(China Daily) The year 2024 saw a vibrant lineup of Chinese variety shows, exploring themes ranging from music and comedy to travel and relationships. These programs not only entertained audiences but also provided a sense of connection while breathing new life into the Chinese entertainment sector.Here are eight popular shows from the year, each offering a unique appeal.
Singer 2024
The music extravaganza Singer 2024 made a highly anticipated comeback on May 10, 2024, featuring a mix of Chinese and international singers competing in live broadcasts on Hunan Satellite TV and the online video platform Mango TV.
Renowned celebrities such as Chinese A-list star Na Ying, US diva Chante Moore, and Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter Faouzia Ouihya have all lent their talents to this captivating competition, which concluded in July.
Week after week, the artists brought a slew of stunning performances, turning the show into one of the most discussed topics online. More than 14,400 hashtags related to the program have trended across various social media platforms. On Weibo, China's leading microblogging platform, the main topic "Singer 2024" garnered 5.3 billion views.
Na Ying emerged as the winner in the finale on July 26, while the performances of international singers such as Chante Moore and Faouzia Ouihya also won widespread acclaim from Chinese fans.
Infinity and Beyond Season 4 The fourth season of the music reality show Infinity and Beyond celebrates the music and culture of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, staring ten groups of singers from the Chinese mainland as well as the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. From reinterpretations of classical Cantonese hits to renditions of contemporary songs, the program shines a spotlight on the rich legacy of Cantonese pop.
Infinity and Beyond Season 4 premiered on Mango TV on Nov 28, 2024, and began airing weekly on Hunan Satellite TV from Nov 29, followed by broadcasts on Hong Kong's TVB starting Dec 14.
Beyond performances, the program takes audiences on a cultural journey, exploring iconic landmarks in Hong Kong and Macao while delving into the soul of Cantonese music.
In the third episode, a group performance of the classic song The Bund by stars such as Hong Kong's Joey Yung Cho-yee and Fiona Sit, joined by the live audience, stirred waves of nostalgia online. The timeless melody quickly trended on platforms such as Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
On Dec 20, the show aired a special episode in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, highlighting the region's historical milestones and offering a glimpse into the daily lives of Macao residents.
See You Again Season 4 The fourth season of See You Again, broadcast on Mango TV, was a breakout hit during the fourth quarter of 2024 in China.
The show follows three couples facing marital challenges as they embark on an 18-day road trip to picturesque destinations, delving into the complexities of love, commitment and personal growth.
The featured couples are actress Huang Shengyi and her businessman husband Yang Zi, singer Li Hangliang and his wife Mai Lin, and social media influencers Liu Shuang and Ge Xi. Traveling in an RV through the stunning landscapes of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the couples confront their issues in a journey filled with emotional highs and lows.
See You Again combines heartfelt conversations, expert guidance from psychologists, and activities designed to help the couples rediscover their bonds. This deep dive into marital issues and the authentic interactions of the participants have sparked intense discussions on social media.
For audiences, the series also serves as a mirror, reflecting their own experiences and offering insights into relationships and marriage.
HAHAHAHAHA Season 4 Stars drop their idol personas for carefree fun in the latest season of the outdoor travel reality show HAHAHAHAHA. For the first time, the show has ventured abroad with Laos as its first stop, enhancing the cultural exchange between China and Laos.
Co-presented by Tencent Video and iQIYI, the program stars celebrities including Deng Chao, Chen He and Wang Mian. It weaves together outdoor adventures, games and cultural exploration as the participants travel along the China-Laos Railway, discovering destinations of Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
Season 4 takes a spontaneous, joyous approach to travel, striking a chord with young viewers who value a laid-back, flexible lifestyle.
According to Enlightent, a data platform analyzing online videos and TV programs, this season has surpassed one billion views online in 2024, ranking first among the most-watched variety shows on Chinese streaming platforms.
