In the Age of the Music Video...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:49am

In this age of the Music Video, where looks are often prized over talent, do you think this trend has made its way to Broadway? Without naming names, I just find it odd that certain performers find success on Broadway with minimal singing and acting skills, but have a great face/body. Same with BWW. Certain attractive performers are worshiped around here, but lack the real star quality of other performers with miles of talent and less of a commercial look. Any thoughts?
Updated On: 12/31/05 at 11:49 AM

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:01pm

Like Rosie O'Donnell...it is all because of her looks!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:09pm

That would be stunt casting. A whole other can of worms...

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:10pm

BobbyBubby, some of us think Adam CAN sing. It's all a matter of opinion.

I suppose that some people actually enjoy rappers, too.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:11pm

Well, I don't think many "music video" stars are trampling the boards of Broadway. A few... but I don't see it as a stampede even remotely. They would have to be interested in "acting" on some level, not just being a singer/musician with albums and videos, which usually means they've already tried the big or small screen (like Madonna, P Diddy, and the like).

A lot of "pretty" film and TV stars are running wild on stage though, but that's nothing new. They're widespread notoriety is what's getting them these Broadway lead roles... but it's usually their pretty looks on the big or small screens that got them this notariety in the first place.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:11pm

Was this a direct attack on Adam?
For the record, I think there are TONS of performers who get where they are with a combination of talent and looks/personality.
But I'll agree, Bobby. I don't necessarily think the video age has caused this, I'd say this is true all the way back to the Ziegfeld days, where great beauties were stars alongside the talented likes of Fanny Brice.
It's just more noticeable now since, in the music medium, that lack of talent is even more noticeable now.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:12pm

Yes... A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody was written in 1919. Not exactly a new trend.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:15pm

Sorry Best12, I didn't mean video stars on Broadway, I meant that trend influenced the talent that makes it to Broadway.

I like Adam Pascal, so no, this wasn't an attack on him.

I think Broadway is bursting with talent, but some shows feature actors that are gorgeous to look at, but lack that oomph that makes someone a truly superb performer. This seems to happen mostly with replacements, and a lot of the jukebox shows...

I mean look at the number of fan sites that creep up for people with 1 Broadway credit to their name...They are hardly the next big thing on Broadway, yet the younger set flocks to them, while ignoring some of the more seasoned, less traditional looking performers.

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 12:15 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:16pm

I think that maybe a better argument is to substitute looks for a big name, and then you've got something. I think names are valued over talent more than looks are valued over talent.

Bobby, if you were talking about my man, you know I'm going to eat you, right?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:19pm

Okay...I don't know how this thread became about Adam, but I never once mentioned him in my post. I like the man, he's talented...

If you want to know who I'm talking about, look to the casts of the last few Jukebox shows, and some of the replacements of the big 100 percent capacity shows on Broadway...Not bad performers, but servicible at best.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:21pm

I hate to be blunt, but as "pretty" as your man is... there are plenty of male models, TV and film stars out there WAY prettier than Adam.

The guy made it on talent... plus he's nice-looking... not freaky-gorgeous or anything.

* ducks *

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:22pm

Uh-oh...

Wear your protective gear Best12...

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:25pm

I'm ready. I noticed it on the "big screen" in "Rent." He's nice looking but his features are REALLY exaggerated when they're blown-up 50 feet wide.

He has a face made for stage.

* ducks again *

Maybe that's why most "pretty" folk on TV or film have basically tiny features (button noses, etc). Anything "enlarged" looks like Godzilla in the multi-plex.

* ducks a third time *

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 12:25 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:26pm

See, if I was making the list of pretty stars with no talent, he wouldn't be on it.

As you said, nice face, but his talent is bigger. Not a bad compliment at all.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:26pm

The shot angle for your eyes had him creeping me out. Yes, even me. As gorgeous as he is, that's just too damned big!

I get what you're saying about the jukebox shows having an awful lot of pretty people, though. Not that SUPER talent would make too many of them that much better...

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 12:26 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:27pm

The camera work in that film didn't do many of the performers justice...

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:28pm

Most movies don't have close ups as close as they were on Adam's face though.... anybody's face that big looks scary.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:31pm

Good point. I was able to count the laugh lines on Idina's face a couple of times. Not good when you're standing next to two other gals 10 years younger than you.

Okay... I'm not throwing stones anymore. Those two are AMAZINGLY talented, and I think they got where they are due to a combination of (mostly) talent, then "attractive" (not freaky-gorgeous) looks, and personality.

But as far as the bimbos and gymbos on the Great White Way... t'ain't nothin' new. I think the "Jukebox Pretties" are being cast mostly on looks BECAUSE producers don't have much else to sell the show on. They don't have big-name stars... or interesting plots... or dialogue that would require real acting. So why not cast somebody you saw in an underwear ad last week? At least they figure that will keep the audience looking at the stage instead of their watches.

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 12:31 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:32pm

Best12Bars once again sums up my thoughts on something. Whoudathunkit?

I agree to an extent, BB. I think the difference is that in general the gap isn't as extreme though. Even the "less talented" stage performers are considerably more talented than a lot of the crap on MTV these days.

In the theatre it's much more difficult to mask the weaknesses of a performer.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:38pm

I agree Best12. But I think the public worshiping of these performers is a bit much. I think some people ignore other performers, and flock to the "Jukebox Pretties" (my new favorite term, btw), and deny themselves or bash the truly talented. Like all the, "Patti Lupone sucks" posts, or the "I don't get Ethel Merman" comments. Hard to find credit in those remarks when their favorite performer sings top 40 songs while throwing a beachball into the audience...

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:39pm

True. Not EVERY underwear model can do a box step or stay on key.

The ones on Broadway can (he says, proudly)!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:42pm

In the out of town tryout of Princesses that I saw, there was an "actor" whose only credits included being in an A&F catalogue. His was the worst performance I've ever seen, and I've seen some real bad ones. If that show finds its way to Broadway with him (and I pray it doesn't), I wonder how many fans he'll get. I imagine, quite a few...

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:43pm

The "worshipping" you talk about is just the latest wave of Bobby-Soxers.

At least 60 years ago they were swooning over Frankie's VOICE not his (rail thin) body.

Today's Bobby-Soxers are more into the visual than anything else. The fact that they don't "get" why Ethel Merman was so popular is kinda tragic. They can only see that she would've made a lousy underwear model... because those are the terms they are judging their stars on today.

* takes a swig of whiskey and rants at the sun *

This must be my end-of-year "mood" today.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:46pm

Why be a Bobby-Soxer when you can be a BobbyBubby-Soxer?

[Patronus]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:46pm

We can only take solace in the fact that there are still some younger people out there who love Ethel Merman and Montgomery Clift while occasionally enjoy the bubblegum pop, vapid quality of today's standards as well.