Totally Vyle

Though her show-within-a-show resembles a British Jerry Springer (the brilliantly titled segments include “I Love My Mum, But She Dresses Like a Whore!”), Vivienne Vyle sees herself as more of an Oprah. “I’m not the ring mistress of a freak show, I’m doing a public service!” she exclaims before going on air and berating the guests with her familiar refrain: “You disgust me and most of my audience.”

Vyle lives up to her name, as played by Absolutely Fabulous genius Jennifer Saunders on the new, irreverent dark comedy The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle (premieres Sunday on the Sundance Channel), produced by the BBC.

The daytime talk show host’s sanctimony is matched only by the incompetence of her employees – especially scatterbrained producer Helena (Miranda Richardson, who more than holds her comedic ground opposite Saunders). In an ideas meeting, Vivienne demands her staff find guests with more interesting stories to tell: “Are they pregnant? Is the fetus gonna die? Let’s get the fetus on!” she demands, prompting Helena to shout to her assistant, “See if we can get the fetus to sign a release form.” Somehow, we doubt that’s how Oprah operates.


The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle premieres September 7 on the Sundance Channel.