Why Does "9 to 5" Have More Credibility Than "Rock of Ages"? — Page 4

And Popular, I still stand by my point that I would expect you to like 9 to 5 more than Rock of Ages because of your undying love Mrs. Block.

And I'll stand by my point that you don't know me well enough to make such a statement. I grew up in the 80's. I love the music. My enjoyment of ROA would probably depend on who I saw it with, much like how who you go to a particular concert with sometimes makes a difference on how much fun you have at it. If I saw ROA with one of my friends who is as nostalgic about that era as I am I think I would have a damn good time.

That doesn't mean you can't see the faults in the show, but I would expect you to defend it. That's it. Nothing more.

What I was defending was not 9 TO 5, it was my right to think something is funny even though you didn't. You took your OPINION (Where as "9 to 5" thinks its hilarious, and it really isn't.) and stated it as a FACT; thereby invalidating my sense of humor simply because I thought the show was witty. You have a right to your opinion, and I would NEVER shoot it down... it was just your tone in how you stated it that I took offense to.

Updated On: 5/7/09 at 09:50 PM

9 TO 5 (the film) was campy and so are some of the jokes/many of the aspects of the musical. Some of the campy pieces translate well to the stage and others don't. And the "just do it" line gets a laugh from the tourists and people with a bad sense of humor.

The book kinda sucks, as I said when I saw the first preview. But it's Shakespeare compared to ROCK OF AGES.

I mean, "Just do it. That'll be a good ad campaign someday." How did this line stay in the show? Who laughed at this? What?!

Agreed! That line did seem kind of forced. I'm not debating that with you. My point is... if they kept it in because people WERE laughing (why else would they?) then why put down the people whose sense of humor it appealed to? That's all I'm saying. I'm not getting worked up over this or anything... just trying to once again sincerely ask why it's necessary to insult the audience who enjoy it?

And the "just do it" line gets a laugh from the tourists and people with a bad sense of humor.

Not trying to pick on you Wickedrocks, but another fine example. So if I'm a tourist (which I am while in NY) and I laugh at that, I have a bad sense of humor? C'mon now. Maybe I'm just reading into this too much but I can think of more appropriate circumstances under which to label someone as having a bad sense of humor. And isn't a "bad sense of humor" a term usually reserved for people who DON'T laugh?

I'm not attacking anyone. I hope that comes across in my posts because I'm really just trying to carry on a discussion.

It's an interesting question why people find certain things funny. Why do we laugh at potty humor and fart jokes? Why are prop comics or insult comics funny to some people? I'm sure there is a reason that maybe someone else can explain. I don't pretend to understand the psychology behind it.

My guess is that there is something ironically humorous when the audience has hindsight about something that the character is yet to experience. It's the same reason people laugh at the "24/7 joke" and the "casual Friday" joke. Kind corny and cheap? Perhaps. I found them harmlessly fun and in the spirit of the movie's humor. I could see why it would bother you if you thought it took away from the more clever jokes, or if you think it didn't translate as well on state, but you can't blame them for keeping it in if it got good reactions.

They both are pretty much going after the same crowd - the tourists.

Which is a smart move if they want to stay open.

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Oh sh*t.

geez, 90016 slammed me against the wall for saying things as mean as, "you don't have your facts right."

MisterMatt ~ Shove that in your pipe and suck it, turd.

That sounds like untreated, you know, mental illness or something.

Most enjoyable thread of the week.

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The annual publicity boost of the Tony noms helped prompt a rise in Broadway box office last week -- but the tuner to post the largest gain of the frame was "9 to 5" ($762,358 ), the show notably shut out of the race for Tony's top musical prize. Sales climbed almost $100,000, which put the production in the top 10 for the first time.

Meanwhile, the new musical that pulled off an unexpectedly strong haul of Tony noms -- "Rock of Ages" ($378,178 ) -- actually saw receipts dip slightly.

Although such fluctuations are notable, it's too soon to read too much into them since the full effects of the noms (and of the awards in June) will be seen more fully in the coming weeks.
Variety Article

LOL - Thanks for posting, Popular! Quite interesting..

i think we can all agree that the shows that run for a really long time no matter how unique, creative or amazing become so called "tourist shows" that's just what happens, I'd be curious to poll some broadway audiences and see how many were "tourists"

when people say tourist are you just counting people from way out of town? what about people from Jersey or Long Island????? If a show is only really "good" when just New Yorkers are seeing it then it's not playing on Broadway.

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Updated On: 5/12/09 at 12:26 PM

Right, right. Just to show how hip they are, so they nominated a show about the 80s? Right.