Homina, Homina, Homina: Hugh Laurie

Yes, he's a great listener, but beyond that, he brings enormous energy to the part, even when he's portraying House as exhausted, unmoving, spent. It's a total commitment to the character that makes you unable to take your eyes off him. I can't imagine HL ever phoning it in. Yep. And it was there from the moment he read those first lines in that hotel bathroom in Namibia.

I was a big fan of Jeeves and Wooster, but at the time I paid more attention to Stephen Fry -- it was easier to identify with the character who's always stepping in with a witty remark to save poor dithering Bertie. But I was amazed when I watched them again (after House had begun) to see how much more effort Hugh had to put into each performance. Just the difference in the number of lines of dialogue alone should have jumped out at me -- but he made it look as though becoming Bertie was second nature to him.

I was a big fan of Jeeves and Wooster, but at the time I paid more attention to Stephen Fry -- it was easier to identify with the character who's always stepping in with a witty remark to save poor dithering Bertie. But I was amazed when I watched them again (after House had begun) to see how much more effort Hugh had to put into each performance. Just the difference in the number of lines of dialogue alone should have jumped out at me -- but he made it look as though becoming Bertie was second nature to him. Obviously they each have their strengths. Stephen, for example, is a much more prolific writer -- without losing quality (Writing tons of garbage isn't an accomplishment. Writing an excellent book every year or two is.) On the whole, I think Hugh is the better actor but in J&W I think they were both wonderful. Hugh managed to walk that tightrope of playing someone who is so good natured that people take advantage of him without turning Bertie into an idiot. My favorite thing about Stephen's Jeeves is the body language. You never, for one second, see him being anything but proper and upright.

I was a big fan of Jeeves and Wooster, but at the time I paid more attention to Stephen Fry -- it was easier to identify with the character who's always stepping in with a witty remark to save poor dithering Bertie. But I was amazed when I watched them again (after House had begun) to see how much more effort Hugh had to put into each performance. Just the difference in the number of lines of dialogue alone should have jumped out at me -- but he made it look as though becoming Bertie was second nature to him. Obviously they each have their strengths. Stephen, for example, is a much more prolific writer -- without losing quality (Writing tons of garbage isn't an accomplishment. Writing an excellent book every year or two is.) On the whole, I think Hugh is the better actor but in J&W I think they were both wonderful. Hugh managed to walk that tightrope of playing someone who is so good natured that people take advantage of him without turning Bertie into an idiot. My favorite thing about Stephen's Jeeves is the body language. You never, for one second, see him being anything but proper and upright.Absolutely, both actors did a wonderful job -- they're the quintessential Jeeves and Wooster. I can't imagine anyone daring to follow that act!

After reading those last few posts I kept hearing this in my head: Jeeves: Shall I lay out one of your novelty handkerchiefs for you today, sir? Bertie: Oh now, come off it Jeeves! I simply had to dash over to the old Tube of You and watch the scene immediately. Pip pip! ETA: Hey, my post count is down. I was up to an intern or some such. That makes me sad.

I wasn't insulting you, I thought that I was reassuring you by pointing out that you probably *weren't* being ignored, people just didn't have anything to say. I know how you feel...Human connection matters. Thanks, amysusanne and houserocket7 I guess one of the problems with the interweb is that tone and sense of humor are sometimes way too easy to misinterpret and expectations too likely to go unmet. Thanks for your nice thoughts, you guys!

ETA: Hey, my post count is down. I was up to an intern or some such. That makes me sad. It might have something to do with the deletion of the Emmy thread, if you posted on it. If you did, I'm sorry!

It might have something to do with the deletion of the Emmy thread, if you posted on it. If you did, I'm sorry! *GASP* So it was you who demoted me. Well, now I'm just hurt. :cry: Just kidding :wink: I only have the first season of J&W because I'm poor and I spent most of my money on ABoFaL because it cracks me, so consistantly, up. But now that I have all that I need the rest of the J&W series because it's so different than anything on TV that I'm used to seeing in the States.

It might have something to do with the deletion of the Emmy thread, if you posted on it. If you did, I'm sorry! Oh well, it isn't the first time I've been sent back a grade. I mean...*ahem* ces't la vie. :wink:

TMC is showing The Man in the Iron Mask at least a couple more times over the next week. It looks absolutely spectacular on DirecTV's new HD version of the channel. Now to see how long it is before I accidentally delete it off the DVR. Not that I've done that with any other movies. No, not me. Never.

I was thinking about the recent appearance on Leno, when Jay asked Hugh about his kids. Thank goodness it wasn't one of the 'when are they coming over' questions since they obviously aren't ever moving to LA, but it was still a question about his family. What I was wondering, is it very usual to chat up actors about their families on talk shows these days? Would Leno ask Tom Hanks or whoever how his kids are doing? I don't usually watch the talkies these days, but to the best of my memory, it's pretty unusual to ask a guest about his wife and kids, and Hugh always gets asked.

I was thinking about the recent appearance on Leno, when Jay asked Hugh about his kids. Thank goodness it wasn't one of the 'when are they coming over' questions since they obviously aren't ever moving to LA, but it was still a question about his family. What I was wondering, is it very usual to chat up actors about their families on talk shows these days? Would Leno ask Tom Hanks or whoever how his kids are doing? I don't usually watch the talkies these days, but to the best of my memory, it's pretty unusual to ask a guest about his wife and kids, and Hugh always gets asked. I'm not the most frequent tuner-inner of late night TV, but it seems like the subject of kids is a fair topic that gets touched upon. I just saw David Duchovny on....something....and he was all about talking up his kids and family. (Speaking of kids who probably hit the genetic jackpot.)

Not only do people get asked about their existing kids, the younger people get asked if they're trying to have more kids. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that just seems rude.

Not only do people get asked about their existing kids, the younger people get asked if they're trying to have more kids. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that just seems rude. I agree. Even worse is "why don't you have children?" What if the person can't conceive or has had miscarriages? It's not only rude, it's very invasive.

From oprah.com via cnn.com: I believe it's perfectly okay to love the one you're with, provided the one you're with either happens to have excellent news from an extremely up-to-date HIV test or answers to the name of Hugh Laurie

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