Jesse Green - new NYT critic

[SueBee06]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:49pm

Just showed up on twitter.

https://twitter.com/MichaelPaulson/status/844636786546659328

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:51pm

I must admit, I'm personally not a Jesse Green fan. I think he sometimes tends to overreact and dismisses anything that isn't highbrow.

Updated On: 3/22/17 at 03:51 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:51pm

That "co-chief critic" title must be a slap right to Isherwood's face.

I'm a little surprised--I expected them to hire from within. But Green is a solid choice.

[MyLife]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:53pm

I've never been a fan of Jesse's. I was hopeful that Isherwood's firing (uh...resignation) would leave an open space for something refreshing and we get the exact opposite.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:53pm

Good for him. He's one of the few critics whose opinion I find reliable but I'm probably not going to read his reviews as much now that they'll be behind that NYT paywall. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 3:55pm

I kind of thought Alexis Soloski was going to be promoted up. But Jesse Green is a good choice- even when I don't agree with him (which is often), his reviews are worth reading.

 

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:00pm

The sound you hear is producers all over the city shaking in their boots. Green is a very good writer but one with very erratic theatre tastes. He is often the "lone dissenter" on consensus opinions about productions - which is scary given that the Times review is really the only one producers bank on to sell tickets.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:01pm

Who's gonna takeover for him at vulture?

Updated On: 3/22/17 at 04:01 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:03pm

This is great news. I love his reviews and his writing.

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:04pm

Solid choice.  Love the new job title.  

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:18pm

I will admit to being a little surprised/disappointed that they didn't choose a woman and/or person of color, but Jesse Green is an excellent critic, even when I don't agree with him. His reviews are always thoughtful and well-written, much more than a synopsis of the show. He's certainly an improvement over Isherwood- and Brantley, for that matter. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:29pm

Jesse Green is the best critic writing about theater in New York. It's a great call on their part, even though he's a white man. Can't complain, except that he won't be covering everything anymore.

You don't have to agree with him to admit he's a great writer and immensely knowledgeable.

Also, I love the Isherwood shade with the co chief critic title.

Updated On: 3/22/17 at 04:29 PM

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:33pm

I agree that Green is an excellent reviewer, but this surprises me. He's not a diversity hire, and that's what I thought the Times would go for. But I'm happy, and I congratulate him. I hope he has time to write some long-form articles for the Times also.

 

 

Updated On: 3/22/17 at 04:33 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:42pm

If his "review" of COME FROM AWAY is any indication of the level of critical thought in NYC these days...

... well, we'll just leave that here.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:42pm

As neonlights says, Jesse Green is definitely the best writer currently reviewing New York theater.  I don't always share his opinion, but I'm really glad that the New York Times didn't play the race card or the gender card and simply got the best person for the job.

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:45pm

Yes, I didn't agree with his review of Come From Away. But to be fair, a couple of other reviews gave the show "the side eye." So if he is an outlier, he's not the only one in this case.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 4:46pm

QueenAlice said: "I don't always share his opinion, but I'm really glad that the New York Times didn't play the race card or the gender card and simply got the best person for the job.

 

"

Are you implying people who are not male or "white" Caucasians are not competent for the job?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:00pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "QueenAlice said: "I don't always share his opinion, but I'm really glad that the New York Times didn't play the race card or the gender card and simply got the best person for the job."

Are you implying people who are not male or "white" Caucasians are not competent for the job?"

I'm going to presume that that was not the intent. Rather, it was simply looking for the best person — regardless of race or gender or what have you — for the position.

Frankly, I find it difficult to believe he *was* that person, but I"m still giving QA the benefit of the doubt.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:10pm

Not Dancingthrulife2 - Queen never implied that. Or even say that. There's enough bs on this board without creating more.

I was personally rooting for Elisabeth Vincentelli but this is a good and solid choice.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:13pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "QueenAlice said: "I don't always share his opinion, but I'm really glad that the New York Times didn't play the race card or the gender card and simply got the best person for the job.

 

"

Are you implying people who are not male or "white" Caucasians are not competent for the job?

 

"

Yes as a woman who is only half white that is exactly what I was inferring. Good grief.

[M.O.A.I.]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:18pm

I figured it was going to be either Green or Soloski. Either would've been a fine choice, but I'm glad it's Green - and astonished Brantley consented to the co-chief status. The Times has two equal critics in all their other major arts sections, but still - wow! It'll be interesting to see which shows get covered by which man. Both are rather unpredictable.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:23pm

Echoing earlier sentiments, Jesse is the best reviewer of Broadway in my opinion, but his reviews will be missed since he won't be reviewing every show.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:26pm

M.O.A.I. said: "I figured it was going to be either Green or Soloski. Either would've been a fine choice, but I'm glad it's Green - and astonished Brantley consented to the co-chief status. The Times has two equal critics in all their other major arts sections, but still - wow! It'll be interesting to see which shows get covered by which man. Both are rather unpredictable.

 

"

Regarding the Co-Chief statues, I have no doubt The Times is looking at a Brantley retirement in the next coming years. In truth, Brantley has already been there way longer than any reviewer  they've ever had in the position. Having another theater critic as co-chief will make the transition easier when they name Brantley's successor.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 5:31pm

The NYT can only hire from the experienced talent pool that is available and I think that most of the prominent NY theater critics are caucasian and male. Green is as qualified for the job as anybody I can think of. 

To get diversity you have to look at recruitment for the entry level and junior level positions and then give them time to climb up the ranks. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/22/17 at 6:03pm

Excellent choice. As others have said, I don't always share his opinion but I love reading his reviews.