By Shen Liming

Bi Fujian is a CCTV producer, director and emcee celebrated for his popular Dream Theater. The A-list show is more than 10 years old and it is still all the rage. The latest evidence of the shows popularity is a witty skit at the 2009 CCTV Spring Festival Eva Gala, arguably the most popular variety show in the world by the number of audience. The skit was the centerpiece of the show and created by Zhao Benshan, a famed comedian who has been a regular star at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala for nearly two decades. The skit was about two unknown folk artists trying to get into Bis popular show. Naturally Bi appeared as himself in the small melodrama. The skit made the whole nation laugh happily.

Born in 1959 in Dalian, a port city in northeastern Chinas Liaoning Province, Bi spent his formative years during the Cultural Revolution. He joined the army in 1976 when he was working in a village. The year 1985 witnessed him stand at a crossroads of his life. He left the army that year and he wanted to go to college. There was an age limit and, for his age, he was only eligible for some art colleges. No college would be available to him in 1986 due to the age limit. But he hesitated. His father was the breadwinner of the family of nine. A sister and a brother were in the army. If he went to college, it would be an added burden to the familys financial situation. He really wanted to find a job and bring his wage back to the family. But his father asked him not to worry about money and said he would have to go to college. Bi Fujian passed the examination and got himself enrolled into Beijing Broadcasting Institute (todays China Media University).

After graduating from the department of directing in 1989, Bi Fujian was hired by CCTV. He did some brilliant jobs behind the scene, but he as an individual was not noticed by the viewers at all. Everything about his career and personal affairs went about smoothly. He was married and he had his own show and he had a baby girl in the summer of 1996.

The turning point of his career came about during the 1997 Spring Festival vacation he spent with his family back home in Dalian. While the whole family was watching television, the conversation turned to the topic of television programs of CCTV. Bi Fujians father commented he understood why “Everything in Everyday Life”, his sons program, was not popular. He believed the lack of popularity was attributed to the lack of audiences active and direct involvement. Bi Fujian asked his father for suggestions to get audiences to take part in the program most eagerly. The father had an idea: “Let them put on their own shows.” The father went on to explain the rationale behind his idea: “Take the people of your age group for instance. Many are artistically talented and many had dreams to become an actor or actress. But their dreams came to nowhere due to various reasons. If you offer opportunities for them to show their talents, it would be very interesting. If a whole family can put on a show, it would be more interesting.”

The idea and rationale got Bi Fujian thinking fast. The more he thought about the idea, the more he agreed it was a good idea. He slapped his thigh excitedly and concluded it could work. And he admired his father infinitely: “My father really has good ideas.” His father turned his head and looked at his son, and then commented casually and proudly, “That is why I am your father!”

Bi Fujian got into action as soon as he was back at CCTV. Preparations kicked off. Pretty soon, the green light came. At the word go, Bi and his colleagues started rehearsals and began to film the first show built on the idea initially put forward by Bi Fujians father.

They soon ran into a serious problem. The professional hosts from CCTV failed to create at atmosphere that would fit with the nonprofessional charms of the amateur talents. They tried a few more professionals. None seemed to fit. As time was running out, Bi Fujian, the producer and director of the show, worked as a guest host to get the show into shape. It was recorded and sent to the management for final examination and approval. He thought he would worry about a host later.

The feedback was Bi Fujian could stop worrying about finding a right host. The guys upstairs believed he was the right one.

In October, 1997, the curtain rose on Dream Theater. It was an instant success. The audience rating skyrocketed. While the viewers loved the program for its noise and excitement, they also loved Bi Fujian, a host who looked somewhat out of place on the stage, but was funny and perfect. Bi Fujians father nodded his approval: “Looking unprofessional is the highest proof of professionalism!”

Dream Theater gave birth to two other similar programs in 2004. They are produced, directed and hosted by Bi Fujian. Another version of Dream Theater is a seven-day gala for the week-long National Day in October, which is a hit too.□