Hits & Misses Of Star Awards 2019
Veterans win big. Zoe Tay and Chen Hanwei bag the big acting awards. The Aloysius Pang tribute was mercifully short. Star Search is baaaacccckkk!!! Who's in and out of the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female list?
All the talking points of Star Awards 2019.
To celebrate the show's 25th anniversary, Desmond Tan, Zoe Tay, Chen Hanwei and Rebecca Lim perform a spiffed up version of the Star Awards theme song. Who knew that familiar tune had so many words?
She put the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees to shame by acting up a storm in the show's opening video, which paid tribute to the night's nominated dramas, then kicked off her Star Awards solo hosting gig in a stylish tuxedo, introducing presenters and show items, before proceeding to win the Best Programme Host award. *claps*
Natalie Mae Tan wins the Young Talent Award for Blessings 2, and received her trophy from a gaggle of past winners. How nice to see where the ex-child actors are now.
Jasmine Sim picks up the Best Newcomer trophy for Doppelganger, beating Joel Choo, Kayly Loh, Michelle Wong and Angel Lim. She is elated, and we have a new rising star. One to watch, for sure.
Everyone loves Xiang Yun. She beat Aileen Tan, Chew Chor Meng, Marcus Chin and Richard Low to the award.
The minute the images of Aloy as a child actor flashed onto the screen, the cameras panned to teary faces in the audience. Chen Shucheng and Dasmond Koh crying were particularly poignant. Chances are you were crying at home too.
Thankfully, the segment was short, with no speeches, or there would be full-on bawling, both from the folks in the audience and in front of the screens.
Aloysius' pals and management agency mates Xu Bin, Gavin Teo, Zong Zi Jie and Timothee Yap sing Voices from the heart , and everyone struggles to hold back the tears, especially a somber-looking Xu Bin. And did Aloy's voice join in at the end of the song? *sobs*
After nine years, Star Search is making a comeback this year, and they announced it in style at this year's Star Awards, by bringing forth alumni from 22 years of Star Search, from 1988 to 2010. Clips from the competition over the years and videos of winners such as Zoe Tay, Chew Chor Meng, Felicia Chin and Andie Chen brought back some great memories.
Remember them? They may not be such familiar faces on screen here anymore, but once upon a time, they were vaunted Star Search contestants and winners. And of course we still have Brandon Wong, Vivian Lai. Christopher Lee and Qi Yuwu.
Hello, Rayson Tan, Chew Chor Meng, Chen Han Wei, Zoe Tay, Aileen Tan, Jazreel Low, Lina Ng and Yao Wen Long.
Star Search gave us James Seah, Jeffrey Xu, Andie Chen, Felicia Chin, Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan, Zhang Yao Dong and Ya Hui. What will this year bring? Look out for audition details for Star Search 2019 soon.
Of course everyone knew it was gonna happen, but when Kym took the stage to collect her All Time Favourite Award, you wanted to cheer like mad for her.
Striking a pose worthy of someone who's ascended to the top of the altar of popularity is a gleeful Kym.
As expected, the veteran actor took the trophy for his work in A Million Dollar Dream, beating Andie Chen, Ian Fang, Shane Pow and Xu Bin. The audience gives him a standing ovation, and he dedicates his award to his friends from far away , whom we take to be Aloysius Pang. Touching.
Dark horse Lin Meijiao wins for Fifty and Fabulous, beating out Aileen Tan, Cynthia Koh, He Yingying and Sheila Sim.
The drama which stars Rebecca Lim, Shaun Chen, Paige Chua and Zhang Yaodong beat A Million Dollar Dream, Say Cheese, VIC and You Can Be An Angel 3 to take the trophy.
In a night of many touching speeches from many veterans, Chew Chor Meng's message of never giving up despite setbacks and his passion for his work stood out. I will carry on, because I like to act, he said to applause and tearful reactions from his peers. Even if I cannot walk, I will act sitting down, and I still want to act well. What strength and resilience — a total inspiration.
Felicia Chin was stirred enough by Chew Chor Meng's speech to stand up and applaud, while many were moved to tears.
Deja vu, anyone? Ah Jie and Ah Ge recreated a scenario from 2017 when they both won Best Actress and Best Actor. Well-deserved! Again!
The Hongkong star and paparazzi magnet presented the awards for the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female artistes, and she is all swishy magnificence. All those paparazzi shots of her with no make-up and in caps and T-shirts almost made us forget that she is as beautiful and glam as they come. Thanks for the reminder, Ceci!
Paige's name is the first to be called out, and she picks up her fifth Top 10 award.
Becks accepts her eighth popularity award, and the camera pans to Ian Fang. Nice. Two more to go, Rebecca!
