War of the Genders
Encyclopedia
War of the Genders is a Hong Kong sitcom which aired on TVB Jade
from 21 February to 7 July 2000. The series was produced by Television Broadcasts Limited
(TVB) with Tsui Chong-hong serving as the executive producer. It created the highest rating below the 2003 Charity Football Competition Real Madrid vs Hong Kong and the Korean TV series Dae Jang Geum
.
Frances Mo (Carol Cheng
) and her paralegal advisor Yu Lok-tin (Dayo Wong
). The two characters go from loathing to loving each other by the end of the series, and eventually become a couple.
A large part of the series takes place in C.K. Law Firm where Frances and Lok work. Their relationship extends past the office as they both live in the same apartment which gives them more opportunities to cross paths.
Between avoiding the "spinster" label and creatively fighting trivial law suits, Frances uses her wit and class to outsmart her main rival, solicitor Alex Pao (Joseph Lee). In addition, Frances also has personal problems to deal with in the homefront such as getting used to her new younger stepmother, Yuen Yuen (Martha Yuan).
There is a play (Man & Woman In Love, 男親女愛舞台劇) performed by the original cast as the ending of the series in November to December 2000. A 34 VCD set of the TV series and 3 VCD set of the drama were released for sale.
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
from 21 February to 7 July 2000. The series was produced by Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
(TVB) with Tsui Chong-hong serving as the executive producer. It created the highest rating below the 2003 Charity Football Competition Real Madrid vs Hong Kong and the Korean TV series Dae Jang Geum
Dae Jang Geum
Dae Jang Geum is a 2003 epic South Korean television series directed by Lee Byung Hoon and produced by MBC. Starring Lee Young Ae, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician...
.
Plot
The series revolved around a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
Frances Mo (Carol Cheng
Carol Cheng
Carol Cheng , commonly referred to as Do Do, is an actress and host from Hong Kong.-Biography:Cheng began her career in the 1970s working on a number of Television Broadcasts Limited series. She also hosted the Hong Kong version of the game show The Weakest Link from 2001-2002...
) and her paralegal advisor Yu Lok-tin (Dayo Wong
Dayo Wong
Dayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy...
). The two characters go from loathing to loving each other by the end of the series, and eventually become a couple.
A large part of the series takes place in C.K. Law Firm where Frances and Lok work. Their relationship extends past the office as they both live in the same apartment which gives them more opportunities to cross paths.
Between avoiding the "spinster" label and creatively fighting trivial law suits, Frances uses her wit and class to outsmart her main rival, solicitor Alex Pao (Joseph Lee). In addition, Frances also has personal problems to deal with in the homefront such as getting used to her new younger stepmother, Yuen Yuen (Martha Yuan).
There is a play (Man & Woman In Love, 男親女愛舞台劇) performed by the original cast as the ending of the series in November to December 2000. A 34 VCD set of the TV series and 3 VCD set of the drama were released for sale.
Main characters
- Carol ChengCarol ChengCarol Cheng , commonly referred to as Do Do, is an actress and host from Hong Kong.-Biography:Cheng began her career in the 1970s working on a number of Television Broadcasts Limited series. She also hosted the Hong Kong version of the game show The Weakest Link from 2001-2002...
portrays Frances Mo Siu-wai (毛小慧) — Well known around the office of CK Law Firm as Ms. Mo, Frances is a vain thirty-something spinster who tries to appear professional at all times and act like a real class act. She's single and getting to a stage in life where it is getting her down. With her wit and sharp tongue she is able to put anyone in their places especially her paralegal, Yu Lok-tin. Her favourite sayings are "Off" (shut up) and "B.T." (bad taste). Despite her high maintenance ways and irritability, everyone at the law firm respects her.
- Dayo WongDayo WongDayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy...
portrays Lok / Yu Lok-tin (余樂天) — With very limited English, it is a wonder how he got the job as Frances' paralegal. He is always stuck with the disgusting jobs, partially because he tries to come across as a ladies' man though this is not really the case. In addition, he puts up a facade of being both extremely poor and extremely cheap when he turns out to have quite a bit of money. A habitual gambler, he always dreams of hitting the "3T" jackpot at the horse races.- Siu Keung is a cockroach and pet of Yu Lok Tin. He lets Siu Keung roam freely around the house. Several different "Siu Keungs" have appeared as he's been killed several times (mostly by Ms. Mo), he was even eaten by a turtle in episode 53. Yu Lok Tin calls Siu Keung his brother. Siu Keung often crawls into Yu Lok Tin's or Miss Mo's cup of instant noodles and often gets on Miss Mo's nerves. Eventually, Miss Mo opens up to the pet, and he was briefly "adopted" by Miss Mo. He was kept in a glass container and very well looked after by Miss Mo during his "adoption".
- Marsha Yuan as Yuen Yuen (阮婉; Yuen Yuen) — She is Frances's stepmother for much of the series. Francis tries to hide the fact that she is her stepmother because of their age difference. Yuen Yuen is an almost perfect woman with looks and brains. She seems to know a bit of everything but she is also gullible and naive. She once worked in the C.K. Law Firm and House Bar. Everyone seems to like her as both men and women admire her beauty (in their own special ways) and her wide array of knowledge.
