Best Actor
Top 5: Philip Keung, Benjamin Yuen, Kenneth Ma, Vincent Wong, Joel Chan
Predicted Winner: Kenneth
Most Deserving: Philip
Personal Choice: N/A
Will Kenneth finally win or will Philip pull an upset as the dark-horse candidate? Kenneth's character was disappointingly uncomplicated and unchallenging in an otherwise relatively solid series so watching him win for this series will not be as rewarding, but there is no doubt that he has been passed over for Best Actor time and time again. If Philip does pull an upset, Kenneth will have "The Exorcist's Meter 2.0" next year and "Ma Kwai" is a much stronger character though not particularly challenging to play either. Just please don't give the poor guy "Favorite Character" again.
Best Actress
Top 5: Kara Wai, Miriam Yeung, Selena Li, Natalie Tong, Nancy Wu
Predicted Winner: Miriam Yeung
Most Deserving: Did not watch The Defected and have not finished Barrack O'Karma, so hard to say
Personal Choice: N/A
It's Kara v. Miriam v. Selena, which is quite an interesting frontrunner list given that none of these artists are TVB managed artists (or in Selena's case, not TVB managed anymore), so the typical TVB politics/favorites game will not help you guess the winner. Kara is disadvantaged from "The Defected" having aired so much earlier in the year, so it's likely between Miriam and Selena. Miriam likely has the edge.
Favorite Male Character
Top 5: Benjamin, Kenneth, Joel, Vincent, Pakho Chau
Predicted Winner: Joel
Most Deserving: Joel?
Personal Choice: Pakho
Pakho's "Ho Tin" is my favorite character of the year. He is arguably too good to be true, but works as a better developed twist on the rich second-generation archetype that Pakho plays with charisma and likability. Benjamin may be rewarded for losing 20 pounds for his character in "The Defected," but has won this award before and like with Kara, is disadvantaged by the series' early air date. Given the critical acclaim of "Barrack O'Karma," Joel could likely inch out the others for this award.
Favorite Female Character
Top 5: Natalie, Selena, Miriam, Mandy Lam, Koni Lui
Predicted Winner: Selena
Most Deserving: Selena
Personal Choice: Mandy
If Selena does not win Best Actress, it will feel like a slap in the face for her to not win this award. Then again, I said something similar about Mandy Wong for "Threesome" last year, and look what happened there...
Mandy is not as much of a screen stealer in "Lo and Behold" this year since her character has left the company and become the lady boss at her and Jack's bar, but remains one of my favorite characters to watch.
Best Supporting Actor
Top 5: Tsui Wing, Matthew Ho, Eric Li, Stanley Cheung, Tony Hung
Predicted Winner: Eric
Most Deserving: Eric
Personal Choice: Eric
I actually have no idea who will win. This is a rehash for those who follow me on Twitter, but while I’m indifferent to all the other categories this year, I do feel passionately Eric should win. TVB has long typecast him into minor villain supporting roles but he has always performed well with the material given to him. He played a villain again in “The Man Who Kills Trouble,” but this time as the first supporting male in a meaty character who gets a redemption arc. He has great screen presence as the triad leader, and while his redemption arc is quite condensed, he gives a subtle performance in the last few episodes that prevents his redemption from feeling abrupt. What was abrupt though was Eric’s departure from TVB after receiving his largest role to date. He likely would have had a good chance at winning given he has received positive reception and attention for the series had he not left, but no longer a managed artist, TVB has nothing to gain. It’s anyone’s game now considering no other candidate who has generated much buzz, so I’ll hold onto hope Eric can emerge victorious.
I am pleasantly surprised though at the number of nominations long-running sitcom “Lo and Behold” received, particularly in this category. While the quality TVB’s dramas has left much to be desired for years, the sitcom has consistently been entertaining and fun.
Best Supporting Actress
Top 5: Moon Lau, Katy Kung, Jeannie Chan, Samantha Ko, Zoie Tam
Predicted Winner: Moon
Most Deserving: N/A
Personal Choice: Koni
Snub: Koni and Joyce Tang for “Lo and Behold”
Andrea So gets a nomination, but not Koni? Joyce has at least been previously nominated. The sitcom is now in its third year and Koni has yet to receive an acting nomination (though she is nominated for Favorite Character). She has improved significantly as an actress and is natural and entertaining.
As per usual with this category in the last few years, I'm just making random guesses now. TVB just likes awarding younger actresses it is preparing itself to heavily promote. My gut says the award will go to Moon or Jeannie. Jeannie had the more interesting character in "The Ghetto Fabulous Lady" it seems, but Moon is the better and more charismatic actress.
Most Improved Actor
Predicted Winner: Owen Cheung
Most Deserving: Owen
Personal Choice: Kalok Chow
Will TVB take pity on Owen for shelving all his series? I expected him to win last year so this is probably his year. Kalok Chow has great comedic timing in "Lo and Behold" and seems to have improved considerably since the sitcom first started.
Most Improved Actress
Predicted Winner: Kelly Cheung
Most Deserving: Gloria Tang
Personal Choice: Iris Lam
Kelly is the most heavily promoted of the bunch and has already been cast in leading roles. Gloria has improved a ton since her unwatchable early roles. I thought Iris showed potential in "Lo and Behold," but she got to shine in "Girlie Days" as Kristal Tin's daughter. I usually don't care for the young daughter and son roles, but Iris was incredibly natural, sweet, and charming and the actress herself seems passionate about acting.
Best Partnership
Predicted Winner: Joel and Selena
Most Deserving: Joel and Selena
Personal Choice: N/A
Four nominations for "Lo and Behold"! I do like Koni and Stanley in the sitcom a lot, but don't feel incredibly strongly about anyone. If Joel and Selena somehow manage to not get any major award, they should at the very least get this one since their pairing was so well-loved. Mandy Lam and Jack Hui are another possibility, but the buzz for the pairing has died down since Mandy's win last year.
Best Theme Song
Predicted Winner: "Can You Hear Me" by Kayee Tam for "Big White Duel"
Personal Choice: Theme song by Miriam Yeung for "Wonder Women"
I really like Kayee's voice and glad she has gotten to sing more theme songs, but goodness this song was overplayed and had awkward and cringeworthy English lyrics. Why are TVB's English subtheme songs so bad? How hard is it to have someone check the lyrics for grammar? Meanwhile, I recently watched HKTV's 2015 series "The Menu" for the first time, and thought the English sub theme "Can't Let Go" was absolutely lovely. Amazing how writing decent, grammatically correct English lyrics can help!
Best Drama
Predicted Winner: Big White Duel
Most Deserving: Barrack O'Karma
Personal Choice: Wonder Woman
"Big White Duel" is the safe choice as it was both a heavily-promoted series that was both critically and commercially successful (at least by TVB's standards these days). Barrack O'Karma is the black horse candidate though that could very likely win too.
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