Her beau Jeffrey Xu escorted her on stage, but left Feli to revel in the glory of her ninth Top 10 award. Just one more!
She accepted her fourth popularity award.
Carrie Wong gets her fifth Top 10 award, and says she's halfway through. That's quite fast, right? She's basically gotten in every year. Good for her!
In the Top 10 Female Artistes' first real shocker, Chen Xiuhuan bags her first Popularity award after 25 years, and her second ever Top 10 award. The first was in 1994, at the first Star Awards. She is overwhelmed. Score for the veterans!
Another unexpected win! Pan Lingling, beleagued by that scandal with Hong Huifang and Julie Tan last year, picks up her sixth Top 10 trophy. She steers clear of the topic in her acceptance speech and looks really grateful.
The statuesque Jesseca bags her seventh award.
What! Hong Huifang gets her very first Top 10 Popularity award after 35 years in the biz. We're not sure which is more shocking: That she won or that it's her first one. She says she's very satisfied even though it's her first Top 10 trophy and talked about e-mail voting. Quan Yifong shrieks that there's no such thing as e-mail voting. Um, has Huifang been voting for herself via e-mail all these years? No wonder?
The final Top 10 trophy went to a shocked Lina Ng, who's only just getting her second Popularity award (the first was in 1996, at the second Star Awards). The veterans are really having a field day!
Notably missing: Younger stars such as Jayley Woo, Sheila Sim, Bonnie Loo and Hong Ling were ousted by the veterans. Maybe next year!
Shaun Chen hoists his third Top 10 trophy (only?! we could've sworn it was more!) and calls it a consolation prize since he didn't win Best Actor. He's still happy though.
Romeo Tan picks up his fifth, and the cam pans to a bemused Elvin Ng.
Pierre struggles through the acceptance speech for his third Top 10 trophy in Mandarin until Quan Yifong puts him out of his misery by saying, You can speak English, it’s okay. He then continues in English, much to his, and our, relief.
The hunkle powers through his speech for his ninth trophy. One more to go!
Gasp, another first-time winner, and it's 64-year-old Zhu Houren! Everyone gives him a standing ovation, and the younger Top 10 winners on stage rush to congratulate him. It's really an awwww-some moment. This is such a good year for the Pioneer/Merdeka generation!
Pornsak bags his eighth Top 10 prize, and thanks his domestic helper. So adorable!
Last year's Best Actor winner bags his fourth Top 10 award.
Nine down for Dennis Chew, one more to go. Yay!
It's been a tough year for Dasmond, but the silver lining is that he's finally bagged his 10th award and can now graduate from this game of thrones. Congrats!
In the last stunning development of the night, super senior Chen Shucheng, 69, lifts his very first Top 10 Most Popular award after almost 50 years in showbiz. He says he won his first popularity award in 1991, but that wasn't really a Star Award, so this is technically his first. He says, Tonight, all the impossible things have become possible. What an inspiration!
Veterans win big. Nostalgia ruled. There were touching moments galore. Happy 25th anniversary to the Star Awards! Till next year!
The full results:
Best Actress: Zoe Tay, A Million Dollar Dream
Best Actor: Chen Hanwei, A Million Dollar Dream
Best Drama Serial: Blessings 2
Best Supporting Actor: Chen Shu Cheng, A Million Dollar Dream
Best Supporting Actress: Lin Meijiao, Fifty and Fabulous
Achievement Award: Chew Chor Meng
Best Newcomer Award: Jasmine Sim, Doppelganger
Evergreen Artiste Award: Xiang Yun
Best Programme Host (Variety, Info-Ed & Infotainment): Quan Yi Fong, Fixer 2
Young Talent Award: Natalie Mae Tan, Blessings 2
Best Variety Programme: GeTai Challenge 2018
Best Variety Special Programme: SPOP SING! - Grand Final
Best Info-ed Programme: Business As Usual
Best Short-form Drama Serial: Love At Cavenagh Bridge
Best Short-form Variety Programme: Workman Diaries
Best Theme Song: Shou Hu Ni De Shan Liang , You Can Be An Angel 3
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes:
Paige Chua, Rebecca Lim, Felicia Chin, Ya Hui, Carrie Wong, Chen Xiuhuan, Pan Lingling, Jesseca Liu, Hong Huifang, Lina Ng
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes:
Romeo Tan, Pierre Png, Zheng Geping, Zhu Houren, Pornsak, Desmond Tan, Dennis Chew, Dasmond Koh, Chen Shucheng
Photos: Alvin Teo, Mark Lee, Willie Yeo, Chee Yan, Wilson Pang, Lee Lay Na