From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V4 #268 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Monday, November 1 2004 Volume 04 : Number 268 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [chakram-refugees] Less Than Perfect ["Jackie M. Young" Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Less Than Perfect On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 20:54:05 -0400, "Cheryl Ande" wrote: >Can' quite understand the concern about Lucy's accent since her >character's background was pretty much left up in the air. So perhaps >the character was born in New Zealand but lived for a time in London >where she got a job with a book publisher as an editor. This is where >she met Eric Robert's character and had a brief fling which left her > >transfer to the United States. So having lived in New Zealand, London >and New York she picked a bit of an accent from all three countries. - --Well, as you later say, it was supposed to be a sketch sitcom. Usually the characters are simple because the format is just a 1/2 hr. It wouldn't make sense for the writers to give a one-off character such a convoluted background. It's an American show, so most likely LL's character would be American, with a American accent. BUT, I can concede her character might've been a NZ-er. So be it. But make a CHOICE, for god's sake. Don't give us this mish-mash of US/NZ/UK accents! Again, as in Tarzan, I didn't see LL making a FIRM CHOICE in her character's accent/history (though accent wasn't an issue in Tarzan, just want to make that clear). Then HJJH chimed in: >Which just goes to show that chakramites haven't lost their well-honed >skill at finding explanations for (\and/ explaining away) anything >relevant to our focal passion! - --*Hehe!* _I'd_ say! ;P *Lotsa* explaining away....;P >> From: "Jackie M. Young" >> >> - --Unfortunately, she looked *extremely* out of practice in acting, >>and nothing seemed to come off convincingly for me. I know she can do better, >> so I don't know why she didn't?? > >Well I think what she was doing was basically sketch comedy/sitcom. If >you noticed there weren't many subtle performances in this series. Eric >Roberts who can be fine actor wasn't exactly doing Shakespeare either. >Lucy basically was on for a total of about three minutes so I can't see >how she was going to give a subtle and nuanced performance - basically >she had to convey funny sexiness and she succeeded. - --I agree, I was also disappointed in Eric Roberts' character, because I've seen him in other things and know he can do a lot more. However, although the writing wasn't Shakespeare, LL still wasn't doing what my acting teacher fondly calls KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. I think we can all (except for Thel ;P ) agree that LL is sexy regardless if she's wearing a sheepskin coat or pajamas. So she didn't need to "act" in that regard. However, on the "funny" front, she did have to make that believable for her character. If she pulls a "Meg" on me and shows me she's not quite serious about what she says, to me, that's not funny. It's corny and, IMO, pathetic. A good example of sketch comedy is Sat. Night Live. Although the characters may be overboard, they're played with a lot of conviction, so the situation carries the comedy through. I didn't see that with LL's character--that focus or conviction. >Now I say this because I just returned from a work meeting where one of >the guys I work knowing I am Xena fan mentioned her saw the program and >conveyed the idea that Lucy was "hot". Hence her performance was very >sucessful since that was what her character was to convey. - --Well, that only says that LL was sexy, to which I'll accede. ;) Did your guy also think she was funny?? >> It just looked like she was either trying too hard or not trying >>enough. >> ;/ > >None of the cast seemed to be underplaying their parts. I would say >overacting was the show's basic style. - --Well, I'll admit any show with Andy Dick in it is probably going to the dogs, anyway (which leads me to ask why LL accepted the part to begin with ;P ), but that doesn't mean a guest star should "act down" to the level of the show she's on. When she was interviewed by Howard Stern, she didn't play down to his jokes. Why should she "underact" now? And, as a contrast, I thought she did a better job on that spot she had on Just Shoot Me in 2001, where she played the "escort-for-hire"--no less sexy, and no less objectified, but a little more believable (with almost as little air time). I _toldja_ this might turn into another Tarzan discussion.....;P Just MO, - --Jackie ****************************************************** * Proud to have the same birthday as Lucy Lawless! * * * * "I think New Zealand geographically comes from * * ... Hawai'i." --Lucy Lawless, Late Show, 4/9/96 * * * * "Feel the fear and do it anyway." --Lucy Lawless, * * Evening Post, 7/4/98 * * * * JACKIE YOUNG, JYOUNG@LAVA.NET * * * * * ****************************************************** ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V4 #268 **************************************