Kent Cheng and Wayne Lai set for powerful collaboration

TVB new series, The King Maker, held its costume fitting recently. [The Kingmaker] stars two of Hong Kong's biggest talents - Kent Cheng and Wayne Lai.

[The King Maker] revolves around the story of the men in the imperial palace. Wayne and Kent will each play the role of the masters of a prince. They will out battle one another and aid their respective prince to become the Emperor.

Wayne shared that the new series will place great focus on the conflicts and struggles between the male characters in the palace, so it is alright not to have any "first-line" actresses in the series. Most importantly, is the good script that will produce good drama.

Wayne explained that he had collaborated with Kent before back in 2009 in The Greatness of a Hero. As such, for this round of collaboration, Wayne feels less pressure. "He’s a person who has very strict standards and does not film TVB series often, so getting the chance to collaborate with him is definitely a rare opportunity. I know that he rejected a lot of series in order to participate in this one – for him to think so highly of me, I’m very happy!" says Wayne.

Sacrificing earnings of over HKD 2 million, Kent turned down many offers so that he has the chance to work with Wayne again. Without any regrets, Kent explained, "If I don’t film the series this year, I may not have time next year. Wayne is TV King so I’m honored that he is willing to collaborate with me – his acting is amazing! If it weren’t for Wayne being in the series, I would not have come back to participate in it. If I had to choose one actor in all of TVB to collaborate with, my number one choice would definitely be Brother Wayne!"

Kent even joked that with such a collaboration, he "may" even earn back his HKD 2 million. Kent adds that although he collaborated with Wayne in [The Greatness of a Hero] two years ago, they did not have many scenes together, so this is the chance for them to battle it out in the new series.

Krystal Tin, Natalie Tong, Pierre Ngo, Chris Lai and Vivien Yeo make up the rest of the cast for this series.

Source: Mingpao with translations by llwy12@ AsianFanatics.net

The Life and Times of a Sentinel

Cast:
Steven Ma as Lip Dor Po
Kenneth Ma as Prince Yu (Fook Chuen)
Power Chan as Emperor Kang Xi (Xuanye)
Selena Li as Cheuk Tse Ying
Natalie Tong as Kwai Lun
Elaine Yiu as Imperial Concubine
Ching Hor Wai as Grand Empress Dowager Hao Zhong
Evergreen Mak
Tsui Wing
Grace Wong
Christine Kuo
Katy Kung
Rosanne Lui

Total Episodes: 26 episodes
Aired Dates: August 1 to September 2, 2011
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 901

Synopsis:
Lip Dor Po is a martial art expert who signs up as an imperial bodyguard in the Palace. Dor Po is a righteous man and is always fighting for the rights of his people.

Dor Po eventually befriends Prince Yu (Fook Chuen) who is the brother of the Emperor. Under the recomendation of Prince Yu, who is also Dor Po's superior, Dor Po becomes the personal bodyguard of Emperor Kang Xi.

Dor Po never imagined that the Palace would be full of backstabbings and plots. He also does not know that Fook Chuen is plotting an earth shattering scheme against the Emperor. As Dor Po spends more time with the Emperor, his loyalty is tested - should he remain loyal to his friend and benefactor, Fook Chuen, or Emperor Kang Xi who has a generous heart and loves his country deeply.

In the midst of all the chaos, Dor Po falls for Cheuk Tse Ying, the daughter of a herb merchant. However, Tse Ying ends up being entwined in the web of power struggle among the imperial concubines.

As Dor Po finds himself surrounded by friends and foes, who are constantly plotting and scheming, he has no choice but to trust no one and trust only in himself.

Official Site

The Other Truth

Cast:
Tavia Yeung as Mavis Hong
Raymong Wong as Wallace Cheuk
Ruco Chan as Keith Lau
Louis Yuen as James Wai
Natalie Tong as Cecilia Poon
Chris Lai
Sam Chan
Chung King Fai as Clayton Hau

Total Episodes: 25 episodes
Aired Dates: June 27 to July 29, 2011
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 9.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 921

Synopsis:
Lau Chi Kit, Keith is a barrister whose ambitions knows no limit. He will do everything he can to win a case, even if his own career or his life may be at risk.

