Thursday, December 5, 2013

TVB 46th Anniversary: My Predictions and Picks

That time of year has come again! Despite my rather unstable interest in TVB and its series these days (I've watched and actually completed maybe 5 this year), the anniversary season always makes me excited. With that, here is my annual post on my predictions and picks for the awards show!

Best Actor 



Predicted Winner: Chilam Cheung
Predicted Top 5: 
Chilam Cheung, Francis Ng, Kenneth Ma, Wayne Lai, Dayo Wong
Most Deserving:
 
Ruco Chan
P
ersonal Choice: Ruco Chan

The race for Best Actor this year has been an interesting one. Despite TVB's tendency to not like giving awards to "non-biological children", many of this year's hot choices have been non-managed artists, from Chilam to Francis to Dayo. While it was initially thought to be Kenneth's year, Chilam's popularity has surged since portraying "Captain Cool". TVB will likely give the award to him as an incentive to film more often. While I agree Chilam is charismatic and entertaining, I found his character to be highly overrated and poorly developed, going from a carefree playboy to a lovelorn, clingy man without much explanation. However, biases aside, the strongest and most intriguing male lead performance of the year has got to be Ruco as "Sam" in "Brother's Keeper." Although the series held some plot holes and Sam's development wasn't always completely logical, Ruco portrayed the complex character phenomenally. Heck, he deserves an award just for the scene where he hugs a blindfolded and kidnapped Linda from behind. You know an actor has true talent when he or she can show so much emotion through nothing but their eyes.

Best Actress 



Predicted Winner: Kristal Tin
Predicted Top 5: Kristal, Linda Chung, Joey Meng, Tavia Yeung, and Kate Tsui
Most Deserving: Kristal and Joey
Personal Choice: Joey

If TVB still has any sense of fairness and good judgement, they will not bestow the title of "TV Queen" to Linda, or at least not this year and for "Brother's Keeper." Linda is hardly the worst actress out there and has given decent performances, but "Rachel" is nowhere near her representative work. To award her for this role would be a huge joke simply because the character gave no room to Linda to actually show her acting. As for who I think is most deserving and like to see win, it's a very tough choice and close call between Joey and Kristal. If I had to choose, I would pick Joey for her deliciously evil and subtle, quiet, but scarily manipulative and cunning villain.

Favorite Male Character


Predicted Winner: Kenneth Ma
Most Deserving: Ruco Chan
Personal Choice: Ruco Chan

Kenneth will lose again, and receive this as consolation. Once again.

Favorite Female Character


Predicted Winner: Linda Chung
Most Deserving: Kristal Tin
Personal Choice: Kristal

In the case TVB is fair and really does give Kristal Best Actress, they will probably also want to give a consolation to Linda. However, if it's anyone who deserves a double win this year, it's Kristal. Though over the top at times, "Ah Ying" was indeed a meaty and lovable character who you couldn't help but root for.

Best Supporting Actor 


Predicted Winner: Edwin Siu
Predicted Top 2: Edwin, Him Law
Most Deserving: Edwin
Personal Choice: Edwin
Most notable snub: Vincent Wong in "A Change of Heart"

Other snubs: Max Cheung, Geoffrey Wong, and Glen Lee in "Come Home Love"

At a whooping 15 nominations, TVB has a tendency to nominate almost everyone, if not everyone, for an award, reducing the prestige of one. Yet, they manage to snub Vincent when he gives the strongest, most endearing, and natural performance of his career so far. Since Griselda Yeung received a surprise nomination, I would have also liked to see either Max, Geoffrey, or Glen receive one for their work on "Come Home Love" as well. And yet, Jason was nominated despite being heavily criticized for his unnatural performance in "Will Power." But I digress. TVB seems to really want to give Edwin a reward considering the presence of his name in every acting/character category, and if he takes home any award, I think it will be this one. While "A Great Way to Care 2" was not a huge hit amongst audiences, Edwin's star is continuing to shine brighter. He does not create as much buzz as actors like Him, but has improved immensely since his "Aqua Hero" days, possesses so much charm and affability, and injects honesty in his portrayals. I can only hope that TVB will finally recognize him for this on the night of the 16th. Since last year saw TVB only revealing the top 2 nominees, I'm thinking Him will be Edwin's biggest competitor.

