Special Report: Spring Festival Special 2009

    BEIJING, Jan. 23 -- During the festival, the local Lunar New Year's TV screens will be packed with many light-hearted programs.

    Saturday night from 7:30pm, Dragon TV will broadcast an annual awards ceremony honoring 10 happy and harmonious Chinese celebrity families.

    They include former Olympic champion runner Wang Junxia, actor Huang Lei and actress Zeng Li. The top Life Honor award goes to the family of Xie Jin, the famous film maker who died last October at the age of 85.

    The Entertainment Channel will present a hilarious singing gala at 7pm on January 29. Popular TV hosts, including Cheng Lei, Cao Kefan and Chen Rong, will sing, dance and perform.

    They will sing pop hits from the past 30 years, such as "Songs of Ordinary People," "Sailor" and "Forgiven Love."

    A treat for children will be the "Music Angel" TV contest presented by Haha TV, a local children's channel.

    So far 100 children have been selected in the televised elimination rounds, aired at 5pm every Saturday. The winner, based on judges and online votes, will be crowned "Music Angel" and be offered a role in Haha musical shows and dramas.

    International Channel Shanghai will show "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" at 8pm on January 26.

    The 3D concert was part of actress Miley Cyrus' 69 American concerts, some featuring the American boy band, Jonas Brothers.

    The concert was shot using seven "Fusion 3D" cameras with the latest vision technology, and 3D post-production technology. So the concert on ICS will be the first broadcast of a 3D TV program on the Chinese mainland.

    ICS will also present a brand-new 14-episode reality show "Shanghai Rush" this year, according to channel director Sun Wei.

    It will be the first outdoor show in Shanghai featuring foreign contestants. They will compete in motorcycle riding, sports and traditional Chinese longtang (alleyway) games.

    It will explore interesting customs from Shanghai's old lanes as well as how people live in different districts.

    Filming will begin in March and will be aired during prime time on the weekends from May. To apply, visit www.icshanghai.com or send an e-mail to shanghairush@ics.smg.cn.

    Local cinema will feature holiday films for the whole family.

    Among them are "10 Promises to My Dog," a heartwarming picture from the production team of the Japanese hit "Quill," the Hollywood fantasy film "Bridge to Terabithia," and domestic comedy films "Look for a Star" and "All's Well That Ends Well."

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)