GangStarz

Akasia Faith Step D'Reborn DRaz

2008-06-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Gang Starz kembali mencari bakat nyanyian secara berkumpulan di Asia untuk tahun 2008.

Kali ini 5 buah negara akan berentap antaranya Malaysia, Singapura, Indonesia, Thailand dan Filipina.

Rancangan untuk musim kedua ini akan dihoskan oleh Faizal Tahir dan Farah Fauzana. Pemenang untuk musim ini akan mendapat USD 100,000 tunai dan akan menandatangani kontrak rakaman dengan KRU. Manakala juri musim ini ialah Sheikh Haikel dan Ajai. Jadi sama-sama lah kita ikuti GangStarz musim kedua 2008 pada setiap Ahad, 9.00PM di secara langsung di TV3.

Kumpulan-kumpulan berentap:

MALAYSIA 1) One Nation Emcees

2) Akasia

3) South Trio

INDONESIA

1) 3 Voices

2) D'Reborn

3) DRaz

SINGAPORE

1) Faith

2) Brown Tone

FILIPINA

1) Paragon Child

2) 3.5

THAILAND

1) PZG
2) Step

Gangstarz 2 weekly concert

2008-06-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

The song's title said it all. When Singapore's all-girl quartet Faith sang Tamparan Wanita on TV3's Gangstarz 2 weekly concert, little did they know that it would be their swan song.

The girls were shown the exit after receiving the least number of SMS votes from viewers following their performance at the MBSA Auditorium last night.

Their rendition of the upbeat tune, popularised by local all-female group Elite, also failed to impress the judges, comprising singer/composer/producer Ajai, Singapore rapper/composer Sheikh Haikel and guest juror, singer/music lecturer Syafinaz Selamat.

Hosted by Faizal Tahir and Fara Fauzana, the show was aired live on TV3.

With Faith's departure, the show is left with 10 harmony groups from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.
They will continue to battle it out until one of them emerges as the best vocal group in the region.

The winner will receive US$100,000 (RM320,000) and a recording contract.

Zarina An-Julie

Kecoh ke pasal ni? Setakat masuk Metro, apa baran? Melodi?

Gang starz Season 2

2008-06-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

SHAH ALAM: Singaporean quartet Browntone became the latest casualty of TV3's reality talent series Gangstarz (Season 2), held at the MBSA Auditorium here last night.

The harmony group was placed among the bottom two positions along with South Trio from Malaysia after receiving the least SMS (short messaging system) votes from viewers at the end of the show.

Their innovative performance also failed to impress the show's critics, comprising singer/composer/producer Ajai, Singapore's rapper/composer Sheikh Haikel and guest judge actor/director/singer Afdlin Shauki.

With Browntone's departure, the show is left with nine harmony groups from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.

They will continue their battle to emerge as the best vocal group in the region.
The contestants' performances were accompanied by musicians led by composer-arranger-producer Helen Yap.

The winner, to be determined by viewers via SMS and the jury's votes, will receive US$100,000 (RM320,000) and a recording contract with a local record label.

Hosted by Faizal Tahir and Fara Fauzana, the show was aired live.

Zarina An-Julie New Pontianak

June 20th, 2008

For those who watched the series of Anak Pontianak in TV3 since

Marshall Mann

2008-06-09T10:27:00.003-07:00

Marshall Mann is a brilliant second banana role, especially for a TV drama.

A federal marshal working the witness protection program, he's part cop, part family counselor, part travel agent and part partner to Mary Shannon, who can be the toughest of TV-cop cookies.
On July 14, Kyra Sedgwick returns as Brenda Leigh Johnson, in the "The Closer" on TNT.

And all deadpan comic foil.

"I think it's rare to have a one-hour show with this kind of humor," said Frederick Weller, an alumnus of Jesuit High School and Le Petit Theatre productions who's portraying Mann. "It's a great opportunity for a theater actor, in that you usually have in the theater drama with humor. In television, it's usually one or the other.

"Sitcoms can be quite silly and broad. The dramas can be quite humorless. This script immediately just jumped out."

The frequent and frequently dark comic byplay between Mann and Shannon, played by Mary McCormack ("The West Wing," "Private Parts"), is but one of the many attractions of "In Plain Sight," a new drama debuting Sunday on USA.

It is just one of dozens of original series that will fill the airwaves during the next three months, as broadcast and cable networks turn those old summer TV doldrums into a parade of new programming that rivals the fall in quantity, if not quality.

"In Plain Sight" represents yet another sturdy cable effort to bleed viewers from broadcast's reality-TV time slot fillers. True to the often offbeat nature of scripted summer fare, the series will alter its tone depending on the kind of witness being protected in each week's episode. Not everybody in the care of these feds will be a crook.

