* Title: 華麗的挑戰 / Hua Li De Tiao Zhan
* English title: Skip-Beat!
* Also known as: Extravagant Challenge
* Genre: Romance, comedy
* Broadcast network: FTV, GTV
* Broadcast period: 18-Dec-2011 / 24-Dec-2011
* Air time: Sunday 22:00-23:30
* Website: http://www.gtv.com.tw/Program/S051420111224U/
Synopsis
High school graduate Gong Xi gives up her chances for university in order to support her childhood friend and romantic goal, Bu Po Shang, in his pop idol career. Upon arriving in Taipei, Gong Xi starts working on multiple jobs in order to support Bu Po Shang, whose popularity quickly rises, eventually becoming one of the top idols in Taiwan. One day, Gong Xi catches Bu Po Shang flirting with his manager, and learns that he only used her so she can help him with his living expenses. Heart-broken and betrayed, Gong Xi vows to get revenge by becoming a bigger star than him. Gong Xi auditions for L.M.E., Bu Po Shang's rival talent agency, and joins L.M.E.'s new-found department "Love Me". At L.M.E., Gong Xi meets famous actor Dun Helian, who eventually falls in love with her.
Cast
Main Characters:
* Ivy Chen as Gong Xi (宮囍), based on the manga character Kyoko Mogami:
A bright and intelligent high school graduate who gives up her chances for university to support her childhood friend and love interest, Bu Po Shang, in his pop idol career. She later finds out that Bu Po Shang only used her for his own selfish reasons and had no intentions to spend the rest of his life with her. Devastated and vengeful, Gong Xi vows that she will exact revenge. Bu Po Shang tells her that the only way to do this is to join the entertainment industry and defeat him. Gong Xi immediately auditions for L.M.E., Bu Po Shang's rival talent agency, and is accepted into the company's new-found department, Love Me (Chinese: 愛我吧部).
* Siwon (voiced by Kunda) as Dun Helian (敦賀蓮), based on the manga character Ren Tsuruga:
A famous young actor who takes his profession very seriously. He is one of the biggest stars in Taiwan and is under the same talent agency as Gong Xi. Although he maintains a perfect public image, he initially shows signs of distaste towards Gong Xi, and is disgusted by her reasons for joining the show business. However, he soon realizes Gong Xi's talent in acting and begins to support her endeavors. He eventually falls in love with Gong Xi, but she is too concentrated on her motives to notice his pursuits.
* Donghae as Bu Po Shang (不破尚; lit. "Unbreakable Shang"), based on the manga character Shō Fuwa:
Born Shang Jieyong (尚界勇), Bu Po Shang is Gong Xi's childhood friend and love interest. Although egotistical, arrogant, and cocky, he is an extremely talented musician. Fully aware of Gong Xi's romantic feelings for him, he successfully convinces Gong Xi to travel with him to Taipei to support him financially while he focuses on developing his singing career. He ruthlessly deserts Gong Xi after becoming famous, and tells her that she should join the entertainment industry if she wants revenge. Upon seeing Gong Xi's transformation, Bu Po Shang realizes that he had more feelings for her than he originally thought. He holds great animosity towards Dun Helian because of his popularity and his close relationship with Gong Xi.
* Bianca Bai as Jiang Nanqin (江南琴), based on the manga character Kanae Kotonami:
A young rising star who attends the same auditions as Gong Xi. She is desperate for a successful acting career and initially despises Gong Xi for standing in her way. Similar to Gong Xi, she joins the "Love Me" department of L.M.E. to touch up on her acting ability. After working together in various projects, Gong Xi and Nanqin develop a deep friendship.
Supporting characters
* King Chin as Mr. Du (杜先生), Helian's manager.
* Ada Pan as An Yangyang (安鴦鴦), Bu Po Shang's manager and implied lover.
* Allen Chao as President Luo Li (羅利社長), the director of L.M.E. who likes to make appearances in glamorous and extravagant attire.
* Frances as Maria (瑪麗亞), Lou Li's granddaughter.
* Charge Pu as Mr. Shen (椹先生), the casting director who introduces Gong Xi to L.M.E.
* Egin Lee as Liuli'er (琉璃兒), a popular young singer who attempts to sabotage Gong Xi's career.
* Jessie Zhang as Xu Yongchun (徐永春), the producer of Bu Po Shang's debut album.
* Cindy Sung as Mei Shen (美森), a featured actress who co-starred in one of Bu Po Shang's music videos with Gong Xi.
