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.
Posted: 3/22/17 at 6:09pm
Well it would have been cool to break up the WBC but the Times is gonna go down the way it came up. And on those terms, he is the best choice hands down. FYI Brantley's consent is not needed.
Posted: 3/22/17 at 6:14pm
This is a major change to the purview, status, and workflow of Brantley's job. His consent is most definitely needed.
Posted: 3/22/17 at 7:14pm
M.O.A.I. said: "This is a major change to the purview, status, and workflow of Brantley's job. His consent is most definitely needed."
Uh, no. and no.
Posted: 3/22/17 at 7:30pm
HogansHero said: "M.O.A.I. said: "This is a major change to the purview, status, and workflow of Brantley's job. His consent is most definitely needed."
Uh, no. and no.
"
(1) Just because Green got a new title doesn't mean that Ben's title got changed
(2) Anyone who has worked in corporate America knows there are times you get a raise, and times you get a fancier title. The latter is much less expensive.
(3) I suspect (but don't know) that after the Isherwood "thing" that the new guy wanted everyone to know that he wasn't going to inherit Isherwood's "claimed" "issues" I think I would have asked for the same thing.
(4) We'll have to see how the workload, etc gets split up -- or even if there are productions that get two reviews (now wouldn't that be interesting) before a final analysis can take place
Posted: 3/22/17 at 7:33pm
QueenAlice said:
. 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.
You are wrong Queenie - Brantley has been a theatre critic at the NYT for 24 years. Brook Atkinson was the NYT theatre critic for 35 years.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 4:06am
''The NYT can only hire from the experienced talent pool that is available.''
No, the Times can hire whomever they want. When Ben Brantley was hired as a drama critic, he had been a freelancer. He didn't spend any time as a junior-level reviewer at smaller publications.
Before the Times hired Margo Jefferson, who happens to be a black woman, as a drama critic, she had spent much of her career in academia, not as a drama critic working her way up thru the ranks.
Without debating Green's merits, he has a history with the Times.
Updated On: 3/23/17 at 04:06 AM
Posted: 3/23/17 at 4:32am
He has a very good sense of humor when he is on Theatre Talk.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 5:23am
I can't help but think that the producers of Come From Away feel as if they'd dodged a bullet in not having this take place a few weeks ago. (Not that we can be sure who would've reviewed it)
Posted: 3/23/17 at 8:16am
I think he will be brilliant. I will look forward to reading his reviews.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 8:31am
I also give this a thumbs up. Green always has written and seems very informed and his reviews are thoughtful, intelligent.
Plus, he's not a snark attack waiting to happen like some people...
Posted: 3/23/17 at 8:56am
>I can't help but think that the producers of Come From Away feel as if they'd dodged a bullet in not having this take place a few weeks ago. (Not that we can be sure who would've reviewed it)<
Green will be at the Times for their mid-May Tony issue. It still shakes things up quite a bit.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 9:05am
I think Green is a great choice, but I agree with others that it will be a loss to not read his thoughts on every show now.
I think Green and Brantley compliment each other nicely though- maybe it's time to switch things up and have a Siskel & Ebert type thing where they each give their thoughts on each show. Even if only one gets to write the formal print review perhaps they could do something akin to what The AV Club does with those weekly "film club" videos when Dowd and Vishnevetsky discuss the week in film.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 9:07am
I love Jesse Green's reviews.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 10:28am
I like him, for the most part, on Theatef Talk. His comment on "Come From Away" threw me. I didn't expect that from him although he can be snarky at times on the show. I would like to have had Patrick Pacheco as the new critic. I really like him.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 12:06pm
Is Pacheco even a critic? At least from what I've seen on Theater Talk, he has no taste.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 1:18pm
Blech. Green imo, is the worst critic writing today. I find him insufferable and certainly wont waste my time reading his bitchy commentary in the times. Alexis Soloski has been doing a wonderful job and would have been a great person to promote into this position. Or really, Id prefer anyone else. I was so excited for a nice change of pace over there, but this is the most disappointing way things could have turned out.
And professional critique continues to die and lose relevance...
Posted: 3/23/17 at 2:48pm
M.O.A.I. said: "Is Pacheco even a critic? At least from what I've seen on Theater Talk, he has no taste."
Matter of opinion.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 6:06pm
I just read Green's review of Come From Away. I haven't seen the show, but the review was seriously entertaining to read, as were the butt-hurt comments afterwards.
Posted: 3/23/17 at 8:15pm
Wayman_Wong said: "''The NYT can only hire from the experienced talent pool that is available.''
No, the Times can hire whomever they want. When Ben Brantley was hired as a drama critic, he had been a freelancer. He didn't spend any time as a junior-level reviewer at smaller publications.
Before the Times hired Margo Jefferson, who happens to be a black woman, as a drama critic, she had spent much of her career in academia, not as a drama critic working her way up thru the ranks.
Without debating Green's merits, he has a history with the Times.
Interesting as Ben always felt like Frank Richs' protege. He has no experience in theatre journalism and came from the world of cat walks, so if you never have worked in the industry and have to award the gold standard, how do you know what the gold standard is if you haven't had the apprenticeship?
Also so the past will show where Ben and Jesse were at loggerheads, like Sunset Boulevard.
"
Posted: 3/23/17 at 8:34pm
Brantley wasn't directly hired to be the chief theater critic though, he started a lower rank and then was promoted after having proven himself.
Posted: 3/24/17 at 4:51am
VIETgrlTerifa said: "I just read Green's review of Come From Away. I haven't seen the show, but the review was seriously entertaining to read, as were the butt-hurt comments afterwards."
You'd be butt-hurt too if you helped out some refugees, were pleasantly surprised to have your story told 15 years later and then were told, "Nah, screw you, you don't get to tell that story."
Posted: 3/24/17 at 10:38pm
Here's an interesting Q&A with Jesse Green. http://www.americantheatre.org/2017/03/24/jesse-green-is-looking-for-a-good-argument/
