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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: mikem 09:47 am EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - mikem 09:39 am EST 12/07/13

Another thing to add is that the ratings held pretty steady. The show was #1 in the timeslot for all 6 half-hours, without much of a drop until 10pm (when everything drops). Even then, the drop was only about 10 - 15%. People stuck with it, way beyond the length someone would watch out for the curiosity factor. The show was far from perfect and a lot of people didn't like it, but a lot of people enjoyed it.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: TheOtherOne 10:40 am EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - mikem 09:47 am EST 12/07/13

I found it dull, but I did watch the whole thing. I'm glad I did. The contrast between the cheery surface and inner darkness of "No Way To Stop It" was quite impressive, and the threat of the Nazis seemed more ominous in the show than it does in the film, with its energetic underscoring and battery-cutting nuns. We're left with the impression that Max is going to pay dearly for having helped Von Trapp as well in the show.

I do think Lehman improved the work overall, but it isn't a question of him rescuing a failure (as some imply). He had a good piece to work with and he made if flow better as a film. He also had Wise and a sensational cast to make the most of it.

It is hard to compare the two on the basis of the broadcast. Televised theater, live or not, is always going to seem a little static without audience response, things are going to be lost due to sound and lighting issues, and you are still at the mercy of what the camera is showing you. The broadcast lacked a flow that it needed, but I think that owes more to these technical issues than the show itself.

I have never seen The Sound of Music on stage. I would not avoid it on the basis of this production.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: AlanScott 06:01 pm EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - TheOtherOne 10:40 am EST 12/07/13

I really disliked the directorial touch of making us think that Max was going into possibly lots of trouble for facilitating the escape. It's not suggested in the published script, and while I understand the temptation to add it, I really think it's a mistake.

We shouldn't be worried at the end about Max possibly being executed or dying in a concentration camp. We should be moved that the Trapps are escaping.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: lowwriter 12:01 pm EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - TheOtherOne 10:40 am EST 12/07/13

I've seen the show on stage and I've enjoyed it very much. Both Debbie Boone and Rebecca Luker were delightful Marias. Casting the Captain is harder, really.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers now but although the SOM film was an enormous hit, it wasn't actually a huge critical success. Several critics, including Pauline Kael, hated it and Julie Andrews' sweetness.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: wmdmcree 10:38 am EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - mikem 09:47 am EST 12/07/13

I wonder if "Scandal" was responsible for a large portion of that drop in viewers.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: lowwriter 12:05 pm EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - wmdmcree 10:38 am EST 12/07/13

The drop wasn't significant. Scandal and Elementary are both popular 10 pm shows and their ratings went down on Thursday.


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re: SOM THING GOOD

Posted by: mikem 10:51 am EST 12/07/13
In reply to: re: SOM THING GOOD - wmdmcree 10:38 am EST 12/07/13

"Scandal" probably had something to do with it. All of the trending Twitter items were about SOM or Scandal. The ratings for SOM were actually higher at 8:30 than at 8, probably because people were watching "The Big Bang Theory" at 8. That may have actually helped the show somewhat, since I thought the first half-hour was a little shaky and things got much better once they got past that.


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