History Main / Luvvies

The [[TropeNamer Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded use of the word]] is an interview Creator/StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about, though the word and the concept are older.

Expect to hear ContinuityLockout nicknames and references, long-winded stories about working with stars from the previous generation, ComplimentFishing, fits of rage and depression over bad reviews, catty remarks about some colleagues and gushing praise for others, obsession with who wins awards (while pretending not to care), and constant soul-searching and navel-gazing. A luvvie trying to function outside the context of work is often a sad sight to see. He may consider himself a a SadClown, BlessedWithSuck for being so very talented in a world that doesn't understand. He may actually ''be'' that talented -- or [[GiftedlyBad not]]. Despite having any or all of these traits, these characters are often regarded affectionately -- this is usually WriteWhatYouKnow, and after all, they have to be played by... actors. [[{{BRIANBLESSED}} There are plenty of people in the real world who are massive luvvies and well liked for it.]]

The [[TropeNamer Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded use of the word]] is an interview StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about, though the word and the concept are older.

* In early seasons, ''Series/{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. StephenFry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll_-VT1LusM we got this exchange]]:

"Luvvie" is a slang word for actor originating in British theater, from the tendency of stage actors to call each other "love" and "darling" (apparently because when you're going from job to job it's easier than remembering people's names). The people it refers to tend to be posh and classically trained, and it connotes a certain amount of [[SmallNameBigEgo pomposity]], [[LargeHam effusiveness]], [[RantInducingSlight sensitivity]], and/or [[NostalgiaFilter sentimentality]].

* A series of sketches on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' featured Creator/MikeMyers as a superannuated actor of this type

* ''Inside the Actors Studio'' is often accused of this -- comedian David Cross hates it, and has a long routine making fun of the way James Lipton fawns over guests whether they've done anything to deserve it or not.

The [[TropeNamer Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded use of the word]] is an interview StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about[[note]]Until he was remembered by a guest panelist on the panel show ''Series/{{QI}}'', which he hosts. He felt a bit [[OldShame embarassed]].[[/note]], though the word and the concept are older.

The [[TropeNamer Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded use of the word]] is an interview StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about[[note]]Until he was remembered by a guest panelist on the panel show ''Series/QI'', which he hosts. He felt a bit [[OldShame embarassed]].[[/note]], though the word and the concept are older.

The [[TropeNamer Oxford English Dictionary's first recorded use of the word]] is an interview StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about, though the word and the concept are older.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTarantino's plan to make a Creator/WilliamShakespeare movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'." One of the other patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

The TropeNamer is an interview StephenFry did in [[BritishNewspapers The Guardian]] in [[TheEighties 1988]] and subsequently forgot all about, though the word and the concept are likely to be older.

* Part of the joke of ''ShakespeareInLove'' is assuming that actors 400 years ago were already like this.
-->'''Ned:''' ''[about Christopher Marlowe's death]'' Marlowe attacked and got his own knife in the eye. An quarrel about the bill.\\

* ''{{Extras}}'' naturally featured this a little bit.
* In early seasons, ''{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. StephenFry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll_-VT1LusM we got this exchange]]:

* Later, in ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', there was a sketch where Laurie was a luvvie claiming he used to know "absolutely everyone" in the business, and Fry was an interviewer who got annoyed and started asking about various made-up people with UnfortunateNames ("Fenella Hahahahahaha!spuit?"). Laurie kept pretending he recognized them, until the punchline: "Creator/DickVanDyke?" "You just made that up!"

* In ''ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' one sketch series follows a pair of luvvies that bad mouth upcoming talent, cry that their lackluster careers are actually by choice and they prefer the intimate relationship of the smaller crowd and detest the impersonal nature of massive venues, they bitch rivals that win awards and they actually dislike each other to boot. The joke is that they're actually footballers (soccer) not actors.

* ''PrivateEye'' has a feature called "Luvvies" specifically for quotes from actors that exemplify this trope.

Expect to hear ContinuityLockout nicknames and references, long-winded stories about working with stars from the previous generation, ComplimentFishing, fits of rage and depression over bad reviews, catty remarks about some colleagues and gushing praise for others, obsession with who wins awards (while pretending not to care), and constant soul-searching and navel-gazing. A luvvie trying to function outside the context of work is often a sad sight to see. He may consider himself a a SadClown, BlessedWithSuck for being so very talented in a world that doesn't understand. He may actually ''be'' that talented -- or [[GiftedlyBad not]]. Despite having any or all of these traits, these characters are often regarded affectionately -- this is usually WriteWhatYouKnow, and after all, they have to be played by... actors. [[{{BRIANBLESSED}} There are plenty of people in the real world who are massive luvvies and well liked for it.]]

-->'''EmmaThompson:''' You know the word "luvvie"?\\

* Later, in ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', there was a sketch where Laurie was a luvvie claiming he used to know "absolutely everyone" in the business, and Fry was an interviewer who got annoyed and started asking about various made-up people with UnfortunateNames ("Fenella Hahahahahaha!spuit?"). Laurie kept pretending he recognized them, until the punchline: "DickVanDyke?" "You just made that up!"

* Withnail of ''WithnailAndI''. Marwood's relatively more adult attitude ends up getting him a job, while Withnail is left performing ''{{Hamlet}}'' to some captive wolves.