His good friend, Cheuk Siu Him, Wallace comes from a wealthy family and has his own law firm. Although Siu Him is a qualified solicitor, he has no court experience as he prefers to handle the business aspects of his job. However, all that changes when he met barrister Hong Chi Yan, Mavis. To impress Mavis, Wallace decides to take on a tricky case.

James Wai is a hardworking but out-of-luck barrister who shares a chamber with Mavis and Keith. James is dependant on his mother financially but his luck is about to turn for the better when he takes on a thorny case.

Join these four legal eagles as they share their story. Sink yourself into the complex world of legal proceedings and courtroom drama as every verdict returned may have the other truth.

Official Site

Natalie Tong no longer a frail girl

Natalie Tong, last seen in The Comeback Clan, is currently filming new series The Truth with Raymond Wong and Tavia Yeung. Filming during summer has been tough for Natalie. She says that she has been physically weak and can easily succumb to heatstroke which may cause her to faint.

Natalie is determined to rid herself of the "frail girl" tag. She starts taking Chinese medicinal herbs to improve on her health. She shares that she has low blood pressure and as such, she gets dizzy easily. She also reveals that people who work with her are sometimes very frightened as she may faint anytime.

However, after taking the Chinese medicinal herbs for a few months now, Natalie can feel the difference. "It has been effective, even if I don't have enough sleep, it's no problem," says Natalie.

The storyline for The Truth is reportedly based on actual happenings. Natalie explains that there is a sense of challenge filming the series. "The story is not based on imaginations, have to think back on to how the person involved was feeling, there's a fresh feeling [to this style of acting]," Natalie explains.

After filming for The Truth wraps up (tentatively end of November), Natalie will film a Qing Dynasty period series. She will be collaborating with Sunny Chan and hopes to seek more advise from him. Calling Sunny her "si fu" or loosely translated as mentor, Natalie reveals that she has worked with Sunny in many series prior. She shares that he is very good in acting and has taught her a lot.

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

The Comeback Clan

Cast:
Ha Yu as Tai Koo Tung
Kiki Sheung as Tsui Hei Hei
Natalie Tong as Tai Ying Lei
Sammul Chan as Yip Tsik Leung
Christine Ng as Lee Yung Chi
Benz Hui as Yip Mo Sing
Shirley Yeung
Pierre Ngo

Total Episodes: 20 episodes
Aired Dates: September 20 to October 15, 2010
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 901

Synopsis:
Tai Koo Tung's restaurant is fast running out of capital as a result of the financial turmoil happening in Hong Kong. Yip Mo Sing is keen to acquire the restaurant's location. He even decides to invest in the restaurant without learning of the actual financial situation of the restaurant.

With the investment from Yip Mo Sing, the restaurant is able to temporarily stay afloat. Tai Koo Tung also uses this chance to improve the restaurant and works hard to invent new dishes and create a new menu. He learns that Tsui Hei Hei is a novice cook but has a signature friend rice with egg recipe to her name. She even has the appreciation from a Michelin food critic!

One day, Lee Yung Chi, a banker visits Tai Koo Tung's restaurant and claims that Tsui Hei Hei owes the bank some money. Hei Hei refutes that claim and ends up in a heated argument with Yung Chi. As a result of the heated argument, Hei Hei was injured and loses her memory!

Fearing that the restaurant's business will suffer should Hei Hei leaves, Tai Koo Tung decides to pretend that he is Hei Hei's elder brother. He also recruits Mo Sing to be Hei Hei's husband, while Yip Tsik Leung (a cello teacher) assumes the role of Hei Hei's son. Tsik Leung's girlfriend, Tai Ying Lei pretends to be Hei Hei's cousin.

