The Official LB MTV Broadcast Thread — Page 16

I watched it both times and loved it!!! I think they are playing it again on Friday morning the 19th at 11.

Laura Bell Bundy is brilliant.

Any word if it's going to DVD?

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I heard myself yell "WORK IT!" to Andy Karl when he's dropping off the package!

I LOVED the taping! I saw the show on Broadway in June and loved it. It was so great seeing the sho again, bringing back all the wonderful memories. I thought the cast was terrific!

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Did anybody hear that random comment (obviosly not part of the show) that after 'What Elle Woods' during What You Want?

It wasn't nearly as good as I expected, either. To echo what Jason said, none of the songs really had that extra punch that's needed in a production like this. They were all good enough, but serviceable.

And I think I missed a few minutes which is why I don't understand this - but what was the point of the whole Irish step dancing number?

And yeah - they need better hosts than The Hills. Those girls couldn't keep a tag sale in business

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Having said all this, I applaud MTV for having filmed it very well, and introducing a younger generation to Broadway, and showing that live theater (even when taped) can be "hip". Hopefully it will get people to New York to see the live show, and other shows as well.

I'm only about 40 minutes in, but I agree with a great deal of this. (And everything else you said.)

The filming is really quite nice and they integrate the audience just enough to show their reactions but not so much that it's America's Funniest Home Videos-invasive.

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"My biggest issue came with the music. With the exception of the opening musical number, I found just about every song boring, dreadful, and un-tuneful. There were barely any songs you could/would leave the theatre remembering. And the contrast of styles - one minute, it's a pop-oriented score, and the next, there's recetetive, and more "traditional" sounding musical theater fare. You're either an entire pop score, or you're not, and I found the mixture of the two interrupted the flow of the show completely."

Thank god someone else noticed this. This is why "The Wedding Singer" worked for me, the '80s motif carried throughout the ENTIRE score, and never dropped. Wicked's score has the same exact problem: poor contrast of styles and bad lyrics. I stated in my review that Yazbeck seems to have been the only one to contrast pop and traditional Broadway well, DRS and Full Monty being the examples. Sondheim's work on Assassins could also be used as an example, but the revue style helped the styles blend immensely. I have equal appreciation of all musical theatre styles, i.e. I enjoy pop, traditional and Sondheim (who I regard as a category all own his own)...but if Larson shoehorned a shuffle number into Rent, I would enjoy it much less. (and yes, I know that Larson's original intentions were to have a rock/traditional score, but of course he came to his senses [pun not intended]) Inconsistency in the score was the show's greatest weakness if you ask me...

Someone earlier mentioned finding it on download sites... anyone have any specific suggestions? My usual torrent search sites aren't turning anything up... thanks!

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Sigh. This is one of times I really wish I lived in the U.S. Where I live (Singapore) does have its own regional MTV but I doubt this show will ever be broadcast here.

But I did enjoy those preview videos and interview videos w/ those stupid bimbos.

One gal: Where are you from originally?
Laura Bell: Kentucky.
Both gals: AWWWWWWWW!
*awkward silence*

LOL!

Actually, I find it odd that anyone has a bad thing to say about Orfeh's acting. She's actually the MOST toned down of anyone, clearly knows best how to work a camera and looks flawless. With regards to what she does nightly, she's dialed it back quite a bit but when everyone around her is still as broad OR broader, *she* would have looked like the odd ball if she'd changed her act too much. I think she split the difference wonderfully. But I'm sure the same 4 people will continue to diss but it's 4 versus 400 who think more like I do.


*edited for sp

Updated On: 10/15/07 at 08:57 AM

That's an interesting post Gosmile and there are point I agree with but Bundy's lack of camera technique doesn't help and the fact that Mitchell is far more skilled at choreography than directing didn't help. I also think Orfeh has been as well received as she has (not just for the MTV thing) for the very points you bring up, she seems to be the only character you can connect to, with any "real emotion or quirkiness" and bad material or not, she was able to rise above it. Borle, who i'm not fond of does his best too but being next to Bundy's frenetic energy doesn't help or lend creedence to his subtle acting style. He just seems like he's in a different play.

Updated On: 10/15/07 at 09:10 AM

The whole time I was watching Blood in the Water, I kept thinking of John Cullum doing Don't Be The Bunny from Urinetown and how hilarious it was. It's true that Blood in the Water is a perfect character and plot song, except the song is bad, and not funny.

I had to work the day this aired so I taped it.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I love the show itself.
The Hills girls, as much as they work on their own show, had little exicitment when they were interviewing people or even talking about the show itself.

:Nit-Picks:

When they cut the sound of the laptops turning on before Blood In The Water it came off very awkard on screen. I don't know if it seemed that way to anyone else, but it did.

The change of Orfeh and Micheal's lines was annoying, but I guess MTV has an issue with those words and all, but no loss.

Annaleigh kept making the most hilarious faces during the beginning of "What You Want" behind Laura's head, it was hysterical. Annaleigh came off looking like a star. Tracy Jai comes off much better live in the theater than she does in the recording. I really enjoyed her the last time I went, but I did enjoy Leslie before her as well. I still miss Dequina, I feel Asmeret lacks something to her performance that Dequina brought, but Asmeret is still a wonderfully talented performer.

The cuts to the audience was annoying, because it through you off as to what was going on during the show. Also the commericals were annoying: I thought originally this was to be aired without commerical, I believe it said in the original article [Not sure.]

I loved the wide-shots during "What You Want" and "Positive" which were wonderful and made you feel like the show happened around you.

I love Laura Bell, and despite some of the flaws she had trying to translate just playing the role for the audience in the theater and not just for the MTV audience, I say she did a bang up job, that is a tough role to play. I think she came off as very charming and adorable, as she does in the theater. The last note in So Much Better seems like it's hit or miss with her: Either she nails or misses it completely: During the taping she looked like she was straining herself to hit, but hit something. According to people who went, that was better than seeing her live during the taping.

I love Christian Borle, and he just comes off as geeky and adorable as he does in theater as on TV. However I wish they would have had Noah play Emmett, just cause I wanted more Noah.

Orfeh and Andy were fantastic, I think they got the most applause it seemed after their respective parts [Orfeh after Ireland and Andy during the UPS Guy entrance].

Kate has a huge voice and it boomed during "Legally Blonde Remix". She came off very well on TV.

I love the ensemble people: Natalie as Enid was hysterical, of course, I love Noah as Aaron/Guard.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I've seen the show twice and may see it again. This reminded me how much I actually loved seeing it live.

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