Best Supporting Actress 




Predicted Winner: Elena Kong
Predicted Top 2: Elena, Mandy Wong
Most Deserving: Elena
Personal Choice: N/A


This is probably the most boring category this year. No one has emerged as a front runner and it was never a much talked about topic among the press. With that said, like every year as of late, Elena and Mandy each have a chance and have been delivering as always. I would say the odds are more in Elena's favor as she is nominated for "Triumph." While I'm not betting on this one, I would not mind her finally taking this award home at all. Despite initially being worried about how awkward she and Kenneth would be together and disliking the series overall, it ended up being one of the subplots I quite enjoyed. However, there is no one I am outright rooting for this year.

Most Improved Actor


Predicted Winner: Jason Chan
Most Deserving: Vincent Wong
Personal Choice: Vincent
Most Notable Snub: Lai Lok Yi

If there's someone whose odds are not in his favor, it's Vincent. This would not be his first nomination for this category, but I have been wholeheartedly rooting for him to nab it this year since "A Change of Heart." His name would be written all over the award if it was based solely on acting performance. Sadly, the lack of buzz for the otherwise great series gives him next to no chance. I can still cross my fingers. If he loses to anyone, I'd rather it be Him or Edwin (though the latter is overqualified). Yet, TVB still seems set on grooming Jason despite him making the least improvements of the five guys. I'm slightly surprised and very disappointed to not see Lai Lok Yi on the list. I thought that Lok Yi was a lost cause and would only continue be a decent but bland actor, but he has improved so much as the playful, humorous, and rather cocky but kind "John Ma" in "Come Home Love." To not give him recognition for this is disappointing.

Most Improved Actress


Predicted Winner: Eliza Sam
Most Deserving: Grace Wong, Cilla Lok
Personal Choice: Grace

Priscilla is a hot contender, but it just feels too weird to me for TVB to give a newcomer in their debut year the "Most Improved" award. How can someone improve if they have just started out? Eliza is a more likely choice, though she has improved the least. It was a pleasant surprise to see Grace on the list as though I had previously disliked her, I genuinely enjoyed her in "Awfully Lawful" and found her very endearing and much more natural. Cilla has also improved by heaps and bounds in the last two years and gone from cringe worthy to cute, comfortable, and confident onscreen. Unfortunately, her youthful and baby faced look has her type casted in the little sister roles and would be hard to promote, giving TVB little incentive to give it to her.

Best Drama

Predicted Winner: "Triumph in the Skies 2"
Most Deserving: "A Change of Heart", "Brother's Keeper"
Personal Choice: "A Change of Heart"

The "Best Drama" award is usually one of two things: Totally predicable, or one big "WTF" (Ala last year's "When Heaven Burns" win). If TVB returns to the predictable road, ratings hit (but hopelessly overrated) "Triumph in the Skies 2" will win. However, I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of this year's other ratings hit and black horse "Inbound Troubles" nabbing it either. I highly enjoyed "Brother's Keeper", but will choose "A Change of Heart" as my overall personal choice for its perfect mixture of multiple genres and the former had more plot inconsistencies.

This is my fifth consecutive year writing a predictions post! I wonder how accurate I will be this year. Comment with who you think will win and what your personal choices are!

4 comments:

  1. It feels like years since I made a comment around here.

    Haha, your "unstable interest in TVB", what an accurate way to put it. ;)

    Corrections:

    1. It's Joey Meng instead of Mak. Haha, actually TVB has a younger actress called Joey Mak. She usually plays some actor's little sister.
    2. It's consolation instead of constellation.

    LOL, your categories "notable snubs" and "other snubs" are hilarious. Who is Max Cheung, btw?

    I don't remember that TVB only mentions Top 2 for their Best Supporting categories, but I wonder why. It's funny before I read, but I thought it was your choice to put top 2 because the Best Supporting categories are just so boring and uncompetitive and everyone is nominated, but no one actually deserves it.

