Star Gazing

Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, telling you what’s cooking. It’s Ann Kok in a Channel U Feature Film, Cooking Without Clothes.

Ooh, what a suggestive title. The film, directed by Growing Up’s scriptwriter, is about Jeff (played by Taiwanese actor Joseph Chang Hsiao Chuan), who quits his job as an engineer in pursuit of his dream to be a professional chef in the face of his father’s violent objection. He’s discovered by a TV producer (here’s where Ann comes in), who turns him into an up-and-coming celebrity chef. They hate each other at first, but then the requisite sparks fly. Steamy.

How do you know that this is going to be a top-notch film? Said Ann about her attitude to the project, “I thought it was something that might take me to other countries and international film fests. So I think this is a very good opportunity.”

Yes, chefs are all the rage at the moment—and naked chefs are even better, as Jamie Oliver has shown us. “I think men who cook have charm,” said Ann. Are you listening, Dai Yang Tian? You’d better watch out, because Joseph, Ann’s co-star, does cook. “I help my mother with the cooking,” he said humbly. And a filial son, too! “He’s like an overgrown boy,” said Joseph of his character, “Quite similar to me.”

So, does Ann herself cook? “I can cook simple dishes. I can do ABC soup and braised meat,” she said with a smile, also revealing that she’s cooked for a boyfriend. All right, but has she ever cooked without clothes on? “No! I think it’s an offense if somebody in the block opposite sees you!”

What a law-abiding citizen Ann is. What cooking advice can she give us, then? “You can’t just follow the recipe step by step,” she said. “You have to put a little love into whatever you do.” Again, Dai Yang Tian, look sharp!

Catch Cooking Without Clothes on Sunday (Jan 3) at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel U.

Tags: Ann Kok, Channel U, Cooking Without Clothes, Dai Yang Tian, Joseph Chang, Showbiz Sista

Season’s Greetings and Santa’s Salutations! It’s not Phin Wong (I just had to use his password to log in!). Nope, Denise Tan (host of The Gold Breakfast Show on Gold 90.5FM) here with a guest post on Showbiz Sista’s little blog.

What a year it has been! I don’t know about you, but I have been thoroughly entertained by the antics of Hollywood’s hooligans and Tinseltown’s tyrants. Singapore even had her fair share of shenanigans, so much so that I feel a song coming on!

And in the spirit of the holiday season, here’s a very special Christmas sing-a-long!  Let’s make beautiful music together as we look back on a year full of bills, thrills and entertaining spills!

Celebrity, Celebrity
(Sung to the tune of Oh, Christmas Tree)

Celebrity, Celebrity
I’d really like to thank thee
Celebrity, Celebrity
This year’s been fun, you would agree
Let’s look back with much fond regard
And give the stars their report card
Celebrity, Celebrity
You fill us all with utter glee!

Celebrity, Celebrity
You really entertain me
Celebrity, Celebrity
Playground for paparazzi
From Britney’s lip-synched Circus tour
To Paris Hilton’s man du jour
Celebrity, Celebrity
There’s still so much more we can see

Celebrity, Celebrity
These people behaved badly
Celebrity, Celebrity
Fame sure can get real ugly
From Christian Bale’s crazed on-set rants
To Kanye’s anti-Taylor stance
Celebrity, Celebrity
Your name rhymes with insanity!

Celebrity, Celebrity
These couples needed therapy
Celebrity, Celebrity
They aired their dirty laundry
Jon & Kate’s love turned to hate
The Rihanna-Chris Brown great debate
Celebrity, Celebrity
Oh, how we love skullduggery!

Celebrity, Celebrity
Folks dressed up like it’s Halloween
Celebrity, Celebrity
Have they had way too much caffeine?
From Katy Perry’s fashion sense
To Lady Gaga with no pants
Celebrity, Celebrity
Clothes bordering on the obscene

Celebrity, Celebrity
Before Hollywood starts to bore
Celebrity, Celebrity
Let’s take a look at Singapore
From leopard preentz (eh, why not cow?)
Who can forget that boomz Ris Low?
Celebrity, Celebrity
Tabloid-tasty to the core!

Celebrity, Celebrity
Our little red dot fame it found
Celebrity, Celebrity
The APEC Summit came to town
But some were not quite as happy
Like empty shops in Suntec City
Celebrity, Celebrity
Some big events can bring us down

Celebrity, Celebrity
Politicians are so sexy
Celebrity, Celebrity
In Wykidd Song’s designery
Barack Obama, Hu Jin Tao
Made all the rest of us go, “Wow!”
Celebrity, Celebrity
Delegates’ fashion finery

Celebrity, Celebrity
The world’s very first night race
Celebrity, Celebrity
Gave Singapore a lot of face
Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas
Brought our nation to its knees
Celebrity, Celebrity
But ticket prices were a disgrace

Celebrity, Celebrity
I think our singing’s done now
Celebrity, Celebrity
Let’s finish with a great big “Pow!”
So through the hols away we plough
And toast to Susan Boyle’s monobrow
Celebrity, Celebrity
Well done, go on, do take a bow!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! Here’s to waking up hangover-free to a New Year just as eventful and entertaining as 2009 has been! Oh, and happy singing, you lovely Star Gazers!

