programme highlights '06 - issue iv

The fourth and final issue for this year of TVB's Programme Highlights has been released. Much thanks to TVFANSQUARE for scanning it and sharing the booklet with all of us! As stated in July, I'll be discussing each issue of the Programme Highlights and expressing my thoughts on them as they come. Because of my pervasive indifference towards most of the series included in this issue, I'm going to be doing this feature a bit differently this time around.

When will they be out already?!
I am not interested in what TVB has to offer lately, so I'm dying waiting for the following series to release.

Heavenly In-Laws (Nancy Sit, Joey Leung, Linda Chung, etc.)
I'm suffering from L.C.W.D. (Linda Chung Withdrawal Disorder). I swear TVB is torturing me by making Linda Chung film all these series and not releasing any of them in the longest time! I haven't seen Linda since Forensic Heroes and I really miss watching her act. She is so charming and just makes my day. There are two new pictures of Linda in this issue and she looks real cute. My anticipation continues to build as my neck grows long awaiting Heavenly In-Laws' release. This is Linda's first costume drama, so I hope she does well. I was looking at old TVB Weekly scans from during its filming and Linda's expressions and looks for Heavenly are super adorable. Apparently, Linda's character (who is a goddess) wants to re-enact Ngau Long and Jik Lui because she is so moved by their romantic story. Of course, since this is a comedy, things won't be so idyllic.

The series starts off in ancient costumes (since Nancy Sit & Linda are mother/daughter goddesses) and will then proceed to mid 1900's as the two of them live life as mortals... Linda falls in love with Joey Leung's character, but Nancy greatly opposes this couple. I think this series should be entertaining albeit cliché and not very different or breakthrough. I hope Linda will show continued improvement in this series. I've grown a lot fonder of Heavenly since last time and just hope TVB will release it soon!

The Price of Greed (Bosco Wong, Sammul Chan, etc.)
My reasons for anticipating this series remains unchanged.

Brink of Law (Steven Ma, Ron Ng, Bernice Liu, etc.)
I fell in love with this series since the costume fitting. Producer Mui Siu Ching always picks the best people and yes, since this is her production, I am confident that Brink of Law will be excellent. How awesome does the poster look?! This series will revolve around business, horse racing, and fashion. True to Producer Mui's style, I'm sure that this will essentially be a family drama (and I love those) with lots of twists and turns. The cast looks so good. It's always interesting and fascinating to watch dramas about rich people. Steven Ma and Bernice Liu look so good together and I have confidence that they (like Frankie Lam and Linda Chung in Forensic Heroes) will have chemistry. It's so nice how the Virtues of Harmony "partners swap" is working wonderfully, creating great new pairings. I haven't seen Bernice in so long, so I miss her. I hope her acting has improved because Bernice has always been a little shaky with dramatic roles. She's fine in comedies and light dramas, but not so good in heavy dramas. Michelle Yim is consistently superb, so I hope they will put her talents to good use in this series. I'm okay with Ron Ng and Kate Tsui.

The only drawback to this series is... Shirley Yeung. There's always a drawback, isn't there? Just when everything is so right, there's that one that ruins everything. Shirley's terrible in her normal roles when she "acts" like herself (loud, stubborn, obnoxious). How bad is it going to be now that they're forcing her to really "act" as a villain?! I don't even want to begin imagining. I'm hoping that whoever made this pamphlet made a mistake because there is no way that Shirley is leading over Bernice (nor Kate for that matter). I will just have to live with her in this and hope she doesn't ruin the series too much.

All in all, I cannot wait for Brink. It is tied with Heavenly In-Laws as my most highly anticipated release out of the series included in this issue.

Standing in the middle of two roads
These are the series that I cannot make up my mind whether I'm going to watch or skip. I'm very picky and thrift with my TVB rentals (especially these days since I have limited time), so I cannot afford to watch any mediocre or bad series. The following series are ones that attract me in some ways, but repulse me in another, so I'm stuck with indecisiveness.

Dicey Business (Bobby Au-Yeung, Jessica Hsuan, Bosco Wong, etc.)
What in the world was TVB thinking when they created this poster? It is so cartoon-ish and to be blunt, down right appalling! Many people are wondering if this series is really a "drama" because the looks for the characters are a bit too "animated." Bobby Au-Yeung with his fake pot belly? Bosco Wong with his hair and glasses? Tavia Yeung with her fake breasts? But then, the fact that Hacken Lee is singing the themesong, the fact that it's a grand production, the premise of gambling, and the title suggesting a "turbulent casino" make this series seem like a true drama?

Does TVB want us to take this series seriously or what? I have no idea! I'm not a big fan of gambling series and from what I've read/seen, Dicey Business isn't all that appealing to me. However, I do have to admit that I am very attracted to Tavia's image for Dicey. She looks really good! Whether or not I watch this series will depend on reviews and when I get a better idea of what this series is truly about.

To Grow With Love (Myolie Wu, Andy Hui, Selena Li, etc.)
Initially, I was attracted to this series because it looked quite cute and funny. Sadly, I've been hearing that it's silly and over-hyped, so this has turned me off. I also found out that To Grow With Love's producer also did War of In-Laws (which I hated), so I'm skeptical about whether I will enjoy his attempt at a modern romantic comedy about the struggles of fat people. I have to say I am in love with the songs from this series though. I haven't completely crossed it off the list yet though, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Glittering Days (Liza Wang, Roger Kwok, Charmaine Sheh, etc.)
I'm not into musicals and Glittering Days seems a bit long and silly to me. However, since it is a grand production and an anniversary series at that, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. TVB won't put so much backing into such a series, right?

No light of day
These are the series that I'm going to pass on - no doubt about it.

Devil's Disciples (Kevin Cheng, Bosco Wong, Bernice Liu, etc.)
Since Jin Yong no longer lets TVB adapt his novels, where do they turn to for wuxia ideas? Why, video games of course! Devil's Disciples is based on a video game, which explains its heavily computerized dependence. It's a recipe for disaster. The costumes are a big turn off as well. Kevin Cheng, Sharon Chan, and Shirley Yeung are even bigger turn off's. What a pity for me in regards to Bernice Liu - this is her first leading role, her first martial arts role, and the first time she's pairing with an actor around her age (Bosco Wong)... and I'm going to miss it all. I'd rather watch Face to Fate before this series.

At Home With Love (Lawrence Ng, Yoyo Mung, Chung King Fai, etc.)
It changed its poster since the last programme highlights issue, but my thoughts are still in agreement with four months ago. I am not watching this series for the same reasons as stated before.

So... which series are you most looking forward to? What are you going to watch or skip and why?