"It's a different genre every week," said Weller, who's successfully made his way in the larger theater world (including starring on Broadway) as well as on TV (with guest roles on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Monk" as well as starring roles in the 1990s ABC drama "Missing Persons" and 2000 miniseries "The Beach Boys: An American Family").

Weller was cast for the role of Mann by "In Plain Sight" creator and executive producer David Maples.

"I started out writing the show with Mary's character as the central focus, and Fred's character just sort of grew out of me wanting to find a unique individual who could handle a personality like Mary's," Maples said. "It takes a certain kind of person who is very confident in who they are ... almost secure to the point of being ego-less.
Holly Hunter is back as Grace Hanadarko, an Oklahoma City detective with a complicated personal life in "Saving Grace" July 14, 9 p.m., on TNT.

"To let a personality like Mary's operate the way she does -- most men I think would have a really hard time dealing with her on a daily basis.

"It takes a certain kind of person to do the job that these people do. It takes a unique understanding of the various people that come into the program. It's such a diverse group, from hardened criminals to lifelong repeat offenders, mobsters, terrorists, gang members. And then there are the innocent victims, the witnesses to crime that really have nothing to do with any criminal enterprise but have found themselves in the wrong place.

"Marshall's character, like Mary's character, has to know when to be tough. They have to know when to be sensitive, they have to know when to put on the kid gloves, and they have to know when to pull out the hammer.

"Even more difficult than dealing with the witnesses, Fred's character has to deal with Mary. She's no walk in the park.

"Marshall lets us all know that we love Mary. Without him there, her hardness is uninformed."

A serialized element that runs through the summer series will be Shannon's dealings with wacky family members.

Weller daydreams about Mann's own back story, which is revealed only slightly in the first season. (We learn, for example, that he favors archaic card games over poker.)

"I'll sit around and think about what bizarre musical instrument he plays," Weller said. "What his father did for a living. It's going to be fun to see that.

"I think David Maples will have lot of fun with that down the road.

"The beauty of it is, it's bound to be weird."
Morgan Spurlock does the tough jobs, on "30 Days" starting with coal miner. Monday, June 9, at 9 p.m. on FX.

For now, Weller is enjoying his first significant blast of network promotion (the series has a rich presence at www.usanetwork.com).

"This is the first time that I've got my own Web site quiz," Weller said. "I took it. Everybody kept talking about it, but I hadn't seen it yet. I pulled the computer out last night and took the quiz and got a 50, which is pretty pathetic considering I must've known the answers at one point."

Not to mention getting to play a tasty second banana.

"It's interesting. Its fun," Weller said of Mann. "(In one episode), there's one scene in which I put a dangerous criminal in an aikido wrist lock, and then several scenes later you see me in pajamas with little planes on them.

"This is a very interesting, multifaceted character. You don't get to play a bad-ass dork very often. He's a trained killer, but he's not very familiar with poker. He plays faro and whist.

"Very, very interesting."

"Fred himself has got a unique, interesting kind of cool personality," Maples added. "I think it just shines through in his character. He's really a special guy, and so smart and so literate. He's really a pleasure to work with.

Stacy

2008-06-09T10:27:00.001-07:00

LAST SATURDAY night definitely belonged to petite Sabahan Stracie Angie Anam when she emerged champion of Akademi Fantasia 6 at the packed Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Selangor.

The 18-year-old had the audience rooting for her superb vocals and stage performance, soon after she performed her first ballad Atas Nama Cinta and the brand new song Aku Stacy.
Big winner: Akademi Fantasia 6 champion Stracie Angie Anam or Stacy, as she is more popularly known, wants to record an album that can showcase her versatility as a singer.

Even the critics for the night – Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Ning Baizura and Adlin Aman Ramlie – were full of praise for the talented Kadazan girl from Penampang, Sabah.

Stacy, as she is known on the TV show, had been leading the pack in terms of SMS votes since the seventh concert (there were 10 in all) and members of the media were pretty sure that unless the girl performed horribly at the finals, she would triumph over the rest.

And what great news for Sabahans. After waiting for four seasons, Stacy managed to make them proud.

Every year, since the second season of Akademi Fantasia, there have been at least three participants from Sabah who have managed to reach the finals, never winning the top spot, though.

These included Adam, Linda and Mas (from AF2), Felix, Yazer, Marsha and Ekin (from AF3), Lotter, Velvet, Rich, and Nora (AF4), and Noni, Ebi and Candy (AF5). That's quite a number of talented Sabahans!

The official results of the final showed that Stacy received the most SMS votes, and it was a massive win too with 43%! (The next closest competitor was Mohammed Idris Mohd Zaizizi (Riz) with 18 % of the votes.

