Can't Buy Me Love (TVB)
Encyclopedia
Can't Buy Me Love is a 2010 Hong Kong television series. It is a grand production by TVB
and starred Moses Chan
, Charmaine Sheh
, Linda Chung
, Susanna Kwan
and Sharon Chan
.
of China
, Can't Buy Me Love tells the story of the Third Princess
, Princess Chiu Yeung (Charmaine Sheh
), of the Tang
Emperor (Samuel Kwok
), who is beautiful
but very unreasonable, and, as such, no one wants to marry her. The Kam family is the largest gold
manufacturer in the grand capital Chang'an
, but because they are deceived, the business runs into troubles. The second son of the Kam family Kam Tuo Luk (Moses Chan
) has to marry the Third Princess to save the family business
, because then they will have the right to manufacture gold pieces for the Tang Palace
, the Third Princess only agreeing to the marriage
because otherwise she would be married off to the Tibetan
king
Songtsän Gampo, as schemed by the evil Concubine Wei (Kara Hui
).
The Princess brings lots of servants to the Kam family after marrying Kam Tuo Luk, and constantly comes into conflict with the members of the Kam family (Lee Heung Kam
, Susanna Kwan
, Louis Yuen
, Raymond Wong
). The Princess brings Szeto Ngan Ping (Fala Chen
), with her to the Kam family, who has been awarded "Best Servant" by the Concubine Dowager Chui (Susan Tse
) and later became wife of Ding Yau Wai (Kenneth Ma
). The Princess originally decides to leave the house, but when she misunderstands that the Kam family speaks negatively of her, she stubbornly stays. Later, she and Kam Tuo Luk fall in love. When the Kam family is convicted of a capital offence, she divorces Kam Tuo Luk to secretly save the Kam family.
, the filming of a similarly set costume drama
comedy
was announced. "Can't Buy Me Love was featured in the TVB 2010 sales presentation clip, which was released shortly after the TVB Awards Presentation, and became a highly anticipated drama
of 2010 in Hong Kong
. The drama became popularly compared to Beyond the Realm of Conscience
due to its extremely similar lavish costumes and sets, cast
members, and close time period
(both set during the Tang Dynasty
of China
). They were also compared to as "Can't Buy Me Love" also had links with the Tang imperial palace, though it had far more scenes out of the palace
. It has also been widely and popularly named the indirect sequel
(although it should really be a prequel, due to it being set during Taizong
's reign) to the other drama, despite their entirely different genres ("Can't Buy Me Love" being a romance/comedy, while Beyond the Realm of Conscience being a historical palace epic). The two series share the same producer, Mui Siu Ching.
In order to capture the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty
, custom-made elaborate costumes and sets were created for the series, resembling those of Beyond the Realm of Conscience in a comical way. Elaborate costumes have been made for grand series produced by TVB in the past, especially costume dramas such as War and Beauty
, The Charm Beneath
and others. Costumes highly resembling those of the latter include those of the members of the Imperial Household Bureau and personal maids. Other costumes also greatly reminded the audience. A costume fitting was held on 17 December 2009 at 12:30pm in Hong Kong, in front of the Shaolin Temple in TVB City
's Ancient Street, Tseung Kwan O, with most of the cast members attending. Especially grand was Charmaine Sheh
's wedding
ceremony headgear. A blessing ceremony was held for "Can't Buy Me Love" on 26 February 2010. The heavy headwear proved to be difficult for the cast; it resulted in injuries and discomforts for the members of the cast during filming. Television Broadcasts Limited
created a lot of hype prior to the release of the series, having numerous news on the progress of the series' filming published on TVB Weekly magazine and letting out news on the filming progress.
The filming completed in April 2010. Three official trailer
s were released near the date of release, the first making a parody out of Beyond the Realm of Conscience. Malaysia's Astro On Demand
channel also showed previews of the drama. Because of the drama's high ratings during the early episodes (the series reportedly managed to gain a peak of 36 points in its first few episodes; a celebration event was promised if the drama reached over 30 points in viewership ratings during its first week of broadcast), a celebration party was scheduled. However, because of the hostage
-taking incident in The Philippines, the celebration event was cancelled, due to the tragedy, though the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority
still received complaints for a comedy being aired at a tragic time.
