That Wacky Weill Estate

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 2:30am

The Weill Estate is notoriously difficult to deal with, right? That's what I've always heard. Too much deviation from the source is met with much scrutiny, I hear.

I was captivated tonight by (of all things) an Applebee's commercial, in which two men sang the praises of the restaurant to the tune of "Mack the Knife." This, unsurprisingly, reminded me of the early 80s McDonald's campaign, "Mac Tonight."

It's interesting to me that they get all knotted up about how Threepenny is presented, but they're more than happy to whore out its most well-known tune.

Am I missing something here?

[elmore3003]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 8:43am

And you know they're all knotted up because of what?

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 12:52pm

Because of things I've read on here and because I've known people who have personally dealt with them. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I was always under the impression that they are quite proprietary about Weill's music being used properly.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 12:54pm

Well the foundation has to pay it's bills somehow and M"ack the Knife" is probably one of the only upbeat "pop standards" in Weill's catalog.

But yes, they are extremely strict about the presentation of Weill's actual shows.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 12:55pm

Some TV show had a random Mac Tonight reference just recently. Was it The Simpsons?

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:04pm

Best. Thread. Title. Ever.

[toomeytwopiece]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:49pm

they are actually quite happy with the show, as is the Brecht estate :)

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:56pm

Thats great news! Do you know if there is any talk about a CD? It would be a HUGE shame if you guys went un-recorded.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 7:01pm

Yeah, really. I'd love to get a new recording of the show.