ARTISTE SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to the TVB House - Shermon, Annie & Paul

TVB's situation comedies have always been a fertile breeding ground for up and coming stars and their latest sitcom presentation is no exception.

"Welcome to the House" stars a number of experienced cast members including stage veteran Chung King Fai, the ever youthful Angelina Lo and model father Lawrence Cheng. As usual, the show centres around the antics of a rather exaggerated family, with some fresh faces among the family members. Artiste Spotlight introduces you to some of these newcomers and what they bring to the TVB family.
Shermon Tang (Tang Sheung Man)

Shermon was awarded the "Miss Photogenic" award at the 2005 Miss Hong Kong pageant, launching her career in showbiz, but she is more commonly known for her famous father English Tang Ying Man. Inheriting her father's talent for acting and having grown up in the gaze of the press, Shermon has been well groomed for the industry and was quickly snapped up by TVB and signed. Fortunately, Shermon attended an International School before heading over to study in Australia, so she has had some protection from the press until her return.

Shermon's childhood ambition was to become a lawyer or a nurse, but the acting bug must have been in her genes. As a child, eleven years ago, she took a part in Kelly Chen's debut movie "Whatever Will Be, Will Be", also starring Aaron Kwok. "At the time, there was a big group of kids and we were all happily singing and dancing without a care. Acting gives me a huge sense of satisfaction!" she recalls.

In 2006, Shermon finds herself on the smaller screen as she plays Lawrence's younger sister Ko Yau Ching in "Welcome to the House". Working alongside household names such as King Sir, Madame Lo, Lawrence and Christine Ng, Shermon feels the pressure, but she is glad that Yau Ching's personality is very similar to her own, so she can naturally portray the role.

"I hope that everyone will like Ko Yau Ching and then go on to like Shermon Tang too!"

Mini Profile

Name: Tang Sheung Man (Shermon)
Nickname: Sherm, Shermie
Age: 22
Origin: Hakka
Height: 5 ft 6
Weight: 110 lbs
Star Sign: Libra
Birthday: 27/09/1983
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Hobbies: Sport, Movies, Singing
Ambition: To be a top artiste
Catchphrase: Yeh...whatever!
Strengths: Swimming, Cooking, any activity in the sun
Entered showbiz: 2005 Miss Hong Kong Pageant Miss Photogenic
Shermon's blog: http://www.xanga.com/shermon
Annie Chung (Chung Wong)

The House's youngest member Ko Wai Ting is a typical teenager, brash, indecisive and impulsive - a stark contrast from the real life personality of the actress who plays her. Talented Annie pulls off the character without a flaw though and it turns out that despite her tender years, Annie has six years of acting experience under her belt. Before joining TVB's artiste training classes, Annie had already taken part in the '903 Stage Arts Training School' when she was 14, where she was discovered by tutor and renowned dramatist Edward Lam. She may be a fresh face on the television, but she has already racked up numerous appearances on the stage and as a model.

Asked about her childhood ambitions, Annie replies that she was greedy and wanted to be a hairstylist, make up artist and fashion stylist, so she is getting the best of all three worlds by becoming an artiste as she can learn all three skills as part of her work.

Annie's wish is to take part in an ancient costume drama because her favourite series was "A Step in the Past". Maybe this is for the future, but to land herself a part in this 120 episode sitcom as her first TVB job is not bad so far and she should take advantage of the opportunity to really challenge herself and refine her skills.

Working opposite stage great King Sir, Annie says that she feels the pressure and is always standing in the wrong place or fluffing her lines and causing NG's. She relaxes and calms her stress by singing. "Whenever we have free time, we will sing some old theme songs or some English songs. As we sing, we will add in some funny actions and dances and it is great fun. At work, I am great friends with Shermon because we are similar ages and we get on really well with plenty to talk about. I am very happy with filming and the time flies by happily every day."

"Hi, hope everyone is well. I am Chung Wong, this is a stage name given to me by my godfather. He says it will bring me good health and luck in my career. I hope you will remember me."

Mini Profile

Name: Chung Wong (Annie)
Age: 21
Origin: Mui Yuen
Height: 5 ft 3.5
Weight: 100 lbs
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Hobbies: Volleyball, Piano, Singing
Ambition: To become a popular artiste
Catchphrase: I don't know!
Strengths: Volleyball, Drawing
Entered showbiz: 20th TVB Artiste Training Class
Paul Gill (Kiu Bo Bo)

The correctional services and the showbiz industry don't usually get grouped together in a conversation, but thanks to Paul, the connection has been made. A former prison officer, Paul revealed his performance talents whilst singing at the services' annual dinner and with the support and encouragement from his colleagues, he made his break into showbiz after taking part in TVB's talent show "Minutes to Fame" last year. Putting together a comedic dance routine and filling his act with gimmicks, he left his impression on the viewers and the company and was swiftly invited back for more performances.