    I suddenly remembered reading that Tavia wishes Him to win Best Supporting because he is too old (at 29) to win Most Improved. Lol I unsure if this logic is based on the fact that she won Most Improved at a younger age (and not to mention, TWICE I believe) or some girlfriend bias. If it's based on age, Ruco and Edwin are definitely heading towards Best Actor since they're half way through their 30's already.

    I just read that TVB is going to give BSA to Ron for his performance in "Triumph", which they claimed he generated positive reviews. I don't know because I didn't watch it, but Ron seems so grandpa to me nowadays and he really generates no more buzz, not even in his love life, or currently lack of one so that's probably why. Like you said, Edwin is nominated in every category, so it's really hard to see him not winning anything at all, especially since it HAS BEEN his year for TWO YEARS IN A ROW ALREADY.

    It's really nice to see May Chan and Griselda being nominated. They are so different from the nominees who are nominated for something forgettable every year. TVB needs more variety.

    I like how you mentioned Lok Yi as a notable snub. I realized that TVB doesn't do much nominations with the artists starring in sitcoms. There were two notable ones this year, Lau Dan for BA and Griselda for BSA (correct me if there is more), but in past years, there aren't much. I agree that Lok Yi really deserves some kind of mention. Wouldn't mind if they nominated him for BSA either since there are so many fillers in that category already. Most Improved category has always been so tight.

    I can't help but feel that the actresses nominated for Most Improved have been typecasted for whatever they are known for except for probably Oceane. Grace always exudes some sexual charm, which I like and feel she's suitable for. Cilla, always the little bratty sister. Eliza, always some cheerful role. Priscilla, good girl, but bland girl. I heard that it's a race between Priscilla and Eliza; one executive favors Priscilla, but everyone else like Eliza for her charismatic appearances at various functions.

    Regarding "Best Drama", I don't know what to think. I watched Inbound Troubles, enjoyed it, forgot about it, but still have a favorable feeling for the show overall. It's different from everything else TVB mass produces. I was surprised that Inbound actually had it's own skit during the Gala show. TITS may have generate a lot of excitement, but no one really talks about it after it finished airing and a good handful was complaining about blah blah blah during it's air.

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  2. Hey there I really liked your predictions and I 90% agree eith your thoughts. If you have any spare time though feel free to have a look at my amateur blog at www.anthonytvb.blogspot.com.au to check out my predictions and share your opinions

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  3. Pls continue with you prediction annually! You make the TVB anniversary event more interesting for me! :)
    I like that you separated your choices into Predicted, Most Deserving and Personal Choice this year.
    In my choices below, there will not be Dayo or Bounty Lady as I haven't watched that.

    BEST ACTOR
    Comment: What's Lau Dan doing here? Not saying he's not good enough, but it feels kinda contrived...... for TVB to please him so as to keep this great 'green leaf' actor from leaving too?
    Predicted: Chilam
    Most Deserving: Ruco
    Personal: Michael Miu (why do everybody overlook him?)

    BEST ACTRESS:
    Comment: Louisa Lee? See above comment about Lau Dan. Why do TVB has to nominate Aimee? When has Aimee become leading actress????
    Predicted: Linda
    Most Deserving: Kristal Tin (I didn't put Joey in 'most deserving' because I find that Kristal has really proven herself in all the shows so far, and in Brother's Keepers she trumped all her previous work)
    Personal: Joey Meng

    FAVOURITE MALE CHARACTER
    Comment: Does this mean only MALE LEAD character? Or can it be any favourite male character?
    Predicted: Kenneth Ma (eeks! but totally agree with you he will get this as consolation. but then again, this category is supposed to be 100% voted by viewers. If this is true, and with no foul play by TVB, this category can be rather hard to predict.)
    Most deserving: Chilam (because Cool Mor made Chilam's popularity in Asia shot up, so it must be a big favourite?)
    Personal choice: Ruco / Edwin (what to do? I was a big fan or BK)

    FAVOURITE FEMALE
    Comment: it irks me seeing Aimee here again. her nominations are the most ridiculous.
    Predicted: Kristal Tin
    Most deserving: Kristal
    Personal: Kristal

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
    Comment: Power Chan is missing but this guy (don't know his name in English: 1st row, 1st on the right) is there??? This guy can't act for goodness sake!
    Predicted: Edwin (as TVB's consolation to him)
    Most deserving: Edwin
    Personal: Edwin

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
    Comment: Like you've said, this is the most boring of all, as none actually stood out. So there is no one else to choice by Elena, because of her consistency in all her performances in the past few years. About time she gets some recognition.

