| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 11:06 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: James Corden’s “$28 million CBS offer” leaves ‘Forum’ scrambling - jesse21 07:03 am EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I would not see this with Josh Gad. He's overacts so much and would ruin the show. I agree that Jack Black would be a lot of fun, though also a bit manic. I guess Martin Short isn't popular any longer but he's very professional in shows. Is Christian Borle not the right type? | |
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| Thinking of marketable pairings | |
| Posted by: | MarkBearSF 04:55 am EDT 08/10/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 11:06 am EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I was thinking of non-traditional casting that could attract box office... For Pseudolus & Hysterium - Jack Black and Dennis Leary (co-stars in Ice Age) - Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce All of the above have stage and singing experience (although rock for Leary) and they may be available for a decent length, if not a full year. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 03:27 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 11:06 am EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Hilarious that you feel Gad overacts and then you suggest Christian Borle. I'm sure his smirking worked for Peter and the Starcatcher but he's been such a ham in other roles that don't require mugging. And I don't think he has the box office appeal of several other names listed here. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 04:01 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - AnyaS 03:27 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Maybe I should say when Borle overdoes things I find it funny. Whereas when Gad does it, I am sickened. Borle was quite good in Little Me in Encores. And I thought he was charming with Laura Benanti in the relatively charmless Sound of Music. He was also one of the best things about Smash. In Peter and the Starcatcher I thought his performance was very funny, but I saw him at NYTW when he wasn't required to play as big as on Broadway. Why do you think Josh Gad has box office appeal? He was awful in Love and Other Drugs and was terrible in a recent sitcom on NBC which flopped. And I thought he was insufferable in Mormon. Thankfully you couldn't watch his contortions in Frozen because the animators kept him in touch. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | MikeR 09:32 pm EDT 08/10/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 04:01 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Sickened? Like, literally? You have to run for a bathroom when you see Josh Gad act? | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | JohnPopa 04:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 04:01 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I think from a pure 'marketing to outside the theater crowd' perspective saying it stars the guy that voiced Olaf couldn't hurt. Especially if the advertising makes 'Forum' seem harmless enough. | |
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| re: Josh Gad | |
| Posted by: | bruceb 04:49 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - JohnPopa 04:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I just cannot see an advertising campaign for a Broadway lead saying "he voiced the character of Olaf in FROZEN" and think that would sell tickets. Yes, he's done other films and yes he did MORMON and got a Tony nomination but I don't think he's ANYWHERE near a Mostel, Silvers or Lane ... but that's just my thoughts. If he is cast, which I doubt because he is concentrating on film/TV, we would see what happens. FORUM sells when you attach a fantastic comic name to it. If you say Josh Gad to a tourist, they would probably not know him. Yes, theater fans would but I still don't think he has a name to lead a major musical. | |
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| re: Josh Gad | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 01:49 am EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - bruceb 04:49 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| When Lane did Forum, he was Tony-less and was most famous for playing Timon in The Lion King.. | |
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| re: Josh Gad | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 02:59 pm EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - KingSpeed 01:49 am EDT 08/09/14 |
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| "Forum" opened on Broadway a month after Nathan Lane starred in "The Birdcage", which was a big hit nationwide and made him a hot commodity with the public. Prior to this, he was already Broadway famous, on the back of his work in "Guys and Dolls" and "Love! Valour! Compassion!". You may recall that he co-hosted the Tonys in 1995 Tony Awards, with Glenn Close and Gregory Hines. So he was already a big name, and "Forum" was part of what sent him into the stratosphere (although he was never able to turn that into true movie or TV stardom). | |
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| re: That is totally not true... | |
| Posted by: | bruceb 02:30 pm EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - KingSpeed 01:49 am EDT 08/09/14 |
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| Yes, it was perhaps his best known Film Voice in THE LION KING at that tie but Lane was a Broadway critics darling from almost the first time he stepped on stage He had already done on Broadway: Love! Valour! Compassion! Laughter on the 23rd Floor Guys and Dolls On Borrowed Time Some Americans Abroad Wind in the Willows Merlin Present Laughter And just two of his Off-Broadway roles were in: Lips Together Teeth Apart Lisbon Traviata He had not only voiced Timon in THE LION KING FILM he had several small or supporting roles in films of note which garnered notice. He may have been Tony-less at that time but he certainly was considered a possibility for GUYS AND DOLLS. So I would say he was quite the draw when he got to FORUM - I mean just taking in the GUYS AND DOLLS factor which he had already done. You make it sound like he was nothing prior to Forum... yes, he hadn't hit Superstardom like Mostel or Silvers but he was well on his way - and as I stated before in this thread - a large enough comic force to be give Pseudelus with producers probably smelling his Tony win when he accepted the role. | |
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| re: Josh Gad | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 05:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - bruceb 04:49 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Funny. I could see an advertising campaign exactly like the one you just described. Given the choice of using his Frozen connection or not, you honestly think the Forum team would just sit on their hands and not use it? Not a chance. Of course they would jump on it, and if they didn't, they are not so great at their jobs. Incidentally, I've seen If/Then use Idina's Frozen connection many times for a show that is far less family-friendly than Forum. But as you said, he's too knee-deep in movie projects that it would never happen. Bring on Jack Black please. :) | |
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| re: Josh Gad | |
| Posted by: | bruceb 01:19 pm EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - AnyaS 05:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I didn't sat they wouldn't use it. I said it wouldn't help much. FORUM is a pretty adult show - maybe the parents care a lot but the parents won't bring 10 year olds to FORUM. | |
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| Does Zack Galifianakis sing? | |
| Posted by: | PlayWiz 11:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - AnyaS 05:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| He might be a possibility; he's very funny, plus he can also at time be charming. Or --- how about Steve Carrell? | |
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| Yes | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 01:51 am EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | Does Zack Galifianakis sing? - PlayWiz 11:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| He sings in his act. He is a great idea. | |
