12th Nov 2022, Saturday
Woooo!! I was lucky to have a chance to go watch Singapore's famous long running variety show - 缤纷万千在昇菘 tonight, LIVE in Mediacorp studio!! I was slightly disappointed early in the morning when I was informed I had entered my mobile number wrongly during the submission of my form and failed to reply them when contacted. By late Thursday, the organiser had actually informed me they had let go of my ticket to someone else as they didn't get a reply from me. However, don't know what luck I was on today, the organiser actually emailed asking me if I am still interested to go as someone had withdraw due to unforeseen situation. OF COS I AM INTERESTED, HAHAHA!!! However, to be frank, I did not even watch one full episode from the TV for this show.
So we were told to have early dinner and meet at Punggol 21 CC at 6:15 pm. Around that time, 3 of the event organizers came and started to take attendance. They were actually from Punggol 21 CC Women's Executive Committee and they organise events for women, families and kids for Punggol Shore area. We waited till 6:30 pm or so and we boarded the bus. Off we go to Mediacorp!!
We reached Mediacorp at about 7 pm (I think) and we took some time to take a group photo outside the entrance. Then the security guard brought our group to wait at the studio entrance which was upstairs. There was another line queuing to go in on the opposite side of the entrance and they were audiences with tickets entry. These were usually families of the performers, contestants or fans of the guest of the night.
We were told masks are mandatory inside the studio before the security ushered us in and we had to wait for a while for bags checks. So everyone had their bags check and we walked in to wait for the lift. Since there was only 1 lift available, our group were split into 3 batches to go down to the studio. Once we went down to level 1, there was another security staff telling us to wait at the side before letting us into the studio.
When walked in the studio (Studio 1), there were a lot of props and stuffs around, the staffs were also running around to have the preparation done. There were a lot of big spot lights and stick-size mic hanging from the ceiling. And the stage wasn't as big as you would see on the TV. It was "projected" to look big by the camera which was moveable crane arm. We made our way up to the seats, I also just followed and ended up sitting behind a tall lady who was blocking my view. But I ended up sitting somewhere in the middle row too. The first 4 rows were for Sheng Siong staffs and the 2 big bosses. There were groups from Dover RC, Telok Blangah CC, fans/friends of Richie Koh, family members of the performers and contestants for the kids' singing competition. So the whole studio was actually full for today's episode. And tonight was the first show of their new season, which will run until sometime mid of Feb 2023.
There was this 1 guy who was like the emcee and conductor for the show and he was the one who gave the audience information and instructions on what to do when the show starts. So this guy (forget the name) started to entertain us from 7 plus, he would tell us to applause when the hosts, the big bosses and the judges for the singing contest entered the studio. He would also tell us when to clap, cheer and of cos when to shout the famous verse - 百倍...still have to do with hands action woo.... ^_^! ..... During the waiting times, the 2 hosts (Xu Zheng Rong & Zhong Qing) came in one time and they needed to do short previews for the upcoming episodes. So the shot with Xu Zheng Rong, he was standing at the 2nd row and made his opening. The audience (including me) will have swap our light sticks (provided by Mediacop) around him. We did it for like 3 or 4 times before the staffs said it was okay. As for Zhong Qing, she will have to stand in the middle within the audience (about 4 or 5th row, somewhere in the middle) and every one will have to shout "百倍" exact 3 times as soon as she finishes her opening. We did some rehearsals with the emcee and really, there were times people can't stop shouting after the 3rd time. It was funny. Even when it was time for the real shot, there was also NGs for 1 or 2 time. Hehehe...There were also times the hosts will need to record for some previews and which the emcee will tell the audience to keep silent. And after these were done, the hosts exited from the studio.
The emcee also asked the Sheng Siong staffs why they were all females and the staffs replied him that they were all working as cashiers in the company. The emcee joked and asked if he could apply as cashier too and be the only male cashier there...hahaha....
