Richie Koh "Pulling Out Too Fast", Edwin Goh Crocheting, & Other Things That Happened At The Star Awards 2023 Gala Dinner
The Star Awards 2023 Gala Dinner, which saw seven awards given out to the best programmes of the year, was everything we expected and more.
When 8days.sg first arrived at JW Marriott Hotel's Grand Ballroom last night (Mar 30), we were greeted by a nervous-looking Pierre Png teetering back and forth in a corner. The actor was probably busy rehearsing his speech for when he takes the stage later to introduce Best Drama Serial nominee When Duty Calls 2.
We catch his eye and he flashes us a smile, instantly setting the mood right for the night as we enter the ballroom.
The stars were already there and dressed to impress. From Hazelle Teo's sexy and sparkly pink number to Zhu Ze Liang's equally glittery black suit (see below), and to Kym Ng's va-va-voom red bodycon dress, we almost wanted to scream "Save some of the glitz and glamour for next weekend, guys!" In case you still don't know, the Star Awards is happening next Sunday, April 9.
The show, which was emceed by Hazelle and Dennis Chew, kicked off with an opening skit by 933 jocks Ze Liang, Lim Pin Juen and The Star Voice's Jeff Tan and Joey Tay on how to 'act' in a period show on radio.
Throughout the night, we were also treated to renditions of the Best Theme Song nominees by Yang Guang Kele, Daryl-Ann, Tasha Low, Kiki Lim, Edwin Goh, Benjamin Tan, Seow Sin Nee, Juin Teh, Jernelle Oh, Gao Mei Gui, and Ze Liang.
What was truly surprising was how good all of them sounded. So good, we thought they were lip-synching, but guess what? They all sang live. Time to include 'pitch-perfect singing' in your resumes, everyone.
Here are the other highlights of the Star Awards 2023 Gala Dinner:
1. Kym Ng joked that she's too pretty to be a DJ
As the first award presenter, Kym definitely got the ball rolling with her sense of humour. She was there to present the award for the Best Radio Programme, which went to LOVE 972's The Breakfast Quartet for the third year in a row.
Before announcing the winner, Kym shared that she finds hosting on radio a difficult job because not only do DJs have to speak well, they also "have to sing, say encouraging words and be comforting."
However, she went on to 'console' herself by saying that it would be a pity for her to be a jock because she "only has good looks".
"The audience won't get to see [my beauty if I hide in the radio room]", she joked.
2. Edwin Goh crocheting throughout the dinner
We know the actor has been really into crocheting lately but we weren't expecting him to be doing it in the ballroom, and even moments before he went on stage to perform When Duty Calls 2 theme song 'Nu Fang', by local band MengFm, with Benjamin Tan.
Maybe crocheting calms him?
We also had to ask him what he was making.
Edwin shared that he was crocheting a shirt, which prompted us to ask if it was for a special someone. Like you know, his girlfriend Rachel Wan?
His reply? "Yes! It's for me! I'm the special someone (laughs)."
Turns out, Edwin was making use of the leftover yarn from a top he previously made for Rachel. So does that mean we will see them in matchy crochet tops soon?
3. Richie Koh was the last to realise Your World In Mine won Best Drama
The actor was on stage with Qi Yuwu, Pierre Png, Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei, who were representing their respective dramas — Your World In Mine, Dark Angel, When Duty Calls 2, You Can Be An Angel 4 and Genie In A Cup.
The stars were asked to pull out a sash from their drama’s corresponding boxes and the person who pulls out the sash with the words ‘Gong Xi’ (or 'Congratulations' in Chinese) on it would be the winner. Or rather, their drama would be the winner.
Before we know it, there was an uproar with Hazelle exclaiming: “Congratulations Your World In Mine!”
At this point you’d expect to see Richie jumping for joy, right? But all we saw was a very confused Richie looking into his box, clueless that his drama had won.
It appeared that he had pulled the sash so fast he didn’t even see the words.
That led Dennis Chew to quip: “Richie you pulled out too fast, some things cannot be too fast.” That’s what she said…
From right: Shin Koh and Lennerd Lim
4. Best Theme Song winner Shin Koh prayed to Zheng Geping during his speech
"There's someone else I need to thank, not only do I want to thank him, I want to pray to him because he ascended the altar last year. Thank you Geping da ge," said the composer, who won Best Theme Song with singer Lennerd Lim for 'Your World', the touching theme song to Your World In Mine.
"If you didn't introduce me to [Your World In Mine's executive producer] Chong Liung Man, there wouldn't be this Best Theme Song," Shin added.
When we spoke to Shin after, he shared that he's "close to [Geping's] entire family" which include Hong Huifang, and their kids Tay Ying and Calvert Tay.
Though Shin didn't explain how they got so close, he gushed: "Although we know each other for only two years, it feels like 20 years. We're like a family."
The songwriter also shared with us that he was chatting with Calvert at the latter's house one day when Geping came home and asked him to write a song for 2022 Mediacorp drama I Want To Be A Towkay, and that was how he eventually started composing music for local dramas.
From right: Scriptwriter Lau Ching Poon, Richie Koh, Desmond Ng and director Zhang Hui Ying
5. Your World In Mine's scriptwriter Lau Ching Poon hinted at what a sequel for the Best Drama Serial winner would be like
As the highest-rated Chinese drama of 2022, it was really no surprise that Your World In Mine was going to be named Best Drama Serial.
However, during an interview backstage, the show's scriptwriter Ching Poon said he did not have high hopes of winning.
"At first I was confident, but we didn't get the award for Best Screenplay then I stopped [thinking that we'd win...]," he quipped, cracking everyone up. FYI: Best Screenplay went to Dark Angel.
And now that the drama has gotten its well-deserved recognition, can we expect to see a sequel?
Though Ching Poon said that he's unable to give a definite answer because it really "depends on the higher ups", he teased: "As the old saying goes: Quit while you're ahead. Because I'm sure Richie is also not confident that he can have another breakthrough (laughs). Just kidding, maybe the next one Hong Mao Dan [played by Desmond Ng] will have some problems, if there really is a next one."
Well, at least it's not a hard no?
Photos: Mediacorp Photo Unit
Scroll down to see the full list of winners last night:
Best Radio Programme: LOVE 972 The Breakfast Quartet
Best Short-Form Entertainment Programme: Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories @ Singapore Sightings
Best Entertainment Programme: Dishing With Chris Lee
Best Infotainment Programme: Forgotten Children
Best Entertainment Special Programme: Star Awards 2022 — Awards Ceremony
Best Theme Song: 'Your World' by Lennerd Lim and Shin Koh
Best Drama Serial: Your World In Mine
Catch the Backstage LIVE event of Star Awards 2023 from 3.30pm - 10.30pm on meWATCH or Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on April 9 (Sunday).
The Walk Of Fame will be from 5pm - 6.30pm, on meWATCH, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on the same day.
It will be followed by the Star Awards 2023 Live Show from 7pm - 10pm on meWATCH, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.
The repeat telecast for the Walk of Fame and Award Ceremony will air on Ch 8 from 2pm - 6.30pm on April 16 (Sunday).
Catch highlights of the Star Awards 2023 Gala Dinner on meWATCH below:
