Nick and Esther: Their Story

Home Sweet Home 第10集嘉賓 - 張家輝
Nick's 2009 interview with Lawrence Cheng
He talks about how he got together with Esther, how they supported each other through the two miscarriages and what he wants to tell Esther and their daughter 13 years from now.

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Credit: nowtv


Posted on 02/17/2009

News Buzz: Long Time Friends Gather At Beast Stalker Premiere

At the premiere of Nick's latest movie "Beast Stalker", we see a bunch of familiar faces :)
I haven't seen such a "grand" get together since Ada's wedding.
Especially happy to see Bobby sit next to Esther :D

In attendance were: Ada Choi, Max Zhang, Jessica Hsuan, Bowie Lam, Bobby AuYeung, Nick Cheung, and Esther Kwan.

This looks like the 2008 A Recipe for the Heart x Secret of the Heart mix ...


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Posted on 12/01/2008

Article: Esther Rejected By Boyfriend

From the MP archive base, many years ago :)

Please give credit and link back if article is re-posted.

Posted on 12/01/2008

Best Selling Secrets - Sitcom Overview

Best Selling Secrets, sitcom overview

Year 2007 marks the arrival of a new sitcom, the return of Esther Kwan, and the start of something that would eventually be loved. Starring Esther, Best Selling Secrets was a sitcom that undertook high expectations from the very start. After leaving TVB for seven long years, clearly all the attention and focus were set on TVB Best Actress Esther Kwan. And of course Esther did not disappoint the audience. Esther plays Wong Ka Nam, daughter-in-law to Tai Chi master Ng Hang (Elaine Jin), mother to Xing’s trainee photographer Luk Jit (Vin Choi), long time friend and crush of Yin's Group's CEO Vincent Yin Wai-Shun (Geoffrey Wong), and new rival of advertising company Xing's CEO Diana Man On-Na (Elvina Kong).

In the past nineteen years, Nam has been on bad terms with Hang. Hang blames Nam for not being a good mother to Jit, thus Hang doesn’t let Jit know that Nam is in fact his mother. With the help of Vincent, Nam becomes Jit's superior, and the mother and son start working together at Xing. Nam is constantly guilty for not being there for Jit, thus she hopes to make it up to him by treating him extremely well. Not knowing the truth, Jit once thought Nam had a crush on him. Misunderstandings soon cleared up and Nam was able to rebuild her relationship with Hang and Jit by moving in to live with the two. Being able to fix her relationship with her family, Nam has Vincent to thank. Vincent has secretly loved Ka Nam for nineteen years, but has kept his love to himself because she was the wife of his best friend, Luk Kin. Even after Kin passed away Vincent still dared not confess his feelings for Nam, afraid that it might ruin their friendship, and also because Nam only has Kin in her heart. Vincent chose to stand by Nam and be a silent protector. Nam eventually finds out about the crush, but insists that they remain friends because she refuses to let anyone in her heart. Nam believes that no one can take Kin's place in her heart. Only after going head to head with Kin’s suspected lover Lai Poon Yu-Yuk (Louisa So) and meeting with psychiatrist Chan Chi Yin (Sunny Chan) did Ka Nam realize that Vincent was in her heart all along. She learned that losing her loved one doesn’t mean her love world has come to an end. In fact, it should teach her how to love properly in the future. Kin will never disappear in Nam's heart, but it is really time to move on, sealing Kin in that special place in her heart and set her eyes towards the future. Nam learns to cherish her relationship with Vincent and let her feelings lead the way, taking over her always conscience mind. The two eventually gets married and expecting a baby girl.

As the sitcom progressed, the main focus was no longer only set on Esther. More familiar names regained the audience’s liking. More familiar faces were finally being recognized. The sitcom gained success because it has certain aspects that manage to capture the audiences’ attention and manages to touch the audience’s heart. Hilarious plot allowed the audience to relax after a long day of school or a stressful day at work, while intense plot keeps the audience glued to the television screen.

As time passed, the audience eventually watched the sitcom on a daily basis; watching it became a habit and a must-do. The characters were eventually humanized because we can always find someone we know that resembles certain aspects of certain characters. Best Selling Secrets was no longer politics based; the working environment of the office was no longer isolated. The audience became a part of Xing’s bunch. As we watch the evolution of each character, we ourselves are also changing. Just how much of our daily lives are we missing out on? Are we taking too much for granted? What exactly are we searching for in life?

