Kevin Tsai (Chinese: 蔡康永; pinyin: Cài Kāngyǒng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhòa Khong-éng; born 1 March 1962) is a Taiwanese television host and writer. He is best known for co-hosting Chung T'ien Television's Kangsi Coming (2004–2016) with Dee Hsu.
Kevin Tsai | |
|---|---|
| 蔡康永 | |
.jpg) Tsai in 2020 | |
| Born | 1 March 1962 |
| Other names | Tsai Kang-yong |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Agent | HT Entertainment (2009-2023) |
| Television | Kangsi Coming (2004-2016) I Can I BB (2014-2021) |
| Partner | Liu Kunlong (1994–present) |
| Father | Tsai Tien-duo |
Early life
editTsai was born in Taipei to a posh family of Shanghai parentage. His father, Tsai Tien-duo, was a Fudan-educated lawyer who co-owned Chonglian Steamship Company, then China's largest shipping company, until the sinking of the Taiping Steamer in 1949 forced the company into bankruptcy.[1]
Tsai attended Taipei Private Tsai Hsing School from preschool through high school, a span of 14 years. In high school, he served as the president of the student union and editor-in-chief of the school magazine, where he published then politically sensitive articles about the February 28 Incident and communism, risking expulsion during his senior year. He entered Tunghai University in 1984 to major in social work before switching to English. Tsai then went to pursue a master's degree at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television, where he helped Taiwanese writer Pai Hsien-yung to adapt his short story about the Taiping into a film script, which would become The Last Aristocrats directed by Xie Jin. In 1990, upon graduation from UCLA, Tsai moved back to Taiwan.
Career
editTsai started his career as a columnist and film critic for the China Times. He then wrote several film scripts, including Fong Sai-Yuk (1993) and Ming Ghost (1999). He has since become a best-selling author, known for his self-help book series Ways of Speaking.
In 1996, Tsai had his career breakthrough as he became the creative director of Voice of Taipei radio station,[2] the first editor-in-chief of GQ Taiwan and the host of his first TV show, Fanshu Chudian Wang, all in the same year. Tsai continued to host a series of critically acclaimed TV shows such as Zhenqing Zhishu and Two Generation Company. Since 2004, Tsai and Dee Hsu co-hosted the talk show Kangsi Coming, which gained enormous popularity across the Chinese-speaking world. Additionally, Tsai used to be a frequent host of award shows, including twice at the Golden Bell Awards and seven times at the Golden Horse Awards. In 2009, Tsai co-founded the management company HT Entertainment, which was dissolved in 2023.[3]
After Kangsi wrapped in 2016, Tsai wrote and directed his first feature film, Didi's Dream (2017), starring Hsu. The film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office. Since then, Tsai has mainly been involved in mainland Chinese productions, frequently collaborating with Ma Dong and Ma's shingle Mewe Media, such as I Can I BB and Temptation of Banquet (Fanju de Youhuo). Tsai reunited with Hsu in 2018 for the mainland China-produced variety show Zhenxiang ba! Huahua Wanwu for three seasons, but they failed to replicate the popularity of Kangsi Coming.[4]
In July 2023, HT Entertainment, the management company co-founded by Tsai, was disbanded.[5] In 2024, on the 20th anniversary of Kangsi Coming, Tsai and Hsu considered reviving the show for three special episodes. However, the producer, James Chan, negotiated with the TV station to create a full season, which exceeded the hosting duo's original plan and ultimately fell through. Later that year, following his appearance on the Kangsi-inspired web talk show Mao Xue Woof, Tsai announced his retirement,[6] though he still makes appearances on variety shows afterwards.
Personal life
editTsai is openly gay.[7] In 2002, during an episode of Sisy's Show guest-hosted by Li Ao for Sisy Chen, Tsai came out after being asked by Li if he was gay and pointed out that much work remained in Taiwan's LGBT social movements.[8][9][10]
Bibliography
editTsai has written seven books, including:
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | English title | Mandarin title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Last Aristocrats | 最后的贵族 | Co-screenwriter | |
| 1990 | Song of the Exile | 客途秋恨 | Associate Producer | |
| 1993 | Fong Sai-yuk | 方世玉 | Co-screenwriter | |
| 2017 | Didi's Dream | 吃吃的愛 | Director, co-screenwriter |
Hosting
editAwards ceremony
edit| Year | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 38th Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Carol Cheng) |
| 2002 | 39th Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Carol Cheng) |
| 2003 | 40th Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Carol Cheng) |
| 2004 | 40th Golden Bell Awards | Co-host (with Dee Hsu) |
| 41st Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Chiling Lin) | |
| 2005 | China Fashion Awards | Host |
| 2006 | 43rd Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Patty Hou) |
| 2007 | 42nd Golden Bell Awards | Co-host (with Patty Hou) |
| 2010 | 47th Golden Horse Awards | Co-host (with Dee Hsu) |
| 2013 | 50th Golden Horse Awards | Host |
Variety show
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-1997 | 翻书触电王 | Host |
| 1998-2003 | 真情指数 | Host |
| 2002-2005 | 今天不读书 | Host |
| 2003-2005 | Two Generation Company 两代电力公司 | Host |
| 2004-2015 | Kangsi Coming 康熙来了 | Co-host (with Dee Hsu) |
| 2005 | View 360 观点360 | Host |
| 2005-2006 | 志永智勇电力学校 | Co-host (with Chiling Lin) |
| 2006-2007 | Happy Saturday 幸福星期六 | Host |
| 2014-2020 | I Can I BB 奇葩说 | Mentor |
| 2018-2020 | 真相吧！花花万物 | Co-host (with Dee Hsu) |
Music video appearances
edit| Year | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "陷阱 Trap" | Cindy Yen | |
| 2012 | "你存在 Existence" | Xin |
Awards and nominations
editGolden Bell Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Zhen Qing Zhi Shu | Best Host in a Culture & Education Programme | Nominated |
| Two Generation Company | Best Host in a Variety Programme | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | Nominated | ||
| Kangsi Coming (康熙来了) | Won | ||
| 2006 | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Historic sea tragedy revisited - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2005-01-27. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "先求生存，再造理想－台北之音 | 遠見雜誌". 遠見雜誌 - 前進的動力 (in Chinese). 1996-05-15. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "海灘娛樂有限公司". www.twincn.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "Kevin Tsai, Dee Hsu's new variety show fails to impress". 8days. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "海灘娛樂有限公司". www.twincn.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ TVBS. "蔡康永突「宣布引退」！ 驚拋震撼彈：我已經做夠了│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ http://ent.ifeng.com/idolnews/hk/200807/0701_1835_626790.shtml Dead Link Redirect - "蔡康永与男友同性恋14年2年后退出演艺圈_新闻_东快网". Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2008-10-28. Title: "Kevin Tsai and his boyfriend of 14 years plan to retire in 2 years time." News wired By Phoenix Television 07/01/08
- ^ http://gsrat.net/news/newsclipDetail.php?ncdata_id=3963 Title: "The First LGBT TV show in Mainland China, Kevin Tsai as Guest Host" News wired By Gender/Sexuality Rights Association Taiwan
- ^ http://www.castro.com.tw/news/t040322.htm Archived 2008-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Title: "Madam Wenying Wants to come out of closet?! Kevin Tsai voices up about unfairness in LGBT." News wired by TVBS - Taiwan 03/22/04
- ^ http://mail.nhu.edu.tw/~society/e-j/22/22-09.htm Archived 2008-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Title: "Double Standard: Media throws mud over LGBT." Article by 郭明旭 Forwarded by Nanhua University - Taiwan