Gặp nhau cuối năm

Gặp nhau cuối năm was produced by Vietnam Television Film Center since 2003. The show was originally a new-year special episode of VTV's famous comedy show Gặp nhau cuối tuần (Weekend Gathering), back then, it was just a skit of the Gặp nhau cuối tuần and from 2006 to 2019, the entire content of Gặp nhau cuối năm is Táo Quân.

Since 2003, Gặp nhau cuối năm has been airs annually on the Vietnamese New Year's Eve on all of VTV's channels. Before then, Gặp nhau cuối năm was performed to serve the people at the stage on 2 or 3 days during the 12th month of the Vietnamese calendar. Initially from 2003–2005 and 2007, VFC organized the recording of Táo Quân at S9 studio – Vietnam Television and until 2008, Kim Mã Theater was chosen as the recording location; in 2006, 2009, 2010–2014, 2018 and 2019, the show were recorded at The Vietnam – Soviet Friendship Labor Culture Palace (Vietnamese: Cung Văn hoá Lao động Hữu nghị Việt – Xô), Hanoi. In 2015 and 2017, the show was recorded at S14 studio – Vietnam Television. In 2016, the show was recorded at S15 studio – Vietnam Television.

On 22 November 2019, VTV and VFC have officially confirmed the discontinuation of the Gặp nhau cuối năm - Táo Quân version after 15 years.[1] The new version of Gặp nhau cuối năm, instead of Ngọc Hoàng, Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu, consists characters from famous Vietnamese literary works.

The new format is only broadcast, exist in 2020, and in December 2020, some revealed images suggests a possible return of the Gặp Nhau Cuối Năm - Táo Quân version in 2021.[2] On 11 January 2021, VTV and VFC have announced that the Gặp nhau cuối năm - Táo Quân version will return.[3]

The show is mainly set in Heaven ruled by Ngọc Hoàng (Jade Emperor or God). He has two assistants, Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu (named after two stars Crux and Big Dipper) helping him managing affairs of the kingdom below them. There are a few other casts mentioned in this Heaven, but usually only Thiên Lôi (God of Thunder) is on screen and often has to run Heaven's errands.

Every year, Ngọc Hoàng assembles the Táo Quân(s) (Kitchen God) to the Heaven to report to him the affairs in Vietnam throughout the year. Unlike the original legend, there could be multiple Táo(s), each in charge of one aspect of the country (mostly based on social issues, such as Transportation, Economy, Education, Culture or Tourism, but no politics, military or defense). The Táo(s) are typically named after the division they are in charge of, although in 2015 they are actually named after the Five Elementals (Wu Xing).

Táo(s) report directly to Ngọc Hoàng with the presence of Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu, who often find faults in their reports and run into arguments. Ngọc Hoàng typically hears the story and make comments, but he can be sarcastic and show unexpected talents and remarks. Although most reports are done by prose, sometimes report can be told by other forms, such as dancing, singing or short plays. The reports highlight the social issues in Vietnam in the year, often told in a more comedic and light hearted manner despite their original seriousness.

At the end of the assemble, all of the Táo(s) gather together, and Ngọc Hoàng read the final remarks. The show ends with all the cast and MC Thảo Vân announce the happy new year greetings.

Starting from 2009, although the main plot retains the same, the show includes an alongside theme and scenario.

• In 2009, Tao Quan presented Hoa Táo, a parody of beauty competition Miss Vietnam.
• In 2011, the show was named Táo Idol with the format based on Vietnam Idol.
• In 2013, the show was designed based on The Voice of Vietnam. In addition, by order of Ngọc Hoàng, Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu switched bodies, unbeknown to the Táo Quân(s).
• In 2014, Ngọc Hoàng had a sore throat and could not attend the assemble. Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu had to find a lookalike, Tèo, a car security (but still acted by Quốc Khánh) and trained him to act as a temporary replacement for Ngọc Hoàng.
• In 2015, the later part of the show had a competition where Ngọc Hoàng request to find for him the third sidekick in the zenith along with Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu. This part was based on the television game show Ai là triệu phú (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) and Ơn giời cậu đây rồi (Thank God You're Here!)
• In 2016, the last part of the show featured a wheel from Chiếc nón kì diệu (Wheel of Fortune) to find out which Táo is corrupt.

The cast of Táo Quân features multiple famous comedians and actors from the Northern of Vietnam. Among all actors, Quốc Khánh (as the ruler of Heaven), Xuân Bắc (as Nam Tào) and Công Lý (as Bắc Đẩu) have their role fixed and repeated it every year. Whereas, the remaining different God roles would be decided and assigned to different actors and actresses based on the Vietnamese social's reality problems throughout the year.

The show is premiered on VTV on Vietnamese Lunar New Year's Eve every year since its conception. From 2010 to 2013, in addition, the show was released on DVD a week before the air date. The DVD version has the full recording and is usually longer and slightly different from the TV version. However, since 2014, VTV stopped releasing DVD and started releasing the show digitally. The 2014 release was handled by CNC and the 2015 to 2017 release was distributed by VTV Digital (VTV Go). 2018 show was released exclusively on VTV's new multi-platform entertainment portal VTVGiaiTri.[4]

Because of its popularity, many other TV channels have copied Tao Quan's format but none of them have ever achieved the same level of success.

On YouTube, the show has achieved more than 320 million views (this includes all of the versions and performances).

The actors have about two months to prepare for the show, which occurs one week before the television air date. The show is shot in 3 days, afterwards the best cuts are combined and edited to fit in the 2-hour block on television (including commercials). A longer version, typically around 3 hours, is subsequently released.

Since Lunar New Year is also the busy time for Vietnamese comedians, they often have to rehearse at night time, which takes a toll on their health and personal life. For example, in 2017, Quốc Khánh (as the Emperor) lost his mother at the time of rehearsal and had to carry both the funeral as well as rehearsing. Such demanding schedule; however, don't deter the big names from making commitments throughout the show.

In 2009, 2 performances by Tao Dien Luc ("Electrical Manager") (played by Minh Hang), in which she was singing songs asking for government fund, were censored. One performance was completely removed from the broadcast and the other was replaced by a later re-recorded version with changes in its lyrics. In that same special, a verse (also about asking the government for money) from a song called "Lut Tu Nga Tu Duong Pho" (Flood From The Crossroads) performed by Tao Thoat Nuoc ("Drainaging Manager") was also removed from the broadcast. However, all the original uncut performances from the special were later leaked onto the internet.

In 2013, VFC & VTV were requested to edit the show to censor some of the jokes that were considered offensive and inappropriate by the Department of Arts and Performance (Vietnamese: Cục Nghệ thuật Biểu diễn or just NTBD). Because of so, the DVD production was delayed and the release came 4 days later than the planned release date.[5]

In 2015, the Department of Arts and Performance asked VFC to submit the full script of the show to be reviewed before taping but the request was denied by VFC. Do Thanh Hai – the show's general director – strongly spoke against the department's move. To avoid censorship from NTBD, the show's taping location had to move to Studio 14 of VTV, a venue that is smaller than Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Place (Vietnamese: Cung Văn hóa Lao động Hữu nghị Việt Xô), where the show had previously took place.[6]

In 2017, some of the show's jokes were censored by VTV. However, VFC later released the original cut of the show on YouTube.

In 2018, VFC & VTV were criticized for some offensive jokes about LBGT community and body shaming. The issue was met with polarized reactions but VFC & VTV remained silent.[7][8]

• CCTV New Year's Gala
• List of broadcasts of Vietnam Television (VTV)