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Kevin Tsai announces retirement, says he won't restart Kangxi: current public opinion environment makes both of them very tired

Kevin Tsai announced his retirement.

"I don't want to do anything. I've done enough."

He made this public announcement in a recent media interview.

It has been eight years since the show Kangxi Comes Here ended. Although he still has new work from time to time, Cai Kangyong has never had a new position. "Retirement" is actually a process that has already started and is slowly ongoing.

But just saying these two words formally still makes people feel emotional.

Today Sir is not just reviewing his personal acting career.

Instead, I want to talk about what Kevin Tsai’s retirement means.

Or you should ask:

Kevin Tsai is retiring, will there be someone to take his place in the entertainment industry?

Even if Kevin Tsai’s age isn’t a problem, can the show he hosts still become popular?

So admit it.

Cai Kangyong turned and left.

An era in popular culture is coming to an end.

Sir doesn't want to be mysterious. If he wants to sum up the entertainment spirit of that era in one sentence, it would be:

Stay curious, what is beyond the boundaries?

01

The more you get to know Kevin Tsai, the more you’ll discover:

You can't really understand him.

He talks about everything, but always hides himself well.

Dou Wentao said:

Kevin Tsai is like sexy lingerie, looming.

Li Dan said:

I don’t understand why Kevin Tsai can achieve such backward compatibility. What is he trying to achieve?

Sir has never met Kevin Tsai in person, so he cannot say that he understands him.

But from his growth trajectory, perhaps we can find some possible explanations.

Old fans who are familiar with "Kangxi Comes Here" must know that Cai Kangyong has a prominent family background.

My father, Cai Tianduo, was once the owner of the Shanghai Water Company. The "Taiping" in John Woo's movie, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1949, belonged to the Cai family.

When many people talk about his background, they usually emphasize that he is noble, well-educated, and worldly-wise.

He read widely since childhood, performed Peking Opera on stage at the age of 7, and all his classmates were children of senior military officers.

But Sir would like to talk about another impact this has on Kevin Tsai:

"Old man's taste".

It’s not that Kevin Tsai is old today and out of touch with young people, but that he has developed an “old man flavor” since he was a child due to the influence of his surroundings.

Because his family is essentially a group of old-fashioned people.

My father’s generation came from Shanghai, the largest metropolis in Asia at the time, to remote Taiwan.

I look down on everything around me.

This mentality is actually very common.

In Jia Zhangke's "Legend of the Sea", when actor Pan Dihua came to Hong Kong from Shanghai in the 1950s, he thought:

It's a completely rural place.

In Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love", the Shanghai landlady's house is decorated with furniture brought from Shanghai, she wears cheongsam all day long, and eats Shanghai cuisine.

One characteristic of the "old guard" is that history has turned a page, but they cannot enter a new era or a new environment.

They are "birds without feet" who would rather hang in the air all their lives than have any ground to land.

Kevin Tsai's mother wears high-end ready-to-wear clothes with large lapels and peacock feather high-heeled slippers at home; when she goes out, it takes at least an hour to do a full set of makeup and hair, including cheongsam and jewelry.

So much so that when he was a child, Kevin Tsai always thought that all mothers’ daily tasks were immersive dress-up like Miracle Nikki.

What Kevin Tsai hears most from his father is complaints that Taiwan is not good in this or that aspect.

“You’ve missed out on all the good stuff.”

Although the young Cai Kangyong has not experienced the vicissitudes of life, his ears are already soaked in it.

This is how Kevin Tsai looks old:

He was born in Rome.

But he predicted too early that no matter how prosperous and powerful Rome was, it was destined to be blown away by the wind and rain one day.

Such"outsider", what else can arouse your interest?

Xiao S once complained that there was only one reason why Cai Kangyong lost his temper:The guest stories are not exciting enough.

Perhaps, this is the reason why the bookish Kevin Tsai has been able to partner with the spicy and vulgar Xiao S for so long.

He craves stories.

He was curious about how the men and women in the bureau lived such a hot and exciting life.

Kevin Tsai is not in a hurry to express "I". Rather than being the protagonist, he would rather be a spectator in the stands and a storyteller behind the scenes.

Before entering the hosting industry, his main business was movies:

In the 1980s, Kevin Tsai was recommended by director King Hu and became one of the 30 students admitted worldwide by UCLA that year.

Later, Ann Hui's "Autumn Regret" was shortlisted for Cannes. Because she couldn't manage her schedule, it was the fledgling Kevin Tsai who helped her deliver the copies.

