Joys of Life

Joys of Life (Chinese: 花样人间; pinyin: Huāyàng Rénjiān) is a Singaporean Chinese drama which was telecasted on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp Channel 8. It stars Chew Chor Meng, Alien Huang, Rui En, Chen Liping, Zheng Geping, Chloe Wang, Kate Pang, Andie Chen, Huang Wenyong, Lin Meijiao and Zhang Yao Dong as the casts of the series. The series was repeated at 2am on Sundays.

Joys of Life
花样人间
GenrePeriod drama
Musical
Romance
Family
Written by谢俊源 Seah Choon Guan
林锦兰 Lim Gim Lan
陈海兴 Tan Ai Heng
Directed by黄光荣 Wong Kuang Yong
高淑怡 Gao Shu Yi
谢益文 Edmund Tse
卢燕金 Loo Yin Kam
StarringChew Chor Meng
Alien Huang
Rui En
Chen Liping
Zheng Geping
Chloe Wang
Kate Pang
Andie Chen
Huang Wenyong
Lin Meijiao
Zhang Yao Dong
Opening theme珍惜 by Power Station
Country of originSingapore
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes35
Production
ProducerWinnie Wong 王尤红
Running timeapprox. 42–46 minutes
Release
Original networkMediaCorp Channel 8
Original release26 June (2012-06-26) 
13 August 2012 (2012-08-13)
Chronology
Preceded byYours Fatefully
Followed byDon't Stop Believin'
External links
Website

The series was produced to celebrate 30 years of Chinese language drama being broadcast in Singapore. Set in post-World War II Singapore, the story line spans the decade between the end of the Japanese occupation and the HDB's clearing of squatters during the late 1950s to early 1960s.[1] It is the first on-screen pairing of Rui En and Alien Huang.

Story

In an old tenement house at Huaxiang Street, several families live together and play out the acts in life every day. The story revolves around six friends – Zhao Mingxing (Alien Huang), Qian Yiduo (Zhang Yaodong), Han Yongyong (Rui En) and her sister Rourou (Chloe Wang) and Sun Zibin (Andie Chen) and his sister Lianjing (Kate Pang) – and their families as they go about their lives in post-World War II Singapore.

True to his name, Zhao Mingxing "Star", dreams of becoming a star. He is raised by his father, a movie billboard artist. Zhao Dagou (Chew Chor Meng), who has lived through the horrors of the Japanese Occupation, is a master storyteller. Dagou often chides Mingxing for being childish. Zibin, who works in the office of the TV station, has a leftist younger sister, Sun Lianjing. His mother Cai Shuxian (Pan Lingling) married Uncle Roti (San Yow), a bread seller, through an arranged marriage. Shuxian often gripes that she is a victim of a feudal marriage. Han Yongyong is the adopted daughter of Han Jianren (Huang Wenyong), a cook whose love for women and booze forces his wife Liu Daiyu (Lin Meijiao) to be the breadwinner of the family. The couple had wanted to adopt a boy after Daiyu failed to conceive, but the child was swapped. Yongyong grew up being raised as a boy. Thereafter, they gave birth to three daughters. One of them, Han Rourou, is the beauty of Huaxiang Street. She is every man's dream girl, but her heart is set on marrying a foreigner.

The tenement house is owned by bakery owner Qian Caifa (Zheng Geping) and his stingy wife Jin Yinjiao (Chen Liping). The couple has three sons. Qian Yiduo often leaves any dirty job to his indignant younger brother Qian Erduo (Romeo Tan)while he goes off to gallivant, but is still allowed to take over the bakery. This sparks resentment in Erduo. This family occupies the big unit above the bakery. The other occupants are Caifa's cousin Qian Caiguang (Chen Guohua), the latter's wife, Wang Limei (Lin Liyun), who works in a charcoal shop, and their daughter Qian Meihua (Adeline Lim). The mean Caifa took them in only because he feels guilty of having schemed against his cousin to possess the bakery. Although Caifa is prosperous, his marriage is not entirely blissful for he has never gotten over the fact that Cousin Caiguang once embraced Yinjiao. Instead, he is a secret admirer of Shuxian who has more class.

