Joe Ma and Louise Lee Bid Farewell to TVB

With declining quality and reception in TVB dramas, many established artistes are leaving the station. With stars such as Joe Ma (馬德鐘) and Louise Lee (李司棋) joining the list of actors who decided to discontinue their contracts, TVB will be focusing their promotional efforts to groom younger artistes.

Filming with TVB through a per contract series for the past few years, Joe admitted that Smooth Talker <以和為貴> will be his last series. Hoping to try new projects, Joe will split his time between working in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Veteran actress, 60-year-old Louise Lee, also decided it is time to leave the station. In the 1970s, Louise, Liza Wang (汪明荃), Gigi Wong (黃淑儀), and Angie Chiu (趙雅芝), were named TVB’s Four Fadans due to their immense popularity. Unfortunately, fame and glory is not eternal – Louise revealed her thoughts about stepping down in order to give way to the new era actresses. “TVB’s development is focused on promoting young artistes. I don’t have a grudge against that. It’s very natural – who would write a script centered on a grandma? I also don’t want TVB to always have to take care of this grandma.”

Louise hopes to leave viewers with a memorable last impression in Romantic Repertoire <水發胭脂>, where she portrays Joyce Koi’s (蓋鳴暉) sharp and bossy manager.

Miss Hong Kong Beauties to Be Promoted

A majority of TVB’s actresses come from a pageant background. However, opportunities for Miss Hong Kong pageant participants came especially quickly in recently years. Although relatively inexperienced and still raw in acting, newcomers managed to secure lead roles within two years of their debut.

With the expected departure of Myolie Wu (胡杏兒) this year, Tracy Chu (朱千雪) was given the lead role in EU: Overtime Mission <EU超時任務>. In Smooth Talker, Tracy is allowed to shine once again by portraying Kate Tsui‘s (徐子珊) sister who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome.

Earlier, TVB executive Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍) also announced the promotion of Grace Chan (陳凱琳), Sisley Choi (蔡思貝), and Moon Lau (劉佩玥) by partnering them with established actors.

Source: Sina.com

This article is written Su for JayneStars.com.

Related Articles

Responses

    1. @funnlim
      Actors such as Lawrence Ng and Wayne Lai will have to portray characters in their 40s.

      I like Louise Lee though. She puts her heart in her performances and usually generates good chemistry with the artistes who portray her children on screen.

      1. I also enjoy watching Louise Lee See Kee. She is a fantastic actress. She acts a lot better now than she did at her young days.

  1. Louise Lee should have left years ago but Joe Ma has gained in charisma over the years and will be missed.

    1. Agreed. I’m tired of Louise, but Joe is very charismatic, especially when he’s acting as the leader. >.< I will miss him..

  2. Both are great actors and TVB would have lots to do in replacing the popular actors who have left the station.

  3. I think Ron Ng needs to go. He has been acting in the same manner with no breakthrough although acting for over 10 years. Must be some kind of record.

  4. Ahhh I will sure miss Louise!! Hope she can do tvb drama at least once a year.

  5. Look like the departure of Myolie doesnt have a lot of noises. People seem to think it is under expectation.

    1. Yup it was expected and mentioned that she wants to focus in mainland shows and maybe with the recent marriage rumours, she want to settle down with her jackpot boyfriend. Besides TVB now has changed focus to promote newbie actresses.

      1. Have TVB ever stopped the promotions to the newbie?

        Btw, she has a wise decision to leave. Will put attention to see who is next.

  6. I won’t miss Joe Ma much, I think he’s a mediocre actor with mediocre charisma. Louise Lee is good, she will be missed as a very effective mother figure in many TVB hit dramas.

    1. I can’t agree more. Joe Ma barely improved all these years and always been a plank of wood. He’s not a very versatile actor. I don’t he is charismatic.

      1. @chocobunny If you remember clearly, even Rose Chan said that Joe didnt do anything too over with her. She mostly claimed Benny Chan for having bad actions with her but say nothing much about Joe. Joe isnt a perfect person but I dont think he is bad as a person.

        Saying he is a terrible actor is kinda OTT. He maybe not the best actor but he can delivery the lines well. I like the fact that he is botox-less for his age. Really annoyed of seeing a face with full of botox/filler like a balloon. This is why I dont mind to see Joe, perhaps in Chinese series.

      2. @alluka I don’t remember Rose Chan saying that or she might have said that under pressure from TVB management. What I remember is that he did not come out of it smelling like roses which means there was an element of doubt.
        Nope, he’s a terrible actor to me with only one expression all the time. Don’t like his acting at all. I don’t know if he’s botox-less/filler-less but i know that he didn’t undergo plastic surgery unlike some other famous actors/singers who blatantly deny it even though it’s as plain as the nose on their faces that they did something.