Later, when Ann Hui was filming "Fong Sai-yuk", she wanted Kevin Tsai to write a comedy, but Kevin Tsai couldn't come up with any idea, so she asked another screenwriter to take over.

By the way, the script of the Chinese version of Rashomon “A Ying” starring Joey Wong was written by Kevin Tsai.

Kevin Tsai is lucky.

His family background and education have given him unique connections in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Logically speaking, Kevin Tsai could have won without much effort.

If you want to be a screenwriter in the film industry, you can always make a name for yourself as long as you work hard and gain experience.

But Kevin Tsai doesn’t want to.

"Filming takes too long, and I feel like I have more urgent things to do."

Thirty years later, Kevin Tsai looked back at his decision to give up on movies and added another stab:

“I don’t think there’s any need to film the script I wrote.

Maybe it was because there were too many books at home, and the 'vanity' of being on the Peking Opera stage, that made me feel that being heard and seen is an achievement."

02

Kevin Tsai is an utter scholar.

But when you read his speeches, you will find that he rarely considers himself an intellectual.

on the contrary.

He advocates the value of popularity and entertainment.

In the 1990s, the columns he wrote in newspapers were in the style of shit, piss and fart: bathing is good for health, how to shave without being perverted, what are the possible positions for urinating, and what to say during sex.

It was later published.

Is it vulgar?

vulgar.

But behind the vulgarity, it also reflects the social trends of the time.

In the 1990s, Taiwan lifted martial law and its culture became more open. Along with Chinese-language films, the television media also underwent a transformation, becoming more formal and uniform.

The first private television station, TVBS, was established.

Kevin Tsai has his first TV show, "The King of Book-turning Electric Shock".

As the name suggests, this is about reading, which is a field that Kevin Tsai can handle with ease.

The problem is…The audience doesn't like to watch it.

Now that you are already a host, you might as well change to another direction.

In the new program "True Feelings Index", he always wears the kindest smile, uses the gentlest tone, and asks the most sweat-inducing questions to the interviewees.

Facing Tsui Hark, he immediately launched three critical strikes:

I heard the photographer said you are difficult to deal with.

I heard that screenwriter Ni Kuang was forced away by you.

Tsui Hark explained that this was indeed the case, so I wrote the script myself.

As a result, Kevin Tsai continued to pursue:

People always say your films have beautiful pictures but the stories are a bit unclear. Could this be the reason?

You can imagine that Tsui Hark was already smiling bitterly.

But still responded:

There is a length limit for filming in Hong Kong. After a complete scene is shot, a lot of it has to be cut for the final presentation, which results in a jumpy story.

Tsui Hark showed his weakness.

But this timidity, in the eyes of the audience, is a precious sincerity.

Admit that the story is not as good as the picture, and admit that filmmakers are controlled by capital.

There's nothing to be ashamed of.

On the contrary, it reflects a filmmaker's greatest self-awareness and self-reflection.

Today we are all used to doing offline roadshows to promote movies.

But how many people can you hear who dare to ask such a sharp question as Kevin Tsai, and the director can remain calm and respond sincerely?

Wang Weizhong said:

Kang Yong has a neutral temperament, so many things are more appropriate for him to say.

The first show that made Kevin Tsai shine was not "Kangxi Comes Here" but "Two Generations of Power Company".

On "Strange Talk", Kevin Tsai once said:

It is not about agreeing with already recognized values, but about creating new values.

"Two Generations of Electric Power Companies" is equivalent to an old version of "The Debaters".

Each episode focuses on a controversial topic, which can be ethical or of the times. The amateur guests are divided into the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and express their views from their own standpoints.

But what "Two Generations" discusses is sometimes even weirder than "The Debaters":

For example, whether or not to accept being kept.

At the beginning of the show, Kevin Tsai made a bold assumption:

Please put aside all the moral standards you have acquired from your education and imagine yourself as a 45-year-old man who is not short of money. Would you support a beautiful girl?

If you bring up this topic today, you might be taken offline the moment you open your mouth.

But Kevin Tsai shows you that reading is not just about showing off your knowledge.

Instead, incorporate your views and understanding into every observation of society.

With an opening remark, he elevated the topic of entertainment to the level of philosophy:

We are not an anti-moral program

But we are often immoral.

We believe

Many things don’t necessarily have to do with morality.

