Here is a fantastic article that illuminates why the term "Guilty Pleasure" should be taken out back and shot in the head. It was created by pseudo-intellectuals who feel some kind of insecure shame for liking things that the "masses" enjoy. All of these previously mentioned shows are pleasures… no need for guilt… unless part of your enjoyment of these shows is murdering someone during intermission. Then you should probably feel some guilt.
POTO, but I'm not sure I should feel guilty about loving it so much, except that I've spent a fortune seeing it on stage nine times; buying the Blu-Rays for the 25th Anniversary, the 2004 movie, and LND; collecting just about everything I can afford from E-Bay, and having huge posters in the bedroom. Thank goodness my husband isn't jealous of men with masks, since their pictures are all over ... ok, maybe he's a bit jealous of Gerard Butler, but he has good reason to be.
I considered it a guilty pleasure because I shouldn't have spent the money to see the show over and over, when there were other shows to see.
But the prospect of being able to hear Lea Salonga, Sandra Allen, and Jodi Long sell those great songs, get misty over Alvin Ing's 'My First Love' and drool over Telly Leung, Eric Chan, and Jose Llana was too much to resist so down Eighth Ave to the Virginia I would go. Again and again.
'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'
Scanning down the names others have mentioned-- the ones that are good (Bonnie and Clyde, Phantom of the Opera) don't deserve the term guilty pleasures at all-- they're just good. Most of the rest couldn't tempt me into the theater to see them in the first place. I guess WICKED was the last show I'm not supposed to love that I still mostly enjoyed.
Completely agree with Hackasaurus_Rex - I like lots of the shows mentioned in this thread and many others and don't feel any guilt about it. I can't think of any example where someone "should" not like a show - if they do, fine; if not, fine.
I enjoy Legally Blonde and Xanadu but I'd have to say Hair and Little shop are my true guilty pleasures. I will put those albums on while cleaning my apartment and sing along from beginning to end. I sure do feel sorry for my neighbours.
I've never felt a shred of guilt about any musical I've seen that left me feeling joyous and/or moved. If I had a wonderful time at a show that is flocked to by the unwashed masses or was a colossal flop and critically eviscerated, then that's just the way it plays out.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
"I've never felt a shred of guilt about any musical I've seen that left me feeling joyous and/or moved. If I had a wonderful time at a show that is flocked to by the unwashed masses or was a colossal flop and critically eviscerated, then that's just the way it plays out."
This.
That being said, if you want some specifics:
Love Never Dies Shrek Sister Act Anything Frank Wildhorn wrote ever. Elisabeth Mozart! Tanz der Vampire Rebecca Notre Dame de Paris Martin Guerre
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
"I've never felt a shred of guilt about any musical I've seen that left me feeling joyous and/or moved. If I had a wonderful time at a show that is flocked to by the unwashed masses or was a colossal flop and critically eviscerated, then that's just the way it plays out."
"This." Me too. But what comes to mind first if I am thinking in this mode:
The Addams Family (and much of the music which is panned all the time. I think Happy Sad is a wonderful song and I like some others too). ..and First Date.
But yes I don't really feel guilty for not liking what others like - or liking something that others dislike. I am the one spending the money. If I get something out of it or not, it's up to me alone.
I agree about not liking the idea of guilty pleasures, but I'm going to throw out that I think I was one of maybe 5 people who had a fantastic time seeing Leap of Faith. :) I also loved the Hairspray movie (never had the chance to see it on stage).
IDK if I would consider Chicago a guilty pleasure, didn't it win best revival and best picture and only lost out to A Chorus Line the year it came out?
If Legally Blonde is a guilty pleasure then count me in. I've had the MTV broadcast saved on my DVR since it premiered, throw it on from time to time and usually can't turn it off. It's such a deceptively smart show, really well put together with some great songs that worm their way into your brain for days.