“Gilded Chopsticks” Peaked at 31 Points in Ratings Last Week
Wong Cho Lam‘s (王祖藍) hit drama Gilded Chopsticks <食為奴> continues to top the ratings chart. The series achieved 28 points during its premiere, and saw a consistent rise in viewership throughout the first half of its run. It also reached a milestone during its third week, averaging 29 points and peaking at 31 points.
While TVB has established numerous measures to improve the quality of its productions, the company is still struggling to maintain a high average rating for its prime-time dramas. So far in 2014, most series hovered around a mid-twenties average, breaking thirty only during their final episodes. Outbound Love <單戀雙城> slightly raised the bar in February when its finale peaked at 35 points.
Although it has not been able to attract the same level of enthusiasm as last year’s Inbound Troubles <老表，你好嘢!>, Gilded Chopsticks was able to break thirty points before its finale, and has been a top ten series viewed online by the Mainland audience. With two more weeks remaining, the comedy has a good chance to surpass Outbound Love‘s record.
Despite its relative popularity, the series still suffers criticism for its on-set mistakes. Some viewers spotted historical inaccuracies littered throughout the set, and once a modern minivan was seen cruising through the Qing dynasty town. In addition, TVB received several viewer complaints last week over the boring plot line, and some also suggested that 43-year-old Joey Meng (萬綺雯) may just be too old for her role.
Source: Ming Pao
This article is written by Katrine for JayneStars.com.
Outbound Love was so boring, I believe Gilded Chopsticks finale will beat it.
” In addition, TVB received several viewer complaints last week over the boring plot line, and some also suggested that 43-year-old Joey Meng (萬綺雯) may just be too old for her role.”
Not boring at all even if fantastical.
And yes Joey Meng and even Nancy Wu are both TOO old for their roles. Like a min 15 years too old.
Joey looks young for her age. But portraying 25 years old might too far stretched. Her mother @ GC look more like her sister.
Yes she looks young for her age but at times you can see how tired she looks. Even Nancy is too old. No young actresses in TVB? Yeah yeah, no so what to do? But I do think she is doing well even if her role has nothing much to do.
I actually prefer Joey playing a 26-year-old girl in this drama than Tavia playing a 23-year-old in Storm In A Cocoon. Also, everyone is too old to play their roles, so I think it works out.
Agree. Tavia looks very tired in Cocoon and the hair and clothes doesn’t help at all. Joey, on the other hand, while I noticed how ironic it is to have a 43 year old play a 25 year old actually looks convincing in her part. Also Joey’s age is less noticeable in each drama she appears in TVB. Even though she only plays the love interest of the princes in the show, her character is more interesting than Nancy’s though.
It’s even worst when Maggie Shiu’s character is 32 year old. She look like 50 in the drama.
Totally with you Chriselle. I like Nancy’s character in GC but Joey’s character is more interesting.
I don’t think age matters at all.
If that person looks younger than their age than that’s fine. Beside, they don’t look that old,
they definitely look and feel younger than their actual age.
PS: I dislike hk people/media keep calling some hk actresses BB at the end, sounds disgusting. Even at the age of nearly 30 still call them BB
I don’t like them adding a BB to almost any artiste’s name as well. Don’t know since when this craze for BB started
i like this drama..its so funny but somehow i have some reservation towards Joey’s character. Pardon me if i have to say this, I agree what the other viewers has mentioned. Joey may be too old for her role i dont really like Joey’s in this movie but she is doing well in ‘A Change of Heart’.
I agree too. Also, Joey’s screen time in this drama is very less. I prefer Wong Cho Nam’s si fu. She is very cute and cheerful
I also like this drama. And I really love Ben’s acting and Louis is great for his 8th prince role. I also like Stephanie’s role. (:
As for Joey Meng, I think she’s okay in the drama so far. And if Bob’s role is making me want to hate him, he’s doing a good job at that.
i hate see Joey Meng scenes, very dull and boring especially with that ugly face ‘Chew Chew’!
lol..posted in old post,..should be here
Popular jingles even kids start singing:-
Alive ! Alive ! Salted Fish Comes Alive !
Alive ! Alive ! Salted Fish Comes Alive !
I notice this drama a Star is Born-> Stephanie Ho play Mai Siu-yu
great series!
