#PopVultures

Pop Vultures Ep 8: Stars & social media stupidity - the Ian Fang-CarrieWong and Tosh Zhang sagas

26:09 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

The past few weeks have been tumultuous in local entertainment - with the leaks of private and explicit chats between Mediacorp stars Ian Fang and Carrie Wong and the brief tenure of Tosh Zhang as Pink Dot ambassador, who stepped down after his previous homophobic tweets surfaced.

Both of these scandals played out on social media - but who played the game the best? Who played it the worst? And at the end of the day - who was the biggest winner? (You'll never guess!)

Join the Pop Vultures as they discuss how celebrities navigate social media, using the Ian Fang-Carrie Wong and the Tosh Zhang sagas, as case studies.

Here's what they cover:

1. A brief recap of the Ian Fang-Carrie Wong drama and the Tosh Zhang debacle.

2. Celebrities and their right to privacy

3. The nature of social media and its immediacy getting the best of stars - how Boris Lin's replies made everyone look worse.

4. The permanence of social media and what Tosh Zhang did wrong and how it reverberated throughout the LGBTQ community.

5. How Rebecca Lim and Lawrence Wong played the social media game.

6. Final thoughts on the public perception of these stars and their future going forward.

7. The Pop Vultures Awards: Who was the MVP? Who won big? Who lost big?

Produced by: Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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Pop Vultures Ep 7: Celebrities caught cheating! How do they recover from extramarital affairs?

22:06 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

Hong Kong singer Andy Hui's recent affair with TVB actress Jacqueline Wong - while being married to his superstar wife Sammi Cheng - has dominated headlines in Chinese entertainment for over a week.

This recalls some infamous cases of celebrity infidelity: Jackie Chan, Jack Neo, Brad Pitt, Prince Charles and so on.

Join the Pop Vultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo as they spill the tea on famous extramarital affairs and even the occasional love child. They also analyse the tactics celebrities use to ride through scandals of their own making and muse on who the real victims are.

Here's what they cover:

1. Why is Andy Hui's extramarital affair such big news? (0.50)

2. Notorious cases of celebrities caught cheating in the East: Jackie Chan's affair with Elaine Ng and his love child Etta Ng, Jack Neo's 2010 affair. And in the West - Jay-Z cheating on Beyonce and how Solange Knowles attacked him (4.25)

3. Women cheating on their partners: Annie Yi cheating on Harlem Yu (8.00)

4. Roadmap for damage control after being caught cheating (8.35)

5. Jack Neo's 2010 affair and how he handled it (10.30)

6. How Asian celebrities vs Hollywood celebrities handle cheating scandals (12.20)

7. Who the real victims of cheating scandals are: 
- The enduring public shaming of Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern who had an affair with then-US President Bill Clinton (14.27)
- Sexism in cheating scandals (15.37)
- Kids who get entangled in such scandals such as Etta Ng (16.15)

8. On cheating, marriage and monogamy (17.23)

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 6) April 12: Star Awards special! Favourite Channel 8 dramas and their legacy for Singapore TV viewers

30:53 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

Singapore television's biggest event - the Star Awards - is having its 25th anniversary this year. Take a trip down memory lane as Pop Vultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo share their favourite local drama moments, iconic theme songs and ridiculous tropes and plot lines.

What is the legacy and value of local dramas for Singaporeans? How much did it teach Singaporeans about change as a nation?

In an age of Netflix, Youtube and HBO - are local dramas still relevant? Join the Pop Vultures as they cover moments like catching poker cards in the sky, to running down Orchard Road in a bikini!

Here's what they cover:

Most memorable shows and favourite shows they have watched: The Unbeatables (双天至尊), Golden Pillow (金枕头), Love Me, Love Me Not (真爱无敌), Wok Of Life (福满人间), Stand By Me (家人有约), A Place To Call Home (薯条汉堡青春痘), Darling In-Law (我的岳母是巫婆)

Massive productions that once featured almost all local actors: Return Of The Condor Heroes (神雕侠侣), long form drama Holland Village (荷兰村), The Hotel (大酒店) 

Most memorable television moments: The Champion's (任我遨游) bikini on Orchard Road scene, The Price Of Peace (和平的代价) traumatic rape scene, Ivy Lee (李锦梅) in Angel's Dream (真相) 

Ridiculous tropes, plot lines and ways to die in local dramas: The Unbeatables, The Reunion (顶天立地)

Iconic local drama theme songs such as Mavis Hee's 城里的月光, Power Station's 我吃得起苦. 

Legacy of local dramas and how it recorded Singapore's rapid change as a nation: Pagers, payphones, old buses and taxis

Period dramas set in Singapore and how it made history accessible: The Price of Peace introducing war hero Lim Bo Seng, Singapore as a regional entertainment hub and promoting Chinese culture and language (17:00)

The old and new crop of local actors, classic Star Award fashion and moments and the relevance and quality of local dramas going forward

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

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Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 5) March 15: How China's crackdown on period dramas has hit TV show Yanxi Palace

22:31 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

The Story of Yanxi Palace may have been a huge global hit, but China has now banned such shows from being aired, claiming they distort history and promote decadence and backstabbing, among other things.

