Am currently OBSESSED with Schmigadoon! Even my hubs loves it and I say that he hates musicals (he contends that since he enjoyed Book of Mormon, Les Miserables, and The Lion King then this somehow counts as that he doesn't hate musicals)
LOVE the Schmig!! I found it very smart, clever, and also heart warming. Did you see a new season is about to drop this week? Might not hold up to the first, but I'm wading in. I also just dipped into Up Here a kind of romantic musical....I'm intrigued. I typically will give anything musical-ish-inspired a hard watch because I love musicals and think people dismiss them way too easily. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is worth a rewatch if you're inclined; complete tour-de-force in my opinion :)
Sister! You just gained yourself a subscriber my fellow theatre kid :D Rachel Bloom is a freaking GENIUS, am in complete agreement that CXG was a landmark in Broadway-inspired TV. It was the best thing since Smash which tbh I am still a little bit in my 7 stages of grief on that one ending. Will see you back here on Substack when I'm sure you will write about Schmig season 2!
GAHHHH!!! MY PEOPLE!!!! YAY!! And subscribed right. damn. back. Thank you my friend! ZOMIGOD....100% agree on CXG AND SMASH! I thought it was smart to center the whole creative process in that show, and yeah, it devolved into a hot mess, but THAT'S THEATRE! (#DRAMA). I recently rewatched Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist as I had lost track of it after NBC yanked their programming from Hulu over to Peacock (eye. roll.) and then was like "Okay, when can I expect season 3?" Only to find out: Never. How. Dare. YOU. NBC. I'll see you on the Schmig side! :)
Aw Sheila, thank you for subbing back although I currently have an empty slate for my Substack :D OK you know what sistah, now I have no choice, I AM GONNA WRITE MY FIRST ONE and it'll be inspired by our lil convo here. Thanks to you my musicals comrade and to Eric for bringing us theatre geeks together!
I really wanted to get into ZEP, the concept seemed fantastic but the thing is, the old "so many shows so little time." Was just mentioning to Eric the other day - I am just barely getting into the Creed franchise. But if you are recommending Zoey, then I'm like Harold Hill and Marian the Librarian's knickers. Everyone else whose name is not Sheila or Marmi - that means I'm all in :)
Well you used the phrase "subbing," which means you are wayyyy more versed on this platform than moi. I look forward to reading your discoveries in whatever form they take! This sub-genre of TV has always fascinated me and captured my heart...even when it's poorly executed. It's the risk taking I applaud and, as I said, I think people are quick to discount the power inherent in musical theatre because at its core is about expressing what is often ineffable and emotionally charged and THAT makes people squirmy. So, yeah, Cop Rock--I'll give you a second, third chance! the ZEP is worth a watch for its core concept. I feel like it was just starting to find its footing when it was yanked, but so it goes, but I'm also completely sympathetic to the "one binge to binge them all!!!!" As we say in Boston, wicked haahhhd kid, wicked. :)
My hot take: Speed is also one of Sandra Bullock's best roles.
Watching: The Wire (I'm working on it!), and local weather. 70mph wind later today? Hard pass.
Reading: Our suburb's paper. It's election season here, and the letters to the editor are getting increasingly dramatic. Also: HS sports are kicking off, and it's great to see some of son's friends (and our friend's kids) in the pages. This might be the most "suburban dad" thing I've ever written.
Listening: "That Sweet Breath" EP by Lowmello. killer psych-rock out of New Mexico.
You had me at NM! I love love ABQ with its wonderful people, old town, Nuclear Museum where we befriended some Buddhist monks and were later invited to their monastery in town where our daughter received a special blessing, International Balloon Fiesta (Eric - remind me to post in the Discord my photo of the Yoda and Darth balloons), I could go on and on. Thank you Kevin for jogging lovely memories of my home from 5 years ago!
Just finished the wire. What season are you on? I definitely found a very spiky curve with my attention and interest with that one, despite what rotten tomatoes says.
Season 4 was great for me. Season 5 took a bit to get thru. You’ll see what I mean when you get there. I’d be interested to know if you experienced the same crests and troughs. Eric, let’s do a The Wire redux soon!!
Really enjoying a pair of CBS/Paramount sitcoms, 'Ghosts' and 'Young Sheldon.' Honestly, the latter really surprised me as I kinda hate the 'Big Bang Theory,' to which Sheldon is a sorta prequel series.
