When the Screen Brought Us Together
From black and white to colours bright,
We gathered round each special night.
The programmes faded, the years flew by,
But family memories never say goodbye.
When One Television Brought Everyone Together
There was a time when owning a television was a luxury.
We didn't have one at home, so whenever we wanted to watch television, we headed to the community centre.
There were two black-and-white television sets mounted high up, safely enclosed in cabinets. One showed Chinese programmes, while the other showed English programmes.
The cabinets were unlocked only at scheduled times. And if the staff happened to be late?
Aiyoooo! The residents would start KBKB!
Seats were first come, first served. No reservations, no special treatment. Best of all, watching was FOC!
But the community centre offered much more than television.
Children played together while adults exchanged neighbourhood news and updates. There were newspapers to read, badminton and table tennis to enjoy.
Shopping centres were few, money was tight, and going to the cinema meant buying tickets.
The community centre was our neighbourhood gathering place.
During televised political rallies, the crowds grew even bigger. Discussions sometimes became heated, but everyone seemed to have something to say.
We knew one another. We recognised familiar faces.
Today, we sometimes don't even know our neighbours. Smile at someone in the lift and they might look at you as though you're planning to rob them!
Aiyoh! Just smiling lah!
My Classmate, the Kungfu Hero
By secondary school, we still didn't have a television at home.
Then came the hugely popular Taiwanese drama 保镖 (Bao Biao).
Almost everyone in class was watching it, except a few of us.
Fortunately, I had my very own television commentator — a male classmate who patiently narrated each episode to me.
And not just narrated, hor!
He acted out the kungfu moves too!
One day, while demonstrating the hero's fighting stance, he suddenly stood completely still.
"OI! Bones locked ah?"
"No lah! That's exactly what happened in the drama!"
"Then what happened?"
"Please tune in to the next episode!"
The following day, I eagerly demanded an update.
"HOW AH? HOW AH? Anybody killed?"
"No. Both still standing on the hilltop."
CHOYYYY!
An entire episode, and those two fellows were still standing there, letting the wind do all the work!
I scolded him.
"Siao ah! Waste time and electricity watching two actors standing in the wind! Better watch Tamil movies!"
"You understand Tamil meh?" he challenged.
"At least they TALK, right? Your heroes stand there like mannequins!"
Tamil movies were much more exciting to me. Plenty of action, singing and dancing. One moment the actors were on an iceberg, next moment beside a volcano, then suddenly on a beach!
Change location, change baju somemore!
But my classmate wasn't ready to surrender.
During another enthusiastic kungfu demonstration, he borrowed my ruler and pretended it was a sword.
CRACK!
MY RULER BROKE!
And there began the greatest kungfu chase our school had ever witnessed.
One heroine chasing one hero with a broken ruler, while half the school watched!
Unfortunately, the hero seemed to possess 轻功 — the legendary art of flying.
Little Aunty? Too fat to run fast lah!
He escaped.
And believe it or not, that very same classmate is still my friend after 53 years.
From time to time, he still mentions 保镖 and those two heroes standing on the hilltop.
I haven't dared ask whether he remembers the broken ruler!
Our First Colour Television
Eventually, our family got its first colour television, rented from Rediffusion.
Wah! Hao lian siah!
After years of watching black-and-white programmes at the community centre, we finally had colour television in our own home.
But owning a television came with certain conditions.
Papa and Mama had their own family TV SOP!
National Day Parade? Everybody watch.
Chinese New Year's Eve programmes? Everybody watch.
The 9pm dramas? Family gathering time.
Election results? Aiyoooo, this one was Papa's specialty!
We would be sitting there with drooping eyelids, mouths wide open, yawning away.
"Papa, midnight already lah! How long more?"
"Wait! Must wait until our district's result comes out!"
Finally, when the result was announced, Papa excitedly called out:
"Ah Girl! Win ah! Win ah!"
But Ah Girl?
Already in ZZZZZ land!
Mama wasn't much better.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, everybody had to stay awake until midnight, wish one another Happy New Year, and only then could we go to bed.
Papa and Mama — 半斤八两!
Mama, the Television Critic
Mama loved Tamil and Hindi movies.
She didn't understand the languages, but that never stopped her from following the story.
"Aiyah! The bad guy chasing the good guy! Aiyoooo! The wife kena caught!"
"Mama, you understand Tamil meh?"
"Don't know woh! But I can understand the story!"
And she could!
Our family also faithfully chased local television dramas such as The Awakening and Samsui Women.
During Star Search, we even bet sweets on who would win.
Beauty contests were another family favourite, especially when everyone started giving their own opinions about the contestants.
One evening, Mama casually announced:
"Like that also can join beauty contest? I think I CAN WIN!"
Papa nearly dropped his wine cup!
And Ah Boy exclaimed:
"Mama! Popo so frightening!"
Aiyoooo! Our living room was more entertaining than the programme itself!
From Television to Videotapes
By the 1990s, our viewing habits gradually changed.
We had to save up before we could afford a VCR. Once we finally got one, Cantonese videotapes became our favourite entertainment.
Then came the drama marathons!
No need to wait for the television station to broadcast the next episode.
But I still wondered whether fast-forwarding ten episodes of 保镖 would reveal those two kungfu heroes standing on the same hilltop!
Over the years, technology continued to change.
The children grew up. Work, relationships, sports, games and other interests slowly took over.
The television remained in the house, but those evenings when everyone gathered around it became less frequent.
And eventually, we each found our own ways of being entertained.
Mama's Television Is Still Very the Good
Today, I spend most of my viewing time on YouTube.
But the television?
Still Mama's possession!
Despite her poor hearing and eyesight, she faithfully switches it on herself every evening to watch the news.
I don't know how much she actually absorbs.
Perhaps it's simply a familiar routine. Perhaps those voices remind her of Papa and the good old days when we all sat together.
She still has plenty to say about modern programmes.
"Nowadays, don't know what they're acting! Not like last time!"
And the singing?
"Like killing chicken!"
OI! I DIDN'T OPEN MY MOUTH HOR!
But Mama has one programme she still approves of.
The evening news.
According to her, it is still "GOOD! VERY THE GOOD!"
That's Mama's favourite expression whenever something meets her approval.
The Memories Beyond the Screen
Looking back, those were some of our happiest family times.
We didn't have computers, handphones or video games competing for everyone's attention.
We gathered around one television, watching the evening news, dramas, festive programmes and special events.
We laughed, argued, made predictions, teased one another and occasionally fell asleep before the programme ended.
Nothing was perfect, of course.
But those are the days I remember, and those are the moments I treasure.
From the community centre's black-and-white television to our first colour set, from videotapes to today's YouTube, the way we watch has changed enormously.
Yet the memories that remain strongest aren't always the programmes themselves.
They're the people who watched them with us.
We thought we were just watching television. We didn't realise we were making memories.
And every evening, when Mama switches on her news, perhaps a little piece of those family days is still there.
Very the good, Mama.
Very the good.