The television series was released in Hong Kong
on TVB Jade
network on the 23rd August, 2010, in the third line time slot (starting at around 21:30 in GMT+7), airing between Monday-Friday every night at this hour.
, featuring lavish costumes and sets intended to capture the luxury and grandeur of the Tang Dynasty
, and to remind of the costumes and sets featured in Beyond the Realm of Conscience
. The drama is a romantic comedy
set during the Tang Dynasty, and makes parodies out of other Hong Kong television shows, including dramas and varieties. The drama is set to have 32 episodes, with a definitive beginning and ending to the story. Each episode is 45 minutes long. This drama format is hugely popular throughout East Asia
and also in Southeast Asia
. The plot can be compared to many other Asia
n dramas, including numerous other Hong Kong
TVB dramas, Korean drama
, other Chinese dramas
, Taiwanese dramas and Japanese dramas
, and to numerous films worldwide, where a bickering couple fall for each other, with one of them being unreasonable and hard-to-satisfy. The bickering is a major part of the comedic aspect of the drama. Apart from this romantic plot, the series also focuses on a plot where the protagonists' lives are under threat from the villans, and therefore part of the plot has focus on scheming in the palace
. Dramas involving scheming people in the palace (especially those within the imperial harem
, such as imperial concubines) have long been in existence in TVB dramas, especially after the hit 2004 TVB series War and Beauty
, which fully focused itself on scheming imperial concubines. This type of palace scheming plot has also been existence in other Asian countries popularly. The series, apart from the main couple, Charmaine Sheh
and Moses Chan
, also has the romantic plots of two main supporting couples, Linda Chung
and Raymond Wong
, Fala Chen
and Kenneth Ma
. There are also numerous other sub-couples.
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
and starred Moses Chan
Moses Chan
Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited...
, Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...
, Linda Chung
Linda Chung
Linda Chung Ka-yan is a Canadian TVB actress and singer based in Hong Kong. She entered the industry in 2004 when she won the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant. She is now an actress under TVB and a singer under the Star Entertainment label...
, Susanna Kwan
Susanna Kwan
Susanna Kwan Kuk-ying is a 1974-1987, 2006-Present Hong Kong female singer. She has recently been an actress for a number of TVB shows. Her nickname is "Big Doll" or "Small Sworn Mother" . She had been married to Lai Siu-tin followed by a divorce. In February 5, 1990 to January 1, 2006, she moved...
and Sharon Chan
Sharon Chan
Sharon Chan Man-Chi is a Hong Kong actress and model. She is currently under contract with TVB in Hong Kong.-TV series:-Film:-TVB Songs By Sharon Chan:*Song Name : Love Steps : At Home with Love...
.
Synopsis
Set during the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Can't Buy Me Love tells the story of the Third Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
, Princess Chiu Yeung (Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...
), of the Tang
Tang
-Chinese name:* Tang Dynasty , Chinese dynasty* Later Tang Dynasty , Turkic dynasty in ancient China* King Tang of Shang , the Shang dynasty ruler, who lived around 1660 BCE...
Emperor (Samuel Kwok
Samuel Kwok
Samuel Kwok is a martial arts practitioner and teacher in the Chinese art of Wing Chun.-Biography:Samuel Kwok was born in Hong Kong in 1948, the son of a Church Minister. His interest in the martial arts started at an early age, his first experience was in White Crane Kung Fu, under the guidance of...
), who is beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful is an adjective used to describe things as possessing beauty.Beautiful may also refer to:-Albums:* Beautiful * Beautiful * Beautiful * Beautiful...
but very unreasonable, and, as such, no one wants to marry her. The Kam family is the largest gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
manufacturer in the grand capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, but because they are deceived, the business runs into troubles. The second son of the Kam family Kam Tuo Luk (Moses Chan
Moses Chan
Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited...
) has to marry the Third Princess to save the family business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, because then they will have the right to manufacture gold pieces for the Tang Palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
, the Third Princess only agreeing to the marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
because otherwise she would be married off to the Tibetan
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Songtsän Gampo, as schemed by the evil Concubine Wei (Kara Hui
Kara Hui
Kara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances...
).