Mingxing loses heart after several unsuccessful attempts to be a star search finalist. He decides to study acting in Japan. While openly opposing it, Dagou nevertheless secretly tries to raise money for his son's overseas education. Moved by this, the filial Mingxing eventually gives up the opportunity to study abroad. When Mingxing finds out that Lianjing is a closet fan of stars, the quarrelsome pair who shares a common interest start dating each other in secret. Dagou saves Zhang Xiaoyu (Apple Hong) who suffers from amnesia. While Mingxing is eager to pair his father with Xiaoyu, Dagou is against the idea.

Yiduo is unaware that Erduo is scheming against him in attempt to take over the bakery. He meets with danger on several occasions, only to be saved by Yongyong who seems to be able to connect in mind with him. Yiduo grows fond of her. Yongyong takes up employment as a domestic help in a Caucasian family. A keen learner, she seizes the chance to learn English, and catches the fancy of Master Johnson (Bobby Tonelli). Rourou breaks up with Yiduo, saying that he is too dependent on his mother.

Rourou signs a contract with a record company. Peterson (George Young), the boss of the company, goes out with Rourou to celebrate. They both get drunk and Peterson takes advantage of Rourou. Peterson proposes to Rourou and confesses his love for her. Rourou refuses at first, but ultimately agrees. Peterson's family reject Rourou as a daughter-in-law and the pregnant Rourou is abandoned. Daiyu pretends to be the one pregnant so as to protect Rourou from shame, but the latter gives birth to a baby of mixed race. Thereafter, rumours spread, with everyone gossiping behind Rourou's back. Only Zibin stands steadfast beside her.

The getai business is at its peak. The three buddies start Xin Hua Xiang Stage Company. Recognising Dagou's talent as a standup comic, Xiaoyu encourages him to perform at getai shows. Just as Daogou's feelings for Xiaoyu grows, a Japanese by the name of Yamaguchi (Rayson Tan) appears claiming to be Xiaoyu's husband. Dagou is jolted to his senses. Mistaking Xiaoyu for a Japanese, he starts to distance himself from her, however, he feels anguish seeing how she is mistreated by Yamaguchi. The intense competition in the getai business compels Xin Hua Xiang to consider joining the bandwagon in offering striptease acts, to Zibin and Lianjing's objections. Song and dance versus striptease act, the former emerges as the loser.

Mingxing and Lianjing breaks off due to irreconcilable differences. Their business suffers when the famous comedians Fatty and Skinny leave. Dagou and the witty Uncle Roti salvage the situation by taking centrestage. Surprisingly, they are a hit with the crowd, thus saving Xin Hua Xiang. Uncle Roti stands tall in front of his wife who has always despised him.

1963 sees the advent of the television. Rourou starts life afresh and drags Yongyong to participate in Talentime on TV. Mingxing invites them to perform at his getai, and they become the singing sensation of love ballads. Yiduo falls for Yongyong, but just as he is about to woo her, he discovers to his horror that Yongyong is his twin elder sister. It turns out that Yinjiao had a difficult labour and was unaware that she had given birth to twins. Yongyong was sold away at birth. When Jianren finds out that Caifa is Yongyong's biological father, he creates a ruckus by demanding his money back. Yongyong remains filial to her adoptive parents. On finding out that Caifa has given her up for Shuxian, the jealous Yinjiao flies into a rage and wants to drive her family out.

Set up by Erduo, Yiduo and Lianjing end up in bed together in a drunken stupor. The odd couple are forced to tie the knot. Xiaoyu regains her memory out of a sudden. The truth is revealed that Yamaguchi is the culprit behind her unfortunate state. After Yamaguchi is driven away, Dagou picks up courage to express his love to Xiaoyu. However, he is stunned when Xiaoyu reveals that she is a majie who has vowed celibacy. Meanwhile, Mingxing and Yongyong begin to appreciate each other's virtues, and their feelings for each other grows.

