Living With Lydia (TV) and follow up seasons?

[dleedlee]

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if seasons 2 and 3 of Living With Lydia are available yet on video disc?

LWL is/was a Singapore TV comedy series featuring Lydia Shum as a disgraced dim sum caterer who flees to Singapore after she is suspected of mass poisoning the guests, hence her being dubbed 'the dim sum serial killer'. She brings her teenage daughter, Apple, and younger son, Jordan, to reclaim her share of half a house owned by Billy B.Ong (aka Billy Bong) and his son Max. Billy's assistant, Rhonda, fills out the cast as the middle-age woman after the boss. Of course, the two families hate each other but grow to love one another.

And did I mention Billy B.Ong is the fish ball king of Singapore? There are frequent low brow jokes made about Billy’s balls while Lydia dispenses her wisdom couched in dim sum philosophy.

The episodes are quite funny, a little bit of cheese, a little schmaltz and a lot of heart. One web site described it as the Brady Bunch meets Franny.

The 7 disc/13 episode set is in English w/Chinese subs. Lydia's English is very good, apparently tutored on set by her daughter during filming. Occasionally, the Singapore accented English is hard to understand when spoken quickly.

LWL was also broadcast in HK on Pearl TV.

Season one ended with Lydia and family returning to HK and the very funny Rhonda joining them and I want to see more!

[odresel]

You may be interested to know that the second season of Living with Lydia is now showing on Hong Kong television. Haven't seen much of it (my HK Chinese wife hates the show...go figure) but so far the wife of Ong returned six years and 354 days after she abandoned the family, proving that she was not dead, and, before vanishing again, managed to erase the videotaped second will of Ah Kung (Ong's father). So the status quo of [Billy vs Fei Fei with Rhonda stirring the emotional pot] has been retained for the second season.

Ai, I can't believe a 46-year old gweilo is writing a post like this!! What's happend to me?

Maybe, suggests my wife, I just watch it for Apple...

[dleedlee]

Thank you for the update!
I didn't realize season 2 was just playing now in HK. Good, maybe when the season concludes, I can look forward to the video release (though I guess my set is from SG).

Apple is a little cutey! But Rhonda is the best character. And, at least, in season 1, I thought the guests actors were all good in an enjoyably weird fashion.

cheers

[odresel]

Hi again, just back from a couple of days in Singapore. You might like to know that the actress who plays Rhonda in LWL, is now appearing in a new TV series (supporting role only), called "Ways of the Matriarch". Perhaps you can find out more at <www.artscentral.com.sg> If anything, from the publicity poster I saw, she has put on even more weight. Too bad, I know what you mean about her...

Re: Apple, hehe, I recall reading somewhere that she is, or recently was, a student at NUS while filming LWL.

[dleedlee]

Thanks for the update. I will check your link when I have more time.

I lent my set of season 1 to my mom and she liked it. She told me that while babysitting for my older brother, she showed it to my nephews (ages 10 and 12), who also liked it.. Then she lent it to my sister who showed it to my niece (age 14) and even she liked it! Actually, I kind of shocked to tell the truth. Or maybe they all liked it because it was in Sing-glish.

Should I try Chicken Rice War and Victor A-goh-goh next?

[odresel]

Further info on season two of LWL: although Ng Hui is still listed in the opening credits as playing Apple, at some point mid-season a different actress appears in this role, shorter, and rather thinner (= cuter) than the original. However, she seems to have less to do in the episodes than before. Sulaiman becomes a much more prominent figure in the second season as well.

[dleedlee]

Thank you for the updates, odresel.
When does the season conclude? I need it on video now !

[odresel]

The season concludes tonight!!!! But I think this was filmed a year or even two ago, and has been shown in Singapore previously, so should already be available on DVD around here. I will try to have a look round the video shops and if I see it, I'll write in with the distributor's name.

[dleedlee]

Great, thanks again.