The Princess brings lots of servants to the Kam family after marrying Kam Tuo Luk, and constantly comes into conflict with the members of the Kam family (Lee Heung Kam
Lee Heung Kam
Lee Heung-kam is a veteran Cantonese opera and TVB actress from Hong Kong. She joined the entertainment industry when she was 16 years old. She has a younger brother, Lee Sue-gai...
, Susanna Kwan
Susanna Kwan
Susanna Kwan Kuk-ying is a 1974-1987, 2006-Present Hong Kong female singer. She has recently been an actress for a number of TVB shows. Her nickname is "Big Doll" or "Small Sworn Mother" . She had been married to Lai Siu-tin followed by a divorce. In February 5, 1990 to January 1, 2006, she moved...
, Louis Yuen
Louis Yuen
Louis Yuen is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He co-hosted the Super Trio series, Supreme Trio Supreme, in season 8 with Eric Tsang, Chin Kar-lok, and Wong Cho-lam.Finalist in the 1986 5th TVB New Talent Singing Awards.-Filmography:Actor...
, Raymond Wong
Raymond Wong
-Politicians:*Raymond Wong , radio host, political commentator, and a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong*Raymond Wong , current Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower of Hong Kong-Cultural figures:...
). The Princess brings Szeto Ngan Ping (Fala Chen
Fala Chen
Fala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982...
), with her to the Kam family, who has been awarded "Best Servant" by the Concubine Dowager Chui (Susan Tse
Susan Tse
Susan Tse was a former famous Chinese opera actress in Hong Kong. She is the 76th generation descendant of Confucius. This was confirmed by China's family tree study of Confucius according to her appearance on the TVB show Be My Guest....
) and later became wife of Ding Yau Wai (Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming is a Chinese Canadian actor from Hong Kong. He graduated from University of British Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering...
). The Princess originally decides to leave the house, but when she misunderstands that the Kam family speaks negatively of her, she stubbornly stays. Later, she and Kam Tuo Luk fall in love. When the Kam family is convicted of a capital offence, she divorces Kam Tuo Luk to secretly save the Kam family.
Development
After the huge success of Beyond the Realm of ConscienceBeyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience is a 2009 Hong Kong television series. Produced by Mui Siu-ching, the serial is one of the two grand TVB productions to celebrate along with the channel's 42nd anniversary, the other being Born Rich...
, the filming of a similarly set costume drama
Costume drama
A costume drama or period drama is a period piece in which elaborate costumes, sets and properties are featured in order to capture the ambiance of a particular era.The term is usually used in the context of film and television...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
was announced. "Can't Buy Me Love was featured in the TVB 2010 sales presentation clip, which was released shortly after the TVB Awards Presentation, and became a highly anticipated drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
of 2010 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The drama became popularly compared to Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience is a 2009 Hong Kong television series. Produced by Mui Siu-ching, the serial is one of the two grand TVB productions to celebrate along with the channel's 42nd anniversary, the other being Born Rich...
due to its extremely similar lavish costumes and sets, cast
Cast member
A cast member is:* An actor who performs in a theatrical production, motion picture, or television program. The actors who perform in the show are collectively referred to as the cast....
members, and close time period
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
(both set during the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
). They were also compared to as "Can't Buy Me Love" also had links with the Tang imperial palace, though it had far more scenes out of the palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
. It has also been widely and popularly named the indirect sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
(although it should really be a prequel, due to it being set during Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
's reign) to the other drama, despite their entirely different genres ("Can't Buy Me Love" being a romance/comedy, while Beyond the Realm of Conscience being a historical palace epic). The two series share the same producer, Mui Siu Ching.
In order to capture the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, custom-made elaborate costumes and sets were created for the series, resembling those of Beyond the Realm of Conscience in a comical way. Elaborate costumes have been made for grand series produced by TVB in the past, especially costume dramas such as War and Beauty
War and Beauty
War and Beauty is a Hong Kong television series broadcast in 2004 on TVB Jade. It starred TVB Awards Best Actress winners Sheren Tang, Gigi Lai, Maggie Cheung and Charmaine Sheh, and TVB Awards Best Actor winners Bowie Lam and Moses Chan....
