Jacqueline Wong’s “Handmaidens United” Possibly the Lowest-Rated TVB Drama of All Time
TVB’s most recent weekly viewership rating reports have been released. From January 13 to January 19, the two prime-time dramas have been struggling to achieve high ratings. Even Ratings King Come Home Love: Lo and Behold <愛·回家之開心速遞> has not been able to reach its usual good ratings. However, the most shocking result is that Handmaidens United <丫鬟大聯盟> is possibly the TVB drama with the lowest viewership of all time with an average rating of 20.4 points.
This conclusion omits dramas in the 1990s as TVB was in its prime. Many people chose to watch dramas while eating dinner, and there were fewer choices of entertainment platforms. All dramas back then would have definitely exceeded 20 points. As well, dramas that were only broadcast on the weekends were not part of the comparison as they usually have lower ratings.
Some netizens mentioned that Mainland Chinese dramas which aired in Hong Kong, Phoenix Rising <蘭花刼> and Legend of the Phoenix <凤弈> have had lower ratings than Handmaidens United. However, Phoenix Rising was a low-definition drama broadcast during a high-definition slot. Since these are Chinese dramas, they shouldn’t be compared to local Hong Kong productions.
Disregarding these dramas and only take into consideration TVB produced, prime-time dramas which air on the weekdays, Handmaidens United is most likely the lowest-rated drama of all time. This may have been also been exacerbated by the public’s negative view of Jacqueline Wong (黃心穎) after her cheating scandal with Andy Hui (許志安).
Source: HK01
This article is written by Kiki for JayneStars.com.
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No one should be surprised by this sh!t show. I don’t know what TVB was thinking when they approved broadcasting of this show, with that said, I question literally every decision TVB makes these days anyway.
Couldn’t have picked a worse cast of you picked a handful of people from the street. At least this bottom rating rids Jaq off good and proper…
With or without jacqueline the series was doomed.the story is unfunny silly, the costume garish and at a time like this where got anyone have the mood to watch anything.
I’m not surprised. This was such a stupid show. But the blame can’t be completely on Jacqueline. I’m sure some viewers are turned off by her scandal, but the plot was so mediocre. There was no real plot, no chemistry between any pairs, no real climax and a really quick and rushed happy ending. Bad actions are forgiven so quickly and without consequences. I know that TVB dramas are dropping in quality but this is a new low.
I’m glad they are re-broadcasting the old dramas from the 80s and 90s. I can just start watching those to pass the time.
I blame Tony Hung, he was brutal to watch.
@jane626
I think TVB has made a serious error in not casting Tony Hung as one of those sidekick support actors. I think he would do fine in comic relief roles that Oscar Leung and Alex Lam have played for years. Why TVB made Tony lead actor and kept him there, I would never know….
@jimmyszeto
Tony Hung and Priscilla Wong were brought to TVB (from I-Cable) by the current TVB executive, Sandy Yu. Therefore, they were given lead roles right away without going through any supporting roles.
Tony Hung is a terrible actor. He may be good as a comedic supporting actor.
Priscilla Wong is not a good actress either, but she does have the look to be a lead actress. She also speaks with lazy intonations in her dialogues.
Personally I don’t like watching any one of them in any drama series. Priscilla is barely watchable, but definitely not Tony Hung.
Agreed that the “The Maid Alliance” (the official name of “丫鬟大聯盟” in English as per TVB) is a very bad drama series. I watched a few episodes. The script was terrible with no plots, no twists, no climax, and a poor ending. Acting of most artistes was bad and silly, esp. Tony Hung.
I am glad that it had poor ratings. Jacqueline Wong deserved it and she now has a poor chance to revive.
@jimmyszeto @orchid123 Tony started off as a support actor in Outbound Love
Priscilla started off as a TVB journalist / reporter.
@luye
Outbound love Tony was lead. Maybe it was 2nd lead but it was still lead. His best series was actually as support. Swipe Tap Love where he didn’t have much screentime…
@jimmyszeto Swipe Tap Love has a very touching story line, similar to Every Step You Take. I also find the dialogue to be quite alike. Not sure if they’re by the same producer/director. I love these types of dramas.
@jane626
There is more to any series rather than just the cast. The plot and storyline are way more important. The script is important as well. But of course having a good cast is a big big plus too, however, there is more to any drama rather than the cast.
Her acting deserved it. With or without the scandal, her acting is still horrible.
Didn’t watch it and don’t care! 🙂
By the way…Phoenix Rising was a TVB series, NOT a Mainland series. Whoever wrote this article obviously didn’t do their research…
@llwy12
Phoenix rising was broadcasted in HK 11 years after it was released overseas so that farce can’t be included anyway….
@jimmyszeto True…but you know TVB…they will include regardless….most of what they do makes zero sense anyway…
It’s a shame though, since Phoenix Rising was actually a decent series with some truly good acting talent in it. And it had one of the cleverest posters (which is a rarity for TVB, since almost all their posters look the same and are cheesy). I honestly would rather TVB continue to warehouse the series rather than completely ruin it like they ended up doing….
