How Hollywood steals

As you pointed out, they go willingly. How Hollywood lures might be a better way of putting it.

Whose values does it speak about more - Hollywood's, who we've been told time and again is corrupt and soul stealing or the artists who decide that a fatter purse is more important?

I ain't begrudging anyone their choices, but I don't think it's fair to act as though it's some big Hollywood conspiracy. No one puts a gun to these actors' heads.

Just wanted to say thanks for pointing out that Variety article. I run a Roger Bart fansite (rogerbart-online.com) and had been looking for info on this pilot.

I'd also like to add that Roger Bart has already done several movies and was a regular in Desperate Housewives... yet he keeps coming back to Broadway. So I don't think 'stealing' is the right word to use.

EDIT: does anyone know whether this means that Roger will be leaving the YF cast soon? I thought his contract was until November or at least August.

Updated On: 5/28/08 at 12:00 PM

I'd do hemorrhoid commercials if the price was right.

hemorrhoid commercial. funny.

I guess the soundtrack would be "The Heat is On."

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"This is the sad story of Broadway. If this is a hit, they'll be off the boards for years, in their prime."

Four words: Kristin Chenoweth and Nathan Lane

Both of them have had series offers that bombed. So guess what? They came crawling back to them that made them.

Patti LuPone was in a series for a few years, but she's come back.

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"YOUR" "industry is stealing from your again bigtime."?

Variety reports today that ABC is shooting a pilot for a lawyer series starring Roger Bart AND Norbert Leo Butz.

Two of the best male performers on Broadway, scooped up and (willingly, of course) carried of to Hollywood."

And it happens to everyone who achieves stardom on Broadway with only a few exceptions. (Although, for me, I wish Chicago Hope was still on the air IYKWIM.)

Yea, Victoria Clark, Edina Menzel, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters and Marianne Seldes are HUGE names in Hollywood. (What is IYKWIM?)

This is the sad story of Broadway. If this is a hit, they'll be off the boards for years, in their prime.

And I have no idea who or what to do about it....."

Its a freaking PILOT. The money is great, IF the series if picked up.
Perhaps it is time for you to change industries if this is so upsetting to you.

Of course, you failed to mention all the things Broadway has "stolen" from Hollywood for the last few decades.

Who knows, perhaps Norbert never would have had the chance to do DRS (a vehicle that was "stolen" from Hollywood, by the way) if someone like Mandy Patinkin had been available.

It is a BUSINESS. Get over it.

Good luck to all involved.

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Is it really true that this is a TV "drama" series? Isn't that missing the point of both their strong suits -- comedy? And since the pilot is by the originator of How I Met Your Mother, are we to assume that "drama" was a misprint, and they really meant "comedy"? I hope so.

are we to assume that "drama" was a misprint, and they really meant "comedy"? I hope so.

Yea, cuz people should stick with what they know and never try to do anything different, right?

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Another plus point is that their faces and names would become more recognizable and then when they do return to Broadway more people will see them in their shows.
IS HE DEAD and Norbert got excellent reviews but just not enough people knew who he was to keep the show going.

Best of luck to them both.

Oh, please. Hollywood "stealing" stars from Broadway goes back to Audrey Hepburn and before that Clark Gable and probably even more before that.

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Screw this arguement. Sorry I j^$%#$#%^$ mentioned it because for a moment I felt a twinge of guilt. SuellenGay, it IS my industry because it's where I work. It's where I get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with ideas for movies (and I've been doing it since 1987, so yes, I do feel it's MY industry. I've made the front page of Variety several times in MY industry). I was simply trying to point out that I had a tinge of remorse about the depletion of great leading men to Hollywood. Sure it's great for new up-and-comers to get roles but stars sell shows, not unknowns.

Oh, and BTW, Kristin Chenowith and Nathan Lane ARE Broadway people. They aren't the types Hollywood readily casts. I can see why their shows flopped. (IYKWIM which BTW means 'If You Know What I Mean'). Roger Bart and Norbert Butz are exactly the type of guys Hollywood can fit into ensemble pieces like legal shows and when they leave, there's nobody to readily fill the holes created.

I was simply bemoaning the fact that as fast as Broadway makes em, Hollywood takes em.

But now that I'm so pissed, I'm going to go out and pitch a show to the networks that is PERFECT for Patti Lupone. See if you like me taking HER off the market.

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Did Chenoweth, et al, say "Eff You, Broadway, I'm never coming back!"? If not, I'm not sure how exactly their returns to the stage could be considered "crawling."