Diana and assistant Kau Chun (Tsui Wing) has worked together for over ten years. In this past decade she has never considered him to be anything more to her but a useless follower. His contributions to her always went unnoticed. She knew he was loyal to her, she knew he liked her, but she didn’t think she needed anyone by her side. Everything changed when Chun left her to work for Vincent, only then did she realize his importance. Only after the two had parted did Diana begin to see Chun’s true potential, only then did she realize that her feelings for Chun had long evolved into love. Even though the two were eventually able to get together, Chun knows that they’re at two different social levels. Chun painfully leaves Diana in hopes to one day return, providing her with the best in the world. His hard efforts paid off and he returns as Tony Ko, CEO of Mag Castle, a hotel empire. The two walk off hand-in-hand as they excitedly greet the next phase in their lives, marriage.

David Mo Kei-Yung (Stephen Au) was Xing’s senior administrative assistant. He never had much ambition in his life, at least not after his ex-wife (Queenie Chan) dumped him after making all his money hers. Yung admired Wong Ka Nam and once wanted to court her because he thought she was interested in him. Yung backed off once he discovered that everything Nam did was for her son Jit, she had no interest in starting a new relationship after her husband passed away. Yung’s true destined one was actually Diana’s competitor and sister Queenie Man Shing-Kwan (Florence Kwok). From encounter to endless quarrels, the two had developed a little something for each other and eventually confronted their true feelings. However, Queenie is still an ambitious woman who hungers for more power and social standard. She accepted childhood friend, Vincent’s older brother, Yin Wai Pun (Timothy Cheng)’s love, knowing that she can use him to gain power. Saddened by Queenie’s two timing attitude, Yung leaves Hong Kong to start a new career with Kau Chun. Before Yung's departure, Pun reveals that Queenie's one and only love was Yung. Yung still decides to leave Hong Kong to persue his career. However, within two weeks Yung returns. The two eventually weds and becomes parents to two adorable children.

After graduating from high school, Jit negotiated with grandmother Hang to let him work at Xing for a period of time before starting university life. He meets Maymay Yuen Mei-Yiu (Jeanette Leung) and the two quickly become lovers. Kawaii Ho Tung-Tung (Yoyo Chen), who also likes Jit, is sadden when she discovers that her best friend Maymay and her crush Jit are now a couple. She sadly leaves the company to study photography with a famous Japanese photographer. She returns shortly after Jit and Maymay breakup, she is hired as Xing's photographer and works with Jit at Xing again. Upon her return, Jit discovers a completely different Kawaii, a mature and evolved Kawaii. He began to see the other side of Kawaii which he failed to see before. Jit started to like Kawaii, so he confronted her and the two finally became a couple. As their relationship progressed, their feelings of love towards each other slowly subsided. They realized this when Jit and his new colleague Dai Ngan Loi (Aimee Chan)’s friendship got a little too complicated to explain. The three eventually becomes good friends; they realize that it was best for the three of them to stay that way.

The character Doris (Rachel Kan) originally had limited screen time, she was arranged to be Vincent’s secretary at Yin’s Group. As the sitcom progressed, she eventually became Nam’s and Diana’s secretary respectively. Don't be fooled by her workaholic personality, after suffering from marital failure, she has lost faith in all men. She spends all her time devoted to her work, wanting to become an independent woman who relies on herself. Everything changed when Maymay’s brother Yuen Man Cheung (Wayne Lai) and Hang’s then boyfriend Tin Joi Shan (Bill Shek) opened a canteen to serve the workers of Yin’s Group and Xing. At first Doris and Cheung hated each other, but the two eventually became close friends when they started to realize that they shared similar experiences. Their friendship blossomed into love and they became an inseparable pair.

Receptionist Lily Lau Ting-Ying (Mikako Leung), Gary Lee Man-Kei (Jim Tang), Marco Lau Ka-Wor (Raymond Chiu), Michelle Tam Yuk-Ying (Janice Shum), Candy Chung Oi-Ting (Summer Joe), Ann Tse Yan-Yan (Helena Wong) all once worked for Xing. They eventually left Xing to persue their desired career. Over this past year, the group slowly gained popularity amongst the audience as each one of them was featured in certain episodes of the sitcom.

