Whether an AI host or Kris Wu and TFBoys, who will be on China’s CCTV New Year’s Gala 2019?
A host of actors, singers and entertainers will perform on ‘Chunwan’, the most-watched TV show in the world, on the eve of Lunar New Year. Here’s a look at who’s in the line-up
Lunar New Year is just around the corner, falling on Tuesday, February 5. And intense rehearsals are underway for Chunwan, CCTV’s annual Spring Festival Gala, the annual state entertainment programme that is broadcast on the eve of the festival.
The four hour-plus live extravaganza is the most watched show in the world, and attracted 1 billion viewers last year.
It usually features the best in music, dancing, opera, magic performances, as well as comedy skits such as xiaopin and xiangsheng. It also acts as a showcase for China’s latest achievements, whether economic or technological.
For the Xiaonian Festival on 28 January this year, CCTV’s new programme Online Chunwan actually had its hosts take to the stage with AI versions of themselves.
But despite Chunwan’s long-standing popularity, China’s millennials are gradually replacing it with other entertainment. In a bid to keep the attention of this demographic, young celebrities and stars are being invited to appear on the show.
While the exact list remains under wraps, here’s what we know so far:
Chinese boy band TFBoys, who have regularly appeared on Chunwan since 2016, will continue to represent Gen Z in the 2019 edition.