I think the American thing is a totally fair point, to be honest. I hate seeing the Brits walk away with all the Tony awards every year, especially for dreck like Billy Elliot.
Also, God of Carnage? Crappy little French play made into something wonderful by fabulous American actors.
@Perhaps Not: For some reason, fewer Pulitzer-prize winning (or even nominated) plays seem to make it to Broadway. If they could figure out why that is, maybe American wouldn't be shown up at the Tonys quite so often.
Especially when real (American) dreck like Rock of Ages and Shrek are taking up theaters instead.
Can I get a ruling by the denizens of Theater World? Is it sparklehands or jazzhands? Jazzhands seems to be the suggested nomenclature, and is used locally. Isn't sparklehands the retarded cousin to jazzhands? Sort of like the harpsichord/piano? Candlestick vs pin bowling, etc.
The effectiveness of playing to cultural chauvinism in a particular demographic is typically in direct proportion to the number of trucks owned by the demographic in question. Which is another way of saying...WTF? Who wasted their money on postage for this idiotic gambit for the Tony Awards?
Okay. Mamma Mia is an old show which has made trillionso f dollars. Legally Blonde has already been overexposed via being broadcast on MTV, and through the reality show to find its new star. Jersey Boys is also rolling in money.
Why not give the exposure to some touring shows that need the help a little more?
I'm sorry, the idea is to get people to see the touring productions by coming to New York? Or are you saying that seeing The Lion King in Spokane encourages people to fly to New York, book a hotel, and see the production here, too?
@The Dominant Glee Club: Seeing The Lion King in Spokane generates money for the producers of the Broadway production in New York, who have other productions here they want you to see.
Quite honestly, though, The Lion King is absolutely worth your money.
I really don't care if an investor wants to live vicariously through a playwright. That seems a pretty fair price to pay, especially a show doesn't happen without money.
@No Day Like Friday: Fine, jackass. The next time you give a great presentation at work after weeks of preparation, just let your boss walk up and take all the credit with you.
Put your ass where your mouth is saying your ass should go, is what I'm saying. Or would you rather get credit for the work you do?
Riedel himself is one of the biggest reasons that NY theater critics no longer wield any power, or are considered a part of the community. He's a weasel who lives for dishing the dirt behind the scenes, and can't be bothered with frivolous details like, oh, what's the play about?
Watch the staged critics' roundtables during the recent documentary Show Business; he's the only one who has nothing constructive or illuminating to say. He doesn't want to be Addison DeWitt: he wants to be some bastard combination of Walter Winchell and Matt Drudge. And he fails in both directions.
Wait, the fired Star Ledger critic is bitching that he actually had to work instead of going to parties? And he admits that he's a clueless buffoon?
You know what, fuck that shit. I was a reporter for 10 years in New Jersey and had to do a lot more unpleasant things than talk to striking actors. Has the dude ever had to do "cop checks" or go to fucking municipal budget meetings? What about working election night calling 105 year old vote counters in weird counties? Or talk to the family members of murder victims or write obituaries on Christmas day
@BookishLookish: Seriously. Fuck that dude. Journalism is supposed to be hard work and it's often dull hard work.
I have no fucking sympathy for a dude who got a theater reviewing job at one of the highest paying newspapers on the East Coast and then bitches that he actually has to work - and seems to think that learning how to use new technology is beneath him.
@drunkexpatwriter: Have you seen the documentary about Toots Shor, it's called "Toots"? As an old newspaper man, I think you would find it fascinating. Not sure if Netflix goes over to France, but check it out.
@SarahHeartburn: Agreed hence why I don't see why this dude is bitching.
The only times I don't find work hard and dull is when I'm writing "reviews" for really pretty escorts. And even describing imaginary sexual encounters with them gets old if I have to do it for more than about two days in a row.
But, Jesus Christ, how hard could a theater reviewing job be? Compared to all the other drudge work that journalists have to go through - it's a snap.
And these guys make a fortune because they are considered featured writers. I remember the day I found out that the highest paid writer on the Gannett New Jersey staff was the television writer.
This was after I'd spent three weeks working 12+ hour days covering a really long and involved and sad murder trial that sucked the soul out of me.
@drunkexpatwriter: Ya know, Mike Sommers is a really sweet guy, he's clearly joking in the quote, and we should probably give him a break since he just got laid off.
@PerhapsNot: I'll take your word for it, but back in the day when I was competing against the Ledger there was a fairly high asshole quotient among the reporting staff, so my first instinct is to assume he was being serious.
That said, there was a fairly high asshole quotient at the papers I was working for as well, so please don't take this as a dig against the Ledger per se....
06/08/09
Also, God of Carnage? Crappy little French play made into something wonderful by fabulous American actors.
06/08/09
Especially when real (American) dreck like Rock of Ages and Shrek are taking up theaters instead.
06/08/09
06/08/09
06/08/09
06/07/09
06/07/09
06/07/09
06/07/09
Why not give the exposure to some touring shows that need the help a little more?
06/07/09
According to Playbill Magazine's Twitter: "Harvey Weinstein is pacing in the lobby on the phone..an assistant following him. Very Entourage-esque"
[twitter.com]
06/07/09
06/07/09
06/07/09
Quite honestly, though, The Lion King is absolutely worth your money.
06/07/09
/jokes with place-names are fun.
06/07/09
I really don't care if an investor wants to live vicariously through a playwright. That seems a pretty fair price to pay, especially a show doesn't happen without money.
06/07/09
Put your ass where your mouth is saying your ass should go, is what I'm saying. Or would you rather get credit for the work you do?
11/02/08
11/02/08
Watch the staged critics' roundtables during the recent documentary Show Business; he's the only one who has nothing constructive or illuminating to say. He doesn't want to be Addison DeWitt: he wants to be some bastard combination of Walter Winchell and Matt Drudge. And he fails in both directions.
11/01/08
11/01/08
You know what, fuck that shit. I was a reporter for 10 years in New Jersey and had to do a lot more unpleasant things than talk to striking actors. Has the dude ever had to do "cop checks" or go to fucking municipal budget meetings? What about working election night calling 105 year old vote counters in weird counties? Or talk to the family members of murder victims or write obituaries on Christmas day
What a dick this dude is.
"Misled" my ass.
11/01/08
11/01/08
I have no fucking sympathy for a dude who got a theater reviewing job at one of the highest paying newspapers on the East Coast and then bitches that he actually has to work - and seems to think that learning how to use new technology is beneath him.
11/01/08
11/01/08
11/01/08
11/01/08
The only times I don't find work hard and dull is when I'm writing "reviews" for really pretty escorts. And even describing imaginary sexual encounters with them gets old if I have to do it for more than about two days in a row.
But, Jesus Christ, how hard could a theater reviewing job be? Compared to all the other drudge work that journalists have to go through - it's a snap.
And these guys make a fortune because they are considered featured writers. I remember the day I found out that the highest paid writer on the Gannett New Jersey staff was the television writer.
This was after I'd spent three weeks working 12+ hour days covering a really long and involved and sad murder trial that sucked the soul out of me.
11/01/08
11/01/08
That said, there was a fairly high asshole quotient at the papers I was working for as well, so please don't take this as a dig against the Ledger per se....