    MOST IMPROVED ACTOR
    Comment: this is another one to me. Somehow I'm not taken by Vincent's acting / improvement. But I do agree Edwin is overqualified.
    Predicted: Him
    Most deserving: Edwin (because he's over qualified!)
    Personal: None (because it won't be fair if I choose Edwin as he's overqualified! Why is he nominated in this category?)

    MOST IMPROVED ACTRESS
    Predicted: Eliza
    Most deserving: Grace (I have to disagree with you about Cilla improving in the last 1 year. Hard for her to show improvement when she's typecast in so many similar roles.)
    Personal: Eliza

    BEST DRAMA
    Predicted: Triumph
    Most deserving: BK
    Personal: BK

    Can't wait for the 16th to come!

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  4. I mainly agree with your predictions as well! Can't wait to see what actually happens :)
    Predictions aside, below are my picks for this year:

    Best Actor: Ruco Chan (Brother's Keeper)

    Like you said, he was excellent in his role! I think this type of character suits him best. I was always rooting for Kenneth at first, but The Hippocratic Crush 2 is unfortunately garnering poor ratings and reviews. Although I'm watching it, I feel like I'm about to quit at any moment. Is it just me? But the plot is extremely boring, and the addition of all those characters is changing the whole feel of the drama.

    Best Actress: Joey Meng (A Change of Heart), Krystal Tin (Brother's Keeper), Tavia Yeung (A Great Way to Care 2)

    I would happy if any one of the above wins. Joey was awesome in ACOH. That was actually the first time I saw her onscreen, and she was amazingly memorable. Definitely one of the best performances of the year! Krystal outshone Linda in BK, and her character is also much more likable. She was very convincing as the tough and tomboyish woman! And finally, Tavia in AGWTC2. I know she has portrayed villains before, but her acting here really shocked me (in a good way). Not a lot of actresses out there can pull off as a crazy killer like that. I actually really enjoyed watching her character progress and change throughout the series. If Tavia is to win again this year, I really want it to be for AGWTC2 instead of THC2 (although obviously this isn't gonna happen). Honestly, I think her role in THC2 is just mediocre. In my opinion, Tavia shines in roles where she is either evil, funny, or really anything besides her serious and professional roles.

    Best Supporting Actor: Edwin Siu (A Great Way to Care 2)

    With his bucked teeth in that show, I didn't recognize him in the first episode and actually had to google the cast list. Okay yeah, that was dumb. But he really seemed very, very different! It wasn't just his physical appearance, but his acting as well. I call that a something.

    Best Supporting Actress: Nancy Wu (Triumph in the Skies 2), Mandy Wong (A Change of Heart or The Hippocratic Crush 2)

    I think these two are highly capable actresses. If I have to pick one, my vote goes to Nancy. However, she already got the award last year, so I doubt they'll give it to her again. That's why I put Mandy up there too. Anyways, Nancy is a brilliant actress and I hope she'll get nominated into the Best Actress category next year. Mandy's also superb at what she does, and it would be awesome to see her get this award.

    Most Improved Actor: Vincent Wong (A Change of Heart)

    Definitely think he deserves something by now!

    Most Improved Actress: Grace Wong

    I haven't watched any of Priscilla's dramas, so I wouldn't know. Cilla imo, is not a very good actress. Maybe it's her roles? Idk, but she annoys me whenever she appears onscreen. I prefer her singing over her acting any day. Oceane needs to work on her canto. Eliza is...meh...I actually find Tracy Chu's acting better than her! But obviously, Tracy has only appeared in one drama, so there's no "improvement" from her. Eliza can definitely brush up her acting skills a lot more!

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