      3. @chocobunny Should you notice the fact that Joe Chan wasnt under the management of TVB at the moment the scandal with Rose Chan happened. Moreover Rose Chan isnt under TVB therefore they cannot force her to do so and so. You might dislike him too much to put all the blames on him. If you rmb, Benny Chan had to hold a press conference to say sorry but Joe didnt need to do so because not many people think he has do something too much to her.

        I think he has a lot of expression. Ok, acting is on the eye of beholder, right. Yup, he is free from plastic surgery. Regarding the plastic surgery, famous actors/singers may have the reputation to protect when they lie about the plastic surgeries but I wonder why not-so-famous actors still have to say that s/he is free from plastic surgeries. Maybe if they announce the plastic surgeries, they may have some tabloids and do not need to drag someone else in a love rumour. Do you think so? Whatever, Im not against plastic surgery as long as it makes the artists who did it look better. It is kinda ridiculous when someone look worse with plastic surgery. Im not against filler as well, but to put too much filler to make face like a balloon will be ridiculous, too.

      4. @alluka Who is Joe Chan? I didn’t put all the blame on Joe . In fact I remember there were photos taken of the whole group behaving in a rowdy manner and I think Joe used the excuse that he had too much to drink or something like that? His career was affected which means that not everyone believed that he was innocent. So I too don’t believe he was innocent, my opinion.
        I wonder why suddenly this topic on Joe Ma has digressed into talk about botox, fillers and plastic surgery and tabloids and dragging someone else in a love rumour. What on earth are you trying to drive at? Pls be direct so I can address you directly. I don’t like to guess at what others are trying to say cos I’m a simple straightforward person who calls a spade a spade. I’m not the type who beats about the bush and passes remarks which hint at something nasty. Anyway I agree with you that there are people who look worse with plastic surgery. Sometimes when one is born too ugly, no amount of expensive plastic surgery can salvage the looks. There are many such people in HK and other showbiz.
        Finally good luck to Joe. No loss to me.

      5. @chocobunny Mistake. I mean Joe Ma. Joe Chan is the Taiwanese actress who has just been my new favourite actress.

        I told about reason of him to come back to TVB, which only has a small part of the scandal. People like you can keep blame him if want, but it is still the fact that even Rose Chan – the victim – doesnt blame him.

        I feel that you put a grain of salt on the scandal for Joe. He isnt innocent but he didnt do anything too over the standard. At max, he kissed her cheek, different to Benny who had more sensitive actions.

        I talk about why I like Joe Ma and what I think of him. Botox-less and filler-less help him to have expressions. You may deny it at all you want but I still think he has more expressions than the ones used botox and filler. It is due to the fact that botox and filler kill the facial muscles to remove the wrinkles. As a result, a face full of botox/filler as a balloon cant deliver the emotions/expressions. The person using it cant be a good actor in my opinion.

        However, acting is in the eye of beholder just like beauty. I agree that we disagree about acting of Joe. It may due to our different view on acting. To me, Joe isnt the best actor but a better actor than many others.

        Should you note that you also put a hint in your previous post. Is it straightforward? Or is it nasty?

        I disagree with you about the ugly original look. Ugly original look can be very unique to me, such as Kingdom Yuen who is never a beauty but always an awesome actress. She doesnt need plastic surgery to help. Some like Gan Lu Lu used plastic surgery to get fame but after that, she is way uglier or cant get to anywhere.

        Plastic or love rumour, they are all method to gain attention. I only wonder why some like to use love rumour than plastic surgery to get attention because love rumour is very very old method while plastic surgery is newer. Overall, they always say that they are plastic-free but people may think different. Just a way to get some tabloids and free promotion.

        Finally, I wish him to gain more successes in his career. And more successes to others I like as well :). Without Joe, less reason for me to watch TVB series.

      6. Until you are able to stop making snarky comments at every opportunity there is no point continuing this “discussion “. I was just giving it to you as good as you gave. Bottom line is: there is doubt raised about Joe’s integrity say what you want. A peck on the cheek of a drunk girl is also sexual harassment as it was done without her consent in her impaired state of mind. No one is stopping you from siding with joe and admiring him for his fine acting with his botox less filler less face. Likewise I’m entitled to my opinion of him. The only thing i like about his acting is that he doesn’t purposely always try to act “chok”. Yeah sure, so plastic surgery is more acceptable than botox and filler to you. Honestly I’ve nothing against either. Pls don’t reply to me anymore. To each his own.

