Under One Roof (Singapore TV series)

Last updated
Under One Roof
Under One Roof Singapore.jpg
Singapore's Funniest Family
Created byAndrea Teo
Wee Thye Seah
Simmon Tan
Seah Chang Un
Angelena Loh
Written byHEAD: Seah Chang Un
Simmon Tan
Angelena Loh
Esan Sivalingam
Tan Wei Lyn
Joanne Teo
Lynette Chiu
Lilian Wang
Directed byAndrea Teo
Wee Thye Seah
Colin Caines
Gim Hwee Chong
Khairul Anwar
Jennifer Tan
Starring Moses Lim
Koh Chieng Mun
Vernetta Lopez
Nicholas Lee
Andrew Lim
Norleena Salim
Zaibo
Daisy Irani
Rajiv Dhawn
Selena Tan
Country of originSingapore
No. of episodes137, including the episodes aired during Channel 5's 40th anniversary in 2003
Production
Executive producersAndrea Teo
Wee Thye Seah
Running time30 minutes (including commercials)
Original release
Network MediaCorp Channel 5
Release21 February 1995 (1995-02-21) 
15 July 2003 (2003-07-15)

Under One Roof was an English-language sitcom in Singapore. First aired in 1995, it was the first locally produced sitcom in Singapore. A critical and popular success, the show won the Best Comedy Programme or Series Award at the Asian Television Awards in both 1996 and 1997, a Best comedy actor award (Moses Lim in 1996), three best comedy actress awards (Koh Chieng Mun in 1996, Norleena Salim in 1997, and Vernetta Lopez in 1999) and was a finalist in the "Best Sitcom" category at the International Emmy Awards as well as the New York Festivals Awards. It paved the way for future Singaporean local sitcoms such as Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd and Police & Thief . It was also one of the most popular sitcoms in Singapore just like the other 2 popular Singaporean local sitcom and drama Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd and Growing Up respectively.

Contents

It starred a multicultural cast reflecting the ethnic makeup of Singapore: Moses Lim (Tan Ah Teck), Koh Chieng Mun (Dolly Tan), Vernetta Lopez (Denise Tan), Nicholas Lee (Ronnie Tan), Andrew Lim (Paul Tan), Norleena Salim (Rosnah Hassan), Zaibo (Yusof Hassan), Daisy Irani (Daisy Matthews), Rajiv Dhawn (Michael Matthews) and Anita Chow (Paul's love interest, girlfriend and wife) (Selena Tan).

Plot

The series revolves a multiracial cast of characters. The plot tells the story of a Chinese family living at a Bishan HDB flat at Blk 243, Bishan Street 22, Bishan North, and headed by Tan Ah Teck―the owner of a mini-mart and his family: Homemaker Dolly Tan and children Denise, Ronnie and Paul Tan ― along with their neighbours, namely married Malay couple Rosnah and Yusof Hassan, and Daisy Matthews, a lady of Indian descent, along with her younger brother Michael Matthews, where they all live in the same flat. [1] Joining them from Season 6 onwards would be Anita Chow, Paul's love interest, girlfriend and eventual wife who moved in with the Tan family in the Bishan HDB flat (from Ang Mo Kio HDB flat at Blk 222 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 in Season 5) and living beside them with Paul after the old owner sold the flat and they managed to purchase it and live with the Tan family as neighbours under one roof. Also Anita's father Bobby Chow who moved in with the Tan family after he and his daughter Anita sold the Ang Mo Kio HDB flat and lived in Paul's room due to his apartment in Hong Kong under renovation works for the time being in Season 6, and once they are completed, he eventually returned to live in his apartment in Hong Kong. Another new neighbour joining them would be Yusof's new second wife Ramona, who remarried and lived with her new husband Yusof after Rosnah died due to overeating and choking at a buffet restaurant in London, England whilst visiting the latter and her former husband Yusof's son Johari Hassan, who also eventually returned and lived with his father Yusof after completing his studies at University of London.

Cast

Release

The series has been exported to Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, France, and Canada. It was the first Singaporean series to be aired in Canada, and Australia on SBS.

It returned briefly during Channel 5's 40th anniversary in 2003 for Season 7. The sitcom then rebroadcast in May 2011 and aired on weekdays around 12pm before being dubbed into French.

