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Post by JH4HJ on Jun 29, 2014 11:16:12 GMT -5
The WWWeb says this is the second season premiere (tonight), but I haven't heard about it (at least not broadcast out here, in "The Boonies") until now. It looks delicious. Have you been getting this in NYC? I think they're both wonderful actors.   Very short clip on the website - -Vicious tells the story of partners Freddie ( Ian McKellen) and Stuart ( Derek Jacobi), who have lived together in a small central London flat for nearly 50 years. Constantly picking each other apart and holding on to petty slights for decades, Freddie and Stuart are always at each other’s throats, cracking snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws. However, underneath their vicious, co-dependent fighting, they have a deep love for one another. Freddie and Stuart are often joined by feisty best friend Violet (Frances de la Tour, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and Ash (Iwan Rheon, “Game of Thrones”), their young, upstairs neighbor. |
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Post by Jamie on Jun 29, 2014 14:23:21 GMT -5
The WWWeb says this is the second season premiere (tonight), but I haven't heard about it (at least not broadcast out here, in "The Boonies") until now. It looks delicious. Have you been getting this in NYC? I think they're both wonderful actors. Vicious tells the story of partners Freddie ( Ian McKellen) and Stuart ( Derek Jacobi), who have lived together in a small central London flat for nearly 50 years. Constantly picking each other apart and holding on to petty slights for decades, Freddie and Stuart are always at each other’s throats, cracking snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws. However, underneath their vicious, co-dependent fighting, they have a deep love for one another. Freddie and Stuart are often joined by feisty best friend Violet (Frances de la Tour, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and Ash (Iwan Rheon, “Game of Thrones”), their young, upstairs neighbor. My PBS station premiers it tonight but says it is season 1 Episode 1. With these two playing off of each other, it should be great. |
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Post by birchie on Jun 29, 2014 14:47:17 GMT -5
The WWWeb says this is the second season premiere (tonight), but I haven't heard about it (at least not broadcast out here, in "The Boonies") until now. It looks delicious. Have you been getting this in NYC? I think they're both wonderful actors. Very short clip on the website - -Vicious tells the story of partners Freddie ( Ian McKellen) and Stuart ( Derek Jacobi), who have lived together in a small central London flat for nearly 50 years. Constantly picking each other apart and holding on to petty slights for decades, Freddie and Stuart are always at each other’s throats, cracking snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws. However, underneath their vicious, co-dependent fighting, they have a deep love for one another. Freddie and Stuart are often joined by feisty best friend Violet (Frances de la Tour, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and Ash (Iwan Rheon, “Game of Thrones”), their young, upstairs neighbor. My PBS site says it's season 1 and lists all the episodes which match IMDB list. I don't think season 2 has actually started anywhere yet. It may have been delayed or maybe only these 7 (6 + a Christmas special according to IMDB) have been filmed. I'm going to watch it, it looks good. Sue |
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 29, 2014 22:54:11 GMT -5
I found it disappointing: cliches, bad taste (jokes about rape and dead dogs) and a waste of top talent. Only a few lines struck me as truly funny or clever, abetted by McKellen's drier-than-a-martini delivery. Jacobi's character is too much, too often. I had higher expectations Oh, well.
Ellen
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jo
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Post by jo on Jun 30, 2014 0:06:57 GMT -5
These are the kind of TV shows we never get over here. Occasionally, we might get movies from dramatic theatre series, but they are rare...I like to watch movies with grand actors of the stage now that they are in the twilight of their careers - whether men or women. One of my favorites is Vanessa Regrave. Also, did you ever see the movie " Tea with Mussolini" - such an abundance of talent from great actresses! These men and women bring so much gravitas to the acting! Hope Hugh becomes somewhat like one of them in later years  Ellen - wasn't Frances de la Tour the support actress in HISTORY BOYS on Broadway? Maybe the West End, too? Jo |
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Post by JH4HJ on Jun 30, 2014 12:34:08 GMT -5
I agree, Ellen. Sadly, quite a disappointment at least IMHO. The guys are good. The writing is tacky and tres cliche. Much too "camp" - and not *funny* camp which I could like but embarrassingly so. What a waste of two fine actors. I had such high hopes when I read about this. - sigh-   I'll probably watch it anyway. There's not much on TV at that hour on a Sunday night. Maybe it will "grow on me"? Maybe the writers will "find their way" and make better use of these talented actors? Yes, this was the premiere episode (here in the US); it has been renewed for a second season in the UK, so hopefully it improves as it goes along. (Guess we're not alone in our opinion of the show.) Full articleP.S. About the title (which does see a tad "odd" at first glance) - the original "working" name for the show was Vicious Old Queens. (Too much?  )  |
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Post by mamaleh on Jul 1, 2014 7:56:38 GMT -5
Maybe--but that title would have been right on.
The only line that had me laughing out loud was McKellen's response when the young man (the guy who plays Greyjoy's evil torturer on GAME OF THRONES) hesitantly asks to use McKellen's and Jacobi's bathroom: "We'd be devastated if you didn't." In and of itself, maybe not so hilarious. But the way McKellen says it--well, if only the whole show could have been like that.
Jo--yes, Frances de la Tour did indeed play a faculty member in THE HISTORY BOYS. I don't know about England, but I saw her on Broadway, and of course she did do the film, too--the ending of which I liked much more than that of the play. Probably because I was rooting so hard for Samuel Barnett's sweet character. (He was so good in the recent TWELFTH NIGHT on Broadway, too.)
Ellen
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jo
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Post by jo on Jul 1, 2014 9:05:42 GMT -5
Yes, Samuel was sweet. Can't remember now what it was, but he did sing bits of a song in the play. I also cannot remember now how the movie version stacked up versus the stage play -LOL. Also, wasn't that the play where Dominic Cooper was discovered?
Jo
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Post by mamaleh on Jul 1, 2014 11:10:46 GMT -5
I think the song was "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." That was certainly that first time I ever saw Dominic Cooper, either on stage or screen. I can take or leave him.
Ellen
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Post by JH4HJ on Jul 1, 2014 11:41:00 GMT -5
There are lots of clips on YouTube. This one's a bit out of sync, but a good compilation to get a sense of the humor.
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Post by JH4HJ on Jul 23, 2014 13:31:24 GMT -5
This one is kind of growing on me, but still a disappointment - and the prudish folks at our local PBS station are only making matters worse by bleeping some of the dialog. How childish! I'm guessing they are not doing that in larger/urban markets - are they?
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Post by mamaleh on Jul 23, 2014 15:00:34 GMT -5
I have to admit it's growing a bit on me, too, especially the line delivery by super-fussy Jacobi and hissyfit-throwing McKellen. I watched last Sunday's episode on the NYC-area's PBS station, 13, and yes, even that market bleeped a word having to do with McKellen's mishearing what the young neighbor said about being paid for how many heads he can bring into the club via flyer distribution. You can probably guess what that joke hinged on.
This show is truly an example of how so-so (or worse) material can be elevated by old pro performers at the top of their game.
Ellen
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