Wong Cho Lam Goes to China after Conflict with TVB Management
Since assuming the post of Chief Creative Officer at TVB starting January of 2021, Wong Cho Lam (王祖藍) has achieved good viewer responses by introducing diverse variety programs such as Have a Big Laugh <開心大綜藝>, Dub-of-War <好聲好戲>, Top Sales <識貨> and Mama’s Day <日日媽媽聲>. However, it seems that merely a year into his job, Cho Lam’s conflict with TVB’s senior management may be causing him to make alternate career moves!
Taking On Jobs for TVB Artistes
Forming part of the team to shake things up at the station along with Eric Tsang (曾志偉), Cho Lam was invited to take up the role of Chief Creative Officer due to his steady popularity in China in recent years, which has earned him the label of “Variety King”.
Just as everyone expected him to continue making improvements at the station, Cho Lam’s conspicuous absence from 2021 TVB Anniversary Awards presentation raised eyebrows.
Later, Cho Lam posted photos of Vincent Wong (王浩信), Owen Cheung (張振朗) and Samantha Ko (高海寧) together with him on a trip in China, and revealed that he would be there for some time.
As it was unlikely for members of TVB upper management to leave their positions for long durations, there had been strong opposition to the trip, but the 41-year-old had expressed that he can “settle things” on his own and insisted on bringing a team of artistes along. Due to his wide network connections, he was reportedly keen to act as a “middleman” to take on projects and job assignments for TVB and Shaw Brothers’ artistes whose contracts are due soon.
Fuse of the Conflict Was Linda Chung Losing TV Queen?
Sources say that Cho Lam’s actions were due to Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣) losing out on Best Actress. Impressing viewers with her comeback performance in medical drama Kids’ Lives Matter <星空下的仁醫>, netizens have rooted for Linda as their choice candidate for the accolade. Cho Lam has also encouraged Linda to grace the prize presentation by “baiting” her with the award. It was likely he had advocated for Linda’s win, given that the latter share a close relationship with his wife Leanne Li (李亞男).
Two of TVB’s top executives, Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍) and Virginia Lok (樂易玲), have differing opinions as to who should be TV Queen. There was also talk that upper management stopped Kids’ Lives Matter from winning “Best Actress” and “Best Drama Series” awards, as it is a work of director Felix To (杜之克), one of TVB’s “Old Guards”. Cho Lam apparently had a big argument with the two female executives over this, and the drama ended up with two minor awards: “Malaysia’s Favorite TVB Actress” for Linda and “Malaysia’s Favorite TVB Drama.” Cho Lam was naturally disappointed at the results, and his tension with management grew.
Stephen Cheng: Have Not Heard About This
Said to be introduced to TVB by Cho Lam and currently serving as Creative Director of Production at digital channel J2, Stephen Cheng (鄭詩君) replied he was unaware of the rumors. He is still focused on finetuning the channel at the moment, and that the atmosphere at J2 has been “harmonious” so far, but declined to comment on Cho Lam’s situation.
Source: Yahoo
Wong Cho Lam Responds to Rumors of Discord With TVB Managers
I don’t follow him much, but how successful has he been at getting jobs for others in China? It seems that there are soooo many young, talented, and beautiful actors and actresses in China that it would be hard to break through.
The China pie is big enough for HongKong actors actresses. This also means more new blood will have to be discovered for HK movie and drama scenes as international fans still differentiate China and HK movie drama based on the language spoken and directors. I hope for the success of elderly HK actors actresses in China, since the company focus is more on new comers due to change of management. I foresee more cookie cutter actresses due to Eric’s management direction, he has certain preferences based on historical news, not great for viewers since coming millennials are looking for stronger female roles but the storylines still pretty dated.
My girl Samantha Ko, you waited too long to go north, but you finally did! You are a native mainlander after all, go get them!
Im not really a fan of him, seems a bit of a p**ck. I remember he was on dub of war and he was channelling Simon Cowell and bringing very negative energy to the show. It might be how its done in China but it was quite bad taste.
Yeh. If this clown can succeed then pretty much anyone can!! That’s the only inspiration he gives….
I don’t really follow the Chinese variety programs so is he really doing that well there? The last I read was him being in one of the variety programs and netizens didn’t like him in it.
I grow up watching and loving TVB dramas and their annual varieties. It’s sad to see it’s decline but I haven’t been able to bring myself to sit through their dramas for quite some time and their anniversary variety is getting from bad to worse.
I watched Keep Running and he was in it. Can’t say I like him there but I guess he’s there for comic relief though I found him annoying with nasally voice which grates on one’s nerves.
TVB needs to get rid of these two **** “Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍) and Virginia Lok (樂易玲)” … their old fashion way of working and being biased to whoever artist that treats them like queens it’s sickening.