Stacy, a part-time singer in Penampang, received prizes valued at RM733,734, which includes a four-room bungalow at A Famosa, Malacca, a Peugeot 307 XS sponsored by Naza Motors, RM25,000 cash from Hotlink, holiday package to Italy sponsored by Mayfirst, and to New York by Maybelline. She also took home a Sony Playstation sponsored by Astro and the AF6 trophy.

“I really don’t know what to say except I’m very grateful and thankful to God,” said Stacy in tears, on Saturday night after she'd picked up her prize.

“I just can’t wait to share my win with my family. This is the first time that someone in my family has won something big.

“I just can’t wait to see my family’s reaction!” said Stacy.

Prior to AF6, Stacy had teamed up with her brother, Camellus De’lelli Anam, for another talent-reality show called Gang Starz (Season One) and they managed to reach the semi-finals before they were booted out.

“I don’t think I’m better than the rest,” Stacy humbly offered. “I’m just lucky tonight. I believe that all my four friends in the finals are really good.
The four finalists celebrate with the champ.

“All five of us must have our own strengths to have gotten this far.”

Stacy remembers vividly the advice principal Ramli MS had been drilling into them all this while.

“He said, 'You think you are good but there are people out there who are much better than you’,” Stacy said, adding that through the show, she had many experiences to savour.

“I have learned so much here at the Academy, especially from the principal and the teachers. They have taught me a lot and I don’t know how I can repay them.

“Hopefully, one day, I will know how to and I will be given a chance to return their kindness.”

Stacy is upset that she will have to leave her new-found friends at the Academy after more than two months of living together and bonding. But she's got a lot to look forward to as well.

Now that she has won, she would love to record an album.

“If the opportunity arises, I want an album that features different genres such as rock, ballad, jazz and R&B because I want to hone my versatility,” said Stacy.

For those who have been watching Diari Akademi Fantasia (the weekly diary-type programme in between AF performance shows) they would surely have noticed that Stacy was the most hard-working student at the Academy.

“Am I really hard-working? I guess I went to the Academy because I wanted to learn.

“At the Academy, I was given the chance to gain knowledge for 10 weeks and I didn’t want to waste that chance,” said the petite girl (she stands at 155cm) who hopes to be able to sit for her SPM exam soon.

“I missed out on the exam last year because I was juggling between singing part-time and schooling and at the end, I quit school to earn money to help out my family,” said Stacy, the fifth of six siblings.

“I did not quit school because I like singing more. It was more because of financial constraints faced by my parents (father Anam Bayar and mother Agnes Kaloos are both odd-job workers) that I decided to pursue singing.”

Before the next hurdle, however, Stacy will have lots of time to savour her current win.

“I’m still digesting the whole experience of AF6 and actually winning! I’m just so happy and proud and can’t wait to see my family!

Astro’s

2008-06-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow being the finale of Akademi Fantasia’s sixth season, DENNIS CHUA treks through the essentials.

THE 10-week “adventure” for viewers of Astro’s most popular production ends tomorrow with a colourful grand finale at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

Akademi Fantasia Season Six (AF6), the first season of the reality talent show without zany Aznil Nawawi as host, will find its champion from amongst finalists from Perak, Sabah, Johor and Negri Sembilan.

They are Nadia Haswani Hasnan, 18 (Taiping); Idris (Riz) Zaizizi, 22, (Grik); Stacy Angie Anam, 18, (Kota Kinabalu); Nubhan Ahamad, 22, (Kuala Pilah); and Khairul Nizam (Toi) Baharom, 31, (Johor Baru).

At the end of the two-hour final live concert over Astro Ria at 9pm, the champion will walk away with a four-room bungalow located at the A’Famosa Resort in Malacca, a Peugeot 307 XS, RM25,000, holidays in South Africa, and New York and a Sony PlayStation.
Last year, the reality show crowned its first female champion, Norsyarmilla Jirin or Mila. Mila recently won the Discovery International Pop Festival in Varna, Bulgaria. This time round, the chances of a female AF champion emerging are high.

Nadia, Stacy and Riz are hugely popular with fans and the permanent judges Fauziah “Ogy” Ahmad Daud and Ning Baizura. Both agree these three are the strongest contenders for the crown.

As Fauziah put it: “Nadia, Stacy and Riz have been the most consistent, and by the eighth performance, I could see them in the finals.

“Nadia works hard to give a good performance and it shows. The same with Stacy. Riz, with his experience in singing contests, also never disappoints.”

Ning also felt that “the trio are truly talented and they work hard to give viewers what they want every week, minor hiccups aside.”
Stacy has been leading the pack in terms of SMS votes since the seventh concert.