Best Selling Secrets was original and creative; it has brought much laughter to the audience in the past year. However, it seemed to completely turn downhill after Esther’s departure. The only thing to look forward to was the progression in the relationships between Diana and Kau Chun, Doris and Cheung, along with Yung and Queenie. However, the above pairings' screen time was also quite limited. In the sitcom’s last two months, the scriptwriters turned it into quite a horrifying "thing". The usually thoughtful and considerate Nam suddenly proposed to Vincent. Even though I'm a Vincent-Nam fan, this still seems a bit strange. Nam proposing? Well, I guess this is the best we're given. Hang broke up with Shan with rapid speed, claiming that their feelings for each other suddenly changed. Vincent’s father, Yin Ying Ming (Chan Hung Lit) quickly became Hang’s love interest even though she had no feelings for him not long ago when he confessed to her. Ming is then unexpectedly sucked into a possible lawsuit, wasting three precious episodes that could be used to explain other relationships in the sitcom. Pun entered into the relationship between Queenie and Yung only during the last week of the sitcom, kissed Queenie in one episode and broke up with her in the next, after discovering that her true love is Yung. Chun and Yung left their loved ones to go work elsewhere in one episode, while two years had already passed by in the next episode. The finale turned into something completely unwatchable. Xing creative director Wai Yat (Brian Burrell) and wife Ming Leung (Angela Tong), along with Vincent and Ka Nam are expecting their first baby [I guess that's a good thing]. Yung and Queenie are parents to two babies. Everyone except Yat left the company, Nam’s evil brother Wong Kwok Lap (Samson Yeung) suddenly turned good, Chun became the CEO of a famous hotel empire, he and Diana got back together and married two minutes before the sitcom ended. Everything is rushed and became quite unrealistic. Even though the sitcom finishes with a happy ending, I must say it’s quite a messed up happy ending. Nevertheless, at least it's a happy one.

Best Selling Secrets has indeed created many wonderful memories and will be remembered in our generation as an enjoyable piece of work. Many of the storylines were extremely well written, and probably could have been even better if Ka Nam's character wasn't arranged to leave the sitcom. Of all the relationships, my all-time favorite has to be the Vincent-Ka Nam love chase, followed by the adorable yet tempting Diana-Kau Chun love. Over these past 300+ episodes I've obtained and found a lot: my previous love for Esther Kwan, re-introduction of Elvina Kong, Stephen Au, and Tsui Wing, addiction to the ending sub "Only Once" even after listening to it for over one year, I'm still in love with the song. Even though university life is stressful, Anime hopes to seek a balance between work, homework and the world of TVB. Anime anticipates the new sitcom starring the cast of Best Selling Secrets and awaits that Esther will one day return to TVB.

Anime's Favorites

Favorite Episode – Episode 247: Who Is Kin’s Most Loved

Best Scripted Episode – Episode 241: The Position Part II

Most Anticipated Episode – Episode 247: Who Is Kin’s Most Loved

Most Comfortable Episode – Episode 140: Full Moon Union

Most Enjoyable Episode – Episode 252: My Girlfriend Is Wong Ka Nam

Most Heartbreaking Episode – Episode 258: How To Say Goodbye

Most Hilarious Episode – Episode 146: The Casual Wear Competition

Most Intense Episode – Episode 246: The Mystery of Love

Most Meaningful Episode - Episode 241: The Position Part II

Most Romantic Episode – Episode 257: Ka Nam’s Wish

Most Touching Episode – Episode 35: Doraemon’s Ending Part II


Also Recommended Episodes

- Episode 69: Return Of The Prince
- Episode 142: The Representation of Power
- Episode 151: Burglar And Superman
- Episode 164: Son Against Mother
- Episode 183: Falling In Love With Master Ng
- Episode 187: Hard To Love
- Episode 210: The Letter Never Received
- Episode 212: Tale Of Baby Bear
- Episode 250: Vincent's Most Loved One
- Episode 265: Ka Nam's Reply
- Episode 297: Lovers At Long Last
- Episode 298: At All Cost
- Episode 301: Jealousy Flies
- Episode 311: Queenie's Game
- Episode 317: Becoming Truth
- Episode 334: At Fate's Hands
- Episode 335: The Love Testing Challenge
- Episode 342: Cheung's Dream




___________________________________________
* Of course the above opinion and favorite list may be slightly bias as it’s my personal liking and I am a super Esther fan.

Posted on 08/11/2008

Best Selling Secrets Epi 364 Summary

同事三分親 大結局‧第364集 ‧開花結果
Best Selling Secrets Finale - Epi 364 - The Happy Ending

Time passed by fast, it has been two years since Jit (Vin Choi Kei-Chun) left Hong Kong. Today is a special day, most past and present Xing colleagues all gather at Yin's canteen. Jit realizes that even though everyone has changed quite a bit, their friendship remains the same. Vincent (Geoffrey Wong Chi-Hung) brings everyone happy news, Ka Nam (Esther Kwan Wing-Ho) is pregnant.