- Kingdom YuenKingdom Yuen-Filmography:-References:...
as Sin Jeh / Angel Mui Yat-sin (梅日仙) — Another spinister in the Law Firm, and also the aunt of Yu Lok Tin. She is stingy, untrendy and wears thick glasses. She's a maternal figure to both Ms. Mo and Ah Lok. A fixture of the law firm, it is heavily implied that she and CK were a couple. Towards the end of the series she begins a relationship with Professor Mo who she affectionally calls "Mo Mo".
- Ram Chiang as James Tsim Sz-on (詹士安) — James is an effeminate worker in C.K. law firm. He takes too much care of his appearance and spends much of his time in the office grooming himself. It was believed that his effeminate behavior was caused by excessive estrogen from Chinese medicinal jelly he's eaten since childhood, but this was proven false. He once fell in love with Miss Mo.
- Joyce Chan as Apple / Ng Hau-sam (吳巧心) — Personal assistant to Frances. She is renowned for her stunning figure but rough background as a daughter of a fruit shop owner (hence her name). She was headhunted by a fitness club to be the face of their new promotion after appearing on an ad for CK Law Firm as Little Bo Peep. Apple had a brief stint as a model before she quit because of a dispute regarding her image.
- Patrick TangPatrick TangPatrick Tang is a Hong Kong singer, actor, and TV show host who has been involved in numerous drama and movie productions. He was born 6 May 1974 in Hong Kong. He has three sisters. He started his career with TVB, where he has been from 2000 to the present day.-Television:-Film:-External links:* *...
as Man / Siu Tit-nam (蕭鐵男) — A tabloid photographer. It is discovered that he's Sin Jeh's nephew, and consequently Lok's cousin (which he humorously expresses).
- Kitty Yuen as Happy / Mai Siu-ngor (米笑娥) — Man's friend and fellow tabloid reporter. Jokes are sometimes made in reference to her height and androgyny.
- Joseph Lee as Alex Pao Yat-chu (鮑一柱; Pao Yat-chu) — The rival lawyer of Frances. Although he is self confident, he is always left speechless by her razor sharp tongue. He is known to be extremely egocentric and cares a lot about his image. Surprisingly, he seems to be the only other lawyer in all of Hong Kong.
- Bowie Wu as Professor Mo Hon-man (毛漢文) — Frances' father. A history lecturer, he spontaneously marries Yuen Yuen, his student, that he encounters in Egypt. He appears sporadically throughout the series. Towards the end of the series, he divorces Yuen Yuen and begins a relationship with Sin Jeh.
- Siu Leung as C.K. Law / Law Chung-kin (羅中堅) — The owner of the law firm. His appearances in the show are sparse and he is known to be greedy and affectionately connected with Tsin Jie. He's portrayed as an incompetent boss (both financially and in a business sense), and has a family in Canada which is sporadically visits. While Yuen Yuen was working at the firm, C.K. lecherous approaches toward her were highlighted in Frances' dream where he's identified by Lok as, literally, "Seven Color Wolf".
- Joe JuniorJoe JuniorJoe Junior is a popular Hong Kong English pop singer from Hong Kong during the 1960s. He has since been in a number of TVB drama series in the 1990s and 2000s playing older character roles. Joe Junior is his stage name. Regularly appeared on TV music programs as host and as performer...
as Henry Lo — A singer back in the day, he's now the proud owner of House Bar, the hangout for most of the characters. Dated Sin Jeh early in the series and shares a bit of a rivalry with C.K.
Recurring characters
- Waise LeeWaise LeeWaise Lee Chi-hung is a Hong Kong film and television actor best known for playing the roles of villains and antagonists in various films.-Biography:...
as Herman Wong — A perverted man who used to be in the same secondary school as Frances. Frances once had a crush on him and dated him for a while until he tried to molest her and other elderly woman. He makes 2 appearances. His first, as a client of Frances, who successfully defends from a sexual harassment charge. On a subsequent date to thank her for her work, she finds out that he really is a pervert who puts on lipstick and goes after women. On his second appearance, he returns to stalk Frances and forces her to kiss Lok.
- Liz Kong as Audrey Chung — A brief character, she dates Lok's for a while. They share a tumultuous relationship, which ends shortly. Eventually, it's discovered that she's a lesbian and begins to pursue Frances. Her attempts to scare her away don't work, until she pretends that Siu Keung is her pet.
- Loletta LeeLoletta LeeLoletta Lee is a Hong Kong actress born on 8 January 1966 in Hong Kong. She later changed her name to Rachel Lee in 2000.She started playing small roles in Hong Kong movies in the 1980s. Her first role as main actress is in Devoted to You...
as Michelle Fung Ka-lai — Fresh from law school, a lawyer who briefly worked for Alex Pao. Lok sponsored her in her university studies abroad and she dated Yu Lok Tin for a while when she returned to Hong Kong. In Frances' eyes she is perfect in every aspect (something that she realizes that she doesn't hat) and she goes to great lengths to sabotage her work.
Minor characters
- Chung Kin-man as Simon — One of the employee of C.K.office.
- Tong Chun-ming as Ming — One of the employee of C.K.office.
- Yeung Hoi-chi as Cat — One of the employee of C.K.office.
- Wong Yuet-ming as Sue (older twin), Chan Sui-wah as Sandy (younger twin) — Twin female secretaries in C.K Law Firm that often say the same things at the same time, they date male twins.