Taiwan Today

Drums and gongs sounding noisily, the audience applauded uproariously as eight lion-dancers jumped from every di­rection of Taipei's Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and leaped to central stage, there joining a golden man as he tolled a golden bell while the curtain rose for 1983's Golden Bell Awards.

The audience included the First Lady, Mrs. Chiang Ching-kuo. When she entered the hall, the assemblage stood and welcomed her with warm applause.

The Golden Bell Awards are present­ed annually to the outstanding television and radio personalities in the Republic of China, and appropriately, two top TV entertainers—singers Chang Ti and Teresa Teng—were selected as co-masters of the ceremony to present them.

Chen Chi-lu, chairman of the Council for Cultural Planning & Development of the Executive Yuan, presented the award for the foremost educational and cultural program. The winner—Acme, produced by the Kuangchi Program Ser­vice. Holding the award, Father Jerry Martinson made the obligatory "thank you" speech-but to God: "The judges have remarkable clairvoyance in giving the award to Acme," he said. "However, only almighty God knows how much energy Kuangchi has expended to pay for it." The judges were selected from among the nation's best known literature professors, artists, journalists, directors, and photographers.

A pleased Tang Chien-ming won two awards, one for Best TV News Pro­gram, Trip to Northern Thailand, another for being the Best TV Reporter-also for his reporting on the overseas Chinese in northern Thailand. Despite the dangers and difficulties involved, Tang twice visited the area to produce a series of documentary films on these anti­ communist guerrillas. His programs roused island-wide attention.

In addition to the education and cul­tural and news programs, the awards covered seven other categories-children's programs, commercial films, variety shows, production, individual perfor­mance, drama, and general performance.

The television feature Homecoming, a story portraying today's Taiwan woman caught in the dilemma of choosing be­tween dedication to her family or pursuing her own career, was a two-award winner (see our review also in this issue) for Best TV Feature of the Year and also for Best Actress (Lee Tze-ling). Having watched others win for 17 years, Lee re­marked, "The one person I would like to thank most is my husband- Wong Chung-chiang, Homecoming's director."

Chang Shiao-yen won her third career Golden Bell for Best TV Variety Show Emcee. "Winning the award is much easier than giving birth to a child," she opined. She said she had promised her husband a baby when she won her second such award last year.

Two special memorial awards were bestowed-for late publisher of the China News Jimmy Wei, and for the late president of the Central Motion Picture Corporation, Mei Chang-ling, both of whom died last year. When the families of the two long-time media notables ac­cepted the awards from Dr. James C.Y. Soong, director-general of the Govern­ment Information Office, the audience observed a moment of silence as an expression of their esteem.

Leading the list of foreign guests at the ceremony were lovely Barbara Eden, never to be forgotten as the pixie star of the U.S. television series I Dream of Jeannie, and Paul Ryan, host of the Paul Ryan Show on U.S. cable television.

Interviewed by hostess Teresa Teng, Barbara expressed her delight over her seven day visit to the ROC, adding that she wanted her friends in the States to see the island. When, Teresa asked a question most ladies were curious about-How did Barbara maintain her beautiful figure? - Barbara replied, "Stay in the bottle ... no kan pei (bottoms up-a Chinese toast)." The audience responded with laughter. During the break, many fans asked for her autograph.

When Paul Ryan stepped on stage, he instantly charmed the audience by speaking in Chinese—"I am glad to be invited to your country."

Both Barbara Eden and Paul Ryan brought television crews to Taiwan to record their travels. The results are scheduled to be broadcast on American TV.

Major Wu Jung-ken, who flew his MiG-19 from mainland China to South Korea last year in a break for freedom in the ROC, presented special awards to the Air Force Broadcasting Network and the Central Broadcasting Corporation. Maj. Wu's flight to freedom was inspired in part by their programs. "I represent our compatriots on the mainland in evidencing their gratitude and respect to the working staff of these two stations," he said.

Since the presentation was a culturally-linked event, the entire ceremony was appropriately interposed with Chinese culture-linked perfor­mances. The stage was decorated with shining, traditionally-shaped golden bells, hung at the center and to two sides. When hostess Teresa Teng sang the song Tuberose, the golden bell in the center lifted, and a traditional Chinese paper-cutting-scene was lowered down.

The Tunkwang Dance, performed by 16 female dancers, won general appreciation, and was especially remarked on by foreign guests. Their Buddhist-temple inspired make-up and costumes accented graceful dancing and filled the stage with traditional color.

Host Chang Ti, famed for his extemperaneous lyrics, sang Tonight, but with different lyrics.

Cheng Shao-chiu, who re-created a hero of ancient chivalry in Chu Liu Hsiang, a television series which broke local TV audience rating records, stopped the house with his performance of the series' nostalgic theme song.

The Award for Male Singer of the Year, though, went to Liu Wen-cheng, the third for the young pop performer. Host Chang Ti, also nominated for Best Male Singer, told the audience "This is notfair. My father told me I am the best singer in the world!"

The Best TV Series was Paris Airport, a re-creation of scientist Chiang Yu-lu's escape from Communist hands in the French capital city; Chiang played him­self in this play.

Wen Chiao-yu, three years old, was the youngest child winner ever. From the vantage of his mother's arms, Wen expressed his thankfulness to his seniors. The judges admired his natural acting in To See A-lang Again.

In other major categories, Female Singer of the Year Award went to veteran Fong Fei-fei; Best TV Actor, to Yi Min for his performance in Autumn Cicada; Rookie Actress of the Year Award, to Teng Wei-ting.

Awards also were presented to the lesser-known back-stage "stars"—the TV and radio writers, producers and directors, as well as to film editors, art directors, and sound and lighting personnel.

The 1983 Golden Bell Awards ceremony has ended, but its message—the need for quality performance and programming to enhance the nation's cultural life-still rings in all ears.