Unhappy that Yongyong is more popular than her, Rourou quits as a singing duo to go solo but fails to earn an audience. For the sake of money, Rourou resorts to performing striptease but is driven to perform in Kuala Lumpur following a police raid. Zibin stays faithfully by her side. When Rourou retires from singing and plumps herself in the bakery, Erduo sets fire to the shop out of resentment. News that the bakery had been razed reached Caifa and Yinjiao, and through their shop neighbour, they find out that Erduo was seen inside the bakery at that time.

Love abounds when these men and women cross paths. Will lovebirds Mingxing and Yongyong end up as a blissful couple? Will Rourou's heart be melted by Zibin's accommodating nature and sincere love? Will the antagonistic pair Yiduo and Lianjing be together till their twilight years? As for Dagou and Xiaoyu, will there be a surprise ending for them?

Cast

Zhao family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Chew Chor Meng
Zhao Dagou
赵大狗
Mingxing's widowed father
Movie billboard artist and storyteller
Jialing's husband
Xiaoyu's boyfriend
1–35
Alien HuangZhao Mingxing
赵明星
The Three Musketeers (三剑客) , Gou Zai
Dagou's son
Have a dream of being a star
Yi Dou and Zi Bin's best friend
Lianjing's ex-boyfriend
Previously Rou Rou's love interest
Yong Yong's boyfriend
1–10, 15–20, 22–35

Han family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Huang WenyongHan Jianren

韩建仁

Farty Ren (Chou Pi Ren)

Daiyu's husband
Gambler
Suffers from heart attack upon learning that Yaoyao is Rourou and Peterson's son in episode 28
Went to Malaya in episode 29

1–29,35
Lin MeijiaoLiu Daiyu
刘黛玉
Farty Sau (Chou Pi Sau)

Jianren's wife
Yongyong and Rourou's mother

1–5,7–29,35
Rui EnHan Yongyong
韩咏咏
Hua Mulan (花木蘭)
Jianren and Daiyu's adopted daughter
Caifa and Yinjiao's biological daughter
Yiduo's biological twin sister
Mingxing's girlfriend
Found out Caifa and Yinjiao is her biological parents in episode 25
Discovered Erduo evil deeds in episode 32
Acknowledges her biological parents in episode 34
1–35
Chloe WangHan Rourou
韩柔柔
Jianren and Daiyu's second daughter
Yongyong's sister
Previously liked Mingxing
Zibin's girlfriend
Went to Malaya in episode 23
Gave birth to hers and Peterson's son in episode 28
Quit getai in episode 34 and went to Malaya to establish her career in episode 35
1–23, 28–35
Vina LimHan ZhuzhuJianren and Daiyu's daughter1,2,11,12–22,26–35
Lorraine KohHan MeimeiJianren and Daiyu's daughter1,2,8,11,12–22,26–35

Qian family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Zheng GepingQian Caifa
钱财发
Towkay
Yinjiao's husband
Owner of a bakery
Yongyong's biological father
Learned that Yongyong is her biological daughter in episode 14
Got knocked out by Erduo in episode 26
Reconciled and acknowledge Yongyong in episode 34
Chased Erduo out of the house after discovering what he had done in episode 35
2–4, 6–21, 23–35
Chen LipingJin Yinjiao
金银娇
Towkay Neo, Fei Po Jiao
Caifa's domineering wife
Yongyong's biological mother
Discovered that Yongyong is her biological daughter in episode 21
Fell down the stairs in episode 21 and suffer from amnesia in episode 23
Reconciled and acknowledge with Yongyong in episode 34
1–21, 23–35
Rui EnHan Yongyong
韩咏咏
See Han family
Zhang YaodongQian Yiduo
钱一多
Da Long

