Norbert lands a sitcom deal!- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:04pm

Yes, but most of the aforementioned actors succeeded in television dramas, not comedies. Comedies can be a tough sell. But of course Norbert has the comic charm and timing down, so let's hope the writers can match!

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 12:04 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:05pm

Good for him!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:06pm

B. D. Wong, Jerry Orbach...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:14pm

Rath, it does not say it is being written "around" him. Even if it is, you can be sure it probably won't use his name in the title. "The Butz Show?" "Life With Norbert?"

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:16pm

Hahahaha!! Life with Norbert... I may just reference to that once I see him on TV.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:25pm

Sueleen, the story in Backstage certainly seems to point to it being written around him.

[birdlives]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:30pm

In my opinion, I think the biggest problem with the ones that failed was that they were situations built around a personality, or for a personality that wasn't all that compelling to watch, for most people. They're great actors (Chenoweth, Bette, etc.) but their personalities alone aren't enough to make most people tune in week after week, unless the show has a unique hook. They saddled them with standard sit-com plotlines and circumstances and they ended up just being pretty bland and not very funny. And, with the exception of Bette, most of them weren't stars in any world outside of theater. (ie, not a household name)

Same with Norbert. I'd say if you conducted a poll in BFE, Iowa, one out of every hundred people would know who he is. In order for the other 99 to tune in, even one time, it would have to be the subject matter that made them give it a shot. It's not gonna be "some guy who won some award on that show that bumped HOUSEWIVES that one night".

I think if he uses this opportunity to find a really compelling hook to his show, and something that showcases his unique abilities, and then makes himself part of a super talented ensemble instead of trying to carry the whole thing on his shoulders, he could really do something. "Funny Struggling Musical Theater Actor searches for fame and love in the big city" ain't gonna do it. But, a show like "Scrubs" with Norbert in the Zach Braff spot would probably work. "My Name is Earl" with a Norbert in the lead would be great. "Arrested Development" with him in the Jason Bateman spot...etc.

Of course, this is all just one guy's opinion. Norbert...if you're reading this...good luck.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:35pm

"Same with Norbert. I'd say if you conducted a poll in BFE, Iowa, one out of every hundred people would know who he is."

I'm a huge huge Norbert fan...but I don't think even that many people in BFE know who he is. ...which only goes to prove that it's vital the material be good enough to stand on its own.

by the way...I'll add Jason Alexander to the list.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:41pm

Good for him, although I'm not a fan. I know he won the Tony, but his performance in DRS did nothing to to change my mind either.

[birdlives]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:42pm

Yeah, Jason Alexander is a great example. And, he's someone that was part of one of the biggest shows in the history of television, an international television star...and, the same thing happened to him after SEINFELD. And, Michael Richardson. And, Julia Louis Dreyfuss. They all tried to make shows centered around a personality, and they all ended up not working.

[filmgirl325]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:42pm

This is so wonderful for him...I can't wait to see it! No matter what the outcome is, Norbert is a wonderful actor and he'll always have the broadway community waiting with open arms to come back to. Way to go Norbert!

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:45pm

congrats to him...although...i am pretty skeptical of the success of this show

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 12:58pm

Hell yeah!

I hope it's good and survives the first few episodes (unlike Head Cases, one of my favorite shows also starring a Broadway vet).

Norbert does have a knack for physical comedy. I assume he will not lose weight for this role, as seeing him 'play with his flab' during DRS made the show all the more amusing for me.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:03pm

My first reaction is "nooooooooo...". Sitcoms in general are so inferior today. But if Norbert's happy...

Of course, my biggest concern is how will it affect his DRS schedule since I have tickets for January! :P I'm so selfish!

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:08pm

I think your tickets should be safe. =)

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:29pm

"Gimme a Break" was written around Nell Carter. The show was developed for her. It was a big hit.

"What's Happening" was written around Mabel King, after her success in The Wiz. The show was developed for her and around her. (She was actually upset when other characters began to steal the focus and thunder.) But it was a big hit.

[ikmbway]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:46pm

Yay. Wow I'm excited for it. Just needs some good writers and every one will hope its a hit.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:47pm

That's great!

Most, if not all sitcoms right now are kinda, eh, but maybe Norbie being around will help it out? =/

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 1:48pm

best12, neither of those are recent. The recent instances have not been successful.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:24pm

rath---Agreed, there haven't been any "recent" successes... but I didn't realize there was a time limit here on the concept of creating a TV show around a Broadway personality.

Oh, I forgot another little show... called "Maude."

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 03:24 PM

[JoMarch]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:39pm

I've seen some sitcoms that were much better than *some* musicals I'e seen. Perhaps Norbert will strike gold in Hollywood, creatively and professionally. I wish him all the luck in the world!

[birdlives]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:47pm

B12B, those shows have pretty strong hooks. "Gimme a Break" had strong racial/social elements to it that made it novel for its day. "What's Happening?" wasn't really created around Mabel King's personality, but she was meant to be the strong force at its center. I think there's a difference. But, that show too had other things going for it and a talented supporting cast that carried it through.

These days, constructing a show around someone's personality just isn't going to draw people in if they don't already know the person. You could conceivably make a show called "Being Paris" all about Paris Hilton's trials and tribulations of being a B-List celeb with no discernable talent, and people would watch at least once or twice because she's a household name. If you made up a show called "Norbert", about a young white out of work actor in New York City, you'll never make it past week one, no matter how talented the guy is, no matter how good the reviews are.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:50pm

That was my point. Times have changed.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:00pm

This is great news! As long as he has good writers, I am confident he can make the show a hit. He really is a comedic gem just waiting to be discovered in the right venue outside of his theatre career.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:02pm

I totally agree. You can't just take an actor and not give them a compelling or attractive "situation" to star in. You'd just have a "com" rather than a "sit com." Those go no where.

Even though the shows I mentioned were developed for the Broadway stars chosen to play them, those scripts and concepts were generated very likely BEFORE an actor came to mind. You have to find a good marriage of idea or "hook" as you called it, and personality. That goes with all shows on TV.

The problem is that Hollywood has proven again that they STILL don't get how important the basic writing and concepts are. They're all about star power now, and "putting the packaged deal together." And no, you can't just take Cenoweth or Butz or Lane and prop them up on the screen in ANYTHING and say, "Look, aren't they funny? We've got someone funny for you to watch!"

Bea Arthur would have failed as well, if "Maude" hadn't been so well written and conceived.

You gotta have a gimmick (as the song says) FIRST. Hopefully a fresh one, but it better be GOOD at least.