9 TO 5 : It was cute.- Page 2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:30am

I have attacked your blatantly ignorant statements. You can neither comprehend well what you read nor, do better to hold up your end of the argument than the equivalent of the school yard bully who berates his prey with the lofty "neener, neener."

Sorry to hijack the thread but the OP's statements on equality are stupid and wrong. Of course this show still has actual relevance. The fact that a commission on women is needed more than 40 years after the Equal Pay Act, is testament alone to how far we have to go to realize true equality. The fact than anyone in the country doesn't realize that, is frightening and snobbish.
Updated On: 4/10/09 at 12:30 AM

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:30am

I personally don't think that "I Miss The Mountains" is such a bad song... but Alice Ripley's voice with that song... is torture. Not that she has a bad voice, being that she does (although I'm not the biggest fan) but her voice and that song just don't go.

I think that's the problem with most of the songs in N2N... they don't go with the performers voices. For example: I can't listen to J. Robert's Spencer's voice singing the N2N songs.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:33am

Actually Ripley's voice is growing on me. I don't think I'll ever "love" it, but it's not that horrible. But that song is just dreadful. I think it's because all the other songs are so great that that one pales in comparison. And Spencer's voice is a tough sell. It's not bad, but just not suited for that style of singing. He doesn't have a very powerful pop belt. Him singing "I Am The One" on the commercial is a bad choice. I love Henry's voice though! It's so unique. I wish he had a song for himself.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:37am

I haven't seen it yet and it's Alice and J. Robert's voices keeping me from seeing it. I have to see... I may wind up seeing it and if I do it will be for Aaron and the story. But, I'm not to anxious about being obligated to sit through some of the songs in full form.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:38am

Why do N2N & 9to5 threads ALWAYS end in Allison V. Alice?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:40am

I have been in the workforce (publishing/printing industry) for 4.5 years now and have worked at both the number one and number two printing companies in the U.S. In my old position as a Marketing Analyst and now in my new position as a Marketing Manager, I can honestly say firsthand that I get treated better than all women who are at the same level as me. It is so sad, but there is still discrimination in the workforce.


"but if anyone LOVES this show, they're either pushing themselves to be as enthusiastic as their hopeful/wishful expectations, or they're waaaay too easy to please."

I love the show, but neither reason above describes why I love it.
Updated On: 4/10/09 at 12:40 AM

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:42am

TS3, I wasn't aware it did.

Read the posts.

It never turned into an Allison vs. Alice discussion. Just an "I Miss The Mountains" discussion.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:56am

True. I mean, which of them deserves the Tony is for the Tony voters. I could care less. I'll still sleep at night regardless.

And, sure, the issue is still prevalent, but I'm not sure what this show is doing for the issue? So we should all tie up our bosses to get things done? I think it's blowing more smoke up its ass than it deserves/yields.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:58am

I'll actually be happy if either Alice or Allison wins the Tony...they are both wonderful in their respective shows.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:59am

Agreed. It's comedy and drama. It's like apples and oranges. They're both tough.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:00am

Well, it's fun.

Think of...

Hairspray: Wasn't so relevant anymore. It dealt with discrimination like 9 to 5 does, although Hairspray's was more serious, but no less, it wasn't relevant to the time it debuted on the stage but it was just a good time.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:04am

UGH Jesus Christ, I didn't say discrimination was over -- you'll always find people to cite examples of anything -- just that it's WILDLY diminished.

But whatever, you're missing the point of what I was saying -- not that people should stop complaining about inequality, just that they should stop pretending "9 to 5" is a bold, relevant show with a timely, important message.

Seriously, why do you think they chose to keep the show set in 1976? The same rules/messages/specifics just don't apply in 2009. "9 to 5," the movie, was very much a product of the times in which it was made. That doesn't make it dusty or old-hat, it just makes it an extremely relevant and indicative artifact of where the country was at when it came out. They just couldn't make that movie nowadays because it would be painting a picture so disparate to what modern audiences know exists. They even acknowledge this at the very end of the show when we get filled in on what all the characters are up to nowadays.

But whatever, you're right, I'm wrong. NOTHING has changed, this show is super important. Women are still openly sexually harrassed at every job they work in, are forced to wear high heels and tight-fitting blouses, and can only get jobs as secretaries and low-level assistants who are forced to sleep with their bosses. Whatever. Updated On: 4/10/09 at 01:04 AM

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:06am

And for the record, I don't think HAIRSPRAY is an amazing, timely show or anything, but the issues dealt with in that show (both racism AND body image) are still much more prevalent than what's discussed in 9 TO 5.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:08am

HAIRSPRAY was anything but fun when I saw it in November. I mean seriously, do they even teach acting in musical theater schools anymore? Or is that even a requirement to get hired as a replacement?

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:10am

Did I not write "not relevant to the time it debuted"? I'm saying it's not relevant... and I'm not saying it's groundbreaking. But, just fun. Which is something Broadway needs.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:15am

No show should be criticized for how relevant or not relevant it is, unless it self-importantly trumps itself up as being so. I think neither HAIRSPRAY nor 9 TO 5 pretends to be weighty or important, so I wouldn't criticize really attack either show for that.

