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The Gentlemen (2016 TV series)

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The Gentlemen
Also known asMercurial Men
来自水星的男人
GenreFamily
Men
Comedy
Romance
Written byTang Yeow 陈耀
Seah Choon Guan 谢俊源
Directed byLim Mee Nah 林美娜
Lin Mingzhe 林明哲
Cheong Yuan Teng 张愿庭
StarringChen Hanwei
Pierre Png
Aloysius Pang
Cynthia Koh
Paige Chua
Carrie Wong
Opening theme樂度明天 by Chriz Tong
Ending theme像這樣也很好 by Xiang Hua
(No commentaries for News Tonight)
Country of originSingapore
Original languagesMandarin, with some English dialogue
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producerSoh Bee Lian 苏美莲
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes
Production companyMediacorp Studios
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release9 August (2016-08-09) –
5 September 2016 (2016-09-05)

The Gentlemen (Chinese: 来自水星的男人) is a Singaporean drama series produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The 20-episode drama serial stars Chen Hanwei, Pierre Png, Aloysius Pang, Cynthia Koh, Paige Chua and Carrie Wong as the main casts of the series.

Plot

[edit]

The three Zhang brothers come from a family of male chauvinists. Zhang Naiping (Chen Hanwei), the eldest, runs a maid agency. He and his wife, Zou Huimin (Cynthia Koh), are in the midst of divorce proceedings. The second brother, Zhang Nailiang (Pierre Png), is a ballet dancer, while the youngest, Zhang Naiyi (Aloysius Pang), is a students at an arts school. The family is at Naiyi's graduation ceremony. Naiping and Nailiang quarrel over a seat and are sent out of the auditorium. Their mother, He Zhaodi (Jin Yinji), bemoans the death of her husband, Zhang Weida (Zhang Wei), who died half a year ago. She is sad he is not at Naiyi's graduation. Nailiang idolises Xu Ruoqi (Kelly Liao), a dancer. When she picks him for an audition, he is elated. Naiping comes across a maid while she is being abused. Annoyed by the arrogance of the employer, he gets into a brawl with him. They settle their dispute at a police station. Caught up with her job as an insurance agent, Huimin pays no attention to Naiping's injuries. She reminds him to tell Zhaodi about their divorce as soon as possible. Nailiang rents a place on his own. He is confident he will audition successfully and get to join Ruoqi in New York. Naiyi was traumatised by a man with red nails when he was young. Since then, he has had a fear of women whose nails are painted red. Naiyi forgets to retrieve his ATM card after withdrawing money. Sally, who is in the queue behind him, chases after him to return his card. He goes berserk when he sees her red nails and hides in a lingerie shop. The lingerie shop owner is Wang Shengyi (Wang Yuqing). His daughter, Wang Kaixin (Carrie Wong), is nicknamed Princess A Class for her flat chest. She is able to tell the customer's bra cup size by just looking at them. Naiping does not wish to divorce his wife but is too proud to admit it. On his way to the audition, Nailiang notices Su Meidai (Paige Chua), who shooting a print advertisement. Watching her pose seductively while clad only in sexy lingerie, Nailiang trips over a cable. Meidai falls onto him, and the shoot is halted. During the audition, Nailing becomes dizzy and faints while dancing. A debt collector turns up at Naiping's office. Naiping refuses to entertain him, as it was his business partner, Gary, who obtained the loan. The debt collector vandalises the office. Naiyi reports for work at a fashion design company. Sally happens to be one of his colleagues, and tries to return his ATM card. He is so traumatised by her red nails that he spills his beverage...

Cast

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Main cast

[edit]
Cast Character Description Episodes Appeared
Chen Hanwei
陈汉玮
Zhang Naiping
张乃平

Younger version portrayed by Gary Tan 陈毅丰 Cheong
  • Zou Huimin's husband
  • Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's eldest son
  • Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's elder brother
  • Zhang Jingrou's father
  • Confinement nanny
  • Shen Yilin's love interest
  • Lisbon/Kusu's godfather
  • Francis Ang's army mate
  • Divorced with Zou Huimin, later realised that he still had not gotten over her
  • Often misunderstood by Zou Huimin as he always appears in Shen Yilin's apartment looking after her son
  • Gave Shen Yilin a wrong 'signal' that he is in love with her
  • At first disapproved Zhang Naiyi's job as an undergarment designer, later approved
  • Changed for the better and became Zou Huimin's husband again in the end
1-20
Pierre Png
方展发
Zhang Nailiang
张乃良
Younger Version portrayed by Ivan Lo

Liang (良), Unlucky Star (衰神), Liang Cheong
  • Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's second son
  • Zhang Naiping and Zhang Naiyi's second brother
  • Ballet teacher
  • Hated Su Meidai when first met, later realised that he is in love with her
  • Fell out with Zhang Naiyi over Su Meidai, later patched up
  • Liu Yutong's friend and former schoolmate
  • Became Su Meidai's boyfriend in the end
1-20
Aloysius Pang
冯伟衷
Zhang Naiyi
张乃祎

