Logo
Hamburger Menu Close
Logo

8days

Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn

Advertisement

Advertisement

Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po

The lovable comedy icon is back on TV after 22 years. Hoo-hoo-hooray!

Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
And yes, hoo-hoo-hooray, she’s back to tickle your funny bone. Liang Po Po is returning to the small screen in the fourth instalment of Ch 8’s Happy Can Already!, the variety show that aims to bring useful government information and tips to senior citizens. It’s why 8 DAYS is now at Swatow Seafood Restaurant in Toa Payoh, where the cast of Happy Can Already! — which also includes Henry Thia, Marcus Chin, getai star Wang Lei and Ho Ai Ling — is gathered to meet the media as well as fans of the show. The restaurant is packed with uncles and aunties who seem as eager to meet the stars as they are about the free flow dim sum buffet that’s to come.But the crowd goes wild when Liang Po Po makes her entrance like a geriatric dim sum lady, pushing around a dim sum cart. “Hoo-hoo-hoo, long time no see, hoo-hoo-hoo,” she says. Everyone whips out their cameras to snap photos of
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
8 DAYS: Singaporeans grew up with Liang Po Po but a lot of people don’t know how this character came about. JACK NEO: Okay, I remember I was in Taiwan. It was the ’90s and there was a Taiwanese actor called Yang Fan, who played this character called Yang Po Po. That character itself was a copy of this other old lady character played by a Japanese comedian in Japan. I saw it and I found it very funny. So when I got back to Singapore, I told the producers of Comedy Nite that maybe I could try something similar. But to be honest, I didn’t really want to play the character ’cos I felt that it was very slapstick. The skits that Moses [Lim] and I did at that time had depth but Liang Po Po was the opposite. So I didn’t really like it but the production team loved it and they couldn’t stop laughing when they saw it. They said that it could be very funny so why not I give it a try.
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
Why do you think she’s so popular? I was told there are a few reasons. That this old lady is very cute. That she is very positive. She always wants to help people but she always ends up cocking everything up. Yet everyone forgives her. She is very optimistic even when she is bullied. Do you know there was a time when schools were against her? Yeah, they very against the character ’cos they felt like all the kids kept going “hoo-hoo-hoo” in class (laughs). My EP at that time had to answer to the Ministry of Education. So we explained to them that this whole thing is a fad —kids always follow fads and they last only for a short while. And even if kids pick up the catchphrases, it’s okay ’cos they are not vulgarities. I think they accepted the explanation. Anyway, we stopped Liang Po Po two years later ’cos we felt it was time [to retire the character].Is Liang Po Po
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
It doesn’t feel like it’s been 22 years.Yeah, it feels like yesterday. My son [points to Regent] was only two or three, when we first debuted the character. So I really have to thank God that the day we shot the first ep [for Happy Can Already! 4], people were screaming when Liang Po Po walked out. I was very happy ’cos it shows they love and miss the character.How did it feel putting on the costume again?My goodness, I am back again (guffaws). The second thing was, “Will I destroy Liang Po Po?” I’m scared of that. If I don’t do well and people say [the show is] not nice to watch, I will be very sad. But I think the first three days of filming went very well. (Turns to his team) Right? You must tell him!Is it physically harder for you to play Liang Pop Po now that you are also 22 years older? We saw you had trouble hunching like the character during the event. Yeah, my
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
The cast of Happy Can Already! 4. (From left:) Henry Thia, Marcus Chin, Jack Neo, Ho Ai Ling and Wang Lei.
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
Marcus Chin served jokes and dim sum at the event.
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
Henry Thia makes for not quite a fetching figure in drag.
Jack Neo Tells Us About The Time “All The Schools Were Against” Liang Po Po
Can take a happier photo? says Jack, sorry, Liang Po Po, to our photog. This one you can use for Chinese New Year. PHOTOS: KELVIN CHIA
Follow TODAY on WhatsApp
Jonathan Fam
By Jonathan Fam
Published October 16, 2018
Updated October 16, 2018
WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn

Has it really been 22 years since Liang Po Po was last seen on telly? Hoo-hoo-hoo are you trying to kid? After all, it feels just like yesterday that we were rushing through dinner just so we can plonk ourselves in front of the TV and watch the lovable old broad get herself into ridiculous situations on Ch 8’s Comedy Nite. So ingrained is Liang Po Po and her breathy “hoo-hoo-hoo” catchphrase in our consciousness that when we mention to a colleague that the character is making her TV comeback, she replies: “Wait, she left?” It’s a testament to how iconic and unforgettable Jack Neo’s beloved comedic creation is to Singaporeans.
.

Read more of the latest in

8days Explore now

Advertisement

Trending

Content is loading...

Popular

Content is loading...

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the top features, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.

Logo

Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 'Channelnewsasia.com' domain

Games image

Get your daily dose of fun

Try our word games, puzzles & quizzes

PLAY NOW
Play games, quizzes & more

Play games, quizzes & more

Close Button