Prior to that concert which saw Bukit Mertajam boy Alif Razali shown the door, the Kadazan-Dusun Stacy shared positions one and two with Alif almost weekly.

Fans and critics alike regard him as being meticulously prepared for every performance.

The former Gang Starz Season One singer who was with the band Evoke has won praise as the show’s “saving grace” whenever mediocrity was the order of the day.

Among Stacy’s best performances were when she sang Makhluk Tuhan Paling Seksi, a song made popular by Indonesian pop star Mulan, Dont’ Speak and Beat It.

Ogy has praised Stacy for taking on challenging songs and making them her own, a task which occasionally eludes the other female contender Nadia.

While Nadia has a tendency to imitate the original singers, which has drawn criticism from principal Ramli MS and occasional guest judge Adlin Aman Ramlie, few find fault with her powerful vocals which upstage that of her role model Mila.

It is no surprise that she is lead vocalist in the contestants’ weekly rendition of the Akademi Fantasia theme song Menuju Puncak.

Like Stacy, she delivers English and Bahasa Malaysia songs with ease; she is equally at home singing Beyonce’s One Night Only or Elyana’s Kalis Rindu.

Riz, who participated in Malaysian Idol 1, and competed under pop group Equal Star in Gang Starz Season One, has been this season’s “alpha male” both physically and talent-wise.

Riz generates the loudest cheers from the girls in weekly concerts.
The judges loved his take on romantic ballads such as Anuar Zain’s Ketentuan Hati and Imran Ajmain’s Seribu Tahun, as well as his rendition of Muse’s Time Is Running Out.

However, his attempt to Rock Around The Clock lacked oomph and earned him a tongue-lashing from Ogy.

Nubhan, with his “kampung boy” looks and melodious voice, initially charmed fans and judges with his takes on Malay pop hits such as Ruang Rindu by Letto and Tak Bisa Memilihmu by Sixth Sense.

However, the English songs, such as Bryan Adams’ Summer Of ‘69, showed Nubhan’s limits.

Toi, the only father among the boys, may be a world-class angklung player but most of his weekly performances have been thrashed by Ogy and the equally acerbic Adlin.

However, he surprised everyone during the ninth concert with an excellent rendition of Handy Black’s hit song Kau Yang Bernama Seri.

Of the nine eliminated contestants, two created history in Akademi Fantasia, despite their less-than-outstanding performances.

They were pop queen Datuk Siti Nurhaliza’s elder sister Siti Norsaida Tarudin, 32, and Toi’s 44-year-old hometown friend, Hairina Abdul Halim aka. Mama Rina.

Siti Norsaida, a mother of four, failed to impress judges most of the time, and seemed a tad too nervous on stage.

Mama Rina, a divorcee with a daughter and two grandchildren, failed to break free from her lounge singer image, which she had cultivated in the last two decades.

AF6 marked the return of no-nonsense Ramli MS to the principal’s chair after four years.

The acclaimed composer and music director who is marking his 30th year in the music industry is best known as AF1’s sharpest critic and the principal of AF2, which was arguably the most popular and successful season.

“I have decided to give Akademi Fantasia another go. It is a programme that enables me to educate and train new talents for the music and entertainment industry,” he said.

AF6’s biggest surprise was the raising of the contestants’ maximum age limit from 29 to 45.

The move did not go down well with many fans as they felt that older talents would only be successful if they had been discovered in their 20s.

As for Aznil’s successor as host, AC Mizal of AC Di Sini fame, appears to be finding it tough filling in the shoes of the country’s No. 1 television presenter.

Nevertheless, AC has pleased fans by speeding up the elimination segment at the end of every weekly concert, doing away with the melodrama.

The daily Diari AF peeks into the lives of the students in their classroom, featuring zany Sarimah Ibrahim and Zainal Alam Kadir who are just the right persons to brief viewers on the goings-on at the Academy.

Intelligent, witty and always smiling, they have proven more than capable of assisting AC in his gargantuan task.

Golden Premier

2008-06-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

HE popular Konsert Jom Heboh will be aired “live” from National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday over TV3 at 9pm. It edges out Gang Starz the concert this week.

Catch Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (tomorrow, TV3, 12.30am)
Catch Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (tomorrow, TV3, 12.30am)

Konsert Jom Heboh features various local artistes and also several groups from Gang Starz. Another “live” event to be aired is the official opening ceremony of national-level sporting event Sukma XII. It will be aired from Terengganu (RTM1, tomorrow, 8.30pm).

