Frontpage (TV series)

This article is about the Malaysian drama series. For the Philippine news bulletin, see Frontpage: Ulat ni Mel Tiangco.
Frontpage
The Truth Behind the News
Genre Drama
Action
Developed by Filmscape
Directed by Kabir Bhatia
Starring Bernie Chan
Tony Eusoff
Jehan Miskin
Cheryl Samad
Nell Ng
Nurakhtar Amin
Country of origin  Malaysia
Original language(s) Bahasa Malaysia, English, etc.
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 1 hour per ep.
Release
Original network ntv7
Original release 7 September 2008 (2008-09-07) – 30 November 2008 (2008-11-30)
External links
Website

Frontpage is the title of a Malaysian television drama created by Kabir Bhatia and Mira Mustaffa, which tells the adventures of the journalists of a fictional newspaper publisher, inspired by events which grabbed the headlines in Malaysian papers throughout history. Frontpage is jointly produced by The Star newspaper, broadcaster ntv7 and Filmscape, a production house owned by Juita Viden.

Overwiew

Frontpage tells of the main characters as the staff of Malaysia's top newspaper The Voice, consisting of Andrea Ng (Bernie Chan) the news desk editor and all the journalists under her supervision, which consist of seasoned rivals Jack Lee (Tony Eusoff) and Dylan Pereira (Jehan Miskin), joined by newcomer Nerina Rahman (Cheryl Samad). All of them as part of a newspaper tackle a capricious profession for the sake of scooping the best for their readers. Each episode is actually adapted from real headline-grabbers from local dailies throughout the past quarter-century.

Characters

Main characters

Supporting characters

Episode list

# Title Airdate Synopsis
1 No Way Out 7 September 2008 The Kapak Gang is gaining notoriety for their violent crimes. A member of the gang, realising the error of his ways desperately wants out, but knows he will not be allowed to walk away alive. He knows too many secrets. His only hope is to get the gang arrested, and without them knowing his involvement. He contacts Jack Lee, the Voice’s ace reporter, to ask for help. Jack jumps into the case, doing everything he can to help his source.
2 Pieces of You 14 September 2008 A witch doctor, Maya Saari and her son killed a high profile businessman, and were sentenced to death. Before she is hanged, Maya asks to see Jack to reveal a secret – her list of clients, with photographs as irrefutable proof. It is well known that Maya’s former clientele has been the who’s who of Malaysian society. Each of them has plenty to lose should Maya decide to reveal their black magic practises. Jack finds his life in danger when “someone” goes to all lengths to keep Maya’s list a secret.

This episode is inspired by the Mona Fandey trial, which witnessed the execution of witch doctor by hanging in 2001 for the murder and brutal mutilation of a politician in 1993.

3 In the Name of the Father 21 September 2008 Badminton star, Annie Ong returns after winning a major championship. The newspapers rain accolades on her, but the shy Annie refuses interviews. The next day, she is found dead in her hostel, apparently having committed suicide. Her death causes an uproar in the country. It is also puzzling why someone who has everything to live for, should take her own life. Jack and Rebecca find out there is more to the story than meets the eye.
4 Ride to Hell 28 September 2008 Dylan’s ex-girlfriend asks him to help her find her missing 14-year-old sister. Dylan decides to investigate and goes undercover. He makes a disturbing discovery of runaway girls and their mat rempit boyfriends. One wrong turn can lead to a chain of disastrous events. Can Dylan stop this one girl’s life from ending in a tragedy?
5 Queen for a Day 5 October 2008 A beauty queen carries the title for only one day before she is brutally murdered. The suspects are many. Apparently, in spite of her family’s insistence that she is a “good” girl, Nerina and Jack find out that there are many men who have visited her apartment in the past year. But who among these men who all loved her, ended up killing her?
6 The Secret Kingdom 12 October 2008 A mysterious girl is found in a jungle covered in blood and barely alive. Rebecca recognises the hook symbol branded on the girl as the work of a cult, Jannatul Adawiyah. Jack infiltrates the cult that practises their own religion and believes that their leader is God. Rebecca follows him there, in spite of his warning. Will they manage to rescue the other young girls in the cult? And will they make it out alive?
7 MMS 19 October 2008 Jin and Black are clubbing buddies. Three nights a week, they crawl from club to club until the sun comes up. One night, high on drugs, Jin tries to chat up a girl but was turned down. Walking out, Jin tells Black that he’s going to "teach that bitch a lesson." The next day Black receives an MMS of the same girl, being tortured and killed. The MMS circulates around the city and Dylan goes undercover to find out who is behind the murder.
8 Lights, Camera, Action 26 October 2008 During the shooting of a movie, a famous lead actor is accidentally shot, and killed. But is it a tragic accident? Or is it a brilliantly disguised murder? In a classic whodunit manner, the suspects are many; the failing director, the jealous propsman, the unconsolable lead actress, the list goes on. Motive and opportunity also abounds. It is up to Rebecca and Lulu to find out the truth behind this fiction. Meanwhile, a tragedy looms at the office.
9 Taxi Driver 2 November 2008 A serial murderer is on the loose. A frightened taxi driver tells Jack that his life is in danger. He says that the murderer had taken his cab to the murder scene and told him to keep mum. But he cannot live with murder on his hands, he has to tell someone. Now he fears that the murderer is going to come after him. Jack shadows the taxi driver to get closer to the murderer. While Jack goes on the chase, Andrea’s life hangs in balance.
10 Gone Baby Gone 9 November 2008 A boy named Aiman is snatched from the playground, and the kidnappers ask for ransom to ensure his safe return. At wit’s end, the parents decide to do something less than honourable to pay for the kidnapper’s demands, i.e. faking their infant daughter's heart problem. Nerina smells something fishy and decides to investigate. She and Rebecca followed the ransom trail to catch the culprit, who happens to be the former maid in Aiman's household and an accomplice, and save the child. Meanwhile, Jack finds it hard to adjust to life without Andrea; he had been promoted to the Editor post but does not seem to have what it takes to be one.
11 Shufflers 16 November 2008 A 19-year-old shuffler is found dead. His death sparks a fight between the shufflers and the rockers who have long resented each other over turf. Nerina bumps into Dylan who is on an extended leave after Andrea’s death. Dylan helps her find out who is behind the murder. It seems that the only one who knows what actually happened, is a transgendered prostitute who was the last person to see the victim alive.
12 Sex, Lies and the Internet 23 November 2008 A popular nasheed singer is well known for her piousness and innocence. It is therefore shocking when a clip of her having sex surfaces on the internet. She goes on the defence and announces it is fake - the work of someone who wants to bring her down. But when a second clip surfaces, she has to face the truth. There is a camera in her home. The release of the videos puts a spotlight on an intricate web of sex, lies, blackmail and murder.
13 The End of the Line 30 November 2008 An international crime head is due to be executed. His three cohorts arrive in a last-ditch effort to rescue him. When their plans falter, they decide on Plan B – an exchange of a life for their boss’. Jack’s life.

References

  1. N. Rama Lohan (21 September 2008). "Journalist with acting role in new TV series tells of similarities". The Star. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

External links

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