Yung Chi was fired from the bank and she goes looking for Mo Sing and Tai Koo Tung. She insists that she is also a shareholder of the restaurant and wants to give the restaurant a makeover. All three owners of the restaurant want to make decisions but each of them have different ideas. A power struggle ensues.

Official Site
Previously known as The Comeback Family

A Fistful of Stances

Cast:
Kevin Cheng as Koo Yu Cheung
Kenneth Ma as Koo Yu Tong
Natalie Tong as Ying Ngam Ming
Nancy Wu as Chow Mui Mui
Yuen Qiu as Au Yeung Wai-Lan
Tavia Yeung as Au Yeung Wai-Lan (Young version)
Dominic Lam as Wing Tak
Jacky Heung as Wing Man Kwan
Shirley Yeung
Selena Li

Total Episodes: 25 episodes
Aired Dates: March 17 to April 2, 2010
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 9.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 921

Synopsis:
Au Yeung Wai-Lan is the owner of a martial arts school. She was recently reunited with her eldest son, Koo Yu Cheung, after years of separation.

Upon Yu Cheung's return home, he was shocked to learn that his younger brother, Koo Yu Tong, is suffering from a critical illness. What is more shocking for Yu Cheung was that their father was murdered by Wing Tak, the owner of a medicinal company as well as the bitter rival of the Koo family.

Yu Cheung never liked kung-fu but has always shown potential for the arts. His potential in kung-fu shine even brighter when he takes on Wing Man Kwan, Wing Tak's son.

Wai-Lan places all her hopes on Yu Cheung to take on the Wing family. She even taught Yu Cheung a special set of kung-fu skills that was created by the Koo family. Wai-Lan even registers Yu Cheung for the Guangdong Boxing Championship, and as fate would have it, Yu Cheung's opponent at the tournament happens to be Man-Kwan!

Yu Cheung achieved tremendous success in martial arts but his success also makes him lose his bearings. He is caught in a love triangle with Ying Ngan Ming (Wai-Lan's apprentice) and Chow Mui Mui, his dream girl. Yu Cheung's confusion in love as well as his exhaustion with kung-fu caused him to fall in the final tournament.

Will Yu Cheung sort out his problems in time to save the Koo family?

A Watchdog's Tale

Cast:
Maggie Siu as Tseung Tin Ngor
Kent Cheng as Lai Chun Sing
Steven Ma as Chow Yung Kung
Linda Chung as Lai Sin Yue, Sammi
Natalie Tong
Raymond Wong
Ram Tseung

Total Episodes: 20 episodes
Aired Dates: December 28, 2009 to January 22, 2010
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 901

Synopsis:
Tseung Tin Ngor, a wealthy woman, was kidnapped together with her beloved pet dog, Woody. Although both woman and dog were unharmed, Woody suffers from some behavioral problems since that kidnapping incident. Tin Ngor brings Woody for treatment at various Veterinarian Clinics but to no avail.

Left with little options, Tin Ngor gets help from Lai Chun Sing, a retired police canine officer. Chun Sing, who recently retired from his police job, owns a kennel in the suburbs. Although Tin Ngor does not have good impression of Chun Sing (also fondly known as Lulu Sir) she trusts him to help Woody. When Woody's condition improves noticeably, Tin Ngor was impressed and changes her perception towards Lulu Sir.

Tin Ngor begins to investigate her own kidnapping and mistakenly conceives that Lulu Sir's landlord, Chow Yung Kung, as one of the kidnappers. With the help of Bingo, a police-trained dog, Tin Ngor and Lulu Sir manage to prove Yung Kung's innocence and clear him from the crime.

Yung Kung was touched by Bingo and Lulu Sir's efforts and that motivates him to be a better dog lover. His concern and care for his own dog keeps him in constant contact with Lai Sin Yue (Lulu's Sir's daughter), a Veterinarian.

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.

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.

Jessica Hsuan changes her mind about children

The first episode of Just Love 2 was aired last night. To celebrate the broadcast of the first episode, its cast members including Jessica Hsuan, Sunny Chan, Natalie Tong, Casper Chan and Gill Singh attended a promotional event at Olympian City recently. The celebration also coincide with the birthdays of two of its cast members, Natalie and Casper.

