Avenue Q Character Dead @ 42- Page 2

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 5:33pm

An Avenue Q 'character' is not dead.

A human being is.
A human being who was mocked and ridiculed in a show and saw no benefit from it.

Maybe if they donate the proceeds from the show to kidney disease research it will feel like the tribute has meaning.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 6:12pm

New York production Press Release

"The creators, producers, and company of 'Avenue Q' are terribly saddened to
hear of the death of Gary Coleman, whose tremendous gifts brought delight
and inspiration to audiences around the world. While everything in life may
be only for now, we suspect that Gary's legacy will live on for many years
to come. Gary's memory will certainly endure in the hearts and minds of
those of us who live on 'Avenue Q.'"

Tonight, when the show concludes at 10 pm, 'Avenue Q' at New World
Stages, Danielle K. Thomas who portrays Mr. Coleman in the musical will pay
a tribute to him from the stage.

Updated On: 5/28/10 at 06:12 PM

[JESmith]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 6:26pm

Also, Marx has spoken to EW.com and mentioned that for now they'll be keeping Gary in for now but they'll be altering some lines in the show (I bet the "slow tiresome walk to the grave" line will be axed).

[jpbran]

Posted: 5/28/10 at 6:41pm

Amazed/not amazed that there are at least 4 Gary Coleman threads... Sad news though.

[robbie_731]

Posted: 5/29/10 at 9:47pm

‘Avenue Q’ Deals With Death of Gary Coleman

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/avenue-q-deals-with-death-of-gary-coleman/?scp=2&sq=coleman&st=cse

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/29/10 at 10:12pm

I really don't understand all the grandstanding to be perfectly honest. No one connected to the show gave a rat's @#* about Gary Coleman prior to his death. Now people are making statements. Give me a break. The poor guy was a tortured soul since Dffrent Strokes went off the air. I'd have more respect if they just kept things as is, instead of all the melodrama. Jeff Whitty crying-really, now?

No one from their camp would work with Gary or even speak to him directly. I find all of this a bit much.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/29/10 at 10:43pm

Yeah that really bothers me too. They used the guy as a joke and not too kindly either.
I too stand with the people who say "Horsesh*t!".The sentiment rings hollow and fake.

[sparrman]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 12:16am

And Whitty won't consider dropping the Coleman character because he (Whitty) "would miss him too much"! Ah, well yes, that's the most important consideration, isn't it?

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 1:27am

"The creators, producers, and company of 'Avenue Q' are terribly saddened to
hear of the death of Gary Coleman, whose tremendous gifts brought delight
and inspiration to audiences around the world."

What gifts? He was someone who could deliver a one liner. He couldn't act and after he lost his "cuteness" he was recognized as the no talent that he was.
Watch "Different Strokes" It's embarassing

If it wasn't for Avenue Q , no one would remember him.

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 12:12pm

South Fl Marc

Gary Coleman MADE Different Strokes come alive each and every single episode in its long running series. He definitely had tremendous gifts and he did bring inspiration to many audiences around the world.

Different Strokes is STILL thriving in syndication, to date. Gary Coleman had perfect comedic timing and received accolades from the late great Lucille Ball among other high profile entertainers both living and deceased.

Norman Lear's Different Strokes was a unique ground-breaking series and the casting was spot on. The right cast for the right parts, for sure.

Different Strokes was a high rated sitcom and the writing was excellent too. It was a cultural iconic show, for sure.

Gary Coleman acted his role as Arnold brilliantly. The legion of his fanbase is great, to this date. Talented and gifted, that he was.

Nothing embarrasing about Different Strokes but pure laughter and great scripts too. Different Strokes was an iconic sitcom and a wonderful product of its time and generation.

I thank Norman Lear for his vision and for giving to us the years of thought and laughter in Different Strokes.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 12:14pm

Uh-oh, y'all woke the beast.

And I don't think Norman Lear had anything to do with Diff'rent Strokes.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 12:18pm

It's ok, at least she isn't defending Two and A Half Men to us.

http://goldderbyforums.latimes.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1106078764/m/686106204

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 12:25pm

Oh dear. Updated On: 5/30/10 at 12:25 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 2:17pm

South, I disagree that no one would remember him if it wasn't for Avenue Q. I have never seen Avenue Q and have no desire to. I have no clue what the running joke is in the show. There are tons of people who watched Different Strokes that remember him and have never seen Avenue Q. A lot don't even know about Avenue Q.

Linda, Norman Lear had nothing to do with Diffeerent Strokes.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 2:26pm

I think South FL Marc was referencing the larger fact that Coleman peaked as a child actor and those "gifts" never seemed to re-surface. I don't think he was insinuating that Coleman wasn't talented or good on the show. It's just that a statement by Avenue Q praising the "gifts" of a child actor whom you basically crucified in your show sounds really questionable. I think people, actors in the show included, actually lost sight that he was a real person, with feelings, until he passed away.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 2:33pm

"I had always thought that the name change to simply "Gary" in the London production of the show was simply because the creative team wasn't sure if the whole ongoing Gary Coleman joke that is used in the American production is something that the british audiences would get."

They had Different Strokes in the UK . They also have harsher gossip than the US at times. His reality shows, I am not so sure. I wouldn't sell the UK audiences short but understand the change. They would only really need to use the name "Gary" anywhere if you get the context. People pick up the correlation. kids today say "Gary who?"

I remember a few years ago on the site about celebs who have died there was a section "are they dead or alive" I saw Gary Coleman's name there.

[sparrman]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 5:20pm

While I find Whitty's comments really objectionable, I do think that the show paints a basically sympathetic portrait of Coleman. They're not above using his instant recognition for a quick laugh, but I think he's mainly there because the authors asked the question "Who would it suck to be more than anyone else in the world?" and their answer was Coleman. Given that starting point, the character Gary Coleman is basically positive, realistic, and resilient. The show doesn't ridicule his talent, his small stature, or some regrettable choices he made later in life.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 5:27pm

The show's Gary Coleman is probably a more likeable, positive depiction than the real Coleman in his later years. We have an independent, resilient person who has bounced back with humor from his (her) setback, rather than a permanent laughingstock whose life goes into a downward spiral.

Sure, Coleman is living in the puppet ghetto, but it could be worse.

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 10:05pm

"No one from their camp would work with Gary or even speak to him directly. I find all of this a bit much."

THAT is where you are wrong.

Straight from the coffee table book (straight from the creator's mouthes), they called Gary Coleman on the phone, when they were doing Avenue Q as a TV show, and he was totally interested and agreed to set up a meeting. Apparently, they waited for hours in the lobby, and he never did show up. And they didn't want to take the chances with him on stage, when they translated it to the stage.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 10:18pm

I saw an interview with Coleman (I think it was Tyra) and he said they never contacted him about the musical and he did not believe there was real interest in the TV show when that was offered. Plus, Gary said he got weirdo offers from left field all the time to spoof himself, make fun of himself and it was painful. Especially since that was all he was ever offered. That has to hurt.

Imagine what that call is like, "yes we are doing a TV show, a spoof of Sesame Street with people and puppets, featuring off-beat misfits and we want you to play yourself."I imagine that might hurt someone's ego and feelings. Ya think?

Theres always three sides to every story. One side. The other side. Then there is the truth. I am sure only a few know the whole truth.

Updated On: 5/30/10 at 10:18 PM

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 10:34pm

Well if that was the case, he NEVER should have told them yes and agreed to meet with them. If he later changed his mind, atleast notify them.

But I do see why he would be upset. I would be, too.