The Best Malaysian TV Show Ever

Posted on February 18, 2008  in Amusement

I fucking hate how brainless and unoriginal today’s local television programs have become. On this website I often talked about how they sucked but there was one Malaysian made television show that was genius and undoubtedly original. I am writing this with love so you can expect less or no profanity ahead, motherfuckers. Oops.

“Jangan Ketawa” existed at the time when original Malaysian made programs roamed our heavy SINGER television sets (think “Siapa Bunuh Alice”). Iconic comedic characters of the late 80s like “Mr. OS” was slowly losing its magic towards the end of the decade and the next generation of unknown comedians emerged in a form of a sketch show. According to its Wikipedia page which has basically nothing, “Jangan Ketawa” was first broadcast on TV3 in 1991. Of course I was a shy, chuckling primary schoolgirl who loves nothing but to watch Maero Attack and Thundercats reruns on TV2 back then but this show has changed my perspective of previously bland local TV production.

To prevent from babbling excessively about how this sketch show rocked my socks, I’ll put this in point form so that it’s easy for you kiddies to understand.

The title

I don’t know about you guys but I think the title is pure genius at that time, at least. Simple yet meaningful. “Jangan Ketawa” simply means, “Don’t Laugh”. You guys deserve the Pulitzer Prize or something for best Malaysian TV show title that actually used Malay words, ever.

(The late) Moon & Dee

Personally, for me they were the funniest duo on Malaysian television (still unbeatable to this day). It’s sad that their harmless appearance in the show have sparked some controversy among stupid homophobic Malaysians who can’t tell a difference between personal choice and pure entertainment value. It was also very ironic how they threatened to ban the show (or was it really banned I’m not so sure), while in recent years pathetic “straight” actors in drag dropped like rabbit poop in Malaysian films and television and guessed what, they’re perfectly acceptable. Sad.

No matter how hard they act their asses off, those loser actors will never match Moon and Dee’s cleverness in making people laugh in a good way. Of course, the amazing duo’s jokes would have been very dated if used today but compared to current stupid “versatile” actors, they’ll definitely beat them flat out.

The colourful cast

Before the comedy scene is swarmed by unfunny half white people and Douglas Lim who think that they’re so hilarious and laugh at their own jokes, the cast of “Jangan Ketawa” is a mix of true Malaysian races and I found each and everyone of them was actually funny in their own way (not as super as Moon & Dee though). Lovable? Hell yeah!

Kampung skits

I believe the term “Rempit” didn’t exist in the early 90s and everything in kampung (Malaysian village) back then was truly how it should be, peaceful and serene. I’m not sure what our fallen youth that time was doing, probably drugs because being a “mat motor” was not that cool but at least from the outside, there were no obvious portrayal of moral decay. Put Moon & Dee in their getup, the kampung scene plus a killer storyline and you got a marriage of pure Malaysian comedic genius. Now our kampungs are swarmed with nothing but noisy Rempits and Akademi Fucktasia fanatics.

Well, not only rural scenes, “Jangan Ketawa” also had successfully (and cleverly) transformed everyday task like walking into your parked car into what I called “clever jokes”. Not everyone can be that funny and trust me, it’s not that easy to make someone laughed his ass off to tears.

Post Jangan Ketawa

The show were directed by Louisa Chong and has-been funny, thinner Harith Iskandar. I’m sorry but he was never that funny to me even in Jangan Ketawa, maybe Harith’s biggest stint is directing and he should stick to that and only that. His talk show on NTV7 “Thursday Nite Live” was so lame and pretentious it’s just painful to watch even one minute of it. I guess that is what happened when you tried so hard to follow those American late night talk shows. You just plain suck, plus all your full of shit half white guests too.

What could have been

The only remedy for Jangan Ketawa for me is my favorite British sketch, “Little Britain”. Every skits in Britain was acted out by comedic geniuses Matt Lucas and David Walliams, which I think a match for our own Moon & Dee. Hell, they should get their own show if not for the ridiculous homophobic slur. To think that our version aired more than 10 years before them, we can see how interesting Malaysian ideas can develop if we just keep our minds off copying other people and succumb to a disgusting phenomenon called SMS.

So to all ex Jangan Ketawa cast and production members, I friggin’ congratulate you guys for producing at least for me, one of the most original and entertaining show in Malaysian television history. Yes, the show will never be that successful today because Malaysian audience are so used to lame unfunny slapstick, racist, “loyar buruk”, sex driven and homophobic jokes that even an ounce of cleverness will damage their already fucked up sense of humor.

So if you like Jangan Ketawa, let me know how much your love extends for the show, okay?

p.s: Did you guys notice I only sweared like, once? Yeah, I love this show that much.

p.p.s: If you have no idea what Jangan Ketawa is, then you are definitely too young to read this so GTFO and continue spending your lunch money voting your favorite Akademi Fucktasia contestant.

p.p.p.s: I have nothing again half white Malaysians. Just that particular “comedians” circle (if they can be called one). Please, they’re far from being funny by like a universe away and they should stick to do what they’re best at, i.e model their asses off and shut the hell up.

Crappy Comments

11 Responses to “The Best Malaysian TV Show Ever”

  1. laeticia on February 18th, 2008 7:06 pm

    yeah i definitely remember Jangan Ketawa..it was one of my fav back then.

  2. SabahIsTheBest on February 21st, 2008 4:48 am

    I love jgn ketawa!

  3. Kevin Yeoh on February 21st, 2008 2:13 pm

    OMG!! Maero Attack!!! I miss that show :(

  4. starwalker on March 12th, 2008 8:14 pm

    Jangan Ketawa… i love this!

  5. Alucard on March 24th, 2008 8:19 pm

    i remembered jgn ketawa.. it was one of those ( i think the only one on tv3) that emphasize on random comedies, much different from others.. Then RTM strikes with GADO-GADO…

  6. ReubZ on April 18th, 2008 11:49 pm

    I remember Dr. Quack… loved the name so much at that time… a handful of Jangan Ketawa cast are currently legends in Malaysian comedy history… they should re-run it! at least as a tribute to the late Mr. Rambo.

  7. mellowed blues on April 28th, 2008 2:48 pm

    I loved that show. One of the few local TV shows that my parents never complain about. I think that is the most ‘muhibah’ Malaysian show ever to be shown on TV with stellar cast and talent from all races in Malaysia. Equal screen time for everyone.

    My fav is the late Rambo Chin!

  8. Lex on May 8th, 2008 4:33 am

    this brings back memories…

    moon & dee, that skinny bald guy and rambo…

  9. Fumbucker on May 9th, 2008 2:52 am

    I remember this one episode where Moon or was it Dee went into the shop and asked for soap powder Brand ‘X’.

    I still laugh about that.

  10. mi3 on May 28th, 2008 8:55 pm

    Fumbucker,yes..i remember that…’sabun cap X’ hahahaha..did u guys know where to get all those series? :(

    i luv late rambo chin….

  11. Faiz Khan on June 10th, 2008 1:06 pm

    Dear All,

    I Faiz Khan working in Hum TV no 1 entertainment chnnel of Pakistan, as an Associate Manager, the purpose of this email is that our officials will be planning to visit malaysia for the sales conference and they want to meet the team of Malaysia TV channel team to exchange the ideas about entertaining people.

    kindly if you are interested to have a meeting with our team it will be highly oblieged, after the confirmation from your site i will send your the date when we re coming.

    Awaiting for your reply.

    Faiz Khan
    Associate Manager Sales
    Hum Tv
    Cell No. 092-0333-3397859
    Off No. 092-111-486-111
    Email. faixkhan@gmail.com

Leave a Reply