Smith Cheong, Boy (小弟)
  • Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's youngest son
  • Zhang Naiping and Zhang Zhang Nailiang's younger brother
  • Had a crush on Su Meidai (one-sided love)
  • Fashion designer, later an undergarment designer
  • Wang Kaixin's friend and colleague, later realised that he is in love with her
  • Had phobia of red nails
  • Shen Yilin, Xena, Yen and Zoe's colleague
  • Had a one-night stand with Wang Kaixin when the both of them were drunk
  • Fell out with Zhang Nailiang over Su Meidai, later patched up
  • Became Wang Kaixin's boyfriend in the end
1-20
Cynthia Koh
许美珍
Zou Huimin
邹惠敏
  • Zhang Naiping's wife
  • Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's daughter-in-law
  • Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's sister-in-law
  • Zhang Jingrou's mother
  • Hated Zhang Naiping's male chauvinism
  • Often mistaken Zhang Naiping and Shen Yilin as he always appears at her apartment to look after her son
  • Divorced Zhang Naiping, later realised that she has never gotten over him
  • Became Zhang Naiping's wife again
1–8, 10-20
Paige Chua
蔡琦慧
Su Meidai
苏美黛
MD, Heroine, Bra Shrew (BRA婆), Woman, Soh Bee Dai
  • Undergarment company chairman
  • Zhang Nailiang's girlfriend
  • Zhang Naiyi's love interest
  • Afraid of dark areas
  • Shen Yilin's best friend and superior
  • Zhang Naiyi, Xena, Yen and Zoe's superior
  • Venice's godmother
  • Hated Zhang Nailiang when first met due to misunderstandings
  • Indirectly caused Zhang Nailiang to not have a chance to go overseas for ballet industry
1–4, 6-20
Carrie Wong
黄思恬
Wang Kaixin
王凯欣
Princess A Class (A等公主), Happy (开心)
  • Wang Shengyi's daughter
  • Works at the undergarments company
  • Knows what cup size women should wear
  • Often mistaken as a guy due to her attire and short hair
  • Avoided wearing dress due to her father - still couldn't get over her mother's death
  • Zhang Naiyi's friend, later in love with him
  • Had a one-night stand with Zhang Naiyi when both of them were drunk
  • Became Zhang Naiyi's girlfriend in the end
1, 3, 6-13, 15-20

Supporting cast

[edit]
Cast Character Description Episodes Appeared
Youyi
有懿
Shen Yilin
沈薏琳
Lin (琳), Shen Yee Lin
  • Francis Ang's ex-wife
  • Venice and Lisbon/Kusu's mother
  • Su Meidai's best friend and subordinate
  • In love with Zhang Naiping (one-sided love)
  • Zhang Naiyi, Xena, Yen and Zoe's colleague
2-12, 14-20
Jin Yinji
金银姬
He Zhaodi
何招娣
  • Zhang Naiping, Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's mother
  • Zou Huimin's mother-in-law
1–8, 10–15, 20
Wang Yuqing
王昱清
Wang Shengyi
王升义
Bra King (内衣王)
  • Wang Kaixin's father
  • Iron Man's friend
1, 3, 6-11, 13, 15–17, 20
Toh Xin Hui
杜芯慧
Zhang Jingrou
张静柔
  • He Zhaodi's granddaughter
  • Zhang Naiping and Zou Huimin's daughter
  • Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's niece
  • Venice's classmate
Natalie Mae Tan 陈宥蒽 Venice
  • Shen Yilin's daughter
  • Francis Ang's ex-daughter
  • Su Meidai's goddaughter
  • Zhang Jingrou's classmate
Joey Feng
冯瑾瑜
Xena
  • Su Meidai's subordinate
  • Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Zoe's colleague
Shelia Tan
陈玮甜
Yen
  • Su Meidai's subordinate
  • Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Zoe's colleague
Elizabeth Seah
谢佩佩
Zoe
  • Su Meidai's subordinate
  • Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Yen's colleague
Collin Chee
銭翰群
Sean
  • Zou Huimin's love interest
  • Zhang Naiping's rival in love
Kelly
廖奕琁
Koh Ruoqi
郭若琪

Gigi Koh

  • Ballet dancer
  • Zhang Nailiang's love interest
1,13-15, 18-19
Marcus Mok
莫健发
Tim Ang
  • Su Meidai and Shen Yilin's superior
2-3, 20
Hu Wensui
胡问遂
Francis
  • Shen Yilin's boyfriend
20
Adele Wong
王惠珊
Liu Yutong
  • Ballet school owner
  • Zhang Nailiang's friend and former schoolmate
9-11, 13, 18
David Leong
梁家豪
Francis Ang
  • Pilot
  • Shen Yilin's ex-husband
  • Venice's ex-father
  • Zhang Naiping's army mate
5, 7, 9, 12
Zhang Wei
张为
Zhang Weida
张伟大
Old Man (老的)
  • Zhang Naiping, Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's Father
  • Zou Huimin's Father-in-law
  • He Zhaodi's Husband
  • Deceased

