Michael in the bathroom Tony’s parody — Page 2

From a FB post from someone close to the show: BE MORE CHILL tried to pay for airtime to do a number from the show and was refused because of lack of time. No one connected to the show was advised that they would parody the number and/or were involved. Even if you are not a fan of the show this is a terrible way to treat a Show, especially one that is struggling, To me, who is not a Corden fan it seems another way to boost his "comedy" chops (which I think suck) at someone else's expense. As a songwriter, it seems rather low for Bareilles to be involved, unless she, too was clueless. If they did not want to give airtime to BE MORE CHILL than at least use the time for more Awards such as the Lifetime Achievement for Rosemary Harris. If all of this is true it was clearly a major misstep for the TONY producers.

I personally thought the whole thing was tacky. We could’ve skipped something like this to leave room for more awards to be actually shown live, and not cut. Like, Best Choreography, which is a pretty important award.

I personally am not a fan of James Corden after hearing multiple stories about how he’s really not the nicest guy in real life (one example is the story in 5 Seconds of Summer’s Rolling Stone profile). I really do love Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban though.

If it’s true that Joe Iconis helped write the parody, then no one from BMC should be complaining. I still don’t think that bit was necessary though.

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 10:25 AM

How does it matter if the show is struggling? It's a PARODY - it's not like they were poking fun of the show.



I also don't see how them being refused air time has ANYTHING to do with this.



I suppose I would like to know the truth, however, if Iconis helped with the lyrics as mentioned earlier in the thread.

givesmevoice said: "Does that have to do with the fact that he profits off of the parodies? Or how frequently he performs them?"



I was watching Weird Al's interview on Sam Jones' "Off Camera" series recently. IIRC, Weird Al said that he actually doesn't have to secure the artists' permission for any of his work, but he does it anyway as a courtesy, and as a personal principal.

singer234 said: "Let’s not forget this show also turned over their entire GM and PR team like overnight so...something seems up at BMC."

When was this? I don't remember hearing anything about this.

I thought it was funny, but was honestly waiting for George Salazar to come out of one of the stalls. My mother loved, and when I mentioned it was a parody of a show that was't nominated she became really confused. I just wish that Corden or the producers did something within the bit to call out that its from Be More Chill. I get that they probably assumed based on the cast albums airplay, that many in the community and tweenagers understood what they were parodying, but the Tony's audience much older and likely don't get the reference. I get the bad blood between the those involved in the production and the American Theater Wing, regarding the lack of love for the show, but they do have a point for being upset for this. Even if there was a quick picture of the The Be More Chill marquee, the producers should of done something to make it know they were parodying the show. After all, Be More Chill is no Hamiltion, nor Dear Evan Hansen, and has been struggling since the Tony nominations were announced, so outside of the theater community, so I am sure the parody aspect went over the heads of 75% of audience.

Regarding the animosity between the production, I was walking in the Theater district the night the Tony nominations were announced, and ended up walking behind one of the better know cast members of Be More Chill. S/He went on an all out tirade about how the show was treated by the nominating committee, and how S/He felt they were purposefully shunning the show in hopes of it hurting the show's commercial viability. It was quite eye opening, and was beyond the more understandable "Why?" rant. This cast member clearly felt there was some vendetta that the nominating committee had with the production.

TobiasRagg said: "I personally thought the whole thing was tacky. We could’ve skipped something like this to leave room for more awards to be actually shown live, and not cut. Like, Best Choreography, which is a pretty important award."

I think it was tacky as well. Parodies of comedic or fluff songs are one thing, but I've never liked parodies of songs that involve serious themes. How do you think a parody of "Words Fail" from Dear Evan Hansen would have gone over? Regardless of whether you like Be More Chill, the Tonys turned what is arguably the most poignant part of the show into a joke, and I find that tasteless.

Serious themes???

“Michael in the Bathroom” is about a kid who goes to a party that he wasn’t invited to and then barricades himself inside a bathroom making sure nobody else at the party can use the bathroom (while they’re banging on the door because they have to piss so badly), while he sings a song about how much he doesn’t want to be at the party (that he wasn’t invited to) and can’t wait for it to be over.

Yeah, so so serious.

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 10:56 AM

Jordan Catalano said: "Serious themes???

“Michael in the Bathroom” is about a kid who goes to a party that he wasn’t invited to and then barricades himself inside a bathroom making sure nobody else at the party can use the bathroom (while they’re banging on the door because they have to piss so badly), while he sings a song about how much he doesn’t want to be at the party (that he wasn’t invited to) and can’t wait for it to be over.

Yeah, so so serious."

I do not like Be More Chill, but that's...not what the song is about at all.

LizzieCurry said: "ilovebabyv, yeah, but if you didn't know what show the song was from, then...?"

Then you are lucky.

Also Fetus, TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

Lot666 said: "JBroadway said: "Sure, if you're making light of really heavy, sensitive issues like school shootings, sexual assault, etc. then sure, I might agree with you, Lot666. But this is a song about a lonely teenage boy who got his feelings hurt by his best friend. Not exactly a sensitve, hot-button topic."

I guess you're just a bit more callous than some of us."



Why? Because I don't put "lonely boy at a party" on par with serious, sensitive issues that are actually offensive to make fun of?

And by the way, I've BEEN in Michael's shoes. I have issues with social anxiety - I once hid behind a tree outside a school dance in a situation not unlike the one in the show. But that doesn't mean I think it should be "off limits" to make fun of just because it has some sincere emotions behind it. Was it offensive of John Mulaney to do a Les Mis parody on SNL even though Les Mis is about serious issues?

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 11:19 AM