There is another episode whose title is embarrassing:

"Big Breasted Beautiful Girl".

I have to admit, this episode is a feast for the eyes.

But this isn't for pornography.

Kevin Tsai invited girls with big breasts to share their troubles, such as being stared at by boys at school, being harassed on the bus, and how to face them bravely.

He also encouraged these girls:

If you are different from others and enjoy the attention of the opposite sex, you can also say it without any hesitation.

Cai Kangyong's neutral temperament makes him like a stabilizing force in these embarrassing programs.

He could keenly sense the discomfort of the female guests and complained to the male guests not to take porn seriously, but he also absolutely did not forbid everyone from making jokes about sex.

I would rather be vulgar and real.

Can't pretend to be profound.

This is Kevin Tsai’s attitude as a host.

Because unrestrained entertainment represents more than just entertainment itself.

It is about the progress and openness of society, and also about each of us, how tolerant we are of flaws and how courageous we are to face them.

Lay it all out, say it jokingly, and even on the edge of being offensive.

It turns out that morality is not the cannibalistic ethics in textbooks, but a spring that can continuously evolve and approach balance.

Acknowledge desires, face desires, and reflect on desires.

Perhaps, this is the greatest morality.

03

After Kevin Tsai announced his retirement.

Many people’s direct feelings are:

The environment is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Even Kevin Tsai, who has a high emotional intelligence, can't understand this era.

Check out Kevin Tsai’s story.

Sir just realized that in the eyes of many people, Kevin Tsai’s reputation had already collapsed.

He hates the rich and the powerful, saying that he is a nobleman who does not understand the sufferings of the world and that his career depends entirely on resources and connections.

Today, we are weaving a self-righteous information cocoon for ourselves by listening to and believing in one side of the story.

Kevin Tsai is not the only excellent host.

The question is, which interview program today can make you exclaim "dare to ask" and "know how to ask?"

What other host can escape the audience's digging up the past and mocking him after giving an interview full of information?

You will find that those who are more and more likely to "collapse" today are talk show hosts.

Lu Yu's sentence "Why don't you eat meat" which guides poor children to reveal their true situation was arbitrarily defined as why they don't eat meat paste.

Last year, “13 Invitations” interviewed Fei Xiang.

In order to make Fei Xiang's Chinese vocabulary closer to the original meaning, Xu Zhiyuan used English to explain and supplement. The barrage of comments all attacked Xu Zhiyuan for being arrogant, pretentious, and impolite.

This is not an isolated case.

Kevin Tsai also interviewed Fei Xiang in "The True Love Index".

Fei Xiang had been away from Taiwan for more than ten years, but he suddenly appeared on Tao Jingying's show. After receiving enthusiastic response, he decided to press on and release a record.

Cai Kangyong asked right away:

Is this a smokescreen you deliberately designed for your comeback, or a marketing tactic?

To use today's fan circle jargon: Kevin Tsai's questions are not meant to be pretentious, but to stir up trouble and be disparaging.

"No Reading on Tuesday", Kevin Tsai interviews Mo Yan.

Because Mo Yan had a military life.

Kevin Tsai then asked: Do you think literature should serve politics?

Mo Yan replied: "From 1949 to 1980s, the slogan of 'writers speak for the people' ruined several generations of Chinese writers. Writers only cared about singing praises and speaking for the people, forgetting their individuality. All their works had common characteristics."

But writers are actually rebellious.

If it weren't for Kevin Tsai's questions, we might not have been able to see Mo Yan's unique expression with our own eyes.

In many people's impressions.

Kevin Tsai is a sophisticated and smooth person, and his thoughts are always hard to guess.

But in fact.

Although Kevin Tsai is old-fashioned.

But has a young soul.

Being young does not mean blindly following trends.

But he can,Be open to listening to and absorbing the ideas of people who are completely different from you.

Neither serious writers.

A politician.

Or it could be the makeup skills of young beauties, or celebrity gossip and scandals.

Cai Kangyong's interest also reflects the public's mentality at that time.

Highbrow and lowbrow, upper class elites and grassroots people, can all understand each other and communicate on an equal footing.

That’s why we remember those Cai-style golden sentences that are concise and to the point, but express our vague feelings.

Are the blows of life worth being grateful for?

Kevin Tsai said, "Being alive is something to be grateful for. And I don't think there is any kind of life without critical hits."

Should you forgive someone who hurt you?

He took over Ma Dong's words and said, "That's not called forgiveness, that's called letting it go."

