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STAR SEARCH COMPETITION SPURS TCS8 STARS TO LEARN NEW SKILLSZoe Tay to Unveil New Flower-Arranging Skills in Death-Defying Sumersault from the Petronas Towers.
Singapore -- All's fair in love and war, but when it comes to popularity competitions at the Television Corporation of Singapore, the new rules for the annual Popularity Contest in November pose increasing threats to their star status.TCS, whose public policy includes making sure their stars are seen as "well-rounded, Chinese heterosexual people," has raised its standard of competition to include one-handed bicycle-riding, elephant training, and advanced hairspray knowledge.
"We have to raise our criteria or anyone will want to join," Jannsonifer Teo, assistant Public Relations manager for TCS 8, told The Inkpot. "TCS Stars have a reputation to maintain, just because they have a good look, we can't take everyone. We want talent too.
"Some of our present actors can't even descend from a height of 25 feet on a winged harnass similar to a parachute glider," she added.
Setting the example for the upcoming event will be Zoe Tay, TCS' top-rated juggler, who will be revealing her newly learnt flower-arranging skills in a daredevil leap from Kuala Lumpur's twin Petronas towers two weeks before the Popularity Contest phone-ins begin.
Despite injuries described as "life-threatening, but trivial," TCS' main attraction Zoe Tay (seen here showing off her superior mousse know-how) will proceed with her much talked about "flower arranging somersault" in November. Teo says that Tay, who has been practising hard, has suffered "trivial injuries" but is raring to go.
"Despite her four broken ribs, fractured ankles, decapitated arms and damaged lung," Teo read from an official press release, "Tay is a true professional of great skill and resolution. She will continue with practice as usual."
Tay, who was present at the press conference, was able to name the flowers she intends to arrange during her stunt, but was unwilling to reveal the actual arrangement she would use.
"Some things are secret," she said as nurses fussed over her IV drip and head bandages. Although reporters could not actually see her face as she was wrapped in face and body tourniquets, the actress sounded cheerful.
The new rules have raised objections from a few TCS stars themselves, who protest that acting has nothing to do with flower arranging.
"I know we are facing compeition from the Taiwanese market" an actor who refused to be named told the Inkpot. "Their stars are consummate. They can swallow fire, do low trapeze swings. But when we have to flower arrange our own lives are in danger."
However, when asked if he would resort to acting classes to keep up with the competition, the actor replied that he hoped things were "not that bad yet."
For other veteran TCS stars, the new rules are welcome. Speaking in mandarin, Ann Kok told reporters at yesterday's press conference that she used to think jumping through bamboo hoops was enough to make her "a big star," but TCS 8's latest ruling would "spur her initative to upgrade and learn such skills as Jetski Origami and Ballroom Dancing."
Newcomer Ann Kok, well known for her uncanny dress sense, may even consider acting classes for the new Popularity challenge. The pert actress also revealed that she and a few other TCS actress were already well on their way towards finishing the tough self-improvement course Intermediate Lip-Synching, held by TCS experts.
"It's difficult, but for the sake of my fans, I will do anything," Kok told reporters.
Kok, touted as the station's most versatile star, was praised by TCS station manager Kennifer Tay for her ability to dance, sing and spin at 3 rounds a second in see-through tops.
When asked if she would respond to fans' requests to see her act, however, Kok snapped, "maybe. Anything's possible. But even my fans should know that I have priorities as a TCS star."
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