If you have run out of things to do at home, watch Singaporean variety shows. From culinary to game shows and house renovation series, you won’t get bored of them easily.
Check out these 10 best Singaporean variety TV shows to watch when you are bored.
1. Hear U Out (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Catch local TV host Quan Yi Fong in Hear U Out, an all-new real, raw and direct talk show. Guests joining her are local celebrities, although overseas guests are featured in Season 4.
The Singaporean variety show was nominated 3 times for the Best Variety Programme at the Star Awards. Quan also won Best Programme Host for a whopping 3 times thanks to it.
If you like drama, catch Season 1, Episode 7 featuring local influencer Xiaxue. She shares how she takes negative comments into her stride and her advice for influencer wannabes.
But the best part is her no-holds-bared banter with fellow drama queen Quan Yi Fong, where they discuss personal topics ranging from plastic surgery to dating and marriage.
2. Dishing with Chris Lee (2022 & 2024)
Can’t stand Quan Yi Fong’s brash interview style but still want to watch a talk show? Catch Dishing with Chris Lee. An avid foodie and self-taught chef, Malaysia-born actor-cum-host Christopher Lee whips up dishes for his guests at a kampong, where they share life stories over hearty meals. The rustic setting gives the show a more laid-back, casual feel.
If you don’t have the time to catch all the episodes, a must-watch is Episode 8. Here, Christopher Lee roped in veteran host Kym Ng to interview a special guest, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing. During their conversation, the affable Minister Chan shares his experience studying abroad. He also expresses his thoughts on his children’s education.
The Singaporean variety show took home the Best Variety Programme at the Star Awards 2023 and saw Christopher Lee clinching the Best Programme Host award in the same year.
3. King of Culinary (2019, 2020 & 2022)
King of Culinary is a Singaporean culinary game show that aired for 3 seasons. The first 2 seasons aired in Mandarin. The third season was additionally broadcast in Malay and Tamil.
The Singaporean variety show pits each contestant against 1 of 3 veteran chefs (Eric Teo, Pung Lu Tin and Eric Neo), who each hold a culinary knife. The contestant has up to an hour to prepare his or her dish that makes use of a designated cooking ingredient. On the other hand, the veteran chef is only given 45 minutes to prepare his dish, as a handicap.
The show also incorporates an element of risk. When the contestant wins a match, they win cash and a knife. They can choose to keep it or risk them to challenge another chef. If the contestant loses to a chef at any point, the contest ends and they forfeit all cash winnings.
4. MasterChef Singapore (2018, 2021, 2022 & 2023)
If you are a fan of cooking variety shows based on the element of competition, another Singaporean variety show to watch is MasterChef Singapore. Unlike King of Culinary, MasterChef sees the contestants competing against one another for the MasterChef title.
The 4-season English variety TV show, based on the original British MasterChef series, is judged chiefly by Bjorn Shen (Chef, Artichoke), Damian D’Silva (Executive Chef, Restaurant Kin) and Audra Morrice (MasterChef Australia series 4 finalist and MasterChef Asia judge).
A must-watch is Season 4, Episode 7, where contestants face a mind-boggling challenge in which cooking tools or equipment are paired up with the most unexpected ingredients that seemingly do not match. The hilarity that ensues makes watching the episode all worth it.
5. Love on the Plate (2010, 2011 & 2015)
If you are a fan of cooking shows and travelogues, catch Love on The Plate. Love on the Plate is a popular Singaporean variety TV show that aired on Channel 8 many years back. The variety show features celebrity chefs who fly out of Singapore to rural villages abroad.
They will have to put their culinary skills to the test as they cook meals for the residents. But the chefs will have to rely on limited resources, without the comfort of 5-star facilities.
The 3-season Singaporean variety TV show was crowned the Best Variety Programme at the 2011 Star Awards and was nominated for the same accolade at the 2016 Star Awards.
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6. Hearts & Hugs (2016)
Due to the hectic pace of life here, many Singaporeans do not dedicate time to helping others. Hearts & Hugs invites celebrities to show their support for a good cause by contributing what they are skilled in. Artistes have only 72 hours to finish their tasks.
A must-watch is Episode 2. Local TV host Kym Ng plans a Charity Run for the Haemophilia Society of Singapore. Proceeds went towards covering the medical bills of an 18-year-old.
Another must-watch is Episode 7, which sees fashionista and Singaporean host Chen Han Wei organising a fashion event titled ‘Love on the Runway’ for a diabetic double-amputee.
7. The Joy Truck (2013, 2014 & 2015)
If you are a fan of charity variety shows, another Singaporean variety show to check off your must-watch list is The Joy Truck. Like Hearts & Hugs, host Pornsak and the ambassador for the episode propose a mission that can meet the beneficiary’s needs.
Unlike Hearts & Hugs, The Joy Truck sees a greater level of audience involvement from all ages. For example, teenagers can download and play specially designed mobile game apps. Upon reaching certain targets, the show’s sponsors will donate the corresponding amount.
Season 3 also saw the ice cream truck holding fund-raising events to spread the joy on-ground. A must-catch episode is Season 3, Episode 4, which sees artistes Chew Chor Meng and Cynthia Koh planning an excursion for a 16-year-old patient with muscular dystrophy.
8. GeTai Challenge (2015 & 2018)
If you are a fan of reality TV shows such as The Voice of China but prefer a Singaporean version, catch GeTai Challenge, a talent search competition for renowned getai singers.
If you are not Singaporean, Getai refers to live stage performances usually held during the Hungry Ghost Festival in the seventh lunar month and on the birthdays of Chinese deities.
The show pits singers against one another for the GeTai Challenge title. Like the crossover pairing rounds in The Voice of China, GeTai Challenge has battle rounds where singers duke it out with another singer from the opposing team. The winner is determined by the judges, who include seasoned getai singers Wang Lei and Liu Lingling, and local composer Jim Lim.
9. House Everything? (2018 & 2022)
If there’s one other type of Singaporean variety show that Mediacorp excels in producing besides cooking shows, it’s home renovation shows. Catch House Everything?, a 2-season home-transformation program on Channel 8 hosted by local host Chen Han Wei.
Season 1, Episode 2 features a father who is reluctant to throw away his unwanted items at home, due to sentimentality. In this episode, see how the interior design experts help him to overcome his outdated mindset. You’ll also get to pick up useful house decluttering tips.
10. Body SOS (2012 – 2022)
While it is unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea, the Singaporean variety show Body SOS deserves special mention for being Singapore’s longest-running variety show on Channel 8.
The 11-season show explores innocuous medical symptoms that might suggest potential serious problems in our bodies. Medical experts, including doctors, are invited each week.
What the show does right is to inject humour into mundane topics. Its tenth season, for instance, saw misconceptions being debunked in the entertaining “medical court” segment.
In the “court”, the “plaintiff” will sue the “defendant” (own body) for causing health issues. The 2 hosts Lee Teng and Mark Lee will then represent the plaintiff and the defendant as the “prosecutor” and “defence lawyer” respectively. Meanwhile, the artistes (“jury”) raise questions throughout the “trial”. The medical experts (the “judges”) decide on the verdict.
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