It's the fans of the latter who feel like "fun" and "enjoyable" are insufficient adjectives to praise their beloved show that they insist on grasping at straws with "relevant," "topical" and "important" that kind of annoy me.
Updated On: 4/10/09 at 01:15 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:16am

Yes, shows like "Prayer for My Enemy" which try to be relevant but fall flat. Those are the ones to blame!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:30am

I think the show is mediocre. The performances are all wonderful though.

I would like to ask MiracleElixir a question. Have you actually been working for the past 30 years? Because if you haven't, how can you make a statement like, "Discrimination...is WILDLY diminished"?

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:33am

You don't have to have been alive throughout history to be culturally aware of what was taking place. I may not have been there firsthard for the past 30 years, but I think you'd be hardpressed to find an individual -- young or old -- that isn't aware of the strides that have been made in terms of gender equality (among other issues).

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:41am

Well, I HAVE been working for 30 years, and discrimination toward women is NOT "wildly diminished." If, by "strides in gender equality," you are referring to legislation, you are being accurate, but to make a qualifying and comparative statement like "wildly diminished," you need to actually KNOW what you're talking about, not just "reporting" what you've read or heard.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:43am

ME, this is what you said:
"While sexism/equality in the workplace is surely still an issue of some sort, it's by NO means a major one."

Yeah, it's only major for the millions of single women, who are the sole support of their families, that they earn .81 on the dollar that a man makes.

You clearly live in a comfy bubble. Ignorance must be bliss.

Strides have also been made in race relations since the Civil War, but that doesn't mean it is not still a major issue.

[Amaranth9]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 1:49am

I have to respectfully disagree with you and others on the subject of important themes in the show or that the show should just be regarded as pure fluff. Does there have to be a particular reason for "why now?" Why not? There are many comparisons to be made about what has been improved, but also points about what hasn't.

First, of course progress has been made, but as others have pointed out, to say that sexism or equality in the workplace is an issue of 30 years ago is silly. It is a logical fallacy to extrapolate something like that from the fact that you have a female supervisor. Not only do wage differences persist, there is pre-job market socialization and prejudice before even getting to that level. Then there is the practice of paying less for the same job but with a different title, so that isn't even reflected in the stats. What about the fact of the second shift- that women work full days to have another job of chores and childcare at home? Why limit ourselves to thinking about typical office spaces? What about the high rate of assault within our armed forces? Why limit the conversation to women or gender? There are many other connections that can be made with the show about male identity, class, the working experience in this country, the current crisis and corporate greed. What about restructuring businesses to become green?

Are all of these dealt with explicitly? No. Do I think it is a stretch to make these points? No. In fact, they come bubbling up to mind so fast it's hard to type them. Is it because the show is a musical comedy, or the way the story is presented that it is assumed these aren't serious connections the show has? These thoughts come to me easily, but others might have to dig for them. I think people will get out of the show what they want to. Is it so bad to work for this extra layer? Sometimes it seems people here want a show to give them everything on a silver platter or that the same would be taken as emotional manipulation. Does the show pretend to be some or all of the things I have raised? No, but that's taking an intentionalist view of art. What matters is that I can deconstruct themes and representations in the show if I want to. For some or many, the humor and lightheartedness of the show is an invitation to do that. One can take it or leave it, but it has to be created, not necessarily absorbed from your seat.

So I respect your experience with the show and criticisms with the book or other aspects- I recognize the show isn't perfect (I wonder sometimes what would be the final product if someone other than or in addition to Patricia Resnick wrote the book; I think she may be too "close" to the project). But I just want to add my two cents about why the show is not fluff or irrelevant imo.

Btw, I got hearty laughs from the show in L.A. and I thought the score is damn catchy. YMMV.

/rambling.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 2:01am

MiracleElixir...I find you to be somewhat annoying. The show is just meant to be a good time. I was there tonight and I had a blast in that theatre. And yes, the issues in 9 to 5 are still around today. Not to the same extreme, but they are definitely still existing today.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 2:06am

I GET IT. YOU LIKE THE SHOW. I NEVER ONCE SAID THESE ISSUES AREN'T STILL AROUND -- STOP TWISTING MY WORDS. I JUST SAID THE MENTION OF INEQUALITY IN THIS SHOW DOESN'T MAKE IT "RELEVANT" OR "IMPORTANT."


For the FIFTH time, absolutely NONE of my problems with the show have to do with its lack of thematic weight or importance. I know it's supposed to be "a good time." I just didn't have as good of a time as a lot of other people on these boards. Updated On: 4/10/09 at 02:06 AM

[emo_geek]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 4:15am

I would not compare to bubble gumness of Legally Blonde to this :-/
I would go as far as comparing it to Hairspray...both shows I loved.

Updated On: 4/10/09 at 04:15 AM