      7. @chocobunny Although you request me to not reply you, I think I should have the end word. I thought that you are reasonable but I have to re-think now. You seem to be angry at me because Im siding Joe and then you accuse me to provide “snarky comment” while you are the one who had “snarky comment” in here. I explained why I mentioned of botox/filler when referring to Joe but you cannot explain your snarky comment. You purposely did that with the hope that I will feel attacked. However, it only makes me feel that you are ridiculous. Do you really think that Im talking about your idol when referring to botox/filler? Oh please, am I that free to think of your idol as much as you. I even dun care if your idol is botox/filler or botox/filler-less. Or in your mind your idol has a face with full of botox/filler to make you think that everyone have to refer to him. It is all up to you. Dont try to drag your idol in an irrelevant topic because I dont even want to mention of him. I only have to do so because you hint such thing in your post.

        I told you what Rose Chan has said to prove a fact that even Rose Chan – the victim – didnt think Joe was OTT to her. Who are you to speak on her behalf? You can doubt him but Rose Chan didnt. Do you think you understand the situation better than her? Or it is all of your hatred that make you put all the blame on him. He wasnt innocent, but he wasnt guilty. And not only Rose Chan but all the group was overdrunk. But Rose Chan said that she knew what happened to her. Imagining if it was someone you like in the similar situation and tell me that you will have a doubt to his integrity. Well, we are all double standard.

        Chok? I like Chok. Purposely always try to act chok or natural chok, I still like. And look like the sponsors and general audience also like it as anyone who has Chok title such as LF, Nic Tse, Micheal Tse, Louis Koo, Hawick Lau and sometimes Chilam all have high price and demand from the markets. It isnt a big deal to lose one audience when the majority like it. Keep having the snarky comment, it doesnt seem to have any affection to the overall market and the investment of the investors. In the end of day, they know who they should invest and who they shouldnt.

        Joe can go and expand the career. Such a bitter treat to the haters. Like how Matthew Ko is laughing at TVB to stop promoting him.

      8. @alluka I have always avoided discussing anything with you becos I know how unreasonable you can be. Well you have shown yourself to be unreasonable here again. Who was the one who started with all the snarky comments about botox and fillers and what not and then try to act all innocent and aggrieved and turned around and called me nasty and snarky? You know what you were trying to drive at. Don’t pretend now. It’s not a coincidence for you to mention this when there was just recently an article re those stupid rumours. Anyway I’m not the only one on this topic who doesn’t like Joe’s acting (there are others who described his acting much worse than me) yet you purposely chose to reply to only me and tell me about how wonderful an actor Joe is with his botox-less filler-less face. It’s fine if you replied to me and told me that I’m wrong about Joe being a salty pig hand (since I was the only one to bring this up) and just kept it clean and above board. I don’t mind that but i don’t understand why you had to bring in botox, fillers and all that crap. It was totally irrelevant, hence I can only draw one conclusion with regards to your real motive which is not to side with Joe but to attack someone on the sly. I’m only paying you back in your own coin and now you’re crying foul.

        “Dont try to drag your idol in an irrelevant topic because I dont even want to mention of him. I only have to do so because you hint such thing in your post.”…….
        well let me ask you : who started all this underhanded hinting? Go back to your very first post to me for the answer.

        As for whatever Rose Chan said subsequently, the impression is already formed in the reader’s mind (anyway i remember reading that Joe was also one of those dragged into the scandal, he wasn’t just an innocent onlooker as claimed later). It’s hard to erase a negative impression. Anyway if it makes you happier, I’ll give him benefit of the doubt. To set the record straight, I reiterate that I don’t hate Joe. I just don’t have a good impression of him. And I don’t like his acting either, never did and never will.

        Good for those who like “chok”. It’s just not my cup of tea. I will vomit when i drink it. Btw, I didn’t know there’s such a thing as natural chok. Chok to me is something very deliberate and put on.

        Pls go and bother someone else who also doesn’t like Joe’s acting. There’s plenty for you to choose from here.

      9. @chocobunny omg, how unreasonable you are. What rumour? Kissing someone at face? Or criticism at acting? I think you are having illusion. I even dont click at anything with that name so how I can know what is so bad about your idol?

        I have say anything that ppl cant dislike Joe’s acting? I say it is better to see botox/filler-less. I replied you for the scandal for the god’s sake. Have anyone here other than you drag the scandal in? I told you some fact about the scandal. The acting is a part of reason why Joe can go and venture out. I replied regarding his acting to you and others. Do you want me to copy a same post to everyone?