Taiwanese variety show Hi Seoul debuts over 8TV on Sunday at 7pm). It features matchmaking sessions, short dramas, interactive games and talent shows by participants. One Republic Dreaming Out Loud Music Special (8TV, tomorrow, 11.30am) features American rock band One Republic performing songs from its debut album Dreaming Out Loud.

Catch The Making of ...Kung Fu Panda (ntv7, Sunday, 2pm) for a behind-the-scenes look at the animation that will be opening here on June 6. Kung Fu Panda, featuring the voices of Jack Black, Jackie Chan and Dustin Hoffman, among others, is about a lazy panda who has to save his habitat from enemies.

TOMORROW School Break Special (RTM2, 10am) — Casper: A Spirited Beginning This made-for television movie rides on the highly successful feature film Casper, and tells the story of the beginnings of Casper, from a normal boy to a ghost. He is so friendly that he is told by other ghosts that he has an “unghostly” attitude. Starring Steve Guttenberg and Lori Loughlin. Panggung Sabtu (TV3, 2.02pm) — Phil Milenge Tamanna, an outgoing advertising executive who is an asset to her company, is relieved of duty after she is tested HIV-positive — the result of an intimate moment with an old friend. She decides to fight back, but no lawyers want to argue her case. Starring Shilpa Shetty and Salman Khan. TV3 Cinema (TV3, 12.30am) — Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life Sexy and intrepid British archaeologist Lara Croft has discovered an orb that leads to the mythical Pandora’s Box. Unfortunately, an evil scientist gets hold of it to further his interest, and Lara and her former lover Terry Sheridan embark on an adventure to regain the orb. Starring Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler.

Chinese Movie (8TV, 8.30pm) — Final Romance Ah Dik and Jean meet in Japan to bury the ashes of Ah Dik’s brother and Jean’s sister, who were once lovers. Ah Dik and Jean soon fall in love, but Jean is forced by her father to get engaged to someone else, while Ah Dik finds out that Jean’s father is connected to his brother’s death. Starring Edison Chen and Amanda Strang.

SUNDAY Sunday Daytime Special (RTM2, 3pm) — Real Genius A group of seven FBI trainees is sent to an isolated island for the final stage of their training period under the direction of the eccentric Jake Harris, who uses questionable methods. However, they are attacked and killed one by one by a serial killer that can be one of the team members. Starring Eion Bailey, Clifton Collin Jr and Val Kilmer.

Golden Premier (RTM2, 10pm) — Honesty Moses, a naive and honest veterinarian, lives with his longtime girlfriend. He is unaware that his girlfriend is having a fling with someone else. Starring Richie Ren and Cecilia Cheung.

Festival (ntv7, 9.30pm) — Cinta Tiga Segi Set in an apartment complex, this telemovie features three intertwining love stories that will converge into a powerful tale of love, passion, and self-forgiveness. Starring Juliana Ibrahim, Isma Husein and Chew Kin Wah. Sinema (TV9, 10pm) — Hadiah Bulan Madu Adi manages his late father’s company after marrying Nurul, and everything is in place. But Adi has to face Nurul’s uncle Badar, who wants to take over the company, as well as Nurul’s ex-boyfriend Man. Starring Khairil Anuar and Nor Albaniah.

TV3's Gangstarz

2008-05-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

SHAH ALAM: Thailand's all-male trio, PZG, became the first casualty of the second season of TV3's Gangstarz at the MBSA Auditorium here last night.

The guys - Phacharapon Phoonbampen, Nitikom Dilogsumpandh and Rapeepong - were placed in the bottom three along with Singapore's Browntone and Step from Thailand.

Their rendition of Me Love, the upbeat tune popularised by rapper/singer Sean Kingston failed to impress the show's permanent critics, comprising singer/composer/producer Ajai, Singapore's rapper/composer Sheikh Haikel and guest jury musician/producer Acis.

With PZG's departure, the show is left with 11 harmony groups.

The groups are from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.
The winner - to be determined by viewers' SMSes (short messaging service) - will receive US$100,000 (RM330,000) and a recording contract.

Malaysian-based reality singing

2008-05-18T07:16:00.001-07:00

Gang Starz is a Malaysian-based reality singing competition that searches for the best vocal group in Southeast Asia. The winning group receives US$100,000, a recording contract, and a chance to expand their careers on a regional scale. It is currently on its second season.[1]

[edit] Season 1

Casting began with auditions in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, wherein 14 groups were selected (seven from Malaysia, five from Indonesia, and two from Singapore). Weekly eliminations were determined by 50% text votes and 50% judges' scores. The jury consisted of Vernon Kedit (talent manager), Maple Loo (choreographer), and Arab (songwriter). Although the competitors included those from other countries, the voting and broadcast was only available in Malaysia.[2] The finale, however, was also shown in Indonesia's private television station TPI.[3] The competition was won by The Lima, an all-male trio from Bandung, who received 33% of over 2.8 million votes.[4][5]

