Whenever there is a firework show in Hong Kong, which seems to be about three times a year these days, both local Chinese channels carry it live. No complaints about that - not everyone can get out to see it in person - but why the hell do they need to have several halfwit local presenters sitting there adding an inane unnecessary commentary? Especially as the show is already coordinated with a selection of music which makes a perfectly acceptable soundtrack by itself.
What is there to say about a firework show anyway? Oh look, there'a red one! Now a green one! Now a big bunch of sparkly whirly things! Just shut up and give our ears a rest!
I've had a go at ATV's professionaliusm recently, so it's TVB's turn today. On one of their innumerable Chinese period costume drama series last week, one episode ended with a man picking up a rock and standing over another man lying asleep, evidently with the intention of dropping the rock on him to crush his skull. Cut to credits...
Now the cliffhanger ending is a staple device of drama, from the old cowboy Saturday movie serials to Doctor Who. The idea obviously is to get the audience intrigued enough that they will tune in next time to see what happens to the character left facing imminent doom.
Well, that's the idea everywhere except Hong Kong. So what do TVB do next? Immediately follow up with a trailer for the following episode. An opportunity to ratchet up the drama level further? Well, no - they show the would-be killer changing his mind, dropping the rock on the ground and walking away. So, no need to watch that episode then. Idiots!
Trying to make sense of a weird world - and maybe make it a little better. If that's not possible, then laugh at it. Those with shorter attention spans may enjoy us on Twitter at Private Pebble.
3 comments:
I am watching the Seven Ages of Rock series on ATV. Whoever has done the Chinese subtitles has forgotten, or doesn't care, that there are English captions on the screen already, showing who the name of the speaker, which group he was with or what other connection he has to music, etc., as the Chinese subtitles completely obscure the English ones. Asinine!
Most viewers of the English stations are Chinese, so i think they don't care about the non-Chinese minority. Pretty stupid, as many expatriates have the kind of spending profile that advertisers are looking for, and they pay the bills.
And on Now Broadband, the great BBC series, Nazis: A warning from history, which mainly consists of Germans talking, with English subtitles, is being aired.
Of course, all the subtitles are overlayed with Chinese text, making the entire series a complete waste of time for anyone who doesn't happen to read Chinese of speak German.
I want my money back or I'm changing my service provider.
Oh... hang on...
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