In September 2011, 30 episodes of Season 1 were dubbed into French and aired in other countries worldwide. It became Singapore's first-ever English sitcom to be dubbed into a foreign language. Some episodes of Seasons 1 and 2 have been dubbed into French and aired in some other countries in 2011, becoming Singapore's first ever English-language sitcom to be dubbed into a foreign language. Season 3 was then dubbed into French in early 2012.

Singlish

This comedy is notable for its characters' use of Singlish (an English-based creole with Malay, Chinese, and other influences) in everyday conversation. Due to its use of Singlish, a pidgin English spoken in Singapore, the show came under pressure by the Singaporean government to use only "proper" English. This was mainly because of the worry that the younger school going viewers would start speaking Singlish more and bring down the standard of spoken English in Singapore. Another popular Singaporean sitcom that also received similar pressure was Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd where lead character Phua Chu Kang was criticised for speaking Singlish and this sitcom was put under pressure by the government to use formal English instead of intermittently incorporating colloquial Singlish.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ang Mo Kio</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in Singapore

Ang Mo Kio is a planning area and residential town situated in the North-East region of Singapore. Located approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) north of the Downtown Core district, Ang Mo Kio is the 3rd most populated planning area in the North-East region and ranks 8th in terms of population in the country overall. The planning area is located at the south-western corner of the North-East region, bordered by the planning areas of Yishun to the north, Sengkang to the north-east, Serangoon to the east, Bishan to the south and the Central Water Catchment to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishan, Singapore</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in Central Region, Singapore

Bishan, also known as Peck San, Bishan New Town or Bishan Town, is a planning area and matured residential town located at the northernmost portion of the Central Region of Singapore. Statistically, the area is ranked the 38th biggest in terms of geographical size and the 22nd most populated planning area in the country. It is located at the most Central point of Singapore, and it comprises Upper Thomson, Marymount, Shunfu, Sin Ming, Bishan North and Bishan East. There are also many private residential properties in Bishan. Bishan is ranked 15th in terms of population density. Apart from its boundary with the Central Water Catchment in the west, Bishan borders three other planning areas: Ang Mo Kio to the north, Toa Payoh to the south, and Serangoon to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hougang</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in North-East Region ----, Singapore

Hougang is a planning area and mature residential town located in the North-East Region of Singapore. It is the largest housing estate in Singapore based on land area, and is home to 247,528 residents as of 2018. Hougang planning area is bordered by Sengkang to the north, Geylang and Serangoon to the south, Bedok to the southeast, Toa Payoh to the southwest, and Paya Lebar to the east.

<i>Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd</i> Singaporean TV sitcom

Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd was a Singaporean sitcom. The sitcom centres on an eccentric general contractor with his trademark yellow boots, curly afro hair and large facial mole. While it carries the traditions of a sitcom, many unusual elements were used such as flashbacks, quick gags and celebrity cameo appearances. It is also the second locally produced English sitcom after Under One Roof. It paved the way for the third and final future Singaporean local sitcom named Police & Thief. It was also one of the most popular sitcoms in Singapore just like the other 2 popular Singaporean local sitcom and drama Under One Roof and Growing Up respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braddell MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Braddell MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station located on the North South line (NSL) in Toa Payoh, Singapore. Unlike the other stations on the NSL, the station has side platforms due to engineering constraints. Located underneath the traffic junction of Lorong 1 Toa Payoh and Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, Braddell station primarily serves the estates in the northern part of Toa Payoh New Town.

ABC DJ was a Singaporean sitcom on MediaCorp TV Channel 5. This show often makes references to sensitive issues such as culture shock and racial discrimination. It also features guest appearances from the cast members in 2 Singaporean local sitcoms Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd and Police & Thief in episode 7 of this show. Furthermore, this show was also a combination of storylines from popular Singaporean local sitcoms and drama such as Under One Roof, Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, Police & Thief, Living with Lydia and Growing Up respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-East Region, Singapore</span> Region in Singapore

The North-East Region of Singapore is one of the five regions in the country. The region is the most densely populated and has the highest population among the five, with Sengkang being its most populous town as of 2020 and Seletar as the regional centre. Comprising 13,810 hectares, it includes seven planning areas and is largely a residential region with 217,120 homes. Housing largely consists of high-density HDB public housing estates, however private housing is also present in the region. As its name implies, it is located in the north-eastern part of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Design, Build and Sell Scheme</span> Housing scheme in Singapore

Design, Build and Sell Scheme was introduced by the Housing and Development Board in 2005. Flats built under the scheme were meant for public housing and developed by private developers. They were built with supposedly better designs and mostly in matured estates such as Tampines, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan. There were 13 DBSS projects, totaling 8,533 units. The scheme attracted public outrage when a series of five-room DBSS flats developed in Tampines by Sim Lian Group Limited opened for sale at S$880,000, way higher than what could be afforded by most middle-class families. As HDB did not control the pricing of DBSS units being sold, the scheme was poorly received and subsequently suspended indefinitely.

