NBC’s ObamaVision: Green Week and Lousy Writing

NBC gives new meaning to the phrase “green screen” next week, spreading a pro-environmental message across five of its prime-time entertainment programs – AP News.

When Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” it was rightly seen as a brilliant allegory to the House Un-American Activities Committee.  It was a brilliant piece of drama about the Salem Witch Trials of the late 17th Century with obvious corollaries to the political climate of post-World War II America.  And no matter where you fall on the political spectrum you must recognize the play as a classic in the canon of American drama.

My admiration for much of Miller’s work gives me enough confidence to say that he would view the current efforts to ham-handedly inject political statements into television sitcoms as absolute crap.  It takes a deft hand to send a message without it seeming like you are sending a message… and the writers of “The Office” and “30 Rock,” as glib as they may be, are no “Arthur Millers”.

I love “The Office.”  I’m one of those apostates who actually like the U.S. version better than the original (must be my knee-jerk patriotism at work).  But I saw my very first example of lousy (and I mean REALLY lousy) writing this season when they tried to force the issue of “Volunteer-ism” into the storyline. (more…)

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Tags: "Glee", 30 RRock, All My Sons, Arthur Miller, big hollywood
Posted Nov 17th 2009 at 2:13 pm in Politics, Theatre | 26219031 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/11/17/nbcs-obamavision-green-week-and-lousy-writing/NBC%27s+ObamaVision%3A+Green+Week+and+Lousy+Writing2009-11-17+22%3A13%3A49Stage+Right

‘WWII In HD’ Provides Riveting History Lessons

“WWII In HD” is an excellent 10-hour, five part series narrated by Gary Sinise of “Forrest Gump” and “CSI: New York. “  Three episodes air tonight on the History Channel.

The series shows the war through the eyes of 12 Americans who fought in the war or contributed to it in some way. Using diaries, journals, and new interviews, it follows these Americans as their personal journeys intersect with one another throughout the war effort. Hollywood actors, including LL Cool J of  “NCIS: Los Angeles,” Rob Lowe, Amy Smart, Jason Ritter, and Steve Zahn, portray the young voices of the Americans. The original Americans include a war reporter, an Army nurse, a young African American from Toledo who became a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a second-generation Japanese American, and a Jewish immigrant from Austria who wound up in the Pacific Theater. (more…)

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Tags: Amy Smart, gary sinise, History Channel, Jason Ritter, LL Cool J
Posted Nov 16th 2009 at 2:03 pm in Reviews, Theatre | 26315467 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/drbaehr/2009/11/16/wwii-in-hd-provides-riveting-history-lessons/%27WWII+In+HD%27+Provides+Riveting+History+Lessons++2009-11-16+22%3A03%3A47Ted+Baehr

PBS Ombudsman: ‘Sesame Street’ Fox News Slam Crossed Line

Earlier this week, Big Hollywood’s Stage Right broke the story of a ”Sesame Street” episode which referred to Fox News as “Pox News” and “trashy.” In response to the episode, PBS also received a number of complaint letters from viewers which prompted a reply from PBS Ombudsmen Michael Getler:

I don’t know what was in the head of the producers, but my guess is that this was one of those parodies that was too good to resist. But it should have been resisted. Broadcasters can tell parents whatever they think of Fox or any other network, but you shouldn’t do it through the kids.

In response to Stage Right using “Sesame Street’s” unfortunate behavior as an example with which to speak for the many, many many parents frustrated with the idea of partisan programming aimed at children, some online outlets responded with the expected and usual dismissive snarky contempt. But now that PBS is on record agreeing with Stage Right, we’re left to wonder if they find PBS ”stupid,” “asinine,” “absurd,” and “idiotic.”