The first season of Gang Starz was nominated for Best Entertainment Program in 2007 Asian Television Awards.[6]

[edit] Season 2

The scope of competition was expanded with the inclusion of groups from Thailand and Philippines.[1] It has been confirmed that Gang Starz will also be shown in the Philippines on Summer 2008. Auditions are currently being conducted.[7]

Sassy Girl

2008-05-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

KONSERT Suara Hati will be screened at 8.30pm on TV9 tomorrow. Among the artistes performing are Hattan, Ramli Sarip, Adibah Noor, Hazami, Farah Asyikin, Noryn Aziz and Faizal Tahir.

TV3’s popular regional reality talent search Gang Starz, hosted by Faizal and Hot FM presenter Fara Fauzana, will be telecast live at 9pm on Sunday. Folk singer Colbie Cailat who recently performed in Malaysia is interviewed in Music On 8 on 8TV at 11.30am tomorrow. Rock competition Rentak Juara’s quarter finals is broadcast over RTM1 at 9pm on Sunday. And Astro Ria’s iconic Akademi Fantasia 6 prepares for its ninth elimination at 9pm. After the show’s first concert in Istana Budaya last week, live broadcasts return to Dewan Sivik in Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya. Survivor China will be screened on ntv7 at 10.45pm tomorrow, and viewers have a chance to follow the latest antics of Zhan Hu tribe members Denise, Amanda, Todd, Courtney and Peih-Gee.

TOMORROW

Baghban (TV3, 2pm) It tells the story of Raj Malhotra, his wife Pooja and their four sons. Raj has a good job and his earnings are enough to keep the whole family going. But he is now old and wants to spend quality time with his wife. Just like any doting and responsible parents, they only wish the best for their sons and hope to be cared for in their old age. But fate has something else in store for them. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Aman Verma, Samir Soni, Sahil Chadda and Nasir.

Demi Masa (TV3, 10pm) Maryam goes blind after getting involved in a car accident which claims the life of her husband Rashid. She subsequently finds a job as a canteen assistant at a secondary school. Her son Nazli feels ashamed of her blindness and avoids her, until he grows up and gets married. One day, a mysterious person sends him a letter. Starring Sheila Rusly, Syafie Naswip, Iqram Dinzly, Fizz Fairuz and Aida Razwill.

Shrek 2 (TV3, 12.30am) The green ogre Shrek is about to marry his sweetheart Princess Fiona and it is time for him to meet her parents. Shrek, Fiona and Donkey set off on a journey to Far, Far Away to meet them. But the King does not like Shrek. Meanwhile, Prince Charming returns from a failed attempt at “rescuing” Fiona and works alongside his mother the Fairy Godmother to split Shrek and Fiona. With voiceovers from Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas.

Shaolin Intruders (ntv7, 3pm) While escorting a cargo, Chief is ambushed and killed by hooded men. Pai Yun and Heh Lung suspect Yeh Ching Hua is behind the murder but Yeh’s friend Lei and Chiao Yi Tao link the cause of the death to Shaolin Palm. This angers its abbot and high monks Kung Sheng and Chien Sheng. Starring Derek Yee, Liu Yu Po and Kao Fei.

SUNDAY

Jangan Lupa (ntv7, 10.45pm) Amir, brought up single-handedly by his mother Rosmah in their village, migrates to the big city. Once humble and friendly, he gets caught up with city life and becomes a changed person. Then he returns to visit his mother. Starring Ashraff Muslim, Kay Maria and Melissa Wong.

Sassy Girl Chun-Hyang (8TV, 4pm) A 2005 interpretation of The Legend Of Chun-Hyang, this film tells the story of Lee Mong-Ryong who is transferred from Seoul to a high school in Namwon. Chun-Hyang does her best to help Mong-Ryong, her first love and the son of the Namwon police chief, enter a prestigious university. Starring Han Chae-Young, Jae-Hee and Park Si-Eun.

Air Dan Api (TV9, 10pm) Mahani, Salmah and Zamani are members of a fire brigade led by Zamani. Mahani lives with her mother and younger brother Ashraf. One day, a friend of Ashraf meets with an accident while racing and wants to take revenge. Starring Norsheha Hamed, Jasmin Hamid, Khairil Anuar, Isma Daniel and Kuza.

Aksi Gang Starz

2008-05-18T07:12:00.001-07:00

THE second season of reality show Gang Starz starts on Sunday with snippets of the gang’s activities in Aksi Gang Starz (TV3, 5pm). The concert will be held on the same night (TV3, 9pm).