Caifa and Yinjiao's eldest son
Yongyong's biological twin brother
Rourou's ex-boyfriend
Lianjing's husband
Discovered that Yongyong is his twin sister in episode 24
Got beaten by Loanshark Qiang while trying to save Yongyong in episode 26
Slept with Lianjing in episode 27
Married Lianjing in episode 28
Became a father in the end

1–35
Kate PangSun Lianjing
孙廉静
See Sun family
Romeo TanQian Erduo
钱二多
Main Villain, Lao Er
Caifa and Yinjiao's second son
Ordered someone to hit Caifa in episode 26
Make Lianjing and Yiduo slept together in episode 27 and were seen by Sanduo
Caused the death of Caigang in episode 33
Chased out of the house by Caifa in episode 34
Set fire to Forever Fragrant bakery in episode 35 and disappeared
Returned and became mentally unstable in the end
2,4,7,10–21,23–27,29–35
Ivan LoQian Sanduo
钱三多
Xiao Long

Caifa and Yinjiao's youngest son

2, 6–8,11–13,20–35
Bryan ChanQian Caiguang
钱财光
Relative of Qian Caifa
Died in episode 33
2–4,7,13,15,28–33,35
Lin LiyunWang LimeiQian Cai Guang's wife2–4,7,10,13,15,28–35
Adeline LimQian Meihua
钱梅花
Qian Caiguang and Wang Limei's daughter2–4,32–35

Sun family

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Yao WenlongSun Yaping
孙亚平
Roti
Xianya's Husband
"Roti" (bread) seller
Intended to divorced Shuxian after what she had done but ultimately reconciled with her in episode 28
1–35
Pan LinglingCai Xianya
蔡贤雅
Ducky (Xian Ya)

Yaping's wife
A school teacher
Kissed Yama-san in episode 25
Intended to commit suicide in episode 28 but ultimately reconciled with Yaping

1–3,5–35
Andie ChenSun Zibin
孙子斌
Sun Zi Bin Fa
Xianya and Yaping's son
Worked for a radio company
Meiguang's love interest
Expressed his love for Rourou and went to Malaya in episode 35
1–19,21–35
Kate Pang Sun Lianjing
孙廉静
Pale Face (Lian Qing Qing)
Xianya and Yaping's daughter
Mingxing's ex-girlfriend
Yiduo's wife
1–35

Supporting cast

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Chua Cheng PouBro Bing ShuiIceball seller1,19,26
Yak YilinYun Yun3,16–23,30–35
Silver AngGong Bao ZhuRourou's friend5,9,11,12
Hu Yi XiangMi Fen-SaoBeehoon seller5,10,15,19,26
Dick SuMalay film producer5,7
Bobby TonelliJohnsonMary's son
In love with Yongyong
Left for England in episode 30
7,9,11,12,14,16,26,27,30
George YoungPetersonA record executive of a company
Had a one-night stand with Rourou under the influence of alcohol
Father of Rourou's baby
Planning to marry Rourou but disappeared as their marriage was rejected by his father in episode 21
12,13,16–19
Candyce TohChen Mei GuangSinger of Xin Hua Xiang Stage Company.16–19, 23, 30–35
Brandon WongWang XiaSkinny
Ex-comedy actor of Xin Hua Xiang Stage Company
Left for Malaya as he need to take care for his sick mother and act there as well
16–19, 23
Wu Jian HuaYan FengFatty
Ex-comedy actor of Xin Hua Xiang Stage Company
Left for Malaya to join Wang Xia
16–19, 23
Joey FengMona Meng NaA dancer of Lulu's performances
Partly responsible for tearing Lulu's dress during her performance in episode 23
23, 24, 29
Jessica TanLu LuSinger of Wan Li Hong Stage Company17, 19, 23, 26
Apple HongXiao YuDa Gou's girlfriend