You can read Getler’s full article here, along with some of the complaint letters PBS received. (more…)

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Tags: Michael Getler, Ombudsmen, pbs, Sesame Street, Stage Right
Posted Nov 5th 2009 at 1:58 pm in Culture, Media Criticism, Theatre | 258774164 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/11/05/pbs-ombudsman-sesame-street-fox-news-slam-crossed-line/PBS+Ombudsman%3A+%27Sesame+Street%27+Fox+News+Slam+Crossed+Line2009-11-05+21%3A58%3A44John+Nolte

CAIR Seeks HBO Apology for ‘Curb’ Episode Mocking Jesus

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on HBO to apologize for an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in which the main character splattered urine on a painting of Jesus.

SEE: Larry David Blasted for ‘Curb’ Episode Where He Urinates on Jesus Painting http://tinyurl.com/hboepisode

In a letter to HBO Chairman and CEO Bill Nelson, Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote:

“It is beyond tasteless to insult the religious sensibilities of billions of people in America and around the world with such a cheap and vulgar publicity stunt. Jesus, peace be upon him, is loved and revered by both Christians and Muslims. Muslims view him as one of God’s greatest messengers to mankind. (more…)

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Tags: CAIR, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Islam, Jesus, Larry David
Posted Oct 29th 2009 at 3:30 pm in Politics, Religion, Theatre | 255306110 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/10/29/cair-seeks-hbo-apology-for-curb-episode-mocking-jesus/CAIR+Seeks+HBO+Apology+for+%27Curb%27+Episode+Mocking+Jesus2009-10-29+22%3A30%3A36Big+Hollywood

Broadway’s ‘Avenue Q’ Follows Obama’s Marching Orders

Back in February, my Big Hollywood colleague and super-funny-dude Tim Slagle wrote a series of posts on the Broadway musical “Avenue Q”.  The show was going through a mini-crisis/publicity stunt because one of the big punch lines to the song “For Now” was no longer valid:

A song called “For Now” has the puppets reassure each other that most things in life are temporary, like hair and sex. Until recently, one of those temporary things was “George Bush.” Knowing that Obama was to be shortly inaugurated, the producers and writers were perplexed for a replacement. I know it should be obvious to everyone else, but Broadway producers don’t think like you and I. So they threw a contest to decide a better verse.

Two weeks later, Slagle followed up with the big announcement of the new lyric: (more…)

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Tags: Avenue Q lyric contest, Bill O'Reilly, broadway, Fox News, george bush
Posted Oct 27th 2009 at 6:51 am in Theatre | 25084255 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/27/broadways-avenue-q-follows-obamas-marching-orders/Broadway%27s+%27Avenue+Q%27+Follows+Obama%27s+Marching+Orders2009-10-27+13%3A51%3A25Stage+Right

The Reviews Are In: Mamet is a ‘Sexist’

Last night, David “I’m No Longer a Brain-Dead Liberal” Mamet’s “Oleanna” opened on Broadway.  The production (a transfer from Los Angeles’ Mark Taper Forum) stars Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles.  As discussed on these pages Friday, this play was originally produced off-Broadway 18 years ago and is now receiving its first, official Broadway production. “Oleanna” and the upcoming “Race” are two opportunities for Mr. Mamet’s work to be evaluated by the heavily-left-leaning theatre critics.

The play received quite positive reviews.  Here are some interesting things I read in the reviews…

In Elysa Gardner’s positive review in USA Today, she refers to the contrasting times in which the play is now produced versus the original production:

When David Mamet’s Oleanna premiered in 1992, it was widely perceived as a response to the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in which Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by former assistant Anita Hill.  It has been 18 years since that real-life drama played out. But as the very different controversy now surrounding David Letterman reminds us, the debate over what constitutes an abuse of power between a male authority figure and a female subordinate isn’t going away. (more…)

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Tags: anita hill, backstage, ben brantley, bill pullman, broadway
Posted Oct 12th 2009 at 4:34 pm in Featured Story, Politics, Theatre | 24532231 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/12/the-reviews-are-in-mamet-is-a-sexist/The+Reviews+Are+In%3A+Mamet+is+a+%27Sexist%272009-10-12+23%3A34%3A05Stage+Right