How much do dramas like Yanxi and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace stick to fact, and how much is fantasy? Should the crackdown on such shows end, or will they, like the Step Empress Hoifa-Nara, be banished to the cold palace forever?

Pop Vultures spill the (Chinese) tea!

Here's what they cover:

- How big The Story of Yanxi Palace was, and how the state is cracking down on it (0.57)

- Reasons why palace period dramas have been banned by the Chinese government (2:25)

- Ramifications of the crackdown - reduced production of period pieces (4:20)

- How true to history are these dramas? E.g Qianlong's (乾隆皇帝) Step-Empress Hoifa-Nara (继皇后) and her downfall (4:55)

- Ridiculous portrayal of medical treatments (fertility soups?) and science (blood-mixing as paternity tests 滴血认亲) in palace intrigue dramas (6:49)

- Real-life events that seem too dramatic to be true (Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后 VS Concubine Zhen 珍妃) (9:52)

- Palace intrigue dramas' attention to detail in fashion and accessories such as a pearl-encrusted cape (云肩) that Noble Consort Gao wears, and why such details are close to history (12:20)

- Why are there so many dramas about the Qing Dynasty (清朝)? (15:03)

- Our thoughts on the censorship and increasingly tight ban on period dramas and why it's a bad move (17:03)

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 4) March 15: Is it over for the career of scandal-hit Seungri and the legacy of Michael Jackson?

18:28 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

K-pop idol Seungri of boyband Big Bang has quit showbiz amid snowballing allegations that of bribery and illegal sex videos.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, many are re-examining their understanding of the late superstar Michael Jackson and his legacy following the documentary Leaving Neverland which resurfaces the rumours of Jackson's alleged paedophilia and sexual assault on children.

This week, Pop Vultures' hosts Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo tackle both celebrity scandals - giving a brief rundown of what has transpired, whether stars or their enduring legacies can bounce back and be restored to fame following such scandals and whether it is possible for fans to separate the work of an artist from their personal lives.

Is it possible to still love and listen to Jackson's Smooth Criminal? In the event that Big Bang comes back as a five-person group, should they be supported?

Find out what Jan and Sam Jo think. 

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

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Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 3) March 7: Arashi, J-pop and its influence on Asian entertainment

30:08 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

Find out how J-pop first influenced Asian music.

J-pop boyband Arashi announced in January that they will be going on an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020. The 20-year-old boyband's announcement became worldwide trending news even in an era where J-pop has faded in popularity globally.

In this podcast, Pop Vultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo invite a special guest - fellow ST journalist and J-pop fan Cheryl Teh - to talk about Arashi, their impending hiatus and the enduring influence of Japanese boybands and J-pop (Ayumi Hamasaki! Namie Amuro! Utada Hikaru! Shonentai!) on the entire Asian music industry.

Here's what they cover:

- Introduction on Arashi and Hana Yori Dango (2.50)

- Arashi's announcement on their 2020 hiatus (4:00)

- Arashi's Hawaii debut and their rise to become national idols (5:13)

- The Johnny and Associates boyband model, its history and its rules (9:18)

- Japan's strong physical album sales and how that has influenced the J-pop industry (11:55)

- The invention of the Asian boyband, Shonentai and Little Tigers （小虎队） (14:00)

- The idea of the bishonen or the pretty boy (14:45)

- Why the Japanese music industry matured early and how different J-pop artists influenced Asian music (18:15)

- Pop Vultures' favourite Japanese songs (24:40)

Jan's picks: Arashi's Love (2013) album, Utada Hikaru's Hanataba Wo Kimi Ni, Yonezu Kenshi's Lemon 

Cheryl's picks: BTS' Jungkook's cover of Lemon, Saruganseki's Shiroi Kumo No You Ni, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Ponponpon, Koji Wada's Butterfly which was Digimon's theme song

Join us as we surf the J-wave!

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop Vultures Season 1: Ep 2 (Feb 20) - The sport of winning an Oscar

27.41 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

The film awards season is coming to an end! After a string of film awards like the Golden Globes, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs), the 91st Academy Awards - better known as the Oscars - is finally happening on Feb 24 (Sunday).

In this podcast, Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo dive deep into what actually goes behind winning an Oscar. Sadly, it's not just about how good you are.

Here's what they cover:

- History of the Oscars (0:32)

- The make-up of Oscar voters and how they can completely skip watching nominated films or have existing biases (3:00)

- The sport of modern day Oscar campaigning, the clean and dirty tactics involved and how it ties in with Hollywood's most hated man, Harvey Weinstein (6:32)

- Famous upsets at the Oscars (18:25)

- How this year's campaigns are shaping up (22:07)

Join us as we explore the politics behind the scenes of Hollywood's biggest night.

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop Vultures Ep 1: Diving into the history and evolution of K-pop

34.53 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

South Korean boyband BTS recently became the first K-pop group to present at the Grammys. How did they, K-pop and the bigger Hallyu wave become a multi-billion dollar industry and a global phenomenon?

The Straits Times' Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo tumble down the rabbit hole to tell you all about how K-pop began with one poorly rated song in a 1992 talent show, its evolution since and the dark side to the glamour and glitz of K-pop.

Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

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