Born Rich (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Born Rich is a 2009 TVB television drama produced and created by Chong Wai-kin
. The drama is promoted as TVB's "grand production", and largely features an ensemble cast
, running for 39 episodes. The last two episodes were two hours each.
Marcus is kidnapped overseas by a group of rioters. He undergoes a dramatic personality change after the incident. His wife Connie has tried her best to console him but still cannot help him get over the unpleasant experience. Longing for more comfort and support, Marcus gets back with his ex-lover Angie. Connie is heartbroken to learn about the affair and it has left the broken mirror that can't be mended.
The identity of Cheuk Yatming gives Fu-loi not only a sense of family warmth but also a sweet taste of romance. He finds himself in love with Marcus's younger sister Rene. Rene is also attracted to Fu-loi, but thinking that they are true biological siblings, she decides to keep her love under wraps and stays with her longtime admirer Topman instead. Later on, Yatming kisses her and, thinking that her brother loves her in the wrong way, goes to Sabah to try forget about Yatming.Topman follows her there and they fall back in love after Topman finds the ring she throws into the ocean. This comes as a huge blow to Fu-loi. He is not willing to lose his love, but neither can he reveal his real identity. Caught up in the dilemma between love and money, Fu-loi finally chooses the fortune road of no return.
It is all about a tough battle for money, a devious triangle of love, and a severe challenge to ethics.
In the end the Sha brothers return to Sabah. From the suicide attempt Fu-loi loses his memory and recollection of his swindling past. Brother Po-loi eventually opens a pastry shop with Yan Dai. While failing to find the fortune, the Sha brothers return to a simplier and happier life in Sabah.
, were both heavily promoted as TVB's annual grand production, the series' ratings fell flat, when compared with its counterpart. While Beyond the Realm of Conscience regularly drew viewing shares of over 90%, Born Rich only drew viewing shares of around 80%, with only the final two weeks of episodes drawing over 90% viewing shares.
In addition, some members of the cast, most notably Ray Lui, have come out and criticized the series's plot as "poor", even after the cast offered suggestions to the scriptwriters on how to improve it.
Chong Wai-kin
Chong Wai-kin is a Hong Kong television producer and director.He first entered Asia Television Limited as a director and producer for the channel's television dramas. In 1989, he moved to Television Broadcasts Limited and has stayed in the company ever since...
. The drama is promoted as TVB's "grand production", and largely features an ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
, running for 39 episodes. The last two episodes were two hours each.
Synopsis
Sophisticated banker Marcus Cheuk mistakes con artist Sha Fu-loi for his half brother Cheuk Yatming, fortuitously elevating the swindler to one of the leading figures in the banking industry. The lost and found brotherhood has blinded Marcus to Fu-loi's real nature and intentions.Marcus is kidnapped overseas by a group of rioters. He undergoes a dramatic personality change after the incident. His wife Connie has tried her best to console him but still cannot help him get over the unpleasant experience. Longing for more comfort and support, Marcus gets back with his ex-lover Angie. Connie is heartbroken to learn about the affair and it has left the broken mirror that can't be mended.
The identity of Cheuk Yatming gives Fu-loi not only a sense of family warmth but also a sweet taste of romance. He finds himself in love with Marcus's younger sister Rene. Rene is also attracted to Fu-loi, but thinking that they are true biological siblings, she decides to keep her love under wraps and stays with her longtime admirer Topman instead. Later on, Yatming kisses her and, thinking that her brother loves her in the wrong way, goes to Sabah to try forget about Yatming.Topman follows her there and they fall back in love after Topman finds the ring she throws into the ocean. This comes as a huge blow to Fu-loi. He is not willing to lose his love, but neither can he reveal his real identity. Caught up in the dilemma between love and money, Fu-loi finally chooses the fortune road of no return.
It is all about a tough battle for money, a devious triangle of love, and a severe challenge to ethics.
In the end the Sha brothers return to Sabah. From the suicide attempt Fu-loi loses his memory and recollection of his swindling past. Brother Po-loi eventually opens a pastry shop with Yan Dai. While failing to find the fortune, the Sha brothers return to a simplier and happier life in Sabah.
Reception
Although the series, along with Beyond the Realm of ConscienceBeyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience is a 2009 Hong Kong television series. Produced by Mui Siu-ching, the serial is one of the two grand TVB productions to celebrate along with the channel's 42nd anniversary, the other being Born Rich...
, were both heavily promoted as TVB's annual grand production, the series' ratings fell flat, when compared with its counterpart. While Beyond the Realm of Conscience regularly drew viewing shares of over 90%, Born Rich only drew viewing shares of around 80%, with only the final two weeks of episodes drawing over 90% viewing shares.
In addition, some members of the cast, most notably Ray Lui, have come out and criticized the series's plot as "poor", even after the cast offered suggestions to the scriptwriters on how to improve it.
First generation
- Cheuk Song-hei (Traditional Chinese: 卓崇禧, portrayed by Lau KongLau KongLau Kong is a Hong Kong actor who works on the network TVB.-Biography:Little is known of Lau's private life, but he has been acting since 1976, when he first joined the now defunct network Commercial Television, he later joined RTV Lau Kong (劉江) is a Hong Kong actor who works on the network...
): The founder and first CEO of CosmoBank. A year and a half before the timeline of the series begins, Song-hei went to SabahSabahSabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, Malaysia, and was not heard from since. A search effort bankrolled by the Cheuk family begin, and in Episode 6, it is discovered that Song-hei has died.
- Musa "Mu Jie" Sheung (常開眉, portrayed by Nancy SitNancy SitNancy Sit Ka Yin is a Hong Kong actress on the TVB network. Her acting career dated back to the 1960s, when she was a popular teen idol alongside Connie Chan Po-chu, and Josephine Siao...
): Widow of Cheuk Song-hei. She was an actress before her marriage to Song-hei.
- Lau Fung-king (劉鳳瓊, portrayed by Natalie TongNatalie TongNatalie Tong Si Wing is a TVB actress. Before becoming an actress, Natalie was once a model. Natalie once studied in Methodist College.-Films:-TV series:-Awards and nominations:Awards...
): Mistress of Cheuk Song-hei, and has a son with him. She only appears in flashbacks.
Second generation
- Marcus Cheuk (卓一元, portrayed by Ray Lui): Son of Cheuk Song-hei. He is the acting CEO of CosmoBank during Cheuk Song-hei's disappearance, and later succeeds his late father as CEO of the bank.
- Connie Ho (賀爵年, portrayed by Jaime Chik): Wife of Marcus. She is a housewife for many years, until her divorce with Marcus, when she returns to work as the head of a PR firm.
- Cheuk Yat-ming (卓一鳴): Illegitimate son of Cheuk Song-hei. He lived in Malaysia for all of his short life. His identity was stolen by his former neighbour Sha Fu-loi, who is a professional swindler.
- Rene Cheuk (卓一心, portrayed by Anita YuenAnita YuenAnita Yuen Wing-yi is a Hong Kong film and television actress. She was the winner of the 1990 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.-Pageant career:At the age of 18, Yuen entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During the semifinals on August...
): Daughter of Cheuk Song-hei and head of the Communications Department of CosmoBank.
- "Topman" Ko Tok-man (高拓民, portrayed by Joe Ma): Rene's husband and COO of CosmoBank.
Third generation
- Cheuk Chi-kei (卓子琦, portrayed by Ting-yan Chong): Daughter of Marcus and Connie.
- Cheuk Chi-wai (卓子維, portrayed by Coleman Tam): Son of Marcus and Connie.
First generation
- Tung Tian-juk (董天祝, portrayed by Lau Siu-ming): Commonly referred to as Juk Sir (祝Sir), he had a long and very friendly relationship with Song-hei and is the Vice-Chairman of the CosmoBank Board. He had a hand in putting together Marcus with his (later) wife, Connie.
Second generation
- Angie Tung (董令姿, portrayed by Kenix KwokKenix KwokKenix Kwok Ho Ying is a Hong Kong actress. Along with Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Esther Kwan, Marianne Chan, Ada Choi, Flora Chan and Jessica Hsuan, Kenix is known as one of the Top 7 "Fa Dans" of TVB from the mid 1990s to mid 2000s.Kwok got her start as a finalist in the Top 5 of the 1993 Miss Hong...
): A barrister, she is later retained as the legal consultant of the Cheuk family. She has an affair with Marcus, which ended Marcus's marriage with Connie Ho. Angie dies in an auto accident.
Sha family
- Sha Fu-loi (沙富來, portrayed by Gallen LoGallen LoGallen Lo Ka-leung is a Hong Kong actor and singer who primarily acts in television series. He is sometimes credited as King Gallen or Law Ka-leung.-Career:...
): A professional swindler, he steals the late Cheuk Yat-ming's identity in order to garner the vast wealth of the Cheuk family. Using his stolen identity, he is later able to become the Deputy CEO of CosmoBank. He also has a crush on Rene, who is engaged to Topman.
- Sha Po-loi (沙寶來, portrayed by Kenneth MaKenneth MaKenneth Ma Kwok-ming is a Chinese Canadian actor from Hong Kong. He graduated from University of British Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering...
): Younger brother of Fu-loi, he is able to work on CosmoBank's General Services Department as a low-level worker.
First generation
- Dai Wing-luk (戴永祿, portrayed by Benz HuiBenz HuiBenz Hui Shiu-hung is a Hong Kong actor who currently works on the TV station TVB. He used to work on ATV before switching over to TVB.-Family background:...
): He is the General Manager of CosmoBank, and is often called the "Grand Manager of General Affairs" (大總管).
- Eva Pao (鮑笑雁, portrayed by Angelina Lo: Wife of Wing-luk and fraternal sister of Musa Sheung.
Second generation
- Yan Dai (戴亦欣, portrayed by Sharon ChanSharon ChanSharon Chan Man-Chi is a Hong Kong actress and model. She is currently under contract with TVB in Hong Kong.-TV series:-Film:-TVB Songs By Sharon Chan:*Song Name : Love Steps : At Home with Love...
): A Supervisor of the Personal Finance Division of CosmoBank. She falls in love with Fu-loi.
Board of directors
- Ma Cheung Wai-kiu (馬蔣卉翹, portrayed by Lily Leung)
- Man O-kwan (文傲君, portrayed by Yu Tze-ming)
- Lai Kay-pui (賴紀培, portrayed by Kwong Chor-fai)
- Lee Wai-shun(李唯信, portrayed by Kong Hon)
Other workers
- Herman Lai (黎允才, portrayed by Lee Shing-CheungLee Shing-CheungHenry Lee Shing-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Acting:Lee graduated from the 8th TVB Training Class in August 1979. He landed his first role in Hong Kong '81, one of TVB's long-running series, and was most notable for enacting Michael in Looking Back In Anger, one of TVB's most popular dramas to...
): CFO of CosmoBank.
- Szeto Fung (司徒豐, portrayed by Vincent WongVincent WongVincent Wong is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He married with Hong Kong actress Yoyo Chan at 11:00 AM on November 11, 2011.-TV series:-Film:-Theme songs:...
): Yan's boyfriend and a Personal Banking manager at CosmoBank.
Award nominations
TVB Anniversary Awards (2009)TVB Anniversary Awards (2009)
TVB Anniversary Awards 2009 is an award ceremony that celebrates the best in TVB programming of 2009. The award ceremony took place on December 4, 2009.-Best Drama:...
- Best Drama
- Best Actor (Ray Lui)
- Best Actor (Gallen Lo)
- Best Actress (Anita Yuen)
- Best Actress (Jaime Chik)
- Best Actress (Kenix Kwok)
- Best Supporting Actor (Kenneth Ma)
- My Favourite Male Character (Ray Lui)
- My Favourite Male Character (Gallen Lo)
- My Favourite Female Character (Anita Yuen)
- My Favourite Female Character (Jaime Chik)
- My Favourite Female Character (Kenix Kwok)
- Most Improved Actress (Sharon Chan)
Viewership Ratings
| Week | Episodes | Average Points | Peaking Points | References | |
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October 19–23, 2009 | |
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October 26–30, 2009 | |
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November 2–6, 2009 | |
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November 9–13, 2009 | |
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November 16–20, 2009 | |
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November 23–27, 2009 | |
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November 30 - December 3, 2009 | |
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December 7–11, 2009 | |
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| December 13, 2009 | |
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