, The Charm Beneath
The Charm Beneath
The Charm Beneath is a TVB period drama series broadcast in October 2005. The series is shown to celebrate TVB's 38th Anniversary....
and others. Costumes highly resembling those of the latter include those of the members of the Imperial Household Bureau and personal maids. Other costumes also greatly reminded the audience. A costume fitting was held on 17 December 2009 at 12:30pm in Hong Kong, in front of the Shaolin Temple in TVB City
TVB City
TVB City , is the headquarters of Television Broadcasts Limited, located at 77 Chun Choi Street in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, near to Shaw Studios. TVB is by far the biggest tenant of the estate and the first service-providing company in there.The city officially opened on January 1, 2005...
's Ancient Street, Tseung Kwan O, with most of the cast members attending. Especially grand was Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...
's wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
ceremony headgear. A blessing ceremony was held for "Can't Buy Me Love" on 26 February 2010. The heavy headwear proved to be difficult for the cast; it resulted in injuries and discomforts for the members of the cast during filming. Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
created a lot of hype prior to the release of the series, having numerous news on the progress of the series' filming published on TVB Weekly magazine and letting out news on the filming progress.
The filming completed in April 2010. Three official trailer
Trailer (film)
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the...
s were released near the date of release, the first making a parody out of Beyond the Realm of Conscience. Malaysia's Astro On Demand
Astro On Demand
Astro On Demand is the brand-name of a range of near video on demand services from Astro on the same platform of the same name.Astro On Demand is a HK drama channel co-established by HK TVBI and Malay Astro. While broadcasting the newest HK drama on the same time HK does, it also plays TVB dramas...
channel also showed previews of the drama. Because of the drama's high ratings during the early episodes (the series reportedly managed to gain a peak of 36 points in its first few episodes; a celebration event was promised if the drama reached over 30 points in viewership ratings during its first week of broadcast), a celebration party was scheduled. However, because of the hostage
Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
-taking incident in The Philippines, the celebration event was cancelled, due to the tragedy, though the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority
Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority
The Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority is an organization responsible for licensing and regulating the broadcasting industry in Hong Kong. It was formed in 1987...
still received complaints for a comedy being aired at a tragic time.
The television series was released in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
network on the 23rd August, 2010, in the third line time slot (starting at around 21:30 in GMT+7), airing between Monday-Friday every night at this hour.
Format
The television series is a costume dramaCostume drama
A costume drama or period drama is a period piece in which elaborate costumes, sets and properties are featured in order to capture the ambiance of a particular era.The term is usually used in the context of film and television...
, featuring lavish costumes and sets intended to capture the luxury and grandeur of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, and to remind of the costumes and sets featured in Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience is a 2009 Hong Kong television series. Produced by Mui Siu-ching, the serial is one of the two grand TVB productions to celebrate along with the channel's 42nd anniversary, the other being Born Rich...
. The drama is a romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
set during the Tang Dynasty, and makes parodies out of other Hong Kong television shows, including dramas and varieties. The drama is set to have 32 episodes, with a definitive beginning and ending to the story. Each episode is 45 minutes long. This drama format is hugely popular throughout East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and also in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. The plot can be compared to many other Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n dramas, including numerous other Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
TVB dramas, Korean drama
Korean drama
Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries format, produced in the Korean language. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia and have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave, known as "Hallyu", and also "Drama Fever" in some countries...
, other Chinese dramas
Television in China
The television industry in the People's Republic of China has grown into a complete system with high-tech program production, transmission and coverage...
, Taiwanese dramas and Japanese dramas
Television in Japan
Television broadcasting in Japan started in 1939, making the country one of the first in the world with an experimental television service. In spite of that, because of the beginning of World War II in the Pacific region, this first experimentation lasted only a few months...
, and to numerous films worldwide, where a bickering couple fall for each other, with one of them being unreasonable and hard-to-satisfy. The bickering is a major part of the comedic aspect of the drama. Apart from this romantic plot, the series also focuses on a plot where the protagonists' lives are under threat from the villans, and therefore part of the plot has focus on scheming in the palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
. Dramas involving scheming people in the palace (especially those within the imperial harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
, such as imperial concubines) have long been in existence in TVB dramas, especially after the hit 2004 TVB series War and Beauty
War and Beauty
War and Beauty is a Hong Kong television series broadcast in 2004 on TVB Jade. It starred TVB Awards Best Actress winners Sheren Tang, Gigi Lai, Maggie Cheung and Charmaine Sheh, and TVB Awards Best Actor winners Bowie Lam and Moses Chan....