Featuring groups from Thailand and the Philippines, the concert will be hosted by Faizal Tahir and Fara Fauzana.
English singer-songwriter Leona Lewis, whose single Bleeding Love made waves in the international charts late last year, is the featured artiste in 8TV’s Music on 8 (Saturday, 11.30am).
Those who didn’t catch Konsert Setiakawan 2, held earlier this month, can catch the repeat telecast on Sunday (RTM1, 3.30pm).
Besides performances by local artistes such as Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Adibah Noor, Misha Omar and Elyana, stars from neighbouring Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei are also performing, such as Ahli Fiqir, Ferhad and Yuni Shara.
Also, the third semi-final of reality band-search show Rentak Juara will air “live” from Angkasapuri on Sunday (RTM1, 9pm), where five more bands will perform.
Sports fans can catch the delayed telecast of the Formula One Championship from Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday (RTM1, 11.30pm).

TOMORROW
Bollygood Time On 2 (RTM2, 12.30pm) — Cheeni Kum
A wealthy but grouchy old restaurant owner becomes agitated when a young woman complains about the pilau that is being served at his outlet. Later, he realises that she was right and apologises. The two soon fall in love. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Tabu, Paresh Rawal and Zohra Sehgal.

Saturday Nite Special On 2 (RTM2, 9pm) — The One
A former MVA agent who killed another version of himself in self-defence finds that it only makes the other versions of him stronger. Starring Jet Li and Carla Gugino.

TV3 Cinema (TV3, 12.30am) — Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A man, heartbroken on finding out that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet and Elijah Wood.

Hong Retro (ntv7, 3pm) — Blue Skies
A young hopeful replaces a popular diva when the latter refuses to sing at a concert. She becomes an overnight sensation but the pitfalls of stardom soon beckon. Starring Peter Chen Ho and Cheng Pei-pei.

SUNDAY

Sunday Day Time Special (RTM2, 3pm) — Faith Of My Farthers: The J.M Story
A movie adaptation of John McCain’s best-selling autobiography, the film chronicles his experience as a Navy pilot as well as his five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Starring Thomas Madell.

Golden Premier (RTM2, 10pm) — The Adventures
A young boy is a witness to his parents’ murder. When he grows up, he adopts a different name and kidnaps the daughter of the perpetrator. Starring Andy Lau and Rosamund Kwan.

Festival (ntv7, 10.45pm) — Penunggu
An executive producer and her team go through some eerie moments while filming a horror film. The personality clashes among the crew make matters worse. Starring Ida Nerina and Eizlan Yusof.

Best Music

2008-05-18T07:11:00.001-07:00

HE 15th Anugerah Industri Muzik, the country’s most prestigious music awards event, is back! Once again, beloved songstress Datuk Siti Nurhaliza grabbed the limelight with five nominations.

But three newcomers — Karen Kong, Faizal Tahir and Estranged, nominees for the Best New Artiste award — are making waves.

Soul/R&B singer Kong is getting a lot of attention with her single Cinta Hello Kitty, a sappy, catchy ballad taken from her debut album, Mulakan.

Her soaring vocals, quite marvellous for a relatively young singer, have stirred considerable interest from certain quarters in the music industry over the past few months. Making her debut nomination at this year’s AIM, she is up for Best Vocal Performance in an Album (Female) award.

Faizal, a product of 8TV’s One In A Million who recently caused a brouhaha by baring his chest on TV, is back with a new lease of life, so to speak. The host of TV3’s Gangstarz has garnered a few nominations, including for Best Vocal Performance in an Album (Male) and Best Song (for his first single Mahakarya Cinta) categories.
Estranged, which has been the toast of the music industry with the self-penned track Itu Kamu, may just spring another surprise. The guys who bagged the top award at this year’s Anugerah Juara Lagu for the rock-tinged song were also named Most Popular Group/Duo at the eighth edition of Anugerah Planet Muzik.

For AIM, Estranged is also in the running for the Best Song award.

Atilia and Kaer Azmi are the other nominees in the Best New Artiste category. That aside, looking at the list of nominees at this prestigious music awards ceremony to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday, you’d know that it’s going to be an exciting affair.

There may be many “gripping moments” or “elements of suspense” as the list of nominees really does have that “stiff competition” tag.

What’s interesting is that this year’s nominees are a nice mix of both new and old acts, a positive development in the industry.

• HERE are more AIM updates. As it is into its 15th year, the producers have promised to introduce fresh elements into the presentation. For starters, the performances will be divided into various segments, including Warisan and Tribute.