‘Non-Liberal’ Mamet In For Big Year on Broadway

“I took the liberal view for many decades, but I believe I have changed my mind.” – David Mamet

As I discussed in my very first post here at Big Hollywood, many in the theatre world were surprised to read David Mamet’s amazing article, “Why I am No Longer A Brain-Dead Liberal” in the Village Voice.  In my post, I used the play “Oleanna” as an example of a conservative lean that I recognized in Mamet’s work when it premiered off-Broadway in 1992.  I concluded with a couple of questions: (more…)

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Tags: broadway, david mamet, NY Times, oleanna, race
Posted Oct 9th 2009 at 2:55 pm in Politics, Theatre | 24145440 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/09/non-liberal-mamet-in-for-big-year-on-broadway/%27Non-Liberal%27+Mamet+In+For+Big+Year+on+Broadway2009-10-09+21%3A55%3A02Stage+Right

How to Get Your Play Produced on Broadway

Playbill announced that the very successful Off-Broadway play “Next Fall” will be transferring from its home at the non-profit theatre “Naked Angels” to the Helen Hayes theatre in the Spring of 2010.  In many circles this is seen as a New York success story.  A small, non-profit produces a new American play, it sells well after a glowing NY Times review and backers finance a move to the big time.  So, let’s take this play as a “teachable moment,” if you will, and let’s discover what kind of plays get transferred to Broadway.  This way, many of my readers who happen to be playwrights can also figure out a way to get their plays produced.

I always find it instructive to examine the press agent’s description of the play because the language is always carefully thought out.  The thought process is always “don’t give away too much about the play so that we reveal key plot points, and also, make sure we don’t make the theme come across as too controversial so as not to alienate potential ticket buyers.” (more…)

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Tags: Atheists, bigotry, braodway, Christians, Naked Angels
Posted Oct 4th 2009 at 6:51 am in Featured Story, Politics, Religion, Theatre | 23481885 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/04/how-to-get-your-play-produced-on-broadway/How+to+Get+Your+Play+Produced+on+Broadway2009-10-04+13%3A51%3A04Stage+Right

Honoring September 11th: I’m Just Pissed

I’m not sad today. I’m not melancholy. I’m not remembering the first time I saw a sunset reflected off the west-facing side of the towers.  Today doesn’t elicit any of those feelings in me.

This day makes me pissed off.

And I’m not just pissed at the terrorists.  I’m pissed at the panty-waist theatre community I am a member of.

Case in point:  ”One of the first plays about Muslim life in the United States debuts in a time and place fraught with symbolism: Sept. 11th, in New York City.”

The two-act play which the playwright likens to a Muslim-American “Death of a Salesman” opens tonight at the Nuyorkian Poets Cafe, about 2 miles from ground zero. (more…)

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Tags: 9/11, broadway, muslim-american, September 11, the domestic crusaders
Posted Sep 11th 2009 at 6:41 pm in Politics, Theatre | 22289876 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-im-just-pissed/Honoring+September+11th%3A+I%27m+Just+Pissed2009-09-12+01%3A41%3A12Stage+Right

Broadway Too PC for ‘Bye, Bye, Birdie’ ‘Rape’ Scene?

I bet that headline got your attention!  But, as you’ll see a little later in this post, the scene in question is not really a “rape” at all.  But that didn’t keep the NY Daily News from running this headline yesterday:

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ revival on Broadway drops scene for ‘gang rape’ concern

“Just a copy editor trying to get attention by over-exaggerating a story,” you think?  That’s what I thought, too.  But here is the story with Gina Gershon’s quote: (more…)

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Tags: "Annie Get Your Gun", broadway, bye bye birdie, chita rivera, dancing with the stars
Posted Aug 25th 2009 at 6:51 am in Culture, Politics, Theatre | 21053441 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/08/25/broadway-too-pc-for-bye-bye-birdie-rape-scene/Broadway+Too+PC+for+%27Bye%2C+Bye%2C+Birdie%27+%27Rape%27+Scene%3F2009-08-25+13%3A51%3A46Stage+Right