, which fully focused itself on scheming imperial concubines. This type of palace scheming plot has also been existence in other Asian countries popularly. The series, apart from the main couple, Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm...
and Moses Chan
Moses Chan
Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited...
, also has the romantic plots of two main supporting couples, Linda Chung
Linda Chung
Linda Chung Ka-yan is a Canadian TVB actress and singer based in Hong Kong. She entered the industry in 2004 when she won the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant. She is now an actress under TVB and a singer under the Star Entertainment label...
and Raymond Wong
Raymond Wong
-Politicians:*Raymond Wong , radio host, political commentator, and a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong*Raymond Wong , current Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower of Hong Kong-Cultural figures:...
, Fala Chen
Fala Chen
Fala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982...
and Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming is a Chinese Canadian actor from Hong Kong. He graduated from University of British Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering...
. There are also numerous other sub-couples.
The Kam Family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Lee Heung-kam | Kam Tai Fu Yan 金太夫人 |
Ding Loi Hei's mother-in-law Kam Tuo Fuk, Kam Tuo Luk, Kam Tuo Sao's grandmother Suffered from Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death... |
| Susanna Kwan Susanna Kwan Susanna Kwan Kuk-ying is a 1974-1987, 2006-Present Hong Kong female singer. She has recently been an actress for a number of TVB shows. Her nickname is "Big Doll" or "Small Sworn Mother" . She had been married to Lai Siu-tin followed by a divorce. In February 5, 1990 to January 1, 2006, she moved... |
Ding Loi Hei 丁來喜 |
Boss of Kam Kam Ho Gold Shop Kam Tai Fu Yan's daughter-in-law Kam Tuo Fuk and Kam Tuo Luk's stepmother Kam Tuo Sao's mother Ding Choi Wong's cousin and enemy later became friends |
| Louis Yuen Louis Yuen Louis Yuen is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He co-hosted the Super Trio series, Supreme Trio Supreme, in season 8 with Eric Tsang, Chin Kar-lok, and Wong Cho-lam.Finalist in the 1986 5th TVB New Talent Singing Awards.-Filmography:Actor... |
Kam Duo Fok 金多福 |
Eldest son of Kam family Kam Tai Fu Yan's grandson Ding Loi Hei's stepson Yuen Siu Yuk's husband |
| Selena Li Selena Li Selena Li Sze-wan is an actress and former Miss Hong Kong 2003 contestant. That year, as a contestant from Toronto, Selena was the winner of Miss Talent and Miss Photogenic. Prior to entering the Miss Hong Kong pageant, Selena was attending the University of Toronto studying for a Bachelor of... |
Yuen Siu Yuk 阮小玉 |
Kam Tuo Fuk's wife |
| Moses Chan Moses Chan Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited... |
Kam Duo Lok 金多祿 |
Second son of Kam family Kam Tai Fu Yan's grandson Ding Loi Hei's stepson Princess Chiu Yeung's husband |
| Charmaine Sheh Charmaine Sheh Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm... |
Princess Chiu Yeung 昭陽公主 |
Third Princess of Tang Palace Kam Tuo Luk's wife Had a daughter in Episode 32 |
| Raymond Wong | Kam Duo Sao 金多壽 |
Third son of Kam family Kam Tai Fu Yan's grandson Ding Loi Hei's son Ng Si Tak's husband in Episode 32 |
| Linda Chung Linda Chung Linda Chung Ka-yan is a Canadian TVB actress and singer based in Hong Kong. She entered the industry in 2004 when she won the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant. She is now an actress under TVB and a singer under the Star Entertainment label... |
Ng Si Tak 吳四德 |
Kam family's housekeeper, later as 3rd Princess, then later as 6th Princess and Kam Duo Sao's wife in Episode 32 |
The Palace
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Samuel Kwok | Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649... 唐太宗 |