Become a Farmer Season 2 Become a Farmer, a phenomenal agriculture-themed show by iQIYI returned for its second season in February 2024, concluding in July. It offers an inspiring portrayal of young people's growth and efforts in farming, with tech-driven and industry-promoting concepts.
Season 2 of Become a Farmer solidified the success of its first season, topping the ranking of Chinese variety shows for eight consecutive weeks on Douban, a major Chinese review site. Enlightent data shows that Become a Farmer Season 2 garnered 560 million views on iQIYI in 2024.
This season saw ten young men, with enhanced farming skills and business abilities, expanded their farm size to 30 hectares. They introduced diverse new crops such as chilies alongside wheat and roses, developed products such as chili sauce and strawberry jam, and created an integrated farm featuring fishponds and crayfish fields.
Audiences continued to show strong support for the participants, closely following their entrepreneurial journeys as they launched businesses, embraced livestream commerce, perform at music festivals, and more.
Stand-up Comedy and Friends After a year's hiatus, stand-up comedy returned in style in 2024, tackling life's troubles with humor and wit.
Stand-up Comedy and Friends is a comedy competition show produced by Tencent Video. Premiering on Aug 20, 2024, it quickly became a sensation on social media.
Featuring more than 50 comedians, the program brought together a mix of veteran performers and rising stars competing in multiple rounds. In addition to renowned comedians such as Xu Zhisheng and Hu Lan, who gained fame in past competitions, the new season has introduced a diverse group of new faces. Notable newcomers such as the comedy duo Manzai Brothers (Xu Haolun and Tan Xiangwen) and Xiaoyu, a Peking University medical student performing under this stage name, entertained audiences with their distinctive styles.
The Manzai Brothers secured the championship with their signature manzai style, humorously depicting everyday situations with absurd and surreal twists. In one performance, they highlighted a fingerprint lock on a rented apartment, which could only be unlocked by singing the song "Fingerprint". A duet could even "open double doors", leaving the audience in laughter.
According to Enlightent, the ten-episode program received 230 million views on Tencent Video, while its major topic on Weibo, "Stand-up Comedy and Friends", amassed 1 billion views.
The King of Stand-up Comedy The King of Stand-up Comedy debuted on iQIYI on Aug 16, 2024, aiming to provide grassroots comedians with a larger stage to share their humorous observations on life.
Initiated by famed Hong Kong film star and director Stephen Chow, the series brought together more than 40 comedians competing for the title of "King of Comedy". Over six intense rounds in ten episodes, contestants showcased their comedic talents, touching on real-world topics such as generational divides, marriage, workplace struggles and employment challenges.
Champion Fu Hang was known for his unique style, characterized by exaggerated body movements and deliver. His iconic, thunderous cry of "Passion!" became a viral sensation, captivating both online and offline audiences. In the finale, Fu shared his outlook on life, using his own experiences to convey a powerful message: be true to oneself - everyone is the protagonist of their own story.
Each comedian's performance contributed to the show's success, making it one of the most popular comedy programs of 2024. Enlightent data shows that The King of Stand-up Comedy achieved 470 million views on iQIYI in 2024.
Divas Hit the Road · Silk RoadAs the fifth installment of the Divas Hit the Road series, Divas Hit the Road · Silk Road follows seven popular celebrities as they journey to various destinations in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Through immersive travel and study tours, the show delves into the rich cultures of these places.
Broadcast on Hunan Satellite TV and the online video-sharing platform Mango TV from October 2023 to the end of January in 2024, the 14-episode program features Chinese actresses Qin Hailu, Qin Lan, Xin Zhilei, Dilraba and Zhao Zhaoyi, alongside actors Wang Anyu and Hu Xianxu. The group embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia, Croatia and Iceland. From the architectural marvels in the Saudi Arabian desert to the stunning Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland, they discovered the natural beauty and cultural diversity of these countries while learning about the collaborative projects related to the BRI.
With a rating of 9.3 out of 10 on Douban, this season has become the most acclaimed season of the Divas Hit The Road series.
Source: chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-01-10 15:35
