For those who follow the current popular talk shows in China, 22-year-old comedian Chi Zi is definitely a rising star in the field. Fast-paced, hilarious and carefree, he’s often referred to in the Chinese media by two labels: “Furious of the Post-95 Generation” and “Talk Show Genius.” He’s feverishly endorsed by more than 810,000 fans on his Sina Weibo blog. “Roast” is the show that has made him a household name; the first season of his online talk show premiered in early January this year, ending up with 1.38 billion hits on its streaming platform, Tencent Video. Inspired by the U.S. series “Comedy Central Roast,” in which celebrities are mercilessly mocked (in good humor) by a range of comedians, “Roast” features a designated guest enduring rounds of jokes and mockeries courtesy of a panel, which blends talk-show and stand-up-comedy elements. With a second season of “Roast” in the works, in this exclusive chat with China Daily, Chi Zi opens up about himself. So why do they call you “furious?” Maybe I seem a bit hyper-excited on shows, so they call me that. How did you end up doing “Roast?” My company discovered me when I was performing in comedy clubs in Beijing two years ago. They asked me to try to record an episode of “Roast,” so I did, and they thought my performance was good. Are the scripts all written in advance? First I write it, then the staff revise it. Because improvisation is unpredictable, a performance can be hard to control. It’d also influence the panel and the whole ambience — the audience. So basically, we all perform according to the script. What was your environment like growing up? Is your family pretty comedic? Yes! But mainly it’s me who’s always joking around — my relatives all know that I’m a noisy and naughty boy. I grew up in Henan Province, came to Beijing around 7 to 8 years old, then went to school until high school. After the gaokao (the National College Entrance Exam), I stayed at home, then I started talk shows. So this has been my path. The environment I’ve grown up in has been very free. When you decided to skip university, were your parents supportive? I can’t say they were fully supportive … they considered it, then discussed. So it’s not like “whatever I say is right.” Everyone analyzed the situation rationally. What are you like in private? Like an introvert. I’m quite quiet when I’m alone or when I see complete strangers. (China Daily) | 