Zhou's name goes down with the nation's cohort of comedians for the extent to which he publicly ridicules political issues and social scandals. To capture the most juicy topics for his art, he spends hours everyday scanning the 14 newspapers he subscribes to and ferreting out more commentary on the Internet.

But he doesn't think his daring puts him above other entertainers. "I am an everyman. I express myself in my way and on the back of my understanding. It is a time of openness. Even if state leaders are present in the audience, I would give the show as I always do. Some people wouldn't do this, maybe because they are not yet accustomed to this situation of greater democracy. So far, I have not received any admonition by phone or in a paper telling me what I can say or not, and how I should behave on the stage."

Walking a thin line with extraordinary dexterity, the glib jester has seized the moment to win his fame. On June 27, 2009, a 13-story apartment building under construction tumbled onto the ground like an uprooted tree for no obvious reason, unleashing a national uproar about architectural quality. The wit Zhou Libo responded with, "The developer doesn't have to be overly sad. The houses are still good for sale, as bungalows. For buyers who have moved in, try to take it in stride too. The only inconvenience is that you are on the bed in the evening and find yourself on the wall the next morning."

After former Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng was found embroiled in corruption charges last year, Zhou Libo commented on the smooth-talking official with a dash of vitriol: "When in office Mayor Xu was known for his mantra, 'I am a son of the people'. How woeful that the people raise their sons only to have them sent to jail. In future officials better say 'I am the father of the people'. A father never steals money from his children."

As Shanghai natives are traditionally admired or despised for their business-shrewdness, Zhou Libo follows economic trends closely for the monologue and skit portions of his talk show. His skits about the roller-roster in share prices is widely quoted: "If China's stock market before October 2007 was a science fiction film, by late 2008 it was a thriller. The New Year mood gave us a breather recently. Now the thriller sequel is back on our screen."

Spokesman of Shanghai

The surge in Zhou Libo's popularity since mid 2009 is hailed locally as a nod to the ascendency of the Shanghai way of life; the multi-cultural mix of the metropolis, neighboring provinces and the West established a presence here centuries ago. His dandy image of neatly parted hair, crisp and impeccable suit and shiny shoes is a vivid billboard for his townees' attention to detail and devotion to fashion.