Tags: 2009 wrap up, celebrity, Stargazing

Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, bringing you the music and lyrics to accompany the Beat. The New City Beat, that is. The popular variety show from the ‘90’s starring Bryan Wong, Kym Ng, Sharon Au, and Lina Ng has been brought back from the dead, and its new incarnation stars Bryan, Kym, and—surprise, surprise—Adrian Pang and Gurmit Singh.

The four play a motley crew of “A-Class Calefares”—the best extras in the business—hoping to make it big in the entertainment industry. Adrian plays a dude who thinks he looks good blinged up in hip hop gear; Gurmit plays an action specialist who has no speaking roles (yes, that’s how Gurmit gets away with being in a Chinese-language show); Bryan plays an effeminate Beng; and Kym plays mutton dressed as lamb.

“I’m a 40-something-year-old woman trying to act 16. I’m an extra hoping I can have a kissing scene with Elvin Ng or Nat Ho,” Kym said. “It’s exciting that Gurmit and Adrian are joining us, because they’re great actors. I’m looking forward to seeing the new ideas, the new chemistry.”

“There were rumours, they were unconfirmed for a long time, and now here I am!” said Adrian, who’s never seen the original City Beat and is pretty much wandering into this with his eyes shut. “I have no clue!” he told Showbiz Sista. “I’m just plunging into it fresh.” So, how confident is he? “Not at all! Not in Chinese! It’s quite dangerous. I don’t know what might come out of my mouth!”

Yes, it’s not a job for the faint of heart and the weak in Chinese, especially next to motormouths Bryan and Kym. “I wish they’d give me the strong silent type,” Adrian lamented. “Gurmit, the @#%^*$#, is getting away with being the action man. He doesn’t need to talk very much. Whereas I am supposed to be the leader of the gang. I’ll try and get away with as many hand gestures and as little talking as possible. But we shall see!”

How does he feel about his getup? “I have to admit I quite like my accessories, personally, but this is a bit garish even for me. I haven’t worn this kind of pants for a long, long time. MC Hammer pants. I don’t even know if the kids these days are even wearing these any more, with the advent of skinny jeans. Even hip hop culture, I think, has evolved into more of a streamlined look. You don’t see Kanye West wearing this any more!”

Bryan feels rather the same. “This is so shingz!” he exclaimed the moment he stepped out in costume, revealing an apparent obsession with Ris Low. “This character is a campy beng. Lots of tossing of the hair. Once upon a time I did go for watches that were white with loud faces, but not now—definitely not sleeveless tops like these,” he told Showbiz Sista. “Fortunately it’s not in an animal preens.”

How does he feel to be reprising his role in City Beat? “Weird! It’s just like making a trip back towards the puberty stage. When I heard this was coming back, my initial reaction was fear. I wasn’t that enthusiastic because it’s really weird to go back and do something you did 13 years ago. But then, the theme song started replaying in my head. This morning I was still a little stiff, feeling like an outsider looking in, but when I put on this yellow thing, somehow or other, I started to adopt this other personality. When the wig was up, I was, like, ‘All right! I’m ready! I’m just gonna boomz!’ I think I’ll have to start conjuring up some catchphrases. But I’m not going to use boomz and shingz because that would really shingz.”

He does have a handy turn of phrase, doesn’t he? Catch New City Beat starting Dec 25, Fridays at 8pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.

Tags: Adrian Pang, Bryan Wong, Channel 8, City Beat, Gurmit Singh, Kym Ng, New City Beat, Showbiz Sista

OMG! We’re still reeling from the news on the ‘Net that Brittany Murphy, best known for her roles in movies like Clueless, Just Married, Sin City, 8 Mile, Happy Feet (she voiced Gloria ), Ramen Girl and TV’s King Of The Hill (she voiced Luanne), has passed on.

Yes, sadly, this actress is no more, she has ceased to be. She was found unconscious in the shower by her mum at her West Hollywood home on Sunday morning, reported TMZ. According to reports, a spokesperson for Cedars Sinai Medical Center said that Murphy died at 10.04am (1.04am Singapore time). Cause of death “appears to be natural”.

