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The biggest money-losing event in showbiz of recent months is the theatrical production Snow Wolf Lake (雪狼湖).

Touted as impressive and sure to wow audiences, tickets for the musical sold out months before the Taiwan premiere at the newly opened Taipei Arena last Friday.

However, organizers forgot to take into account factors beyond their control.

Suffering from a serious cold, Hong Kong pop king Jackie Cheung (張學友) quit halfway through the show.

With his ego dented and feeling downcast, Cheung collapsed in tears backstage.

After the less-than-A-list second half performance, organizers postponed the show until tomorrow because Cheung didn't want audiences to pay top dollar for second tier fare.

Fans and stars support his insistence on professionalism, but the move hurt the show's organizers where it hurts most -- in the pocket.

Organizers are facing a big loss that may run into the billions of dollars for the delayed performances.

Annual report cards were handed out to local pop musicians this week. Mondo-pop king Jay Chou (周杰倫) lived up to his title and took first place with more than 220,000 record sales and Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) came in second.

However, after winning the best new performer award at the Golden Horse, Chou seems to have diverted his focus from music to film. Having been outspoken about his interest in becoming a movie director, Chou has again taken up the role of MV director, this time for three-piece girl band S.H.E.'s new album.

Chou was said to have used visionary filmmaker Wong Kar-wai's (王家衛) directing methodology of not giving the actors any direction before shooting and then letting them improvise. Sounds easy.

The on-and-off love affair between actors Shu Qi (舒淇) and Chang Chen (張震) has been proved to be a publicity stunt after Chang's real girlfriend emerged on the front pages of gossip rags this week.

Nicknamed Olivia, the plain-looking, 21-year-old girl works as a waitress at a nightclub Chang has invested in.

Wearing a greenish coat and brown boots that would have caught the attention of the fashion police, Olivia was caught by dutiful paparazzi walking out of Chang's studio and denied the rumored romance. The actor himself simply shrugged his shoulders and flashed enquiring members of the press a "what-you-are-talking-about" look.

Starlet Yan Shu-ming (嚴淑明) got really pissed off at reports earlier this week that claim she used to be a he and underwent a sex change operation in Thailand 10 years ago.

Transvestite celebrities Li Jing (利菁) and He Li-hsiu (何莉秀) both said their transvestite radar didn't pick up any signs from Yan. And Yan's former agent said the star did look like a Thai drag queen but wasn't a transvestite, based on his long-term observation.

Super model Lin Chi-ling's (林志玲) birthday wish has come true in six days. Making public her desire to find a bigger house for her whole family on her 31st birthday, on Nov. 26, Lin is rumored to be contemplating spending some NT$55 million on a spacious apartment near the former nightclub Second Floor. When asked about the possible relocation Lin's mom reportedly said, "We are just thinking about it, but with the news all over the place, we have to buy it now."

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