Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Derek Jacobi Is Kinda Cute, On "Vicious!!!!!!!!!!"


                              Have you seen "Vicious," girls?  Have you heard about it? A Brit sitcom--the gay 'AbFab,. The first two episodes were not nearly as good as the other show; in fact, they put both Monsieur and myself to sleep.

                               Ian McKellen, who looks pretty good here, but not always on the show, plays Freddie Thornhill,, an actor still trying to make it in a world that has just about forgotten him.  He seems just several steps removed from Bette Davis as Baby Jane; give him a couple of drinks, and I am sure he is good to go!!!!!!!  Derek plays Stuart Bixby; with a name like that he could not have been an actor; I have never quite heard what Stuart, who stays home, so is presumably retired, did for a living, but my guess it was something more ordinary--and stable--like teaching or accounting. He is the less flamboyant of the two, and I love his razor sharp wit. Maybe because it is coming out of the mouth of someone who, visually, seems so button down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 The series was originally titled "Vicious Old Queens!," and I think that title should have been kept.  It reminds me of my friend, Steven, who, when  we see each other always call out, "You Vicious Queen!"  But none of us would dare say old to the other.  The actual expression is "Tired Old Queens," but these two aren't, and they have been together 50 years.  What history they have seen, darlings, especially in England.

                                   Much of the action takes place in their very British apartment--not a show poster to be seen!!!!!!--and involves them interacting with neighbors and visitors, who come and go. One of these is Violet Crosby, played by Frances de la Tour.  I don't know what Violet does, either, save kvetch, but the thing is, she looks like Diana Rigg, if Rigg were drunk, and, while she plays the role well, why didn't the producers just go for the gold, and get Rigg, anyway????????????

                                       Then there is their hunky neighbor, Ash Weston, played by a comely young actor named Iwan Rheon.  He is clearly just on for eye candy; any Brit boy tart could have done this role; it doesn't take being Meryl Streep to perform it.  Which is not to say he does not do a satisfactory job, but that, like the res of the show, it is just hackneyed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            "Vicious" cannot last unless the writers get better at it, or, preferably, are fired, and replaced by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders!  Who should probably have been given this, anyway!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  But, with Derek being so cute, I think it may stand a chance.  The "Silver Daddies" crowd, I am sure, will love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    So, let's be allowed to see how vicious these queens really CAN be!!!!!  

                                                                                                                                                                       




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