Sheldon is really amazing though, and though not perfect, it's still new finding fresh territory to explore in S6.
Also, loving the hell out of "Mad About You," maybe the most dramatic sitcom I've ever seen. Can't believe I overlooked it when it was airing live.
The 1990s 'Mad About You' with Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser.
It's a great series, sometimes formally ambitious in a way I never expected from a 90s sitcom. They had one episode in 6 that was basically a single long 22-minute take. Or at least something that faked it pretty well. They did a Season 8 revival a couple years back, not a remake. I'm hoping to see all of it by the end of April. Highly recommended if you've never checked it out.
I watched some of it when it originally aired but it never really stuck. I think I was too young and it too nuanced. I lumped it (perhaps unfairly) with stuff like Frasier, e.g. Old People Sitcoms. LOL
With a couple exceptions, I didn't really watch sitcoms until recently. Mad About You was a show I remember being advertised a lot back in the 90s, but I always avoided it. Now, though, I can see - it really was something special. I especially appreciate that it a focuses on a newly married couple and all the issues that go with sharing your life with someone. Also, it's funny as hell but also more artistically ambitious than its ilk.
I rewatched Point Break a few years ago. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who found Reeves' acting laughably tragic. It plays like a parody (and next to Swayze's charismatic presence, oh boy...)
What am I into? I had the pleasure to watch the entire season of THE BIG DOOR PRIZE before it even premiered, and it's the best feel-good surprise of the year so far. So, I'm telling everybody about it anywhere I can, haha.
Am currently OBSESSED with Schmigadoon! Even my hubs loves it and I say that he hates musicals (he contends that since he enjoyed Book of Mormon, Les Miserables, and The Lion King then this somehow counts as that he doesn't hate musicals)
I also dislike musicals on principle (tho my love for Grease knows no bounds), but was intrigued by Schmigadoon.
LOVE the Schmig!! I found it very smart, clever, and also heart warming. Did you see a new season is about to drop this week? Might not hold up to the first, but I'm wading in. I also just dipped into Up Here a kind of romantic musical....I'm intrigued. I typically will give anything musical-ish-inspired a hard watch because I love musicals and think people dismiss them way too easily. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is worth a rewatch if you're inclined; complete tour-de-force in my opinion :)
Sister! You just gained yourself a subscriber my fellow theatre kid :D Rachel Bloom is a freaking GENIUS, am in complete agreement that CXG was a landmark in Broadway-inspired TV. It was the best thing since Smash which tbh I am still a little bit in my 7 stages of grief on that one ending. Will see you back here on Substack when I'm sure you will write about Schmig season 2!
GAHHHH!!! MY PEOPLE!!!! YAY!! And subscribed right. damn. back. Thank you my friend! ZOMIGOD....100% agree on CXG AND SMASH! I thought it was smart to center the whole creative process in that show, and yeah, it devolved into a hot mess, but THAT'S THEATRE! (#DRAMA). I recently rewatched Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist as I had lost track of it after NBC yanked their programming from Hulu over to Peacock (eye. roll.) and then was like "Okay, when can I expect season 3?" Only to find out: Never. How. Dare. YOU. NBC. I'll see you on the Schmig side! :)
Aw Sheila, thank you for subbing back although I currently have an empty slate for my Substack :D OK you know what sistah, now I have no choice, I AM GONNA WRITE MY FIRST ONE and it'll be inspired by our lil convo here. Thanks to you my musicals comrade and to Eric for bringing us theatre geeks together!
I really wanted to get into ZEP, the concept seemed fantastic but the thing is, the old "so many shows so little time." Was just mentioning to Eric the other day - I am just barely getting into the Creed franchise. But if you are recommending Zoey, then I'm like Harold Hill and Marian the Librarian's knickers. Everyone else whose name is not Sheila or Marmi - that means I'm all in :)
Well I ALSO just subbed to your Substack Marmi.. so looking forward to the first one.
BTW, you should syndicate whatever you post here to Medium.. might as well get paid for it too! Send it to Fanfare. :)
Mos def!
Well you used the phrase "subbing," which means you are wayyyy more versed on this platform than moi. I look forward to reading your discoveries in whatever form they take! This sub-genre of TV has always fascinated me and captured my heart...even when it's poorly executed. It's the risk taking I applaud and, as I said, I think people are quick to discount the power inherent in musical theatre because at its core is about expressing what is often ineffable and emotionally charged and THAT makes people squirmy. So, yeah, Cop Rock--I'll give you a second, third chance! the ZEP is worth a watch for its core concept. I feel like it was just starting to find its footing when it was yanked, but so it goes, but I'm also completely sympathetic to the "one binge to binge them all!!!!" As we say in Boston, wicked haahhhd kid, wicked. :)
I've never even been to Boston, but I like to say "wicked smaaart" because it sounds hella cool.