Special appearance

CastRoleDescriptionEpisodes appeared
Jacelyn TayLee Ling HuaMovie celebrity1
Moses LimTan Ah KongLee Ling Hua's godfather1
Tan JunshengTan Ah TeckTan Ah Kong's grandson1
Florence TanLiu JialingDagou's ex-wife who died2,4,9,10,17
Zhou QuanxiGan ShuWorker of the bakery2,4,8,13
Chen TianxiangHui ShuWorker of the bakery2,4,13
Lina NgLittle TrumpetShe is one of the cast in a radio drama3,6
Li WenhaiWu Ren BiBlind fortune teller5,8,12
Tracer WongMaryHan Yongyong's towkay when working at the Caucasian family
Johnson's mother
6,7,9,11,13,14,16,27,28
Cai Ping KaiQi Po/Er-gu6,13
Darren LimCai NanFilm producer7,8
Wang YuqingGui Li QiangVillain
A loan shark and local bully
Lulu's man
Shot dead by police in episode 28
15,17,19,23,25,26,28

30th drama anniversary highlights

Joys of Life was filmed in conjunction with MediaCorp's 30th anniversary of local drama. It is a star-studded mid-year blockbuster drama which continues the legacy of famous getai works "Wok of Life" (福满人间) and "Springs of Life" (春到人间). Set in the '60s to '70s when mobile getai was all the rage, the story will allude to well-known entertainers of the day such as Sakura Teng and the comedy icons Wang Sha and Ye Feng.

Chew Chor Meng makes a comeback after a brief absence due to illness alongside fellow veterans Chen Liping, Zheng Geping, Huang Wenyong, Lin Meijiao, Pan Lingling and Rayson Tan. The cast also includes younger local household names Rui En, Zhang Yao Dong, Andie Chen and Romeo Tan and Taiwanese idols Cynthia Wang and Alien Huang (Xiao Gui). Former artistes such as Cai Ping Kai, Chen Zhonghua, Lina Ng, Tracer Wong, Jacelyn Tay, Moses Lim and Darren Lim made special appearances.

Production

This drama is the first drama in almost 10 years to be filmed at the previously closed Tuas TV World.[2] It was used by the SBC and TCS and is now a training ground for police specialist training. Scenes of the main street and town were filmed there while the rest were filmed at the studios, on the compound of MediaCorp's Caldecott Hill headquarters and nature areas.[3] Another drama was initially planned but was scrapped and "merged" with Joys of Life instead. Filming began on 6 February 2012[4] and ended on 16 May 2012, and trailers started airing from 29 May 2012. It was directed by 4 directors in different episodes.

This was the third "人间" (period drama-comedy) produced by MediaCorp after Wok of Life (福满人间) and Springs of Life (春到人间). Only Chew Chor Meng has starred in all three.

Reception

Joys of Life was the highest-rated drama of the year in terms of viewership ratings with some 993,000 viewers for its finale, until Don't Stop Believin' overtook the record by breaking the 1 million mark for its finale in September 2012.[5]

See also

Notes

  • This drama is one of two produced in conjunction with MediaCorp's celebration of 30 years of local Chinese drama and is Channel 8's 49th anniversary drama.
  • Six songs were used for singing for the getai (歌台) scene, which was sung by Rui En, Chloe Wang, Candyce Toh and Xiao Gui. The Songs are "给我一个吻","说不出的快活","如果没有你","牵挂","蝴蝶花" and "新桃花江".
  • In conjunction to the show, a closed-door "Cha-Chum Bom" dance party event was held on 15 June 2012. This event is organized by Mediacorp Entertains and Channel 8. A roadshow was held at Eastpoint Mall on 16 June 2012.
  • Lina Ng's role Little Trumpet appeared in episodes 3 and 6. The role was coincidentally played by her too in the sitcom Right Frequency.
  • Episodes 17 and 32 of this drama does not have commentaries for News Tonight during credits reel.
  • After the end of each episode, bloopers will be shown during the credits reel, without audio, after the details of the song titles. Due to overruns in these bloopers, they will be shown immediately after the last few episodes.
  • Local colloquialisms and abbreviations are used frequently in dialogues for period authenticity. The main characters are often referred to by their nicknames (e.g. Mingxing is usually called "Gou Zai", which means "Dagou's son", by the adults and Han Jianren, Yongyong's father, is almost always called "Chou Pi", which means "Smelly Fart"). Hokkien abbreviations and terms are often used, for example, "ah chek" is Uncle and Caifa and Yinjiao are often called "Towkay" and "Towkay Neo" which means "boss" and "lady boss" respectively.
  • In Episodes 23 and 24, Yinjiao (Chen Liping) suffers a concussion and thinks she is Wang Baochuan (王宝钏), a dan character in Chinese opera. Wang Baochuan and her lover Xue Pinggui are the subject of the romance folktale Wujiapo (武家坡).
  • The drama features Taiwanese singers Alien Huang (Xiao Gui) and Chloe Wang in their first and second Singaporean drama respectively.

