hands)
Jacqueline Wong (Provocateur) *
Vivien Yeo (My Lover From The Planet Meow)
Tracy Chu (Legal Mavericks) *
Roxanne Tong (The Tofu War)
Jeannie Chan (The No No Girl)
My Pick: Elaine Yiu (The Unholy Alliance)
Opinion: Elaine Yiu shines in her role in ‘The Unholy Alliance’. Her character goes through a lot of things in the series and she nailed it well, particularly the many emotional scenes she had in the series.
My Favourite TVB Supporting Actor
Owen Cheung (Legal Mavericks)
Mat Yeung (My Dearly Sinful Mind) *
Hugo Ng (Burning Hands) *
Jonathan Cheung (The Tofu War) *
Luk Wing (Two Steps From Heaven)
Joel Chan (The Unholy Alliance) *
Eddie Kwan (My Lover From The Planet Meow)
Kenny Wong (Dead Wrong)
James Ng (Destination Nowhere)
Benz Hui (Line Walker: The Prelude) *
My Pick: Joel Chan (The Unholy Alliance)
Opinion: This should be Joel’s year. He has been impressive in these few years and many even said he outshined Ruco Chan in ‘The Unholy Alliance’ so far. He has improved significantly and I have no doubt seeing him taking on lead roles in the future.
My Favourite TVB Female Character
Jessica Hester Hsuan as Ling Man (My Unfair Lady)
Natalie Tong as Ling Yu-ken (My Unfair Lady) *
Nancy Wu as Yuen Ching-yan (The Unholy Alliance) *
Priscilla Wong as Koo Shing-seung (Two Steps From Heaven)
Rosina Lam as Ho Ching-fa (Burning Hands)
Elena Kong as Cha Heung-sin (Tiger Mom Blues) *
Ali Lee as Wong Lai-fan (Legal Mavericks)
Grace Wong as Guo Cian / Wong Yi-san (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch) *
Sisley Choi as Chiu Ching-mui (Legal Mavericks)
Samantha Ko as Tian Mi (My Unfair Lady)
Kristal Tin as Fong Wai-chi (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch) *
Adia Chan as Law Lai-ching (The No No Girl)
Charmaine Sheh as Sze Shiu-tung (Bet Hur)
Alice Chan as Koo Shing-fun (Two Steps From Heaven)
Katy Kung as Carmen Ching Sze-Yue (Two Steps from Heaven) *
Tracy Chu as Tai Tin-yan (Legal Mavericks)
Moon Lau as Emma Yip Yip (Two Steps From Heaven)
Mandy Wong as Lung Lai-sa (Nothing Special Force)
Rebecca Zhu as Fong Wai-ling (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Elaine Yiu as Kate Wai Yee-yau (The Unholy Alliance)
My Pick: All 6 names above with asterisks (*).
Opinion: Singapore’s Starhub TVB Awards presented this award to 6 characters last year unlike in Hong Kong’s awards when there is only one winner. I didn’t watch ‘Two Steps From Heaven’ but I picked Katy Kung because she is lauded last year for her crying scene that led to her winning Best Supporting Actress in last year’s Hong Kong awards. Anyway, I’m still having doubt of that and Ali Lee, Elaine Yiu or Tracy Chu may steal that spot from her.
My Favourite TVB Male Character
Ruco Chan as Ko Tsz-kit (The Unholy Alliance) *
Raymond Cho as Zuo Guang-dao / Fung Yat-bo (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Bosco Wong as Chun Sing-hoi (Two Steps From Heaven)
Edwin Siu as Yuen Chong-huan / Wan Tai-kwan (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch) *
Frankie Lam as Man Nim-sum (My Unfair Lady)
Benjamin Yuen as Chui Tin-tong (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Pakho Chau as Lok Siu-fung (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Michael Miu as Cheuk Hoi (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Moses Chan as Sit Ding-kap (My Lover From The Planet Meow)
Vincent Wong as Man Sun-hop (Legal Mavericks) *
Kenneth Ma as Chung Tai-yin (My Dearly Sinful Mind) *
Wayne Lai as Kong Sheung-hung / Kazuo Suzuki (No Reserve)
Tony Hung as Au Yeung Tsz-chung (Married But Available)
Mat Yeung as Tung Yat (My Dearly Sinful Mind)
Owen Cheung as Kuk Yat-ha (Legal Mavericks)
Raymond Wong as Cheung Chin-pok (Married But Available)
Eddie Cheung as Chong Fu-ho (The No No Girl)
Joel Chan as Ling Tsin-yau (The Unholy Alliance) *
Chris Lai as Wong Siu-ming (The Tofu War)
Wong Cho-lam as Choi Sum (Oh My Grad) *
Matthew Ho as Li Jin-zhong/ Li Siu-tung (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Roger Kwok as Wai yat-sing (Dead Wrong)
My Pick: All 6 names above with asterisks (*).
