Saturday night laughs

According to Feng, acting in films and on television allows the actor to deliver a performance with the help of editing and post-production work, such as sound and visual effects. However, for stage presentations, the performers have to act from the beginning to the end, in one go, without any opportunity to correct a mistake or start over.

Feng believes that a good comedian, such as Zhang, should have an open mind, be a creative thinker and also be good at observing life and extracting interesting materials from what they see.

"Comedy is a state of mind, and there is no age boundary," Feng says, adding that as long as someone has passion for comedy and can bring humor to others, they can be a comedian.

"Besides encouraging laughter, good comedy can make people think, and such performances won't be forgotten quickly," he adds.

He says he has learned a lot from the young comedians and also the other guests of the show, as they have helped to open up to the idea of comedy creation and imagination. "Acting is a career through which you live and learn. Watching these excellent content creators is quite helpful for my own artistic growth," he says.

"I really like the show, because on one hand, I get to participate in it and on the other, I can feel the joy of an audience member," Feng says.

The scenes that take place in the "green room" are also a highlight of the show. It shows the comedians chatting casually with one another while waiting to go on the stage, and their discussion about each other's performances.

Comedian and actor Chang Yuan is the presenter of the show, and also acts as a confidant and adviser to the performers and he spends a lot of time with them backstage.

"Unlike when I was a contestant in sketch competitions, I get to concentrate on observing and learning from the comedians," Chang says.

He offers his guidance to the comedians when discussing their performances, and at the same time, he gets inspiration for his own comedy from them. "We are excited to gather together to discuss creation," he says.

Speaking of the current situation for comedians in China, Chang thinks they are happy that there are always stages and opportunities for them to express their ideas.

"Comedy is an art form that the audiences will always need, no matter in which era, as it can help us forget about life's pressures and worries," Chang says.

He thinks comedians need to have a craftsman's spirit to create good work. "As the audience's aesthetics has improved, we, the artists, should also constantly improve our own aesthetics to keep pace with the times," he says.