Life is funny but no joke

Former bank clerk, now comedian, profits from sense of humor, Xing Wen reports.

Five years ago, he was a bank clerk in a suit, patiently serving clients, with performance targets he was required to achieve every month in mind. Today, he is one of the most in-demand young comedians in the country who has reinvented himself, playing different amusing roles, to make his audience laugh.

Liu Zhenxiang, better known by his stage name, Liu Dasuo, was probably among the busiest comedians during Spring Festival earlier this year as he was invited to stage five original skits for different TV stations, including Hunan Satellite TV and Dragon TV.

The 31-year-old shot to fame last year with the hit reality TV program Super Sketch Show, which gathers comedians to create original comedies and compete as soloists or in groups for the final.

He collaborated with actor Sun Tianyu on several skits that resonated with young netizens. For instance, one of their works revealed "spiritual changes" in a procrastinator who is distracted by the overwhelming information on such social media platforms as Sina Weibo and Douyin from completing his tasks. It portrays the young man in a nuanced and humorous manner.

Many of the viewers comment that the situation presented is so common in their daily lives that they feel like they are being watched by the duo.

Liu's sketch shows often carry out hilarious examination on a certain phenomenon that young people are likely to be interested in, such as people's extreme weight-loss methods and groupies' craze for idols.

"Liu has the ability to turn a rough idea into brilliant punchlines and write down spellbinding stories," Sun says.

"By collaborating with him, I have gradually understood what it means to be someone's partner. We share mutual trust and appreciation, and support each other."

Liu and Sun together got the prize for the second-best comic duo on the TV show.