TVB is lack of young actress, too many oldies here 😀
it seems like wong cho lam series have been pretty successful recently with inbound troubles and now this…or maybe it’s the combination of the cast members? well whatever it is, it’s working for tvb! haha i’m anticipating inbound troubles 2 with similar cast members!
omg…”once a modern minivan was seen cruising through the Qing dynasty town”
while i really like joey, i also think she’s too old for her role.
”once a modern minivan was seen cruising through the Qing dynasty town”
Reminds me of the scene in Bounty Lady with Elena Kong trying very hard to spot mistakes in the drama. It was quite funny and sort of being sarcastic to the people who report such stuffs.
” and once a modern minivan was seen cruising through the Qing dynasty town. In addition, TVB received several viewer complaints last week over the boring plot line, and some also suggested that 43-year-old Joey Meng (萬綺雯) may just be too old for her role.”
LOL, when episode did the minivan occur in? Gotta rewatch it.
I don’t think the plot is boring at all even though it’s nothing ground-breaking from TVB. However, I think I might enjoy the first half of the show more, the events leading to how Yongzheng ascends the throne. I’m not sure what the second half will focus on, WCL and Yongzheng? Somehow I like that as a sub-plot more than a main plot.
I feel bad that in this series, they try to promote Stephanie ho rather than nancy wu, Stephanie clearly more like lead actress and nancy is just supporting role, not only that, her role is very boring. And yes I don’t think Joey’s character is that important and very nonsense. Otherwise I really like this series.
I think when nancy becomes a concubine, things would get interesting.
I like Stephanie Ho!!! She’s good!!
Stephanie Ho is good. Her acting is average, but quite natural. What can you expect from a new actress? I feel like she is the 1st leading actress in the drama.
For Joey Meng, her character is like an extra. It’s a supporting role, but not really important to the story line.
Is Stephanie Ho the one who pretends to be a man at the start of the series who Wong Cho Lam asks to be his mentor? She is very average in terms of acting ability. They should definately promote Nancy more
Nancy is one of the characters. Her character like in history will marry Yongzheng except maybe she will end up falling for him as he does for her. Stephanie is cute. she is likable and I find myself being drawn to her eventhough her acting is raw. I do find her very sincere. I think Nancy is a miscast as the beautiful Miss Nin. She should switch roles with Joey and Joey should not be in here.
Here’s what the actors have to say about Joey Meng’s role (quoting from asianuniverse):
When speaking of the criticisms that female lead Joey Meng is too old for her character. Louis defended her: “She’s awesome for being able to pull off this character. She probably did better then a 20 some year old could have done. Perhaps the audience already had a concept for costume dramas, but actually modern people are prettier than those in the ancient times.”
Wong Cho Lam also joked: “If we used beauty in the ancient times as the standard, then Joey and Siu Bo should switch roles. The other station (ATV) is airing Joey’s old series, you can see her looks haven’t changed at all compared to now. You know, nowadays there are only two types of actresses, those with everlasting looks or those who look like another person.”
Asked if their other halves had any comments on the series? Louis said his wife Kay Tse enjoys watching him in costume dramas. Although he’s always on business trips, he still catches the series online. Wong Cho Lam expressed his girlfriend Leanne Li complained, he said: “She said I’m always letting out electricity in the series, but in real life I never do that with her.”
What can they say? She’s too old? Of course they will say good things. I am ok with Joey’s acting but let’s face it, she is wayyyyyyyy too old. She should have another character. Can’t Yongzheng have an empress? Give her that role.
I do believe that they were sincere with their answers, as in they’re saying it because they are obligated to, but because they truly mean it.
And personally, I really like the casting that was chosen for this.
Correction: as in they’re not saying it because
I think Joey and Ben look great together! If you check their profiles, she’s technically younger than him. Also, Roger Kwok was originally cast’d for the role but had to turn it down due to schedule conflicts. It would’ve made sense at the time to cast Joey as female lead to continue the “Joey and Roger” relationship.
OLD COW PLAYING A ROLE MEAN’T FOR SOMEONE HALF HER AGE?!?!! REALLY… I DIDN’T NOTICE….
true joey may be unfit for the role but i rather watch a series with ‘too old’ actresses than mediocre performance from newbies
Joey can’t act. She has no star quality.Look closer when she talked. it is the same in every drama…she tried to be cute and talked like a small girl. Notice she loved to twist her body and watch her face when she talked. Yucks!!!!
I don’t mind older actresses playing younger roles. But agree, Joey cant act, pretty unnatural most of the time.
Ben’s character ‘suppose’ to fall in love with her at first sight, but she’s really not that beautiful at all:(