@llwy12
I watched most of this drama series. In my opinion, it was not bad. It was a pure drama series with a sad storyline. Probably the tragic story was not well accepted in Hong Kong at the airing time, esp by young audience. The casts were:
Louisa So, Kristal Tin, Leila Tong, Sunny Chan (lead roles), Nancy Wu and Chan Hung Lit (supporting roles). All of them could act.
@orchid123 Lol…I just realized you were referring to the series Phoenix Rising. Yea, I saw the series many years ago when it came out overseas and I actually liked it. The acting was good and the storyline was actually decent (though for trying to be the female version of 1989’s Looking Back in Anger, I would have to say the series failed miserably). The problem was that stupid TVB decided to premiere Phoenix Rising in their golden timeslot in HK more than 10 years after the series was produced / originally aired…so in essence, they were trying to pass it off as a “new” series when it fact it was nothing of the sort. And one thing the article got right was that the graphics were horrible because they didn’t bother to adjust for HD. Honestly, people who hadn’t seen the original version probably were better off watching the DVDs or even the streamed version online than the version that TVB aired in HK.
@llwy12
Sorry, I did mean “Phoenix Rising”.
the series’s got a pretty silly title. w/ or w/o JW i would skip anyway.
Bring back any old classic and it will trounce Tony and Jacqueline all day long. Both need to think about retirement because they are crap…
@jimmyszeto I heard Tony Hung is the new Armed Reaction sequel that is being filmed currently (though not sure if his role is lead or supporting….I’m guessing lead). What a way to ruin a franchise! If I had been on the fence about watching that series previously (not that I was), definitely not watching it now!
Should JW be forgiven?
This show is unbearable to watch.
Jacqueline, tony and that guy as second lead is just brutal to watch, makes me wonder who is the director that is able to accept such acting.
JW is just horrible in that show, super annoying. I really don’t want to see her anymore
Hope TVB take notes what public’s opinions, I was shocked to see her appear in one of the CNY show recently.
I think TVB has let Jacqueline Wong come back to the small screen slowly. In other words, she is still being promoted by TVB.
The theme song of “Lo and Behold” is sung by her. It was substituted with instrumental music when her scandal broke out in April. I just found out a day or two ago that the song is now back …. sung by Jacqueline Wong. No wonder Jacqueline returned to the Hong Kong airport with so many reporters there waiting for her. She will stay in the entertainment industry for sure. Hope Kenneth Ma will not take her back though.
@orchid123
If everyone continues to not accept Jacqueline, she may be rid from TVB for good once contract ends. Will be a nice, bye for good! Like Shirley Yeung who also came back for a quick cameo…
@jimmyszeto
I certainly hope so. I never liked her and her personality even before she hooked Kenneth up, and disliked her more after she persuaded Kenneth to go on luxurious trips to Europe with her and to buy her luxurious goods.
She was never pretty to me when she won Miss Hong Kong Pageant. But she seemed to look better in her very recent photos. That is why lots of people said she had some kind of plastic surgery.
@orchid123 i think JW is cute 🙂 I wouldn’t mind if she cheated with me hee
@orchid123
If I remember correctly, I think I had that years pageant on and she was the one that I was cheering on to win. Usually I try to guess based on how pretty are….
@jimmyszeto
Everyone has different tastes and expectations.
I liked Carat Cheung the best and she won Miss Hong Kong in 2012. Jacqueline was the 1st runner up, Tracy Chu was the 2nd runner up. Jennifer Shum was the Miss Photogenic.
I also picked on the best looking girl. I believe you are a man. Man’s expectations are always different from women’s.
@orchid123
It’s weird. I didn’t like Carat nor Tracy and thought Jacqueline looked good when watching the pageant. In years to come from watching them it easily changes. Characters played on screen usually displays bit and parts of real gestures and personalities. Tavia is probably one of the plainest looking leads at TVB over the years but people take to her personality and like her. There are some leads who are stunning but exert arrogance so they are much less popular..
@jimmyszeto
I only chose the winners based on the outlooks. Never took their characters/personalities into consideration as I did not know them and I did not watch all the rounds of the competitions. My choice was very personal and could be prejudiced!
@orchid123
I took take it seriously. It it happens to be on and nothing to do think just pick a couple that look pretty and watch till the results. No understanding of chinese to research who is who. I meant the personalities come into play whether we like them or not once they start a career at a TVB…
“the personalities come into play whether we like them or not once they start a career at a TVB” …………………. Agreed.
@jimmyszeto
“the personalities come into play whether we like them or not once they start a career at a TVB” …………………. Agreed.
@orchid123 Really? Lo and Behold has a different theme song sung by an ensemble of actors and actresses in the series. I haven’t heard Jacqueline’s version in quite a while.