Princesses Wing Ho, Ching Wan, Chiu Yeung, Chun Ping, Chun Huai's father De Sin's adoptive father Concubine Wei and Concubine Suen's husband |
| Susan Tse Susan Tse Susan Tse was a former famous Chinese opera actress in Hong Kong. She is the 76th generation descendant of Confucius. This was confirmed by China's family tree study of Confucius according to her appearance on the TVB show Be My Guest.... |
Concubine Dowager Tsui 崔太妃 |
Emperor Gaozu of Tang Emperor Gaozu of Tang Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned... 's concubine |
| Kara Hui Kara Hui Kara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances... |
Concubine Wai 韋貴妃 |
Emperor Taizong of Tang's concubine Enemy of Princess Chiu Yeung and Kam's family Committed suicide (by stabbing a sharp headpiece into her chest) in Episode 28 (Main Villain) |
| Griselda Yeung (楊卓娜) | Concubine Suen 孫貴妃 |
Emperor Taizong of Tang's concubine |
| Sharon Chan Sharon Chan Sharon Chan Man-Chi is a Hong Kong actress and model. She is currently under contract with TVB in Hong Kong.-TV series:-Film:-TVB Songs By Sharon Chan:*Song Name : Love Steps : At Home with Love... |
Princess Wing Ho 永河公主 |
First Princess Chiu Wan's wife Daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649... and Empress Zhangsun Empress Zhangsun Empress Zhangsun , formally Empress Wendeshunsheng or, in short, Empress Wende , was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. She was the wife of Emperor Taizong and the mother of Emperor Gaozong... Enemy of Princess Chiu Yeung Depreciated to a commoner, expelled from the Palace and goes mentally unstable in Episode 15 (Villain) |
| Edwin Siu Edwin Siu -Discography:*2002: Born to Fly*2002: Edwin*2003: What Do You Want Me to Do *2005: Story -Films:-Television serial dramas:-Internet serial dramas:-Awards:- External links :... |
Chiu Wan 趙弘 |
Princess Wing Ho's husband Leave the Palace to live with Princess Wing Ho in Episode 15 |
| Tracy Ip | Princess Ching Wan 清雲公主 |
Second Princess Hung Che-gong's wife Enemy of Princess Chiu later friends (Semi-villain) |
| Matthew Ko Matthew Ko Matthew Ko Kwan-yin is a Hong Kong actor currently working with TVB.At the age of seven, Matthew emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada with his parents. He returned to Hong Kong in 2004 and worked as a model. In 2005, he became the first ever winner of Hong Kong's Mr. Hong Kong beauty contest and... |
Hung Che-gong 孔志恭 |
Princess Ching Wan's husband |
| Charmaine Sheh Charmaine Sheh Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is a Hong Kong TVB actress.Sheh is best known for her roles in TVB dramas, including Return of the Cuckoo, Country Spirit, Perish in the Name of Love, Angels of Mission, War and Beauty, The Dance of Passion,The Drive of Life, Maidens' Vow, Forensic Heroes II,Beyond the Realm... |
Princess Chiu Yeung 昭陽公主 |
Third Princess Kam Tuo Luk's wife |
| Moses Chan Moses Chan Moses Chan Ho is an award-winning actor from Hong Kong. Having started his career working mostly on films, Chan has gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with Television Broadcasts Limited... |
Kam Tuo Luk 金多祿 |
Princess Chiu Yeung's husband |
| Yoyo Chen Yoyo Chen Yoyo Chen is a Hong Kong actress under TVB.-Biography:Yoyo was given her first TVB role in 2004 in the Sunshine Heartbeat... |
Princess Chun Ping 川平公主 |
Fourth Princess Cheng Po Wife Enemy of Princess Chiu Yeung later friends (Semi-villain) |
| Eric Li (李天翔) | Cheng Po 鄭浦 |
Princess Chun Ping's husband |
| Charmaine Li Charmaine Li Charmaine Li Si Yan , one of the many graduates from Belilios Public School and School of Drama, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong, is presently an actress with Television Broadcasts Limited.-Filmography:... |
Princess Chun Huai 晉懷公主 |
Fifth Princess Age 26 Tai Dak Leung Wife but divorced in Episode 28 Enemy of Princess Chiu Yeung later friends (Semi-villain) |
| Cheung Wing Hong | Tai Dak Leung 泰德亮 |
Princess Chun Huai's husband, but divorced in Episode 28 |
