Karen Ziemba – I wish this was a joke

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:34pm

I just heard a rumor that Karen Ziemba might do a TV Pilot and I am beside myself…

I just hate it when “Broadway Stars” think they have something special enough to transcend the stage and work on TV screens across the land.

I mean Jennifer Aniston she is NOT!

They should have laws against such “stunt casting”!

You would think they learned they’re lesson from Kristen’s awful show and lets not even talk about Nathan Lane’s multiple debacles…...

At least Nathan has lots of talent and is very cute but…my god!

Enough is Enough!

Well.. TV is just going to the dogs I say….

To the dogs!!
Updated On: 5/14/04 at 03:34 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:37pm

God forbid the woman decides she needs to make a living and make a name for herself outside the NY community. She has some nerve.

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:38pm

Damn Right...

Pop stars should stay in one space

Broadway "stars" in another!

Right!

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:46pm

And doing a Broadway show, that's just learning ONE script and doing it over and over. Can she learn a different script each week? And what if Broadway comes calling again, will she just abandon TV and run back to New York?

This is an insult to everyone working hard to get a TV gig but can't get a chance because someone comes to the West Coast every year showing off their Tony nominations.

Don't TV producers have any respect for the ART of television?

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:48pm

I mean...How Dare she think she can compete with Courtney Cox....

I mean, some poor TV actress is gonna be OUT OF WORK because of her!

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:53pm

Someone does a few dances and gets some attention and suddenly they just think they're the next Markie Post. It's just a miscarriage of justice.

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:54pm

She's not fit to kiss Markie Post's weave!

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 3:56pm

I hear Justine Bateman wanted that part

I cried when I found out she didn't get it.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 4:01pm

this is a very bizarre thread because I cannot tell which posts are serious and which are meant to be sarcastic.

[Maryann]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 4:05pm

There are so many performers on TV who had their start in Legitimate Theatre. I can name tons of them.

Karen Ziemba as we all know her is a musical comedy performer, but on the other side she is an actress, give it a chance. Malcom Gets was on a successful tv show, Caroline in the City. ... Nancy Dussault did tons of tv and was a regular on the New Dick Van Dyke Show for several years and Ted Knights TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT which was a success and ran many years. still in syndication. .... Give it a chance, it works for some, it doesn't work for others. It depends on the show itself.... but she is an actress too, Maryann

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 4:10pm

this is a beautifully satirical thread, redhot. VA is making a fantastic point.

Posted: 5/14/04 at 5:12pm

All know is if John Barrowman gets a Reality TV show...

well..I'm getting rid of cable!

Reality TV should be left to people who know what they are doing....

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 5:27pm

Too bad the point voiceanth is trying to make, is moot. If Ziemba was trying to crossover to a nonacting profession, then it would make sense. The argument he is satirizing is of pop stars with no acting experience being offered roles as if they were the most qualified and best choice for a particular role. Since Ziemba would go from one acting profession to another acting profession, then his point is entirely lost. His comparison is false.

Sorry voiceanth! Good effort, but you're just going to have to try harder. Now if Heather Headley gets put on a WNBA team because of her Tony for Aida, then you would have something to discuss.

[Jon]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 5:48pm

Then there was that Kelsey Grammer fellow. After originating the role of The Soldier in the original Playwrights Horizons version of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, he passed up the opportunity to play the role on Broadway to do a one-time-only guest shot on "Cheers" as Shelley Long's shrink. That totally screwed up his Broadway acxting career. He got stuck in Hollywood so long, the next time he was on Broadway was 16 years later. He was in a production of MACBETH that only ran a week. Maybe if he'd have stayed in New York instead of going Hollywood, he could have worked on his stage acting!

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 5:53pm

"Too bad the point voiceanth is trying to make, is moot."

Oh dear, I just understood that joke from Friends like forever ago, when Joey says its a "moo point". Dear goodness, I am oblivious to the world...

[Jon]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 5:59pm

By the way, Karen's om LAW AND ORDER - CRIMINAL INTENT this Sunday evening - 9 Eastern, 8 central.

And for those who think she is only a musical comedy performer, she has done several non-musical plays in the past couple of years, including Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Neil Simon's DINNER PARTY and Alan SAykbourn's HOUSE and GARDEN.

[wickedrawbrt]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 6:21pm

Oh my dear lord, would someone please explain sarcasm to some of these folks. Voiceanth and Johnpopa that was absolutely hysterical and well executed.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 6:23pm

I somewhat agree. It would have been hysterical if it were more accurate. But unfortunately, it was somewhere between not completely annoying to almost amusing.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 6:29pm

Very funny.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 1:48am

What does this thread have to do with pop stars?

I somehow thought it was about Broadway actors crossing over to TV and vice versa.

At least that's what my posts were about.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 2:02am

well, VA also wants to see pop stars make the jump to Broadway. Thus, one assumes that is included in his argument. However, the criticism on this board about film and TV starts doing Broadway alone is worthy of this thread.

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 4:33am

greetings from Italy!!!

Mister Matt, you know i adore you, but...

our fabulous new 'Tracy' Carly Jibson (notice the self-promoting!! arent I good!!?) has had virtually the same "stage experience" as the "pop stars" you speak of

in the words of "Mamma" Rose, you either got "it" or you ain't...if someone auditions and ges the part, that's the criteria...they may have learned the work ethic of live theatre in regional theatre, college, or might have to get a fast lesson in the "glaring spotlight", but the same is true in all walks of life, no? (suddenly, I sound like Tevye!)

my career (I always bring it back to me, don't I!) went from community theatre to Broadway at the age of 19...should I have been denied that 1st job on Broadway? I am grateful everyday no one said I didn't have the proper amount of "stage experience"!

still love me, MM? hope so! m'wah

Marc Updated On: 5/15/04 at 04:33 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 10:07am

I once defended Debbie Boone doing SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS on b'way, and almost got beaten up in a bar because of it. And it was a piano bar, where my would-be assailant was sipping a Gin Rickey. Which tells you how strongly held these beliefs are about the appropriate arena for talent. I dare say, look at all the lads n'lassies who were pumped into the Roundabout CABARET, and the Weissler CHICAGO (to cover the "C" shows anyway)some from stage, some from screens small and large. The mixed results are part of a b'way tradition.

This syndrome isn't new. I remember when Jane Russell, not exactly a b'way legend, was chosen to replace Elaine Stritch in Company, theatre folk balked. She was more successful than not -- and she was hand-picked by a man not known for stunt casting, Hal Prince. Casting is always about risk taking, no?

Posted: 5/15/04 at 10:15am

I weep for the future!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 11:47am

Marc - Of course I still love you. I had stated before in another thread on the subject , I never had a problem with a pop performer in a Broadway show if they are hired for being the best choice to sing and act the role. It's hiring pop stars that cannot act based on their name simply to boost the box office that I have a problem with. Carly is wonderful, but she's not a huge teeny-bopper star that is going to be the focus of Hairspray's marketing campaigns. If the pop performer is the best choice, then they are the best choice. But somehow, I doubt that no one better ever auditioned for the roles of Mimi or Mark in Rent than Scary Spive and Joey Fatone. I have a feeling that over the past 8 years, there have been performers with more talent in singing AND acting that have auditioned for the show. Maybe I'm wrong, but somehow I don't think so.