Shows that spoof other shows...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 3:29am

Anyone getting tired of it? Spamalot? Martin Short? Even Avenue Q. It just seems that even though these shows are entertaining, the jokes are easy and often forced.
I know a woman who would rather see a show that spoofs other shows than see new and totally original material. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Opinions?

[Character Actor]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:09am

I hear ya. totally. I seriosuly cannot wait for the next completely original Broadway Musical. But apparently Audiences don't want that. Look at Brooklyn and In My Life. Both COMPLETELY original, yet nobody showed

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:24am

As long as I am entertained, I'm happy!

[Horton]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 8:37am

I would rather see forbidden broadway than a Broadway show which spoofs, I agree its old and dull.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 8:48am

Ugh. Shows that spoof other shows. It's as if they're jumping up and down screaming "We aren't clever enough to come up with some actually funny material here, so hey, let's bash ANOTHER show! BUAUAHAHAHAHA. Suckahs never saw it comin'!"

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 8:59am

I dunno....If I see another "For Meeee!" joke, I'll scream. It's in Martin Short, Avenue Q, Hairspray....

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 9:28am

Don't forget DROWSY CHAPERONE in your list of shows that spoof.

And Yes, I'm tired of it.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 09:28 AM

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:00am

I can understand shows (like Drowsy) that lift an entire musical style and play on it--pastiche musicals have been around forever. But yeah, it's starting to really get on my nerves when shows like Spamalot decide, out of the blue, to throw in a musical number that takes shots at other musicals. It's all in good fun, yes, but it's just not that clever. "The Song That Goes Like This" makes me laugh almost every time I listen to it, but it doesn't say anything new and that annoys me (that and the fact that I enjoy my 80s mega-musicals, thank you very much). Spoofs like that are cheap cop-outs that seem to be there only as a desperate attempt to add funny filler to a show. The same goes for pop culture and political references--they make me laugh, but unless the entire musical takes on pop culture or politics, the jokes are usually not clever and not very fair. A few well-placed jokes does not a good satire make.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 10:00 AM

[smilinggiggle]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:14am

I love spoofs. I think they're funny, but they get boring after a while

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:57am

Don't get me wrong, I laugh, too. But it's empty calories. Like white chocolate, yes it's delish, but it only makes me long for real chocolate, but it seems that they are only serving white chocolate these days because it's easy and seems to sell...Give me REAL chocolate any day.

[TheMecca]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:01am

Well, to be fair, the Phantom spoof in Spamalot was pretty quick (and the only one I can remember from last night), and nobody seemed to laugh at that.


...I did.
As to my opinion, spoofs of other shows (if they need them that much) should be used very very sparsely.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:11am

Eh, I probably laugh at spoofs more than I should. But I do adore Forbidden Broadway.

But certain times I think they are used intelligently--when they're not completely thrown in your face, here's obviously what we're spoofing. Like DRS has a line for My Fair Lady that so few people in the audience even realize.

But then Oklahoma? sure has the bit of "whoa" joke but the whole spoof some people don't realize right away. Jolene is just like Ado Annie; thinking someone wants to marry her who doesn't. I didn't realize it for a while.

I enjoy them more than most, but they could be more coyly done and more original maybe--not just spoofing the same thing like Ethel over and over.

Loved Musicals of Musicals: the Musical as well.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:15am

Well, Forbidden Broadway, to be fair was conceived as a spoof. That is it's sole reason for existing. And it is OFF-BROADWAY. I personally think it's hit and miss, but at least you know what your are going to get when you go in.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 12:10pm

If they're done well, as Drowsy Chaperone is, they aren't bad. However, I'm getting sick of them.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 12:15pm

I have a feeling that the Les Mis revival and the Pirate Queen show will mark the start of the pendulum swing back towards earnest musicals.

[leefowler]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 12:17pm

The problem is, these days Broadway musicals are, at least in our current culture, "un-hip". So one way musicals can look a bit more hip is to make fun of themselves, as if to say that they're in on the joke of simply being a Broadway musical.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 12:20pm

I would put Drowsy in a different category, as stated above. It doesn't spoof specific shows, but rather a genre or period, rather like Hairspray, which I would put in the same category as Drowsy, not totally original in style (in fact mimicked very well) but not really spoofing an existing show. It's a fine line, no pun intended, but I would rather see Hairspray or Drowsy.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:31pm

What's the DRS "Fair Lady" Line?

[DezBryner]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:38pm

Just saw Norbert last night in LA. Laughed my head off...
I'll probably mess up the line, but it was when Lithgow's character was referencing Norbert.
"He's so wickedly filthy, so horribly dirty." Just like Prof. Higgins talking to Eliza.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:45pm

I believe it's "He's so deliciously low -- so horribly dirty."

[DezBryner]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:47pm

THAT'S IT!!!
Thanks Ronin...it was drivin' me nuts!

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:05pm

Well, there was a reason why nobody showed up to "Brooklyn".