        You said about a hint which I explained well why I mentioned of botox. It was you who unreasonablely accused me and provide a nasty comment about plastic suegery and then Chok. You vomit at Chok, ok, I will consider it as a nasty comment in the same manner with how you think I wanted to drive at with comment about botox/filler. But one day if it is linked to someone you like, you will eat your words to drink the cup of tea you vomitted in.

        You are so much the same to the crazy fans who think your idol is the only god, the only one that untouchable. You are so nonsense. Cant accept the fact that I dont even care that your idol is still exist in this world?

        I dont vomit at plastic surgery, botox, filler. I vomit at how crazy you fans are. Cant believe that I thought you are kinda reasonable. Now I guess you will use “straightorward” to bash my favourite artists. Ptssss, I dont bother to hint. If I want, I said out loudly.

        Oversensitive and nonsense. Now even my freedom of talk is taken away because I protect an artist you dont like.

      10. @alluka For the last time, I want to tell you to stop replying to me. You’re giving me a headache trying to decipher what you’re writing with your pidgin English. Pls come back and “discuss” with me after you learn to write in standard English. I don’t want to kill more brain cells trying to understand your drivel. Let the aggressor who cast the first stone proclaim her innocence. It’s nothing new, that’s your style. Hit below the belt and then cry foul like a whining little spoilt child when you’re paid back the same way. Tell you something, I didn’t bother to try to understand your latest post to me. I gave it a cursory glance and was hit with a nauseating headache. Suffice to say, it’s of the “finger pointing back” variety that you’re famous for here. I don’t want to continue this argument with you. Now be a good girl and run along and spend your time admiring Joe’s great acting skills with his botox less and filler less face or the chok acting that you love so much. After this encounter with you, I finally understand your taste in acting and what constitutes good acting to you. No wonder………..
        Have a good day!

      11. @chocobunny So you have nothing else but a personal attack. I finally can understand why your taste is that bad.

        I have nothing to say to a person who only know to use personal attack in a discussion. That type of person doesnt deserve me to waste time. End of the conversation and hope you can really keep your word. However I wont feel surprise if you will eat your words one day since it is what you always do.

      12. @alluka Who started the personal attacks? I’ve said it very clearly, it’s your style and I’m only giving you a taste of your own medicine. So you find that hard to swallow? I can take open criticisms and attacks but I can’t stomach underhanded methods of attacks. If you want to criticise someone , come out and say it openly. Don’t beat about the bush or make sly remarks. Perhaps you make sneaky comments so that when the situation requires it, you can backpedal and deny everything. I’m a peace -loving person but if the situation requires, I will give nasty to anyone as much as that person is dishing out.
        Don’t waste anymore time on me. I beg you to use your time more fruitfully to admire your “botoxless” “fillerless” “plastic surgery -less” idol’s /idols’ great acting. Ok, I’ll humour you, this being Good Friday. Joe’s a greaaaaaatttt actor since he has a face full of expression becos he didn’t have botox or fillers done and I lurrrrvvveee chok acting despite all that plastic surgery. You should be happy now.

      13. @alluka i luurrrve your sense of humour. It’s great that you’re so generous to share what others had sent to you. Hope your recovery was speedy.

      14. @alluka don’t waste yr time. I didn’t bother to look. Pl stop harassing me. Now run along small girl. Better spend more time brushing up your English.

      15. @chocobunny P/S: I think you overestimated TVB :). TVB might have the power but I doubt they can force a freelancer or artist of other company (like Rose Chan) to say something. As Rose Chan and her company (aka her sifu) doesnt have plan to develop in TVB series, she wont care for whatever TVB say. They cant do anything to harm her.

        Joe has came back to TVB because he owed 620 to help him at that moment. He wasnt blamed much for that scandal (of course, cant say that he wasnt blamed anything because there are anti-fans who took that chance to say bad about him) but his career in China was quite down after that, moreover he cant find a good company to sign with. Now he found a company that have the connection for him to work out of HK, so he decides to leave again. It is the explanation for why he came back to TVB. The main reason wasnt Rose Chan scandal.

        P/S 2: The recent left artists are all having quite good career, even some not-so-famous ones like Matthew Ko. Maybe it is why Joe wanna go now. With his young look despite the age, he still can have good roles in China and get famous.

    2. I second this. Never liked Joe Ma. His very rigid in how he conveys his dialogue. His closest contemporary tvb comparison in terms of acting is Kevin Cheng. Both woodies. Joe is one of those actors who only made sense doing villain roles.

