[Picture: TV3 website]
If Ah-Ha, the new comedy show that has just got its pilot episode aired on TV3 could hold on to its blend of casts and content, it is probably the best comedy show there is in town! It looks like the Senario Dream Team might as well restrategize their comedy direction and that TV3 have just found a new show that could boost its rating as well as attract a new audience group for its local programming content.
This half an hour show in some ways could be described like an a-la Saturday Night Live, where host Afdlin Shauki and Harith Iskandar together with an ensemble of cast from the theatre scene in the like of Rashid Salleh, Jit Murad, Eda Nerina, Lina Teo, etc. acted out at their best the satirical perspective of being Malaysian, in three different sketches i.e. the Malaysian rockers lingos, the obsession on South/Central American soap operas, and the ever annoying attitude in our cinemas; in this very first episode.
And Afdlin Shauki attempt to deliver these kinds of jokes in Ah-Ha is worthy of praise compared to his Astro's Bila Larut Malam.
To all the haters of slapsticks, sexual innuendo jokes, as well as the annoying portrayal of she-male on local sitcom, this one definitely defies all the convention of typical humor formula for it will bring back the local comedy scene on Malaysian TV to a new level. Kopitiam could just forget being funny!
And as far as I could remember, the last time I laughed hard on a sitcom was during this Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Raymond stole Robert's "regret" to woo over Debra's. And this time these lines really made it! In of the sketch that took place at a local cinema:
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Harith: Hi-ya, I also support local film industry.
Afdlin: I see, so, what was the last Malay film you watch?
Harith: Entrapment lor. Got KLCC and the Malacca river in it!
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Monday night is definitely the night to be at home. And if Star World keeps on airing same 'ol episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, then just forget it! Ah-Ha is definitely the ultimate choice!
This is how TV3 describes this show on the station's website:
January, 5 at 9.30 pm. Ah Ha has a rare blend of ingredients and value. They are twisted and grossly misunderstood value-a sure-fire way to spice up the bland array of comedy shows now available on TV. It has an identifiable cast placed in situations they rarely seen in and characters that you can laugh at. Granted, the wicked and offbeat humor may be hazardous to some individuals but what better way to rid those blues than with a touch of comic relief. (Cast: Afdlin Shauki, Harith Iskandar)
Maybe you all need to watch "Buli". I think, it is the benchmark for current Malay Comedy Movie.
Just watch it...
Posted by: Abd Karim | Tuesday, August 03, 2004 at 03:21 PM
I do believe that our industry is still have a lot of catching up to do... having a comedy series like Ah-ha will help to improve ( i hope) the current situation in our local television production. Congrats to Afdlin and Harith to come out with a good attempt. all the best... And just make sure that the show still have the malaysian touch!!! Cos we're really a very interesting nation!!! Cheers from down under!!
Posted by: Oshkosh | Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 03:47 PM
I do believe that our industry is still have a lot of catching up to do... having a comedy series like Ah-ha will help to improve ( i hope) the current situation in our local television production. Congrats to Afdlin and Harith to come out with a good attempt. all the best... Cheers from down under!!
Posted by: Oshkosh | Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 03:44 PM
I can see Ahha is improving. The joke is getting funnier every week.
My salute to Afdlin & Harith.
Posted by: Lelaki Hero | Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 10:59 AM
I love it man. It's really funny and really Malaysian. Unfortunately many Malaysians have a perceived value of anything Malaysian which is BAD. They always think PROTON is bad, go to malaysiakini.com and see how they bash anything Malaysian.
But, as always, you're entitled to your opinion.
Posted by: fakhri | Thursday, May 27, 2004 at 12:09 PM
the first time i watch this show, i thought it was quite funny. but the second time i watch it, not that funny any more. doesn't make me laugh. in fact, the only reason why i watch it is because paula malai ali is in it. i'd just wanted to see her, that's all.
Posted by: foo | Friday, February 13, 2004 at 11:04 AM
There are people who are stupid and funny (like Mr Bean, he is stupid but funny) and there are people who are stupid and not funny, even annoying (Like Bendul). And what I can say is, Ah-Haa is the second one. Stupid & not funny.
Even Huzir Sulaiman (who acted as Bendul) gave up and his character has to be replaced by the director himself, Harith Iskandar to continue the stupidity, if you all remember.
You all remember "Jangan Ketawa"? Tak ketawa sungguh.
Maybe we need a new breed of producer...
American sitcom if you notice, you can find funny thing in every 30 second. It is the thing they say that is funny, not how they say it.
In Malaysia, it is the other way around. They try sooo hard to be funny but instead they turned to be annoying.
Nonetheless, I salute Mr Harith Iskandar because he is brave enough to produce such a programme eventhough he knows what people say about it. It is not easy to make people laugh... We understand that...
I hope, there will be somebody who can show him the right way to make good sitcom which Afdlin Shauki failed.
Anybody knows Harith Iskandar's email address? I think I want to share my idea...
Posted by: LelakiHero | Monday, January 26, 2004 at 10:45 PM
Saw a few scenes and wasn't that impressed. Perhaps I have to give it a more thorough viewing to really appreciate it. And yes, I agree with Sharizal. The recorded laughs were soooo fake!!
Posted by: khalilur | Tuesday, January 06, 2004 at 12:43 PM
am cursing the tv upstairs for getting broken. believe it or not, had to make way for another show at the same time which bro wanna watch. urgh!
note to self: have to 'book' the tv next week.
Posted by: ted | Tuesday, January 06, 2004 at 11:57 AM
for me it was satisfactory, if only they could find better 'recorded laughs' coz it does sound so fake and it hurts the comic.
all in all it was fresh to see some new ideas of humour on tv, hope they can bring new material every episod (unlike mat bendul) otherwise i'm watching everybody loves raymond reruns...
Posted by: Sharizal Shaarani | Tuesday, January 06, 2004 at 09:50 AM
Where has Harith gone to all this while? I missed the debut but from the casts of credible names it seems promising. I really hope that this is way beyond other viewer intelligence-insulting craps we have on local tv.
Posted by: ikanblues | Tuesday, January 06, 2004 at 09:49 AM