Once a cinematic icon in the 1990s and early 2000s, Stephen Chow, the Hong Kong comedian, actor, and director, is embarking on a new venture in mainland China: producing a variety show. The show, aptly titled ‘The King of Comedy Stand-up Season,’ will be aired on iQiyi, one of China’s dominant streaming platforms. The title is a nod to Chow’s renowned 1999 film of the same name. This project signifies the initial phase of a comprehensive partnership between Chow’s Bingo Group, a Hong Kong stock market-listed company, and iQiyi, a NASDAQ-listed entity. The collaboration is expected to encompass drama series, variety shows, and animation productions. Earlier this year, Chow, also known as Chow Sing-chi, forged a partnership with Douyin, the Chinese sister company of TikTok, to produce a slate of mini-drama series specifically for mainland China audiences. Mini-dramas have emerged as a highly popular content format in China and other parts of Asia. These series typically consist of 20-100 episodes, with each episode ranging from 1 to 15 minutes, often averaging around a couple of minutes. This format caters to casual consumption on mobile devices and often explores genres like comedy and romantic drama, frequently adapted from web novels. Douyin announced Chow’s first series project, titled ‘Jinzhu Yuye,’ on its WeChat social media platform. It remains a work in progress, with a potential delivery date in May. Chow is also known for his collaborations with other creators. With cinematic achievements like ‘Shaolin Soccer’ and ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ under his belt, Chow remains an elusive yet iconic figure. He is credited for popularizing ‘mo lei tau,’ a frenetic slapstick comedy style that translates loosely as ‘nonsense.’
Stephen Chow Embarks on Variety Show Production for iQiyi