Overseas broadcast

This drama was one of the first dramas to be broadcast exclusively in Malaysia after its first telecast of two weeks.

Country of broadcast Broadcasting network Debut Finale Preceded by Followed by
 Malaysia Astro Shuang Xing 12 July 2012 at 4.30pm, weekdays
(repeat on 13 July at 3.30pm, weekdays)
29 August 2012
(repeat on 30 August)
Code of Honour Don't Stop Believin'
Asia-wide MediaCorp 8i 14 November 2012 at 8.00pm, weekdays 1 January 2013 Yours Fatefully
 Malaysia Astro AEC 21 December 2012 at 8.30pm, weekdays 7 February 2013 Code of Honour

Accolades

Joys of Life won three out of thirteen nominations in the Star Awards, including Best Theme Song. It also won a "Highly Commended" award for the Asian Television Awards, which Kate Pang won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The other Drams that were nominated Best Theme Song are Don't Stop Believin', It Takes Two, Yours Fatefully and Show Hand

Nominee / WorkAwardAccoladeResult
Romeo Tan 陳羅密歐Star Awards 2013Rocket Award
年度飞跃獎
Won
Lorraine Koh Jia Xin 许佳欣Star Awards 2013 Show 1
红星大奖2013 亮闪八方
Young Talent Award
青苹果奖
Nominated
《珍惜》 sung by Power Station 动力火车Best Theme Song
最佳主题曲
Won
Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金Best Director
最佳导演
Nominated
Seah Choon Guan 谢俊源
Lim Gim Lan 林锦兰
Tan Ai Heng 陈海兴
Best Screenplay
最佳剧本
Nominated
Lee Heng Soon Tommy 李兴顺Best Drama Cameraman
最佳戏剧摄影
Nominated
Xu Ying Ying 徐盈盈Best Costume & Image Design
最佳服装与造型设计
Won
Zheng Kai Hua 郑凯华Best Music & Sound Design
最佳音乐与音效设计
Won
Alien Huang 黄鸿升Favourite Male Character
最喜爱男角色
Nominated
Alien Huang 黄鸿升
Rui En 瑞恩
Favourite On-screen Couple (Drama)
最喜爱银幕情侣
Nominated
Chew Chor Meng 周初明Star Awards 2013
红星大奖2013
Best Actor
最佳男主角
Nominated
Huang Wenyong 黄文永Best Supporting Actor
最佳男配角
Nominated
Romeo Tan 陈罗密欧Nominated
Kate Pang 庞蕾馨Best Supporting Actress
最佳女配角
Nominated
Asian Television Awards 2013Best Actress in a Supporting RoleHighly Commended

References

  1. In the last episode, the characters were discussing about the government (HDB) taking over squatters and letting them choose their flats.
  2. "A visit to Tuas Movie City on MSN Video". Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  3. "TV World in Tuas sees lights, cameras and action again". AsiaOne. 15 March 2012.
  4. #joysoflife 年中大戏 – 花样人间 – 人物介绍 Part 2 + 开镜仪式!
  5. "Don't Stop Believin' crosses the million mark". xin.msn.com. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
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