Episodes

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No. overall Title Original air date
1"Episode 1"August 9, 2016 (2016-08-09)
PG Some Sexual References This episode aired at 8.29p.m., right after the National Day Parade, while variety programme BENGpire moved to 9.28p.m. Subsequent episodes were aired at 9.00p.m. from August 10 onwards.
2"Episode 2"August 10, 2016 (2016-08-10)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes
3"Episode 3"August 11, 2016 (2016-08-11) PG
4"Episode 4"August 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
PG Some Sexual References
5"Episode 5"August 15, 2016 (2016-08-15)
PG Some Sexual References
6"Episode 6"August 16, 2016 (2016-08-16)
PG Some Sexual References
7"Episode 7"August 17, 2016 (2016-08-17)
PG Some Sexual References
8"Episode 8"August 18, 2016 (2016-08-18)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes
9"Episode 9"August 19, 2016 (2016-08-19)
PG Some Sexual References
10"Episode 10"August 22, 2016 (2016-08-22)
PG Some Sexual References
11"Episode 11"August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23)
PG Some Sexual References
12"Episode 12"August 24, 2016 (2016-08-24)
PG Some Sexual References
13"Episode 13"August 25, 2016 (2016-08-25)
PG Some Sexual References
14"Episode 14"August 26, 2016 (2016-08-26)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes
15"Episode 15"August 29, 2016 (2016-08-29)
PG Some Sexual References
16"Episode 16"August 30, 2016 (2016-08-30)
PG Some Sexual References
17"Episode 17"August 31, 2016 (2016-08-31)
PG Some Sexual References
18"Episode 18"September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes
19"Episode 19"September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes
20"Episode 20 (Finale)"September 5, 2016 (2016-09-05)
PG Some Disturbing Scenes

Development

[edit]

The series is first announced in January 2016.[1] Originally, Julie Tan and Xu Bin were also announced to be part of the lineup. Their roles were replaced by Carrie Wong and Aloysius Pang respectively, as Julie turned down the series to allow herself to focus on her role in long-running drama series Peace & Prosperity.[2] Wong was told that she would have to have her long locks shorn for her role, as executive producer Soh Bee Lian feels that the character would be more convincing in a bob cut than if she were to wear a wig.[3][4]

Filming began in February 2016. On 9 March, Toggle interviewed Pang, whose character falls in love with Paige Chua’s. The actors shot the scene where Chua saves his life when Pang falls over a railing at a parking complex in two hours. He was suspended from a third-floor ledge, with a ladder propping him up by the feet during breaks.[5][6] Pierre Png, who plays a professional ballet dancer in the series, reveals that ballet is “much, much tougher” than boxing (referring to his previous role in Channel 5 telemovie Rise). While others have to take seven years to perfect ballet, he only has one month for his role.[7][8][9]

A press conference was held at Cafe Melba in the new Mediacorp campus on 26 July 2016. Chen Hanwei, Pierre Png, Aloysius Pang, Carrie Wong, Paige Chua, Cynthia Koh and Jin Yinji attended the conference.[10][11]

Trivia

[edit]

Awards and nominations

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The Gentlemen was up for 5 nominations. It won 2 out of 5 awards.

The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Accolades Category Nominees Result
The Road to Star Awards 2017 Episode 1

红星大奖 影聚响宴

Young Talent Award
青苹果奖
Toh Xin Hui 杜芯慧 Won
Best Director
最佳导演
Lim Mee Nah
林美娜
Nominated
Best Screenplay
最佳剧本
Tang Yeow/Seah Choon Guan
陈耀/谢俊源
Nominated
The Road to Star Awards 2017 Episode 2
红星大奖 影聚响宴
Bioskin Healthiest Hair Award Pierre Png
方展发
Nominated
Star Awards 2017 Awards Ceremony
红星大奖2017颁奖礼
Best Actor
最佳男主角
Chen Hanwei
陈汉玮
Won
Pierre Png
方展发
Nominated

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Joanna Goh (2 January 2016). "2016 local drama guide". Toggle. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  2. ^ "陈欣淇爆新恋情 与大11岁圈外男交往" (in Chinese). Toggle. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. ^ Goh Li Xin (18 February 2016). "黄思恬挥剪20年长发 笑称变"少女杀手"" (in Chinese). Toggle. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. ^ Zara Zhuang (19 February 2016). "Carrie Wong: I feel like a pretty boy now". Toggle. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  5. ^ "冯伟衷有心仪对象 不介意与黄思恬假戏真做" (in Chinese). Toggle. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  6. ^ Zara Zhuang (11 March 2016). "Aloysius Pang likes older girls". Toggle. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. ^ Tammi Tan (11 May 2016). "Pierre Png: ballet is "much, much tougher" than boxing". Toggle. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. ^ Goh Li Xin (13 May 2016). "方展发爱上芭蕾舞 和刘子绚代言名车" (in Chinese). Toggle. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  9. ^ May Seah (23 August 2016). "Pierre Png on pointe: Dance date with ballet devotee". Today Online. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  10. ^ Tammi Tan (28 July 2016). "Aloysius Pang on bras and bed scenes with Carrie Wong". Toggle. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ^ "陈汉玮为母茹素 黄思恬冯伟衷拍床戏不尴尬" (in Chinese). Toggle. 27 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.