* In early seasons, ''{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. StephenFry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll_-VT1LusM we got this exchange}}:

* In early seasons, ''{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. StephenFry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), we got this exchange:

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTarantino's plan to make a Creator/WilliamShakespeare movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'." One of the other patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

* In early seasons, ''{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. Stephen Fry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), we got this exchange:
-->'''Emma Thompson:''' You know the word "luvvie"?\\

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTarantino's plan to make a Creator/WilliamShakespeare movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'." One of the pther patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTarantino's plan to make a {{Shakespeare}} movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'." One of the pther patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

''[cue MyGodWhatHaveIDone reaction from Stephen]''

"Luvvie" is a slang word for actor originating in British theater, from the tendency of stage actors to call each other "love" and "darling" (apparently because when you're going from job to job it's easier than remembering people's names). The people it refers to tend to be posh and classically trained, and it connotes a certain amount of [[SmallNameBigEgo pomposity]], [[LargeHam effusiveness]], [[RantInducingSlight sensitivity]], and/or [[NostalgiaFilter sentimentality]].

As you might expect from that description, "luvvie" itself is a generally derogatory word, and this trope is double-edged: the existence of people like this in show business is obviously TruthInTelevision, and some actors will take huge offense at this perception of their profession, [[NotHelpingYourCase inevitably displaying all of the above qualities in the process of denying it]]. On the other hand, this trope is easy to overdo, especially in conjunction with an unfair portrayal of the whole art of acting as a self-indulgent sham requiring no work -- any actor who talks about their job in public at all, no matter with how clear a sense of proportion, [[FanDumb stands a chance of being accused of being like this]]. Actors who possess a sense of humor often [[InvokedTrope invoke]] or {{lampshade}} this trope about themselves for SelfDeprecation purposes.

Expect to hear ContinuityLockout nicknames and references, long-winded stories about working with stars from the previous generation, ComplimentFishing, fits of rage and depression over bad reviews, catty remarks about some colleagues and gushing praise for others, obsession with who wins awards (while pretending not to care), and constant soul-searching and navel-gazing. A luvvie trying to function outside the context of work is often a sad sight to see. He may consider himself a a SadClown, BlessedWithSuck for being so very talented in a world that doesn't understand. He may actually ''be'' that talented -- or [[GiftedlyBad not]]. Despite having any or all of these traits, these characters are often regarded affectionately -- this is usually WriteWhatYouKnow, and after all, they have to be played by... actors. [[{{BRIANBLESSED}} There are plenty of people in the real world who are massive luvvies and well liked for it.]]

Compare ShakespeareanActors, LargeHam, ClassicallyTrainedExtra, WagTheDirector. A particularly unsympathetic portrayal might make them NiceCharacterMeanActor. They live in the same world as the PrimaDonnaDirector and CausticCritic. Luvvies are AlwaysCamp, even the women.

!!Examples:

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* Part of the joke of ''ShakespeareInLove'' is assuming that actors 400 years ago were already like this.

'''Ned:''' Not the ''[[CreditsTropes billing]]''. The ''bill''.

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

* ''{{Extras}}'' naturally featured this a little bit.
* In early seasons, ''{{QI}}'' used to have a "Luvvie Alarm" they would set off when a panellist was judged to have crossed into this territory while telling a story. Stephen Fry and John Sessions were both guilty. In the "Films & Fame" episode (for the sake of which it was a good thing they'd retired the alarm a long time before, or else Sessions would have singlehandedly caused a power outage in the studio), we got this exchange:

''[cue MyGodWhatHaveIDone reaction from Stephen]''
* Both parties in the above example were in the Cambridge Footlights together, and each had a sketch in their revue where they played this type of character (him as a host of an acting masterclass show dispensing idiotic "wisdom" to a student played by Hugh Laurie, her as an actress obnoxiously receiving an award).
* Later, in ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', there was a sketch where Laurie was a luvvie claiming he used to know "absolutely everyone" in the business, and Fry was an interviewer who got annoyed and started asking about various made-up people with UnfortunateNames ("Fenella Hahahahahaha!spuit?"). Laurie kept pretending he recognized them, until the punchline: "DickVanDyke?" "You just made that up!"

* ''PrivateEye'' has a feature called "Luvvies" specifically for quotes from actors that exemplify this trope.

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTarantino's plan to make a {{Shakespeare}} movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# MacBeth'." One of the pther patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

----

* Later, in ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie'', there was a sketch where Laurie was a luvvie claiming he used to know "absolutely everyone" in the business, and Fry was an interviewer who got annoyed and started asking about various made-up people with UnfortunateNames ("Fenella Hahahahahaha!spuit?"). Laurie kept pretending he recognized them, until the punchline: "Dick Van Dyke?" "You just made that up!"

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTaratino's plan to make a {{Shakespeare}} movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# MacBeth'." One of the pther patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play]]' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.

* ''{{Alex}}'': In one strip, Alex and Clive are in a bar discussing QuentinTaratino's plan to make a {{Shakespeare}} movie. Clive makes a joke "I can see it now: Quentin Tarantino's 'F*@# MacBeth'." One of the pther patrons objects to Clive's language and he immediately apologises and corrects himself to 'F*@# [[TheScottishTrope The Scottish Play' as the final panel reveals the bar is full of luvvies.