Amboi… A New Show In Town
Azwan Ali (left) with Mas AF.
A new not-so-blunt talk show replaces the notoriously famous, Cit Cat. HIZREEN KAMAL writes.
SO long Cit Cat, hello Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…
After 10 years and 11 seasons, Azwan Ali’s Cit Cat programme which has enjoyed high ratings over Astro Ria - thanks to its sensational content about the local entertainment scene - bids farewell.
And just when we thought there would be no more talk shows zeroing in on controversial issues surrounding local artistes and celebrities, here comes another one, but with less “in your face” bluntness.
Promising to be highly entertaining, Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, a 13-episode entertainment talk show makes its debut with a special episode on Oct 1. It will be aired over Astro Prima (Astro Channel 106) at 11.30am. This special episode will feature Dafi of Akademi Fantasia 5, AF 5 champion Mila and actress Rozita Che Wan as guest artistes.
The weekly episodes will start on Nov 6, every Thursday at 9pm, over the same channel.
Astro Prima channel manager Khairul Anwar Salleh said that Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… is an extension of Cit Cat. After all, it is produced by Azwan Ali Productions, which also produced Cit Cat.
Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…’s approach is different since the channel is targeting mature audiences from the sub-urban and rural areas.
“The concept remains unchanged. It’s subtler for family viewing, and there will be comic elements to soften the issues discussed on the show.
“However, we will not sacrifice the show’s main aim to provide answers to the controversies surrounding the guest artistes,” he said, adding that this talk show is among some of the more exciting programmes that the channel has lined-up.
“Astro Prima’s main contents include quality movies, telemovies and drama serials. But, we have noticed that we do not have a talk show, so we asked Azwan to come on board to produce a talk show similar to Cit Cat.
“So, with the migration, it was only natural that we gave it a new title, hence Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, a phrase which Azwan always uses when interviewing the artistes,” he said.
“Controversy and gossip is part and parcel of the entertainment industry. We are confident that the programme will have a strong following as we have a strong content,” he said.
Khairul Anwar also said that they are planning to come out with more signature programmes like the highly popular reality show Akademi Fantasia and Raja Lawak.
Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… will have more than 40 artistes on its show including Jaclyn Victor, Dafi, Mila, Rozita Che Wan, Hans Isaac, Aaron Aziz, Zahida Rafik, Jehan Miskin, Jue Aziz, Sarimah Ibrahim, Datuk Aziz Sattar, Azharina, Ezlynn, Sarah Raisuddin, Farawahida, Iqram Dinzly, Raja Farah, Julia Ziegler, Raja Azmi, Elly Suriaty, Dina, Izwan Pilus, Fauziah Ghous, Rosnah Mat Aris and Julie Dahlan.
Apart from that, the show will also see popular artistes from the ’80s such as Zarina Zainuddin, Dee of Jangan Ketawa fame and Leina Hangat.
The comic relief will come in the form of Mas of Akademi Fantasia, who will act as Azwan’s maid, Bulan Jamaica.
Azwan who is excited about Amboi… Amboi… Amboi… said the show will be more in-depth.
“Since it is an hour-long show, the interviews with the artistes are more in-depth,” he said.
He is not too concerned about his “migration” from Astro Ria to Astro Prima, since his fans had always been from the mature age group.
However, he admitted that letting go of Cit Cat was difficult as it was that show that paved the way for his Astro stint.
“I’ve made my name through Cit Cat. It’s part of me, but it’s time to let go. It is high time that I came out with a different product.
“I’m honoured that Astro Prima asked me to produce Amboi… Amboi… Amboi…, and hopefully this new talk show will get the desired response from the viewers,” added Azwan.
New Straits Times