Drama on stage
F Megastar host Datuk Aznil Nawawi remembers the time he pulled a Steve Harvey.
V host Datuk Aznil Nawawi knew xactly how comedian Steve Harvey elt when he wrongly announced iss Colombia instead of Miss hilippines as Miss Universe in 015.
Back in 2004, on the second e on of reality singing competition emi Fantasia (AF), Aznil mistakmed Zahid instead of Fitri as testant eliminated on one of i des. Zahid eventually went AF. ly, I was told there would a y elimination, but you th AF, there are many surin the end, (the produc‘ e’re gonna eliminate
.’ I l said through my ear at’s the challenge of n a call like that can be mpromptu,” recalls the V presenter. pened the card and read ow when I announced name just came out.” started hosting on TV l 1990s and is one the ost well-known present, dds: “This has never hapf re in my hosting career. I atched Steve Harvey the wrong Miss , I ould relate to that v y much.” xp ience taught him a lot, c Aznil is also glad he t ive backlash from fans of s : “I’m so lucky because at h e social media wasn’t very strong. There wasn’t a platform for people to attack (me). If it were to happen today, I suppose it would be the end of my career.”
Aznil is looking back on his time on AF during a press event promoting AF Megastar, where he is reprising his role as host.
AF Megastar sees past AF winners and contestants compete for the top prize. Aznil reveals he didn’t want to take the job initially.
“I told them to consider other hosts instead because I’ve said before that I don’t want to host AF anymore after six seasons. I felt that the audience had already moved on. These days, you see more comedians as hosts.
“But when it comes to AF Megastar, since the show will have the alumni performing, it’s about bringing back old memories. And since I’ve hosted AF for nearly half of its 13 seasons, I have a lot of stories to share,” he explains.
Above all, Aznil hopes his stint on the show will help bring families together.
“AF used to be a programme for the whole family. From the youngest to the oldest in the family, they would watch it while eating dinner together, cry together.
“After the show moved on to a newer host, I think it appealed a lot more to the younger audience.
“By hosting it again, I hope it would bring family members together and they can watch it as a weekend activity.” AF Megastar airs every Sunday at 9pm on Astro Ria (Ch 104).