Enjoy Yourself Tonight
Encyclopedia
Enjoy Yourself Tonight or E.Y.T was a popular variety show
in Hong Kong
. It made its first broadcast on TVB on 20 November 1967. The show lasted 27 years with its last broadcast on Friday 7 October 1994. During the 1980s
, it was compared with the American
Saturday Night Live
to become one of the world's longest running live-shows.
in 1967, when he was just 21 years old. At that time the first General Manager of TVB, Australia
n Colin Bendall, wished to create a variety show in a format similar to In Melbourne Tonight
. Chua was given the task of creating such a show, and after spending five months observing the popular culture and everyday lives in Hong Kong, Enjoy Yourself Tonight made its premiere, and instantly gained huge popularity.
The show aired from 9:30pm to 11:00pm every weeknight, sometimes including Saturdays. The show included singing, dancing, short dramas and variety show games that interacted with the audiences.
The show was one of the first shows ever color broadcast in Hong Kong on 20 November 1967.
In the 1970s, one of the earliest musical group to perform in the show was the Four Golden Flowers
. Lydia "Fei-fei" Shum
would become one of the most notable MCs
who became the symbol for the show. Another tradition of the show was for the entire cast to congregate at the end of each show to sing the "Good Night Song", written by Joseph Koo
. These, along with the show's opening track (also titled "Enjoy Yourself Tonight"), have since attained iconic status within the popular culture of Hong Kong.
By 1989 Enjoy Yourself Tonight had suffered a terminal decline in audience number; despite (or perhaps because of) a radical change in format (which saw weeknight programmes reduced to half-hour durations, plus the traditional full-length variety shows on Saturdays) including the use of a new theme song in the tune of the original which debuted in 1991, it failed to retain viewers, who by then had developed new tastes and had access to new forms of entertainment. As a result the show ended its 27-year run on Friday October 1994. To this day, however, TVB does not admit that Enjoy Yourself Tonight has ended its run. They merely said that if the show was to be canceled, a Farewell/Curtain Call edition will be produced and aired. , no such edition was known to exist.
Since then there has been several attempts to resurrect Enjoy Yourself Tonight as a once-a-week programme, first in 1997, then from 2002 to 2004; neither of which were successful.
In 2007, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of TVB, a half-hour weekday program known as Enjoy Yourself Tonight 2007 was run from 22 October to 16 November. As the Chinese title (再會歡樂今宵, literally "EYT Revisited") suggests, it was a re-run of some of the most memorable moments of the original EYT shows, as well as bringing back some of the original casts involved for guest appearances/interviews. In addition, the original theme song was brought back. Even though the latest program was merely a nostalgic looking back to EYT's former glory, it nonetheless bore testimony to the show's lasting legacy to Hong Kong's popular culture.
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It made its first broadcast on TVB on 20 November 1967. The show lasted 27 years with its last broadcast on Friday 7 October 1994. During the 1980s
1980s in Hong Kong
1980s in Hong Kong marks a period when the territory was known for its wealth and trademark lifestyle. Hong Kong would be recognised internationally for its politics, entertainment and skyrocketing real estate prices.-Background:...
, it was compared with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
to become one of the world's longest running live-shows.
History
Enjoy Yourself Tonight was created by Robert ChuaRobert Chua
Robert Chua Wah-Peng was born in Singapore on 20 May 1946.Robert Chua's 46 years television experience spans from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong to China...
in 1967, when he was just 21 years old. At that time the first General Manager of TVB, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Colin Bendall, wished to create a variety show in a format similar to In Melbourne Tonight
In Melbourne Tonight
In Melbourne Tonight, also known as "IMT", was a highly popular nightly variety television show produced at GTV-9 Melbourne from 6 May 1957 to 1970....
. Chua was given the task of creating such a show, and after spending five months observing the popular culture and everyday lives in Hong Kong, Enjoy Yourself Tonight made its premiere, and instantly gained huge popularity.
The show aired from 9:30pm to 11:00pm every weeknight, sometimes including Saturdays. The show included singing, dancing, short dramas and variety show games that interacted with the audiences.
The show was one of the first shows ever color broadcast in Hong Kong on 20 November 1967.
In the 1970s, one of the earliest musical group to perform in the show was the Four Golden Flowers
Four Golden Flowers
The Four Golden Flowers was a TV theme song musical performance group in the early 1970s. They are one of the first all-girl modern music group in Hong Kong. They are mostly notable for performing on the show Enjoy Yourself Tonight.-Legacy:...
. Lydia "Fei-fei" Shum
Lydia Shum
Lydia Shum Din-Ha, also known as Lydia Sum , was a Hong Kong comedienne, MC, and actress known for her portly figure, signature dark rimmed glasses and bouffant hairstyle. She was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei...
would become one of the most notable MCs
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
who became the symbol for the show. Another tradition of the show was for the entire cast to congregate at the end of each show to sing the "Good Night Song", written by Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, SBS is one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran for Mandarin songs. He is the younger brother of famous Chinese singer Koo Mei .-Career:...
. These, along with the show's opening track (also titled "Enjoy Yourself Tonight"), have since attained iconic status within the popular culture of Hong Kong.
By 1989 Enjoy Yourself Tonight had suffered a terminal decline in audience number; despite (or perhaps because of) a radical change in format (which saw weeknight programmes reduced to half-hour durations, plus the traditional full-length variety shows on Saturdays) including the use of a new theme song in the tune of the original which debuted in 1991, it failed to retain viewers, who by then had developed new tastes and had access to new forms of entertainment. As a result the show ended its 27-year run on Friday October 1994. To this day, however, TVB does not admit that Enjoy Yourself Tonight has ended its run. They merely said that if the show was to be canceled, a Farewell/Curtain Call edition will be produced and aired. , no such edition was known to exist.
Since then there has been several attempts to resurrect Enjoy Yourself Tonight as a once-a-week programme, first in 1997, then from 2002 to 2004; neither of which were successful.
In 2007, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of TVB, a half-hour weekday program known as Enjoy Yourself Tonight 2007 was run from 22 October to 16 November. As the Chinese title (再會歡樂今宵, literally "EYT Revisited") suggests, it was a re-run of some of the most memorable moments of the original EYT shows, as well as bringing back some of the original casts involved for guest appearances/interviews. In addition, the original theme song was brought back. Even though the latest program was merely a nostalgic looking back to EYT's former glory, it nonetheless bore testimony to the show's lasting legacy to Hong Kong's popular culture.
See also
- List of programmes broadcast by Television Broadcasts Limited
- In Melbourne TonightIn Melbourne TonightIn Melbourne Tonight, also known as "IMT", was a highly popular nightly variety television show produced at GTV-9 Melbourne from 6 May 1957 to 1970....
- Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
- Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think) EYT used a Chinese language arrangement of this song as its theme song