My hot take: Speed is also one of Sandra Bullock's best roles.
Watching: The Wire (I'm working on it!), and local weather. 70mph wind later today? Hard pass.
Reading: Our suburb's paper. It's election season here, and the letters to the editor are getting increasingly dramatic. Also: HS sports are kicking off, and it's great to see some of son's friends (and our friend's kids) in the pages. This might be the most "suburban dad" thing I've ever written.
Listening: "That Sweet Breath" EP by Lowmello. killer psych-rock out of New Mexico.
I don't think that's a hot take. Sandra is soooo good! You totally understand why she became a star after Speed.
Suburban dad is an untapped market! 😆
I'm gonna try and corner it. One pair of cargo shorts at a time. :)
You had me at NM! I love love ABQ with its wonderful people, old town, Nuclear Museum where we befriended some Buddhist monks and were later invited to their monastery in town where our daughter received a special blessing, International Balloon Fiesta (Eric - remind me to post in the Discord my photo of the Yoda and Darth balloons), I could go on and on. Thank you Kevin for jogging lovely memories of my home from 5 years ago!
Just finished the wire. What season are you on? I definitely found a very spiky curve with my attention and interest with that one, despite what rotten tomatoes says.
We're about halfway through Season 4. Maybe a little further?
Season 4 was great for me. Season 5 took a bit to get thru. You’ll see what I mean when you get there. I’d be interested to know if you experienced the same crests and troughs. Eric, let’s do a The Wire redux soon!!
... I still haven't watched The Wire 😬🙈
😱
I smell a guesssstttttt postttttttt
🔥🔥🔥
Will do! I didn't think I was going to like Season 4, but that evaporated after about :30 minutes.
Really enjoying a pair of CBS/Paramount sitcoms, 'Ghosts' and 'Young Sheldon.' Honestly, the latter really surprised me as I kinda hate the 'Big Bang Theory,' to which Sheldon is a sorta prequel series.
Sheldon is really amazing though, and though not perfect, it's still new finding fresh territory to explore in S6.
Also, loving the hell out of "Mad About You," maybe the most dramatic sitcom I've ever seen. Can't believe I overlooked it when it was airing live.
Mad About You? The old Helen Hunt sitcom? Or is this the remake?
Ghost looks super good, kinda wish I'd jumped in right away.
The 1990s 'Mad About You' with Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser.
It's a great series, sometimes formally ambitious in a way I never expected from a 90s sitcom. They had one episode in 6 that was basically a single long 22-minute take. Or at least something that faked it pretty well. They did a Season 8 revival a couple years back, not a remake. I'm hoping to see all of it by the end of April. Highly recommended if you've never checked it out.
I watched some of it when it originally aired but it never really stuck. I think I was too young and it too nuanced. I lumped it (perhaps unfairly) with stuff like Frasier, e.g. Old People Sitcoms. LOL
With a couple exceptions, I didn't really watch sitcoms until recently. Mad About You was a show I remember being advertised a lot back in the 90s, but I always avoided it. Now, though, I can see - it really was something special. I especially appreciate that it a focuses on a newly married couple and all the issues that go with sharing your life with someone. Also, it's funny as hell but also more artistically ambitious than its ilk.
There are rumors Keanu Reeves is open to doing another Speed film. :)
That would be amazing!!
I rewatched Point Break a few years ago. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who found Reeves' acting laughably tragic. It plays like a parody (and next to Swayze's charismatic presence, oh boy...)
What am I into? I had the pleasure to watch the entire season of THE BIG DOOR PRIZE before it even premiered, and it's the best feel-good surprise of the year so far. So, I'm telling everybody about it anywhere I can, haha.
Haven't heard of the Big Door Prize but it looks interesting! Apple TV has been killing it. I'll check it out.
Have you seen this interview with Harrison ford and Ryan gosling? ☠️
I just learned it was 5 years ago. Still no less funny. https://youtu.be/bAb8KIhgVAI
Holy crap!!! This is hilarious! I want this woman to do all interviews now and forever. 😆😆😆😆
💯