Raymond Lam and Tavia Yeung collaborate in new detective series

Tavia Yeung (L) and Raymond Lam set to re-collaborate

Raymond Lam will be reunited with Tavia Yeung to film a new TV series for TVB tentatively titled 談情說案. Joining them is Kenneth Ma, of Man In Charge and Speech of Silence. Raymond and Tavia were previously paired in Golden Faith and worked together in Eternal Faith, Yummy Yummy, Heart of Greed, Moonlight Resonance, among others.

This new series will be a "sort-of" remake of popular Japanese TV series - Detective Galileo. Raymond will undertake the lead role as Galileo, a university professor who majors in Physics. Galileo believes that everything revolves around and has a connection to Science.

Raymond will be romantically linked to Tavia, who takes on the role of a criminal investigator. They will work as a pair to solve numerous criminal cases.

Raymond shares that he grew up reading detective novels. This will be his first time filming for the detective/investigation genre and it will be a new experience for him. However, Raymond disclosed that he has not watched the Japanese series before. "I don’t even have the time to watch the series that I have acted in, hence, time just does not permit me to watch other series." Raymond is not worried that audience will compare him with the Japanese actor, Masaharu Fukuyama who portrayed Galileo in the original series. In everything that you do, you will still be the subject of comparison, nevertheless, there are many differences, from the the scripts and plots to the actors and actresses with different portrayal of each roles and characters, I believe they are different altogether, explains Raymond.

This new series will also be the first time for Tavia to undertake a criminal investigator role. Tavia says, "This is a fresh new experience for me. The plot is also different, I certainly look forward to it." Tavia is not worried that viewers will compare this series with the original one. She explains that Producer Lau Ka Hou says that the series will also focus on relationships aside from the criminal cases.

Source: Oriental Daily with translations by Choccho @ AsianFanatics.net

Charmaine Sheh scores full marks in Beautiful Cooking

The filming of TVB mega-production, Beyond the Realm of Conscience, has completed. Charmaine Sheh's is not so busy filming dramas and has time to film other programs. She recently filmed for TVB's Beautiful Cooking. Charmaine was allowed to bring along someone as her assistant on the cooking program.

Charmaine brought along her mother as her assistant. With her mother's help, she scored full marks on the program. Charmaine laughed when she finds out the result and says her decision to bring her mum was the correct one.

Reporters asked Charmaine's mother if she has met Kevin Cheng, who is currently rumoured to be dating Charmaine. Charmaine's mother avoided the question and shares with reporters that she rarely watches Charmaine's dramas, much less the dramas without Charmaine. Her mother also says that she has never pushed Charmaine to settle down. She adds that modern women can earn their own keep and she will give Charmaine the freedom to live her life the way she wants to.

Source: Mingpao with translations by sparkles_n15 @ AsianFanatics.net

Heart of Greed

Cast:
Ha Yu as Tong Yan Kai (Dai Bao)
Louise Lee as Ling Hau (Dai Khai)
Susanna Kwan as Wong Sau Kam (Sai Khai)
Moses Chan as Tong Chi On (Dak Dak Dei)
Bosco Wong as Tong Chi Yat (Gilbert)
Chris Lai as Tong Chi Foon
Fala Chen as Tong Chi Yan
Linda Chung as Seung Joi Sum
Raymond Lam as Alfred Ching Leung
Yoyo Mung as Sui Mak Mak
Tavia Yeung as Jackie Cheuk Man Lai
Michelle Yim as Ling Lei
Louis Yuen as Ling Bo

Total Episodes: 40 episodes
Aired Dates: June 5 to July 30, 2009
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 7.00pm
Channel: 8TV (Malaysian-Free-TV)

Synopsis:
Tong Yan Gai (Dai Bao) is the owner of dried sea products and abalone store. He is legally married to Ling Hau but has a live-in second wife Wong Sau Kam. He has four children, Chi On (Dak Dak Dei), Chi Yat (Gilbert), Chi Foon and Chi Yan. Chi On is adopted by Dai Bao and Ling Hau. Chi Yat and Chi Yan are Ling Hau's children while Chi Foon is Sau Kam's son.