1 hr before the show goes live
By 8pm, there were people still coming in the studio and going out for toilet breaks. The emcee kept talking to us to keep us entertained. We were also shown to a short clip regarding the stuffs we shouldn't do which was no food/drinks, no recording & photography and no smoking and where were nearest exits in case of emergency. Later on, the emcee started to give us a walkthrough on what will be happening on the show. He told us not to walk around or leave the studio when the cameras were rolling, toilet breaks will be during the commercial breaks. And he also explained there will be 5 cameras rolling during the show. 3 cameras will be facing the stage but these cameras can rotate 350 degrees, so if there is a need, the camera men can just turn the cameras back to face the audience. Then there will be another camera from the moveable crane arm, which was responsible of taking wide angles. Meaning it can capture the whole studio in one shot, also mean u will be captured where ever you are seated..And the last camera will be the running around camera, which the camera man will carry this camera and do close-up shots. So if u r lucky to get a close-up during the show, everyone at home watching the show will see your face on TV...heheee....
The emcee was telling jokes like the section where the judges seated will usually get captured by the cameras and was telling the people seated there not to do funny stuffs. He said previously got people digging noses during the show (not sure if it is true, but it is...it will show on TV...hahaa). So during the walkthrough, he introduced the performers of the night who were 6 young wushu champions and they were ranged from age 13 to 16. There was a short introduction and chat with them while waiting for the time to pass. Along the way, he will tell us to clap or wave with our light sticks and he also shared some of his past experiences for the past seasons. Then he will also let us know how much time is left before the show goes live. I think by 8:30 to 8:40 pm, the 2 Sheng Siong bosses had arrived and seated. Following that, were the 3 judges for the kids' singing competition which will be shown on the show. Till the last 10 minutes, we could see the 2 giants boxes of lucky entries collected from the Sheng Siong marts from the whole of Singapore. It was crazy but it is that many entries for a week as you would watch from the TV and it is REALLY REALLY by luck. Nothing else.
1 min before the show goes live
By the last few minutes, the 2 hosts re-entered the studio and started to do last minute preparation before taking their position. Actually what you don't know from the TV was the hosts also like to take selfies whenever they got the chance. Once the cameras were off them, they tend to take selfies too...hahahaha....At the last 1 minute, the 2 hosts went into their professional mode and took their position (which was standing at the left and right side of the stage, outside of the cameras view). Of cos, you can hear the staff shouting the countdown in the studio too.
9pm - Show goes LIVE
Once it hit 9pm, the TV on the sides started showing the Mediacorp logo (everytime show before a show starts) and the opening music started to play. The 2 hosts walked into the cameras view and started making their opening. Of cos, the emcee was standing at the corner near the audience, making signals to us to wave our light sticks and make cheering sounds to bring the atmosphere up. Of cos, the first item on the show was the famous jackpot game, which 3 lucky winners were picked and called. And if the winners pick up the call, they will have a chance to choose any of 4 lucky boxes which contain a multiplier odds (x40,x60,x80 and x100). This odd will be multiplied by the amount which they had spent in Sheng Siong. Not sure why the first 2 winners did not pick up the calls, but you can see there will be a back stage making signal to the hosts to cut the call after a certain number of rings. So the hosts will do a spin on their spinning wheel and helped the winners to decide which box to open for them. For this round, only the 3rd winner picked up the call and chose the box himself. Of cos, when the caller asked for hints, the whole audience (us) will shout out the box to open. Actually, we have no idea where the x100 odds are. People were just shouting any boxes at random but somehow there will be one box being shouted very loud and clear for the receiver. Then it's up to the guts of the receivers.....Hahaha.....
1st Commercial Break
As soon as the jackpot game ended, the show would go into commercial break. So for TV viewers, it will be those ads playing. But in the studio, the emcee tried to keep us entertained by telling us what will be the next upcoming game. And of cos, people started leaving to go for toilet breaks. But if you are not back by the show resumed, you are not allowed to enter until the next commercial break. The backstage staffs also started pushing out the big props on stage and got the players ready. Then one of the staffs will start counting down the timer for the next section. The hosts will also get ready for the show.
2nd Game - Tikam Tikam
The show resumed and it started with another game. This game was to be played by 2 lucky participants picked every week to come on stage to win $$. The objective of the game was to pair 2 random sticks and the colour of the sticks must be blue and green. If success, the participants will win $500 per pair. Heard from the emcee mentioned there was also rehearsals conducted with the participants before the show and they were very nervous. So what we could do was to give them applause for the participants whatever amount they won. And so the game went on for what was being shown on TV and ended with the 1st group winning $1000 and the 2nd group winning $2000 home.
