Because I don't want to be buried on page five of....

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:38pm

a nonsensically long thread that's gotten totally out of hand, I'm starting this one, like it or not.

Regarding the whole Benanti's return, I CANNOT believe this board has carried on about it and that "Iluv" is STILL on a rant about his friendship AS IF, we're discussing some world renowned A-listers familiar to people all the way in China.

You're all discussing Benanti in a way that's nothing short of absurd. She's a Broadway personality with a spotty attendance record (that statment applies to every show she's done), who's got a decent soprano, is extremely delicate both physically and emotionally and seems to have an "issue" showing up after the Tony's if they don't go her way. That's how I see it, nothing more, nothing less and clearly her extended absence did little to hurt sales, if anything, the "girl with the golden hair" has had a seemingly larger nightly audience, perhaps thanks to phantom2's aggressive promotion (and I'm only being slightly sarcastic) but isn't it time we stop treating this woman as if she's the be all end all of Broadway? And ILuv, what you do is only annoying (at least to me) BECAUSE Benanti is NOT somone worth "bragging" about and most of us, don't feel the compulsive need to discuss/stick up for/tout/ our "star" friendships, real OR otherwise.

And yes, I realize I'm talking about "it" yet again, but it needs to be said and no one else has.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:42pm

I LOVE YOU AL!!! Let's hope this thread and all your brilliant and TRUE comments don't get erased like the thread about the "z-lister couple" that was apparently "not ready for primetime".

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:42pm

*waits for explosion*

[ruprecht]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:43pm

WHY? Everything Al said is absolutely true and that's the ONE thing this board has no tolerance for.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:45pm

Exactly. The board has no tolerance for it. Whether or not it's true I'm not commenting, but you know that there are going to be a bunch of people who agree with Al, and a bunch of people who rush to defend Iluv. That's just how it works.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:46pm

That and the fact that for some strange reason, we're all supposed to pity Benanti. The "logic" of that has gotten past me repeatedly.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:48pm

I have to say, a great deal of what Iluvtheater does is indefensible IMHO.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:55pm

seems to have an "issue" showing up after the Tony's if they don't go her way.

An immature personal jab and incorrect statement.

the "girl with the golden hair" has had a seemingly larger nightly audience, perhaps thanks to phantom2's aggressive promotion (and I'm only being slightly sarcastic)

I'm sorry...I need to stop laughing before I comment on this.

isn't it time we stop treating this woman as if she's the be all end all of Broadway?

No one's treating her like the be-all end-all. But there are people who are loyal to her and respect her as a performer and person. So, if we wish to defend her...then we will.

BECAUSE Benanti is NOT somone worth "bragging" about

Maybe not to you.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:57pm

I was JUST going to comment on how this was the first mature post, and/or thread regarding the situation, until of course FOA showed up to take it right back to the sandbox. Al is not the first person to mention Benanti's "mysterious" habit of taking ill after the Tony's, snarky yes, but that's why most of us love Al. The truth is not often pretty.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 6:59pm

I love how defending someone is considered taking it back to the sandbox.

Get used to people disagreeing with you.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:00pm

Do we need another one of these???

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:01pm

I wasn't going to comment, but I have to.

The fact is, whether or not it's "Ididntgetatony"- itis or a real illness, NO ONE KNOWS. It's pretty unfair to make such snarky comments about that without knowing the situation. (For the record, I think it's real, but that's just me.)

Back to keeping out of it.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:02pm

"Get used to people disagreeing with me" are you kidding FOA? Have you any idea the amount of posts of mine that have been wiped from the boards?! I think I'm more than "used to it" but thanks for the lesson.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:05pm

as dancing said, we should all keep out of it
NO ONE KNOWS LAURA'S WHOLE STORY
not even foa or any other friend of Laura's
it is her personal business, not ours

and i really think this argument thread should be more off-topic

thats all i got to say. please dont hurt me.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:07pm

"Snarky comments" are the defining trait of any message board, have you ever ventured over to Perezhilton or datalongue or allthatcrap? It's positively warm and fuzzy around here. I was making "general sentiment" statments by the 5 or 10 of us that don't gush and post ad nauseum about Benanti or anything related to WS and making a very legitamate statement regarding the absurdity of it all. Updated On: 9/25/06 at 07:07 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:08pm

allthatcrap?

I love you, even with your snarky comments.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:09pm

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:12pm

To be quite honest, I'd be more likely to believe ILuv's friendship IF he didnt continually mention it. A lot of people on this board are friendly or friends with quasi-celebs, but do we mention it. More importantly, if he is the type to talk about his friends why does he only mention Benanti as opposed to Joe.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:14pm

Because Joe isn't the one being bashed?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:14pm

God, who cares!?

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:15pm

But many times Benanti is mentioned out of context.

Also, it is one thing to report info it is another thing to say MY FRIEND the great LAURA BENANTI said...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:20pm

"God who cares" well Yankeefan apparently the same 10 or so posters care a whole HELLUVALOT!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:22pm

It's not a "who cares" in terms of your beautifully written post....it's a "who cares" in terms of the situation. He chooses to defend his friend from scrutiny. Maybe he didn't do it the best possible way. Stuff happens.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:24pm

I realize that Yankee, that was just my being "snarky" yet again.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 7:26pm

I miss reading you Mr. Dente. Your appearances on the OT Board are as infrequent as Ms. B's!