Pun (Timothy Cheng Chi-Shing) originally planned to negotiate a collaboration with a world class enterprise, but discovered that Joe & Jim, which recently had been accquired by Dai Kam (Lo Lok Lam), is already in negotiation with the enterprise. Even though Kam blocked out all of the information regarding this collaboration, Diana (Elvina Kong Yan-Yin) still tries her best to find out more about the enterprise, if hopes to defeat Kam. Diana found out that the project controller is an asian named Tony Ko. While Diana arrives at a hotel to purchase the controller's favorite egg tarts she discovered that the controller himself is residing in that very hotel. It's revealed that the CEO, Tony Ko, is in fact Kau Chun (Tsui Wing). More good news arrive just when everyone celebrates Kau Chun's success, the enterprise's chairman plans to give away his whole business to Kau Chun. In the press conference annocing the hotel's partnership with Yin's, Chi Cheung (Lau Kong) tells Diana that before the conference ended, Kau Chun had asked him for his consent in proposing to her. Kau Chun finally met Cheung's expectations, gaining Cheung's long awaited permit. Blessed by family and friends, Diana and Kau Chun enter another phase in their lives - marriage.

Episode summary translated by Anime Master 179002 @ Esther Kwan's Realm.
Please give credit and link back if translation is re-posted.

Best Selling Secrets Epi 361 Summary

同事三分親‧第361集 ‧魔女之條件
Best Selling Secrets - Episode 361 - Queenie's Conditions

言氏會議室喜氣洋洋，原來為信在荷蘭順利完成工作外，更成功與當地政府洽商新計劃令言氏獲利。當英明準備好大肆慶祝之際， 為信的助理竟向眾人說出為信並沒有回港。為信藉視像向眾人解釋，原來在上機前，他收到了家嵐的電話；家嵐說她在意大利小鎮中看見一所教堂，更說想與為信在 那裡結婚。因此為信決定放下 CEO 的職務，直接飛往意大利迎娶家嵐。

Yin's conference room is enlightened with happy atmosphere, it's because Vincent managed to negotiate a new partnership with the Holland government. Just when Ming prepares to celebrate this occasion, Vincent assistant tells everyone that Vincent did not return to Hong Kong. Vincent explains the whole situation in a webcam conversation. Vincent received a phone call from Ka Nam before boarding the plane, Ka Nam told Vincent about a church in a small town in Italy. Ka Nam tells Vincent she wants to get married there, thus Vincent put aside his CEO duties and flew over for the wedding right away.

Episode summary translated by Anime Master 179002 @ Esther Kwan's Realm.
Please give credit and link back if translation is re-posted.

Posted on 08/02/08

Esther @ Best Selling Secrets Episode 357 Cap

In this episode, when Vincent showed Jit an email sent from Ka Nam, Jit comments that Ka Nam didn't send any pictures with her in it. Vincent excitedly points at the dark shadow on the far right hand corner, telling Jit that "Ka Nam's finger" is in the shot.

Posted on 08/02/08

New Layout

July 2008 - A special month for Esther, a new change for Esther Kwan's Realm...

Thanks to Aeris @ TVB Reflections for making the beautiful header. I started working on the new layout once Aeris sent me the header, hope everybody likes the new look.

Best viewed in Firefox, as with most layouts, there always seems to be a difference in how it appear on various browsers.

Please leave comments on the new layout as I'd like to know your suggestions and treasure your opinions. If you're really having problems accessing this blog, please also let me know.


Posted on 07/21/08

07. 25. 08.
An extra surprise from Aeris, a new link button ^-^

Birthday Blessing From Anime

Esther Kwan Wing-Ho,
a name that derived from a star goddess...
a name that represents a life saver...
a name that symbolizes originality...
a name that brings happiness...
a name that creates laughter...
a name that shows you are...

EXCEPTIONAL
SENSATIONAL
TALENTED
HEAVENLY
ELEGANT
REMARKABLE

KINDHEARTED
WILLING
ATTRACTIVE
NOTEWORTHY

On this special day, Anime would like to wish Esther and her family
everlasting happiness and forever health!


Posted on 07/16/08 12:00 a.m. HK time

News Buzz: Best Selling Secrets Finale Info

ARTICLE TRANSLATED BY ANIME MASTER 179002.
PLEASE DO NOT REPOST ELSEWHERE.

For more pictures, please visit TVB Index.

TVB sitcom Best Selling Secrets will air its last episode on August 7th. Yesterday, the cast gathered at the church to film the ending, where they witnessed the marriage of Elvina Kong Yan-Yin and Tsui Wing. Vin Choi Kei-Chun and Yoyo Chen Chi-Yiu acted as the best man and the maid of honor. Elaine Jin Yan-Ling, Aimee Chan Yan-Mei are amongst the attendants. The sitcom originally starred Esther Kwan Wing-Ho, Elvina Kong and Elaine Jin as the three leads, thus Esther's absence does add slight imperfection to the ending.