| Linda Chung Linda Chung Linda Chung Ka-yan is a Canadian TVB actress and singer based in Hong Kong. She entered the industry in 2004 when she won the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant. She is now an actress under TVB and a singer under the Star Entertainment label... |
Princess De Xin 德善公主 |
Emperor Taizong's adoptive daughter Sixth Princess |
| Raymond Wong Raymond Wong Ho-Yin Raymond Wong Ho-Yin , is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Early life:Wong completed his secondary education in Hong Kong Tang King Po College and obtained a degree issued by the City University of Hong Kong... |
Kam Tuo Sao 金多壽 |
Princess De Xin's lover Later as Princess De Xin's husband in Episode 32 |
| Fala Chen Fala Chen Fala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982... |
Szeto Ngan Ping 司徒銀屏 |
Third Princess's servant Concubine Dowager Tsui awards her "No. 1 Servant" Ding Yau Wai's wife |
Ding's family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Lee Kwok Lun (李國麟) | Ding Choi Wong 丁財旺 |
Boss of Ding Fung Ho Gold Shop Ding Loi Hei's cousin and enemy Mai Yan Che's husband Ding Yau Wai's adopted father |
| Mary Hon Mary Hon Mary Hon is an actress from TVB in Hong Kong. She has appeared in many television series, such as Beyond the Realm of Conscience.-TV series:-External links:... |
Mai Yan Che 米仁慈 |
Ding Choi Wong's wife Ding Yau Wai's adopted mother |
| Kenneth Ma Kenneth Ma Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming is a Chinese Canadian actor from Hong Kong. He graduated from University of British Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering... |
Ding Yau Wai 丁有維 |
An official matchmaker Ding Choi Wong and Mai Yan Che's adopted son Lo Tou-yun's son Szeto Ngan Ping's husband |
| Fala Chen Fala Chen Fala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982... |
Szeto Ngan Ping 司徒銀屏 |
Ding Yau Wai's wife |
Lo's family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Ram Chiang (蔣志光) | Lo Tou-yun 羅道遠 |
Turkic peoples Turkic peoples The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds... Fong Hak-lan's husband Ding Yau-wai's father Yu-Man Kit's subordinate Determined to overthrow Tang Dynasty with Yu-Man Kit Killed when fighting with Wong Mang in Episode 32 (Main villain) |
| Meini Cheung (張美妮) | Fong Hak-lan 方克蘭 |
Lo Tou-yun's wife Ding Yau Wai's mother Deceased |
| Kenneth Ma Kenneth Ma Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming is a Chinese Canadian actor from Hong Kong. He graduated from University of British Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering... |
Ding Yau Wai 丁有維 |
Lo Tou-yun and Fong Hak-lan's son Szeto Ngan Ping's husband |
Other Casts
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Vincent Wong Vincent Wong Vincent Wong is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He married with Hong Kong actress Yoyo Chan at 11:00 AM on November 11, 2011.-TV series:-Film:-Theme songs:... |
Yu-Man kit 宇文傑 |
A philanthropist Philanthropist A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes... , actually a Turkic Turkic peoples The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds... prince Lo Tuo-yun and Wong Mang's supervisor Determined to overthrow Tang Dynasty with Lo Tou-yun and Wong Mang Committed suicide when caught by Tang army in Episode 32(Main villain) |
| Tai Chi-wai (戴志偉) | Wong Mang 王猛 |
A Turkic General Yu-Man Kit's subordinate Determined to overthrow Tang Dynasty with Yu-Man Kit Killed when fighting with Lo Tou-yun in Episode 32 (Villain) |
| Yu Tsz-ming (余子明) | Uncle Wing 榮叔 |
Kam Kam Ho's shop manager, then Ding Fung Ho's shop manager Threatened Kam Kam Ho to pay for his gambling debts Fired by Kam Kam Ho and Ding Fung Ho successively (Villain) |
| Tsui Wing Tsui Wing Tsui Wing is a Hong Kong actor from TVB.-Television series:-Reference:... |
Uncle Po 寶叔 |
Ding Fung Ho's shop manager Kidnapped Mai Yan Che, but killed by gangsters in Episode 16 (Villain) |