Opinion: Singapore’s Starhub TVB Awards presented this award to 6 characters last year unlike in Hong Kong’s awards when there is only one winner. ‘Oh My Grad’ isn’t released yet but I think Wong Cho-lam is going to be super funny again and that would make his character easily likable. I didn’t pick anyone from ‘Line Walker: The Prelude’ because I have less expectations from it. Usually a TVB prequel or sequel isn’t doing well and putting in so many new major cast in the drama isn’t helping either.
My Favourite TVB Leading Actress
Kristal Tin (Destination Nowhere) *
Jessica Hester Hsuan (My Unfair Lady)
Nancy Wu (The Unholy Alliance) *
Elena Kong (Tiger Mom Blues) *
Nancy Sit (The Tofu War)
Ada Choi (Oh My Grad)
Rosina Lam (Burning Hands)
Grace Wong (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch) *
Ali Lee (Legal Mavericks)
Adia Chan (The No No Girl)
Nina Paw (The Unholy Alliance) *
Mandy Wong (Nothing Special Force)
Sisley Choi (Legal Mavericks)
Charmaine Sheh (Bet Hur)
Niki Chow (Rogue Emperor)
Priscilla Wong (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Myolie Wu (No Reserve)
Natalie Tong (My Unfair Lady)
My Pick: Kristal Tin (Destination Nowhere)
Opinion: There is no other performance this year so far that can surpass Kristal’s acting in ‘Destination Nowhere’ even when you place the males into the picture as well. She is exceptional and handled the challenging role very well. The dark horse in this category would be Grace Wong and Nina Paw. Nina Paw is a Film Queen and she did a wonderful job in ‘The Unholy Alliance’ too. How about Nancy Wu that been winning a lot of Best Actress awards in recent years? Well, her role in ‘The Unholy Alliance’ is poorly written. She has the skill but the role didn’t need her to do much.
My Favourite TVB Leading Actor
Bosco Wong (Two Steps From Heaven) *
Roger Kwok (Dead Wrong) *
Kenneth Ma (My Dearly Sinful Mind) *
Ruco Chan (The Unholy Alliance) *
Frankie Lam (My Unfair Lady)
Edwin Siu (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Gallen Lo (Provocateur)
Vincent Wong (Legal Mavericks) *
Ben Wong (Nothing Special Force)
Eddie Cheung (The No No Girl)
Tony Hung (Married But Available)
Moses Chan (My Lover From The Planet Meow)
Chris Lai (The Tofu War)
Pakho Chau (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Benjamin Yuen (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Wayne Lai (No Reserve)
Kevin Cheng (Destination Nowhere)
Michael Miu (Line Walker: The Prelude)
Matthew Ho (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
Raymond Cho (A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch)
My Pick: Roger Kwok (Dead Wrong)
Opinion: Roger Kwok is great in that series and there is no particular impressive acting by the other males in the dramas this year so far. Ruco Chan is no longer getting his winning streak because his performance in ‘The Unholy Alliance’ is ordinary so far.
My Favourite TVB Drama
Two Steps From Heaven
Burning Hands
Destination Nowhere *
My Dearly Sinful Mind
My Unfair Lady
Tiger Mom Blues
A General, A Scholar, And An Eunuch *
The Unholy Alliance *
Legal Mavericks *
Line Walker: The Prelude *
Oh My Grad
Dead Wrong
Provocateur
The No No Girl
Bet Hur
The Tofu War
Married But Available
Nothing Special Force
My Lover From The Planet Meow
No Reserve
My Pick: The Unholy Alliance
Opinion: So far, the best series of the year that I have watched is ‘The Unholy Alliance’. It has suspense in every episodes, it has cool actions, some exciting characters, has engaging and fast-paced storyline, and has great cast. I don’t understand why there are some harsh critics that pan the drama. After the top 5 listed above, my next 5 picks would be ‘Two Steps From Heaven’, ‘Tiger Mom Blues’, ‘My Dearly Sinful Mind’, ‘Dead Wrong’ and ‘Burning Hands’.
Once you look at the nominees above, you will notice that most TVB anniversary dramas have been left out as they have not been released yet. Hence, the result of this Singapore awards usually differ with that of Hong Kong and Malaysia. And there are no public voting for ‘Most Improved TVB Artiste’ or ‘Best New TVB Artiste’.
(Images in this post are from various sources throughout the world wide web)
