Fangyan Media

Resource Center for the Cultural Study of Chinese Dialects

News Talk Show

List of Shows

Aliutou News Talk Show | 阿六头说新闻

  • First broadcasted in 2004 on Hangzhou TV’s West Lake Pear Channel (HTV 2)
  • Rendered in Hangzhou Wu
  • Proved to be an instant blockbuster hit in the Hangzhou area.
  • In 2004, the advertisement revenue from the show accounted for $5 million, making up half of the annual ad income of the entire channel.
  • In 2005, it topped the AC Nielsen ratings at 11%, almost 5x higher than Mandarin-speaking news programs in the Hangzhou area.

I’m Talking with You | 我和你说

  • Rendered in Xiaoshan Wu and Shaoxing Wu
  • First broadcasted in 2004 on Hangzhou TV 3
  • Employs Shaoxing Lifolo / 绍兴莲花落, a traditional art of storytelling in Shaoxing

Baixiao News Talk Show | 百晓讲新闻

  • Rendered in Wenzhou Wu
  • First broadcasted in June 2004 in Wenzhou City TV
  • Baixiao in Wenzhou Wu refers to someone who is very informed.

What’s Laifa Saying | 来发讲啥西

  • Rendered in Ningbo Wu
  • First broadcasted in February 2005 on Ningbo TV 2
  • The titles of the segments of the show are all Ningbo Wu phrases, for example, /kaφiŋtφio/ 解心焦 (play jokes) and /zakuaŋa/ 石骨硬 (not skilled at Putonghua).

Private Secretary Talks News | 师爷说新闻

  • Rendered in Shaoxing Wu
  • First broadcasted in January 2005 on Shaoxing TV
  • Shaoxing had long enjoyed a nationwide reputation for producing scholars or shiye (private secretaries) employed by prefects, magistrates, and other top yamen / 衙门 officials throughout the nineteenth century.

Daily Chats | 天天山海经

  • Rendered in Suzhou Wu
  • First broadcasted in 2004 on Suzhou TV
  • Tan Shanhaijing (to talk the “Classic of Mountains and Seas”) is local slang in Wu, meaning “to chat.”

News from Liao Zhai Studio | 阿福聊斋

  • Rendered in Wuxi Wu
  • First broadcasted in 2004 on Wuxi Wu
  • Liaozhai is the abbreviation of Liao zhai zhi yi 聊斋志异 (Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio) by Pu Songling 蒲松龄. Liao in Liaozhai literally means “chat.”

Watch More Today | 今朝多看点

  • Rendered in Jiaxing Wu
  • First broadcasted in November 2005 on Jiaxing TV 
  • Jinzhao in Wu local language means “today.”

News Storytelling | 新闻评话

  • Rendered in Yangzhou Mandarin
  • First broadcasted in January 2005 on Yangzhou TV
  • Yangzhou pinghua (Yangzhou storytelling) is used on the show.

Dagang News Talk Show | 大刚说新闻

  • Rendered in Nanjing Wu
  • First broadcasted in March 2004 on Nanjing TV

News Storyteller House | 新闻书场

  • Rendered in Nanjing Wu
  • First broadcasted on Sichuan Cable TV
  • Shuchang refers to the traditional storyteller’s house.

Laoxi’er’s Chat Bar | 老西儿谝吧

  • Rendered in Taiyuan Mandarin
  • First broadcasted in May 2005 on Shanxi TV Public Channel
  • In Jin local language, pie means “chat”
  • The anchor was recruited from the local Xiang Sheng troupe.

Chat | 拉呱

  • Rendered in Jinan Mandarin
  • First broadcasted in October 15 on Shandong Qilu TV
  • In Shandong Mandarin, lagua means “chat”
  • The anchor was recruited from the local Xiang Sheng troupe.

Urban Teahouse | 都市茶座

  • Rendered in Wuhan Mandarin
  • First broadcasted in 2000 on Hubei TV
  • Hubei Pingshu, comic skits, and huajixi are employed on the show.

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