* Ke Shu-qin as Qing Jie (晴姐), an experienced actress.
* Cherry Hsia as Yi Mei (逸美), the female lead in the television drama Dark Moon.
* Wu Min as Shangguan Junzi (上官君子), Helian's co-star.
* Ko Yu-luen as Director Xin Huan (新桓導演), the competent director of Helian's new film.
* Chang Shao-huai as Director Xu Fang (旭方導演), the director of Dark Moon.
* Chen Bozheng as Boss (老板), Gong Xi's boss when she was working at Bu Dao Weng (不倒翁).
* Ge Lei as Boss' wife (老板娘), who also owns Bu Dao Weng.
Production Credits
* Original writing (manga): Skip Beat! by Nakamura Yoshiki
* Producer: Niu Cheng Ze
* Director: Jerry Feng 馮家瑞
Production
Development and pre-production
Gala Television announced their development of Skip Beat in early 2008, and invited producer Kikuko Miyauchi from Japan to produce and Jyu You-ning to direct. In April 2008 Ariel Lin, Jerry Yan, and Joe Cheng were cast to portray Gong Xi, Dun Helian, and Bu Po Shang respectively. However, Yan and Cheng could not come to an agreement with the script and Cheng dropped out of the project in July 2008. Following Cheng's withdrawal, Doze Niu replaced Jyu as director and producer. In November 2008, Niu, Lin, and Yan held a press conference for Skip Beat! in Tokyo, Japan, announcing that they would begin filming as soon as they find another actor to replace Cheng. Following the press conference, the script had to undergo a rewrite, and the drama's Japanese developers suffered a financial breakdown due to the restructuring of their joint venture company. Lai Congbi, Deputy General Manager of Gala Television, announced that filming will be pushed back. Yan, who already signed to film a Mainland Chinese drama in March 2009, was forced to withdraw. Niu wanted to replace Yan with Wu Chun, but Gala Television postponed the production indefinitely in January 2009 due to persistent financial problems.
In April 2010, Niu and Gala Television brought Skip Beat! back into production with Lin returning to star. In May 2010, it was reported that Super Junior members Siwon and Donghae were cast to portray Dun Helian and Bu Po Shang respectively. In February 2011, Ivy Chen was cast to replace Lin, who withdrew from the project because she was already booked to film In Time with You when Skip Beat! was to begin filming. On March 31, 2011, a press conference was held for Skip Beat! in Taipei, attended by over 100 reporters and fans. Niu announced that Jerry Feng will take his place to direct. Niu praised the drama's "too brilliant" script and that he "didn't want to leave it behind."
On an estimated budget of over 100 million TWD (3.3 million USD), each episode cost about 4 million TWD (132,000 USD) to produce.
Filming and promotion
Filming commenced in April 2011 in Taiwan and moved to Japan in June. The main cast filmed promotional photoshoots for the drama on July 28, and attended a wrap-up banquet hosted by the production crew afterwards. Post-production officially began on July 29.
Skip Beat! was promoted at the 17th Shanghai Television Festival, in which a three-minute sales presentation trailer was aired to attract potential Mainland Chinese distributors. A distributor bought the copyrights for 191,000 yuan (30,000 USD), and online distributors bought the rights for 63,800 yuan (10,000 USD), becoming the most expensive Taiwanese drama to broadcast in Mainland China. As of August 2011, it was reported that foreign distribution rights totaled 3.7 million TWD (120,000 USD) per episode. The drama will hold its world premiere on December 14 in Ximending, Taipei.
Music
Super Junior-M will perform the opening theme "S.O.L.O." (Chinese title: 華麗的獨秀; lit. "Extravagant Solo Show") written by Tim McEwan, Lars Halvor Jensen, and Reed Vertelney, with lyrics penned by Zhou Weijie, who also helped write in Super Junior-M's EP Perfection. Donghae will write and perform the ending theme "This Is Love" (Chinese: 這是愛).
Broadcast
List most Gala Television productions, Formosa TV bought the rights to premiere the drama on its free-to-air channel on Sunday, December 18, 2011. The cable GTV Variety Show network will air the first episode on December 24, 2011. Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) bought the rights to premiere the Cantonese-dubbed version on December 25, 2011. Skip Beat! is the first Taiwanese drama to have simultaneous broadcasts in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. TVB's J2 channel previously aired the Cantonese-dubbed anime version of Skip Beat! from February to August 2010, and rebroadcast the anime again in 2011.
-Wiki-
