Familiar Faces Leave TVB; “Outsiders” Rise in Prominence
An increasing number of TVB’s managed artists such as Raymond Lam (林峯), Kevin Cheng (鄭嘉穎), Bosco Wong (黃宗澤), and Ron Ng (吳卓羲) are turning to mainland China for better financial opportunities. As familiar artists are focusing their careers in the lucrative Chinese market, TVB is suffering from the lack of leading stars and has resorted to promote external artists.
Artists such as Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼), Jessica Hsuan (宣萱), and Fala Chen (陳法拉) ventured outside of TVB desiring more freedom and better filming schedules. Moses Chan (陳豪) and Michael Tse (謝天華) also expressed interest to film in China. Though Moses is ranked as one of the highest earners in Hong Kong television, he hopes to earn more money and save for his marriage fund with Aimee Chan (陳茵媺). Although they pledge their loyalty to TVB, even Kenneth Ma (馬國明) and Tavia Yeung (楊怡) would also like to have a bite of the lucrative mainland pie.
Without its field of popular fadans and siu sangs to lead its dramas, TVB has to quickly promote other artists to take their place.
Artists from i-Cable
When producer Sandy Yue (余詠珊) returned to TVB from Taiwan’s Next Media last year, she played an important role in persuading TVB to cast former i-Cable presenter, Priscilla Wong (黃翠如) as the female lead in Reality Check <心路GPS>. Despite the lukewarm response to the relatively new actress, TVB signed additional hosting celebrities from i-Cable such as Tony Hung (洪永城), Luk Ho Ming (陸浩明), and Ali Lee (李佳芯).
Artists from ATV
With ATV struggling to raise its viewership ratings from the single digits, many of its former artists have crossed over to TVB. Ruco Chan (陳展鵬), Joey Meng (萬綺雯), Alice Chan (陳煒) and Kristal Tin (田蕊妮) are the successful examples.
However, as the changing of the guard of its leading artists is taking place, the artists have yet to cement their status due to changing TVB management whims. Despite joining TVB in 2008, Kristal Tin seems to be overshadowed by newcomer, Priscilla Wong in upcoming Qing dynasty drama, The Verbal Side of Court <舌劍上的公堂>. Kristal’s screen time was greatly reduced, even though she was originally the main actress.
Among former ATV artists, Ruco Chan is the most highly utilized and considered to be the next big TVB star. Starring in currently aired drama, Slow Boat Home <情越海岸線>, Ruco co-leads with Raymond Wong (黃浩然). Ruco has been filming nonstop over the last year and half, with leading roles in the upcoming Brother’s Keeper <巨輪>, Ruse of Engagement <叛逃>, and Outbound Love <單戀雙城>.
Unhappiness Among TVB
With the influx of external artists replacing their own pool of talents, taking up important roles in their variety programs and series, TVB’s own artists such as Moses Chan and Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) were rumored to have expressed their discontentment with the substandard skills of the leading artists. To this, TVB executive, Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍) denied the negative rumors.
At yesterday’s 2013 First Half Outstanding Staff Awards ceremony, where both Chen Yiu Chuan (陳耀全) and Sandy Yue went home with awards, Catherine Tsang said, “I believe both of them are good so I hope everyone will stop splitting into groups. I also don’t think it’s true that someone is accusing Sandy Yue of breaking up TVB since joining us.”
Source: Apple Daily
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
moses and wayne must be feeling challenged because they know they’re old and tvb is promoting new faces.
ruco beats these two ‘tvb veterans’ in acting at any given day 🙂
Ruco’s acting skill is better than Moses and Wayne? Seriously? You must be joking.
^ This
Better than Moses for sure. Better than Wayne? not too sure.
It is not a joke. Sad reality.
atv Ruco became tvb Ruco.
‘young & dangerous’ Mose became old & risky dvb paths.
Oldie Wayne is becoming obsolete, coz shoe shininng is more that a handful of ear wax. Bosco isn’t worth mentioning. Tony should stick with presentin’ travel shows as thats his niche, stepping forward from the pass may not be a big hit like ‘a step in to the past’! Viewers would like mr’Quality’ Kwong Wah tv series, could tvb afford high class actors anymore. low cost Productions isn’t winning viwers indeed.
Disagree. Moses is more versatile than Ruco and is able to act in both serious and comedic roles. His performance in Master of play was brilliant and I couldn’t foresee anyone portraying that role as good as him, not even Wayne.
Not true, Ruco does extremely well in his villain and comedic roles, better than Moses who tends to overact. I can even see Ruco doing a better job with Moses’s role in Master of Play.
thought this is a site for actors only, can’t stand any news on madam monster catherine tsang
Everyone will eventually leave TVB for something better, that life. TVB salary suck, but at least treat ppl better.
