Fire Up (Chinese: 美味下半场) is a Singaporean Chinese drama which was produced by Wawa Pictures and broadcast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, Mediacorp Channel 8. The drama began production in May 2016 and was shown from 4 to 31 October 2016. The show starred Thomas Ong and Huang Biren.[1]

Fire Up
美味下半场
GenreEx-offenders
Cooking
Created byHo Hee Ann 何启安
Written byWawa Creative Team 哇哇创作组
Directed by谢光华
何恕
韩耀光
Sampson Yuen
StarringHuang Biren
Thomas Ong
Opening theme谢谢你 by 李代沫 Li Daimo
Ending theme1) Some Days by The Freshman
2)半年 by Debbie Huang
3)不流泪 by Issac Dang
4)因為所以我愛你 by Issac Dang
Country of originSingapore
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersMolby Low Kian Chye 刘健财
Canter Chia 谢光华
Production locationSingapore
Running timeapprox. 46 minutes
Production companyWawa Pictures
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release4 October (2016-10-04) –
31 October 2016 (2016-10-31)
Related

Plot edit

Mistakes are part and parcel of life. Only when one realizes where his fault lies, is one deserving of a second chance. Those who are given a second chance are usually grateful and work harder. Zheng Mei Mei (Huang Biren), after serving her jail term, got to know Zhuang Ying Xiong (Thomas Ong), a son of a wealthy man. In a bid to win over his father’s trust, he invested in “Mei Mei’s Kitchen” for Mei Mei to run. With his backing and her hard work, the business took off. She also employed several ex-convicts to help out in the shop, giving them a second chance in life as they experience various setbacks that will test their limits.

Cast edit

Main cast edit

Cast Role Description Episodes appeared
Huang Biren
黄碧仁
Zheng Meimei
郑美美
男人婆, Ms Tei Si
  • Two-time ex-offender
  • Owner of Zi char eatery
  • Zhuang Yingxiong's girlfriend
  • Wu Delan's daughter
  • Zheng Xiangfan and Zheng Xiangfei's mother
  • Zheng Xiangfei and Tina's rival in love
1-20
Thomas Ong
王沺裁
Zhuang Yingxiong
庄英雄
Mr Kopi, 小白脸, Lucas Chong
  • Zheng Meimei's boyfriend
  • Zhuang Dexian and Huang Xiuqing's son
  • Zhuang Yingcai's half younger brother
  • Zheng Xiangfei and Tina's love interest
1-20

Supporting cast edit

Cast Role Description Episodes appeared
Brian Ng
黄超群
Zheng Xiangfan
郑向凡
凡凡 (Fan Fan)
  • CID officer
  • Zheng Meimei's son
  • Zheng Xiangfei's twin brother
  • Angel's boyfriend
  • Promoted to CID officer in episode 19
1-4, 6-9, 12, 15, 17-20
Hayley Woo
胡佳嬑
Zheng Xiangfei
郑向菲
菲菲 (Fei Fei)
  • Zheng Meimei's daughter
  • Zheng Xiangfan's twin sister
  • Steve's girlfriend in episode 6
  • Likes Zhuang Yingxiong in episode 12
1-4, 6-15, 17-18, 20
Anna Lim
林茹萍
Wu Delan
吴德兰
  • Zheng Meimei's mother
  • Zheng Xiangfan and Zheng Xiangfei's grandmother
1-4, 6, 8, 11-18
Constance Song
宋怡霏
Eva Liang
  • Ex-offender
  • Zheng Meimei's good friend who works at the eater
  • Leo's mother
1-20
Yap Huixin
叶慧馨
Angel
安琪
  • Ex-offender
  • Waffle shop owner
  • Zheng Xiangfan's girlfriend
  • Revealed that she was imprisoned for three months in episode 7 for drug abuse
  • Went to France with George in episode 20
3-4, 6-20
Haden Hee
许立楷
Jiang Shaolong
江绍龙
  • Younger version portrayed by Shawn Tan
  • Ex-offender
  • Works at the eatery
  • Story's boyfriend
  • Successfully proposed to Story in episode 20
4-20
Mei Xin
陈美心
Story
  • Reporter
  • Lin Jiguang's love interest
  • Jiang Shaolong's girlfriend
3-6, 8-9, 11, 13-17, 20
Ernest Chong
张顺源
Lin Jiguang
林继光
  • Ex-offender
  • Ah Cheng's son
  • Fishcake seller
  • Works at the eatery
  • Likes Story
4-20
Tosh Zhang
张智扬
George
  • International cook
  • Cook genius
  • Angel's mentor
  • Went to France with angel in episode 20
8-10, 12, 17, 20
Kelly Liao
廖奕琁
Tina
  • Zhuang Yingxiong's ex-girlfriend
  • Tried to run over Zheng Meimei in a car but failed
  • Repented after Meimei forgave her
1 - 3, 9 - 12
Chen Shucheng
陈澍城
Zhuang Dexian
庄德贤
  • Zhuang Yingxiong and Zhuang Yingcai's father
  • Suffered a stroke in episode 19
1-5, 7, 9-11, 15-20
Hsu Chiung Fang
许琼芳
Huang Xiuqing
黄秀琴
  • Zhuang Dexian's wife
  • Zhuang Yingxiong's mother
  • Zhuang Yingcai's stepmother
1-4, 7, 9-12, 15-20
Steve Yap
叶良财
Zhuang Yingcai
庄英才

Main Villain

  • Demonised because his father had a child with Xiuqing. In order to protect what he deserves to have, sows discord between the family.
  • Zhuang Yingxiong's elder half-brother
  • Ivy's husband
  • Arrested in episode 20
1-3, 7, 9-12, 14-20
Eelyn Kok
郭蕙雯
Ivy

Supporting Villain

  • Zhuang Yingcai's wife
  • Zhuang Yingxiong's half-Sister-in-law
2-3, 7, 10-12, 14, 16, 20
David Leong
梁家豪
  • Boss of a market
  • Dog owner
  • Cameo
1
Fraser Tiong
张家奇
Leo
  • Eva's son
  • Zheng Xiangfan's good friend
17 - 18
Marcus Mok
莫健发
  • Steve's father
  • Zhuang Dexian and Zhuang Yingcai's good friend
6, 8-9
Benjamin Josiah Tan
陈俊铭
Steve
  • Zheng Xiangfei's boyfriend in episode 6
6, 8-12
Hong Wei Wen
洪伟文
  • director of an orphanage
  • Taught Jiang Shaolong how to make two-times pork
  • Died from an illness
13 - 16

Original Soundtrack edit

Song title Performer
谢谢你 (Theme Song) 李代沫 Li Daimo
Some Days The Freshman 插班生
半年 黄荻鈞 Debbie Huang
不流泪 Issac Dang
因為所以我愛你 Issac Dang

See also edit

Awards and nominations edit

Fire Up received three nominations for the Star Awards 2017.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Accolades Category Nominees Result
Star Awards 2017 Awards Ceremony 红星大奖2017颁奖礼 Best Supporting Actor
最佳男配角
Chen Shucheng
陈澍城
Nominated
Best Evergreen Artiste Award
常青演绎奖
Nominated
Best Drama Serial
最佳电视剧
Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Toh Zi Yi (13 July 2016). "Second time's the charm for Huang Biren and Thomas Ong". Toggle. Archived from the original on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
    - "黄碧仁和监狱有缘 《虎》当狱官 《美》成女囚" (in Chinese). MyPaper 我报. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
    - "許瓊芳陳澍城 結28年夫妻緣" (in Chinese). China Press. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.