Glenn Beck is "Only For Now" in Avenue Q Tour — Page 2

Sorry for the confusion, I did reread Lizzie's post and that seems to be where shes coming from.

But like I said, its all in context, its Broadway. I would never expect to be hit with any sort of conservative undertone in any production.

Ugh if I see Tiger Woods' name again, I'm going to vomit. I am so sick of hearing about that man....

But I do totally get/understand what you're saying and where you're coming from. I think I took it more as a bunch of 23 year olds just out of college being frustrated with the government in general Which is a pretty typical sentiment for 23 year olds, regardless of who is in power. Its easy to place the blame on the President without seeing the whole picture.

The whole idea of the song was that everything was only temporary, so there was no use in getting worked up about anything. And like most (am I being too optimistic?) people, as they got older, they would eventually understand its impossible to place on the blame on one person. The same problems are going to persist in life regardless of who has the Oval Office.

Forgive my rattled thoughts. I honestly have no idea if this even makes any sense. I'm tired and a little drunk off of wine.



Edited: I don't think ANY tv show/musician/song/broadway show etc. should try to convince anyone to lean to either side. I know some do, but if people have to turn to popular culture to figure out how to think, I don't want them voting.

Updated On: 12/12/09 at 11:23 PM

I don't understand, Glenn Beck is not an elected public official but a radio host with corporate sponsors and people with the choice to listen to him. Wouldn't this be a step up for Avenue Q to not ridicule a public official each and every night or would you like the same standards to apply to everybody in power to be the punchline.

Perspective, a bunch of people of different cultures (black, asian, puppet, monster) and in the case of Rod (sexual orientation) living in New York City struggling to make ends meet. You could argue from both a left and right perspective that they could be mad at Obama but then you factor in the fact every one of them is socially liberal with sexual freedom (premarital sex, pornography, burlesque shows, etc.). The characters on Avenue Q are completely and diametrically opposed to George Bush. Kate Monster is practically a community organizer herself, so she would at worst be simply able to relate to Obama.

I cannot believe I am writing about the political leanings of the Avenue Q characters. Isn't Jeff Marx a user on here?

I think that using George Bush in the song originally worked, only because of the fact that during his term in office, there were two kinds of republicans. There were Bush Republicans. Those who voted for bush and stood by him every step of the way. And, then there were republicans who voted for Bush but ended up being upset that he was a representation of their party and they generally got angry at themselves for voting for him in the first place.

I think that the line with Bush's name worked regardless of what side of the line you're on, due to the fact that there were a lot of people, Republicans and Democrats who ended up hating the man.

Personally, I have never understood the argument that people make when they say that they don't like it when they see a show and it has a political joke in it, or they don't like it when they see a band in concert and they play a political song. That they are just there for the music. Pardon me, isn't the process of music and writing a show a form of self expression, one that allows the writer to say that which they choose to?

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I don't know many Republicans who hated Bush. He was elected to a second term.... Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but....

MusicSnob1, actually you're incorrect. If an artist wishes to express their views on a given topic through their work, then that is fine. Keep in mind that is something that has been done for ages in different forms of art. So, it's not like there is anything new being done in that regard. Hell, I recently re listened to the Neil Young Album, Living With War, which is very anti Iraq war in general. Hell, one of the songs on the album is called "Let's Impeach The President." Never have I heard a better protest song in my life. The point that I am trying to make is that if an artist be it a songwriter, painter, writer etc, wishes to make a social or political etc point through their music then they aren't breaking new ground.

wendilin622, While it is true that Bush was elected twice it was more due to the fact that the Dems didn't have their acts together with finding someone who could be a better option for president then Bush. I mean look and realize that the Democrat's alternative for president was John Kerry. And, as I found out during the 04 election, there is actually a high number of people who would vote for whoever is in office for a second term regardless of how they are doing then vote for someone new.

