Li Yong (; 3 May 1968 – 25 October 2018) was a leading
host
A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it.
Host may also refer to:
Places
* Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County
People
*Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman
* Michel Host ...
on
China Central Television
China Central Television (CCTV) is a Chinese state- and political party-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its 50 different channels broadcast a variety of programing to more than one billion viewers in six lan ...
(CCTV). He was known for hosting the programs ''
Lucky 52'', ''
Super 6+1'', and various editions of the
CCTV New Year's Gala
The ''CCTV New Year's Gala'', also known as the ''Spring Festival Gala'', and commonly abbreviated in Chinese as ''Chunwan'', is a Chinese New Year special produced by China Media Group (CMG). It is broadcast annually on the eve of Chinese N ...
. He was known for his unorthodox presentation skills and flamboyant outfits.
Biography
Li's family originated from
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
, but he was born and raised in
Urumqi,
Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
, in the far-west part of China. As a child, he was interested in painting. He excelled in the
National College Entrance Examination
The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), commonly known as the gaokao (), is a standardized college entrance exam held annually in mainland China. It is required for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the under ...
and planned to become an actor. From 1987 he studied radio at the then
Beijing Broadcasting Institute,
where he began dating
Ha Wen
Ha Wen (; born April 13, 1969) is a Chinese television producer and director of Hui heritage. Biography
Ha was born in Wuzhong, Ningxia; her father came from Benxi, Liaoning province. She works for China Central Television (CCTV) and is most fa ...
.
The two subsequently married; Ha has both produced Li's programmes for CCTV and been his publicist.
[english.eastday.com]
/ref> Li was a member of the Communist Party of China
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victorious in the Chinese Civil ...
. After graduating, he joined CCTV's in 1991 as a choreographer. While he also worked in news, he made his name in light entertainment. He lived in central Beijing and the couple had a daughter born in 2002.
Since 2001, he had been one of the six main hosts of the CCTV New Year's Gala
The ''CCTV New Year's Gala'', also known as the ''Spring Festival Gala'', and commonly abbreviated in Chinese as ''Chunwan'', is a Chinese New Year special produced by China Media Group (CMG). It is broadcast annually on the eve of Chinese N ...
, which had a regular audience estimated at several hundred million people each year. He was often used in on-screen and printed promotional material as the public face of CCTV.
Li was launched to fame by '' Lucky 52'', a CCTV-2
CCTV-2 is a Chinese free-to-air television channel operated by China Central Television in the People's Republic of China. The channel broadcasts programs on the economy and life services.
History
CCTV-2 was launched in 1973 as China's fir ...
gameshow with audience figures around 50 million. Based on a British gameshow format (possibly Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (often informally called ''Millionaire'') is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and ...
). The show aired on Saturdays at 6:55pm. The last air was 25 October 2008 and its repeats, as Li announced/CCTV announced that Lucky 52 would go off air.
He then added ''Super 6+1'', another gameshow broadcast on CCTV-2
CCTV-2 is a Chinese free-to-air television channel operated by China Central Television in the People's Republic of China. The channel broadcasts programs on the economy and life services.
History
CCTV-2 was launched in 1973 as China's fir ...
on weekend evenings after ''Xinwen Lianbo
''Xinwen Lianbo'' (, literally News Simulcast) is a daily news programme produced by China Central Television (CCTV), a state broadcaster. It is shown simultaneously by all local TV stations in mainland China, making it one of the world's most ...
''. A spin-off talent competition named ''Chinese Dream'' was aired during the October 2005 National Holiday, as CCTV attempted to respond to the success of rival Hunan TV
Hunan Television or Hunan TV () is a provincial satellite TV station officially launched on 29 September 1970 and is currently China's second-most-watched channel, second only to CCTV-1, owned by China Central Television, although Hunan STV occasi ...
's Super Girl. Despite the support of SARFT
The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) is a ministry-level executive agency controlled by the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its main task is the administration and supervision of state-owned enterpr ...
, which was alleged to have clamped down on rival programmes, the programme was considered a relatively failure and was folded back into ''Super 6+1''.
