New season of hit Chinese TV comedy show begins

One of Chinese TV's highest-rated comedy shows, Top Funny Comedian, returned to the small screen over the weekend.

The latest and fourth season, being aired on Shanghai-based Dragon TV since Jan 14, is hosted like two earlier seasons by Guo Degang, a star xiangsheng (crosstalk) performer.

The first season was hosted by veteran actor Wu Xiubo.

In each of the 12 episodes, five teams of artists perform a comedy skit or a xiangsheng show, all original satires inspired by daily life or the country's popular culture. In some, glimpses of Western culture are seen as well. For example, a xiangsheng performer wears Superman costume to tell a comedic dialogue in Chinese about superheroes.

Wang Leiqing, a director with Dragon TV, said the show has gathered some top comedy talent across the country to raise the popularity of Chinese comedy and traditionally performing arts.

"Besides, it also helps some emerging talent to gain more popularity, earning them opportunities to star in bigger screen projects like hit TV dramas or movies," said Dong Zhaohui, chief executive of the Beijing-based Joy Entertainment, the show's producer.

The show once inspired the Chinese film Top Funny Comedian: The Movie, which was released last year and casts British comedy star Rowan Atkinson of Mr Bean fame.