Happy Can Already! (Chinese: 欢喜就好; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hoaⁿ‑hí-tō-hó) is a Singaporean Chinese variety series which is telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, Mediacorp Channel 8. It stars Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Chua Lee Lian, and Jaspers Lai as the casts of the series.[1] Happy Can Already! aired from 2 December 2016 to 3 February 2017, every Friday from 12:00pm to 12:30pm.

Happy Can Already!
StarringJack Neo 梁志强
Mark Lee 李国煌
Wang Lei 王雷
Benjamin Josiah Tan 陈俊铭
Chua Lee Lian 蔡礼莲
Jaspers Lai 赖宇涵
No. of episodes11 (including 1 special)
Release
Original networkMediacorp Channel 8
Original release2 December 2016 (2016-12-02) –
3 February 2017 (2017-02-03)
Season chronology

This was the first non-Mandarin Chinese variety show to be produced on Channel 8 after a 30-year hiatus. This series is primarily targeted at Singaporean elderly as most of them speak Chinese dialects at home.

Plot edit

Liang Xi Mei and her new family are back for new comedy skits for the senior citizens this time! She laments that most of her old friends are not around anymore. Her eldest son Robert is now married to Mary and they have a daughter Ah Girl. Her second son Albert is now in university, and Lion King has a son called Merlion King, where his father Lion King has been thrown in prison for the time being.

Each episode will start with a guest performance and interview, before proceeding to the skit segment. Performers in this program include veteran getai singers such as Liu Lingling and Hao Hao. The skit segments will not only revolve around the lives of Liang Xi Mei and friends, but will also feature cameo appearances by Aunty Lucy and many others too!

Cast edit

  • Wang Lei was cast as various characters
    • Ah Gong, Liang Xi Mei's father-in-law
    • Guangdong Ah Ma
    • Elvis Presley
  • Jack Neo as Liang Xi Mei (or otherwise known as Cecilia Neo Sai Moi)
  • Mark Lee as Robert, Liang Xi Mei's elder son
  • Benjamin Josiah Tan as Albert, Liang Xi Mei's younger son
  • Chua Lee Lian as Mary, Robert's wife
  • Toh Xin Hui as Ah Girl, Robert and Mary's daughter
  • Jaspers Lai as Merlion King

Cameo appearance edit

  • Leon Lim as Con man
  • Liu Lingling made two cameo appearances as two different characters, Fat Auntie and Kolianna Lotus
  • Amy Khor as Herself (Senior Minister of State with the Ministry of Health)
  • Moses Lim as Auntie Keow
  • Dennis Chew as Aunty Lucy, reprising his role from Paris and Milan, a Singaporean Chinese comedy-satire variety show
  • Kym Ng as Miss Tan, reprising her role from City Beat, a Singaporean Chinese infotainment variety program.
  • Aileen Tan as Yankee
  • Tay Yin Yin as Tiny

Guest performers edit

Production edit

This 10-episode dialect variety series is produced by MediaCorp and J Team, in collaboration with local director Jack Neo and the Ministry of Communications and Information. Through an entertaining format with informational components such as songs and skits, and using a language which seniors are most familiar with, each half-hour episode will reinforce relevant messages including health promotion, active ageing, retirement adequacy and support schemes for seniors (such as PGP and CHAS).

Production started on 15 November 2016.[2]

The first promotional roadshow was held at Kreta Ayer Square on 14 November 2016 with artistes Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Jaspers Lai, and Hao Hao.[1]

The second roadshow was held at Block 114 Aljunied Ave 2 on 17 December 2016 with artistes Jack Neo, Dennis Chew, Chua Lee Lian, Jaspers Lai, and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.

The third roadshow was held at Kreta Ayer Square on 10 January 2017 with artistes Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Wang Lei, Dennis Chew, Moses Lim, Benjamin Josiah Tan, and Minister Chee Hong Tat.[3]

Sequel edit

A second season, Happy Can Already! 2, was produced and released on 19 May 2017.

Discography edit

Song title Song type Lyrics Composer Performer Producer
欢喜就好啦 Opening theme song Jack Neo 邓碧源 Jack Neo 麦如丽

Accolades edit

Year Award Category Nominated Result Ref
2017 Star Awards Best Variety Programme Nominated

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "本地首部方言综艺节目《欢喜就好》将开播 梁细妹重出江湖" (in Chinese). Channel 8 News. 14 November 2016.
  2. ^ "全新方言电视节目《欢喜就好》今天开录" (in Chinese). Channel 8 News. 15 November 2016.
  3. ^ "8视界 - 新加坡最值得信赖的中文数码平台". Archived from the original on January 18, 2017.