Spring Festival Gala

[imron]

So the inevitable question of course, for those of us who watched this, what was your favourite segment(s). For me, I liked the part where the blind guy was doing voice impersonations. His impersonation of 文兴宇 (the elderly father from 我爱我家) was spot on. I also liked the hand-shadows when they started doing faces.

[foodtarget]

I thought the shadow puppets were amazing! The best shadow puppet I can manage is a rock I also liked the 农民火炬手 skit, just because I actually understood some of the jokes, haha. Who runs the fastest? Cao Cao! Hahahaha

[foodtarget]

Oh, I also had a general question about the gala. Is it aired in Taiwan? Or does Taiwan have its own separate 春节 par-tay?

[Yang Rui]

Highlights: some of the comedy sketches like the 为什么呢？one. Though I thought the one with Zhao Benshan about the olympic torch carrier went on too long.

Lowlights: SHE‘s lyrics being changed to fit the government line, Zhang Ziyi's singing (liked the big dress though).

[cdn_in_bj]

I also liked the hand-shadows when they started doing faces.

I didn't catch the whole thing, but I saw that segment and I liked it very much too.

I was also very impressed by the opening acrobatics act (with the poles), as well as the catapult/acrobatic/basketball slam dunk thing. Though I wonder if any of the basketball stunt was faked, as with the very last shot with the beneath net camera angle I saw two basketballs go through the hoop.

There was also the flexible dancing which seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Although many of the singing acts were lip syncing/overdubbed, there were some that weren't who were good.

[gougou]

I found the pole one very impressive, too - they were getting up them poles faster than I'd be able to go down. New new year's resolution: go see some acrobatics. Didn't like the basketball one too much though.

Liked the shadow faces, didn't like Zhang Ziyi's singing. The 为什么呢 one was eerily similar to my visits to our property management...

[Outofin]

Oh, I also had a general question about the gala. Is it aired in Taiwan?

Not sure about Taiwan. But supposedly, everyone in the world can watch it because it's aired on CCTV 4, the international channel.

The Gala is something that everyone feels bored with, complains about, but still keeps watching every year because

1. It does have at least one or two excellent performance every year. Some are indelible memories.

2. It is really good at creating a very colorful holiday atmosphere.

[imron]

didn't like Zhang Ziyi's singing.

I didn't even realise it was her singing at first. I was out of the room when the performance began so didn't see/hear the introduction. When I came back in, if my friends hadn't told me it was her, I would've just thought it was some random singer.

Though I thought the one with Zhao Benshan about the olympic torch carrier went on too long.

Yeah, I thought this was ok, but nothing special. Out of all the galas I've seen so far, probably my favourite Zhao Benshan skit was the "chicken" one.

but still keeps watching every year because

3) There's nothing else on, and even if you're doing something else like playing cards or mahjong, this will still be going on in the background.

[heifeng]

There was also the flexible dancing which seemed to defy the laws of physics.

yeah, this was kinda interesting. they had their right lower leg attached to something.

I think all the random clothing is a highlight of the show. So shiny! The gala must be in guiness records or something for number of sequins and rhinestones used .....ever. Zhang Ziyi's head rhinestone's alone were quite blinding, I wonder if they were all just glued on or what.