Happy Can Already!
Happy Can Already! (Chinese: 欢喜就好; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hoaⁿ‑hí-tō-hó) is a Singapore Chinese variety series which is telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, Mediacorp Channel 8. It stars Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Benjamin Tan, Chua Lee Lian & Jaspers Lai as the casts of the series.[1] Happy Can Already! aired from 2 December 2016 to 3 February 2017, every Friday from 12:00pm to 12:30pm.
| Happy Can Already! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Simplified | 欢喜就好 |
| Mandarin | Huānxǐ Jiù Hǎo |
| Hokkien | Hoaⁿ‑hí-tō-hó |
| Genre | Variety Comedy |
| Written by | 夏友庆 Ivan Ho |
| Directed by | Jack Neo 梁志强 |
| Starring | Jack Neo 梁志强 Mark Lee 李国煌 Wang Lei 王雷 Benjamin Tan 陈俊铭 Chua Lee Lian 蔡礼莲 Jaspers Lai 赖宇涵 |
| Opening theme | 欢喜就好啦 by Jack Neo |
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| Original languages | Hokkien, Teochew & Cantonese with some Mandarin & English dialogue |
| No. of episodes | 11 (including 1 special) |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jack Neo 梁志强 |
| Production locations | Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507 |
| Running time | approx. 23 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Mediacorp Channel 8 |
| Original release | 2 December 2016 – 3 February 2017 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Eat Already? |
| Followed by | Eat Already? 2 |
| Related shows | Happy Can Already! 2 (2017) Happy Can Already! 3 (2017) Happy Can Already! 4 (2018) |
This was the first non-Mandarin Chinese variety show to be produced on Channel 8 after a 30-year hiatus. This series is primarily targeted at Singaporean elderly as most of them speak Chinese dialects at home.
Plot
Liang Xi Mei (Jack Neo) and friends will reprise their characters from Comedy Nite, giving viewers an update on their lives since they last appeared on screen in 2003. Liang Xi Mei laments that most of her friends are not around anymore. Her eldest son Robert (Mark Lee) is now married to Mary (Chua Lee Lian) and they have a daughter Ah Girl (Toh Xin Hui). Her second son Albert (Benjamin Tan) is now in university, and Lion King (Henry Thia) has a son called Merlion King (Jaspers Lai).
Each episode will start with a guest performance and interview, before proceeding to the skit segment. Performers in this program include veteran getai singers such as Liu Lingling and Hao Hao. The skit segments will not only revolve around the lives of Liang Xi Mei and friends, but will also feature cameo appearances by Aunty Lucy (Dennis Chew).
Cast
Liang (Xi Mei) family
| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Lei 王雷 | Ah Gong 阿公 |
|
1 |
| Jack Neo 梁智强 | Liang Xi Mei 梁细妹 |
Cecilia Neo Sai Moi
|
1-10 |
| Mark Lee 李国煌 | Robert |
|
1, 3-10 |
| Benjamin Tan 陈俊铭 | Albert |
|
1-4, 7-10 |
| Chua Lee Lian 蔡礼莲 | Mary |
|
2-10 |
| Toh Xin Hui 杜芯慧 | Ah Girl |
|
3-4, 9-10 |
Other characters
| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaspers Lai 赖宇涵 | Merlion King |
|
1, 5-6, 10 |
| Wang Lei 王雷 | Granny 阿婆 |
Guangdong Ah Ma (广东婆)
|
2-3, 7-8, 10 |
| Elvis Presley 猫王 |
|
4 |
Cameo appearance
| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Lim 承泽 | Con man 骗子 | 2, 9 | |
| Liu Lingling 刘玲玲 | Fat Auntie 大肥婆 |
|
3 |
| Kolianna Lotus 可怜吶 莲花 |
|
4 | |
| Amy Khor 许连碹 | Herself as Senior Minister of State with the Ministry of Health |
|
3 |
| Moses Lim 林益民 | Ah Keow 阿娇 |
Auntie Keow (阿娇阿姨)
|
6 |
| Dennis Chew 周崇庆 | Aunty Lucy 露西阿姨 |
|
7 |
| Kym Ng 钟琴 | Miss Tan 陈小姐 |
|
8 |
| Aileen Tan 陈丽贞 | Yankee 新潮 |
|
9 |
| Tay Yinyin 郑盈盈 | Tiny 细细粒 |
|
10 |
Guest performers
| Episode no. | Performer(s) | Song(s) performed |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Michael Huang 黃仲昆 |
|
| 3 | Liu Lingling 刘玲玲 |
|
| 4 | Angie Lau 刘心玲 |
|
| 5 | Hao Hao 皓皓 |
|
| 6 | Leon Lim 承泽 |
|
| Febe Huang 黄秀萍 | ||
| 7 | Marcus Chin 陈建彬 |
|
| Desmond Ng 黄振隆 | ||
| 8 | Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达 |
|
Development
This 10-episode dialect variety series is produced by MediaCorp and J Team, in collaboration with local director Jack Neo and the Ministry of Communications and Information. Through an entertaining format with informational components such as songs and skits, and using a language which seniors are most familiar with, each half-hour episode will reinforce relevant messages including health promotion, active ageing, retirement adequacy and support schemes for seniors (such as PGP and CHAS).
Production started on 15 November 2016.[2]
Music
| Song title | Song type | Lyrics | Composer | Performer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 欢喜就好啦 | Opening theme song | Jack Neo | 邓碧源 | Jack Neo | 麦如丽 |
Promotional events
- The first promotional roadshow was held at Kreta Ayer Square on 14 November 2016 with artistes Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Benjamin Tan, Jaspers Lai and Hao Hao.[1]
- The second roadshow was held at Block 114 Aljunied Ave 2 on 17 December 2016 with artistes Jack Neo, Dennis Chew, Chua Lee Lian, Jaspers Lai and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
- The third roadshow was held at Kreta Ayer Square on 10 January 2017 with artistes Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Dennis Chew, Moses Lim, Benjamin Tan and Minister Chee Hong Tat.[3]
Awards & Nominations
Star Awards 2017
It was only nominated for one category, Best Variety Programme .
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Recipients (if any) | Result |
| Star Awards 2017 Awards Ceremony 红星大奖2017颁奖礼 | Best Variety Programme 最佳综艺节目 | N/A | Nominated |
See also
- List of variety and infotainment programmes broadcast by MediaCorp Channel 8
- List of MediaCorp Channel 8 Chinese drama series (2010s)
- Happy Can Already! 2
References
- "本地首部方言综艺节目《欢喜就好》将开播 梁细妹重出江湖" (in Chinese). Channel 8 News. 14 November 2016.
- "全新方言电视节目《欢喜就好》今天开录" (in Chinese). Channel 8 News. 15 November 2016.
- http://entertainment.toggle.sg/zh/celebrityphotos/default-7115554#slideshow-1