After signing full time with TVB, Paul has taken part in numerous series so far, including "Welcome to the House", "Lies and Deception" and "Phoenix Quartet" (working titles). He has also landed a part in Jackie Chan's film "Project BB".

Originally taking the name 'Kiu Bo Lo' as his Chinese name, this was changed to 'Kiu Bo Bo' in line with his move into entertainment. He explains that this is the make the name more memorable and widely accepted by young and old. He says: "I like to make people happy, so I gave myself a cheerier name that is easy to remember."

In the show, Paul plays Henry, the owner of the yoga school where Christine Ng's character Frances works. Asked if he can do yoga himself, he admits that he cannot. Fortunately, his role is that of the manager, so he does not need to show off his skills. This is no consolation for Paul though, because despite being born and bred in Hong Kong and able to speak Cantonese fluently, he cannot read or write Chinese and this causes problems with reading his scripts. He explains: "Whenever I have time, I will ask people to help me record my scripts for me to digest and add in my personality to act out. In the usual 'Bo Bo' way, it's not a problem, even if I don't know Chinese!"

"In joining the cast, there are more new faces and there are very few artistes in Hong Kong with Indian origins, so I hope that I can be a credit to the Indian and South Asian communities. Then I can break out of Hong Kong and enter Hollywood to represent Hong Kong. I am very proud of being a Hong Kong person, because I am a Hong Kong-born British Indian person!"

Name: Gill Mohindepaul Singh
Nickname: Kiu Bo Bo
Age: secret
Origins: India
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 180 lbs
Star Sign: Taurus
Chinese Zodiac: secret
Hobbies: Making people happy
Ambition: To serve Hong Kong people
Catchphrase: Sor Ju Ju (Silly piggy!)
Strengths: Making people happy, creativity, poetry
Entered showbiz: Minutes to Fame
Who's who in the House?

The Ko family resides in a middle class area of Hong Kong and three generations live in two apartments situated opposite each other. Family elders Ko Hing and Ho Miu Hei work in the family drugstore business. Hing is a traditional Chinese herbalist, but as he is semi-retired, he spends most of his days with his friends or poking his nose into other people's business. His wife Miu Hei looks after the business as well as the family finances and is confident of her own abilities, sometimes a little too confident. Hing has a son by his first wife, Yau Pang, who as an award-winning chef, teaching at the local Towngas cookery school. Naturally he also does all the cooking at home, but often goes unappreciated by his family. He has a stepbrother Yau Yi and a stepsister Yau Ching, who live with his parents. Yau Yi is an insurance broker to the stars and a bit of a yuppie, whilst little sis Yau Ching is happy-go-lucky and a little bit naive, leaving her open to Yau Yi's manipulation. She works in a wedding salon. Ko Lai is Ko Hing's half-sister, who has returned to Hong Kong from Britain to join the family.

Yau Pang is married to childhood sweetheart Cheung Yuet Moon, who was brought up by the Ko family from a young age. She is a Yoga Teacher and works for Henry Lo in his Yoga Centre. Yuet Moon's younger brother Yat Moon lives with them and works for DHL as a courier. He is a rather geeky character and unlikely best friend of Yau Yi, who he has grown up with. Finally, Yau Pang's teenage daughter Ko Wai Ting completes the family and forms the third generation of the Ko family.

Cast
Ko Hing - Chung King Fai
Ho Miu Hei - Angelina Lo Yuen Yan
Ko Yau Pang (Ah Jai) - Lawrence Cheng Dan Shui
Cheung Yuet Moon (Frances/Ah Fan) - Christine Ng Wing Mei
Ko Yau Yi (Andy/Ah Dee)- Raymond Cho Wing Lim
Ko Yau Ching (Shirlee/Ah Lei) - Shermon Tang Sheung Man
Cheung Yat Moon (Ah Mer) - Johnson Lee Sze Chit
Ko Lai - Kingdom Yuen King Dan
Henry Lo - Kiu Bo Bo


Article by Em
Source and Pictures: TVB.com
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