  7. Forget to mention that Im enjoy seeing Louise in the new series. Took a long break to impatiently wait for the two boring series to end before the two new series starts. Concidently, the two series contain two left birds :). If the new two series do well with rating, it will be a slap to the face of TVB.

    1. She was expected to go and she happily announced her leave recently.

      Two left birds refer to Joe and Louise who are starring in the two airing series Smooth and Romantic. Im looking forward and watching both.

    1. @chocobunny
      There are currently a limited number of reply links nestled under each comment. We can add more later, but this may have to wait a few days as we are working on other priorities such as making sure the site is crash proof after adding multiple users.

      If you are trying to reply to me directly from your “Activity” panel, you would need to click on the word “commented” to redirect you to the article thread. We’ll probably add a “reply” or “comment” link later to make navigation easier.

      I realize there’s more fine tuning to do to make the system easier to use.

  8. ““TVB’s development is focused on promoting young artistes. I don’t have a grudge against that. It’s very natural – who would write a script centered on a grandma?”

    There are still room for veteran actors and always will be. All series have senior characters. What more, Louise are one of the few veteran actresses who always get meaty and important roles.

    Maybe Louise want more time to do other things and lead a more leisurely life, like other senior citizen do after retirement.

    I like her. Hope she will come back once in a while onscreen once in a while.

    1. @kidd I think many TVB artistes left because of management changes. With Charles Chan as the new Chairman, there will likely be more changes to come as well.

      Louise Lee’s comment hints at dissatisfaction with her significance at TVB, perhaps in how management treats its former big stars.

      1. @jayne But, I look forward to what Charles Chan will do to TVB. TVB need change. I mom said TVB will open a new channel where any production company has series/shows to air, they can air in that channel. I don’t know how it works. But this will certainly give more variety to TVB shows.

        As far as I can see, Louise Lee has way better treatment than other veteran actress. At least, she has good roles and important roles.

      2. @kidd Charles Chan is a businessman who has experience managing conglomerates. After becoming Chairman, the first thing he does is announce greater focus on the film market, due to the lucrative Mainland box office. Perhaps it will also try to produce more series to cater to Mainland viewers as well. The impression Charles gives is that he is about dollar sense and try to run TVB more efficiently from a financial perspective, including projects it will produce.

        The newly announced TVB shows lack strong cast ensembles, so apparently Charles hasn’t done much to motivate and retain artistes. Same pay with factory expectations.

  9. Veteran actors leaving to seek opportunities elsewhere, what does that really say about TVB? I like Louise Lee in most of her roles, so now the question is, who is to fill those ‘grandma’ or ‘mama’ roles in their drama? Kinda sad that these familiar faces are leaving TVB, wish them luck and hoping to see them in other productions.

  10. There wont be any moonlight resonance types of series anymore so what’s left are just the average mother roles which can be acted by any old veteran. Louise is used to roles where she plays a huge part and TVB do not have those anymore.

  11. I used to enjoy watching louise but recently got tired watching her always play the annoying mum type….especially as rucos mum three times

  12. Louise Lee, I’ll miss you so much 🙁

    Grandma dramas can be as good as young girls dramas, as long as the script is good.

  13. I’m quite sad to see them go. For me, I don’t think they aren’t particularly great actors but they are decent and I can rely on them to do a fine job.

    Especially Joe Ma since he only had a per series contract so you don’t see him on screen often. Watching his drama once in a while feels like taking a break from all the carnage TVB has with those really bad productions and newbies.

  14. I like watching Joe. Hope he comes back often. Was it my illusion that few weeks ago he said he will consider signing TVB long term? Or was that just speculation?

    1. @geliguolu I think it was just what the tabloids said more than his real words. He confirmed that he will start filming a new Chinese series soon.

  15. There’s just something about Joe Ma that rubs me the wrong way…can’t really put a finger on it though. He just seems very sneaky. But then again, I thought Benny Chan was a good guy and look what he did -smh-.

    Acting wise, I’ve also never really been fond of Joe Ma. I think a lot of his roles contributed to my impression of him, like he’s usually the self-righteous hardcore principled one and when he’s in roles where he’s not like that, there’s some sort of cognitive dissonance going on in my head that repels me. Or maybe I’m just trying really hard to justify why I don’t think he’s a good actor. He can always do the bare minimum of an acting gig but I’ve just never seen him excel, which is why I ain’t sad to see him go. I’m also not sad that Myolie’s leaving.

Comments are closed.