Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - With Prahok TV, bite-size comedy comes to the Kingdom

With Prahok TV, bite-size comedy comes to the Kingdom

A fortuneteller predicts an ‘accident’ ahead for a young woman – but also offers her a helpful solution. Photo supplied
A fortuneteller predicts an ‘accident’ ahead for a young woman – but also offers her a helpful solution. Photo supplied

With Prahok TV, bite-size comedy comes to the Kingdom

While comedy sketch shows have been staple entertainment in the West for decades – think Saturday Night Live in the US, Monty Python’s Flying Circus in the UK and Fast Forward in Australia – the concept is relatively fresh for Cambodian viewers.

However, it’s taken off fast with Prahok TV, a new YouTube and Facebook series backed by Rock Entertainment that takes the format of short, situation-based comedy clips and gives it a uniquely Cambodian twist.

Less than two weeks after its launch, the show already has hundreds of thousands of likes and millions of views; the team – which includes comedians, singers and actors – plan to make an episode every week to post to YouTube and Facebook on Mondays.

“So far, we’ve only uploaded two episodes running about five to seven minutes,” said production manager Chap Sokhon. “Each episode has five clips with a different funny story in each – we wanted to avoid having any boring scenes.”

Some of the sketches are original but others – in typical Cambodian style – are simply adapted from elsewhere.

“Sometimes, our team comes up with our own ideas, but sometimes we find them on the internet and make a Khmer version,” Sokhon said. The themes will be familiar to a Cambodian audience: poor medical care, muggings, dodgy fortunetellers.

The humour in some cases is slapstick – for example, a doctor getting kicked in the face repeatedly while testing a patient’s reflexes – and at other times plays on social taboos, like the ones around feminine hygiene products.

In one sketch, a fortuneteller predicts that a young woman may suffer an “accident” involving blood and then hands her a yorn – normally a piece of paper inscribed with lucky symbols, but in this case, a sanitary pad.

Prahok TV production manager Chap Sokhon and his team.
Prahok TV production manager Chap Sokhon and his team. Pha Lina

“Until now, our clips are not different from the foreign countries, because we’ve learned from them how to make people laugh with one-minute videos. The idea is for everyone around the world . . . not based on a particular culture,” Sokhon said.

“But we plan to base some skits in a truly Cambodian context, focusing on special events such as the Water Festival or Khmer New Year, which show Cambodian reality.”

Sokhon said the team had several more ideas for the web series in the works and planned to take on more serious subjects and social issues.

“We will take on different educational concepts tackling the issues that people face in their daily lives,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.