Genre: Modern, Sitcom, Comedy
Number of episodes: 337 (~20 minutes)
Released year: 2008
Executive company/producer: TVB
Producer: Catherine Tsang Lai Jan, and Law Chun Ngok
Production planner/manager: Chan Yi Kei, and Wong Ching
Script editors/supervisors: Siu Lai King, and Wong Wai Keung
Scriptwriters: Siu Lai King, Wong Wai Keung, Siu Kwok Wah, Man Kin Fai, Chan Bo Yin, Leung Chi Yin, Ko Wai Man, Dan Kin Yan, Yuen Bo Wai, and Ma Chun Ying
Directors: Luk Tin Wah, Yau Nam Lung, Lam Fung Ling, Lai Pak Kin, Sin Tin Fong, Ng Koon Ching, Leung Yiu Kin, Cheung Wing Ho, Wong Sze Yuen, Wong Chi Wah, and Ng Siu Wing
Production assistants: Wan Chi Wai, Au Wing Yat, Chan Kin Shan, Wong Lam Fai, Wong Wai Fun, Liu Chak Lam, Choi Wing On, Lau Ka Wo, Chi Jun Yip, Kei Kin Chung, Yim Wai Kwan, Chung Oi Ting, Si Chi Tung, Tang Yu Yin, Leung Yue Tung, Chan Lai Kit, Leung Ting Hin, Chow Chun Kit, Chan Ka Kit, Lee Fung Ming, Hung Ling Jing, Cheung Wing Fai, Ding Chak Man, Chan Yim Kei, Law Wai Yi, Ng Chiu Wing, and Chan Hon Shing
Filmed location: Hong Kong
Theme song: "Serenade No. 13" by Mozart
Number of times watched: 1
A sitcom with the backdrop of a magazine company.
Cast
Teresa Mo Shun Kwan
Stephen Au Kam Tong
Elvina Kong Yan Yin
Tsui Wing
Celina Ma Tai Lo
Aimee Chan Yan Mei
Jim Tang Wing Kin
Sammy Sum Chun Hin
Law Tin Chi
Ivan Ho Sau Shun
Mikako Leung Ka Wing
Gregory Lee Wing Ho
Susan Tse Suet Sum
Ng Kwan Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu Cheung
Joyce Cheng Yan Yee
Chan Hung Lit
Florence Kwok Siu Wan
Yu Chi Ming
Geoffrey Wong
Lily Ho Ngo Yee
Felix Lok Ying Kwan
Rosanne Lui Shan
Lau Kong
Lee Yee Man
Elaine Jin Yan Ling
Queenie Chu Wai Man
Wong Cho Lam
Raymond Chiu Wing Hung
Cheng Tse Sing
Yvonne Ho Yee Wan
Lawrence Yan Chi Keung
Lo Chun Shun
Lee Kwok Lun
Janice Shum Ho Yan
Joyce Koi Ming Fai
Stephen Ho Kai Nam
Kong Fai
Ching Hor Wai
Mannor Chan Man Na
Mary Hon Ma Li
Raymond Cho Wing Lim
Rachel Kan Mo Wah
Catherine Chau Ka Yi
Many more, too many (probably 5 pages) and confusing (too many duplicates) to stat.
I watched this because it was the indirect sequel of Best Selling Secrets, it is a sitcom (short 20 minutes to have a laugh) and from BSS, Elvina and Tsui Wing made me want to watch it.
Performances
Teresa Mo was definitely the focus since almost 80-90% of the episodes seemed to focus on her, but the story line wasn’t good. The more relaxing, fun start was more enjoyable to watch, but Teresa is very experienced and acts well so I could still finish the sitcom.
Stephen Au had a great change from BSS, really different side but less screen time. For a sitcom I think I would like the BSS side of him instead of the serious side.
Wayne Lai in a way I was still annoyed at all the Chai Gau news so it made me bias and not enjoy his performance, but the undercover line was just plain boring anyways.
Elvina Kong had a great wardrobe and appearance change, but the change in character/storyline and screen time was disappointing. At first they still balanced it out a bit but near the end there was hardly anything focused on her.
Tsui Wing similar to Stephen the change wasn’t that good. The silly and innocent him in BSS is better for a sitcom.
Joyce Cheng’s first time acting was not bad, her crying scenes were great.
Aimee Chan almost got overshadowed by Joyce, Joyce did better than her for the emotion scenes (but of course she had less), but timing for group scenes Aimee was better.
Florence Kwok was a great semi-villain, I really liked it but I rather her do it in dramas instead of sitcoms so she is more noticeable.
Cheng Tse Sing was a great villain too. Never expected a sitcom to have such a villain.
Geoffrey Wong was another opposite like Stephen and TW, in a way it didn’t match and made it a little annoying.
Lily Ho was more liked in Pages Of Treasures, not an easy character to be here.
Elaine Jin was more likable than BSS but also less screen time.
Wong Cho Lam I don’t even remember what he did… and what was his reason for leaving anyways.
Jim Tang + Raymond Chiu I don’t get these two, maybe I am weird like that. In BSS they were alright but in OP they were not good.
Susan Tse’s Mrs. Brown was what made me love this lady. She ‘saved’ Off Pedder for me when guest staring a few episodes and then joining later (total of less than 10(?) episodes).
Relationships
Overall none of the relationships were written well. They were messy and draggy or they didn’t have enough.
Maybe it is true the first sitcom you watch will stay with you forever, in my case BSS. Regardless of that I think they ‘focused’ too much on not having the same thing as BSS so they turned everything around and made it the opposite. In some cases it will be great but not this time.
BSS did well when everyone didn’t have much gap/difference, they did have more people too but OP seems to be 2 different stories, one about Gam Bo and one about Chiu. BSS seemed more like an office with more people interacting and having more lines.
This time it seemed to focus on Teresa along with Wayne. This almost made want to drop the series near the end but seeing there was only a month or two left I didn’t. BSS did well in splitting up the work with more than one line going. Elvina + TW, Wayne + Rachel and Florence + Stephen, even if you didn't like the script there was more than just one thing they focused on. While in OP all there was was Teresa and Wayne the whole time. If you like it you like it, if you don’t too bad, that is all there is.
For a sitcom, the ending is really important, since who really remembers what they watched a year+ ago. The ending was pretty horrible but they tried to wrap it up making it all lovely and sweet. Of course they might have been screwed because Chan Hung Lit passed away but still...
They used the same type of ending as BSS but last time WCL did it and he was still 'around the company/the people' while this time Aimee who left for 3 years and comes back and knows everything? Well… lets just say it’s the most improved actor/actress monologue.
Overall it was good, just hope the next sitcom (in may?) they produce will be better.
My Rating: 6/10, won’t re-watch
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