The Finny win this past January for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, in the category of Outstanding Talk Series, hammers Ronny Chieng's name onto a recognition wall that, until recently, was an elite list of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver-titans of American political satire. Chieng has been a correspondent for the show for over nine years, and in November of last year, guesthosted it for the first time. Two months before that, he sold out The Star Theatre's 5,000 capacity for two nights. Compare this to David Bowie's 4,000 draw at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2004, and you get a sense of how far being a standup comedian now compares to "rock god" among aspirations.
Even following his Singapore education track would have landed him far from his rubbertapping farming roots. in Sitiawan, Perak. After Fuchun Primary, Pioneer Secondary, and Pioneer Junior College, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with commerce and law degrees. Accenture offered him a cushy gig in Kuala Lumpur as a technology consultant. He chose comedy-the kind of career choice that wakes Asian parents up at night, screaming.
At 38, he is part of a new class of global Asian celebrities-one that includes the likes of Awkwafina, Simu Liu, NBA star Jeremy Lin, and, of course, fellow Malaysian, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh. He worked his way up to sold-out shows with stints at Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival in the 2010s, famously getting noticed by Noah, who gave him the correspondent gig in 2015. "The Daily Show is like the Harvard Business School of comedy, where everyone's super on it," Chieng says. "Everyone there is great at their jobs, so it makes you better. When everyone around you is really good, then you have to live up to it."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2024-Ausgabe von Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2024-Ausgabe von Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Lights, Camera, Fashion
How does social media alter the way we consume fashion cues from our favourite TV shows and movies?
Beyond Beaches
Escape Down Under for everything your heart desires a romantic intimate wedding, or a cruise along Sydney's picturesque harbour. The world is your oyster and the best thing is you can eat it too.
Out Of This World
Celestial bodies animate autumn's most elegant spritzes.
Do You Fashion, Bro?
As the number of male fashion influencers swells, we look at what's driving this trend.
DOWN TO EARTH
In the spacious apartment of Geraldine Toh and Vincent Lim, art, design elements and an earthy sensibility commingle in perfect harmony.
CRUISING ALTITUDE
With his idiosyncratic Thai movies, dashing movie star good looks and frequent Paris red carpet appearances, Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat is bringing the best of Thailand to the rest of the world.
PUT A RING ON IT
Complete your love story with a beautiful engagement ring and exquisite bridal jewellery from storied London jeweller, GRAFF.
PERFECTING TIME
With its unique Atelier d'Antoine programme and an assembly of artisans, Jaeger-LeCoultre shows how it takes watchcraft into the next level.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
'The Shape of Colours', Hermès haute bijouterie collection, is a true technicolour dream.
HAUTE BIJOUX
The latest and most talked-about collections.