comedian

DEFINITION

Famous performer in a comedy, parody, xiangsheng (also known as crosstalk) or sketch.

ETYMOLOGY

• In Singapore, the term “谐星”refers to a performer who performs in a comedy act, which can be a parody or comic sketch. Comedy acts in Singapore usually comprise two to five performers, whose aim is to entertain the audience. Singapore’s earliest comedians were the Comedic Duo of Wang Sha and Ye Feng in the 1960s. Other notable comedians include Hua Liang, Zhao Jin, Jack Neo, and Gurmit Singh.

SAMPLE SENTENCE

Feeling nostalgic for the wonderful performances of the Comedic Duo Wang Sha and Ye Feng who were a hit in the 1960s and 1970s? Mediacorp will be airing the “Wang Sha Ye Feng Special” next Friday (1 May) on Labour Day. This special edition of their past comedy crosstalks aims to provide some comic relief for those of you working or studying at home. (Lianhe Wanbao, 24/4/2020)

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

笑星(Mainland China,Hongkong,Macau,Singapore,Malaysia,Thailand)，笑匠(Singapore,Malaysia)

RELATED INFORMATION

• In Singapore, the term “谐剧” has a different meaning from that in China. In China, the term refers to comic opera, which features a style between a ballad and a dance, and is usually performed by one person. Such opera in China originated in Sichuan in 1939. They were founded by Wang Yongjun, whose first work was “卖膏药”.
• Famous comedians and comedy acts in Singapore include:

1. Wang Sha and Ye Feng: iconic comedians from the 1960s to the 1990s. Known as the Comedic Duo, they were the first local comedians to achieve international fame. In 1967, they started making comedy records that led to a great success. They thus created a new model of making comedy records. Their works reflected Singapore’s shift in its language policy.
2. Hua Liang and Zhao Jing: Best known as “Big Mouth” and “Big Nose”, they were Singapore\'s acclaimed comedy duo in the 1980s. They were skilled at using crosstalk to reflect the lives of common folks in a humorous light.
3. Liang Jia Ban: Comedy troupe founded by Jack Neo in 1991. Between 1990 and 2008, Jack Neo created Comedy Night (《搞笑行动》), the longest-running television programme in Singapore history. In 2004, he was awarded the Public Service Medal by the President. He is best known for his cross-dressing roles, Liang Po, Liang Xi Mei and Karen Neo, who are female characters that reflect everyday life in Singapore.
4. Gurmit Singh: this renowned local funnyman is best known for playing the character Phua Chu Kang in the sitcom Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd.