Interview with OMG Host : Michelle Chong

Michelle : "Leticia Or Barbarella Would Make Good OMG! Judges."
Michelle Chong is probably best known for her ability to be a bimbo noose-anchor one minute, an honest 'celebrity' maid thereafter and an 'ang-moh-loving' SPG the next on Channel 5's popular skit show The Noose. She's so good at playing so many characters that sometimes you don't even notice that she's the only girl on the show - didn't notice riiiight?

She's terribly passionate about the show and obviously has a great deal of input on the material written for each of her characters. I asked her whether any of her 'personas' would be making an appearance on OMG! and her response was that she thought her Filipino maid character Leticia or SPG character Barbarella may have made guest good judges, but was told by producers that "it's not that kind of show, it's not supposed to be a comedy."

I wasn't sure if she was joking or not. She says a lot of things very convincingly deadpan - its hilarious for all of 5 seconds and then your laughter grinds to a halt when you see her dead serious expression.

Have you ever hosted a talent show before?

No actually, I have been busy filming Chinese dramas. I’m excited to see what kind of talent we have in Singapore, however, there seems to be a fair bit of "foreign talent" (referring to the trailers that were running on Channel 5). Eh, like that Leticia also can be on the show waaat!

What kind of ‘acts’ would stand out to you?

‘Acts?’ *looong pause* I don’t feel anything for any of my 'ex'.

*I was a little bewildered at this point, thrown off by her very serious expression...and then later realised she was playing with me :P. After recovering from the little word play, she continues...*

I’ve kinda had enough of magic. There’s so much magic everywhere, for instance all those Taiwanese programmes, everyone's always coming on to do some magic trick here and there; and even my little cousins are doing magic tricks.

I’d like to see more of the conventional, old-fashioned kind of acts, like really good singing or dancing. For the more rare/extraordinary type, maybe acrobatics or fire swallowing. Although I don’t think there’s enough of those acts here to judge and compare. So the judges have a tough job. Oh, but I’m very scared of the eyepopping or how many bugs I can eat type of talent.

Maybe to really wow people they have to come up with a combo act, not just singing but singing while spinning plates on sticks with their feet?!

How would you judge ?

By the passion in their eyes. The passion they have in their acts.

Biggest challenge?

Calming their nerves in front of a huge live audience.

Any hidden, OMG-worthy type talents ?

I have no talent. When I joined the show, producers asked me if I could do anything, I told them I had no talent. They asked me to try pole dancing and I said "No thank you", because I wasn't sure if I could do it, skali I hurt my back then how right? Oh, but I am learning some martial arts for a Chinese drama, does that count? I go for training for that and its really good. Apparently I look like the type of person that can do martial arts really well but actually I really have no clue about it.

What do you think of FD and Irene bring to the table as Judges? Are they suitable to judge a show like this?

And they tell me this isn't a comedy show? You have Irene and you have FD and you have me and Gurms. Sure not? Sure its not a comedy show?

She stops and ponders the question a whle and then asks, "Why do YOU think they'd make good judges?"

summerr : "Well I understand they have many years of experience in the entertainment industry, so they'll know what it takes to survive la... and should be able to give constructive advice to contestants?"

Michelle : "Oh, so you mean FD and Irene can do this?" *Michelle sticks out her foot and arms and mimics spinning plates on sticks* and we both burst out laughing - can you imagine FD spinning plates on sticks???!!

Tis not easy getting a straight answer from a comedienne. But I definitely had loads of laughs chatting with her. To say she's quick on her feet (with the punchlines and parodies) doesn't even begin to describe my chat with her.

I must see if she'll let me interview her post-show as Leticia or Lulu or one of her other characters. It would be fun to see/hear Leticia's take on the show or Barbarella's take on the contestants right?

Have you set your reminders yet? OMG! premieres tomorrow right after the National Day Parade on Channel 5!

xoxo, s.

ps. I'm actually gonna be watching the parade at home this year, cos I wanna catch Airi and Sylsyl sing the theme song. Plus there's also Taufik's performance - so much to look forward to on tv tomorrow night!