The annual Kinchung (Golden Bell) awards presentation ceremony for outstanding radio and television programs shook off a 15-year tradition of formality this year. In order to establish the authority of the Golden Bell, equivalent to the Emmy in the West, and to encourage radio and television workers who have dedicated themselves to their tasks over the previous year, the organizer, the Government Information Office (GIO), put in more financial and human resources to make the ceremony more appealing. The unbiased decisions of the judges also helped to open up a new stage in the development of radio and television enterprises in the Republic of China.
The most important innovation in this year's ceremony was the practice of presenting awards to individual TV and radio workers, rather than to sponsoring organizations as in the past. New awards for the best artists of the year in such categories as program hosts, actors, singers and new stars were introduced. To encourage individual techniques, awards for editing, photography, lighting and direction were included. In addition, only one winner in each category was allowed, heightening the competition and making the awards more meaningful.
The panel of judges, made up of 31 leading scholars and specialists, only made their final decision an hour or so before the ceremony started, allowing them to exercise their discretion more completely. As a result of the GIO's thoughtful innovations, the ceremony took on extra glamor this year.
The ceremony for the presentation of the Golden Bell awards was watched by a nationwide audience through television, as well as by the capacity crowd inside the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei.
Before the winners were announced, GIO director-general, Dr. James Soong, said there were two purposes in enlarging the Golden Bell presentation ceremony--to honor TV and radio workers, and to emphasize their contribution to improving the radio and television industry in the Republic of China through their specialization.
A highlight of the ceremony was the appearance of special guests from the United States including Steve Forrest, star of ABC-TV's hit series, "S.W.A.T." and his wife, and Eva Gabor, star of such popular CBS television series as "Green Acres," and her husband Frank Jameson. Special guests from Hong Kong, including Shen Tien-shia, Chen Shao-chiu, Chang Kuo-jung and Hsueh Chia-yen, gave song and dance performances.
Vice Premier Hsu Ching-chung, and Minister of Education Chu Hwei-sen presented special awards to radio and TV stations which have contributed to publicizing government policies, providing social services and introducing new engineering techniques and art designs.
Winners of the Golden Bell awards were announced at the presentation ceremony by established radio and TV stars. First to come on stage were Mao Wei and Wang Mei, two experienced broadcasters, to present awards for best news broadcast and world affairs commentary, and broadcast editing and coverage.
The award for best TV news coverage went to Fu Ta-jen of Taiwan Television Enterprise for his program on the air pollution problem in the Sungshan District of Taipei. Hsiung Lu-yang, hostess of "Sixty Minutes," a magazine-style TV program presented by the China Television Company, won the award for best hostess on documentary programs.
Liu Jo-hsi, the so-called "Oriole of Chungking" who has 41 years experience in broadcasting, and "Auntie Pai Ying," hostess of the "Happy Children" program of the broadcasting Corporation of China, presented the awards for best educational and cultural radio program, best radio production and best radio broadcasting. Hsu Chien won the award for best radio production for her achievements in the program "introduction to kun chu (an opera originating in Kiangsu Province)."
Yang Li-hua, leading actress of ko tsai hsi (Taiwanese opera), and Chao Kang, a veteran broadcaster, presented awards for the best educational and cultural TV program, best TV producer, best host of the year on social-educational TV programs, and best TV photography and editing. "Sixty Minutes" won the award for the best educational and cultural TV program; Tsai Juei-li, best TV producer; and Lee Chi-chuen, best host for social-educational TV programs.
Steve Forrest and his wife presented awards for best entertainment radio program, best radio direction and best radio editing.
Betty Pai, and Jan Hsiao-ling, both popular TV performers before they retired to get married, presented the Golden Bell awards for best variety TV show, best hostess for a variety show, and best TV actor and actress of the year.
This was the first time that Betty Pai had appeared on local TV since she married an overseas Chinese, Huang Shuan-an, in Indonesia three years ago. She said that she was excited and happy to have seen the pageant, and she trusted that as in the case of other construction projects completed in her motherland, the mass media enterprises would make rapid progress through the promotion of organizations concerned.
When Margaret Chang was announced the best hostess for her performance in "Variety 100," she said humbly: "If Betty Pai had not got married, I would not have won this award." Miss Chang said she appreciated the assistance given to her by her colleagues and her family, which had made it possible for her to win the award. Through her wholehearted dedication to the 110-minute program "Variety 100," it won in the best variety show of the year category.
"Variety 100," a CTS show, won five of the seven awards for which it was nominated in the Golden Bell ceremony. In addition to best hostess and best variety show, it won the awards for best TV editing, best TV recording and best lighting.
