Star Awards 2001

Mark's butterflies in the stomach

November 19, 2001

While you stay home to cheer for your stars at the Star Awards, it's no R&R for the stars, no matter how calm and composed they look in their glittery gowns and suits. Mark Lee shows us the butterflies in his stomach.

By Angelene Wong

Ask Mark Lee about his Star Awards tele-poll number and he has just one word for it.

Auspicious.

The host of popular variety programme Top Fun and star of One Leg Kicking is in the running for the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes number and has the tele-poll number of 1900-112-6845.

"Five means 'got' in Hokkien. Wu Wu mah . . . very auspicious," the funny guy opined when asked if he was satisfied with his pick.

Could this year be his lucky year when it comes to the Star Awards?

After all, the comedian had a spate of bad luck when he was left out of the Top 10 list after being snubbed by home-viewers who criticized him for some insensitive remarks made during his shows.

Said the man sporting a funky champagne-tinted spiky hair, "The competition is strong this year with artistes like Chor Meng, Shaoguang, Ping Hui and Zhiqiang, Vincent. If you do an offhand count, you can easily come up with 10."

He added, It's an honour to me and I'm quite surprised that a few of my friends are not on the list, " refusing to name who they were but we can only guess.

Make it or break it, it all depends on the audience's voting, said Mark and he would not dare to hope for too high. In fact he gave himself a 20% chance of making into the Top 10.

"The first year, I got an award but I did not have much confidence. The 2nd year, I had a little bit more confidence but still thought I wouldn't get in. And in the 3rd year, I had the confidence but I did not get in. So, it's best not to have such high hopes," said the actor/host/comedian a matter-of-factly.

This year, Mark is also in the running for Best Variety Show Host, an award which he is vying with his longtime mentor and Top Fun co-host, Jack Neo. He gives himself a mere 10% chance, seeing the tough competition he's up against.

"Jack is my sifu and Shucheng has been in the business as a host for a long time. As for Sharon Au, she won this award last year. Dasmond Koh is a popular host who is nominated so it's a good flow of new generation too."

"If I get it, then I think I'm lucky. If not, then it's pretty understood, given the competition."

So what would his acceptance speech be like should he win the award?

"I would thank everyone especially Jack Neo. Especially last year, when I did not receive any awards, he consoled, encouraged and supported me. And I would thank my family too."

Amidst jokes that he cut his hair so that he would not be mistaken for an 'auntie' (he cross-dresses as the rib-tickling Maggie in Top Fun) with Jack Neo (who sports long hair) should 'they go up on stage together', he reveals the jitters during every Star Award ceremony.

"Honestly, every artiste would be cool and say "Aiya, leave it to fate' before the Award. But on the night itself, because of the atmosphere and before the commercial break when you will see the names, pictures and numbers rolling as to who will stay and go, it's natural to feel nervous.

"It's like watching the lottery. Suddenly it (the name) doesn't appear and the next moment it appears, you are up in sweat. Every minute during the 2 hour Award show is nerve-wracking. When you see your picture come and go . . . the feeling actually is not a very good feeling."

There will be no reciting of any 'happy-thoughts' mantra to calm himself down.

"But I will still go to the toilet though because when one is nervous, the call of nature is strong!" he quipped.

Telepoll voting starts on November 16 (Fri) at 1am and ends on November 25 (Sun) at 9pm. Charges are at $0.30 per call and callers under 21 must obtain parental consent.

More Star Awards stories and news coming up . . . stay tuned to our Official Website

Star Awards 2001 will be telecast live on November 25 (Sunday), Channel 8, 7.30pm. It will be simulcast on TV Mobile.

Join in the discussion in our message boards