Praise The Lord and Pass the Playbill.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 1:57pm

At the risk of riling up some folks, I gotta ask this:

What IS it with performers on Broadway praising the Lord in their bios? I noticed it more this round of shows than others. There were thank yous to Jesus, bible verses, bible quotations, etc. I find it ---- well, unnecessary and somewhat offensive. I'm all for having a spirituality, but is it really good form to "witness" to your audience? You're not singing in the church choir, fer crissakes -- you're at WORK.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:04pm

And don't forget all the "straight" actors who have to mention their wife/girlfriend just in case there is any doubt about their sexuality!

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:10pm

As the great Christopher Durang wrote in his piece LAUGHING WILD:

"I watched the Tony Awards when all those people won for Dreamgirls and they all got up there thanking God that they won their awards and I thought, 'God is silent on the Holocaust, but gets involved in the Tonys? IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY'"

[Jack42]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:10pm

Yes. I also hate when they thank their vocal coach and college professors.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:11pm

I really feel like all the God and Jesus references are just performers taking part in that classic American pastime: groupthink.

My favorite acceptance speech moment was when the Red Hot Chili Peppers won a Grammy or American Music Award or Billboard Award or Golden Globular award after about a dozen performers thanked God for intervening and getting them a statue and Anthony Kiedis said, "First of all we'd like to thank Satan..."

It was 666tacular!

[Craig]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:17pm

Didn't someone at SOME award show once say (paraphrasing here) "I don't want to thank anyone. I did this all myself" ?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:19pm

Wouldn't you love for someone/anyone, to thank someone/anyone for the orgasm that helped them discover that they could hit high C? Updated On: 1/22/04 at 02:19 PM

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:22pm

Don't forget what Kirstie Alley said when she thanked her husband during her Emmy speech.

She said...oh no...I can't...RobD will get mad and I'm too much a lady!

[Rob]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:25pm

Ahem --- let's keep it under PG 13 please.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 2:51pm

Actually, I don't find homages to deities that offensive during acceptance speeches (although I do feel it is ridiculous). Probably because that speech is a once in a lifetime moment, it's the emotion of the moment, etc.

But to thump your religion in your BIO? At work? Puh-leez. It's just too....common.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:00pm

i know it's not in vogue and probably will paint me as a bit of a foole (i just love using the final e on that word) but the possibility is there that these people actually do feel that god was instrumental in their success and that as such merits a public display of gratitude. who's to say whether or not their faith is such that a public display is not completely in character?

what is it specifically that is so wrong with performers using the means at their disposal to praise the almighty? i mean they could thank their personal trainer for helping them get those rock hard buns that caught the casting director's eye or they could thank the producer for making good on that deal they made in the back of the limo. so they want to make a public display of their faith? last time i checked there was still freedom of religion.

i would now like to thank the good lord and mother mary for helping me quit smoking. i heard a voice say it's time to quit and put out that cigarette and haven't had one since. a 20 year habit broke cold turkey. and that evil spawn mrs. mambo still smokes like a durn chimney! and no, i'm not kidding, i truly believe that god and the blessed virgin chose to help me quit smoking. aren't there worse things in the world to worry about than somebody thanking god for something?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:04pm

Did you see the BVM's face in your ashtray?

I just think people do all the almighty praising because they don't know what to say in their speeches and they don't know what to write in their bios and they see other people do it, so they do it too. It only takes one or two holier-than-thous to bring out the Keeping Up With the Saint Joanses nature of your average performer.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:05pm

Well, to everyone who agrees with rlb's assessment in this thread I completely disagree with you, and furthermore ask, how dare you say or comment on someone's acknowledgement to their god as unneccessary? Really....sometimes people say the silliest things. Excuse me, and others who actually put that in their bios. I thank God in my bio(s) because I know that without him it would be impossible for me to be able to do what I love, and have the talents that I have. Some people are just very religious, and gracious, and are not vain, and it is also their right to put whatever the heck they want to put in their bio. If you don't like it, you can skip down and read someone else's bio who doesn't care to include a thank you to God. Or their girlfriend, or their parents, or teacher(s). *I* find it refreshing to see bio that contain things other than a list of credits, and a list of schools you have attended. I find bios of that sort to be boring. It tells you nothing about a person. But to see someone thank their parents, or their teacher, or their mother, father, and family, is interesting to me.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:07pm

You'd think some of these kids would be a bit more inventive.

They should look into some fun patron saints to thank as as alternative. For a start, I like St. Notkar Balbalus, the Patron saint of musicians and stammering children.
St. Notkar

Updated On: 1/22/04 at 03:07 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:16pm

I don't feel the need for public display of my devotion. That's what prayers are for. I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of others when it comes to religion. I can't figure out why it needs to be in a bio. I read the bios to see what other productions they have performed or where they got their training. I really don't care to know their religious affiliations. To me, that is something deeply personal.

I don't watch the Grammys any more. If I hear one more rapper who thanks God for his songs about sex, murder, and violence, I think will puke. It may be his God, but it certainly isn't mine.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:16pm

St. Genesius of Rome should NOT be forgotten. Good for dancers, comics, stenographers AND torture victims!
Genesius

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:18pm

nah, but last year, my ex-gf took one of the classic pics of the supposed "glowing statue" of the bvm in ohio. was so funny seeing the pic on the cnn website with her name next to it. i called to tell her how proud i was but her current hubby thought it best that i never call there again. some people are just funny that way.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:19pm

St. Cecilia is pretty cool, too. As is St. Vitus.
St. Cecilia

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:20pm

Master, don't foget to thank:

St. Rose of Lima: anti-vanity
St. Barbara: anti-bombs (pray really hard to her)
St. Martha the patron Saint of Waiters!

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:22pm

Well, everyone is different, Mister Matt, but that doesn't mean that anything is wrong with being gracious. I DO find it annoying with the example that you gave. I do see this as being a trend, especially with singers - For that reason, I too cringe during speeches on the MTV Music Awards, Grammys and things of the sort. But I don't see the issue when it seems to be sincere. Furthermore, how can we judge or tell if their praises are sincere or not?

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:23pm

Those rappers are most likely thanking God for their musical talents. They probably just forgot to thank Satan for their lyrics.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:24pm

LOL Lyric!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:24pm

"nah, but last year, my ex-gf took..."

Just HAD to mention the GF, didn't ya?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:31pm

geez, no god, no gf...next thing you know i won't even be able to advocate for "man on dog" relations in honor of my favorite politician.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 3:44pm

hee hee....he said "Advocate"