Mai steps out on her own

A month after word got out that the TV reality show “The Star” was losing its three original judge-commentators, their replacements have been formally named.
Stepping into the shoes of Phech Mar, Sutheesak “Jo” Padkeetewa and Ornapha “Mah” Krisadee for the show’s 12th season will be TV host-model Metthinee “Look Ked” Kingpayom, singer Pongsak “Aof” Rattanapong and Yutthana “Ted” Boonorm, the guy who puts on the annual Big Mountain music festival.
This is the first time there’s been a changing of the guard at “The Star”. That news broke when Jo and Mah posted it on the social media. “We’re fired!” Mah announced on Instagram, while Jo added that the show would also undergo a format change.
“It’s been 11 years and, yes, we have somehow become like a logo of the show,” Jo wrote. “We do feel an attachment to the show and all the past contestants.” He explained that the producer had summoned the three of them and then declared that he’d never be summoning them again, but Jo was big-hearted about it. “We understand – we’re ‘old’ and they might need someone ‘young’ and fresh.”
The rumour was that the producer wanted a major revamp to boost ratings in the heat of digital-TV competition.
The three new judges are indeed a bit younger. Yutthana is well known in music industry and has been referred to as “Chaopor Indie”, meaning the godfather of Thai independent music. Look Ked is very much a TV insider as a star of “The Face Thailand”, where she’s got a huge fan following. And Aof is a popular singer who got his start on another tuneful reality show, “Academy Fantasia”.
Feedback is expected from “Star” fans momentarily, but we expect them to give the newcomers the benefit of the doubt and a chance to prove themselves. The commentators know they’ve got big shoes to fill. Yutthana tells Soopsip he’s very excited. “How do I feel? I feel like a student wizard attending Hogwarts for the first day!”

Mai steps out on her own

Change is normal in showbiz, of course. Even as “The Star” swaps out its judges after more than a decade, superstar Davika “Mai” Hoorne has officially parted ways with Channel 7.
She can do anything she wants now, having risen from modest income from various TV series to become Nang-ake pan larn – the billion-baht actress – and “queen of the presenters”, referring to her commercial endorsements.
Speculation is rife that she’s gone from Channel 7 for good, since her 10-year contract expires on December 31. She’s decided to shun all future long-term contracts and remain independent, according to her manager, Wikorm “Klao” Photrakul. “There’s no misunderstanding between Mai and the TV station,” he says. “Mai will be back in TV series, but right now she just doesn’t want to sign up with anyone.”
Mai made her debut on Channel 7 as the star of the series “Ngao Kammathep”, only for her popularity to spike with the blockbuster horror movie “Pee Mak”. She’s also a favourite face for glossy magazines.
There is some “drama” in her departure from Channel 7, though. Several fans have accused her of being “ungrateful”. Klao says Mai doesn’t take such criticism seriously. Asked where Mai is headed next, Klao says Channel 3 producer Pongpat Wachirabanjong has approached her with a proposal, but jumping to another channel isn’t in the cards. “Right now she doesn’t want to sign any contract with anyone!”
Is the goddess going to double her acting fee? Klao wouldn’t say yes or no. “She’s been in the business for 10 years and whatever fee she charges will be in accordance with that period of experience.”