| Elaine Yiu Elaine Yiu Elaine Yiu Tse-ling is a Hong Kong television actress and presenter.-Career:Yiu entered the entertainment industry after winning the TVB8 Presentator Contest in 2002, subsequently signing a management and filming contract with TVB. From 2002 to 2004, Yiu hosted Mandarin-language television... |
Cho Kiu 楚 翹 |
A prostitute Kam Tuo Luk's dream woman Bribed by Princess Wing Ho to seduce Kam Tuo Luk |
| Lily Li Lily Li Lily Li is a Hong Kong actress.-Filmography:* State of Divinity * Centre Stage* The Young Master* Disciples of the 36th Chamber* Shatter* Shaolin Mantis* Challenge of the Masters... |
Aunt Mei 媚 姨 |
A brothel's operator Bribed by Princess Wing Ho to assist Cho Kiu to seduce Kam Tuo Luk |
| Deno Cheung (張松枝) | Boss Mak 麥老闆 |
Boss of Mak Lee Ho Incriminated Kam Kam Ho to sell fake gold (Villain) |
| Au Sui-wai (歐瑞偉) | Wong Ka-tung 王家棟 |
An assassin Ordered by Concubine Wei to determine to kill Princess Chiu Yeung Killed by poisoning Poisoning Poisoning may refer to:* Biological toxicity, see toxin and poison.* Catalyst poisoning.* Nuclear poison.* Poisoning, a classification in Cantonese food.* Route poisoning, a computer network concept.* Secondary poisoning... by Concubine Wei in Episode 23 (Villain) |
| Rosanne Lui (呂珊) | Chui Sim 徐嬋 |
Ding Choi-wong's cousin Stole Lo Tou-yun's baby (i.e. Ding Yau-wai) and sold it to Ding Choi-wong Killed by Lo Tou-yun in Episode 26 (Villain) |
| Li Hung-kit (李鴻杰) | Buk Yat Buk 卜一卜 |
A fortune-teller Kam Tuo-luk's friend Promoted to court astronomer Astronomer An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using... in Episode 31 |
| Stephen Huynh Stephen Huynh Stephen Huynh is a former Mr. Hong Kong contestant, and is currently an actor with Hong Kong's TVB. Stephen was born in Hong Kong, however, raised in France and returned to Hong Kong after finishing his studies. Although he has Cantonese Chinese ancestry, his ancestors lived in Vietnam... |
Luk Tung-chan 祿東贊 |
An Tibetan Tibet Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people... ambassador Ambassador An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization.... |
| Tam Bing-man (譚炳文) | Uncle Lam Tin 林天叔 |
A former gang leader |
| Fung So Bor (馮素波) | - | Grandmother of Princess Chiu Yeung Deceased |
| Chuk Man-kwan | - | Mother of Ding Loi Hei Incriminated by Ding Choi Wong Deceased |
42nd Ming Pao Anniversary Awards 2010
- Won: My Most Supportive Performance (Charmaine Sheh)
- Won: Outstanding Actor in Television (Moses Chan)
- Won: Outstanding Actress in Television (Charmaine Sheh)
- Nominated: Outstanding Programme
- Nominated: Outstanding Actress in Television (Fala Chen)
TVB Anniversary Awards (2010)
- Won: Best Drama
- Nominated: Best Actor (Moses Chan)
- Nominated: Best Actress (Charmaine Sheh)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Louis Yuen)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress (Susanna Kwan)
- Nominated: My Favourite Male Character (Moses Chan)
- Nominated: My Favourite Male Character (Louis Yuen)
- Won: My Favourite Female Character (Charmaine Sheh)
- Nominated: My Favourite Female Character (Fala Chen)
- Nominated: My Favourite Female Character (Linda Chung)
- Nominated: My Favourite Female Character (Susanna Kwan)
- Nominated: My Favourite Female Character (Lee Heung Kam)
- Won: Most Improved Actor (Raymond Wong)
- Nominated: Most Improved Actress (Selena Li)
Viewership ratings
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August 30 - September 3, 2010 | |
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September 6–10, 2010 | |
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September 13–16, 2010 | |
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September 20–24, 2010 | |
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| September 27 - October 1, 2010 | |
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| October 2, 2010 | |
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| October 3, 2010 | |
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