The World Brand Laboratory has recognized Li as the top TV host in China since their ranking began in 2004. His worth to CCTV was estimated at ¥500 million (at 2007 rates, £33m or US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
66m). The 2005 ranking described him as unconventional, "humorous and intelligent".
He was known for his flamboyant image and his looks, which were described as unconventional and even ugly. His on-screen dress was often formal men's attire with such modifications as sequins and brightly coloured linings. His hair was longer than was conventional for Chinese men of his age and status. The 2005 ranking noted his tendency to laugh in front of the camera, at his own jokes.
On 23 June 2016, it was announced that he would be the new presenter of ''The Voice of China
''The Voice of China'' () is a Chinese reality television singing competition broadcast on Zhejiang Television. Based on the original ''The Voice of Holland'', the concept of the series is to find new singing talent (solo or duets) contested by as ...
'', which would be entitled "Sing! China – 中国好声音".
On 29 October 2018, Li's wife Ha Wen
Ha Wen (; born April 13, 1969) is a Chinese television producer and director of Hui heritage. Biography
Ha was born in Wuzhong, Ningxia; her father came from Benxi, Liaoning province. She works for China Central Television (CCTV) and is most fa ...
revealed that he died in the United States on 25 October 2018 after a 17-month-battle with cancer. His funeral was held at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel
The Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel is a funeral home located on Madison Avenue at 81st Street in Manhattan. Founded in 1898 as Frank E. Campbell Burial and Cremation Company, the company is now owned by Service Corporation International. The fun ...
in New York City.
Controversies
In September 2006, Li appeared in an advertising campaign for Sunyard product of the Zhejiang Shiyou Timber Co. Ltd. The CCTV editorial committee omitted him from their "top ten" list for 2006, perhaps suggesting diminishing support within the organization's management. The original incident later prompted an investigation by CCTV's disciplinary inspection department, on the grounds that it breached SARFT
The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) is a ministry-level executive agency controlled by the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its main task is the administration and supervision of state-owned enterpr ...
guidelines. Ha denied that Li had endorsed the product, while admitting that he had attended a corporate publicity event for the produce.
On 12 January 2007, Li implied Shaanxi citizens were "lazy" on ''Lucky 52'', prompting criticism on China's influential bulletin boards
A bulletin board (pinboard, pin board, noticeboard, or notice board in British English) is a surface intended for the posting of public messages, for example, to advertise items wanted or for sale, announce events, or provide information. B ...
. He subsequently apologized on his blog. In the 2007 CCTV New Year's Gala
The ''CCTV New Year's Gala'', also known as the ''Spring Festival Gala'', and commonly abbreviated in Chinese as ''Chunwan'', is a Chinese New Year special produced by China Media Group (CMG). It is broadcast annually on the eve of Chinese N ...
, Li and other hosts made a series of mistakes just before midnight, giving rise to the infamous "Black Three Minutes".
The mounting pressure led to rumours in September 2007 that Li had resigned from CCTV. They were denied by ''Lucky 52''.Yahoo! China: Li Yong leaving Lucky 52 is rumour only.
He did resign a year later, and the show went off air on 25 October 2008. After a two-year absence, Li returned to CCTV in 2011 to host the
CCTV New Year's Gala
The ''CCTV New Year's Gala'', also known as the ''Spring Festival Gala'', and commonly abbreviated in Chinese as ''Chunwan'', is a Chinese New Year special produced by China Media Group (CMG). It is broadcast annually on the eve of Chinese N ...
. His wife
Ha Wen
Ha Wen (; born April 13, 1969) is a Chinese television producer and director of Hui heritage. Biography
Ha was born in Wuzhong, Ningxia; her father came from Benxi, Liaoning province. She works for China Central Television (CCTV) and is most fa ...
was the director of the Gala in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
References
External links
CCTV's official Li Yong introduction (in Mandarin via Google Translate)CCTV's official Li Yong portal (in Mandarin via Google Translate)Li Yong's blog on Sina.com*
ttp://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2006/02/07/cctvs-li-yong John Pasden (Sinosplice): CCTV's Li Yong
{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Yong
Chinese television presenters
CCTV television presenters
Chinese game show hosts
People from Ürümqi
1968 births
2018 deaths
Communication University of China alumni
Chinese Muslims
Deaths from cancer in New York (state)