Overrated Performers
Overrated Performers
#0Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:48pm
Liza Minnelli - never ever understood the appeal
Hugh Jackman - beautiful to look at, especially half dressed, but a servicable singing voice at best
Carol Channing - I just don't get it! Can not listen to the Hello Dolly cast album. Between Carol and Charles Nelson Reilly, my ears bleed.
Ethel Merman - never understood the attraction here either.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
Updated On: 2/15/05 at 03:48 PM
#1re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:50pm
You are crazy, but that's just my opinion.
I find Michael Crawford to be overrated.
#2re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:52pmWell there is an intelligent posting.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
i*heart*fame
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
#3re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:52pmIdina Menzel--she is good, but come one people
"Don't thank your parents, if you were raised in a nurturing environment you wouldnt be in show business"--Conan O'Brien at the 2006 Emmy Awards
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#4re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:53pm
Are you trying to be funny, baddadnpa? Because I am shocked. My jaw is on the floor right now. Wow.
Idina Menzel = overrated performer
The woman is talented, but does she really deserve all of those teens/tweens/pre-teens flocking to her and worshipping her? I think not.
EDIT: Aww, I thought I would be the first one to mention Idina! Damn you... 
Updated On: 2/15/05 at 03:53 PM
#5re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 3:53pmNot trying to be funny at all. Downright serious.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
#7re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:05pmThank you newsie - thought I was going to get shot at sunrise or something comparable.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
Updated On: 2/15/05 at 04:05 PM
i*heart*fame
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
#8re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:08pmsorry joshua488
"Don't thank your parents, if you were raised in a nurturing environment you wouldnt be in show business"--Conan O'Brien at the 2006 Emmy Awards
#9re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:22pm
My theory on why these stars are stars...
They all absolutely ooze stage presence. None of them are ever boring in anything they do. I think the fact that none of them have the most "pleasing" voice adds to their charm. Would Liza be Liza without that rhaspy tremor? Would Hugh be Hugh without that nasal "honk" he often does so well. Would Carol be Carol or Harvey be Harvey if they spoke and sang in crystal clear, legit voices? No, they wouldn't; and they probably wouldn't be near as interesting, either. Carol Channing can captivate an audience by simply eating beets and dumplings --- *that's* stage presence. I do, however, agree that simply listening to these performers isn't always at the top of my list of fantastic things to do.
Just my two cents on the topic. 
~Joshie
My lip gloss is poppin'...
GypsyRoseLee
Broadway Star Joined: 7/5/04
#11re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:23pm
Yeah, I never got the whole Ethel Merman thing for a while either, but I think the reason she was so famous in her day is because of her big voice. I think it was Irving Berlin who said , "If you're writing lyrics for Ethel Merman, they'd better be good because everyone is going to hear them" Keep in mind that in her day, theatres weren't miked.
And I agree about Liza Minelli. Too much vibrato. Blech.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
#12re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:24pmI agree they have stage presence, but all are considered Broadway musical actors. I could understand hype if they were acting in comedies or plays without music, but they are all representative of the Broadway musical theatre.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
#13re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:27pm
Fair enough. I happen to enjoy them (live!), but I can definitely see where others may disagree.
~Joshua
My lip gloss is poppin'...
#14re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:29pmThe problem I find is that they are far more interesting as themselves than they are as the characters they play. You never lose yourself in their acting. It is not Dolly Levi up there, but larger than life Carol Channing. Same thing with Merman and Minnelli, although I would NEVER put Minnelli in the same league as Channing or Merman.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
Updated On: 2/15/05 at 04:29 PM
#15re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:31pmDonna Murphy, overrated? If anything, she's underrated.
cathyhyatt
Broadway Star Joined: 10/20/04
#16re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 4:59pmIDINA MENZEL...THANKYOU...FINALLYYY
"You won't fight without layers of armor
Suit on up and come brace my sword
You look back when the pieces are missing
Hollowed out hope that no time can restore."
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#17re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:08pm
How'd I guess Idina would be in this thread....?
If you want to talk about overrated performers, let's mention people without even a smattering of talent....
Spooky
Featured Actor Joined: 7/20/04
#18re: Overrated Performers
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:22pm
Matthew Broderick he bores me to tears.
Harvey Fierstein too, I like him, but I don't think he's all that, he's just the only one.
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#19re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:36pm
I'm retitling the thread, if you guys don't mind. I think thats a more accurate was to describe them instead of "overrated."
My contibution will deal with beloved cabaret performers:
Ann Hampton Calloway ( Ilike her sister Liz, though),
Andrea Marcovicci
and the legendary Julie Wilson.
The first two I find mannered beyond belief and I just don't understand why Ms. Wilson is applauded the way she is.
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
Updated On: 2/15/05 at 05:36 PM
TheaterGeek91
Broadway Star Joined: 5/22/04
#20re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:54pmI second the Harvey motion. I just can't listen to his voice for long periods of time.
#21re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:57pm
Harvey is an amazing actor but I cannot stand his singing voice. I do not see the appeal, and therefor will not see him in a musical.
Rebecca Luker, I cannot stand her voice.
"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
#22re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 5:58pmNooooooooooo, not Rebecca! Not my baby!
#23re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 6:01pmI thought Melissa was your baby?
"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q
"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical
#24re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 6:08pm
Donna Murphy
Harvey Fierstein
Idina Menzel
Ethel Merman
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