What's the big deal with Reidel

Yes, the Post is a tabloid with a less than stellar journalistic reputation, but Riedel has proven time and time again that he has very solid and generally accurate sources within New York theatre circles. He has several "friends" and associates in high places (including many producers, company managers and marketing people) who feed him inside information that is often direct from the horse's mouth. I've read every column he's ever written and while yes, he can be bitchy and mean-spirited and unfair and hurtful and provocative for the sake of being provocative (all of which have been traits of successful theatre and gossip columnists going back to Walter Winchell, Dorothy Killgallen and before), his scoops have proven to be about 90% accurate over the years. Like him or not, he's usually right.

Now, one should probably take his personal opinions about the "artistic merits" of a given show with a grain of salt. He's not a critic (you can't compare him to people like Brantley, Isherwood, Simon or Feingold) or a scholar and doesn't really know a whole lot about theatre and though he sees a lot of theatre, he has little more than a layman's knowledge. But as a reporter -- which IS his job -- he's quite consistently on the money with his behind-the-scenes info.

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Updated On: 3/8/07 at 06:56 PM

I like Reidel....go figure....

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He's much more engaging and charismatic on Theatre Talk that he is on paper (something I can relate to). Plus...I find him adorable.

His columns in the Post aren't particularly great, although he does have some wonderful inside information. However, on Theater Talk is his terrific, engaging and seems to know his stuff. Although it is quite unlikely to happen, I'd much rather see him review for the Post than Clive "Crusy Old Man" Barnes who, as Margo has said in the past, seems to review the publicity photos, demo CD and synopsis and not the actual show. He has failed to agknowledge The Light in the Piazza and Grey Gardens as masterpieces in recent years and in years past, disliked brilliant shows such as Follies, Chicago, Dreamgirls and Company. Mr. Riedel seems to be able to get through most shows without falling asleep.

I like him. He is not a critic so any comments he makes about a play or musical is strickly what he likes personally. I like his interviews on Theater Talk, especially when the critics get together. He seems to do a good job of learning the background of the people he interviews, also.

Love him, and look forward to his column

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I too think the Post is a terrible paper, but I always read his column, which is mostly accurate.

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I wish we got theater talk outside of New York. I'd watch it all the time.