"'FOSSE/VERDON' COMING TO FX"- Page 12

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 11:32pm

This is probably a question for Brody/Fosse, but I wonder if Fosse was a fun guy to be around? It seems like a lot of people kissed his ass because of his success but one has to wonder given that he was such a mess with his various addictions; if being in his company was boring and tedious. Did people like him in general?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/2/19 at 11:42pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "GavestonPS said: "^^^ Maybe the friendship was real, but just a lot more important to Lynn than to Cline. Given that Cline was the much bigger star at the time, this wouldn't be surprising."

Many, including Loretta, have admitted to this when the topic has come up, but her taking liberties with history by showing and saying they performed together is pure fantasy as they never did. They never shared the bill on any tour, nite-club or stage performance."

Brody, I say this with great respect and continued appreciation for the times you have corrected MY errors of memory, but putting Cline and Lynn on stage together strikes me as a perfectly reasonable liberty for a biopic to take. It's a matter of economy of time and, really, what's the harm? It's not like they invented a scene where the two ladies team up to spy for the Kremlin!

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 12:08am

Nicole Fosse singing “I Guess I’ll Miss the Man” is one of the most inspired moments on TV in years.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 9:51am

SmoothLover said: "This is probably a question for Brody/Fosse, but I wonder if Fosse was a fun guy to be around? It seems like a lot of people kissed his ass because of his success but one has to wonder given that he was such a mess with his various addictions; if being in his company was boring and tedious. Did people like him in general?"

Bob Fosse was extremely charismatic and had a boyish charm to him, which is why people were drawn to him.  This boyish charm is what appealed to him with women even decades BEFORE he was THE Bob Fosse.  His womanizing ways were present even in his teens.  

He loved to socialize (as did Gwen), which is accurately depicted in FOSSE/VERDON and he had lifelong friendships with many, which were included in his will.  About 200 people (including well known artists) inherited a few hundred dollars to enjoy themselves at his expense.  Everyone threw a huge party in his honor that he basically paid for.  People loved Bob Fosse.

He had a great sense-of-humor and overall was cheerful around people, even though he was hiding heavy bouts of depression among other things.  You’ll notice that FOSSE/VERDON shows Bob Fosse having his dark moments in private and not around co-workers, etc.  He kept his personal moments behind closed doors, so to speak.  Gwen also made sure no one was privy to this so (per Nicole) she always made sure everything appeared perfect though people were quite aware otherwise.   

 

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 10:14am

Quick detour here- do you think the series will be available for purchase?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 10:19am

I found the last episode to be a low rent version of All That Jazz-the quick edits of the pills, the sex, the Liza special. Rather dull and not compelling. I really appreciate the performances and the style, but it feels like a dirge to me. There is absolutely no light or joy to Fosse or Verdon depicted. They were clearly full of life and creativity. Fosse as depicted is just an abusive jerk. His charisma is not translating at all and I have no empathy for him. The edits to him dancing as kid are ineffective. At this point Williams is grating some too. I'm starting to see the acting because she is given so little to do. It's just one humiliation after another. Gwen was so much more than that.

[EdEval]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 10:22am

It really doesn't matter but just out of curiosity, was Gwen Verdon of the Jewish faith?  Does anyone know?  Thanks.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 10:38am

sabrelady said: "Quick detour here- do you think the series will be available for purchase?"

Digitally yes: Amazon, iTunes, etc.   DVD/Blu-ray, not sure as FX doesn’t release all their limited series on DVD/Blu-ray.   FEUD: Bette & Joan was never released on DVD/Blu-ray but is available digitally.   

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/3/19 at 1:42pm

Next episode is called: Where am I going! Will we heading back to he mid sixties? Hope so!! PLease let Michelle do at least ONE number!! 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 8:12am

Michelle is going to have a lot of competition when the Emmy nominations come out just because there were so many female driven projects last year.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 8:45am

kofler22 said: "Next episode is called: Where am I going! Will we heading back to he mid sixties? Hope so!! PLease let Michelle do at least ONE number!!"

I’m just hoping full song tracks with Michelle are included on the soundtrack like they’ve done for the others.  Even though we’ve seen just snippets of a number, they are included in full on the soundtrack.  I was bummed when Michelle’s “Who’s Got the Pain?” wasn’t on the Episode 2 soundtrack release.   

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 9:08am

BrodyFosse123 said: "kofler22 said: "Next episode is called: Where am I going! Will we heading back to he mid sixties? Hope so!! PLease let Michelle do at least ONE number!!"

