How FORBIDDEN BROADWAY Changed My Life

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:30am

Dramatic thread title, huh?

Just wanted to comment on how FB creeps into my psyche. If they've done a spoof on a star, a show, etc., I always think of it when reading about that star, that show, etc.

I.E. Linda Eder. A couple of posters absolutely salivate over her -- which is fine, no judgement here, the girl can sing -- but I think of the FB take on her.

I.E. LES MISERABLES. I've never been a big ol' LES MIZ queen, and always think of the FB lyric "At the end of the play you're another year older!" How true.

I.E. RAGTIME. "I'm a half-crazed washer woman and can belt high C!"

Guess it brings out the bitch in me. Which is so unusual.

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:34am

I think that parody is the finest form of flattery.

As one who does salivate over the "always fabulous perfect lovely" Linda Eder (he he), I think a take off on Linda would be hysterical.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:36am

BOJ, they did do one on Eder. To the tune of some tune from J&H -- sorry, I don't know which one, as I'm not familiar with that score -- and the lyric talks about singing like Streisand, etc., and ends with something like "people keep saying, 'Linda....who?'" Hilarious.

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:38am

that sounds funny... as many of us who introduce people to Linda Eder... go "LINDA WHO?" at first

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:41am

Oh, oh, oh...another one that is delicous is the take on Ann Miller during her run as "Carlotta Campion" in Papermill's FOLLIES entitled "I'm Still Weird."

Or..."Now I'm truly Le Jazz Hot Julie". Updated On: 10/17/03 at 10:41 AM

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:47am

The Linda spoof is ..... "No One Knows Who I Am" And it is so funny.....and I am a BIG Linda Eder fan. The thing about Forbidden Broadway is that the lyrics and spoofs always say what we the audience are thinking. Some highlights for me are:

- Anything Goes/Patti LuPone Skit
- All the Ethel Merman material especially "Old Fashioned Ballad" and "De-Merman" (Balladeer listens to that for hours over and over again)
- The Julie Andrews Skit (I Couldn't Hit the Note)
- "Liza One Note"
- "Gagtime"
- "Chita-Rita"

LOL....Great Stuff....

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:50am

Don't forget the Les Miz parody.

At the Gypsy of the year competition with the big 'Miz' finale (meant to be hugely moving and touching, I'm sure) I was so trying NOT to burst out laughing. I could not get the FB parody out of my head.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:13am

The 'I strain in vain to strain Madonna's brain' is one of the sharpest things I've ever heard.

And the hysterical Anna Karenina take off where she sings to the melody of 'On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe' just before throwing herself in front of the train.

'Can ya hear that train come round the bend...'

GENIUS!

[Zola LaPlaya]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:17am

I loved their "Chita-Rita" number to the tune of West Side Story's "America."

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:17am

RobbieJoyce:

Further on Madonna: the reading of her lines from SPEED IN THE PLOW is priceless. "Iknowwhatit'sliketobebadI'vebeenbad-d". Oh, my aching sides. Updated On: 10/17/03 at 11:17 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:44am

I have been a Forbidden Broadway fan for years. The material is always hilarious. One of my favorites is the Chita-Rita number. That deserves an award all by itself.

Several years ago, they performed during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Alessendrini wrote special lyrics to "Everything's Coming Up Roses". It stuck in my head and now I can't remember the real ones.

The ending sort of went something like:

No one gets their turkey 'til I'm through,
Honey, everything's coming up Merman

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:44am

My personal favorite was

I know what it's like to be bad, I-

've been bad.

She's f*cking got it.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:51am

THAT's the quote -- I couldn't remember it verbatim. Delicious.

"Julie Andrews -- Giulliani: a practically perfect pair!"

[orion59]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 12:05pm

Some of my favorites come from FB shows done a while back.

I loved the song Stritch done to the tune of Zip. That one creeps into my head whenever someone mentions Elaine Stritch. Then the damn thing sticks in my head for days.

The old Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin in Kiss Me Kate routine was a riot.

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 12:08pm

Go and see the new version. It is wonderful.
I am upset that they took out the Chita Rita number but there are many new ones that are killer.
I have seen the show 10 times in the last 2 years.
It is my favorite show of all time.
Chita Rita is my favorite number but I also love:
Go into the Words
Good Riddance Le Miz
You Can't Stop My Seat (Michael West)
I'm 30 Years Old Tomorrow
Can You Feel The Pain Tonight
Beauty's Been Decreased

Sarah Brightman
When I Push I Pee (Donna English) Updated On: 10/17/03 at 12:08 PM

[Hank]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 7:36pm

I love this show too, and I just posted about it on another thread about reviews. Thanks for the reminder, I'll be back there soon.
Happy birthday, Corine!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 10:56pm

The Strich parody "The Ladies who Screetch" is one of the most brilliantly evil takeoffs Gerard ever penned. "Ev...ry...bah...dee....DUCK."

I would have loved to have seen Brad Oscar's parody of Nathan in FORUM (which I don't think was ever recorded, alas).

Brad's contributions to the FB recordings ("Camelounge" and the brilliant "Spider Woman" & "Blood Brothers" parodies) are among the most gorgeously sung moments!

[alterego]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:37pm

I was told by a cast member that when Nathan Lane went to see the show (about the time of Funny Thing...) he fell about laughing at everything until they did him and then he sat there stoney faced.

There was some talk a couple of years ago about doing a CD with all the bits that were taken out of the show because they were thought too mean. One I recall was Barbara Cook singing to the tune of Losing My Mind...

The sun comes up,
I think about food,
The coffee cup,
I think about food...

I hear the current edition does a Bernadette Peters Gypsy parody. Can anyone tell me what it is?

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 11:49pm

Thanks Hank.
My birthday was Sept 9th. Close! Oh you thought I'm 30 YEARS OLD TOMORROW was my birthday! Ha ha. That is the name of a song from FB.
Oh and let us not forget Glossy Fosse Them!
Donna English does a brilliant impersonation of the very talented Bernadette. I do not want to spoil it for you check out FB.

Updated On: 10/17/03 at 11:49 PM

[TalentedButHumble]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 12:04am

Babs: "Back to Broadway to record some slow tunes, in my dullest album yet. Back to Broadway to destroy more show tunes ..."
(And then the lines about fixing "Some Enchanted Evening.)

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 1:04am

Did anyone catch this version a few years back (around 1996)?
It played at the Triad theatre and was a riot!!
Very much the same format as FB, with Hollywood Icons.
The funniest as I remember was the Melanie Griffith and Keanu Reeves duet to the tune of "You Oughta Be in Pictures" which was "We Shouldn't Be in Pictures".
Melanie/Keanu: We should be in pictures/We shouldn't even try
Keanu: You talk like you're a baby
Melanie: You talk just like a braindead guy/
My mom is Tippie Hedren/and in her film debut/The birdies plucked her head in/Now I'm a bird brain too!

Also Bette Midler's "Who's Gay in Hollywood" to the tune of "Hooray for Hollywood"!

There's a cast recording of it I think, unfortunately I don't have it...
I know it only ran a short amount of time compared to FBroadway, but a riot nonetheless!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 7:00am

That's it. The Barbra Cook "Losing My Mind" parody made me laugh so loud, I woke up my partner. At 6:58 am. Ooops.

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 9:30am

Forbidden Hollywood was back this year for a couple of days and it was great. I think it is touring check the Forbidden Broadway website for details.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 4:12pm

"I strain in vain to TRAIN Madonna's Brain!" Dont lose the joke! i's too good!

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 4:52pm

I like the Forbidden Broadway: 2001. The impersonations are so real, it's frightening!