Murphy was married to British writer-director Simon Monjack, who apparently told hospital staff he did not want an autopsy performed on his deceased wife. See, this is where it gets interesting. Why not? It’s natural causes. Or is it? Perhaps being dead at 32 is not so natural. But perhaps there are many people aged 32 who have died naturally. What do I know?

However, the LA County Coroner’s will reportedly launch an investigation into her death. The actress’s rep, Nicole Perna, confirmed the news, releasing a statement that said: “In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy.”

OK, no more slagging from me. It’s sad to see someone go like that though. According to IMDB, she has three movies in post-production. So we’ll be looking forward to that.  

Meanwhile, on that popular site called Twitter, stars chimed in with their thoughts.

Ashton Kutcher: “see you on the other side kid … 2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon.”

Jessica Simpson: “Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones.”

Lindsay Lohan: “My deepest condonlences go out to all of Brittany Murphy’s loved ones& may she rest in peace….She was a great talent w/a beautiful soul xo”

Eliza Dushku: “My heart aches having just learned of Brittany Murphy’s death. We were friends time-to-time thru the yrs. I always admired her pure spirit.”

Simon Pegg: “Just heard about Brittany Murphy. How very sad. Met her briefly after Sin City. Seemed a great girl. My sympathy to her friends and family.

Kevin Smith: “Never met her, but sad to hear about Brittany Murhpy. G’night, Ms. Murphy; hope you’re rollin’ with the homies someplace nice.”"

Kat Dennings: “R.I.P Brittany Murphy…this is so awful”

Alyssa Milano: “Brittney Murphy and I did a USO Tour together in 2003. ? She was a sweet soul, with a lot of talent and heart.”

Brandy: “OMG!!!!!! I feel terrible about Britney Murphy  I really love her work… Whats up with 2009 man? R.I.P. -My prayers go out to her family.”

Melissa Joan Hart: “I’m so sad to hear of the passing of a peer of mine! RIP Brittany Murphy! We will miss you and all the talent you shared!

Josh Groban: “Hollywood loses another bright soul….how many more? A decade of decadence and devastation. Time to wake up.”

Fred Durst: “RIP Brittany Murphy. What a sweet human being. My prayers are with her friends and family.”

Tags: 8 Mile, Alyssa Milano, Ashton Kutcher, Brandy, Brittany Murphy, Clueless, Eliza Dushku, Fred Durst, Happy Feet, Jessica Simpson, Josh Groban, Just Married, Kat Dennings, Kevin Smith, King Of The Hill, Lindsay Lohan, Melissa Joan Hart, Ramen Girl, Simon Pegg, Sin City, TMZ

Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, with some happy television news over the holiday season. Channel U will be airing a series of very promising-looking telemovies guaranteed to foster a spirit of family togetherness, tug at your heartstrings and motivate you to cherish the ones you love.

This Sunday, catch The Will, a black comedy about two brothers fighting over the millions they are about to inherit from their recently deceased father’s will—only to discover that they have an unknown half-sibling. Greed and evil thoughts start to brew in the brothers’ heads—but then they discover a surprising fact about their sibling. Ah Bu and Johnny Lu star as the money-grubbing brothers, while Michelle Chong takes a turn as Ah Bu’s comically shrewish estranged wife—with very big hair.

“People say it looks like a poodle’s haircut, but I think I look like Rainie Yang!” quipped Michelle. It’s good that she’s upbeat, because the poor girl suffers a lot of abuse in the film. “I get scolded, splashed by water and slapped!” she complained.

“It’s black humour, so there are a lot of dream sequences,” said Ah Bu. “We imagine stuff like putting poison in our sibling’s soup!” As for Johnny, besides starring in Sayang Sayang, he’s also been in idol dramas in Taiwan, too. Betcha didn’t know that. “People don’t know if I can speak Chinese,” Johnny said. “Maybe they’ll get a shock seeing this!”

Next Sunday (Dec 27, 9.30pm), catch The Promise, which stars Lin Mei Jiao, Julie Tan, first runner-up of the 2009 New Paper New Face competition, and Lawrence Wong, the face of ads like McDonald’s commercials.

It’s about Shan Shan (played by Julie), a 19-year-old girl born with mild intellectual disability to a fiercely protective single mother (Mei Jiao, of course). To prevent her from getting taken advantage of, her mother devises a “sunflower pact”: Only a boy who can fulfil the conditions will be allowed to date Shan Shan with her mother’s blessing. Cue the appearance of Wen Yuan, a teenaged slacker who is drawn to Shan Shan. Could he be the one?

“I play a noble mother,” said Mei Jiao. “It’s a bit like playing myself! My daughter is about the same age as Judy, so I felt quite close to her. There was a mother-daughter kind of feeling.”