I’m just hoping full song tracks with Michelle are included on the soundtrack like they’ve done for the others. Even though we’ve seen just snippets of a number, they are included in full on the soundtrack. I was bummed whenMichelle’s “Who’s Got the Pain?” wasn’t on the Episode 2 soundtrack release. "

Somehow I had no idea they were releasing mini-soundtracks each week  it didn’t even occur to me to check So thanks for posting this.  I just found all 3 soundtracks and added them to my Apple Music library and downloaded them so I can listen to them on my flights today. Thanks again! 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 9:45am

Somehow I had no idea they were releasing mini-soundtracks each week it didn’t even occur to me to check So thanks for posting this. I just found all 3 soundtracks and added them to my Apple Music library and downloaded them so I can listen to them on my flights today. Thanks again!

They release tracks from each episode after it airs. They will be releasing a full and complete soundtrack with all the tracks once the series ends.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 11:43am

is there a link to the soundtrack?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 12:02pm

DAME said: "is there a link to the soundtrack?"

To keep the element of surprise, tracks are released AFTER an episode airs though the tracks for last week’s “Glory” episode surfaced earlier.  The full track listing for the full soundtrack hasn’t been released for this reason.  

These released episodes tracks are on Spotify.  

[bk]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 12:03pm

Sounds like you knew Bob and Gwen really well.  When and how did you meet?

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 1:18pm

BrodyFosse, do you think that Michelle have what it takes to be doing some of the numbers from Charity? At least If mu friends could see me now? It doesn’t have a lot of complicated steps...I m dying to see a comple nunber...i suspect maby we ll see more of Chicago...maybe Roxie or Nowadays...I would love see some of Redhead but I think Erbie Fitch is indeed really complicated to replicate...

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 12:36am

I'd love a "complete deluxe soundtrack," because much of the best stuff isn't getting released; none of the "reimagined" Pippin numbers from the past episode have appeared on the weekly soundtrack, for instance, nor have any of Alex Lacamoire's score suites.

[The Other One]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 7:13am

The most brilliant artists are not always the most interesting people, unfortunately.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 8:28am

I just finished binge watching the series up to this point. I have a problem with it and that is Sam Rockwell. He sucks. If Bob Fosse was supposed to have any charm or charisma it was lost on Rockwell. He plays Fosse as a one-note depressive slob.

Williams is doing her best with Verdon but playing against a blank wall she is overdoing it at times. Still, she's the only life with this couple. Norbert Leo Butz is very good as Paddy Chayevsky. I didn't realize it was him till I googled the cast.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:28pm

Stage Door Sally said: "I just finished binge watching the series up to this point. I have a problem with it and that is Sam Rockwell. He sucks. If Bob Fosse was supposed to have any charm or charisma it was lost on Rockwell. He plays Fosse as a one-note depressive slob.

Williams is doing her best with Verdon but playing against a blank wallshe is overdoing it at times. Still, she's the only life with this couple. Norbert Leo Butz is very good as Paddy Chayevsky. I didn't realize it was him till I googled the cast."

Part of the Fosse problem is in the script. What you are talking about and what I have referred to myself is a major misstep, I had even questioned if Fosse was fun to be around in which I got an informed response from Brody/Fosse. In acting and playwrighting one has to find the empathetic core or the characters otherwise the audience gets left out in the cold. Brody had indicated that Fosse's addictions were private and that friends and co workers were not privy to a lot of his behavior. Also the sensibility was so different during the time he was a creative force not only with addiction but with how women are treated.

 

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:34pm

I was really looking forward to seeing this series, and during every episode I have feelings of sadness and why does the show have the tone that it has.  I know from my childhood that 1973 was the greatest year of Bob Fosse's life, winning the Oscar, Tony and Emmy that year for all of his work.  The last episode showed none of the excitement or happiness from either Bob or Gwen.  I still feel that Michelle WIlliams is amazing, but I don't feel any real magic from Sam Rockwell.  I know that he is an amazing actor, but I feel that his acting choices with Fosse don't make me feel any emotion towards him...

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 5:19pm

I agree that Bob Fosse isn’t being showcased properly, but I’m still enjoying each episode unfold.  I blame the various writers on this oversight and not Sam Rockwell, who is simply bringing to life what is on paper.  Nicole’s request to showcase her mother Gwen Verdon explains why Michelle has content to work with.  Each episode rides on Gwen with Bob simply being filler.  

One simple heads-up: don’t watch this live as the commercial breaks ruin the flow completely. Try to watch it after it airs and when you can quickly fast forward. I watch the episodes edited so I watch them like mini-movies. Also, try to rewatch them again days later. They actually get better on repeated viewings.

[Robbie2]

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

EdEval said: "It really doesn't matter but just out of curiosity, was Gwen Verdon of the Jewish faith? Does anyone know? Thanks."

 

Not of the Jewish faith

[David10086]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 7:04pm

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

I feel the same way. The actress is the weakest link in the cast so far. I'm just not connecting with her at all (even though it's a relatively minor role). They needed someone a little more dynamic.