Broadway vs American Idol

It occurred to me:

I think it's funny that one of the harshest criticisms Simon Cowell can offer an American Idol contestant is that they are "too Broadway" and yet one of the harshest criticisms Ben Brantley has to offer a Broadway show is that it is too "American Idol."

I think it's hilarious that both Broadway and American Idol think that the other is terrible and the opposite of what they stand for.

What's even MORE ironic is that Simon has NO PROBLEM letting one of his recording artists, Tamyra Gray, come to New York City and star in one of the hokiest unacclaimed shows on Broadway!

Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson, Frenchie Davis, and Justin Guarini are either on Broadway, preparing to come to Broadway, or hoping to be on Broadway. And there will be MORE TO FOLLOW in the years to come. In fact, American Idol has become a very nice platform for young performers to become Broadway stars. In fact, I'd recommend young talent to work their darndest to get on that show. In a matter of weeks, you become a household name and can sell tickets to a Broadway show whether you win the contest or not. Kinda reminds me of how young undiscovered talent made it big with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Why are Broadway and AI picking on each other so much? They're both about making money and giving birth to the dreams of young aggressive talents. Both have the wrong idea about the other. When Simon sees a bad singer, he says "go to Broadway. You'd be great there" and us Broadway fans cringe, thinking "no, you don't get it. Real Broadway performers are wayyyyy better than that singer." But I think Ben Brantley and the rest of the NY theater critics have the same misunderstanding. Comparing a Broadway show to "American Idol" shouldn't be considered a criticism. American Idol is an EXTREMELY LIKEABLE and SUCCESSFUL television show. If BROOKLYN is truly comparable to "American Idol," then it should prove to be a hit with audiences all over the world.

Yes, American Idol is a TV show that can be watched for free while Broadway's tickets cost $100 (sometimes more). And yes, Broadway is about theater and storytelling while American Idol is closer to a karaoke contest. Nonetheless, both are more exciting, popular, and rich with talented performers than they are willing to acknowledge about each other.

You lost me at the BKLYN reference, but more importantly: Justin Guarini's planning an appearance on Broadway? Jesus, I'm glad to be safe here in Vancouver. (Totally killin' to see Jennifer Hudson though.)

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What show is Tamyra Gray in?

Old-style "legit" singing does not involve a melisma-to-actual singing ratio of 6:1.

Tamyra starts Nov 9

How much old-style legit singing can be found in WICKED, AVENUE Q, RENT, BOMBAY DREAMS, ALL SHOOK UP, THE LION KING, GOOD VIBRATIONS, MAMMA MIA, HAIRSPRAY, etc? Broadway is MOSTLY pop singing.

True enough. But I think that Cowell means that singers that are "too Broadway" are leaning towards a legit sound, while people who criticize new Broadway singers as being "too American Idol" are criticizing an over-melisma-ed style. I'm in the latter camp. There's a "pop" sound, and then there's needless vocal showing off that makes you lose all semblence of phrasing or the meaning of the lyrics. Musical theater singing should be all about the lyrics and their meaning, but adding in melisma after needless melisma detracts from that.

"Musical theater singing should be...."

Why?

And hey... such "riffing" can be found in a more legit singing. Why do they call it in opera? I can't remember the name for it... you know, like the end of "Poor Wandering One"? Oh yea, a cadenza.

And didn't Jennifer Holiday melisma her way to a Tony Award 20 years ago?

What is the "AI style of singing"? Fantasia, Ruben, Clay, and Kelly are all pretty different, don't you think? And I think it's safe to say that they are pretty fantastic performers with an excellent understanding of how to sing a song. I don't know how any of them would do on Broadway, but if Clay started going to open calls, I bet he'd be snapped up pretty soon. If Fantasia auditioned for RENT, how long would she really have to wait before she was cast? Not long. Talent is talent. Broadway and American Idol are just platforms to show off the talent.

When Cowell calls a contestant "too Broadway," I don't hear it as criticism. He is referring to the AI competition, i.e., "you are too Broadway for this competition." Meaning AI is not about a Broadway sound, but something completely different. He's not putting down Broadway at all.

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Rath- maybe not always, but often it is a criticism. Cuz he often says it to singers who aren't very good and would never get cast in a Broadway show. He also says it like Broadway is about some sort of generic theatrical style. Whenever he says it, I'm like... which show? which part? How do you know this performer is a good enough actor? Or experienced enough to handle the 8 shows a week?

"Its so easy to get on TV. Look at the people on TV now, can you seriuosly say that all of them are talented?"

I disagree. It is extraordinarily difficult to get on TV as it is difficult to get on Broadway. I don't think that you can compare one with another in terms of difficulty. They do, however, look for different things. Well, the same thing -- entertainment -- but for different audiences.

Yes, American Idol is unfair. Bad people go through for humour and to increase ratings. Good people are left behind.

But, I don't think getting to Broadway can hardly be considered fair either. Just as TV is looking for a certain 'look', I'm sure theater does the same thing. I don't think you can look at working your way up to Broadway as a completely fair process.

The balance between luck and hard work plays a role in *anything* you do in life or any type of entertainment. I'm sure on both TV and Broadway, individual people get up there for either or both of those reasons.

I disagree, Speed, for the basic reason that you are assuming he knows what Broadway is, and what it takes. He does not mean it as a criticism, he is simply ignorant about legit theater.

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