Moses want to leave, that’s okay with me, cuz his acting skills suck. He’s a one note kinda guy.
I can’t wait when all the big stars start filming.
so if roger and bobby going to leave tvb as well
NOT BOBBY. AHHH.
*heart attack*
Roger left before, then he came back.
No artist has truly left TVB in the past decade. Sooner or later they all come back. This is the way it is and the way it should be. The old guard develops their careers elsewhere and let new people try to rise within TVB. Sooner or later the old guard returns helps boost the popularity of the new artists. All these people suspected of leaving TVB may it may not do so but one thing is for sure. They will film for TVB again before long.
Ruco acting is so much better than Moses!! Ruco should take over Moses spot. TVB needs promote Ruco more!
Agreed. Although Moses has won his BA award, I don’t think he’s that great. I think Ruco, Pierre, Ben and some other rising actors should be given more opportunities.
Evergreen as well, Max Yeung, some of the actors in Come Home Love should be promoted as well.
Very much agree. I’m happy if Ruco can replace Moses whose acting isn’t good in the first place. This man is overrated and everywhere.
wayne might also leave when his contract expires
I hope he does
Good. Please leave, Wayne. TVB is in need of new breath of fresh air.
Now only do TVB realized most of their main leads r 1/2way over d hill, mann!
Positive thinking : we’ll see fresh blood on TVB drama, sometimes those old/familiar faces non-stop appearance as main lead could trigger to boredom 😛
agreed!
Hello ,is Ali Lee (李佳芯)a Muslim?
What is i-Cable TV based ? this this tv station based on Macau or mainland China?
I told Hong Kong only have 2 tv station ,tvb and atv ,am i right?
Moses has always been overrated in my opinion- overacts and is very forced. He and Aimee are made for each other.
As for artists leaving tvb, thats just a reality that needs to be dealt with. As with other things, as China opens up and has the market size and financial power, people will seek greener pastures elsewhere. Although tvb has never seemed to manage its stars properly, its too busy with senior internal politics. Its only now with the end of their monopoly that it becomes critical. If it were based on talent, lots of the ‘stars’ wouldn’t be able to get a gig
He is overrated in drama, underrated in comedy. He is not a leading material. I have always said he survives thanks to ensemble cast. Alone, and I feel he ain’t Steven Ma or even Bobby.
agreed with Funn.
This article seems to suggest a sudden depart of many familiar faces when all along over the years many actors come and go and with new faces promoted often. Nothing to be alarmed with.
Bobby lives as TVB, dies as TVB (save for some series in Mainland).
Many actors start with TVB for the exposure, they leave when they can command a high salary and later comes back to reconnect with the world.
One commenter did ask if Mainland series is so popular over the world. Answer is yes BUT TVB has a wide network and TVB has a wide distribution rights. Therefore as popular mainland series may be or even Korea or Taiwanese series or Japanese series, TVB is still a global force, hence artists who wants to be noticed or wants to be in the consciousness of viewers again return or go to TVB. Nowadays thanks to cable TV we watch a lot of more of other productions but one of the very main reason ASTRO is so popular is the tie in with TVB.
So I don’t doubt the power of TVB, even if they’re the evil emperors of broadcasting.
Moses Chan and Wayne Lai are overrated. I’m happy if TVB are getting new actors to replace them and won’t mind if they quit TVB.
As a whole company itself, tbb is slowly falling apart with their artists’ departing the company one at a time. Seriously really don’t care which company is better or whatever, as long as there are still dramas to watch with the familar faces i;ve grown up watching and love watching, then if tbb truly crashes and burns..so be it.
It’d be quite interesting if Mainland production combines with HK as one whole big buisness where all artists’ from both locations can film and collaborate with each other…just a thought.
“It’d be quite interesting if Mainland production combines with HK as one whole big buisness where all artists’ from both locations can film and collaborate with each other”
Won’t happen for as long as TVB is studio based with contracted artistes. They do have such collaborations but clearly artistes provided by TVB, money perhaps by Chinese studios.
@Clementine: It’s a good idea but that will never happen. Every time when TVB tries to collobrate with some Mainland celebrities, the dramas doesn’t do so well. Examples of these would: Growing through life, the drive of life.
I’ll definitely miss Fala and Moses. It’s only right for them to venture outside of TVB if better opportunities come their way! Beauty of life.
I will miss Fala but I think she may be like Steven Ma who returned to film a drama. So maybe if Fala has finished her acting class, she may return to tvb ?
that woman in the top center photo I remember as being very charming looking and very sparky HK girl in her sassy behavior – it’s too bad that not many people outside of Cantonese culture know how hilariously entertaining HK females are
The only one I’ll miss is Bosco. He is one of the ones who can actually act. All his roles felt like a breath of fresh air, no matter how many times I saw him on-screen before.