The delightfully titled “Guess who’s coming to yum cha?” was first aired in 1985 as the city’s first locally produced sitcom.
An episode was uploaded to Facebook by Robert Chua himself, the producer of the show, on Tuesday. It features Tang Bik Wan as an overbearing Chinese mother, and Gigi Wong Suk Yee and Stuart Wolfendale as the couple navigating the difficulties of having a cross-cultural relationship.
Chua is a Singapore-born broadcaster who has been involved in Hong Kong TV since the 60s.
From the cheesy music to the equally cheesy dialogue, from the stereotypical Chinese mother to the slapstick antics, it’s all incredibly entertaining and a quaint look into Hong Kong 30 years ago.
“The purpose of producing this Sitcom was to allow the Westerners in Hong Kong understand more of the Chinese culture while the Chinese can also learn more of Westerners’ culture,” said Chua on Facebook.
It’s too bad only one episode was ever aired. But the good news is that you won’t need a full-weekend marathon to fully catch up on this series.
Chua said in a Facebook comment that criticism stopped him from developing the series further.
“I was [fed] up with the criticism from the Western community while we were getting lots of support and compliments from the English speaking Chinese in Hong Kong and Malaysia after it was aired,” he wrote.
But Chua seems to be open to a revival of the show, adding that he was meeting Wolfendale, the male lead, at a bakery today.
“Maybe we can try to revive this show with him… if only we can secure some sponsors,” Chua wrote.
Any takers?
