Bob Fosse is rolling over in his grave right now...

This may come as a surprise, MissS, but Broadway IS pop culture.

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I like it when "pop culture" (by which I guess you mean pop music?) borrows from Broadway, actually... it makes new converts. I have a friend who said he hated musicals, but he loved Usher's version of "Singin' In The Rain." So I lent him the real film version with Gene Kelly, and he loved it.

And using Broadway choreography is a lot more pleasing to the eye than a lot of what passes for dancing...

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Updated On: 10/21/08 at 04:59 PM

Everything old is new again...

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I totally agree! Good Point

"Bob Fosse is pivot-turning in his grave..."

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Fosse himself used to say that stealing was the best form of flattery. I think it's a wonderful homage to the brilliance of Bob Fosse, and it is incredibly fascinating to me that decades after he created this choreography, it still is affecting the work of the most popular mainstream performers working today. It's simply fantastic to see that Fosse's wonderful art is that relevant, entertaining, and great that to this day it is a part of popular culture.

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Maybe they admire Mr Fosse and want to honor him. Just be thankful it's not Miley Cyrus or whatever and it's Beyonce. At least she does it will respect and she has talent.

Thank God Broadway never borrows ideas from pop-culture!!!

(and for some of those slow on the pick up, I'm being sarcastic here)

Updated On: 10/22/08 at 06:06 PM

Seeing as how Bob Fosse stole half of his ideas from Jack Cole, I doubt he'd be spinning too fast.

Updated On: 10/21/08 at 07:03 PM

Once again you young ones are showing your ages and naivete.

If you knew ANYTHING remotely close about Bob Fosse, you'd be fully aware that he LOVED seeing his choreographic influences in other choreographer's works. As mentioned above, he found imitation an enormous form of flattery.

The very first music video to pay homage to Bob Fosse was Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted Snake" back in 1989. It paid enormous homage to Bob Fosse's "Airotica" sequence from his 1978 film ALL THAT JAZZ.

In PEOPLE Magazine Bob Fosse once commented on Paula's choreography.

"He said that he admired my style as a young choreographer, and how I have unpredictability in my choreography -- the ability to turn right when everyone expects me to turn left. It was the biggest compliment I ever received".


Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted Snake" music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN-Qq2umKZo

*Marguerite Derrick's GAP Khaki A Go-Go TV Spot/Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJQSfwe2Vv0

Fosse-esque 2007 VMA TV Spot/Commercial with Britney Spears: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRWVqBqK3Z4

*Marguerite Derrick infuses enormous amounts of Bob Fosse's work in her pieces. You can also see this in all of the Austin Powers films which she's choreographed.

Director/choreographer Vincent Patterson also payed heavy homage to Bob Fosse for Madonna's legendary 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour (from the trio groupings to the "Vogue" and "Keep it Together" numbers -- black derbies and all). Beyonce' has mentioned countless times how much she admires Bob Fosse's work and has used enormous elements of his choreography and staging for not only her music videos but her tours as well.

Bob Fosse would be thrilled to see all this going on. It validates his genius talent that still inspires many. Its been over 20 years since his death in 1987 and there's no end to new generations discovering his work.

Bob Fosse may be gone but he is definitely NOT forgotten.

For what its worth -- Gwen Verdon was thrilled to see choreographers use elements of Bob Fosse's work, especially young choreographers. She died in 2000 so she was around to see most of this.

I think it's a good thing, it helps keeps classic art alive. Plus, it's a lot better than seeing the standard choreography in music video.

Updated On: 10/21/08 at 09:13 PM

I will say this: I think it's really impressive how fast they three execute this choreography. For rulll.

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