Hsu Shu-ting won the Documentary Program Host Award at the 61st Golden Bell Awards on October 25, 2026, at the Taipei Music Center. Her acceptance speech lasted 4 minutes and 23 seconds, far exceeding the 90-second limit and sparking heavy backlash from viewers over the delay.
The Bottom Line
- Hsu Shu-ting spoke for 4 minutes and 23 seconds while accepting her award for The Trainee’s Half at the Taipei Music Center.
- Online viewers flooded live chat rooms with criticism over the prolonged speech and ignored on-screen warnings.
- Hsu issued a formal apology on Facebook, admitting fault and suggesting future organizers consider expanding speech time limits.
Overtime Speech at the Taipei Music Center
The 61st Golden Bell Awards ceremony took place on the evening of October 25, 2026, following delays caused by Typhoon Tapah. Hsu Shu-ting claimed the Documentary Program Host Award for The Trainee’s Half, defeating veteran competitors including Chen Ya-lin and Shu Meng-lan. Her acceptance speech stretched to 4 minutes and 23 seconds, pushing past the event’s 90-second limit for individual winners.
Hsu acknowledged the on-screen time warnings while still on stage, stating, “I know it’s overtime, I’m almost done.” She proceeded to thank a long list of relatives, including her mother, her late father, brothers, sisters, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and daughter. The extended remarks disrupted the broadcast schedule and drew sharp online criticism from viewers monitoring the live stream.
Public Backlash and Facebook Apology
Netizens expressed immediate frustration in the live chat rooms, condemning the prolonged address as disrespectful to the organizers and fellow attendees. Two days later, on the evening of October 27, Hsu published a detailed apology on her Facebook page. She bowed publicly to the organizing committee and all participants, stating that she deeply regretted disrupting the rhythm of the annual media industry showcase.
In her statement, Hsu specifically credited the production team at SETTV for maintaining operations through the disruptions caused by Typhoon Tapah. She wrote that she was entirely at fault for the schedule disruption and accepted all criticism regarding the incident. Alongside her apology, Hsu offered a structural suggestion for future ceremonies. She noted that with 22 program categories, restricting speeches to 90 seconds allocates less than 20 percent of a three-hour broadcast to winners.
| Event Detail | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Golden Bell Edition | 61st Annual Ceremony |
| Winner Category | Documentary Program Host Award |
| Winning Program | The Trainee’s Half |
| Prescribed Speech Limit | 90 Seconds |
| Actual Speech Duration | 4 Minutes, 23 Seconds |
Broader Awards Context and Fellow Winners
The complete list of winners from the evening included victories across various categories. Tseng Pao-yi secured the Lifestyle Program Host Award, while Hunger Games won for reality program host.
The ceremony proceeded despite the weather complications that forced the red carpet indoors without public attendance. While other winners adhered more closely to the allocated windows, Hsu’s emotional address—marked by memories of her father and her decade-long effort to produce The Trainee’s Half—remains the central talking point of the broadcast.
