Galas Galore: The Best of the Rest

If you thought that CCTV held the monopoly on kitschy Spring Festival song and dance numbers, think again. During the days around and on Chinese New Year’s Eve, most major television stations host their own seasonal gala. From Beijing to Hunan, we’ve got Shaq doing kung fu, a “funny magic show” in Guangxi and we even found a rogue presenter.

Warren Buffet’s laid-back, brief rendition of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" may have earned him a slot on national TV, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Shaquille O’Neil’s kung fu performance for Hunan.

You may have avoided these galas out of fear that your Chinese-language skills will leave you out of the loop. But language should not be a problem when it comes to watching this slapstick skit.

If you kept up with Beijing news in the days before the CCTV Gala, you may have heard that long-time performer Zhao Benshan cancelled his appearance over health issues. Strange, then, to see him on stage at Liaoning’s gala.

Photo: gamefaqs.com