"I Don't Get It": Well-Liked Performers You Don't Enjoy- Page 4

[binau]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 6:27pm

"BERNADETTE PETERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even say that enough! Her and her freaking mouse-sounding voice annoy the crap out of me. Her acting isn't that special, and she sings like she's 5 years old. There are things in this world that I don't like, but I understand why people like them. Benadette Peters is someone whom I hate and I have NO clue how anyone on planet earth can like her. She makes my face get red, even when I hear her name I get pissed off. She sucks. Her voice sounds like a f*cking mouse. "

LOL, goddddd :P, a bit enthusiastic there. But out of curiosity what performances are you basing this off?

[heo1128]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 6:33pm

I used to HATE Bernadette, but then I saw the recording of SITPWG and that changed my mind. Though if she's not on stage, I don't really care for her (Grey's Anatomy guest star? No thanks)

[jacky_b_123]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 6:44pm

Megan Hilty - i just think she tries too hard, especially in Wicked. In my opinion way over the top and scraping the barrel for laughs

[provocation]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:16pm

Stephanie J. Block -- I REALLY wanted to like her.
Idina Menzel -- The shouting gets old.
Lauren Pritchard and Johnathon Groff.

And though she's not Broadway, Teal Wicks.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:19pm

Sutton Foster
Hunter Foster
Rob Evan
Steve Blanchard
Howard McGillan
Annaleise van der Pol (I was really really not fond of her singing at the end of Beauty and the Beast - who knows, could have been a bad night or whatever but couldn't figure out why they put her in there and replaced Deborah Lew!)


I must say: I don't understand all the 'hype' over Lauren Kennedy. Really really like her, but usually those ending/(belting I suppose) notes are just .. awkward or something.

Also: agree that some roles I didn't like Bernadette in. One that comes to mind: several of the songs in 'Song & Dance,' especially "Unexpected Song"...!

[dayao]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:20pm

Ditto: Cheyenne Jackson & Brian D'Arcy James
Also:
Matthew Morrison (good actor, lousy singer)
Neil Patrick Harris (proof that the Broadway stage is only interested in celebrities, not actors)
Paulo Szot (in the world of Opera, Szot is considered an average baritone, nothing exceptional, but on Broadway, based on a singular role in South Pacific, he is considered a god; either he is considerably overrated or Szot is an example of how low the bar has been set in Musical Theater these days for legitimate singers.)
Nathan Gunn (he is one of the top operatic baritones today and is held in much higher esteem than Paulo Szot in the world of Opera, but he seems totally out of place vocally in Musical Theater, at least based on what I heard in Camelot & Show Boat).
Anne Hathaway (she is a decent actress who can be glamorous but is no great beauty and based on Carnival and the Oscar Show, she is at best a minimal, rather mediocre singer who should not be let anywhere near a score like Carousel.
Ditto for Hugh Jackman, who is a fine singer but he has nowhere near the legitimate vocal prowess for the role of Billy Bigelow.

Updated On: 5/27/09 at 07:20 PM

[inick122492]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:33pm

Anthony Rapp: I'm sorry, I just want to punch him. He reminds me of Danny Goke (American Idol) or visa versa since Anthony has been around longer. Anyway wanna just scream when I hear there voices.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:37pm

Sutton Foster

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:42pm

While I am sad (but not surprised) that Stephanie Block's name showed up in this thread, I am shocked and disappointed that Kelli O'Hara's name also showed up on some people's lists.

My list would definitely include Annaleigh Ashford, Dan Fogler, and Josh Grisetti.
Updated On: 5/27/09 at 07:42 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:50pm

Anyone who has a moist voice.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 8:14pm

Add Liza to my list too.

I suppose Patti said it best herself..."they either LOVE me or they HATE me." :)

I was just thinking the same thing, Rudy2!


I love Sutton Foster a lot, but I agree when people say that she plays the same character over and over. I would love to see her do something completely different.

Bernadette Peters - I used to hate her, but now I love her. I think she's a tremendous actress. Her singing annoys me sometimes when she belts, but otherwise I enjoy watching her.

[binau]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 8:17pm

I agree RE: Bernadette guest starring. I didn't like her much on Ugly Betty or Grey's, or SVU. She was alright on Will/Grace though.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 8:19pm

Oh, Dollypop... I am actually seeing the original Moist Voice performing tomorrow at my friend's school. I may or may not ask him whether he would accept the role of Lord Voldemort in a Harry Potter musical.

I agree with so many of the people on this list, but I feel weird openly listing actors I don't like. But I will say that I think Neil Patrick Harris is a fantastic actor. His singing is average, but his acting is always entertaining. Then again, I think he's better suited for film because of all of the little nuances of his facial expressions... even in Harold and Kumar!

Updated On: 5/27/09 at 08:19 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:02pm

Patti Lupone- i just don't get it... sure she has talent but listening to her sing Evita i feel like she's yelling and she makes these weird faces... i just don't get all the ruckus about her

Stephanie Block- ugh... people kept putting this woman on a pedastal and then were talking about how amazing she was and that she was the best Elphaba in Wicked... so when the tour came to Los Angeles... i was let down BIG TIME! woman didn't even attempt to hit the high notes BOTH times i saw her!!!! her acting was mediocre and her phrasing of words just bugged the crap out of me... everyone said i caught her on an off night the first time... but what explains the second time!

