HONG KONG — The popular late-night talk show, ViuTV Late Night Buzz – Supper Talk, marked its 300th episode Friday with hosts exploring the theme of professional partnership, yielding anecdotes about seamless chemistry and on-set challenges. Actor Joey Leung shared a pivotal moment in his career when an unforeseen emergency led to his first stage collaboration with fellow artist BabyJohn Choi, while host Hailey Chan offered strategies for navigating difficult co-workers.
Leung, a veteran theatre director and performer, recounted the dramatic circumstances surrounding his initial shared performance with Choi. During a stage production, one of the principal actors, Lo Man Kiu, unexpectedly fell ill, requiring immediate medical attention. As one of the production’s directors, Leung volunteered to step in for the unscheduled performance. This moment forged an enduring professional bond with Choi, who was already cast in the play.
“I had never experienced such stage fright; my palms were sweating, and I was genuinely trembling,” Leung admitted during the broadcast, describing the pressure of stepping onto the stage unexpectedly.
Conversely, Choi recalled feeling completely at ease despite the last-minute cast change, attributing his calm to the established trust and artistic synergy they had developed over five years preceding the incident. Choi confidently asserted, “When he came out, I truly felt like he trusted me. Whatever he delivered, I knew I could pick it up.” He emphasized that such professional confidence is built upon mutual faith rather than mere familiarity.
The conversation transitioned to less harmonious collaborations, with host Hailey Chan detailing her experience with difficult partners in the entertainment industry.
Chan described an instance where she and a colleague meticulously planned their dialogue before filming, only for the co-star to deviate entirely from the script during the actual take. Furthermore, the partner aggressively seized control of the scene, at one point attempting to deliver Chan’s lines.
To address such unprofessional behavior while maintaining a positive work environment, Chan employs a witty, non-confrontational tactic. She jokingly interjects, “Wow, you said everything!”
Chan explained that this lighthearted, yet direct, response gently signals to the partner that their actions were disruptive, prompting self-correction without escalating tension. This strategy underscores the importance of clear, albeit subtle, communication in professional settings, particularly those demanding high levels of improvisation and teamwork.
The 300th episode celebration highlighted that successful partnerships, whether in theater production or television hosting, rely on a foundation of mutual trust and adaptive communication. The experiences shared by the hosts provided viewers with relatable insights into the dynamic, and often intense, world of live performance and television broadcasting.