<i>Police & Thief</i> 2004 Singaporean TV series or program

Police & Thief was a Singaporean sitcom that aired on MediaCorp Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. It was also the third and final locally produced English sitcom after Under One Roof and Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd. The comedy duo, being Suhaimi Yusof and Mark Lee, would later collaborate again and starred alongside together in Jack Neo movies Long Long Time Ago, Long Long Time Ago 2, The Diam Diam Era and The Diam Diam Era Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park</span>

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park or Bishan-AMK Park, is a major park in Singapore, located in the popular heartland of Bishan. Serving the residents of Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, the park sits entirely within Bishan, running along the Ang Mo Kio–Bishan boundary line, which is situated at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. In the middle of the park lies the Kallang River, which runs through it in the form of a flat riverbed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lim Kay Siu</span> Singaporean actor (born 1960)

Lim Kay Siu is a Singaporean character actor who has appeared in several Asian films, television series, and theatrical productions since the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Parliament of Singapore</span>

The 11th Parliament of Singapore was the previous Parliament of Singapore. The first session commenced on 2 November 2006 and was prorogued on 13 April 2009. The second session commence from 18 May 2009 and was dissolved on 19 April 2011. The membership was set by the 2006 Singapore General Election on 7 May 2006, and it has changed twice due to the deaths of Jurong GRC MP Dr Ong Chit Chung in 2008, and Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Balaji Sadasivan who was also the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Sin Ming is a housing estate located in the subzone of Upper Thomson in the town of Bishan, Singapore. It is roughly situated between MacRitchie Nature Reserve and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. It consists of both residential and industrial areas. Singapore's largest Chinese Buddhist temple, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, is located in the vicinity of Sin Ming.

Postal codes in Singapore have consisted of six digits since 1995, replacing the four-digit system introduced in 1979. They are administered by Singapore Post.

<i>Phua Chu Kang The Movie</i> 2010 Malaysian-Singaporean comedy film

Phua Chu Kang The Movie is a Singaporean-Malaysian comedy film and sequel to sitcoms Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd and Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd. The film was released in Singapore on 12 August 2010 and Malaysia on 26 August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Singapore Community Development Council</span>

The Central Singapore Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils (CDCs) set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishan otter family</span> Family of otters in Marina Bay, Singapore

The Bishan Otter Family, also known as the Bishan 10 and previously known as the Bishan 5, is a family of smooth-coated otters that reside in Marina Bay, Singapore. The otters have become a popular attraction since they were first spotted in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teck Ghee MRT station</span> Future Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Teck Ghee MRT station is a future underground Mass Rapid Transit station on the Cross Island line located on the boundary of Ang Mo Kio and Bishan planning areas, Singapore. It will be located underneath Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, between the junctions of Ang Mo Kio Street 31 and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.

<i>The Diam Diam Era</i> 2020 Singaporean drama film

The Diam Diam Era is a 2020 Singaporean comedy film directed by Jack Neo. Set in 1980s, it tells the story of the Lim family moving from kampong to HDB flats. Through major policy changes and political climate in the era, they experience great changes in their lives and environment. It is the sequel to Long Long Time Ago and Long Long Time Ago 2.

<i>The Diam Diam Era Two</i> 2021 Singaporean drama film

The Diam Diam Era Two is a 2021 Singaporean comedy film directed by Jack Neo. Continuing the story of the Lim family, set in 1988 election year, it tells the story as Lim Ah Kun, Osman and Shamugam form a seemingly funny but serious opposition party C.M.I, and compete in the fierce election showdown. It is the sequel to Long Long Time Ago, Long Long Time Ago 2 and The Diam Diam Era.

References

  1. "The Growing Up Cast Reveals A Family Secret In Another Reunion Show You Should Check Out". 8 Days. Retrieved 2022-01-20.