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| Great point re: Idina | |
| Posted by: | Esther 05:14 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad - AnyaS 05:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| She was introduced with the Frozen connection before she did the anthem at the MLB All-Star Game too on FOX last month. And actually, I just got the OBCR of If/Then from Amazon today (CD) & the sticker on it says: Starring: IDINA MENZEL The Voice of "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen Lead Actress Tony Winner for Wicked Starred in Original Broadway Cast of RENT. I second your Jack Black pick! Or AlanScott's Norbert suggestion a few days ago. Or the Jonah Hill one somewhere in this thread. | |
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| re: Great point re: Idina | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 05:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Great point re: Idina - Esther 05:14 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Yes, but "Let It Go" is the Disney anthem of this generation, and Idina has been lucky to be attached to it very front and center, partly because the movie version outperformed the radio/pop version by leagues and leagues. Olaf, though, is arguably a generic sidekick with a half-decent song. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella were able to get some mileage out of Timon and Pumba, but those were the rare sidekicks who really make a strong impression on the audience - they were being written about in Entertainment Weekly. Josh Gad isn't getting the same attention. | |
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| re: Great point re: Idina | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 01:55 am EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Great point re: Idina - Singapore/Fling 05:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Josh is being written bout in Enteretainment Weekly too. In fact, they announced the birth of his daughter. Mormon/Fozen star becomes a father again. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 04:41 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - JohnPopa 04:22 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| What JohnPopa said. :) My sister nailed why Borle bothers me so much. She likened him to the kid in a high school theater play that is always speaking and walking like an ac-TOR and never stops smirking in his performances because he's so pleased with his work. Because of all that, I actually do think he'd be a perfect fit for Forum. I just don't think he'd do much for the box office. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 04:46 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - AnyaS 04:41 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| And incidentally, when I was driving my children around a few months ago, I was listening to Sirius XM's Broadway channel. Book of Mormon came on. I forget which song played but it featured Josh Gad. I quickly lowered the audio so my children couldn't hear it. I'm not familiar with BOM's cast recording and didn't know if his character would sing something inappropriate. My children were furious that I turned off Olaf's "secret song" on the Frozen soundtrack. No matter how much I assured them that it wasn't "Olaf" singing, nor was it the Frozen soundtrack, they didn't believe me. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | JohnPopa 05:29 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - AnyaS 04:46 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I can't think of much of anything Gad sings in BOM that would be appropriate for kids :) | |
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| I Am Here For You | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 01:48 am EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - JohnPopa 05:29 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Sleep now little buddy Put your cares away Nappy with a happy face Tomorrow's a Latter Day Perfectly harmless. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 05:47 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - JohnPopa 05:29 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Ha! So true. I saw the show with my 73 year old parents who have always been quite liberal. During the intermission, though, I found out that they actually have limits to what they tolerate. The second act was the longest second act of my life. ;) | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | Gator 07:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - AnyaS 05:47 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I think this is a tough one - these days, you have to have a good advance to keep a show running. And at least one way to get that advance is with a known commodity or name. Most producers will likely gravitate to television or film - find someone that will sell tickets to the widest audience possible. For Forum, it has to be someone with the "it" factor, someone who can "be funny," can carry a tune, and who commands the stage. While I enjoyed Gad in Mormon, I'm not sure I can envision him carrying a show. I love the idea of someone "non-traditional" that perhaps we have not seen before...but who? A couple of names that come to mind (who MIGHT forego TV or film making to undertake) are Steve Carell, Kevin James, David Schwimmer...or (though he was recently in First Date) Zach Levi... | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | finally 11:19 am EDT 08/09/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - Gator 07:09 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Can Eric Stonestreet sing? I think he would be ideal in the comedy department. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | AnyaS 03:20 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 11:06 am EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I read an interview with Gad recently where he said he wasn't interested in doing the Frozen musical because he was committed to so many non-stage projects. Of course that could have been a nice way of saying he just wasn't interested in Frozen any longer. I disagree that Rannells has had the bigger career. I've seen Gad co-star in three films from major studios in the past couple of year. Sure, they all bombed but he's getting some big roles opposite big stars. I like Rannells a lot but how many films has he nabbed? He's done well in television but I would guess film trumps TV. It's all apples and oranges though. Most actors would kill to have either one's career. I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like Forum but Jack Black might entice me to see it. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | TGWW 12:38 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 11:06 am EDT 08/08/14 |
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| "He's overacts so much and would ruin the show." You do know we are talking about "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" don't you? Perhaps you should acquaint yourself with the original star of the not only the show, but the movie. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 01:00 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - TGWW 12:38 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| I know the show very well. Zero Mostel was never as obnoxious as Gad on stage. I saw the show with Phil Silvers and was the best. And by the way I've seen the show several times. Perhaps you shouldn't make assumptions about others. | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | bruceb 03:39 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 01:00 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| Once again lowwriter, we agree. Not a fan of Gad. I feel the same as you do on this one. I guess there is mugging I like and mugging I don't like!!! | |
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| re: Josh Gad and others | |
| Posted by: | TGWW 01:02 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Josh Gad and others - lowwriter 01:00 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
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| 'Zero Mostel was never as obnoxious as Gad on stage" You are obviously using your personal dislike of him as a performer to judge whether he is perfect for the role and based on other performers, Zero, Silvers & Lane, he is perfect. | |
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