Ling Hau was previously diagnosed with cancer. She did not expect to overcome the illness and as such, she arranged for Sau Kam to marry Yan Gai and take over her motherly duties. However, Ling Hau managed to beat the odds and survived the cancer. Sau Kam remains as Dai Bao's second wife although she is not legally married to him.

Sau Kam has always been worried about her position in the family. She is greedy and is always plotting to get Dai Bao's fortunes. She also engaged the help of Ling Bo (Ling Hau's brother) to create problems and misunderstandings. Ling Hau is determined to keep her family together at all costs. She is a wise lady who puts the family back together after each mess.

After Dai Bao and Ling Hau's death, Sau Kam fights for the family fortune from Ling Hau's children. She made false accusations and contaminate the family name to get her way.

The Tong family has a big problem on their hands and needs to rely on Sheung Joi Sum, Chi Yan and Dak Dak Dei's friend to help them.

Fala Chen enjoys filming intimate scenes with Steven Ma

Fala Chen, who cliched the movie role of Laughing's Wife, is busy filming The Legend of Pu Songling. Fala plays a Fox Goddess who is often rescued by Steven Ma's character. Steven's character, who is human, began falling for the Fox Goddess. This is Steven and Fala's first collaboration as a couple. Previously they were siblings in A Journey Called Life.

They recently filmed the scene when their characters met for the first time. Fala was hooked on to wires and she faced some difficulties and discomfort while filming. Fala explains that filming intimate scenes with Steven is "full of laughter and there aren't any awkward feeling between them."

Source: On.cc with translations by aZnangel @ AsianUniverse.net

Series Update: A Great Way to Care & Sweetness in the Salt

Due to the success of Rosy Business, TVB decided to un-warehouse Sweetness in the Salt. Both series are helmed by Producer Li Tim Shing. Sweetness in the Salt, starring Tavia Yeung and Steven Ma, was previously aired to viewers in Malaysia via cable TV, Astro on Demand (AOD). Hong Kong viewers will get their chance to watch this drama series when TVB airs it from June 8, 2009 (replacing Just Love 2).

Malaysian subscribers of AOD, meanwhile, will get to watch A Great Way to Care. A Great Way to Care stars Alex Fong (last seen in The Building Blocks of Life), Kate Tsui (The Four, Man In Charge), Elliot Yue, Mary Hon, Vivien Yeo, Natalie Tong, among others. A Great Way to Care is warehoused by TVB and will only be available to overseas viewers.

Sweetness in the Salt Series Info and Synopsis

A Great Way to Care

Cast:
Alex Fong as Ko Lap Yan
Ram Tseung as Lin Chi Sum
Raymond Wong as Lee Ying Chun
Kate Tsui as Mok Man Yee
Elliot Yue
Mary Hon
Yoyo Chen
Kate Tsui
Natalie Tong
Vivien Yeo

Total Episodes: 20 episodes
Aired Dates: June 8 to July 3, 2009 (Malaysia) / January 10 to February 4, 2011 (HK)
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 901 (Malaysia)

Synopsis:
Ko Lap Yan is a senior psychiatrist at Yan Wo Hospital. He is a competant and kind-hearted doctor who specialises in Severe Schizophrenia. Lap Yan treats his patients not only with medication but also with psychological analysis.

Lap Yan is good friends with Lin Chi Sum, a fellow psychiatrist and colleague as well as Lee Ying Chun, a nurse. Lap Yan is a single father and has a daughter. After going through a failed marriage, he doesn't plan to commit himself into another relationship. That is, until he meets Mok Man Yee. Man Yee is the Inspector of Serious Crime of the Hong Kong Police. Both Lap Yan and Man Yee work closely together to solve crime cases. Their relationship progressed quickly.

However, Man Yee has a history of mental disorder. As such, she keeps her feelings for Lap Yan in check and stays away from him.

Fala Chen has clinched the role of Laughing's Wife

A few days ago, news broke that most major roles for Laughing's Movie have been decided, except for one - the role of laughing's wife. There were reports that many TVB fadans and beauty queens auditioned for the role.

