Best wishes from stars to perform at Spring Festival Gala

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With intensive rehearsals underway, the annual Spring Festival Gala of the China Central Television (CCTV) will take place within days. It is the most watched TV program in the world, and dubbed the Chinese “Super Bowl.”

While visiting the gala’s backstage during one of the rehearsals, CGTN came across some of the top stars in a staple segment of the gala: the sketch comedy, or xiaopin in Chinese.

During the gala, audiences generally look forward to sketches and cross-talks the most. After all, who wouldn’t want a big laugh at one of the happiest moments of the year?

Performers attend rehearsal of the Spring Festival Gala. /CCTV Photo‍

This year’s gala will see a number of veterans make an appearance, such as Cai Ming, who has graced the gala stage 26 times since 1991. Pan Changjiang, Lin Yongjian and Li Qi, China’s most well-known comedians and actors, were also there to extend their best wishes to CGTN’s audience.

Wang Ji, who shot to fame with a hit TV drama series depicting the struggles of Beijingers trying to live in New York City, were also among the all-star billing. But they kept the program details a secret, wanting to surprise the audience on performance night.

According to Yang Dongsheng, the director of the Spring Festival Gala, the actors performing for the sketch comedies this year are not only limited to comedians, but attempts to include for the first time movie and TV drama actors. Yang also stressed that “innovation” is the buzzword to look out for at the Gala for the Year of the Dog.

Stay tuned to CGTN as we bring you more details about the Spring Festival in the Year of the Dog, and the CCTV Spring Festival Gala!

(Video by Li Ningning)