Comedy contest Haha Maker debuts on Tencent

The comedy competition program Haha Maker, which features over 50 comedians coming together to create original comic shows, made its debut on Tencent's video platform on Oct 25.

These comic shows delve into the troubles of ordinary people, the overlooked details of everyday life and societal malpractices. Using comedy as a tool, they dissect these phenomena, uncovering profound thoughts beneath their absurd facades.

For instance, in a show called The Philosopher's Wish, philosophers, a magical wish-granting lamp, and a robber — three characters with vastly different identities — coexist in the same narrative space. Through their ludicrous interactions, the program delves into the essence of human nature concerning philosophy, wealth and desires.

Another show, featuring dialogues between humans and artificial intelligence robots, explores how humans, in their fast-paced lives, have forgotten the inherent joy of being human, transforming into mere "work machines".

Similarly, a production titled The Demise of Cinema satirizes the popularity of short videos, making it challenging for people to concentrate on watching a complete movie, ultimately leading to the decline of the art of filmmaking.

Participant Sun Yu praises the inclusive nature of the program, highlighting the ample creative freedom it offers. He reflects, "After years of accumulation, I have been able to realize various comedic styles that I aspired to explore in the competition. Through interactions and collaborations with fellow creators, I have also revamped some of my past creative concepts and experiences."

In the first episode, judges including anchorperson Xie Na, singer-songwriter Zhang Wei, cross-talk performer-turned-actor Guo Qilin, and stand-up comedian Wang Mian provide critiques on the shows.

Haha Maker aims to empower its audience through laughter, encouraging viewers to introspect and gain insights while enjoying a good chuckle.