During the interview, Kevin Tsai also refused to unconditionally agree with those seemingly clear life lessons.

For example, "make peace with yourself."

I won't suggest you to "reconcile with yourself". I think you should often quarrel with yourself, argue with yourself, often ask yourself "why", often be in an unstable state, and constantly fight with yourself. What's the fun of life if you don't struggle? If you don't struggle and fall into a mess, how do you know what kind of life you want to live?

For example, "aging gracefully."

I see a lot of celebrities being compared between how they looked when they were young and how they looked when they are old. A lot of people are talking about the term "aging gracefully", which makes me want to vomit. Why do those people who were not very elegant when they were young have to become elegant when they are old?

Just look at an animal and you will know that getting old must be very embarrassing. Its hair will become sparse and its eyes will become cloudy. Getting old is already very hard. If you want it to be elegant, you will drive everyone crazy. So I don’t intend to agree with this statement. Aging is not something that you can realize in some details of life. It is always slapping you hard to wake you up.

For example, "work and career balance".

I never think that people need to find a balance between life and work. What's the point of pursuing this? Why do we need to find a balance between being a stay-at-home mom and a working woman? What's wrong with leaning towards one side today and the other side tomorrow? Life is just a mess, that's okay. What's the fun of a neat life? It's a bit like a dying person. I'm not singing a different tune, I just think many conventional concepts are lazy.

really.

Kevin Tsai is not some rare genius or a talented person.

He is just a host with many interests and a wide range of knowledge.

But he is open, introspective and sharp.

How many celebrities can do this today?

The heyday of culture.

The times create heroes, and heroes create the times.

Just like Wang Weizhong who discovered Kevin Tsai.

If he had not been rebellious by nature, he would not have smelled his opportunity at the height of social reform, broken the rules of traditional television, and ushered in an era of Taiwanese variety shows that discussed politics, gender, and taboo topics, with a hundred schools of thought.

Same with Kevin Tsai.

His elegance and old-fashioned style make him more knowledgeable and mature than other hosts who are simply trying to be funny. It is also because of his presence that Xiao S can display her genius comedic attributes.

Most importantly:

If the audience doesn't know how to appreciate humor, the stars have no entertainment spirit.

Everyone just wants to keep a straight face and be serious...

Then "Kangxi" was just a flash in the pan and it would be impossible for it to have maintained evergreen ratings for more than ten years.

at last.

Sir thought of "A Ying" written by Kevin Tsai.

This is not an original script that is considered superb, but it brings together some of the most important and emerging players in the Chinese-speaking world:

Directed by Qiu Gangjian (screenwriter of "The Wild Girl"), starring Joey Wong and Gao Jie (Hou Hsiao-hsien's favorite male lead), art director is Tim Yip, and editor is Liao Qingsong.

Any makeup screenshot you take will reveal an indescribable beauty.

The experimental nature of the story is even more outstanding than today.

Aying, when she was a child, witnessed her mother being tortured with the "Trojan Horse" punishment.

Her father taught her: This is what happens when you commit adultery.

Under the strict Puritan education.

Aying grew up to be a "saint".

Married to a man who is a hypocritical moralist.

Men who defend the rules and preach abstinence do not internalize the moral standards as their own.

So, when the mob raped Ah Ying, she actually said:

"I want one more time!"

In order to break free from the feudal cage and the shackles of desire.

Even if she turns from a human into a ghost, she still wants to fulfill herself.

The times have passed.

An era of breaking taboos and liberating one's true nature.

There is no longer a place for Kevin Tsai in the entertainment industry.

Just like the movie no longer allows Aying to appear.

We no longer want to understand the essence of things and the three-dimensionality of human beings, because we have gone to the opposite of "Two Generations of Electric Power Company":

All art and entertainment must undergo moral scrutiny and ignorant intimidation.

We only care about ourselves and not the world.

I just want to absorb the information that requires the least thought, constantly reinforce my existing knowledge, and hide in a cave that is safe from wind and rain.

No wonder Kevin Tsai said:

I don't need a tombstone or anywhere to scatter my ashes after I die.

Just disappear, just be forgotten.

yes.

Those vivid, unfettered memories can only turn into frosted glass.

It’s better to forget it as soon as possible.

otherwise.

How can we have the courage to face the second-rate life of premature aging and the garbage time of pretentiousness and boredom?

The pictures in this article are from the Internet

Editorial Assistant: The boss lady has no holidays