"'FOSSE/VERDON' COMING TO FX"- Page 11

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 10:38pm

Michelle is stunning.

[denali.fire]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 11:08pm

I get asthma attacks just watching all of Fosse's smoking . 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 11:21pm

Wow, tonight was the best episode yet.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 11:54pm

ljay889 said: "Wow, tonight was the best episode yet. "

I loved everything tonight except for that musical number surrounding him almost killing himself it felt too obvious the way they tried to force Pippin’s narrative and music to intersect with his own narrative so literally.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 2:17am

I thought tonight's episode was one of the weaker ones. It was basically Fosse spirally out of control for an hour. I started to get dizzy after a while. The major problem was that his character was unempathetic which I think is a fault of the writing. As a viewer I was not invested in him.

 

On a lighter note,  the actor playing Stephen S. looked a lot like his younger self.

[bear88]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 2:34am

Aside from giving a different and appropriately harsh perspective of Fosse's 'womanizing,' the episode was hamstrung by the problem that I always thought it would have: All That Jazz. Attempts to ape the film just remind me of how much more interesting, creative and self-lacerating the thinly-disguised character of Bob Fosse was than the Fosse in this episode. 

The Gwen Verdon material, aside from being elevated by Michelle Williams' marvelous performance, benefits from being less familiar - at least to me. And Verdon didn't already film an unflattering if self-aggrandizing version of her own story during this time period.

[bk]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 4:12am

Yes, All That Jazz is the elephant in the room and this series' attempts to continually throw in self-conscious nods to it and its style don't work and aren't really necessary.  Otherwise, I'm sure the posts that will follow this one will be of the variety we've already seen: "best one yet" "one of the weaker ones" "I loved it" "I didn't care for it and here's why." :)

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 11:20am

BK is wrong, however, All That Jazz is not the elephant in the room. It is the elephant and also the tiger and lion chomping at the story, threatening to swallow up the TV series - because, Fosse did some of this already and did it better - more focused, more intimate and even more charming. In this week's episode when he is criticizing the dancer who kneed him (Fact check says it was Jennifer Naim-Smith, but I thought I heard "Fosse" use the name Sherry and there was a Cheryl Clark in the original cast), but in All That Jazz, Gideon heavily criticizes "Victoria" in a crueler fashion, but then has that intimate talk about making her a better dancer.  

Slate's Fact Check  Kind of skimpy fact check this week. At first, I was confused by the order of Tony, Oscar, Emmy - but I did check and, wow, the Tony Awards were handed out in March of 1973.  When did the "season" switch to May 1 to May 1 and awards in June.  I speculate TV had something to do with  re-setting the date of the awards?  

Also, I don't think Ann Reinking was in the original Manson Trio.  But, then the episode just had her dancing in rehearsal, not in the show itself. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 12:41pm

FYI, Reinking was not an original Mansion Trio.

I thought last night's episode was thrilling. Really showed Fosse's decline and well as Gwen's. We need to remember that not everyone watching this has seen All That Jazz. Really setting up for Chicago next week.


FYI, anyone have the names of the dancers from last night's episode. Not just the four in the ending, but all the dancers that were in the Pippin rehearsal? Can't find a list anywhere and I'm not able to read the scrolling list in the rolling credits.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 12:54pm

I did not find the episode thrilling. I felt like I was watching a music video. Kudos for trying to integrate the Pippin music into his downfall but I do not think it was fully successful. I was hoping to see a full production number preferably the opening. Again Williams was wonderful.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 1:47pm

Ok so I did genuinely love it but I do wish they had actually shown numbers from PIPPIN like they did for CABARET, as it is my favorite musical. But Nicole’s I Guess I'll Miss The Man really really moved me. Loved how this episode showed just how predatory Bob really was. Similarly to some people, I have not seen ALL THAT JAZZ. I only knew bits and facts about Gwen and Bob and their work, so all of this is new for me. It occurred to me that perhaps Schwartz had something to do with how much from PIPPIN was actually shown. It's pretty well-known that Schwartz and Fosse saw the show very differently, and I would've liked to have seen some scenes between them showing that. Questions I have about accuracy is that it seems like Paddy and Fosse were really best friends in the series, but I question that IRL. I also question how close Gwen was with Joan. All in all this series has been really, really strong and I think paints a really challenging picture of these two people. I give major kudos to Nicole for letting the creators show all the messy sides of her parents. I wonder what it's like for her to watch it all.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 2:14pm

I give major kudos to Nicole for letting the creators show all the messy sides of her parents. I wonder what it's like for her to watch it all.