ESTHER DENIES PREGNANCY

Esther's assistant explained that because Esther damaged her tendons, she needs to rest and is unable to join the cast for the finale. Her assistant emphasizes that she is not pregnant, but rather enjoying her holiday with her family.

When asked to comment about the imperfection without Esther, Elvina says, "It's a pity she can't join the finale, but I wouldn't call it an imperfection because the scriptwriters have already arranged her character to marry Geoffrey Wong Chi-Hung's character somewhere else." Elvina did not inform husband Jackson about the kiss with Tsui Wing, claiming that she knows her limits and extent. Elvina loves her role as Diana very much, claiming that she loves the character more than herself, thus she went and made herself an "I Love Diana" cap.

Elaine claims that Esther's departure from the sitcom influenced her a lot because the two had many scenes together. She had hoped that Esther would return, Elaine says "I really don't know why she won't return for the ending, overall it was great working with everybody."

TVB executive Catherine Tsang Lai-Chun was present at the finale filming also, when asked to comment on Francis Ng Chun-Yu's remark about filming TVB series is based on "relationships" with the executives, she replies, "People think too much, it's all about ability. We've used Francis in the past, there is no need to worry much."

Catherine Tsang also announced that all of the BSS cast will return for the new sitcom in September.

* If you ask Anime, I'd say health and family are more important. Esther needs her rest and her fans should understand her. Elaine really needs to get her facts straight. If the scriptwriters really arranged Ka Nam and Vincent to get married, then I guess that counts as the "satisfactory" ending Esther promised in her interview. Even though it is sad that we can't see Ka Nam 's return, I wish Esther all the best with Nick and Brittany.

**New sitcom length rumored to be 260 episodes, not the originally planned 100 episodes. The exact number, we shall see in September.

***Side note, why is Vin and Yoyo the best man and maid of honor? Wouldn't Stephen Au Kam-Tong, Rachel Kan Mo-Wah, or even Diana's competitive sister Florence Kwok Siu-Wan be better candidates?

無铫處境劇《同事三分親》將於8月7日播出最後一集，昨日全劇演員拍攝大結局，講述江欣燕與徐榮有情人終成眷屬，蔡淇俊及陳自瑤等出任伴郎伴娘外，金燕玲及陳茵媺等人到教堂觀禮。可是此劇原本由關詠荷、江欣燕及金燕玲三人為主，但關詠荷早已辭演，令這集大結局未能圓滿。

關詠荷否認懷孕辭演

關詠荷昨日透過助手回覆，解釋最近扭傷筋骨關係，所以才辭演休養，並強調不是懷有身孕，現在享受假期之中。

江 欣燕說：「是有些可惜，但不會不圓滿的，劇情有交代她與黃子雄在外地結婚。」江欣燕指今次與徐榮拍咀戲無通知丈夫，自言好有節制。 江欣燕表示十分捨不得《同事》完結，只因她很愛Diana一角，她更笑說愛Diana多於自己，更製作了一頂印有「I Love Diana」的帽。

金燕玲稱關詠荷辭演對她影響很大，因為二人有很多對手戲，唯有希望對方快些重回崗位。金燕玲更說：「結尾也不見人真的不知原因，大致上人人合作都開心。」

製作部總監曾勵珍昨日親臨監場。談到吳鎮宇大爆無铫拍劇是靠關係，曾勵珍否認說：「大家想多了，始終講實力的，以前也常用吳鎮宇，不需要顧慮太多。」

曾勵珍公布好消息，指《同》劇所有演員會演出下齣處境劇。

Image & Original Chinese Text Credit: MP, OD, Sun, Wenweipo

Posted on 07/14/08

Esther @ Best Selling Secrets Episode 345 Caps

Brief mentioning of Ka Nam in episode 345 of Best Selling Secrets when Dai Kam hired private detectives to investigate Hang's family background.

*I must thank my friend Jin from HK for collecting most of the BSS caps for me all this way. Couldn't have had the time to manage all the my blogs without your help :)

**By the way fans of BSS, HERE is the cast list for the filming of the finale, but Esther's name isn't on the list...I don't know what to say :(

***However, MingPao reported that Geoffrey and Vin recently filmed BSS @ HK airport, could this mean something? I sure hope there is a surprise, or at least mention Ka Nam's name in the upcoming episodes ^_^

Posted on 07/12/08