Yueh Yang won the best TV actor award for his role in the "Roster of Heroes," a costume sword play produced by TTV, and Miss Liu Ming won the best TV actress award for her portrayal of the title role in "Mrs. Li," a drama presented by CTV.
Liu Wen-cheng won the best male vocalist award for his polished performance. His hits include "Promises," "Rain Keeps Falling," "Sleeping Water-lily" and "Orchid Grass." The best female vocalist was Teresa Teng, whose songs are popular in Taiwan, Japan and even on the China mainland.
Eva Gabor and her husband presented awards for the most original TV program, the best male and female comedians on TV, and the most promising new TV actor.
"Love" presented by CTV won the award for the most original program. Chiang Kuang-chao and Hsia Lin-lin won the awards for the best male and female comedians of the year respectively, and Hua Fang, was judged the most promising new star. The ceremony ended after GIO Director-General, Dr. Soong, presented commemorative awards.
Altogether 39 awards were presented to TV and radio workers. In spite of some lack of coordination among the emcees, the GIO's new approach is a step in the right direction for the development of the Golden Bell award ceremony in the future.
[Picture Caption]
1. Yueh Yang receiving the best TV actor award. 2. Hsu Chien (center) wins the award for best radio production for her achievement in the program "introduction to kun chu." To her left is one of the emcees, Chang Li-ming, and to her right is Liu Jo-hsi, the so-called "Oriole of Chungking." 3. One of the most experienced broadcasters, Auntie Pai Ying (left), and Pao Kuo-liang presenting awards. 4. GIO director-general, Dr. James Soong, gives a short speech to start the Golden Bell presentation ceremony.
1. Betty Pai, the glamorous TV program hostess, who travelled all the way from Indonesia to attend the ceremony, donated US$100,000 to the national self-reliance fund. 2. Eva Gabor and her husband arrive to participate in the pageant. 3. Steve Forrest, star of ABC-TV's hit series, "S.W.A.T." and his wife during an interview with emcees Lee Pao-kan and Ying Hsia. 4. Eva Gabor acknowledging the audience's cheers.
1. Teresa Teng, the best female vocalist of the year. 2. Liu Wen-cheng, the best male vocalist. 3. Hsia Lin-lin (right) receiving the award for best female comedian. 4. Chiang Kuang-chao receives the award for best male comedian.
Above left: Lee Chi-chuen (center), best host for social-educational TV programs, and above right: Hsiung Lu-yang (speaking) wins the award for best hostess on documentary programs. Opposite: Margaret Chang receives the best hostess for a variety show award for her performance in "Variety 100," a CTS show that won five of the seven awards for which it was nominated.
Special guests from Hong Kong, (picture 1) Hsueh Chia-yen (left) and Chang Kuo-jung (right), and (picture 3) Shen Tien-shia (right), and Chen Shao-chiu (left) presents song and dance performances. 2. Betty Pai (right center) and Jan Hsiao-ling (left center), both popular TV performers before they retired to get married, were invited to present the Golden Bell awards.
Hsu Chien (center) wins the award for best radio production for her achievement in the program "introduction to kun chu." To her left is one of the emcees, Chang Li-ming, and to her right is Liu Jo-hsi, the so-called "Oriole of Chungking.
One of the most experienced broadcasters, Auntie Pai Ying (left), and Pao Kuo-liang presenting awards.
GIO director-general, Dr. James Soong, gives a short speech to start the Golden Bell presentation ceremony.
Betty Pai, the glamorous TV program hostess, who travelled all the way from Indonesia to attend the ceremony, donated US$100,000 to the national self-reliance fund.
Eva Gabor and her husband arrive to participate in the pageant.
Steve Forrest, star of ABC-TV's hit series, "S.W.A.T." and his wife during an interview with emcees Lee Pao-kan and Ying Hsia.
Eva Gabor acknowledging the audience's cheers.
Teresa Teng, the best female vocalist of the year.
Liu Wen-cheng, the best male vocalist.
3. Hsia Lin-lin (right) receiving the award for best female comedian.
Chiang Kuang-chao receives the award for best male comedian.
Lee Chi-chuen (center), best host for social-educational TV programs,.
Hsiung Lu-yang (speaking) wins the award for best hostess on documentary programs.
Margaret Chang receives the best hostess for a variety show award for her performance in "Variety 100," a CTS show that won five of the seven awards for which it was nominated.
Hsueh Chia-yen (left) and Chang Kuo-jung (right)
Betty Pai (right center) and Jan Hsiao-ling (left center), both popular TV performers before they retired to get married, were invited to present the Golden Bell awards.
Shen Tien-shia (right), and Chen Shao-chiu (left) presents song and dance performances.