Nicole has stated that ALL THAT JAZZ was her dad’s romanticizing his life.  Now as a woman in her mid-50s, she’s fully aware of her dad’s predator ways, especially in the current #MeToo era.  Having Michelle as Gwen “switch on” were Nicole’s character notes as she says her mother always tried to make things brighter and sunnier than they were.  She was guarded from her dad’s constant depression bouts and Gwen always made sure to enter a room with a cheerful deposition so everything always appeared to be perfect.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 3:00pm

In the current #MeToo era we're in it's interesting to know that Fosse's antics wouldn't fly in today's society. As brilliant as he was, you wonder how he'd adapt in today's world.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 5:30pm

Well, Fosse was 60 when he died, se he'd be in his 90's now and even w the advent of Viagra I don't think he's really be up to much. BUT I think all his past indiscretions would be coming back to haunt him.

BrodyFosse may know better but as far as I know, Paddy Chayefsky and Fosse really were very close as was Buddy Hackett. I know, strange bedfellows (sic).

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/1/19 at 9:12pm

Paddy was Bob Fosse’s best friend. Their relationship was as depicted in FOSSE/VERDON. His friendship with Buddy Hackett was only during his run in a show very early in both of their careers.

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 4:40am

Nicole Fosse did an interview and said that Joan Simon was Gwen's best friend and Nicole insisted they show Joan Simon in the series. Nicole grew up calling her "Aunt Joan". 

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 9:16am

Will they be covering the golden era? aka New girl in town, Redhead and Charity? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 9:27am

kofler22 said: "Will they be covering the golden era? aka New girl in town, Redhead and Charity?"

I wish I can answer this.  The series is done in a non-linear narrative so who’s to say they won’t devote an episode on the period where Bob Fosse started merging into directing, which happened with NEW GIRL IN TOWN and REDHEAD? They’ve been showing many of their career highlights, even in glimpses so anything is possible at this point.  I do know Debbie Allen is being portrayed and she starred in the 1986 revival of SWEET CHARITY so there could be a long section devoted to that show.  

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 12:08pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "kofler22 said: "Will they be covering the golden era? aka New girl in town, Redhead and Charity?"

I wish I can answer this. The series is done in a non-linear narrative so who’s to say they won’t devote an episode on the period where Bob Fosse started merging into directing, which happened with NEW GIRL IN TOWN and REDHEAD? They’ve been showing many of their career highlights, even in glimpses so anything is possible at this point. I do know Debbie Allen is being portrayed and she starred in the 1986 revival of SWEET CHARITY so there could be a long section devoted to that show."

I hope so! Gwen´s glory days deserve to be protray!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 1:25pm

I hope so! Gwen´s glory days deserve to be portray!

Her glory days were entirely with Bob Fosse so it merits to be seen.  I would love for them to show her days assisting Jack Cole in Hollywood.  She coached many actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, among many others.  Then she left all that behind to start her own career on Broadway.  

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 4:35pm

We’re halfway through and we haven’t covered Chicago, Sweet Charity, or All That Jazz. Liza with a Z was barely a blip on the radar! I hope they can cram everything in before the eight episodes are over.

Couldn’t they have gotten a better actress for Joan? Her scenes are painful despite Michelle’s wonderful work.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 4:44pm

CHICAGO is being covered and Bianca Marroquin finally has her moments as Chita Rivera. The original 1975 CHICAGO set design was recreated with the help of the original set designer Tony Walton. He also helped in the recreation of his set design for the ALL THAT JAZZ finale recreation. We still have 4 episodes to go so I’m sure we’ll see more goodies.

Again I’ll say it — we’re lucky this is an 8-part series and not that 2 hour film bio HBO had announced with director Bryan Singer. None of what we’re seeing in FOSSE/VERDON would have been possible in a 2 hour film. That’s roughly 2 1/2 episodes of FOSSE/VERDON.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 6:29pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/galleryphoto.php?photoid=2131195&personid=13695

 

Fosse & Hackett at a Friars Club Roast 1981- not the best POV

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 11:04pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "CHICAGO is being covered and Bianca Marroquin finally has her moments as Chita Rivera. The original 1975 CHICAGO set design was recreated with the help of the original set designer Tony Walton. He also helped in the recreation of his set design for the ALL THAT JAZZ finale recreation. We still have 4 episodes to go so I’m sure we’ll see more goodies.

Again I’ll say it — we’re lucky this is an 8-part series and not that 2 hour film bio HBO had announced with director Bryan Singer. None of what we’re seeing in FOSSE/VERDON would have been possible in a 2 hour film. That’s roughly 2 1/2 episodes of FOSSE/VERDON."

This is true...but of all the relationships I want to see is the formation and dynamic between Fosse and Ann Reinking.....that relationship must have affected Verdon the most and I want to see that unfold....

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 11:09pm

Does anyone else think Verdon and Reinking have eerily similar voices? It’s always freaked me out a bit.