There will be performances by the creme de la creme of the music industry, including Siti Nurhaliza, Anuar Zain, Atilia, Dafi, Dayang Nurfaizah, Estranged, Faizal Tahir, Fiq (Mentor), Hazami, Karen Kong, Mawi, Pop Shuvit, Rahim Maarof and Suki.

The performers will be backed by a combo led by popular composer Aubrey Suwito.

According to Persatuan Akademi Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia (PAIMM) general manager Jennifer Thompson, AIM15 promotes racial harmony, as reflected in the nominees and performers’ lists.

The list of presenters also boasts an interesting mix of Malay and non-Malay celebrities. They include Alif Aziz, Anne (of Hot.FM), Ben (Fly.FM), Daniel Lee, Datin Julie Sudiro, Diddy, Fazley, Elyana, Farawahida, Kartini (Hot.FM), Pete Teo, Sean Ghazi, Shebby Singh and Sohaimi Mior Hassan.

This year’s event will also see the return of the award-winning actor-producer-singer Afdlin Shauki as the host. He is accompanied by sensational singer and actress Adibah Noor.

AIM15 will also feature a pre-event blue carpet ceremony which will be aired “live” over ntv7 at 9pm.

• SITI Nurhaliza’s Menanti Pasti — the waltz-influenced track taken from Kayangan, The Soundtrack — is a force to be reckoned with. The tune about everlasting love and devotion has been nominated for Best Song at the awards ceremony.

The track is written by Harian Metro journalist-turned-lyricist Abie Abdullah. Award-winning composer and singer Ajai also lent his expertise to infuse the lyrics with a unique melody.

According to Kayangan executive producer Adit Rahim of Raden Pictures Sdn Bhd, he is thrilled to have collaborated with Siti on the project.

He added that Siti’s vocal prowess is clearly discernible in this tune. Apart from that, Siti is also a nominee in the categories for Best Vocal Performance in An Album (Female), Best Album Cover, Best Pop Album, Best Music Arrangement in a Song and Best Song.

• As preparations for AIM15 are getting underway, producers are apparently at loggerheads when it comes to the selection of the performers for the evening. Two veteran male artistes were dropped from the preliminary performers’ list.

Originally slated to perform in the Tribute segment, they were replaced by others as the producers feared a “no-show”

Akademi Fantasia

2008-05-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: A call to ban SMS-interactivity on reality music programmes such as Akademi Fantasia (AF) and Gangstarz was dismissed by the Energy, Water and Communications Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum in Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

The call came from Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan). Ghapur, in his supplementary question, said that programmes like AF, Gangstarz and quiz-based programmes were a scam and had a negative effect on teenagers, and should be discontinued.

Salang said the Ministry would not allow programmes which are not beneficial to the people, or affects their spiritual wellbeing.

“The SKMM (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) is monitoring SMS contests. Only programmes like quizzes, chat and contests are considered SMS-based.

“Those which collect donations, or votes, only use SMS minimally and it would not be fair to classify them as SMS-based,” he said.

As such, Salang said programmes like AF were not considered SMS-based as it was more of “a reality show, where the learning process of participants and their performances are screened”.

Salang said there were 29 SMS-based programmes currently broadcast by private television stations.

“Since January, Malaysians spent RM5,395,840 on 1,197,920 SMSes,” he said.

He added that SMS programmes in the information category served to encourage interactivity between the audience and the producers, improve marketing and promotions and allowed viewers to obtain more information about a programme or celebrity.

“In the Charity category, the programmes collect donations through the SMSes sent by the people, such as TV3's Bersamamu and NTV7's Nation Care Charity,” he said.

TV3's reality

2008-05-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

SHAH ALAM: The second season of Gangstarz, TV3's reality talent series searching for the best vocal group in the region, kicked off with a bang at MBSA Auditorium here last night.
Hosted by Faizal Tahir and Fara Fauzana, the 90-minute show introduced 12 groups from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines to TV viewers.

Hence, there was no elimination of contestants.

The groups, largely made up of female contestants, showcased highly-stylised choreography, much to the delight of the crowd who came to support their favourite groups.

The all-female trio South Trio, quintet Akasia and One Nation Emcee are representing Malaysia; Thailand has PZG and Steps while the Philippines boasts of 3.5 and Paragon Child.
There were also performances from Brown Tone and Faith (both from Singapore) and Indonesia's D'Reborn, D'Raz and 3 Voices.

They were accompanied by musicians led by composer/arranger/producer Helen Yap.

The critics, Malaysia's award-winning singer/composer/producer Ajai and rapper/composer Sheikh Haikel of Singapore, agreed that while the performers were talented, there was still room for improvement.

The winner, to be determined by viewers via short messaging system, will receive US$100,000 (RM320,000) and a recording contract.

First season winner The Lima, from Indonesia, was present.