chinese TV is always good for a laugh

so last night i was watching a little chinese television. you know, flipping through again and again, until i saw this show that resembled american idol. so i stopped, imagining what a trainwreck of a show it might be. and boy was i right.

so, like all chinese shows, it began with some guy speaking in a very dramatic voice, then yelling, then pointing and letting the odd graphics and sound effects, like whistles, babies crying, etc, augment his words. finally, a girl was selected to start of the night of competition. she stepped up, took the microphone, and then the guy started talking for another five minutes. i swear. he seemed to ask her questions, but never let her talk. finally, she began singing. i laugh now even as i to write this. the beat began, and then she started singing gwen stefani's 'hollaback girl.' what was so funny though, is that she did not know the words. every once in a while she would get a word right, but then back into mumbled 'english.' just imagine, it was like she had maybe heard the song 2 or 3 times, and then was made to sing it. like we have all done in the car. but the really funny thing, no one knew she did not know the words. she received a rousing ovation by the crowd and the other performers. at the end the host asked her what song she sang. her response "hoolar bad gr." "so, what is a hoolar bad gr?" asked the host. she proceeded to tell him in chinese what a holler back girl is.

this may not be near as funny for you, but i promise, it was the highlight of my day. i laughed so hard. watching chinese TV is for entertainment, just not the kind they imagined when making the shows. quite good i do say.