Come Home Love (Chinese: 愛·回家; Jyutping: Oi3 Wui4 Gaa1; literally "Love, Return Home") is a Hong Kong sitcom created and produced by TVB.[1] Premiering on TVB Jade on May 14, 2012, the series was originally intended for 180 episodes but extended multiple times, before finally concluding in July 2015 with a total of 804 episodes.[2][3] The sitcom was broadcast on TVB Jade and HD Jade every Monday through Friday during its 8:00-8:30 pm timeslot.
In February 2015, TVB announced plans to end the series so the cast and production team could move on to other projects.[4] However, the series' positive ratings led to a spin-off series with a whole new cast and production team. The spinoff series was first broadcast on July 6, 2015, with the only returning cast members being Lai Lok-yi, Max Cheung, Griselda Yeung and Geoffrey Wong, who play minor roles in the second series.
In 2020, the cast received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 TVB Anniversary Awards.[5]
Synopsis
The series revolves around the Ma family, an extended Chinese family living together in modern Hong Kong. The story also extends to the law firm youngest son John (Ma Chaung) works at.
Ma Fu (Lau Dan), is a retired Hong Kong Correctional Services officer. He is the patriarch of the Ma family and his traditional and disciplinarian approach to life creates both friction and solutions. The other members of the family are his much younger sister Ma Yau (Florence Kwok); second son and daughter-in-law, Ma Keung (Tsui Wing) and Lo Lai Sheung (Yvonne Lam); the deceased eldest son's Ma Gin's, children Ma Tse Yan (Joey Law) and Ma Tse Nei (Angel Chiang); and youngest son Ma Chuang (Lai Lok-yi).
TVB 2015 calendar, February. From left to right: Chris Lai, Joey Law, Tsui Wing, Lau Dan, Yvonne Lam, Florence Kwok, Kenny Wong
The costume fitting ceremony was held on March 7, 2012, at 12:30 pm Tseung Kwan O TVB City Studio One. Original cast attendance included Lau Dan, Tsui Wing, Lai Lok Yi, Florence Kwok, Yvonne Lam, Joey Law, Angel Chiang, Queenie Chu, Carlo Ng, Yvonne Ho, Max Cheung, William Chu, Griselda Yeung, Lisa Ch'ng, Wong Chun Tong, Raymond Chiu, Lee Ka Ting, Auston Lam, Celine Ma, Jenny Lau, Apple Chan, Cheung Yin Chak, Hero Yuen, William Chak, and Hebe Chan.[7][8]
The series was originally intended to have 180 episodes. Due to solid ratings, TVB extended the series to 300 episodes in January 2013.[9]
Also in January 2013, Oceane Zhu whose character was originally a cameo was promoted to main cast due to her character being well received by audiences.[10]
With continued solid ratings and urging by audiences, TVB ordered an additional 200 episodes in May 2013. Totaling 500 episodes, the cast and crew held a banquet to celebrate the milestone.[11][12]
After extended the series multiple times because of solid ratings, TVB announced in February 2015 that they are planning to finally conclude the series even though the series is still doing well in the ratings.[13]
TVB originally planned to have certain cast members and the production crew collaborate again in a new sitcom series.[14] Plans were scrapped, Instead a spin-off series with a whole new cast and crew was created. The second series retains the Come Home Love title, but will not have any major connections to the first series.[15] Chris Lai, Max Cheung, Griselda Yeung and Geoffrey Wong are the only cast members to resume their characters in the second series. They will be playing minor roles in the new series.
A promo image of Come Home Love was one of twelve series featured in TVB's 2015 calendar for the month of February.[16]
Viewership ratings
^Note 1 : Episode 51 (July 23, 2012) peaked at 38 points as a result of Typhoon Vicente.[17]
*'Episodes were not broadcast on: *2012 - October 1, October 8, November 19, December 17 *2013 - February 11, October 4, November 19, December 16,December 20 *2014 - January 17, January 31, October 20, November 19, December 15 *2015 - February 19, February 20