2nd Commercial Break
Again, we went into commercial break and it was pretty much the same thing. The crew started to move the jackpot lucky entries boxes and the phones back to the stage as the next item will be the jackpot game again.
3rd Game - Jackpot Game Round 2
So, it was the same playing method as the first round and the same thing happened too where the 1st 2 winners did not pick up the calls. Luckily the 3rd winner picked up the call and chose the correct box. The total win was almost near to $18K plus...as the winner had spent over $100 plus in Sheng Siong. It was amazing to see them win big $$, somehow you also feel happy for the winners. Like we were also giving the $$ to the winners. However, once the game ended, it was commercial break again.
3rd Commercial Break
The emcee mentioned for the next item upcoming will be the wushu performance. And he also commented the clapping and the cheering was good and everyone did a good job. He even asked everyone to keep it up for the rest of the show. But there was so much clapping until my palms were so hot.... ^_^..... and was also feeling warm on my back bcos of those giant lightnings.
So the show resumed and the performance went smoothly with no problem. And it was back to the commercial break. This show really had a lot of commercial break... :P...The emcee told us we were be seeing Mediacorp's longest chopsticks and biggest tang yuan in the upcoming game...hahaa...
4th Game - Picking up giant tang yuans
The game went by the participants picking up the giant tang yuans with the super long chopsticks and placing them in the giant bowl. Each tang yuan cost $500. The participants were also chosen by luck and were given a chance to come to studio to win $$. As the game went, the 1st group won $3000 by placing 6 tang yuans on the bowl. Then the 2nd group won $2500, which was great. After that, the show went into commercial break again.
4th Commercial Break
Nothing much changed during the commercial break, just the crew were busy preparing for the next segment and people were still walking around. This time, I was lucky. The 2 ladies sitting in front of me went to the washroom and didn't managed to come back on time. So I got to watch the next section without being blocked. Hahaha....
5th Game - Jackpot Game Round 3
This time, the audience got a chance to help the lucky winners choose the box if they did not pick the calls. Apparently, the first 2 winners didn't pick up the calls again and we got to choose the boxes for them. The last winner did managed to pick up the call and had chose the box himself. You can hear the excitement of the winner when they know the amount they won.
5th Commercial Break
This time, the emcee mentioned the clapping sound was getting slightly softer and needed to be more louder. So for the next segment will be the kids singing competition.
6th Segment - Kids' Singing Competition
The show resumed with the kids' singing competition and all the groups performed very well, especially the last group. When they started to perform, they were able to get the atmosphere high. All the groups got higher than 77 scores and today was just the start of the competition. Once the segment ended, the 3 judges just left the studio during the commercial break time.
6th Game - Lanterns matching
For this game, the chosen participants were to hang the red lanterns off the shelf from the left of the stage and hang it over onto the shelf on the right of the stage. They will have to form a phase - 兔年吉祥 and they have to clear the bottom row before they can move onto the next row on top. They also have to use a hook (those we used to hook the bamboo poles for clothes hanging) to carry the lanterns from one side to the other. It was a quick game too and both the groups won $3000 and $3750 respectively.
Last Segment - Performance by Richie Koh
Finally, it reached towards the end of the show and was a performance by Richie Koh. He sang the main theme from 你的世界我们懂 TV drama. After the performance, there was a short conversation with the actor and the hosts (as shown on TV). The crew will also signal to the hosts the time to end the show. Once the cameras were off the hosts, the hosts were taking selfies with the actor themselves. It seem they were also having their own fun on stage.
And so, the hosts left the studio first, followed by the Sheng Siong bosses. Only then, the audience started to leave row by row and slowly. Luckily everyone was quite disciplined and left in a proper order. Then we left the studio and went back to the entrance we had aligned earlier to wait for the bus.
Richie Koh was also waiting by a corner quietly and was spotted by some Sheng Siong staffs. They started to take selfies with him and he politely took with them. Then our bus came and we went back to Punggol 21 CC.
Overall, it was a fun and interesting experience watching a live show from the TV studio. It was so much work to be done behind the scenes, it was not easy. They probably have to prepare since 6pm or earlier than that. Though there wasn't much interaction with the hosts and the audience, the emcee did a great job of entertaining us through the 2 and half hours.