Jessica, who reprised her role as the no nonsense judge, Hei Man, is also the wife of Sunny's character, Kot Kwok Kwong and mother to Yin Cho. Jessica shares that playing the role of a mother has taught her to be more patient. She was previously reported to have said that she doesn't like children but after filming Just Love 2, Jessica has since changed her mind. Although Jessica is currently single (and available!), she reveals that if she was to have children, she would give up her career and become a stay-at-home mum.

Jessica is planning a trip to Europe in June but fears that she may be quarantined upon her return to Hong Kong due to the A (H1N1) influenza outbreak. Sunny, who has a son, is worried about the spread of the flu virus. Sunny reveals that he has stopped taking his son to the playground.

Natalie Tong, who plays Sunny's sister, Kot Bo Yee, turned 28 recently. Natalie shares that she would celebrate her birthday by having a meal with her fans. She will then have dinner with her friends after that. She would not be celebrating her birthday in a lavish manner this year due to the passing of her mother recently.

Source: Takungpao, Oriental Daily with translations by R.E.D @ AsianVN.com

Just Love 2

Cast:
Jessica Hsuan as Ko Hei Man
Sunny Chan as Kot Kwok Kwong
Joyce Tang as Ho Sau Sau
Patrick Tang as So Ah Kei (AK)
Selena Li as Leung Yun Yun
Johnson Lee as Kot Tak Wan
Benz Hui
Natalie Tong

Total Episodes: 25 episodes
Aired Dates: May 4 to June 5, 2009
Time Slot: Mondays to Fridays, 8.30pm
Channel: Astro Channel 901

Synopsis:
Ko Hei Man is a very career minded magistrate. She is married to Kot Kwok Kwong. Kot Kwok Kwong is a full time house husband and fully supports Hei Man in her career. Kot Kwok Kwong is tasked to handle all domestic issues and housework. She also turns a deaf ear to the complains made by her mother-in-law. Hei Man is a strong believer that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law and lives her life by that rule. However, fate challenges her beliefs and continuously shows her that sometimes law cannot be applied in every situation.

Hei Man get to know Ho Sau Sau who suppers from mental disorder and pities her. She welcomes Sau Sau into her family, but little does she know that Sau Sau wishes to replace her as a wife and mother. Kot Kwok Kwong was injured in a car accident and his uncle, Kot Tak Wan instigate him to rebel against Hei Man. This leads to a lot of misunderstanding between the husband and wife.

Can the husband and wife sort out the complication in their marriage? Or will their marriage crumble and ends in divorce? Catch this tale of law and human nature.

The Green Green Grass of Home

Cast:
Christine Ng as Stella Yip
Sunny Chan as Choi Ka Sing
Yuen Wah as Yip Cheung Fatt
Chris Lai Lok Yi as Choi Ka Bo
Natalie Tong as Yung Wai Yu
Kingdom Yuen as Chu Lai Ngo

Total Episodes: 20
Aired Dates: October 1, 2008. Mondays to Fridays 8pm
Channel: Wah Lai Toi, Astro 311

Synopsis:
Stella is an interior designer with exceptionally high standards and expects only the best from her staff. She is constantly embroiled in office politics and this lifestyle of hers leads to the decline of her health. Her relationship with her family members also suffers.

While working on a project, Stella met a contractor, Ka Sing. She is constantly at odds with him but upon his meddling and advise, she decided to take a leave of absense from work and retreat to a village where her father owns a house. As luck (or fate) would have it, Ka Sing's family lives in that village too.

Ka Sing's family befriends Stella family. Eventually Stella's health improves as did her relationship with her father. Ka Sing ends up falling for Stella but dares not express his feelings to her. Stella then heads back to the city and throws herself back into her work, leading the life she used to lead.

Watch how the leads untangle themselves from this mess. Join them as they learn how each of their actions affect the environment and learn the benefits of preservation!