“It’s a very challenging role,” said Lawrence about playing Wen Yuan. “I’m 27 and this role is that of a 19-year-old. I had to rediscover those teen emotions.” “The film encourages society to give these people a chance,” added Mei Jiao.

On Jan 3, it’ll be Cooking Without Clothes—more on Ann Kok and her culinary skills later! Showbiz Sista, signing out. Live long and pop corn!

Catch The Will on Sunday (Dec 20) at 9.30pm on MediaCorp TV Channel U.

AND so it has come to pass that Princess Fiona has gone off to distant lands with her prince charming. (Okay, not that distant, but you won’t see her hanging out at Upper Thomson all that often now.)

We’ll miss her, not only because she not unpleasant to look at, but also because she gives really interesting one liners (”I used to be a man,” she once joked) often with her tongue firmly planted in cheek. (Her own cheek, not ours – although admittedly, we won’t mind…)

So, in keeping with the “look back” wave of nostalgia we’re all feeling, here’s a look back at Fiona Xie, taken from the photo archives of Today. It’s a little retrospective we like to call Fiona: A Retrospective, Or Just Another Shameless Reason To Run Some Photos Of Fiona.

Taken in 2008 during the interview for Rule #1. When asked where she’d like to pose, she immediately suggested jumping into the fountain at Clarke Quay and proceeded to do so. We didn’t argue.

Who can forget this image of Fiona busting a move down Orchard Road?

Talk about a fairground attraction. Fiona in one of her early shoots with us in 2001.

One red hot chilli padi. From the same 2001 shoot.

Looking all sweet and winsome, sometime in 2006.

There’s something incredibly sexy about sweaters – especially if you’ve got Fiona in it. Circa 2002.

Sporty and spicy: Fiona prepping up for her stunt for a charity show in 2003.

Fiona at this year’s Star Awards presentation.

Tags: Fiona Xie, Today newspaper

EVERY TIME Christmas rolls around, I start to think of that John Lennon song wherein he sings, “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, a new one just begun…”

And what have we done? And more importantly, what have our favourite stars been up to? Well, we decided to go dust off our archives – and they really stretch a ways back – to bring you this pictorial selection.

MEETING THE ULTIMATUM

While Tay Ping Hui, Fann Wong and Zoe Tay are preening for the cameras, what – or who – is Li Nanxing sticking his tongue out to? Maybe we’ll know when season two arrives.

THE SCOOP WITH BRYAN WONG

One of our favourite dudes to interview – because he loves shooting his mouth off. Here he attempts to use a ladle to might light of his wok. (Geddit? Geddit?)

CHAI TOW KWAY TALK

The movie came out this year, but this shot of director Michael Wang and his cast – Danielle, Andrea and Alaric – was done before they started filming The Carrot Cake Conversations. Note the absence of stress lines and spots.

SHOULD NDP BE FUNNY?

Suhaimi Yusof and Michelle Chong, co-hosts for this year’s National Day Parade apparently thought so. Er. Yup. That’s it. Moving on…

DRAMA IN THE SUBWAY

No, not that informercial where the lady goes, “Your bag!” and the man in the cap goes, “Not mine!” No, we’re talking about A Starry Night, a drama that was exclusively shown on the MRT screens here starring Kelly Poon (in cowboy hat). We like the way she and co-star Mei Xin snuck a glance over to us even as the others (like Korean singer Nathan Lee and Taiwanese star Robert Fan) were told to face front.

SHIRLEY, THAT’S NANCY!

She’s got a big laugh and a big heart and seeing as she’s still going strong despite having two major operations in as many months, Nancy Sit – the most famous actress with a mole in the middle of the forehead – a big constitution as well.

We also saw Hong Kong actress Shirley Yeung in the TVB anteroom waiting for her interview to start so we got her to pose for us. Unfortunately, we missed out on the actual interview because we were too busy shooting Nancy.

THE MUPPET MASTERS MEET THE LITTLE NYONYA

The guys from the Jim Henson Company and BIG Communications flank Qi Yuwu and Jeanette Aw at the Singapore party thrown by the MDA in Cannes.

THAI FIGHTERS

The cast of Dragonball Evolution popped into Bangkok earlier this year. Here are Emmy Rossum and Joon Park, aka Park Joon Hyung (above) and Samurai Girl Jamie Chung with Justin Chatwin (below).

Of course, we couldn’t resist getting Jade Seah to ham it up for us.

HAIR RAISING STUFF

Either the wind-swept look is in or even the stars are not immune to the strong winter winds wandering over Hong Kong. Just see what it did to singer-actresses Karen Mok (above) and Joey Yung (below).

Tags: Fann Wong, Julia Abueva, Li Nanxing, Michelle Chong, Suhaimi Yusof, Zoe Tay