And, spork, I don't think that anyone is attacking Glen Beck with pot shots at all. In fact, I think that using him in the line and both the South Park episode and the segment on The Daily Show were perfectly justifiable. I am sorry, but Beck is just loony. And, frankly he deserves whatever he gets in terms of backlash. If you're a public figure, specially one that deals with politics, a topic that is a little sensitive to most people, then there is going to be some sort of backlash and negative attention going in your direction. Glen Beck is crazy, there is no doubt about it. But, he also shows that a vast majority of Americans are stupid and willing to follow him like lemmings just because they don't think for themselves and some genius was willing to give Beck a microphone.

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I am not assuming that my opinions are the right ones. I am saying that one of the reasons why people voted for Bush for a second term was because of two reasons. Reason number one was that he didn't give the voters a reason NOT to vote for him a second time around. Mainly that some of the things that you talked about happened in the second term when they couldn't vote him out. And, second off all there was a divide in the republican party. With one group feeling betrayed by their leader and the other taking a stand by your man approach.

Furthermore, The South Park episode was focused on Beck. One thing that is great about the writing of that show is their ability to write something and make it clear who they are insulting, lampooning etc, without actually saying it. Cartmen doing his "Morning Announcements" show in what was clearly the style of Beck is a perfect example of them writing about something and not actually saying it or needing to say it for that matter.

And you're right Spork. Not everyone thinks that Bush was an awful president. However, there are more people who do feel that way out there then there are who thought that he was a good one.

And, I never said all people think that what Glen Beck says is stupid. I did say that there are people in this country who don't have the smarts to actually listen to things and to form their own opinion on the matter and listen to people like Beck due to the fact that they think that because he has a mic and a TV show then he MUST know that which he is speaking of. When in fact that isn't the case. Hell, the South Park episode made fun of those people too if you recall. Kyle was trying to tell Butters and his friends that Cartman was just full of crap, and they went on saying that he couldn't be due to the fact that they wouldn't have given him a show or let him write a book if he indeed were full of crap.

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I just roll my eyes at the line because I tend to do that with all Bush jokes. At this point they're all so old and overdone.

Same here. And as I said before, I'm a pinko commie librul. But I've never actually been comfortable with excessive mockery of public officials, even those whose policies I don't agree with.

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I'd say more evidence that so many people hate him, not really a reflection of his presidency in itself.

sparrman, that is a good point.

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I think that people hated Bush because of his presidency. I was at a performance a little after Obama got into office and the cast sang "George Bush was only for now" and that audience was cheering so loudly that the next couple of lines after were drowned out.

I guess one could look at it as Lopez and Marx hate bush and they put it in there as another way of saying something to the effect of thank god bush is only for now.

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"The fact that Bush was a very unpopular President (especially among the New York elite--and let's face it, Broadway is the New York elite) just increased the reception of the lyrics to the audience."

Now I am not sure I would call Broadway the New York elite. Case and point being that on Thursday I won the lotto for and saw In The Heights. Now, the two girls who were sitting next to me were clearly going gaga over this show because they didn't have Rent to go gaga over anymore. Hell, they almost wet themselves when the music director waved to them due to the fact that I am sure they have been there one two many times. I am not sure if I would call people like this any sort of elite.

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wendilin, THANK YOU. Exactly what I was going to say...

Replace Glenn Beck's name with any left-wing nutcase. They do the same exact thing Winston. Open up your eyes and see this for what it is.

You must have a balanced objective with everything when it comes to politics. I used to be in love with Obama - and then I realized he's just a rockstar who is actually far more conservative than many of you think (or wish to accept?).

Do I acknowledge that he has certain strengths that cater to our current crisis? Absolutely. Is he really going to bring the "change" that he has continued to promise for months? Never. And I'm relieved that there are so many level minded people who see that.

For others, like MiracleExlir, I truly feel sorry for you... Your bitterness will only perpetuate the unruly biased hate. There NEEDS to be a middle ground.

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I care not to be tapped into on this thread- with no proof I do take umbrage with calling New York elites which sounds more like Palin-speak. A city so elitist and so 'different' than the rest of the country was attacked three times in ten years by terrorists.

So what, Avenue Q should be more aware of their audiences' annual income? They do have a successful national tour that goes to all parts of the country performing and nothing changed to fit a certain city's 'elite' or otherwise mindset.