Laughs galore from comic hopefuls
New comedy challenge Gegar Lawak features a diverse set of talents, writes Dennis Chua
ACCOUNTANCY teacher Rizal Harun, 31, is hardly known as a funnyman to the students of a tuition centre in Gombak where he has been teaching for the past three years. He says: “I’m quite strict and some of my students fear me because I insist they do their homework and improve their grades.”
But the former banker and father of a 4-year-old daughter admits that he is a “clown” at heart.
“Once in a while, I love a good laugh, and when I’m with my parents and siblings, I’m quite the prankster,” says Rizal, who admires British comedian Rowan Atkinson of fame.
Thanks to his “Herman Tino” hairstyle, Rizal stands out amongst the 14 stand-up comedy hopefuls of Astro Warna’s latest reality TV comedy challenge,
“It was a shock to many of my students but now they’re 100 per cent behind me. At least, I’m showing them a different side of me,” he says.
Bayu Setiawan, 22, from Palembang, Indonesia, is sole foreign participant.
The final-year teacher training student intends to follow in the footsteps of a friend,
graduate Dzawin. “Dzawin has gathered quite a following since he arrived in Malaysia two years ago. I’m determined to be like him, but I have my own comedy style that’s just as crazy,” he says.
“I chose KL as my second home because it’s got lots of world-class comedy talents whom I’d love to meet and learn from. Afdlin Shauki and Harith Iskander are my favourites.”
Nik Syahira Nik Zaini, 26, from Sabah is one of two comedienne hopefuls.
She says: “I’m up against Tasya Hamzah, younger sister of funnyman Achey. As the only East Malaysian, I carry the hopes of voters from that region, but all of us will get most of our marks from three professional judges.”
features eight solo comedians, four duos and two trios. The competition, co-hosted by Kamal Adil and Fad, actually begins on Jan 26. Contestants are judged by a three-member jury headed by popular local stand-up comedian Douglas Lim.
Four well-known comedians — Tauke, Nizam, Ali Puteh and Dzawin — will guide the participants in their weekly assignments. Marks are determined by the jury (70 per cent) and viewers’ short messaging service (SMS) votes (30 per cent).
Astro Malay channel head Raqim Ahmad says: “Stand-up comedy is fast becoming popular with viewers, thus we decided to have to scout for the next big talents in this field.”
He says more than 700 hopefuls auditioned between Nov 19 and 26 last year in Plaza Alam Sentral, Shah Alam, with 90 per cent being Malaysian men.
“We were disappointed that only 10 per cent were women, and of those from neighbouring countries, only four Indonesians came,” says Raqim.
Kamal Adli (left) and Fad.
But he believes that more women as well as Indonesians, Bruneians and Singaporeans will show up in future.
“Our earlier comedy challenges,
and also saw minimal participation from women and those from neighbouring countries. It’s a worldwide trend, but I believe things will change once our current contestants prove themselves!”
Lim is obviously delighted to be chief judge for the first time.
“It’s a new experience for me as I usually do comedy in English instead of in the Malay language. Nevertheless, comedy is a universal language and I’ll do my best to guide the participants,” he says.
The contestant with the lowest marks will be eliminated every week. There will be five cash prizes for the Top Five worth RM50,000, RM25,000, RM15,000, RM10,000 and RM5,000.
was launched recently at the Comedy Planet in Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, by Raqim, Astro Malay channel comedy head Bob Azrai and Astro Warna channel head Roziah Mohd Salleh.