Fala Chen, seen at TVB's Anniversary Award 2008

Fala Chen was one of them. She auditioned on the last day of casting and her performance was reportedly excellent. TVB Exec, Stephen Chan revealed that Fala's performance at the audition was very solid and her Cantonese pronunciation was better than Christine Kuo's.

Fala is currently busy filming a TVB series, The Legend of Pu Songling, with Linda Chung and Steven Ma. Having landed this popular role, Fala will be busy filming both the series and the movie. Stephen Chan will help Fala to sort out her schedules to accommodate the filming for both.

Michael Tse, who will play the character of "Laughing", the same character he made famous in TVB drama Emergency Unit E.U., expressed that Fala meets the basic requirement for the role of Laughing's wife. "She has audience fate, (she) will be Francis Ng's younger sister, her outer appearance is also very suitable. Our height matches!" Michael says.

Source: Oriental Daily with translations by aZnangel @ AsianUniverse.net

Roger Kwok ready to take on Rosy Business

TVB new series The Threshold of a Persona will start its broadcast tonight. The new series about the functions of Hong Kong's Immigration Department stars Roger Kwok, Yoyo Mung, Patrick Tang, among others.

Roger, Yoyo and Patrick appeared at a promo function for the series dressed in the uniforms of the Immigration Department officers. They posed in their uniforms and exclaimed that they are ready to take over the 9.30pm time slot from Rosy Business, which won praises from viewers. Roger is upbeat about the series, "there is some momentum this time, I believe that I will beat Wayne Lai, fighting for the highest rating." Reporters asked Roger if he feels any pressure as Rosy Business achieved high ratings. Roger admits that Rosy Business's ratings are high, but says, "We are the elite forces, we also hope to fight for the highest rating." Yoyo also expressed her confidence in the series, "originally the series was suppose to be only 20 episodes, but then they changed it to 27 because the story is just too good."

Other cast members, Toby Leung, Kenny Wong, Raymond Cho and Ben Wong appeared in full uniform complete with anti-riot gears and equipments. The equipments were heavy, weighing approximately 20 pounds. Toby could not walk up on stage and needed help from the others. She was also sweating and claimed that she felt dizzy. "I feel like I'm about to throw up, about to faint. I don't dare to move too much, I don't want to use too much strength. I respect being a female," she says.

Source: Mingpao with translations by aZnangel @ AsianUniverse.net

The Threshold of a Persona

Cast:
Roger Kwok as Fong Chun Kit
Yoyo Mung as Yip On Kei
Raymond Cho as Cheng Pak Yue
Patrick Tang as Au Shun Fong
John Chiang as Mak Kai Ming
Kenny Wong as Wu Kit Sum
Toby Leung
Natalie Tong
Power Chan

Total Episodes: 25 episodes
Aired Dates: June 1 to July 3, 2009
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 9.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 921

Synopsis:
The Immigration Department guards the gateway in and out of Hong Kong. They are tasked to prevent questionable figures and criminals from entering Hong Kong. The immigration officers have a highly demanding task in their hands. However, this tough task raises a question - how can the officers accurately verify the identities of travellers? This is the first TV drama series that revolves around the immigration department.

While applying for a position in the Hong Kong Immigration Department, Fong Chun Kit makes friends with two other candidates; Cheng Pak Yue and Yip On Kei. Pak Yue is an aggressive and ambitious person. he later moves on to the police force and is promoted to Senior Inspector of Regional Crime Unit. While investigating a case, Pak Yue realises that the new triad leader, Wu Kit Sum has murdered someone because of Chun Kit's wife. This revelation has turned Chun Kit's life upside down.

As Chun Kit's good friend, On Kei helps Chun Kit to care for his son. On Kei also suffered a failed relationship with Pak Yue.

Au Shun Fong sees potential in Chun Kit's ability and recommends him to Mak Kai Ming, the Head of Investigation Section for the HK Immigration department. Chun Kit is successfully promoted and he is determined to start his life anew. While investigating a fraud syndicate, Chun Kit discovers his missing wife and uncovers her long hidden identity.