Dabao Leads the Professional Jury Panel, Rigorously Selecting the 'Strongest Stars'

Organized by 8TV, the inaugural "8TV CUCKOO Strongest Entertainment Awards", which combines the concepts of Star (Star) and Influence, symbolizes the comprehensive performance of artists in popularity, achievements, and cultural influence. The ceremony will be grandly held on August 8 (Friday) at 9pm at the Mega Star Arena in Kuala Lumpur. Kwong Wah Yit Poh is the official media partner for this event.

The professional jury panel is led by jury convener Dabao, bringing together seasoned industry figures, media professionals, musicians, and content creators, who will rigorously review every nominee list. In addition, some awards will be open for public voting, allowing audiences to decide their "strongest" favorite. Dabao shared in an interview that, as a “mediator,” her role is to ensure fairness and consistency throughout the judging process. “As convener, my responsibility is to ensure that the selection process for every award is fair and professional, and worthy of the value that these awards represent.”

Dabao admitted that, although she initially felt she was “not qualified”, her neutral position makes her a more objective coordinator within the jury panel. She revealed that each award is judged by at least three professionals with relevant credentials; for instance, music awards are evaluated by those with backgrounds in songwriting, arranging, and production, while acting awards are judged by directors, cinematographers, and professional actors.

Having been in the media and entertainment circles for many years, Dabao has observed that the biggest change in recent years is the rise of self-media. “Artists can now speak out and promote themselves on their own, and the types of work produced are more diverse and free, but at the same time, this also leads to an uneven quality of works, and audiences need to pick and choose content themselves.” During the judging process, she has experienced moments of “rationality versus emotion”: “Sometimes I am even stricter with artists I know well, as I expect their breakthroughs.” However, she believes the diverse and professional jury panel can balance different viewpoints: “Honestly, I also pay a lot of attention to data.”

Are there any “underrated” nominees? Dabao believes one should not just look at rankings or popularity, but rather judge artists’ efforts and performance more holistically by looking at their overall “package completeness.” “Artists who truly keep working hard, have substance, and execute well will naturally be noticed.”

As for the meaning of the word “Strongest,” Dabao stresses that influence is the key. “Winners must not only have works but also positive influence. This influence should not remain within the entertainment circle—it should be able to resonate with society at large.”

Dabao hopes that the "Strongest Entertainment Awards" will not only become an annual highlight for the local entertainment scene but also encourage continued creativity and healthy competition within the industry. "The jury panel should convey fairness and expertise, and also be a driving force moving the local entertainment industry forward. We’re envisioning that in the future, different media can take turns organizing the event, passing it down like the Olympics."

On another note, the shortlist for three major awards at the "8TV CUCKOO Strongest Entertainment Awards" will be announced this Friday (July 11) at 6:30pm on the 8TV entertainment program "8860 News". The announced awards cover film, television, music, variety, news, and new media, including the “CUCKOO Star Power Top 30 Strongest Artists Award”, which combines professional jury judgment with public voting to honor artists who show positive influence both in their main fields and on social platforms; the “Top 10 Strongest Chinese Songs Award” will be chosen by public voting for the most popular and widely sung Chinese songs; and the “ADONIS Aimeiya Top 10 Strongest Chinese New Year Songs Award” will focus on the most popular festive songs. The complete shortlist, award details, and voting methods will be revealed during the program and will also be uploaded to the official awards website: www.8tvnews.my/awards.