[chenothegood]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:04pm

I was actually just thinking about Matthew Broderick and wondering whats so good about him? Watching him act makes me laugh, not in a haha he's funny way, but in an omg this is awkward and painful way...

Ethel... I have tried, i really have but i just dont get the hype about her at all!! She has one of the strangest voices i have heard, it just sounds like she is talking to me. Now I know many people will disagree, but thats just my opinion!

Liza, love her not so much her singing though

Anthony Rapp's solo CD

Totally agreeing with SJB's acting! I think she is one of the best singers i have heard but the acting just throws me...

Audra McDonald - i think she is a fantastic actress but her voice i donno, i guess its just not the voice i would expect to come out of her! haha

But my number one pick would have to be Harvey. I had to stop watching the drama desk awards this year cause his voice kept startling me! haha

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:12pm

It's very funny to come onto this thread late and go from post to post and read the names out loud.

It's a list of the most interesting and distinctive performers of the past 60 years.

You people don't like ANYONE.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:15pm

For Sutton Foster, I really like her, I think she is cute, funny, and has a great voice. However, if she keeps doing the same schtick in the same types of shows for much longer, I think the theater community is going to get really sick of her. She needs to wow everyone by showing some versatility.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:20pm

I am shocked and disappointed that Kelli O'Hara's name also showed up on some people's lists.

I have to admit that I'm probably the only person in the world who actively dislikes Kelli O'Hara. I've said it many times before: I think she has one of the most beautiful voices on Broadway but she's just boring. And I honestly thought her portrayal of Nellie Forbush was flat and honestly not unlike her portrayal of Clara in The Light in the Piazza.


It's very funny to come onto this thread late and go from post to post and read the names out loud.

It's a list of the most interesting and distinctive performers of the past 60 years.

You people don't like ANYONE.

ha, I have to agree. Although I'm not surprised to see Patti LuPone's name on people's list. like Rudy2 already pointed out...
seeing Bernadette's name surprises me, honestly, although I understand the reasoning. =P

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:30pm

Ethel... I have tried, i really have but i just dont get the hype about her at all!! She has one of the strangest voices i have heard, it just sounds like she is talking to me. Now I know many people will disagree, but thats just my opinion!

I think Ethel Merman is one of the performers that had to be heard live to be fully appreciated. When she was around, the actors didn't all wear little dot microphones on their faces to pick up the slightest sound. From what I hear, Ethel Merman could PROJECT. I feel like conveying the tune and lyrics to the audience is a performer's first responsibility, then sounding pretty.

By the way-- I'm thoroughly fascinated by Michael Crawford (he's so STRANGE!), but I don't really like his voice. And... erm... Sarah Brightman while I'm at it. She just terrifies me a bit.

Updated On: 5/27/09 at 09:30 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 10:28pm

For those who don't "get" Ethel Merman, watch this clip, in which Ethel comforts Fozzie, who has just flopped as a stand-up comedian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kdggcQhysQ

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 10:38pm

and for those of you who don't "get" Harvey Fierstein, Everything's Coming Up Noses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6vEwp25cOM

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 10:54pm

PalJoey, thanks for posting that video of Merman, very nice.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 12:34am

I'll second that, Rudy. A very sweet video of The Merm. I'll also second Pal Joey's sentiment, and personally think some of you allow performers to annoy you way too much. AllThatJazz, for example. I'm no fan of Harvey's, but he should be "BANNED" (in all-caps, no less)? I guess I can understand cringing at the sound of someone's voice, (though not really. Physical threats make me cringe, but never anyone's attempt at entertainment, however bad) but I really don't understand that someone else actually makes your face red. Why should someone you don't even know affect you so physically? That's just bizarre.

Nathan Lane I get, but don't care for. I believe him to be one of the most talented actors I have ever seen live, but far too often he goes over the top and falls into his Nathan-isms, which usually doesn't serve the vehicle he's in. It shouldn't be all about him.

One I haven't seen here yet is Donna Murphy. I don't dislike her, but I most definitely don't get the hoopla. Don't know if he counts, but also Stew from Passing Strange. What the hell was that all about?

ETA: I think Jarred has a great point in that seeing a performer live can often make a big difference. Some of them have that unidentifiable something that sometimes doesn't translate to film or recordings. Plus, they don't always have it.


Updated On: 5/28/09 at 12:34 AM

[philly03]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 12:44am

"And... erm... Sarah Brightman while I'm at it. She just terrifies me a bit. "

Ha I like Sarah Brightman...actually she's the reason why I didn't like Bernadette's version of many of the Songs of Song & Dance...Brightman hits that excellent note (that from the recording I have from Bernadette's) that Bernadette couldn't hit...or hers is so weak!

Also to my dislike list: Ruthie Henshall. Some people go crazy for her...if anyone saw/heard her in The Woman in White...uh-oh! (I saw on the ATOTC Concert thread they'd like to see her do Natalie Toro's role ... but please no! I love Toro...and not Henshall.....especially whilst belting!)

[provocation]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 1:08am

Add Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal to my list.