Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
heil myself!
Chorus Member Joined: 5/30/07
#1Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:27pm
From IMDb:
"Veteran actress Cloris Leachman has challenged theatre star Mel Brooks to a fight so she can prove she is healthy enough for a role in his forthcoming Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. Leachman, 81, was devastated to learn she had been snubbed for the part of Frau Blucher, Dr. Frankenstein's household servant - a role she originally played in the 1974 movie version of Young Frankenstein - despite having reportedly breezed through the audition process. Theatre insiders told New York Post's gossip column, Page Six, "(Leachman had) a wonderful audition... She was involved in a workshop recently and everyone loved her... but it was obvious she was too old." And Brooks, 80, fears the Broadway musical would be too strenuous for the star. He tells former industry columnist Army Archerd, "We're afraid the show might stop her - it could kill her... We don't want her to die on stage." But Leachman's representative Steve Rohr says, "Cloris challenges Mel to three rounds in the ring, and we'll see who's left standing." "
Okay, this is easily going to be the funniest thing ever.
#2re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:29pm
IMDB isn't known for their spot-on reporting, but if Brooks actually said, "We don't want her to die onstage," I might have to take him out myself.
How incredibly rude.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#2re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:29pmMel is one to talk himself he is just one year younger. I say give it to her.
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seymour krelborn
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#3re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:30pmThis is why I love her!
#4re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:30pmGeez, ya think this could be a publicity stunt?!?! Anyway, I'll put all my money on Leachman...
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
#5re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:30pmThere has been enough talk about Mel and his rudeness so I am not going to comment on that except to say I'm on "Team Leachman" if this fight happens! HAHA HILARIOUS!!!
#6re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:34pmI hope she kicks his ass.
One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
#7re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:34pmI so want Team Leachman tees now, Popular!
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#8re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:36pm
Ravio,
Have I told you how much I loved you today?
I would have sent a PM, but you don't accept them.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#9re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:37pmI was so pissed off when I heard she wasn't in it anymore. I love the woman and hopes she betch slaps him to Sunday.
#10re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:38pmThat's hilarious! I would pay good money to see that fight!
#11re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:42pmI love you every day, TheatreDiva. I wasn't aware that I wasn't accepting PMs, thanks for letting me know.
One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
#12re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:42pm
My money's on Leachman too, Popular.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
heil myself!
Chorus Member Joined: 5/30/07
#13re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:44pmI love Mel and have nothing against him (I don't think he's rude, he just doesn't sugar-coat everything he says.), but I do want Cloris to win just so I can see her on stage.
#14re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:44pmGood idea! Who's making the shirts? And when can we buy tickets to see this?
#15re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:45pm
Hell, if there's t-shirts, sign me up for Team Leachman too. How is it Mel's decision whether she's too near to death or not? Ffs, Sutton Foster or Megan Mullally (god forbid!) could get hit by a cab tomorrow but they're still allowed to be in the cast. How terrifically rude and unnecessary! Leachman ftw pls!
Updated On: 6/15/07 at 02:45 PM
#16re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:58pmChristopher Plummer and Angela Lansbury are in their 80s and are starring on Broadway, albeit in limited runs of plays, but still. It is possible. Leachman is a tough cookie. She is constantly doing TV work even at this age.
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"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
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"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#17re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:00pm
A Broadway play and a Broadway musical are two different entities.
Playing a large featured role 8 times a week in a mega multi million dollar musical at 80 is not a piece of cake.
It's not a piece of cake when you're half that age either...
#18re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:05pm
Playing a large featured role 8 times a week in a mega multi million dollar musical at 80 is not a piece of cake.
But it's age discrimination, plain and simple. Who is he to say she can't handle it? Only she knows what she's capable of. And if her performance was amazing as reports were, she's clearly qualified.
Bea Arthur is over 80 and continues to tour in her one-woman show. I would say that touring a nearly two hour show by yourself is the equivalent of a doing a featured role in a mega musical 8 times a week.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
Updated On: 6/15/07 at 03:05 PM
#19re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:06pmWorse than that, when you're in a mega multi million dollar musical, you can't even eat the cake, because you have to stay fit!
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#20re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:16pm
See, I wasn't saying she shouldn't be cast, I was saying that people who are saying that it's not hard have absolutely NO idea what they are talking about.
Being in a Broadway show is not like being in your high school's $25,000 production of Bye Bye Birdie. Sometimes I get the feeling that a lot of posters don't understand that...
#21re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:22pm
High schools spend WHAT for productions???
WHAT????
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#22re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:28pmThere might even be a problem involving insurance on the cast, if potential backers demand it. I don't know how they do it in the theatre but a film will never get the go ahead without insurance being taken out on the lead performers. When one of the leads is elderly or ill (or has other reasons why they might not be able to complete the filming) the studio is unable to insure them - thus no money.
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mamie4 5/14/03
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mamie4 5/14/03
#23re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:57pmThere could be a compromise.. If they are so worried about her, then why not have two persons play the role so Cloris could still do her thing on Broadway, but not 8 shows a week. I'm sure that many people would rather have Cloris Leachman on a few days a week, than not at all. Roman in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#24re: Cloris Leachman Challenges Mel Brooks to a fight to win role (NO JOKE)
Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:03pm
Isn't this what previews are for? Seeing what works, what doesn't work, and if anything (cast members included) need replacing? Let Leachman play it. She's a professional, she knows her own limits, and if it turns out she can't after all, at least they gave it a shot.
I also like the idea of splitting the role; maybe they could look into that if they find out during previews that eight shows a week isn't on? ^_^
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