Gặp nhau cuối năm
| Gặp nhau cuối năm | |
|---|---|
 The title card in 2016 | |
| Creative director(s) | Đỗ Thanh Hải |
| Presented by | Thảo Vân |
| Starring |
Quốc Khánh Xuân Bắc Công Lý Vân Dung Tự Long Quang Thắng Chí Trung Minh Hằng Thành Trung |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | VFC |
| Running time | 90–180 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | VTV |
| Picture format | SD: 576i , HDTV: 1080i (VTV3-HD launch from June 1, 2013) |
| Original release | 2003 – present |
Gặp nhau cuối năm (or Táo Quân) is a Vietnam's annual TV special that airs on New Year's Eve on VTV. The show is widely popular in Vietnam, considered a traditional show of lunar new year on television. The show originally was a new-year special episode of VTV's famous comedic show "Gap Nhau Cuoi Tuan" but still continued after Gap Nhau Cuoi Tuan ended. The main plot of the show based on Vietnamese's folk tales about Tao Quan. "Gap Nhau Cuoi Nam" is famous for its comedic view of the problems in Vietnam economic & society throughout the year. VFC has been producing this show for VTV since 2003. The show features biggest names in comedy in Vietnam like Quoc Khanh, Van Dung, Quang Thang, Tu Long, Cong Ly, Xuan Bac... The format of the show changed in some years. In 2009, Hoa Táo, a parody beauty competition for Tao Quan, was presented. In 2011, the show was named Táo Idol with format based on talent shows that aired in Vietnam in 2010, especially Vietnam Idol.
The show used to be premiered on VTV on Lunar New Year's Eve but from 2010 to 2013, the show was released on DVD a week before the air date. The DVD version is the full recording and usually longer and slightly different from the TV version. But since 2014, VTV stopped releasing DVD and started releasing the show digitally. The 2014 release was handled by CNC and 2015 release was distributed by VTV Digital.
Because of its popularity, many other TV Channels copy Tao Quan format but none has ever achieved the same level of success.
On YouTube, the shows achieved more than 300 million views (all of the versions and performances)
Cast
Fix roles:
- Quốc Khánh (Ngọc Hoàng, since 2004)
- Công Lý (Bắc Đẩu)
- Xuân Bắc (Nam Tào)
Interchangeable roles:
- Vân Dung (2003–current)
- Quang Thắng (2003–current)
- Chí Trung (2005–current)
- Thành Trung (2007–2014)
- Tự Long (2003–current)
- Thu Hương (2003)
- Minh Hằng (2005-2007, 2009, 2012-2015)
- Minh Vượng (2004–2008)
- Hiệp Gà (2004, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- Phạm Bằng (2005, 2006)
- Anh Tuấn (2009)
- Bá Anh (2007–2008)
- Văn Hiệp (2006)
- Quốc Quân (2004, 2006, 2012)
- Bình Trọng (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
- Đức Hải (2010)
- Đức Khuê (2010)
Guest Stars:
- Quốc Trượng (Ngọc Hoàng, 2003 only)
- Minh Quân (2013-current)
- Tiến Minh (2014)
- Chí Tài (2015)
- Việt Hương (2015)
- Tuấn Hưng (2015)
- Bình Minh (2016)
Censorship
In 2009, 2 performances by Tao Dien Luc (Electrical Manager) (Minh Hang) (singing songs asking for government money) was censored. One performance was completely removed from the broadcast and the other was replaced by a later re-recorded version with changes in lyric. Also in 2009 show, a verse (also about asking the government for money) from a song called "Lut Tu Nga Tu Duong Pho" (Flood From The Crossroads) performed by Tao Thoat Nuoc (Drainaging Manager) was also removed from the broadcast. However all the original, uncut performances from 2009 show later leaked onto internet.
In 2013 show, VFC & VTV were requested to edit the show to censor some of the jokes that were considered offensive and not appropriate by Arts & Performing Department. Thus, the DVD production was delayed and the release came 4 days later than the planned release date.[1]
In 2015, Arts & Performing Department (NTBD) asked VFC to submit full script of the show to be reviewed before taping but the request was denied by VFC. Do Thanh Hai - the show's general director - strongly spoke against NTBD's move. To avoid censorship from NTBD, the show taping location had to move to Studio 14 of VTV, a smaller venue than Cung Van Hoa Huu Nghi Viet Xo where the show usually took place.[2]